The Hunt To Find Claudia Lawrence's Killer

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

The first arrest in the five-year-long hunt for York cook Claudia Lawrence is the result of a painstaking review of the investigation into her disappearance.

Senior detectives have made her suspected murder one of their main priorities for 2014 - no force likes to have unsolved suspected murders on its books and North Yorkshire has two from recent years.

The mystery of what happened to Ms Lawrence in 2009 and the whereabouts of 38-year-old Marsha Wray, who vanished from her Harrogate home in 1987, were both made the subject of cold case reviews last year.

Claudia's disappearance was the focus of a massive police investigation from the day it was realised she had vanished, leaving behind her family, friends, bank cards and passport - but detectives have found no trace of her.

Police officers remove items from a property in York

The fact that no arrests were made despite a significant number of so-called persons of interest being identified - some of whom were men she had had relationships with - was an indication of how the investigation struggled.

The review team, led by Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn and overseen by head of crime Chief Superintendent Simon Mason, has a wealth of information to go on: reams of interviews, witness statements going back more than five years and forensic evidence that had been carefully filed away.

A new team of scenes of crime specialists spent weeks re-examining Ms Lawrence's terraced home in the hope some new forensic evidence might be found that would give them a new lead.

Ms Lawrence's father, Peter, has been relentless in his search for her

But detectives know that existing files are most likely to hold the key to unlocking this case: a statement that can now be disproved; a question not answered that can now be shown to be significant; or something overlooked, wrongly categorised or missed altogether.

Ms Lawrence's mother Joan has spoken at length to Det Supt Malyn and thinks his review could bring her the answers she wants.

"I think if they don't (solve the case) they will have tried their utmost," she told me.

"They're working so hard on it. I don't think they'll easily give up."

After five years and two months, the investigation is far from over.

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Interest Rate To Remain Low For 'Some Time'

Affordability Gap: Figures In Detail

Updated: 11:45pm UK, Tuesday 13 May 2014

The 10 most affordable and least affordable areas to buy a property in England and Wales.

They are listed by their affordability gap - the ratio between average house prices and average earnings of locals in each area.

The first figure is the average house price in that area, the next is the average local earnings, and the third is the affordability gap - calculated by dividing the first figure by the second...

Top Ten    

Kensington and Chelsea £935,000 £42,957  21.8  

Westminster £748,500   £38,355  19.5  

Camden £595,000   £37,372  15.9  

Hammersmith and Fulham £550,000 £34,778  15.8

Islington £450,100 £34,876  12.9 

Elmbridge £444,500 £36,161  12.3 

Wandsworth £450,000   £36,618  12.3 

Richmond upon Thames £475,000   £38,860  12.2 

Hackney £378,500   £31,023  12.2 

Brent £340,000  £27,950  12.2 

Bottom Ten   

Wigan £105,000   £25,589  4.1

Neath Port Talbot £93,750   £23,462  4.0

Stoke-on-Trent £88,000   £22,620  3.9

Merthyr Tydfil £86,000   £22,396  3.8   

Rhondda, Cynon, Taff £93,000   £24,872  3.7

Pendle £85,000   £22,932  3.7

Barrow-in-Furness £92,500   £27,794  3.3

Blaenau Gwent £70,000   £21,034  3.3

Copeland £115,000   £35,105  3.3

Burnley £71,500   £24,612  2.9 

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Jasmyn Chan Parents Appeal To Find Driver

By Nick Martin, North Of England Correspondent

The parents of a teenager who was knocked down and killed by a hit-and-run driver have said someone knows who was responsible for their daughter's death.

Jasmyn Chan, 14, was killed trying to shield her best friend from the path of an oncoming car in Sheffield last Friday.

In an emotional news conference, her mother Paula McCullie and father Peter Chan said they could not put into words the "loss and devastation" her death has caused.

In a statement Mr Chan said: "Someone knows something.

"I am appealing to all mothers and fathers, please if you know who is responsible do the right thing and contact the police.

