10/02/2014 North West Tonight

Thank you. That's all from the BBC News at Six so it's goodbye from me,

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson and

Annabel Tiffin. Our top story. Tracey Shelvey died after a man was

cleared of raping her. Now the police operation is being

investigated. Tracey was one of seven complainants

in the case. Also tonight: Cumbria's education crisis. Inspectors raise

serious concerns about failing secondary schools in the county

Carry on drinking. But the Police hit out as Blackpool rejects curbs

on 24`hour licences. My dad Les Dawson. Now his baby s

grown`up, she's made a surprising discovery about her father's life.

And taking the plunge with Davina McCold. How the TV celebrity was

reduced to tears for charity in Windermere.

A week ago Tracey Shelvey fell to her death from a Rochdale shopping

centre. Days earlier she'd heard that the man she and six other women

had accused of rape had been acquitted. Now it's emerged an

investigation has started into the way the police handled some of the

cases. Tracey Shelvey's death has prompted

one victim of a separate rape case to waive her right to anonymity and

speak to us about the trauma of going through the legal system.

Here's Jayne McCubbin. In June 012 a number of women went to police to

make allegations of rape. In July, three of those women complained to

GMP about the way in which their cases had been handled. The matter

was referred to the IPCC and IT began an investigation. But almost

immediately it stalls. That's because in August 2012 ` 24`year`old

Patrick Hall is charged with seven counts of rape. At that point the

legal system says the IPCC can't question officers involved in a

court case. A trial and a retrial follow. Patrick Hall is finally

found not guilty of all charges Within days of that acquittal,

Tracey Shelvey is dead. Now the IPCC said they are now looking again at

the original case. The court process is traumatic. Traumatic for people

who're wrongly accused. Traumatic for the complainant. So tonight we

reveal a unique project in Liverpool to take some of the trauma out of

the court process. It has been the hardest two years of

my life. It is difficult to say the word out lied `` loud. I tried to

commit suicide in January. You feel worthless. Aimee Pye waived her

right to anonymity to speak to us. She felt so strongly that victims of

sexual assault need a voice. She felt so strongly that the court

system could make victims doubt themselves. If I have to stand up

against someone who's telling me are you sure that's right? Is your

memory correct? You doubt yourself. Frances Andrade committed suicide

during the trial of Micheal Brewer. Her husband said she was traumatised

after being accused of lying in court. Micheal Brewer was later

convicted of her sexual assault Tracey Shelvey fell to her death

last week at the end of what police described as a traumatic case for

all involved. Patrick Hall was proven innocent. Now here at

Liverpool Crown Court, a new scheme's about to be piloted. They

hope it will deal with the trauma of giving evidence. Complainants can be

cross examined on camera months earlier in the court process. And

without the alleged offender being present. We hope that the new system

will make sure the victim can give the best evidence that they can

They will be able to give it early in the process which means their

recollection will be as fresh as it can be and it will mean that they

are not in the court building, not in the same room as the defendant

and we hope that will empower them to give the best evidence that they

are able to give. Amy was supported by the rape and criminal abuse

centre will stop her attacker eventually pleaded guilty. The talk

your body. Give yourself a voice and don't let them take that away. In

the trial involving Tracy `` Tracey Shelvey, Patrick was found not

guilty. An inquest will decide how and why she fell to her death. The

IPCC are now looking at the original case and on looking at how it was

handled by the GNP. We expect further news on it this week.

The Schools watchdog Ofsted has raised serious concerns about the

quality of secondary education across Cumbria. It says too few

secondary schools in the county are good in Barrow all three

state`funded secondaries are now deemed to be failing.

The Local Education Authority admits work has to be done but says the

county has many great schools. Peter Marshall reports.

