18/10/2013 North West Tonight

from the BBC News at Six. So it s goodbye from me, and on

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and

Roger Johnson. Our top story. Anger from Jade Anderson's parents

as the owner of the dogs that killed her escapes jail. In absolutely

devastated. It is disgusting. Beverely Concannon was charged with

cruelty to animals, all she could be prosecuted for. Also tonight: join

George and I for the last leg of the road to recovery. But with a third

of the economy in the construction sector wiped out, what can happen?

Not in the equation. A council bans this headstone, but the family says

it doesn't add up. For sale on eBay ` the Lake District

waters which inspired William Wordsworth. And, Lancashire's

underground architectural gem that is briefly open to the public before

it disappears for ever. A woman, whose dogs mauled a teenage

girl to death at a house near Wigan, has escaped a prison sentence.

Beverley Concannon was taken to court not for the death of Jade

Anderson, but for harming the vicious dogs that killed her. She

was given a 16 week suspended sentence. Jade's family say they

feel let down by the justice system. Stuart Flinders reports.

Hiding her face, Beverley Concannon came to court to be sentenced for

causing unnecessary suffering to her dogs, not for the death of a teenage

girl. The Crown Prosecution Service said there wasn't enough evidence

for a manslaughter charge. Jade Anderson was savaged by four dogs at

Concannon's house. In a statement, a police officer described finding her

body in the kitchen as the animals tried to get back inside.

The sound of the dogs in the back yard was horrific. It sounded as

though they were ripping something to bits or fighting with each other.

I haven't dealt with anything as distressing as this incident in my

career. The court heard why the dogs became

hyper`aggressive. The biggest and fiercest of the dogs was this one.

It was kept in a cage barely bigger than itself and had to twist every

time it moved. It was inadequately exes `` exercised. Beverley

Concannon called it her baby. It had separation distress and would scream

every time she put on coat. On the day that Jade died, she had left the

house to buy wallpaper. The house is now boarded up.

Beverley Concannon has twice had to move home since Jade's death because

of threats and intimidation. But Jade's family believe she hasn't

been punished enough. I'm devastated. I am disgusted with

the justice system. Today was just regarding the dangerous dogs. I

think she should have been held responsible. We got a life sentence.

Through her in lawyer, it she was sorry about what happened. As she

left court today, she said nothing. Would you like to say anything to

Jake's family? Locked up, beaten, and forced to

live as a slave. Edward was trafficked into the North West from

Eastern Europe having being promised a job where he could earn the money

he desperately needed to support his family. According to one charity,

it's an all too familiar story in our region, which it says has a

human trafficking problem. It comes as the government announces plans

introduce a maximum life sentence for the worst cases of human

trafficking and exploitation. Now living in a safe house, Edward

was trafficked into the North West from Eastern Europe for what he

hoped would be the start of a better life. I was told about a good job in

England. But when we finished, we were not paid. Instead, we were

locked up. They would beat us and threaten us if we didn't finish the

work. Under constant threat of violence,

he witnessed his own sale as a slave.

Edward managed to be escape. He is being helped by the charity Hope for

Justice. He is rebuilding his life. I think the north`west does have a

problem with human trafficking. We find victims on a weekly basis who

have been trafficked into this area. Recently, five people were found

guilty of trafficking a vulnerable young woman from Slovakia to

Burnley, where she forced into a sham marriage. This week Ilyas and

Tallat Ashar were convicted of trafficking a 10`year`old girl into

the country and keeping her as a servant at their Eccles home.

The Home Secretary is introducing a modern slavery Bill, and this could

mean that perpetrators could get up to life in prison for the crime of

human trafficking. I hope it does cause the traffickers that are

operating in the West of England a cause for concern.

The Government's new measures have come too late for victims like

Edward. It's hoped it could help others.