"Please just think if this was your daughter, our family are desperate for answers.

Flowers left at the scene in tribute to the girl

"Try to understand how this has happened to our precious little Jasmyn.

"Our daughter was beautiful inside and out and I can not put into words the pain and devastation I feel in my heart knowing she has gone.

"As a family we are all heartbroken and I don't know how we will ever get over losing our precious Jasmyn. Please if you know something, come forward now."

One of the messages left for Jasmyn

The incident happened at Normanton Hill at 9.20pm on Friday night.

Police investigating the collision said they were following "significant developments" in their efforts to track down the driver.

Chief Inspector Stuart Walne from South Yorkshire Police appealed for the driver to come forward.

He said: "Please give Jasmyn's parents some solace and some answers in relation to what's happened."

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Charity Fundraiser Stephen Sutton Dies

Teenager Stephen Sutton, who raised more than £3m for charity after his bucket list went viral on the internet, has died after losing his cancer battle.

His mother wrote on his Facebook page: "My heart is bursting with pride but breaking with pain for my courageous, selfless, inspirational son who passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 14th May.

"The ongoing support and outpouring of love for Stephen will help greatly at this difficult time, in the same way as it helped Stephen throughout his journey.

"We all know he will never be forgotten, his spirit will live on, in all that he achieved and shared with so many."

Stephen raised more than £3m for charity and the total continues to rise

Within 30 minutes of the posting, more than 60,000 messages of condolence had been left on his Facebook page.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who met Stephen, told Sky News: "He was really inspiring. I feel deeply sorry for Stephen's family, for everyone that knew him.

"He was determined not to waste a minute, not to waste an hour, or a day. I can hardly think of anyone I have met with such a zest for life, with such a belief that you can get things done, and who wanted to live every minute.

"He did extraordinary things for charity and meeting him was a huge privilege. A very bright light has gone out."

The Teenage Cancer Trust, who Stephen raised money for, said in a statement: "We are humbled and hugely grateful for what Stephen achieved, and continues to achieve, for young people with cancer."

News of Stephen's death came shortly after his family said the 19-year-old had become too sick to communicate as his condition deteriorated.

David Cameron visited the teenager and said he was "an inspiration"

He was readmitted to hospital on Sunday after having previously been discharged when it appeared he had made a "miraculous recovery" by coughing up a tumour.

At the time he revealed that he was suffering from breathlessness and said doctors thought there was something blocking his airway.

He wrote on Facebook: "The doctors think there may be something restricting my airway again, they're not sure exactly what yet though (tumour regrowth, infection, inflammation, are all potential reasons mentioned), but are currently discussing the possibilities and my scan results to decide what to do next."

Stephen, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer when he was 15.

Despite treatment the tumours spread, with doctors telling him the disease was terminal in 2012.

Hundreds of thousands of people have supported his fundraising efforts for the Teenage Cancer Trust since he posted a picture of himself in hospital in April with a goodbye message as he thought he was nearing death.

The amount collected totals £3.3m and continues to rise by tens of thousands of pounds as donations poured in following news of Stephen's death.

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Stephen Sutton: Tributes Pour In For Teenager

Tributes to cancer fundraiser Stephen Sutton have been pouring in after his death at the age of 19.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who met the youngster last week, said on Twitter: "I'm deeply saddened to hear that Stephen Sutton has died.

"His spirit, bravery and fundraising for cancer research were all an inspiration."

Opposition leader Ed Miliband added: "Tragic news that Stephen Sutton has passed away. His bravery & determination to live life to the full was an inspiration to us all."

David Cameron was among those paying tribute to Stephen

His family said Stephen, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Within seconds of the news being announced, thousands of people had left their own tributes on his Facebook page Stephen's Story.

Many others took to Twitter to express their feelings about what he had achieved.

Ricky Gervais said on Twitter: "RIP Stephen Sutton. A true hero & inspiration to us all."

David Cameron and Ed Miliband's tributes to Stephen

Cricketer Kevin Pieterson added: "So sad to hear the news about Stephen Sutton. What an amazing, selfless and immensely inspirational young man. #RIPStephen."

