tonight at six: the newcastle network who groomed, drugged and raped young girls and women over a four—year period. seventeen men and one woman, mostly of asian descent, have been found guilty. there were dozens of victims. despite the abuses they've suffered, the victims have demonstrated great bravery in recounting their experiences in court. operation sanctuary relied on evidence from an informant, a convicted child rapist who was paid £10,000 — that's controversial. there are dangerous men behind bars and vulnerable people protected, that would not have been the case if we had not used that informant. this isn't the first abuse network that's been exposed. what more can be done? also tonight: threats and counter—threats from president trump and the north korean leader. where will it end?

first time in court forfive men charged over the hillsborough disaster. the financial crash that changed our lives. ten years on, the couple who are still rebuilding their lives. we have cash and cash only and that's that. if we can't afford it, we don't have it. and the women's rugby world cup is underweight in dublin with a win for the defending champions, england, a defeat for wales and the host nation ireland. and the host nation ireland. and coming up in athletics on sportsday, we look at all the action on the fourth day of these championships with five more gold medals to be one. good evening and welcome

to the bbc news at six. 17 men and one woman have been convicted of sexual exploitation and drugs offences in newcastle. most of the men were from pakistani, indian and bangladeshi backgrounds. their youngest victim was just 14. the convictions are the result of operation sanctuary. controversially, northumbria police paid £10,000 to a convicted child rapist for information that helped to expose this network of abuse. 0ur correspondent fiona trott has been following this case. guilty of causing girls and women serious harm, court as part of 0peration sanctuary, one of the biggest sexual exploitation investigations in the north of england. almost 100 perpetrators have already been convicted.

117—year—old was raped at a party session organised by local men. it isafamiliar session organised by local men. it is a familiar story. i woke up in the morning, the wardrobe was pushed up the morning, the wardrobe was pushed up against the door. her police interview was played to the court. to protect her identity we have asked actors to read what she said. he had had sex with us while i was asleep. i am still a bit confused about it. how did you feel when he told you he had done that to you? dirty, confused. how many sessions have you been to? about 60. it is in houses like these were the sessions took place. victims were given drink and drugs and were unable to defend themselves against sexual abuse. but in 2013 two of them came forward. 0ne in 2013 two of them came forward. one had been trafficked from a children's home, the other had

learning difficulties. it started a long and complex investigation. co ntroversially long and complex investigation. controversially officers recruited a convicted child rapist as an informant. he was paid around £10,000. it is not an easy decision, it isa £10,000. it is not an easy decision, it is a decision we have had to wrestle with ourselves. what i can categorically state sitting here today, there are dangerous men behind bars now and vulnerable people protected that would not have been the case had we not used that informant. what beggars belief is the decision to cross this child protection line about employing a child rapist. most of the perpetrators were from pakistani, indian or bangladeshi backgrounds. this city councillor says leaders from all faiths should re—educate local men to stop similar exploitation in the future. people should not be telling the asian community had to live their lives or what to do. it is like saying to the

white community we should be talking about whatjimmy savile bid. we should not do that. however, there is an opportunity to talk about issues on a regular basis about the rights of women and it is important to use religion, like islam, to educate some of these people. the chief executive of newcastle city council says a serious case review is being carried out but it is not the only authority with problems of this kind. we do not believe that what we have uncovered in newcastle is unique. there has been evidence of similar offending is unique. there has been evidence of similaroffending in is unique. there has been evidence of similar offending in many other towns and cities. we believe that any area that says it does not have any area that says it does not have a problem is simply not looking for it. it has been a long and traumatic journey for the victims, but their evidence has helped jailfour perpetrators. the rest are due to be sentenced next month. our home editor mark easton is here.

people will be thinking shock at paying a criminalfor people will be thinking shock at paying a criminal for information. the police paying informants for information is controversial. there is nothing new and out of the ordinary of it, police in england and wales have paid about £20 million to convicted felons in return for information that might prevent crime. that in this case there was another question. this was a convicted rapist who was put in proximity with young women who were being groomed for sex. many people might feel more uneasy about that. it is also indicative of a determination by the police and authorities to show they will do what it takes to get results in these really very difficult cases. there have been dozens of grooming gang cases and the authorities have been under pressure to do more because of suggestions they had not

done enough because they were worried about a backlash of racism. police officers are routinely briefed on how to spot this kind of abuse, who the victims are, where it will take place, types of grooming behaviour. prosecutors are advised that victims might not believe they are victims because they are so controlled by their abusers. these are hard cases to prosecute and what we are seeing today is a sign that authorities are getting convictions because they are better at identifying these victims. because they are better at identifying these victims. the us secretary of state rex tillerson has visited the pacific island of guam after north korea threatened to strike the us territory which is home to a major american military base. it follows remarks from president trump in which he said north korea would face what he called fire and fury if it attacked the us. here's our north america correspondent nick bryant. afarof

