:00:00. > :00:08.Good evening, welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson and
:00:08. > :00:12.Annabel Tiffin. Our top story: Going to a wedding — the ordinary scene
:00:12. > :00:22.which belied a tale of kidnap, rape We wouldn't think that something
:00:22. > :00:25.like this could happen in 21st century Britain, but it does. Five
:00:25. > :00:28.people were today convicted of trafficking the woman involved round
:00:28. > :00:31.Also tonight: Welcome to poundland — the first homes sold by Liverpool
:00:31. > :00:36.Council in a plan to regenerate Barred from class — the Muslim boys
:00:36. > :00:47.sent home from school for refusing We are at the official launch party
:00:47. > :00:51.for next year's Grand National. We are at the official launch party
:00:51. > :00:56.guest of honour tonight has four legs. Join me later in the programme
:00:56. > :01:03.to find out who it is. I am David Myers, and I have swapped to Wales
:01:03. > :01:14.Find out how I am getting on in night's strictly come dancing.
:01:14. > :01:17.Five people have been found guilty of trafficking a vulnerable young
:01:17. > :01:23.woman who'd been kidnapped from where she was forced to take part in
:01:23. > :01:26.a sham marriage. Preston Crown Court heard that the woman was repeatedly
:01:26. > :01:31.raped as she was "handled around the continent and this country like
:01:31. > :01:33.raped as she was "handled around the slave". The prosecution said it
:01:33. > :01:36.sounded "more like something from a 19th century novel by Dickens than
:01:36. > :01:42.anything happening in the 21st century". Naomi Cornwell reports.
:01:42. > :01:45.It was in a flat above this Burnley shop that the 20—year—old woman
:01:45. > :01:48.It was in a flat above this Burnley kept prisoner in squalid conditions.
:01:48. > :01:51.Police came here in October last year after receiving an anonymous
:01:51. > :01:56.tip—off that she was being held vulnerable and naive, having never
:01:56. > :02:02.before left her village in Eastern Slovakia. She had little education,
:02:02. > :02:05.spoke no English and came from a Roma community, who feared being
:02:05. > :02:09.persecuted by the police. During a night out near her home in Zemplin,
:02:09. > :02:12.the woman was bundled into a car and plied with vodka. Her identification
:02:12. > :02:15.documents were taken from her and she was then forced onto a coach
:02:15. > :02:21.which, for two days, travelled crying, she was told that if the
:02:21. > :02:27.police found her they'd beat her and After arriving in London she was
:02:27. > :02:31.driven first to Bradford and then to Burnley. When police found her here,
:02:32. > :02:40.she told them she thought she was in the Czech Republic. I was so scared
:02:41. > :02:45.for my life. Many times I wanted to run away from them. Because of what
:02:45. > :02:50.the bad people told me, I didn't know where to run, where to go,
:02:50. > :02:54.the bad people told me, I didn't brought to England by Imrich Bodor.
:02:54. > :02:57.Shinwary, who then sold her to Azam Khan, a Pakistani man who'd been
:02:57. > :03:04.refused the right to remain in this country. In the flat above his aunt
:03:04. > :03:08.captured the moment she was taken to the mosque opposite the shop, where
:03:08. > :03:12.she was made to sign her name on a document. She didn't realise, but
:03:12. > :03:19.she'd just been married to him in a sham ceremony. Marriage to an EU
:03:19. > :03:30.national would allow him to stay in verdicts, the jury found the men all
:03:30. > :03:36.guilty of arranging or facilitating the arrival in the UK of a person
:03:36. > :03:42.imprisonment. In addition, Azzam Khan was found guilty of three
:03:42. > :03:45.counts of rape. I thank the member is of the community for putting
:03:45. > :03:49.counts of rape. I thank the member the telephone community. Best is
:03:49. > :03:53.safe to say that many members of the Radford has turned a blind eye to
:03:54. > :03:58.this. I would appeal to anyone to speak out against this kind of
:03:58. > :04:23.All five of those convicted will be The young woman involved in this
:04:23. > :04:30.Slovakia and is safe. She was helped by the charity the mad I trust,
:04:30. > :04:38.Slovakia and is safe. She was helped say they are dealing with more and
:04:38. > :04:51.more of these cases. —— MediTrust. have clients are coming with issues
:04:51. > :04:54.around sham marriages, raped and prostitution. We need to make sure
:04:54. > :05:01.they have the full support of the supported by having a really good,
:05:01. > :05:07.successful team who work with our offered everything that they need to
:05:07. > :05:10.move further on with their life after the harrowing events they
:05:10. > :05:12.move further on with their life gone through. How difficult is it
:05:12. > :05:20.for them to move on from what they clients really do struggle with
:05:20. > :05:27.that. It is very hard and harrowing challenging. The rewards that we see
:05:27. > :05:32.at the end, particularly when we do get convictions and we see that
:05:32. > :05:38.traffickers are brought to court for incredibly rewarding. It is hard to
:05:38. > :05:45.imagine that this can be happening in our towns, near where we live.
