Live: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside

The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Thursday 10 April, 2014.

You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.

Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.

No justice for Muslims in CAR, HRW official says

A Human Rights Watch official says there is no justice for Muslims in the conflict-ridden Central African Republic (CAR).

Philippe Bolopion, the United Nations director for Human Rights Watch, made the remarks, after he returned from the country, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

Bolopion said he showed enlarged photos of a Muslim man being stabbed and stomped to death by soldiers in the capital Bangui to CAR high-ranking officials last week, asking them what was being done to bring the perpetrators to justice.

In response, the country’s chief prosecutor told him that he had the names of those responsible for the February 5 attack, “but nobody will arrest them.”

The atrocities take place despite the intervention of French troops in the former colony.

On December 5, France invaded the CAR after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution giving the African Union and France the go-ahead to send troops to the country.

Many believe the French troops, known as the Sangaris, turn a blind eye to Christian militia, an accusation Paris rejects.

There are many mineral resources, including gold and diamond, in the Central African Republic. However, the country is extremely poor and has faced a series of rebellions and coups since it gained independence in 1960.

NT/AS/MHB

Fear of Modi biggest issue for UP Muslims

LUCKNOW: How to tackle the scare called Modi? This will be the question haunting the Muslims when they go out to vote over the next one and half months. Other factors like ‘Anger with SP’, ‘Confusion about an alternative’ and ‘despair over their own plight’ are there, but nothing unites the community as strongly as the urge to stop Modi.

“Fear psychosis is the single most important factor which decides where do Muslim votes go,” says Syed Hussain Afasar, a veteran journalist and keen observer of UP politics. So, the fear generally overpowers the feeling of despair when it comes to pressing the EVM button. Like all post-Babri elections, this time too it’s the saffron family – this time all charged up under Narendra Modi – which is the clear and present danger for the community. An enemy’s enemy is a friend. But who is the most preferred enemy’s enemy in this case? The community is confused.

In Azizpur village of Shamli, ravaged by riots last year, ‘despair’ is more apt to describe the feeling of local Muslims than ‘anger’ — despair over their unchanged plight for decades and near total absence of the so-called signs of development.

“Our village doesn’t even have power connection,” says Samiullah, 72, of Azizpur. It’s not that the din of elections has made him and others in the village forget the pain of riots but this is the time when they can raise the issues of their subsistence. Their choice of parties may differ from constituency to constituency, but there is a common discontent over the condition of the community. The other common thread of course is Modi and the bogey of BJP.

“Ab Modi aanewala hai…diquat yeh hai ki usko rokne ke liye koi toh ho (Now Modi is about to become MP but the problem is that there is no one to stop him),” says Firoz of Kohadapeer, a Muslim-dominated locality in Bareilly. The question ‘who will stop Modi’ seems to be on top of the checklist of a common Muslim voter. That may result in different voting pattern in the community in different constituency. If overall it helps one party, that will be just by default.

Pollsters say the community has the power to influence the result in over than 50% seats in the state. All these constituencies have a Muslim population of 15% or more. There is another side of it: The minority support appears more formidable in those constituencies which have a moderate Muslim presence – between 8% and 13% as the compared to the ones where the community’s presence is over 20%.

“All big parties try to field a Muslim candidate in the constituency with a sizable minority presence. So the votes get divided and it helps the BJP candidate. But in the constituency with moderate Muslim population, the community has fewer options so they vote en masse,” says a political observer.

In 2012 assembly election, the Samajwadi Party was an overwhelming favourite of the community. But, a spate of riots – particularly in Muzaffarnagar which claimed 60 lives – has made it apprehensive. And it’s not just riots. It’s also about law and order. “Law and order during the Mayawati was far better than what it is these days,” says Imtiyaz, a lecturer at a government inter college in Muzaffarnagar. Should one assume then SP’s loss is BSP’s gain? Hardly.

“Mayawati is yet to win the complete trust of Muslims,” Afsar says “the community always think of her as someone who had a tie-up with saffron forces thrice in the past. As for Mulayam, despite the anger, the community feels a certain level of comfort”, he adds. So, is the community in mood to kiss and makeup with him? As soon as one tries to form an opinion, it gets shredded into pieces as one steps into another village in another district.

