17/08/2011 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Gordon Burns and

Ranvir Singh. Our top story: Four years in jail for trying to incite

a riot through Facebook - a fair sentence or rough justice? We'll be

taking to friends of the men and a barrister as concerns are raised

about such swift justice. Also tonight: The bodybuilder Tasered by

police - an investigation begins in Barrow where he died hours later.

All smiles for the PM - but unemployment figures climb

dramatically despite his investment news. The Grand Design to put a

Also Dianne is out enjoying the sunshine in Southport.

Yes, welcome to Southport for the 82nd Southport Flower Show. The

judges are just over there with their clipboards. They are still

marking these show gardens. It isn't that difficult to create them

because all you have to do to make this one is to be able to drink 100

bottles of champagne. Count me in! Come back later.

One of the two men jailed for four years each for trying to organise a

riot through Facebook has announced he is to appeal the sentence. Perry

Sutcliffe-Keenan and Jordan Blackshaw were sentenced at Chester

Crown Court and have been subject of legal and moral debate ever

since. Some experts say the sentences are too harsh while

others have said they are not enough. In a moment I'll be

speaking to a leading criminal barrister about how defendants are

being dealt with, but first Laura Yates has spent the day in

Northwich the scene of one of the those would-be riots. 21-year-old

Jordan Blackshaw set up a Facebook page asking people to meet here

around the back of McDonald's in Northwich. His intention seemed

clear. He called the page "smashdown in Northwich Town" and

he wrote, "We need to get this kicking off all over." Jordan was

one of two men yesterday given long prison sentences jailed for their

intentions rather than the consequences.

We were advised that he would sentence that the court was bound

to feel that was the only sentence that could be imposed. That said, I

wouldn't have anticipated it would be as much as four years. He was

having a laugh on Facebook. It is only a little group on Facebook.

People haven't got big sentences that have done the riots. He gets

four years for nothing! Compare their sentences to these

unconnected crimes in the last few weeks. A man in Lancashire was

given four months for stealing a van. A man in Liverpool five-and-a-

half years for setting fire to his own business and two charges of

fraud and a man in Cheshire got seven years for manslaughter.

Yesterday, a Crown Court Judge said the mayhem meant he was unable to

consider crimes in isolation. Many others have similar views.

these men have been successful in their enterprise to get together a

gang in Warrington and or in Northwich, then many other people

would have acted in a criminal way, many other people would have

resorted to violence, to looting, to theft. Back in the legal world,

as the Prime Minister congratulated the judges on their sentencing,

other solicitors warn of many problems still to come.

Criminal Justice System process isn't governed by a reality TV show

where the majority of the vote gets the sentence. It is calibrated by

careful, independent judges and magistrates taking into account the

particular circumstances of offences. A group has been set up

in support of the two men jailed on the very same site that got them

into so much trouble in the first place.

That was Lauraiates. Joining us is Tim bren nand a top criminal

barrister. Usually when -- Laura Yates. Joining us is Tim Brennand,

a top criminal barrister. Are barristers getting the time?

hearing about cases being brought to the sentence hearing very

quickly without the adjournment for reports. That can happen. In some

cases, especially where the sentence might be regarded as

inevitable, a prison sentence, some judges take the view there is no

need therefore to adjourn for reports. Is that fair to the

defendants because of course the judicial process still has to take

its rightful course? The defence advocate can always apply if there

is a psychiatric or a medical or some other special reason, that is

an application that will be made and very often heard favourably.

What about a barrister looking at other cases, two weeks before the

riots somebody was given four months for something similar and

now they are getting years. Wouldn't that be part of a

barrister's job to put that to the judge? You can't equate like with

like. The judge will look at the individual case, individual

mitigation and take account of any aggravating features or mitigation.

It can't be like-for-like because of the unprecedented situation

which surrounded each of these individual acts? These cases are so

unusual that it would be wrong to compare and take as an example

what's happened in other cases. terms of appeals, we have already

heard one of the Facebook people mentioned in Cheshire is going to

appeal. We will hear many more. There is a man who could face jail

for stealing two scoops of ice- cream. It will cost us a lot as

taxpayers? Judges have a difficult job. You have the hang them and

flog them brigade. On the other, you have the bleeding heart

liberals that want to install a reha billtive type of regime and --

he ha bill Taytive type of regime. -- reha bill Taytive type of regime.