a far of american air post in the tropical waters of the western pacific now finds itself at the centre of a dangerous stand—off. this is guam, the site this summer of us military exercises, american territory, that north korea says now could be in the firing line. the warning was delivered on north korean state tv. the chilling headline, guam could be targeted by its medium to long range rockets. it came hours after president trump had threatened pyongyang with some of the most incendiary rhetoric used by an american president in decades. north korea best not make any more threats to the united states. they will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. and more tough talk on twitter this morning. my tough talk on twitter this morning. my first order was to renovate our nuclear arms strength and it is now

stronger and more powerful than ever before. hopefully we will never have to use it, but they will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world. the us secretary of state rex tillerson used more soothing language. he said the island faced no imminent threat and americans should sleep well at night. the president in sending a message to north korea in language they will understand because they do not understand diplomatic language. why would they target guam? it is over 2000 miles away from pyongyang, but is a strategic hub for the us military in the pacific. home to 6000 troops on two military bases with a population of 160,000. this american paradise is being disturbed. the first thing that comes to mind immediately first word is my family. i am not nervous, i am confident in our military

capability. with the rhetoric at such a perilous pitch, there is a danger most sides become captive to their own tough words, that they'd talk themselves into a more serious confrontation. five men, including former senior police officers, have appeared in court for the first time to face charges in connection with the hillsborough disaster. the men were charged injune, 28 years after 96 people died as a result of the crush at the fa cup semi—final between liverpool and nottingham forest. 0ur correspondentjudith moritz was in court. many of the families who lost loved ones at hillsborough have become close over the last 28 years. today they were together again in court to see those charged in connection with the disaster and its aftermath. this is the chief constable of two police

forces and the families stood outside the magistrates' court building as the former officer walked inside. this was the company secretary and safety officer at sheffield wednesday football club in 1989. 96 liverpool fans died as a result of the crash at the ground when the terraces became overcrowded atan fa when the terraces became overcrowded at an fa cup semifinal. nearly three decades later prosecutions are under way. mr mackrell is charged with breaching health and safety and safety as was ground legislation. two senior police officers and a solicitor are accused of perverting the course of justice solicitor are accused of perverting the course ofjustice by amending witness statements in the wake of the disaster. sir norman bettis and is charged with misconduct in a public office, accused of telling lies about his involvement in the aftermath of hillsborough and the culpability of fans. the five men sat ina culpability of fans. the five men sat in a row inside the glass walled dork of the court. they all indicated they denied the charges

they are accused of. a former commanderfaces they are accused of. a former commander faces the most serious charges, 95 counts of gross negligence and manslaughter. he did not appear negligence and manslaughter. he did notappear in negligence and manslaughter. he did not appear in court today because prosecutors must apply to lift an existing court order. the men were a lwa ys existing court order. the men were always on bail and they will appear at preston crown court next month. six french soldiers have been injured, two of them seriously, after a car was driven into them whilst they were on patrol in paris. counter terror police shot, wounded and arrested a man on a motorway north of the capital. 0ur correspondentjonny dymond is in paris. paramedics swarm around injured soldiers. just moments after a car ploughed into a military patrol. six soldiers were injured, three seriously, after the car, waiting for the men, accelerated sharply and knocked them down. residents looked on as the emergency services went to work. translation: i heard a loud noise

and i looked out my window, i saw many people arriving. i saw the ambulance and the fire engine arriving and i didn't go out. it was a truly odious attack, said the neighbourhood mayor. to target soldiers who were here to protect the french people. after a morning of intense investigation, the operation here is beginning to wind down. this is a quiet suburb, some distance from the bright lights and tourist sights of the city. this morning's attack a reminder, if one were needed, that france must remain on guard. translation: it's a problem for us french people because we don't feel safe. even foreigners do not feel safe in france. it ended with a hail of gunfire, the suspect‘s car brought to a halt in northern france. the country's long struggle with terror continues.

