16.7.2000 News from Wigan

News Report Archive 23rd July 2000

News reports from Wigan Observer, Wigan Reporter and Wigan Evening Post

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HARRY?

The story of a Wigan man who went missing in New York more than 70 years ago has helped inspire a book about how families are left to cope when relatives disappear.
Harry Bertram Taylor (on the right of the picture) brought up in Poolstock, sailed to America in 1922 to start a new life after the breakdown of his marriage.
Back in Wigan, his family received occasional letters which gradually tailed off and in 1926 he was legally presumed dead to allow his wife Edith to apply for a widow's pension.
His son, Roger who is now 79 and lives in Ipswich, attempted to trace his father, travelling to Manhattan 25 years ago, in a bid to discover what had happened to him. He managed to pick up on some of his father's movements, discovering that he had sung in a Manhattan church choir from 1926 before working in an opera which ended in 1928. He then moved to Ontario and Toronto which is where the trail goes cold.
Author Jason Cowley spoke to Roger during research for his novel "Unknown Pleasures" which has just been released. The book is based around the problems family members are left to deal with when relatives go missing and are never heard of again.
Mr Taylor said, "I wouldn't say that I lie awake every night wondering what happened to him, but I would like to know a few things about what became of him. I began my research when I was in my 50s, I think there comes a point when you need to know.
"When did he die? How did he die and where did he die? They are the things he wants to know. Newspaper cuttings have greatly helped the search but there are many things I don't know. I'm unsure of how he actually got into America and what he did for a living between 1922 and 1926."
Author Jason Cowley said, "Mr Taylor's was one of the most interesting stories that I came across when I was speaking to people around the country while I was writing the book."

PARENTS WANT SEX OFFENDER KICKED OUT OF THEIR STREET

A registered sex offender is living on a Wigan estate yards away from children.
Families living in Worsley Hall say they are frightened for the safety of their kids and have demanded Wigan Metro take drastic action.
There are more than 27 children in the immediate area and after discovering Henry Smith, a convicted sex offender, is just doors away, they want him turfed out.
His home has already been attacked and the word 'beast' written across the door.
Wigan Metro is now fully investigating the matter but says there is 'very limited amount that the council can do in these circumstances'.
Henry Smith was jailed for two and a half years in July 1995 admitting a series of sex offences on a young girl. Formerly of Brackenberry Road, Preston, Smith who was then 62, pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent assault over two years. On sentencing Preston Crown Court was told by prosecutor Mr Roger Green that the offences took place in the Chorley area between January 1993 and December 1994. Smith, described by his defence council as a loner, was said to have been badly affected by the death of his wife some years ago.
But Judge Brian Duckworth, jailing Smith told him he had acted in a 'horrific, digusting and evil manner' towards his victim.
Smith, who is a registered sex offender, recently faced Wigan magistrates for failing to notify the police of his change of address. Under the Sex Offenders Act 1997, all registered sex offenders must notify the police of a change of abode.
On July 3, this year 67 year-old Smith pleaded guilty to failing to notify the police on February 8th 2000 and was fined Ł70 and ordered to pay Ł45 costs.
A worried parent, who spoke on behalf of other families in the area said, "I am very concerned because it is full of families with small children, particularly with kids under five years old. There are more than 27 kids on this street. We are frightened for the safety of our children. Knowing he is a convicted sex offender is something we just cannot ignore. Our children come first and we don't want to have to worry about them playing outside their own homes.
"People can forgive and forget many crimes such as criminal damage, theft, shoplifting- but no one can forget something as evil as a paedophile."
A Wigan Council spokesman said, "We would like to express full understanding and sympathy with the worried parents. But they must understand that there is a very limited amount the council can do in these circumstances. We are, however, investigating the matter fully and are very willing to sit down with members of community and listen to their concerns."
Sgt Simon Retford of Wigan CID said, "We understand the concerns of local people and stress that Greatre Manchester Police constantly monitor the whereabouts and activities of people who are registered underthe Sex Offenders Act. We do not, however condone people taking the law into their own hands and we will not tolerate such behaviour."