Do you think it right that judges do respond - there is real appetite

for people to get swift and harsh justice in these circumstances, but

is it right that judges respond to that? What these judges are doing

are recognising that these riots are unique and are serious and

aggravating feature to the circumstances of any particular

individual who is facing a serious criminal charge as a result of

their involvement, whatever that may be. In a word, you feel

completely at ease, do you, that justice is being done fairly,

swiftly and appropriately? system works, yes. Thank you very

much. An investigation's under way

tonight following the death of a man who was Tasered by police in

Cumbria. Officers had been called to a flat near Barrow town centre

to investigate reports of a disturbance. At some point they

used pepper spray and fired a Taser several times at Dale Burns. The

27-year-old collapsed and later died. Friends say they're

devastated. The Independent Police Complaints Commission says its

investigators are looking into what happened. Here's our Chief Reporter,

Dave Guest. The Taser is supposed to disable violent suspects without

causing permanent harm. But when Cumbria Police discharged one last

night things didn't work out that way. It happened when officers

arrived at a flat in the centre of Barrow to investigate reports of a

disturbance. A Taser was fired at 27-year-old Dale Burns. He died

soon afterwards. I don't know what's happened. I know he's been

Tasered for a domestic disturbance, which is a bit over the top. Dale's

mum left this tribute at the scene. And at a local gym, where he

regularly worked out, friends were in a state of disbelief. I have

known him since he was 15. He is one of the nicest lads you will

ever meet. Even though I'm 20 years older than him, he was like one of

my best friends, he was like my son. There are strict rules governing

the use of Tasers. They are capable of delivering a 50,000 volt shock

and were introduced in 2004. By last year, in Cumbria Tasers had

been drawn more than 100 times. Only discharged on 26 occasions.

is important to ensure that Tasers are potentially-lethal and they

should only be given to officers who are trained to such high

standards. Otherwise there is a potential risk that they could be

open to misuse. In a statement, Cumbria Police said that following

an incident at this address, a Taser was deployed and a man became

ill soon afterwards. He was taken to hospital where he died. They

said the matter has now been referred to the Independent Police

Complaints Commission and so they can make no further statement at

this time. The family of a woman from Wigan

are flying out to the Seychelles after her husband was killed by a

shark, while on honeymoon there. Ian Redmond from Nelson in

Lancashire died after the attack yesterday, while his wife Gemma was

sunbathing on the beach. Gemma said her husband was "a remarkable

individual who will be deeply and sorely missed".

A woman from Leigh died after she contracted a lethal infection from

hospital equipment not being cleaned properly, an inquest has

found. Jacqueline Thomason was admitted to Wigan Infirmary for

routine surgery to remove part of her thyroid gland, but after the

operation she became ill and five days later she died of septicaemia.

A hospital inquiry later found that cross contamination had occurred in

an anaesthetic room. The Cabinet Office has decided to

appeal the Information Commissioner's ruling that

documents relating to the Hillsborough tragedy should be made

available under the Freedom of Information Act. The Government

believes any release of information should be managed through the

Independent Panel and should be allowed to run its course.

The discount department store TJ Hughes has announced it's closing

12 more stores - three of them in the North West. Shops in Bootle and

Oldham will close on Sunday and the store in Warrington will shut the

following Friday. 172 jobs in the region will be lost.

The latest unemployment figures released today made grim reading

showing a big rise in those out of work in the North West. Shortly

after the figures were revealed the Prime Minister arrived in Cheshire

to launch a new Enterprise Zone, which he says will help solve the

problem. Here's Stuart Pollitt with more.

Thanks. The latest picture on jobs in the North West isn't a bright

one. Figures today showed a total of 300,000 people were out of work.

That's a rise of 35,000 between April and June. The largest rise of

any region in the country. Today, I spoke to the Prime Minister at

Daresbury Science Park near Warrington where he was unveiling

an enterprise zone that he says will help create more jobs.

Enterprise zones aim to entice businesses with cheaper rates,

superfast broadband and less planning control. The zone at

Daresbury is the third for the North West although there won't be

any in Lancashire or Cumbria. But will it really provide the jobs

today's unemployment figures prove the region desperately needs? This

patch of land will David Cameron hopes become a fertile one for job

creation. In 20 years' time, it will be home to 10,000 hi-tech

science and technology jobs. It is great to come here and see how

people are really building and creating for the future. He was

here to tell Daresbury it had been made an enterprise zone. If we look

at the businesses that are going to provide those jobs, it doesn't tend

to be the very big businesses, it is the smaller businesses that will

invest and expand and grow. Many of them are located here. We want many

more. Here is an enterprise zone, come here, pay less rates, face

less regulation, fewer planning restrictions, invest, grow and

expand. That will be good for everyone in the North West. Will it

be good for people a few miles away in Runcorn? I'm 20 years old, I

have been unemployed since I was 17. They are having problems getting

enough science and technology students into colleges, we know

that. Perhaps this will encourage them. If there were more jobs going,

I would go for science. Go and do a college course and get

qualifications. Four, five, six jobs created for every job on site

will be created off-site. There is a direct benefit to the local

economy as a result of that supply chain activity, servicing this site.