:05:45. > :05:51.Absolutely, it is. When I pass differently now because of what
:05:51. > :05:53.Absolutely, it is. When I pass gone on. It certainly opens your
:05:53. > :05:57.eyes to the fact that trafficking is common, more common than people
:05:57. > :06:00.eyes to the fact that trafficking is to comprehend. It is there, it is in
:06:00. > :06:02.your neighbourhood. We don't know who it is happening to, and I can
:06:02. > :06:12.charity we have the opportunity who it is happening to, and I can
:06:12. > :06:19.particular case, they went through eighth sham marriage conducted in a
:06:19. > :06:22.mosque. What role do you think the mosques can play in stopping this
:06:22. > :06:26.happening? I would have hoped this would have been picked up, but it
:06:26. > :06:30.offers the has not been and has would have been picked up, but it
:06:30. > :06:37.allowed to happen. I think all religions and faiths should be on
:06:37. > :06:45.board that when a milage happens, it is a real marriage, and it is a
:06:45. > :06:49.is concerning that these marriages are happening, when actually they
:06:49. > :06:55.are illegal. It is terrible for victims when it happens. Thank you
:06:55. > :07:07.Next tonight, the first owner of the £1 houses in Liverpool got the keys
:07:07. > :07:22.The council put 20 houses up for people applied for the houses and
:07:22. > :07:26.allocated. The homeowners are now properties, at an estimated cost of
:07:27. > :07:30.around £35,000, and live in them for at least five years. If the scheme
:07:30. > :07:34.is successful it could be extended as part of the council's work to
:07:34. > :07:38.bring 1,000 empty properties back into use. Our Merseyside Reporter
:07:39. > :07:43.You give me a pound, and I'll give you the keys to your new home. Mayor
:07:43. > :07:49.Joe Anderson and Jayalal Madde pose for the cameras outside Mr Madde's
:07:49. > :07:51.Orginally from Sri Lanka, he's lived in this part of Toxteth for eight
:07:51. > :08:08.years. Today, he saw the inside in this part of Toxteth for eight
:08:08. > :08:12.good, big sized house. I am very happy. Very lucky to have a house
:08:12. > :08:19.like this. How much work will you have to do on this? Quite a lot
:08:19. > :08:20.like this. How much work will you complete the work and get this house
:08:20. > :08:26.habitable again. If this pilot scheme of 21 £1 houses works, then
:08:26. > :08:30.extending it to other areas. And scheme of 21 £1 houses works, then
:08:30. > :08:30.extending it to other areas. And that might mean compulsory purchase
:08:30. > :08:38.orders, CPOs, for some. There's that might mean compulsory purchase
:08:38. > :08:42.lot of private sector bodies boarded up in this city. My message to them
:08:42. > :08:47.is get on with bringing these back into use, otherwise we will look at
:08:47. > :08:52.taking them from you and doing this scheme. New owners must restore
:08:52. > :08:54.taking them from you and doing this houses to modern standards. The
:08:54. > :08:56.council think that'll cost at least £35,000. We showed an estate agent
:08:56. > :09:03.images of the inside. And asked £35,000. We showed an estate agent
:09:03. > :09:12.given its location, what it's worth. Once it has been fully refurbished,
:09:12. > :09:18.£60,000. The area has seen a massive rejuvenation in terms of good press
:09:18. > :09:22.and so on over the past few years. Those who get a £1 house must live
:09:22. > :09:26.there for five years and not sub let. If the refurbishment's done in
:09:26. > :09:31.a year or so, they then get the Other news from around the North
:09:31. > :09:35.West now, and the Prime Minister says he'll raise the case of a
:09:36. > :09:38.Rochdale when he travels to Sri Lanka next month. Khuram Shaikh
:09:38. > :09:41.Rochdale when he travels to Sri Milnrow was killed nearly two years
:09:41. > :09:44.ago while on holiday in the country. David Cameron said he'd look at
:09:44. > :09:49.ago while on holiday in the country. case after Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk
:09:49. > :09:55.Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Labour's Shadow Minister for Public
:09:55. > :10:00.Health. She's been promoted in Labour Leader Ed Miliband's front
:10:00. > :10:03.bench reshuffle. 28 drivers have now been convicted in connection with a
:10:03. > :10:08.scam that saw an official from illegally wiping points from driving
:10:08. > :10:09.David Kelly and his customers have received sentences totalling more
:10:09. > :10:16.than 26 years. Kelly took money received sentences totalling more
:10:16. > :10:26.overturn more than 100 driving Greater Manchester Police were
:10:26. > :10:31.forced to use a taser on a naked and Airport. The man stripped off after
:10:31. > :10:36.he got off a flight from Malta and began abusing airport staff. A woman
:10:36. > :10:39.remonstrate with him but he became more disruptive and he was tasered.
:10:39. > :10:41.He was later charged with being drunk and disorderly and given a
:10:41. > :10:46.Two teenage boys have been sent drunk and disorderly and given a
:10:47. > :10:52.refusing to shave off their beards. claim facial hair is part of their
:10:52. > :10:55.religion and culture. But teachers at Mount Carmel School in Accrington
:10:55. > :10:59.say it breaches school rules. They say the boys can't come back to
:10:59. > :11:05.lessons until the beards have gone. Our Chief Reporter, Dave Guest,
:11:05. > :11:08.lessons until the beards have gone. Home time for pupils at Mount Carmel
:11:08. > :11:12.School in Accrington. But two of their classmates have been missing
:11:12. > :11:16.today. The 14—year—olds were told to go home yesterday for refusing to
:11:16. > :11:20.shave off their fledgling beards. The boys are Muslim insist facial
:11:20. > :11:26.hair is part of their culture and religion. Teachers say beards are
:11:26. > :11:33.banned under school rules. Among parents, opinions are divided about
:11:33. > :11:40.the school's stand. This is going they ate Klay our young boys and
:11:40. > :11:47.want to have beards. Another Muslim school. He said, if it is a policy,
:11:47. > :11:51.it is a policy. Another 14—year—old, who was ordered to remove his facial
:11:51. > :11:57.hair, told the BBC why he agreed to do so. They told me I had to shave
:11:57. > :12:03.my moustache if I wanted to go back to my lessons. Or I could go to
:12:03. > :12:11.another school. All the prophets of God have a beard. Anything the
:12:11. > :12:16.profits have is highly recommended. Putting a blade on your face is
:12:16. > :12:19.profits have is highly recommended. allowed. But many Muslim males don't
:12:19. > :12:27.wear beards. There are many people who don't adhere to face. The right
:12:27. > :12:28.thing is to bring up a child with the right values. This isn't just
:12:28. > :12:35.two teenage boys trying to push the right values. This isn't just
:12:35. > :12:39.headteacher would not be interviewed today, but in a statement he said
:12:39. > :12:47.the school is always keen to resolve parents and pupils know the rules
:12:47. > :12:55.regarding appearance and dress code. They are reminded of those
:12:55. > :12:57.rules regularly. We have had a huge response to this story — lots of you
:12:57. > :13:07.commenting on Twitter, Facebook response to this story — lots of you
:13:07. > :13:10.neither he nor his father nor his grandfather have beards. Patrick
:13:10. > :13:56.says: If it's the school rules, Thanks for all your comments — we
:13:56. > :14:02.Liverpool is planning to scrap its getting worried that everyone else
:14:02. > :14:05.might follow suit. The city's Mayor Joe Anderson says there is evidence
:14:05. > :14:10.that some bus lanes cause congestion and is suspending them for a trial
:14:10. > :14:14.period. The Transport minister says it could send out a worrying signal
:14:14. > :14:18.Lindsey Prosser reports. It's peak travelling time in Liverpool and for
:14:18. > :14:21.now the bus lanes are in operation but later this month they'll be