Pop star and pundit Carol Decker said: "RIP Stephen Sutton,a truly inspiring young man,I am in tears watching the news footage."

Comedian Jason Manford, who help raise the profile of his fundraising efforts, said: "Stephen Sutton was the most inspiring person I've ever met and touched more lives than he will ever know.

"The reason we took to him so passionately was because he was better than us, he did something that none of us could even imagine doing.

More than 130,000 people had left a comment after an hour

"Some of Stephen's words will stay with me and others forever and they are words to live by - 'life isn't measured in time, it's measured in achievements'."

His headteacher Stuart Jones, of Chase Terrace Technology College, said: "Stephen was academically brilliant, an excellent sportsman and a talented musician. He was also a caring, modest, creative young person with a great sense of fun."

"The resilience and strength of character that Stephen has shown over the last couple of years is extraordinary. Stephen developed a deep understanding of what's important in life.

"The school and the wider community of Burntwood are immensely proud of what Stephen achieved."

Stephen had been ill since 2012

Siobhan Dunn, chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, for which he raised more than £3.2m, said: "Stephen was an exceptional young man and ambassador for Teenage Cancer Trust.

"Stephen has made an enormous difference to Teenage Cancer Trust and the seven young people diagnosed with cancer every day who need our help."

Deborah Alsina, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: "Stephen's story struck a chord with the nation, putting teenage cancer, and bowel cancer specifically, firmly in the public eye."

Alex Horne, general secretary of the Football Association, which supported the Teenage Cancer Trust, also paid tribute on behalf of the organisation.

England captain Steven Gerrard added: "I was fortunate enough to meet Stephen at Wembley. His enthusiasm was amazing.

"What he has done has been incredible, raising funds that will make an enormous difference to so many people. He's an inspiration."

Hundreds of those who continued to add to the £3.2million he had raised for the Teenage Cancer Trust also left tributes.

One, Sylvia Brookes, said: "May you rest in eternal peace, knowing that your bravery and inspiration to others will always remain in our hearts.God bless you!"

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Hall's Silence In Sex Abuse Trial 'Is Relevant'

By Mike McCarthy, North Of England Correspondent

Jurors in the trial of former broadcaster Stuart Hall have been told the defendant's decision not to go into the witness box is relevant.

Judge Mr Justice Turner QC told them they were entitled to consider whether Hall's silence was because he had no answer to the prosecution.

But he also said that they could not jump to the conclusion that it proved the case against him.

The judge was summing up at the end of a seven-day trial in which the 84-year-old ex-presenter has pleaded not guilty to 15 charges of rape and five of indecent assault.

He has pleaded guilty to one charge of indecent assault.

Hall, 84, is currently serving a 30-month prison sentence after admitting 14 indecent assault charges in a separate case last year.

Mr Justice Turner reminded the jury of Hall's previous convictions and that the prosecution and defence had disagreed about whether they showed he was more likely to have committed the offences in the current case.

Two women have given evidence at Preston Crown Court saying they were abused as children after being plied with alcohol by Hall who was trusted by their families.

They claim they were raped in his BBC dressing room in Manchester and at several other locations including Hall's own home.

Hall claims the sex, which took place between 1976 and 1981, was consensual.

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IPCC Inquiry Into Man's Custody Death

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the death of a 46-year-old man in police custody in Leeds on Monday.

The man was arrested by West Yorkshire Police officers on Sunday evening at Leeds General Infirmary.

Following the arrest - over an outstanding warrant for theft offences - he was taken to a local police station and put in a cell overnight.

He was checked at 7am on Monday and "found to be unresponsive" and, despite efforts to resuscitate him, was confirmed dead around 45 minutes later.

The incident was then referred by the police to the IPCC for an independent investigation.

The result of a post mortem examination on Tuesday was inconclusive and further tests are being carried out as the inquiry continues.

IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts said: "Any death in custody is a very serious matter, and we have begun an independent investigation to determine the full circumstances.

"We will be carrying out a thorough investigation into the man's contact with police after he was arrested, and the treatment he received while in custody.

"We are in the process of making contact with the man's relatives, and my thoughts are with the family at this difficult time."

According to initial information, the man was taken to hospital by ambulance after a report from a member of the public, but he later discharged himself.

West Yorkshire Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his movements prior to him being found and taken to hospital.

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Claudia Lawrence: Man To Be Bailed By Police

Missing Claudia: Timeline Of Events

Updated: 4:58pm UK, Tuesday 13 May 2014

Here is Claudia Lawrence's last known movements and the investigation since her disappearance:

2009

March 18

:: 5.57am - Miss Lawrence is seen on CCTV arriving for work at the University of York's Goodricke College.

:: 2.31pm - The chef leaves work to walk the three miles to her home on Heworth Road.

A female colleague sees her as she drives past in her car and gives her a lift, dropping her off outside her house.

A short time later, Miss Lawrence leaves her house and walks past the Nags Head pub. She has a brief conversation with a woman with a pram.

:: 3.05pm - The last sighting of Miss Lawrence as she walks back to her house.

:: 8.10pm - Miss Lawrence has a telephone conversation with her father, Peter, and then another with her mother, Joan.

:: 8.23pm - She sends a text message to a friend.

:: 9.12pm - Miss Lawrence receives a text on her mobile phone but it is not known if she read the message.

March 19

:: 6am - Miss Lawrence fails to arrive for her shift at work.

:: Later in the evening, Miss Lawrence fails to keep an arrangement to meet her friend, Suzy Cooper, at the Nags Head pub.

Ms Cooper discovers her friend did not attend work and rings Mr Lawrence, who contacts North Yorkshire Police.

March 23

:: Mr Lawrence, a solicitor from Slingsby, North Yorkshire, makes an emotional appeal for information about his daughter at a news conference in York. He describes Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a "living nightmare".

:: Police say they cannot rule out the possibility that the chef has been abducted.

March 25

:: Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, leading the investigation, says he believes Miss Lawrence may have come to harm after meeting someone she knew.

He confirms around 100 police officers are involved in the search and says North Yorks Police are bringing in officers from other forces to help.

CCTV footage of the chef's last known movements is released.

March 30

:: Detective Superintendent Galloway makes an appeal for information on BBC1's Crimewatch programme.

April 7

:: Mr Lawrence holds his first weekly press conference at his home and appeals for anyone protecting his daughter's possible abductor to come forward.

April 16

:: Police say they are investigating "significant" new lines of inquiry, including a couple seen arguing near a car on Miss Lawrence's route to work the day after she was last seen and two men apparently trying the front door to her house in the week before she disappeared.

April 24

:: Detectives say they are treating Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a suspected murder investigation and Crimestoppers offers a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

Detective Superintendent Galloway also reveals new information received from members of the public. He says one witness reported seeing a man and a woman walking near the University of York between 6am and 6.30am on March 17 and March 19.

Another witness saw a man and a woman, possibly matching Miss Lawrence's description, at 5.35am on March 19 on Melrosegate on the chef's route to work.

April 29

:: Mrs Lawrence releases her first statement through police describing her daughter's disappearance as "every parent's worst nightmare"

May 6

:: Police reveal they have received more than 1,000 calls about Miss Lawrence's disappearance since March 22 and have taken 1,096 statements and reports.

Officers involved in the investigation have visually searched around 1,270 properties, including gardens and outbuildings and student halls of residence at the University of York.

May 15

:: Police release CCTV footage of a man seen near Miss Lawrence's home in the early hours of March 19.

Detective Superintendent Galloway says the number of searching officers has been scaled-down and police are now only carrying out intelligence-led searches.

June 2

:: A reconstruction of Miss Lawrence's last known movements and possible witness sightings is screened on BBC1's Crimewatch programme.