More than a third has been wiped off the value of the North West's

construction sector since the recession began. House building is

down, infastructure projects stalled. In fact, we've suffered

more than any other part of the UK. While some areas are now enjoying

growth, we are still in decline But, are there green shoots? Lets

find out as we go over to Jayne McCubbin live in Knutsford for us

tonight with the Chancellor ` for the last leg of the Road to

Recovery. Enjoying a pint after a long

journey. Not yet, because I would like to buy this man a drink. For

seven weeks, we have as to his office for an interview. Last night,

they said it was not possible. We would have asked him some serious

questions. Not least, the construction sector. Look at this.

We're back on the road with Mr Osborne. Today, we're taking George

home, but on the way, we will see if the economy has been rebuilt. Today,

the biggest house`builder has made a big loss. The construction industry

has been hit by the recession. House`building down and

infrastructure projects stored. But, were driving to Warrington to

see growth. I was last here ten years ago and it did not look like

this. If you are one of 150,000 to drive down the road every day, you

will have noticed this the Omega Development I was told of thousands

of jobs and is billions of pounds of funding, but then the recession and

nothing happens. Until now. We have a story of success. It is happening

quickly. In the last 12 months, we have let a lot of space. There are

many new jobs. The builders work was doing be done here. Big companies

like Asda are already moving in You must have driven past here every day

for many years asking when and if it would happen? I was determined it

would happen, but when it would happen was the big question. We have

appeared on the map of regeneration. This is news that will thrill Mr

Osborne, but experts know we are still lagging far behind the rest of

the UK. Those big spends are important, because, for every pound

spent on this project `` products, many more are generated.

If you compare as to London and the south`east, we do not get our fair

share. The sun has started to rise above

the hill and the future looks brighter than it did. So, is it

true, and are you feeling it? We met the factory workers who are, the

retail workers who are waiting to feel it is, the unemployed who are

losing faith they ever will feel it. But there are signs that recovery is

on the way. So, is Knutsford feeling it? Are you

feeling this recovery? A mixed bag. Let me take you over to

George here. In an unscientific poll, we have asked people how they

are feeling. 30 people said yes 40 people said no, they are not feeling

it. Thank you for joining us. What you think of this? 30 said yes, 40

said no. When will it happen? I think it is close. At the start of

the week, we only had statistics, so it is great to meet real people and

see what they are saying. It is a good start. These businesses are

feeling it, and it have to filter down?

Yes, it takes people a while longer to feel it takes people a while

longer to Felix. I think people will say that they will feel it soon ``

to feel it. These surveys that we have are positive.

Tonight we were looking at the construction sector. When is the

Mersey crossing going to happen The electrification of the rail lines,

when will these happen? We would have liked to have talked to the

Chancellor about that, because that would have made a difference.

Absolutely. It is really important. We need these circulation in the

Northwest economy. Structure really drives the economy, so we need to

get this going. If one other thing changes the

economy, what will it be? I think we need more exported. So, China.

Get the success of these other countries? Yes. We need to do some

more. Thank you for joining us. I have

some things to say. On Sunday, please watch Sunday Politics. They

will be talking about China and the economy. Also, I want to apologise

if you have been singing On The Road Again all week.

It's maybe unscientific, but it is interesting to hear people 's views

on what they are thinking. It is a television device.

Here is the news. A former police Sergeant who worked

in Lancashire and Liverpool has been convicted of 20 counts of historical

child sex abuse, including rape and indecent assault. 78``year`old

Jeffrey Lake was arrested in January and extradited from his home in

Australia to face trial. He'll be sentenced next week.

A Muslim man from Rochdale, who speaks out against extremism, says

he's been targeted by members of the Somali Islamic group, al`Shabab

Mohammed Shafiq from the Ramadan Foundation says he's been visited by

the police and told of threats made against him. The hour`long video,

which praises the killing of the Middleton soldier, Lee Rigby, is

currently being assessed by police. One of the UK's guest flood defences

has been given approval. ?86,00 will be given to protect the area.

Blackpool and why councils will work together to make the improvements.