:14:21. > :14:24.suspended. The City Council says there is evidence that some lanes
:14:24. > :14:31.are causing congestion not easing it. I am a car driver normally,
:14:31. > :14:33.are causing congestion not easing they are just like roadblocks. A bus
:14:33. > :14:38.pulls up and you just can't get past. I thought they helped with the
:14:38. > :14:41.traffic. My son is a bus driver past. I thought they helped with the
:14:41. > :14:44.he is not amused. Whilst the public may be split on the issue, the
:14:44. > :14:47.Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who was Transport minister until
:14:47. > :14:52.this week's reshuffle, has expressed Liverpool. He says he's concerned
:14:52. > :14:56.that the bus lane suspension would nationally, about the importance of
:14:56. > :14:59.excellent public transport", and he's urged a more targeted approach,
:14:59. > :15:04.suspending only those lanes which are not effective. Bus companies say
:15:04. > :15:08.punctuality is crucial to increasing passenger numbers and bus lanes
:15:08. > :15:10.punctuality is crucial to increasing vital to achieving that. However,
:15:10. > :15:12.the City Council says it needs hard evidence on how effective the system
:15:12. > :15:43.believes far more consultation should have taken place before the
:15:43. > :15:47.We would have liked to have been consulted a lot more so that we
:15:47. > :15:50.could have worked together on it, and done it properly. That is what
:15:50. > :16:00.we feel. We feel we have been let down. The lanes will be suspended
:16:00. > :16:05.Still to come on North West Tonight: down here is one of Britain's oldest
:16:05. > :16:09.I will find out how they are going to inspect it for the first time in
:16:09. > :16:12.And going for a spin with a Hairy Biker from Barrow. Strictly's Dave
:16:12. > :16:29.Myers gives us a sneak preview of Would you be happy to go to work
:16:29. > :16:32.inside a tunnel, hundreds of feet underground? Well that's just what a
:16:32. > :16:35.team of specially trained engineers are doing right now. They've been
:16:35. > :16:38.dubbed the aquanauts, and have the task of inspecting the Haweswater
:16:38. > :16:45.Aqueduct — one of the region's most mammoth task. The pipe, which runs
:16:45. > :16:51.from Haweswater to Bury, is 82 miles long and 50 years old, and has never
:16:51. > :17:02.been drained before. Our environment Correspondent Judy Hobson has been
:17:02. > :17:10.It's been a long shift — these aquanauts have been underground
:17:10. > :17:10.It's been a long shift — these eight hours. It goes pretty quickly
:17:10. > :17:13.because you keep moving all the eight hours. It goes pretty quickly
:17:13. > :17:16.and you don't notice the time going by. 100 engineers were specially
:17:16. > :17:24.chosen after undergoing training in this mock pipe in Kendal. They had
:17:24. > :17:29.to prove they could handle the job. It is a long day. They are in the
:17:29. > :17:33.difficult conditions, but they are experienced tunnel engineers. The
:17:33. > :17:38.aqueduct runs from Haweswater to Bury and is 82 miles long. Engineers
:17:38. > :17:42.have cut five main hatches along the top The aquanauts enter and walk
:17:42. > :17:46.about 2,000 metres a day. At its deepest, the tunnel is 1,000 feet
:17:46. > :17:53.below ground and is 2.5 metres in diameter. Pipe buggies, seen here in
:17:53. > :18:04.the mock tunnel, help to ferry the engineers and equipment. It is dark,
:18:04. > :18:12.its and cold. In some parts of the tunnel, the nearest exit will be
:18:12. > :18:15.Hygiene is essential — this pipe carries our drinking water. The
:18:15. > :18:22.engineers have to wear clothing which has been disinfected. You
:18:22. > :18:26.either do it or you can't. You are not aware of what is above you,
:18:26. > :18:28.either do it or you can't. You are be honest, because it is just the
:18:28. > :18:29.surroundings you are in. It is normal for us. So far, half the