The message to schools like Walney is must do better. It's been put in

special measures following its latest Ofsted inspection. Some

parents are not impressed. I don't think the school is very good. It is

down to stability at the moment They are chopping and changing. The

school, now has a new head and says an improvement plan is already in

place. In Barrow all three state funded secondary schools are now

deemed to be failing to some degree. Furness Academy remains in special

measures but is making adequate progress. Inspectors identified

serious weaknesses at St Bernard's Catholic High School. Its overall

effectiveness ` inadequate. We want to provoke change and reaction. We

are desperate that the children get a better education. We believe all

children should go to a good school and that is what we want to haven't

all stop `` what we want to happen. The watchdog went in to 17 secondary

schools in the county in November and December after concerns about

poor performance. It says the inspections have raised concerns

over: it does paint a negative picture but I would urge people to

remember the positives. There is a huge amount of good work that goes

on in schools throughout Cumbria and I have no doubt that Cumbria County

Council says its working hard to improve those schools under its

control but stresses that 65% of secondary school pupils in the

county attend a school that is either good or outstanding. Will

continue. Ofsted says it will hold follow up inspections in the next

few weeks. A teenager who attacked a paramedic

with a baseball bat while he was responding to an emergency call in

Leyland has been jailed for eight years. Lewis Westwood, who's 19 hit

the trainee over the head last October. The paramedic sustained a

fractured skull and is still recovering.

The retrial has started of a police call handler who's accused of giving

information to the family of Dale Cregan at the time he was on the

run. It's alleged Kathryn Smith abused her position of trust within

Greater Manchester Police because her boyfriend was a friend of

Cregan. She's on trial with two other people, one of them Cregan's

mum Anita. The family of a pensioner from

Kendal who disappeared on holiday last summer held a service today to

celebrate his life. Roger Bainbridge was 67 when he disappeared on the

Greek holiday island of Anti`Paxos. His family say that although they

can't hold a funeral they wanted to give friends and family a chance to

mark his life. The North West continues to have the

the highest number of empty shops in the country. According to the Local

Data Company, more than 17% of units in the region were empty last year.

Among the worst performing locations are Morecambe's West End, Bolton and

Altrincham. Greater Manchester's Chief Constable

has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from the death of a man shot

dead by one of his officers. Sir Peter Fahy is accused of breaching

health and safety laws in connection with the death of Anthony Grainger.

He was fatally wounded during a police operation in Cheshire in

2012. His family and supporters say the legal action against the force

doesn't go far enough. Here's our Chief Reporter Dave Guest.

They say they want justice for Grainger, and they believe the

authorities are failing to deliver it. The Crown Prosecution Service is

taking action against Greater Manchester Police for allegedly

breaking Health and Safety laws But Anthony Grainger's supporters

demonstrating outside the CPS offices in Manchester today, say

that's not enough. We are after justice and not after the person

that pulled the trigger but also the commanding officers who were

involved in the operation. Anthony Grainger died at the wheel of this

stolen Audi on a car park in Cucheth, Cheshire in 2012. GMP

officers believed he was about to take part in an armed robbery. But

no weapons were found in the vehicle. The Crown Prosecution

Service decided not to take action against the officer who pulled the

trigger. Instead they've opted to take the Chief Constable to court

for allegedly breaking health and safety rules. The chief is what s

known as the corporate sole of the force, a legal status that means he

represents the force but doesn't share criminal liability. In this

case it's alleged there were serious deficiencies in the preparation of

the operation which exposed people to unnecessary risk. If convicted

the force could face an unlimited fine. In London today a lawyer

entered a not guilty plea to the health and safety breach on behalf

of Sir Peter who was not in court. There'll be a further hearing later

this month at Southwark Crown Court. These protesters say that will not

deliver true justice for Anthony Grainger.

A ban on early morning drinking in Blackpool has been rejected. The

police and local council leaders wanted alcohol sales after 3am to be

stopped to end drunkenness and violence on the streets. The

council's licensing committee has rejected the plan ` saying trouble

is more likely to be caused by people drinking before that time. So

what happens now? Stuart Flinders reports. Blackpool at three in the

morning. The police and council leaders wanted this to be closing

time to limit drunken behaviour But the town's biggest bars and clubs

won't be closing for another two hours yet. And the council's own

licensing committee has now rejected an EMRO or Early Morning Restriction

Order, saying the cause of trouble on Blackpool's streets was more

likely to be drinking before 3am. Lancashire police say they are

disappointed by this decision and they say late night drinking causes

problems for them, ambulance staff, shop and Post Office workers to

They say they want to work with the licensees to find an alternative

solution for the problem but you get the impression that the relationship

between both sides has been damaged. The relationship has not been as it

should be. Who's fault is it? On both sides. I don't know. Have the

police handed it badly? I think they have probably gone into quickly

without looking at alternatives Lancashire Police wouldn't discuss

the issue on camera. Nor would Blackpool Council, which says an

alternative solution to the problem of drunken behaviour must be found.