And Liverpool has been named the UK's best port of call by an online

travel review website. Cruise Critic, the sister site of Trip

Advisor, names the city as their top destination based on the warm

welcome visitors receive, the historic architecture and nearby

attractions. Two police officer from Merseyside

who saved a stab victim's life have won the North West Regional Police

Bravery Award. PC Peter Stevens seen here on the left, gave first

aid to a man who'd suffered multiple stab wounds, whilst his colleague PC

Nathan Jackman restrained the attacker. The attacker was later

jailed for ten years. When Allan Robinson died last year,

his family wanted something individual to remember him by. So

they put an engraving of a sudoku puzzle and one of a mathematical

equation on his headstone. Allan, from Farndon in Cheshire, was a

mathematician by profession and a bit of a sudoku fanatic. But the

parish council have told his widow that the memorial breaks their

rules, and it has to go. She says she'll go to court. Andy Gill

reports. A widow and a son tend their's

father's grave. Look closely, and you can see how the family has

personalised it. It has the grade of a sudoku puzzle. He worked as a

mathematician. He loved the sudoku puzzles. With the equation, it was

taken from his thesis which he did in 19 70. But the parish council has

said the stone is against regulations and has to be removed.

Other stones in the cemetery also have distinctive designs, so we

asked the council what harm Mr Robinson's stone is doing.

What happens when the next stone comes in and it is perhaps not quite

what you would hope to see? Who are you and I to judge to the family who

submitted that, it might mean the world.

The design should have been submitted to the council beforehand,

but the family said the stonemason said it would not be a problem. If

it had been rejected, Mrs Robinson said that she would be OK with that,

but now it is here, she wanted to stay. It has been very upsetting. I

have been concerned about what might happen. It has been a lot of hassle

for me and just totally unnecessary. I have been very upset.

The council will discuss the matter next month. Mrs Robinson wants the

stone to say and says that she will go to court if necessary.

Still to come on North West Tonight: The Premier League's back.

But can the man who fired England to the World Cup ignite Manchester

United's title defence? And it's amazing what you can pick up on the

Internet these days. Join me later and I will explain how a few clicks

could make you a custodian of the Lake District.

Now, have you ever bought or sold something on eBay?

Yes, I have sold quite a lot. A pair of shoes, a toy? But what

about a prime piece of the Lake District that inspired Wordsworth?

Buyers get a 15 year lease on 2 0 acres, including Esthwaite Water

which is near Hawkshead, for a guide price of ?300,000. Dave Guest has

spent the day with the landowner: as Internet auction lots ago this must

be one of the most spectacular. 280 acres of the Lake District. At

its heart, Esthwaite Water. For 30 years, Nigel has been the custodian

of this place, as leaseholder. He now plans to pass the lease on to

someone else, ask Inc it for sale `` offering it for sale and eBay. It

could be worth a lot of money. What is the best thing about being the

leaseholder on this lake? I think it is the piece of it.

We think that this in spire at Beatrix Potter to write her stories.

The only things that live around here are the frogs. William

Wordsworth is also said to have drawn inspiration from this area.

Often, when we have given our bodies to the winds, and things come

sweeping through the darkness.. In his writing, the lake comes

through the writing, reflecting on his childhood. Thousands of visitors

come here every year. Nigel offers a boat hire and nature safaris to make

his living. He hopes someone else will carry on that work.

And the auction site, they have said that there will be no postage price,

you must get the goods yourself It is very beautiful, but only 5

years. It makes we want to visit for the weekend.

Sport now, and Richard, attention turns back to the Premier League

after the international break? Yes, and for all our sides, a chance

to take stock of where they are early in the season. Liverpool will

be looking to continue their excellent start at Newcastle,

Manchester City travel to West Ham, while Everton and Manchester United

host Hull and Southampton respectively. And after seven

games, the Champions know that, compared to this time last season,

they have work to do to climb back to the top of the Premier League hit

parade. 14th with just six points last

October. Liverpool, second, with ten more, are the biggest movers. With a

lethal duo up front, and the England captain still calling the tune in

midfield. He shoots, at least cause. `` the scores.

We have had a strong season. Our best players will be back.

Down too are Manchester City. Third at this stage last season, fifth

this. But with new stars like Negredo starting to show their

worth, their manager is happy with their current position.

We must arrange the mistakes so that they are not unnecessary. We must

play well. Everton are down three. But seventh

and 12 points still marks a good start under new boss Roberto

Martinez. His band of blues have a fresh look about them this season.