Detective Superintendent Galloway tells the show that Miss Lawrence was involved in relationships of "complexity and mystery" and appeals to anyone who had ever been in a relationship with the chef to come forward.

August 19

:: Police say an external review of the investigation by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) is "extremely positive" and the force are acting upon a list recommendations.

September 18

:: Detectives reveal they have extended their investigation to Cyprus.

2010

March 18

:: Police reveal Ms Lawrence spent the night with a mystery boyfriend just two days before she went missing. It was "critical" they spoke to the man, a detective adds.

March 24

:: Detectives search an area near York University following new information.

May 25

:: Police confirm they have spent two days searching a house about 10 miles from Claudia's home as a result of a "recent development".

July 29

:: Police confirm they are scaling back the number of officers dedicated to the inquiry.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Madgwick says 100 officers were dedicated to the investigation at its height.

A year after Miss Lawrence disappeared, this figure had dropped to about 20 to 30 and there were now 16 detectives involved. Mr Madgwick says they will be cut cut to seven officers the following month.

August 8

:: A man arrested on suspicion of burglary has been spoken to about the case, North Yorks police say.

But he is described as  "one of many people spoken to during the course of the investigation" and there still have been no formal suspects identified by the inquiry team.

September 20

:: Mr Lawrence speaks of his "devastation" after it is revealed that a cash reward for information was being dropped.

The decision means the North Yorks Police will remove their appeal posters from fleet vehicles because they refer to the reward.

2011

March 18

:: On the second anniversary of Miss Lawrence's disappearance, Detective Superintendent Galloway reveals that he could have "potentially" spoken to her killer.

December 13

:: Detectives say they are pursuing a new lead which could be "significant".

2012

March 16

:: Peter Lawrence speaks of his daily pain over his daughter's disappearance and makes a plea for anyone who may still harbour a sense of "misguided loyalty" to come forward and help with the police investigation.

July 10

:: Martin Dales, spokesman for Mr Lawrence, says a former private detective has contacted him to say he spotted someone with a striking resemblance to Claudia a week earlier in Amsterdam.

2013

February 27

:: Family and friends of Miss Lawrence make an emotional appeal for help to find her on what would have been her 39th birthday.

October 29

:: Police announce a new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is to begin as they launch a fresh review of the case.

2014

March 17

:: Mr Lawrence, speaking ahead of the fifth anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, says not knowing what happened to his daughter five years after she disappeared is like a "cancer" eating away at him.

March 19

:: Police say a new forensic examination of Claudia's house has uncovered the fingerprints of people who still have not come forward five years after she disappeared. They say they are seeking to trace two men and two vehicles seen near her home.

April 17

:: North Yorks Police say 121 people have come forward to help their inquiry since a national appeal was made to coincide with the fifth anniversary of her disappearance. They say taxi drivers may have important information about the case.

May 13

:: A 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder by detectives investigating the disappearance.

:: A police spokeswoman says Miss Lawrence has not been found and they cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests in the future.

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Kate And William Hacked 190 Times By NOTW

The News Of The World's former royal editor has admitted hacking the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's phones nearly 200 times.

Clive Goodman told the Old Bailey he accessed the voicemail on Prince William's phone 35 times and Kate Middleton's on a total of 155 occasions.

It is the first time Goodman, who was jailed in 2007 for illegally accessing the voicemails on the mobiles of royal aides, has admitted he hacked the royal couple while working at the now-defunct tabloid.

But having returned to the witness box after weeks of ill health, he was accused of being more heavily involved in phone hacking with private detective Glenn Mulcaire in 2005 and 2006 than was previously heard.

Jurors were told Kate was even hacked on Christmas Day 2005.

The details emerged as Goodman was being cross examined by ex-NotW editor Andy Coulson's lawyer Timothy Langdale QC.

Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire

He asked: "I'm going to suggest you had direct contact with Glenn Mulcaire significantly before the time you have told us - that you yourself had been hacking on a much wider scale than you have told this court about."

Goodman said he had not been asked a direct question.