Today's good news for those at Daresbury meant bad news for Barrow

waterfront and BAE Systems sites at Warton and Samlesbury. They were

left off the enterprise list. Critics of enterprise zones say

they don't create new jobs but suck them in from other areas which

don't have a zone. With almost 9% of people out of work in the North

West, this is a long-term plan which will not provide a quick-fix.

Back to you. The owners of one of the country's

biggest salt mines are calling for work on a giant underground gas

store to be halted because of safety fears. A French company has

been granted planning permission to create the gas caverns 500 feet

below ground next to the Winsford Salt Mine in Cheshire. But miners

says they want to be reassured they won't be at risk once the store is

up and running. Our Environment Correspondent Colin Sykes reports.

We have come from the oldest part of the mine... It takes 15 minutes

to drive from the lift shaft to the action at the Winsford Salt Mine.

This is the working face of the mine where this giant machine is

cutting into the salt. We are about a kilometre away from where the gas

storage will be but obviously as this work continues, they will get

ever closer to the scene. The mine covers nearly three square miles.

The gas store being created in the salt nearby will be Britain's

second biggest holding 400 million cubic metres of natural gas in huge

cavities created by pumping in water to dissolve the salt. There's

concern about a fault line in the rock. My main concern is the

general safety of the workforce around this area, especially being

so close to the gas. The ability to store gas leaves countries less at

the mercy of a volatile market. Storage here makes up 4% of

national consumption, compared to 23% in France and 19% in Germany.

The storage in Cheshire will allow the UK to store 12% of consumption.

The mine owners aren't against the store but claim they haven't been

consulted about safety. Having a gas facility this close to an

active mine is a big concern for us. We have asked repeatedly from the

storage energy people to provide us the information they have evaluated

to allow us to assess whether or not this gas storage presents a

risk to our employees. Safety is the key thing. Store Energy didn't

want to be interviewed. They say they have full planning permission

for the project and they are happy they have complied with all the

relevant authorities. The first of the gas caverns is due to open by

2013. Now Richard's here with the sport

and news of ANOTHER new arrival, or almost, at Manchester City, though

it doesn't come as much surprise really.

Yes, Gordon, it's looking increasingly likely that Arsenal's

French midfielder Samir Nasri will soon be a City player. Sources have

told BBC Sport that a �25 million move could be completed within 24

hours. Some good wins for clubs in League

One and League Two. There was a milestone for one of our most

prolific strikers. Yes, Ryan Lowe scored again for

Bury, his 50th for the Shakers. He got 28 goals last season as they

were promoted from League Two. And he's at it again in a higher

division. Let's have a look at his latest, this header from a David

Worrall cross which helped them to a 2-1 victory over Sheffield

Wednesday. Damien Mozika got the crucial second for their first

league win of the season. And fans of two of our other League One

clubs will be feeling a lot better after their first three points.

Preston North End thanks to a 2-0 victory at Chesterfield. Barry

Nicholson with the clincher and what a terrific result for Oldham

at Scunthorpe, where Matt Smith got the winner in a 2-1 win.

It was also a good night for some of our League Two teams, Accy

Stanley beat Bradford 1-0 but probably the result of the night

was Macclesfield Town's who went to Hereford and thumped them for four.

One of the goals was a real beauty. Have a look at this. Ross Draper

with this fantastic effort almost from his own half. Brilliant. And

Morecambe will be pleased with their night's work as well.

Substitute Kevin Ellison with an injury time winner at Cheltenham

that leaves the Shrimps riding high in the play-off positions.

Now who do you think David Moyes rates his best ever signing? Mikael

Arteta? Tim Howard? Well you might be surprised by the Everton

manager's answer. It's a man who never even played under him, physio

Mick Rathbone. Mick, or Baz as he's known throughout the game, has just

written this brilliant book about his career as both a player and the

man with the magic sponge. I've been talking to him about "The

Smell of Football" and started during his playing days with

Blackburn Rovers. The eight years at Blackburn were fantastic.

Everything when you are a kid, those years at Blackburn were

everything I dreamed they would be. Then you moved on to Preston where

you met another person who was going to be very influential on

your career, David Moyes? When I got my first proper role as a

physio, that was at Preston North End. That would be '95. I went in

and the captain was David Moyes. This was almost a different era in

football. I remember we were at the Isle of Man tournament. That is

where I met Dave. How close did you get to David Moyes? When you work

for the same manager for 15 years, you become close. I enjoyed working

for David Moyes. It was a great period for the clubs we worked at.