TAXI FIRM HELPS DUPED OAP

Taxi staff have put their hands in their pockets to help a pensioner who was the victim of a heartless conman.
A man claiming to represent a water company carrying out repairs kept 86 year-old Annie Gregory talking while her purse and a wallet containing nearly Ł100, along with her pension book were snatched from her living room by his accomplice. It is the second time in five years that she has been the victim of a theft from her flat, on the previous occasion thieves took Ł200.
But kind-hearted staff at J&K Taxis in the town have stepped in to replace the money that was stolen in the latest incident. She has been a customer of the company for more than 20 years and staff were horrified to hear what had happened.
Annie explained, "My grandaughter had just left and I decided to go to bed for a rest. A young lad then knocked on the window and said he was from the water company and that he was doing some digging. I went to the back door and he kept me talking and talking.
"When I went back into the bedroom I noticed that someone had opened my dressing table drawer and hadn't shut it properly. I then went back into the front room and my purse, wallet and pension book had gone. The lad must have had a friend who was hiding somewhere."
Geoff Cunliffe, partner in J&K Taxis said, "Annie is our oldest customer and has been using our taxis for more than 20 years. We were all saddened to hear about this theft- all the lads are mad. We are going to have a whip round and ensure she gets her Ł100 back."
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said, "We would urge anyone answering their door to someone who claims they are from a reputable company or organisation to check their identification very carefully."
The conman was described as 17 years of age, of slim build wearing a navy blue top and dark trousers. The police did not have a description for the second offender.

KILLER OF 12 YEAR OLD GIRL GETS Ł26,000 COMPENSATION

One of Wigan's most notorious killers has outraged his victim's family by winning Ł26,000 for a prison cricket injury.
Jimmy Lang was jailed almost 30 years ago for the rape and brutal slaying of twelve year old Susan Young in Hindley.
Convicted of both the sex assault and manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, Lang was sent to Broadmoor to serve out his sentence. he was released in 1986 but was jailed again for an attack on two women.
It was while playing cricket at the Berkshire secure hospital in 1995 that he suffered an achilles tendon injury and Lang, who has since changed his name to James Kay, claimed that he was not given proper treatment by doctors. It is understood that 54 year old Lang was given the money in an out of court settlement and the total of Ł26,000 covered both the award and court costs.
Susan's mum Audrey, now a 76 year old widow suffering from post traumatic stress disorder said she was 'disgusted' by the news.
She said, "No one can understand the pain that man has put me and my family through, it has been sheer mental torment for 30 years. Jimmy Lang should have hanged for what he did to Susan. Yet now he is being handed thousands of pounds while I am struggling to make ends meet. That cannot be fair and it is an insult to Susan's memory."
It was on November 7 1970 that Susan Young disappeared. She had heard the sound of an ice-cream van and had left her home in Lancaster Road to find it. When she did not return after ten minutes her father Ray, went to look for her and later teamed up with neighbour Jimmy Lang for the search.
But it was Lang who had lured the schoolgirl away, raped her and inflicted horrific and fatal injuries, including 26 wounds to the throat with a broken bottle. Her body was found three days later behind the old Hindley Grammar school a mile from her home.
Lang was convicted the following February. The court heard that he had a long criminal record, had received a three year sentence for rape in 1966 and had only been out of prison a matter of weeks when he killed Susan. He escaped from Broadmoor in 1982 but was recaptured.
In 1986 the then Home Secretary Leon Britten was given expert advice that Lang should be freed, but Lang offended again.

TASK FORCE TO TACKLE TEEN TEARAWAYS

A get tough task force has been set up to turf yobs from the streets of Wigan.
The Teenage Anti-social Behaviour Unit (Tabu) will cruise the east and south of Wigan borough tackling notorious trouble spots in a bid to stamp out youth gang vandalism, drunkenness and intimidation once and for all.
The van will be manned by six constables and a sergeant who will operate on Friday and Saturday evenings, when problems with large juvenile groups are traditionally at their worst.
Senior officers stressed that Tabu will be acting on intelligence to pre-empt trouble rather than simply following up public complaints. It's two main objectives are to police off-licences illegally selling liquor to minors and also dealing with large unruly groups of teenagers.
If individuals are found drinking in public, the alcohol will be confiscated and parents will receive a letter from the police. If three letters need to be sent, then officcers will pay the family a visit.
Under the Crime and Disorder Act, the ultimate sanction against out of control youngsters is to prosecute the parents.
Chief Insp Alex Woolley of Leigh police said, "Teenage anti-social behaviour is a national problem, but we intend to tackle our local problem head-on with this new unit. We have worked with youth intervention and youth mediation teams at Wigan Metro and this work will continue. But there comes a point when offences are being committed, people are demanding action and there has to be enforcement.
"Our operational policing unit will be identifying the most difficult hotspots so Tabu can target the real heart of teenage gang problems which cause so much misery and distress for law abiding residents and traders. This includes both town centres and housing estates."
In partnership with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, the police are leasing the van and the project will at first be piloted for two months.
Tabu will cover the whole of the Leigh police sub-division which includes Hindley, Platt Bridge, Golborne, Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley and Astley.