:18:29. > :18:35.aqueduct has now been inspected normal for us. So far, half the
:18:35. > :18:37.how is it looking? It was built normal for us. So far, half the
:18:37. > :18:45.years ago and it is in really good concrete all the way down. The job
:18:45. > :18:48.should be completed by the weekend. The water will be tested before
:18:48. > :18:56.should be completed by the weekend. pumped fom Haweswater to around
:18:56. > :18:57.should be completed by the weekend. The organisers of the Aintree Grand
:18:57. > :19:01.National have put together what they're calling the biggest launch
:19:01. > :19:04.event in its history. It might seem incredibly early for a race that
:19:04. > :19:06.takes place in April, but the idea is to celebrate a new era for the
:19:06. > :19:10.famous steeplechase, which will is to celebrate a new era for the
:19:10. > :19:13.offering a top prize of more than £1 million for the first time. There's
:19:13. > :19:16.been a lot of secrecy surrounding the event in Liverpool, where a
:19:16. > :19:20.special mystery guest is expected to make an appearance. As will our
:19:20. > :19:31.special mystery guest is expected to own Peter Marshall, who I'm hoping
:19:31. > :19:35.These special guest has got four legs. Welcome to the party. What
:19:35. > :19:40.they try to do here is to create a little taste of entry. They have
:19:40. > :19:43.built a fence and there are two little horses if you fancy a ride.
:19:43. > :19:49.Through this curtain is an area little horses if you fancy a ride.
:19:49. > :19:53.refinement and music. It is ladies Day, when fashion comes to the fore.
:19:53. > :20:01.That special guest is due to arrive shortly. First of all, have a look
:20:01. > :20:04.To coin a phrase, they are off. Frantic preparations for tonight's
:20:04. > :20:14.official launch of the 2014 Grand is the richest steeplechase in the
:20:14. > :20:22.world. £1 million is a magical figure. It is more than the money,
:20:22. > :20:30.special feed for riding in the Grand National, but they ride for nothing.
:20:30. > :20:36.national pride itself as the supreme test of both horse and rider. It has
:20:36. > :20:40.been run since 1839. The sheer global scale of this one race can
:20:40. > :20:49.boggle the mind. It will be watched by 600 million television viewers
:20:49. > :20:51.attracting a huge audience, it will also attract some controversy. Two
:20:51. > :20:57.horses died during the race in also attract some controversy. Two
:20:57. > :21:01.and again in 2012. Changes were also attract some controversy. Two
:21:01. > :21:07.to fences for this year's race. Wooden centres were replaced by
:21:07. > :21:11.fatalities. It is the greatest race in the world, and we want to protect
:21:11. > :21:14.it. A key part in this modern Iraq is that safety is paramount. We
:21:14. > :21:18.it. A key part in this modern Iraq that this year when the horses
:21:18. > :21:20.jumped beaches, the crowd roared. It was an amazing sound, and amazing
:21:20. > :21:27.feature. Campaigners would like was an amazing sound, and amazing
:21:27. > :21:32.see more changes still, including a reduction in the number of horses
:21:32. > :21:37.taking part. It has critics, but the Grand National remains the nation's
:21:37. > :21:40.favourite horse race. Let's go outside now where the guest of
:21:40. > :21:47.honour is due to arrive. He is running fashionably late, but I
:21:47. > :21:47.honour is due to arrive. He is tell you that it is Ambley House,
:21:47. > :22:01.What better special guest could tell you that it is Ambley House,
:22:01. > :22:09.have? He will stand in the specially created winners enclosure. Still not
:22:09. > :22:13.here, but if you tune into our late bulletin tonight, you will see all
:22:13. > :22:17.about him. At least he wasn't late He's got all the echoes, and some of
:22:17. > :22:21.the steps, of John Sergeant and He's got all the echoes, and some of
:22:21. > :22:25.Widdecombe. Dave Myers, one half of the Hairy Bikers, is dad—dancing his