jonny dymond, bbc news, paris. two months on from the fire, the bbc has learnt that hundreds of people affected by the grenfell disaster have been referred for mental health assessments. officials say it is the uk's largest effort to deal with mental health trauma. an estimated 80 people were killed in the fire injune and the met police believe there were 255 survivors. met police believe there were 255 survivors. assemar kedir lost her brother, sister—in—law, a niece and two nephews in the grenfell tower fire. she's been speaking to our special correspondent lucy manning. you've got the words to change a nation... you spent a lifetime in silence in case you say something wrong. she could certainly sing. this 12—year—old with a shy smile as

the audiencejoin in. her voice would be silenced by the grenfell tower. her and watches with tears the home videos she has shared —— her anti—watches with tears. little yacob full of life in the flat where he would die with his sister, his brother, mum and dad. his small body yet to be identified. the six—year—old, his sister and their 13—year—old sibling loved to dance. their aunt gave these tributes. he was the most intelligent, wise, elegant person i ever knew. so talented, so kind and humble. might

most pure hearted, handsome sweet nephew. he was a very energetic, lively boy. he loved to dance and joke around. assema wants to bury the family together but eight weeks and there can be no funeral. waiting this long for them to be identified, to bury them and have some type of closure. two months on and those connected to ground fell still bear a terrible toll. the bbc has learned more than 500 people have been referred for mental health assessments, nearly 100 of them children. and having panic attacks and having trouble sleeping. when you usually have a support network that will help you get through these

times but a lot of these people that you would normally rely on are in the same trouble as you are. and with only 1a grenfell tower it rehoused the council leaders still can't offer all the relief of long—term housing. how long will it be until all these families are permanently rehoused. be until all these families are permanently rehousedlj be until all these families are permanently rehoused. i would say, it is difficult to answer that question. let me explain why. one month, two months? it is not from lack of resources. it is not from lack of resources. it is not from lack of resources. it is not from lack of willingness. we are doing it absolutely as quickly as we can. the judge leading the inquiry will write to the prime minister this week to explain what it will cover. the family of these children want the inquiry to look at notjust how family of these children want the inquiry to look at not just how they died and why the fire burned for so long, making identification so hard. lucy manning, bbc news, west london. 18 minutes past six.

our top story this evening. 17 men and one woman have been found guilty of grooming, drugging and raping vulnerable young girls and women in newcastle. and still to come. could there be a way back for the botswana sprinter banned from competing at the world championships? and coming up in sportsday on bbc news england's women open their rugby world cup defence with a big win over spain in dublin. wales are thrashed by new zealand. it's ten years since the start of the global financial crash, the biggest banking crisis since the great depression. the meltdown, which came about because banks had racked up massive mortgage—related debts that customers couldn't afford to pay back, eventually led to the collapse of the american investment bank lehman brothers, the nationalisation of northern rock, the wider bank

bailout and the recession. our business correspondent emma simpson's been speaking to those affected by the crash about how they've had to re—build their lives. two very different tales of jobs lost and lives gradually remade. london's canary wharf, workers leaving with whatever they could carry. mass lay—offs after lehman brothers collapsed. you think you've made it, think you've got a great job and then your whole life is pulled from under you. jennifer duthie had been there only six days asa duthie had been there only six days as a graduate trainee. she still has the e—mails. but now she is her own boss swapping finance for footwear. my boss swapping finance for footwear. my entire life up until then had been focused on getting myself set up been focused on getting myself set upfor been focused on getting myself set up for the best possible career. that got completely taken away and it was going to be starting again from scratch. the ripple effects

we re from scratch. the ripple effects were felt far and wide as the recession quickly followed. this time last year did you ever imagine you would be in this situation? definitely not. i thought i would be here for the rest of my life. unbelievable. nine years ago i met winfields in stoke, their home was repossessed. steve lost his job as a kitchen fitter and debts were piling up. today things are looking different. dianne is now a chef and steve is working as well. it's not easy, nine years have not been easy at all, there have been ups and downs but i think finally now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. what lessons have you learned? we use cash only and if we don't have the cash we don't have it. if we can afford and we don't have it. we don't even talk about

it, we know what we can afford and we can't and if we can't that's the end of the question. older, stronger... why definitely. food for thought perhaps for many households today. emma simpson, bbc news, stoke. on the world athletics championships now, and the controversy around the decision to bar the botswana sprinter isaac makwala from competing in the 200 metres heats because he was supposed to be quarantined for a norovirus infection. officials have now decided to allow him to take part in a time trial to see if he can compete after all. natalie pirks is at the london stadium. natalie, this is an extraordinary turnaround. what is the latest? george, this tale keeps getting stranger. this morning i interviewed him at his hotel. he set his heart was broken, he was on the verge of tea rs. was broken, he was on the verge of tears. then this afternoon a reprieve. his official incubation period ended out 2pm and following

an appeal by the botswana federation and a medical, the iaaf said he could run in a time trial in the next 20 minutes. if he gets through you make the semifinals and he'll be running in lane seven. he must go and 20.53 seconds, something he is perfectly capable of but where will his mindset be. and does this set a precedent for other athletes in a similar situation? the iaaf said this morning, there's nothing we wa nt this morning, there's nothing we want more than extraordinary competition in these championships and this situation certainly is extraordinary. a site of a man about to run on his own in front of thousands of people in the lane. natalie, thank you. the new football premier league season gets under way this weekend. spending by british clubs is expected to exceed £1 billion for the first time ever this summer, but the league's chief executive says the rate of