The witness said he had been assured by the Crown Prosecution Service he would not be charged with any more hacking but no-one had asked him.

When presented with a list of hacking victims, he said: "I'm not on trial for hacking," adding: "There has been no intention to deceive you or anybody else in relation to phone hacking."

On his arrest in 2006, Mr Langdale said: "It's the one thing you must have been more worried about than anything else that it would become clear you yourself had been hacking members of the royal family."

Goodman replied: "I was terrified of the whole thing. I was mortified."

Mr Langdale said Kate Middleton, who was to become the Duchess of Cambridge, was first hacked on October 21 2005.

Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson

Mr Langdale asked the witness why she had been targeted and if he had tasked Mulcaire to do it.

He replied: "She was a figure of increasing importance around the royal family. There were discussions about her and Prince William marrying, moving in, settling down. She started to receive semi royal status and things were moving on."

Mr Langdale said: "You are telling us Glenn Mulcaire hacked her without any instruction from you? Did you task him to do that?"

He replied: "I do not remember tasking him to do that. It's possible but I do not recall.

"I have been as open and honest about hacking as I can be but nobody has asked me any questions about this before."

While giving evidence about extra payments made to Mulcaire for hacking the royal household, Goodman said: "Let's face it, at this time, Andy Coulson was no stranger to hacking."

He is on trial along with with former NOTW editor Coulson, later Prime Minister David Cameron's media chief, of authorising illegal payments to public officials

Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, another former editor and later chief executive of Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper arm, are also on trial accused of phone-hacking offences.

All seven defendants on trial deny the charges.

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Harris: 'It Takes Two To Tango', Trial Told

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Entertainer Rolf Harris told the brother of one of his alleged victims: ''It takes two to tango'' when confronted about claims he had sexually abused her, a court has heard.

The man spoke on day four of the trial against 84-year-old Harris, who is facing 12 charges of indecent assault.

He said when his younger sister revealed she had been abused for ''most of her life'' by Harris he ''became angry'' and later called him to confront him.

The man told Southwark Crown Court he wanted ''to tell him not to contact my sister'' and was asked by prosecutor Ms Sasha Wass what the reaction had been.

He said: ''He told me 'It takes two to tango'."

The court has heard how Harris first targeted the man's sister while she was on a family holiday in Hawaii and Australia.

Rolf Harris was accompanied to court by several friends and family members

He has admitted having a physical relationship with the woman but only after she was over the age of consent.

Meanwhile, a childhood friend of the woman told the court how Harris was described as a "dirty old man".

The witness said she was "shocked and horrified" when the now 49-year-old alleged victim told her what he had done to her.

The court has heard Harris first abused the woman during a holiday in Hawaii when she was 13 years old in 1978 and continued until she was 29.

At the time, the alleged victim was the best friend of the entertainer's daughter Bindi and he is said to have groped her in a hotel room and on a waterside jetty.

The alleged victim's friend told the court: "Rolf Harris was a well-known and well-loved celebrity, pretty much well-known to all of us."

She added she was a classmate of the alleged victim and told the court she had had a conversation with her friend where she described him as a "dirty old man".

The witness said in 1996, after she had moved to New Zealand, the alleged victim called and spoke to her again about the sexual abuse she had allegedly suffered.

The alleged victim's friend told the court: "He had been abusing her through her teens and beyond ... at the age of 13, 14.

"It went on for many years. I didn't want to go into details at the time because it wasn't the place. It was quite distressing. She told her parents, no one else I don't think knew."

Under cross-examination from Sonia Woodley QC, the witness was asked about her friend's drinking.

She said she never smelt alcohol on her breath at school but did "in a home environment".

When questioned again by Ms Wass to explain further her friend's "anxiety" at school, she said: "She never seemed to have a lot of self-confidence. She was a lovely, lovely girl. She just sometime ... took to drink to give her confidence."

Harris faces 12 charges of indecent assault between 1968 and 1986, which he denies.

He followed proceedings via a hearing loop from the dock. His niece and friends were also in court. The trial continues.

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