Visitors agree there's a problem. But what's the solution? A very good

question. I really don't know, to be honest with you. They are not going

to shut the bars at 3am. What is the alternative? You need the later

hours because if everyone is going at the same time, it causes hassle.

It is a story lots of you have been getting in touch with. We may read

out some of your comments later Still to come on North West Tonight.

A tale of two cities. The best of times, the worst of times `

contrasting football fortunes in Liverpool and Manchester.

And pedalling through the pain. Davina McCall heads for Accrington `

on the latest leg of her Sport Relief challenge.

Les Dawson was one of the greatest comics to come from the North West `

and became something of a national treasure. He was famous for his

extraordinary piano playing ` and his Sissy and Ada routines. But he

had other talents which have ` until recently ` remained a secret.

His daughter Charlotte was a baby when Les died and during her journey

to find out more about him, she made an amazing discovery. Six Music s

Chris Hawkins went to meet her for this week's Inside Out North West.

I kept getting this recurring nightmare that I was a sports car

and the wife's mother had her foot on the throttle. This is a special

place for Charlotte. She had to grow up without her dad, sharing the

memory with his adoring fans but never actually knowing him in

person. Charlotte has had to piece together her father's story for

herself. This is for you Charlotte. This is

the home video that Les Dawson made for her. Now she wants to find out

about the man and his rise to fame and the talent he kept secret. In

the North of England, we have something called learners. This is a

romantic novel I found when I was moving house. I came across the

romantic novel that he wrote. He wrote it in a woman's name. He hid

behind a pseudonym. Yes, he did I have read every book. I have had to

get to know him through all of this but I am so lucky in a way because

he has left me search an incredible legacy. At the end of the day, all I

want is my dad back. Wave to the camera. Say hello. You won't

remember any of this. He makes you laugh every time you see him. You

can see more of that at Inside Out tonight at 7:30pm.

Richard is herewith the sport. Another painful weekend if you're a

Manchester United fan. Particularly as Liverpool had such a

good result as well? Yes David Moyes used the phrase as bad is it gets

and even though they didn't lose against Fulham.. It finished 2` .

Iit was the way it ended that was so disappointing. United, who had three

quarters of the possession and put in more than 80 crosses conceded

right at the death. Liverpool thrashed the then leaders Arsenal

5`1 and as you can see it puts a completely different complexion on

the Premier League table. It leaves United nine points behind Liverpool

who sit in that crucial fourth spot...and Brendan Rodgers' side

just six points off the leaders after a weekend which couldn't have

been more different for our big two reds. Red alert at Old Trafford

This was the image that should have been on the back pages. The United

boss celebrating his comeback from a goal down. With the hard work done,

they were undone into added time. Many were scratching their heads. It

is the worst position they have been named because of that particular

thing that if they are not in the Champions League, who will come to

Manchester United? The bookmakers see them as long shots for a place.

They harp 200`1. `` are. Liverpool on 25 /1. They are now 14/1. Fourth

favourite. Liverpool are the big movers this weekend.

In the Championship. These were the goals. It could have been ten. Luis

Suarez might not have scored but this is worthy of another knock

Speaking today, his manager was still on a high. It was wonderful to

watch. The team played without concentration and organisation and

quality. Brendan Rodgers now has two look at rising expectation.