We need to make sure that we develop a way of playing that will be

consistent and strong throughout the season. I feel that the squad is

ready to do that. The biggest fallers are Manchester

United. Down from second on 15 points last season, toninth and ten

points this. But, on the plus side for David Moyes, his creative force,

Wayne Rooney, appears to be back to his best. With a lot more to come

from another who appears destined for fame and fortune.

I don't think that anybody plays every week for Manchester United,

because we have many players. But he is a great player.

And with struggling Stoke and Fulham to come next, United will be

confident they'll soon be climbers once again.

As Lancashire's cricketers prepare for their return to Division One of

the County Championship, 15 players have signed new deals. They include

Simon Kerrigan ` who made his England test debut in this summer's

Ashes series ` and the captain Glen Chapple, who'll turn 40 at the start

of next season. Super League champions Wigan

Warriors have signed two more players ` centre Dan Sarginson and

forward Tony Clubb ` both from London Broncos. They'll join up with

the Warriors in November for the start of pre`season training.

Here's how the Samoan Rugby League squad are getting to know the locals

in Warrington. With just over a week until the start of the World Cup,

they've been greeting local school children with a traditional war

dance, the Siva Tau. Samoa will be based in Warrington during the

tournament. Preston's Laura Massaro, the World

Number Two squash player, is through to the final of the US Open. She

beat Malaysia's Low Wee Wern by three games to two, and faces the

defending champion Nicol David for the title tonight.

And some more success. In tennis, the Liverpool brothers Ken and Neal

Skupski are through to the final of their first ATP event in Moscow

They'd already beaten the top seeds in the quarter final. This afternoon

they defeated the Russian pair Victor Baluda and Konstantin

Kravchuk. Well done to them. The older brother

is 30 now and he is being helped along by his younger brother.

Now to the tale of Lancashire's hidden gem of Victorian

architecture. A huge underground reservoir opens to the public this

weekend so that locals can see it for a first and final time before

its disappears for good. The reservoir at Clayton Le Woods near

Chorley is being demolished to make way for new homes. Peter Marshall's

been to have a look. Outside, it is a building site.

Underground, it is something special.

Built around 1883, it's been described as an underground

cathedral. Victorian built a vault of bridgework `` brickwork of

amazing volume. It is amazing. It is very atmospheric and wonderful.

It is now abandoned, but in its day it held 3000 gallons of drinking

water. This man is one of the few people who has been here before He

took these photos of it back in 1980.

Nobody around here had no idea what treasures there were below the

ground. Many of the reservoirs are concrete columns with flat concrete

roofs. They do not have the appeal of these vaulted arches. This is

probably the last one in the area, and once this is gone, that is it.

Developers are trying to find an affordable way to preserve it, but

it was not viable. In a fortnight, it will be demolished to get new

homes. But not before the public can see it for the first and last time.

We thought it was a good opportunity to let locals look at the reservoir

and see the architecture and the heritage. It officially opens to the

public tomorrow morning, then for the next two weeks it will be open

seven days a week. The last time to see a piece of Lancashire history

before it is gone for good. Damp underground, as well. How about

the weather aboveground? Yes, it will be quite unsettled

There will be some bright spells, but you also need your umbrellas. It

is because of this. We will have this rain which will push through

and on Saturday night will have a lot of showers. There will also be

showers on Sunday. That is because of the low pressure. Tonight, we

will see some more rain drifting in from the Irish season. We will hang

on to plenty of clouds. `` the Irish Sea. The temperatures will be in

double figures in many of the towns and cities. Tomorrow, it will be a

warm day than today. There will be a lot of showers as well. In the

morning, there will be light rain. The rain eases away. We may cease

bright spells moving through the clouds, but as we head to the

afternoon, we will see some heavy showers.

Look at these temperatures. We could see 17 Celsius in Cheshire. On

Sunday, I am afraid there will be more showers and it will be quite

cold. Thank you. Wet and warm for the weekend. Yes, a hint of

everything. Have a lovely weekend. Thank you for watching. Goodbye