commercial growth has peaked. here's our sports editor dan roan. it is back with the help of some famous faces the premier league launched the countdown to the start of the new season today and amid the hype talk of the lengths clubs are going to do in the pursuit of glory. chelsea, the champions, have spent £125 million on players this summer, even their manager is surprised by the amount spent. the money is amazing but it is important to improve our sport and quality because we need to win the com petition. the club knows very well what my opinion is on this issue. these are just some of the big—money signings premier league clubs has splashed out on this summer with a total of more than £1 billion set to be spent. for the first time the premier league season will kick off ona

premier league season will kick off on a friday night, at the emirates stadium when arsenal take on leicester city. with the transfer window open until the end of the month the spending spree is set to continue in a way never seen before. gary and allen like the rest of us looking forward to a new season with a new league. 25 years ago was the first match of the day of the premier league era and since then ever more lucrative broadcast rights have transformed spending power but will it continue. when the premier league began in 1992 with our turnover and where it is now, £40 million then, £3 billion then, if you compound that growth you can't see the next 25 years having that same level of growth. what i can see is reasonably sustainable growth which will allow the teams to continue to grow and invest. with newly promoted clubs alongside some familiarfaces newly promoted clubs alongside some familiar faces the premier league newly promoted clubs alongside some familiarfaces the premier league is set for its latest chapter, the challenge to maintain the drama and the interest that has made its first

quarter of a century so lucrative. dan raonic bbc news. england's women began the defence of their rugby world cup title today with a thumping 56—5 win over spain. they weren't the only sides in action though — all 12 teams in the competition play today, with home nations wales and ireland also involved. katherine downes reports. beats and brass welcome the world cup to ireland. forfans flying in, a chance to soak up the early rhythm of this tournament. and england, defending champions, the world's best side, soon had spain dancing to their tune. in less than a minute, megan jones marked her world cup debut with a try. england for now are the tournament's only fully professional side. and it told. ten tries under their belts, england found themselves on the right side of a 56—5 scoreline. a successful defence of their title would see england cap a summer of sport that has seen johanna konta become the first british woman

in 39 years to reach the semi—finals of wimbledon, england's women win the cricket world cup, and the women's football team only stopped in the semis of the european championship by the eventual winners. we have obviously been following how fantastic women's sport has been doing in england. so we're inspired by that and all the messages of support we have been having from home, it really helps us and really does lift the team. for wales, no dream start against a formidable opening prospect. the black ferns on the battlefield and in rampaging, ruthless form. 44—12 the score, two welsh tries not enough. for home supporters watching on, welsh disappointment was simply the warm—up act as ireland prepares to enter its own world cup and rally behind its girls in green. just over half an hour before

ireland face australia in dublin. it should be an entertaining match, ireland semifinalists from the last world cup, australia the olympic rugby sevens champions. england go away to prepare to face familiar foes italy, but for wales am afraid their tournament doesn't get easier, for them next it's canada, runners—up in the next world cup. thank you. time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. for many of us the weather looked like this today, in orkney and cornwall, look at the scene in saint i've is. you are probably looking on with envy if you spend your day in east anglia of the south east because the radar reveals it has been drenched, torrential downpours drifting very slowly through with the odd flash of lightning. the odd rumble of thunder, could be some

travel disruption or further localised flooding before the rain clears overnight. then we will be left with clear spells and it will be quite a chilly might particularly in the countryside, northern and western areas, maybe all the way down to between four and seven celsius. the cool start but a bright one tomorrow and with this bulge of high pressure building it means we are going to have brighter prospects, particularly in the south—east, compared with today, early rain across parts of kent, that should clear smartly and then we should see sunshine, a bit of cloud bubbling up into the afternoon, maybe patchy rain into the far north—west of scotland, generally a fine day. temperature is nothing to write home about four august, but with sunshine and light winds they won't feel bad and tomorrow decent for getting out and about all the notice of rain up towards the north—west, that's friday, band of rain working in from the west, heavy rain in the west,

east anglia and the south east dry for most of the day, gusty winds into the far north—west, 16—21d, but might not bode well for the weekend but it should be mainly dry then with spells of sunshine. thank you. that's all from the bbc news at six, so it's goodbye from me, and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are. hello. this is bbc news with chris rogers. the headlines. 18 people have been convicted of abusing vulnerable girls and young women in newcastle.