:22:25. > :22:32.way into the hearts of the public on TV chef from Barrow is in the midst
:22:32. > :22:35.of rehearsals for Saturday's show, but will he survive? We've been
:22:35. > :22:37.of rehearsals for Saturday's show, get a sneak preview of his latest
:22:37. > :22:39.moves. And we sent a reporter with two left feet, just to make Dave
:22:39. > :22:51.feel like John Travolta. Here's two left feet, just to make Dave
:22:51. > :22:58.Strictly Come Dancing has got the X Factor. It is waltzing ahead in
:22:58. > :22:58.Strictly Come Dancing has got the X Saturday schedules. With a little
:22:58. > :23:22.I tell you what, if Mick Jagger moved like that, you wouldn't need
:23:22. > :23:36.be talcum powder. Terrifying. I actually recoiled in horror. Be
:23:36. > :23:46.careful. I am not just spaghetti. kitchen, but it is murder on the
:23:46. > :23:49.dance floor. Lennart said it was a bit like amateur cooking. But they
:23:49. > :23:56.all enjoyed it, I think. I even bit like amateur cooking. But they
:23:56. > :24:03.Craig smile this week. It is not as easy as it looks. Is he getting
:24:03. > :24:16.Craig smile this week. It is not as better? Every day is an improvement
:24:16. > :24:33.find out. Two, three, beans on toast. I think I will stick to
:24:33. > :24:38.everyone's vote. From Tenby to Torquay, if you like it, please
:24:38. > :24:38.everyone's vote. From Tenby to for me. They are keeping mum about
:24:38. > :24:42.Saturday's routine, but he says for me. They are keeping mum about
:24:42. > :24:57.he does go out, it will be with for me. They are keeping mum about
:24:57. > :25:08.She is a brave woman. He is doing well. Good luck, we are rooting
:25:08. > :25:08.She is a brave woman. He is doing It could be you. You have got the
:25:08. > :25:23.heels for it. They make it look Yesterday we saw temperatures reach
:25:23. > :25:26.disappointing 13 Celsius. But we have had plenty of sunshine, so
:25:26. > :25:29.disappointing 13 Celsius. But we has been a fairly warm afternoon. If
:25:29. > :25:36.you think that is a bit cold, cold still tomorrow. Highs of 11 Celsius
:25:36. > :25:43.expected for tomorrow, but it is weekend, when we could see 13 or 14
:25:43. > :25:48.average for this time of the year. It is all courtesy of warm air
:25:48. > :25:52.flowing back from the North on Friday and Saturday and pushing
:25:52. > :25:54.flowing back from the North on the cold air. This evening, still
:25:54. > :25:59.some sunshine in some places. Lots of clear skies, and we will keep
:25:59. > :26:05.those clear skies as we head into dawn. It is a bit breezy. Because of
:26:05. > :26:09.those clear skies, temperatures dawn. It is a bit breezy. Because of
:26:09. > :26:18.drop as low as three Celsius in Cumbria. Maybe even lower than this
:26:18. > :26:23.in some rural areas. Expect some grass frost tomorrow morning in
:26:24. > :26:28.places. Conditions tomorrow look better than today. You should see
:26:28. > :26:34.plenty of sunshine from the word go. We hang on the clear skies from
:26:34. > :26:36.first thing. Cloud may bubble up through the afternoon, there will be
:26:36. > :26:40.a change in the wind direction, through the afternoon, there will be
:26:40. > :26:44.although it won't be a particularly warm day, factor in the winter
:26:44. > :26:49.chill, and 11 Celsius will feel cooler than that. In some places
:26:49. > :26:55.tomorrow, I think temperatures will struggle to reach double figures.
:26:55. > :27:03.Once again, prepare those winter weekend, temperatures pick up again.
:27:03. > :27:07.We may see more in the way of cloud cover as we head into the weekend
:27:07. > :27:10.and high pressure is building once again. 13 or 14, and hopefully less
:27:10. > :27:18.windy than it has been over the again. 13 or 14, and hopefully less
:27:18. > :27:24.Thank you. So, the cold snap didn't last too long. And it didn't feel
:27:24. > :27:39.that cold. Well, tomorrow will be But you said it will warm up. Yes,
:27:39. > :27:41.Thank you for watching. Good night.