We have stayed good friends. When you followed David Moyes to Everton,

you were dealing with high-profile players, the likes of Wayne Rooney,

Duncan Ferguson, players of that ill bg. How much of a pressure is

there, Mick, when you are looking after multi-million pound athletes

like they are? There is a lot of pressure. I was head of the medical

department and the buck stopped with me. My decision was the final

decision. When you see a young player like Wayne Rooney who was

earmarked as a star from a very young boy, do you think, "I better

look after him"? Well, yeah, of course you do. He had the injury, I

had to look after the injury, there was a lot of pressure on that. You

can't be star-struck by the players. I would be lying if I didn't say

there was a sharp intake of breath when Wayne hobbled off in that game

for England and that was then my responsibility. If you let that

cloud your judgment, the injury is the injury and it has to be treated

in the same way. It gave me a fantastic thrill. I used to run, in

my last years at Everton, I would be running around with the Phil

Nevilles, players like that. I never forgot how fortunate I was.

It's the simple things that catch you out! Here is the book. It was

great to talk about. Now to cricket: A great first day for

Lancashire against Worcestershire. 107 from Steven Croft helped them

overcome a slow start. That's great stuff. Thank you very

much. Take the book with you! I will never leave it again!

The flower growers of the North West should be seeing the best of

their blooms right now. The Southport Flower Show is under way.

It always provides visitors with a visual spectacle rarely equalled

anywhere else in the country. Our Dianne is there for us. What have

you seen so far? Take a look at this. Everybody likes something

different. I just think this is fabulous. It's been created by

Barry Thompson. He used to be a photographer. He followed Kasabian

and then he had a change of career. This is his first show garden. He

has won within his category. Hardly surprising. It is spectacular. Of

course, the Southport Flower Show isn't just about the gardens. It is

about so much more. It is about food, leisure, entertainment and we

We Will Rock You is coming to Liverpool so they are promoting

that. Flowers are always going to be the star of the show. Within the

gardens, there is a vintage theme this year and what could be more

vintage than a Spitfire. There's some really unusual exhibits at the

show this year. But the minimalist gardens do seem to pop up so

regularly and they are beautiful. I am currently standing in one of the

nicest ones I have ever seen. This is Paul Richards Eagar den, it is a

piece of Los Angeles. We are not sure how Paul has done. The judges

are still going around. I have my fingers crossed. I think this is

beautiful. Weatherwise, it's played along as we have gone through the

along as we have gone through the day today. Not terribly warm,

temperatures around 18 or 19 degrees. Friday doesn't look too

bad. A weather front on Saturday. Then Sunday cheering back up again.

The problem we have is coming in tomorrow. Let's take a look at the

chart. I don't think you will have too many problems at all. It is

fairly clear. It could end up being a bit cool for a while. You might

get a six in rural areas. It will feel nippy first thing. Tomorrow is

a day of two halves. The timing on the rain turning up, we are not

confident about that. But we think it will be in the second half of

the day. The cloud will be creeping in all of the time. On the leading

edge of this rain that is moving through central parts of the UK and

pushing towards us, there could be one or two showers from time to

time. As we head towards the tail end of the day, there could be more

organised rain coming through. It will probably be light and patchy

for the most part. Tomorrow takes a bit of a dive but of course the

gardens like the rain and your temperature will reach 19 Celsius.

temperature will reach 19 Celsius. Back to you.

Now to a story that gives the phrase "getting on the property

ladder" a whole new meaning. Plans have been submitted to build a

family home - high up an old Victorian factory chimney in Bolton.

It's one of the last old chimneys in the town and used to serve a

bleach works. But as Peter Marshall reports it could get a new

residential role. They call it Bolton's big chimney because it is

big and it is a chimney. Built in 1863 for Halliwell Bleach Works, it

is 260 feet high and since the 1970s obsolete. Perhaps not for

long. That is great if it is in the trees... Robin Rowles and Tony Lang

on behalf of a potential high-rise homeowner have come up with a plan.

The opportunity to do this might seem a bit hairbrain to people, but

the reality is there. If it is mad, it is special as well. This is our

impression of what it will look like. A 360 degree glass and steel

settlement circling the whole chimney. The two-storey property

with its living space, three bedrooms and two bathrooms will be

perched just above the tree line. To get to it, you will use stairs

and a lift, but what do locals think? I would say no, I think. I

have got a spirit of adventure and I would like to live in something

like that myself. I'm not answering your question! I think it is mad.

Absolutely crazy. I like it. I like the courage of it. There aren't

many chimneys like this left. Fred Dibner was instrumental in getting

it listed structure status. wonderful view up here. It hit us

with the wow factor immediately, the idea of creating something that

would remain for a long time and put modern structure with old

structure as well on such an important building. If planning

permission is granted, the sky-high home could be completed in 18

months. Wow, it is pretty stunning stuff!

Is there a lift up the middle? We were wondering. Or a ladder?! It

wouldn't be any good for me. I couldn't go anywhere near those