I'm sure it will turn for Manchester United. Burnley moved into second

spot thanks to a brace from Danny Ings which secured a 3`1 win over

Millwall. The visitors took the lead on the half hour mark but Ings

blasted in this equaliser. Dean Marney than put the Clarets ahead

before half time. Ings scored again in the second half to ensure all

three points. In League one. Two goals from Joe

Garner's was enough for Preston to beat struggling Tranmere and close

the gap on the three teams above them. Craig Davies provided the

cross for the Garner to nod in his first. Rovers levelled when Ash

Taylor finished from close range. A swift counter attack allowed Garner

to slip in for the winner. The Liverpool heptathlete Katarina

Johnson`Thompson made a strong challenge to replace pregnant

Jessica Ennis on the British Athletics team by winning two golds

at this weekend's Sainsbury Indoor Championships in Sheffield. The

21`year old broke the British high jump record that's stood since 997

by clearing 1.96 metres. She took the long jump title with a personal

best of 6.75 metres. I interviewed her last year and her

favourite thing is her Nan's fry up. Manchester United fans are

struggling at the minute but four of the top centre are our clubs.

Everton are not far behind. Everton slipped up a little bit

against Spurs. Liverpool was a standout results. Luis Suarez'

volley was sensational. Most of us would think twice before

swimming across Windermere in the height of summer. Little wonder then

that on a morning when many were scraping ice off the windscreen it

was an even more daunting challenge for TV presenter Davina McCall.

She was reduced to tears on the latest stage of her 500 mile run,

cycle and swim from Edinburgh to London for Sport Relief.

After being carried from the waters of Windermere she recovered to ride

to Accrington where we can join Stuart Pollitt. She has already

climbed the mountains of the lakes put Day three was the day that she

feared most. It involved swarming across Lake Windermere where their

water temperature was for Celsius. It is perishing week`old and I just

have to keep moving. I am very nervous. I literally can't stop

shaking. On the verge of tears as she prepared to enter the water her

spirits were kept up. Under an hour later and towards the

end of the swim, she began to struggle and had to climb to her

support kayak. They had to carry her to the warmth of a nearby hotel

Thankfully after receiving treatment to warm her up, she was able to

recover. I have warmed up now and have had a warm bath. I am ready to

get on the bike. She is still on the way. You have to add my her. She

looked like she couldn't move when she came out.

And if Davina has inspired you to do your bit for this year's Sport

Relief ` then log onto bbc.co.uk/sportrelief and sign up to

an event near you. I'm delighted to say that Diane s

back with us for the weather. Were you going to say an old face?

You have a new hairstyle. It is nice to be back.

We are still stuck with that very wet weather as we had through the

next couple of days. We have a drop in temperatures and it is wet and

winter re. It will also be windy. Thursday, we have gale force winds.

There is a little bit of everything in store. That's called out is

descending everywhere. Every cloud has a silver lining and this is our

live shot. What you will see is one all too clear spells tonight. You

will be able to see Jupiter and it would be a great night to see that.

There are one or two showers around. There is some good breaks

developing in the cloud but as you head towards dawn, this is the next

area of rain moving through the Isle of Man as you head towards the early

hours of the morning. Temperatures through the night are around to

Celsius. Rowley, it could be much colder and you will be looking at a

frost. `` in rural areas, it could be much colder and you will be

looking at a frost. The Met Office have issued a yellow warning for

snow mainly over the highest hills. You could be looking at up to five

Celsius `` five centimetres. For most of us, it is another wet

morning. It keeps on coming. By 11 o'clock, it should have cleared the

coast and then eventually everywhere. With that cold air

around, it will feel really quite winter re and you will see some

wintry showers. Through Tuesday night into Wednesday, there could be

more wintry showers. Temperatures around five Celsius at best.

When you come back, all you think you are going to talk about is rain

and rain. But I am bringing you rain and snow!

We were talking about the Early Morning Restriction Order order that

they have not brought in in Blackpool. Barry tweeted that they

have chosen stags and hens over families. One man says it is what

people want to do rather than what the police want them to do.

Andrew says not good for Blackpool, not good for the policing. Nigel

Jackson says, I love Blackpool but I don't visit late on at night. We

have had Kerry Hodgson who is back. Many are glad to see you back.

It is nice to be back. It is nice to return to work.

Good night.