“Mulayam too has not lived up to his promise. He has failed to withdraw cases and release innocent Muslim youths languishing in jail on false terror charges,” says Athar, a student in Bareilly.

Among other options, Congress’s own resigned state has somewhat driven the community away. But, some of its candidates might earn the Muslims’ sympathy on purely personal basis. Post riots, Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), a party of jats, seems to have taken for granted that it won’t get the minority support. So, it has not put up a single Muslim candidate.

The Muslim mind has always been a riddle for politicians and political pundits. This time this riddle has got trickier. Will the first phase on April 10, with constituencies having large presence of minorities, throw some light? Wait and watch.

Afghan pullout won’t end US terror drone strikes: Officials

While in the past the CIA has expressed concerns that an end to the military occupation of Afghanistan would seriously complicate their drone war in neighboring Pakistan, officials are now saying it’s not a big concern.

Officials now say that with or without the occupation, the CIA program in Pakistan could continue for many years to come. The CIA is said to have made unspecified arrangements to keep the drones flying.

Exactly what that means is unclear, but the CIA program has in the past used Afghanistan as a staging area for drone strikes, and also operated out of military Forward Operating Bases along the border to recruit spies in the tribal areas.

Without a military occupation, the CIA could likely continue some operations inside Afghanistan, but it would be much harder for them to cover up the nature of the program. Antiwar.com

GJH/GJH

Tensions remain high in East Ukraine

Tensions remain high in Ukraine as pro-Russia protesters continue to occupy a number of government buildings in the eastern parts of the European country, Press TV reports.

Some of the protesters are calling for independence from Ukraine while others want to join the Russian Federation.

In Donetsk, the people demonstrating outside the regional administration building reject claims that they have been paid by Russia to cause unrest in the region. They also express readiness to defend themselves if Kiev decides to storm the premise.

Some of the protesters want a referendum to decide if Donetsk can become an autonomous republic while others want the region to break away from Kiev and join Moscow. However, both groups are united in their opposition to the current Ukrainian government.

“I think the government in Kiev is illicit, so reactions will not be according to the law,” a Pro-Russia activist said.

Many protesters do not recognize the new government in Kiev and claim they will sabotage a presidential election on May 25 while others are in favor of the vote.

Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has alleged that Russia is attempting to repeat “the Crimean scenario” in the country’s eastern parts. He blamed Moscow for fomenting separatist actions in the region.

Pro-Russia rallies have been a common scene across eastern Ukrainian cities over the past weeks.

The protesters briefly occupied government buildings in several Ukrainian cities on Monday. In Kharkiv, they declared independence from Kiev following a similar move by pro-Russians in Donetsk earlier on the day.

Pro-Russia activists also announced the formation of the Independent People’s Republic in both cities.

The demonstrations gained momentum after the Crimean territory declared independence from Ukraine and formally applied to become part of the Russian Federation following a referendum on March 16, in which nearly 97 percent of the participants voted for rejoining Russia, with a turnout of more than 83 percent.

SSM/PR/HRB

Priory Woods School in Middlesbrough rated outstanding by Ofsted for second time in a row

Priory Woods School was rated as outstanding in all four main areas of inspection by Ofsted

For the staff and pupils at one school, it’s been top marks again and again.

Priory Woods School has been rated as outstanding for the second time in a row by Ofsted inspectors.

Following the inspection on March 5, the school was rated as outstanding in all four main areas of inspection.

Praising the achievement of pupils and the quality of teaching, the report said: “Pupils’ achievement is outstanding because they make excellent progress from a very wide range of starting points, academically, socially and emotionally.

“This is because of the exceptionally good teaching and care they receive. Staff teams work very closely together and ensure pupils’ care and educational needs are equally well supported.”

And heaping praise on the behaviour and safety of pupils and the school’s standard of leadership and management the report said: “Pupils’ behaviour is outstanding, both inside and outside the classroom.

It said: “Pupils often display impeccable manners in the corridor towards each other, staff and visitors. The outstanding leadership of the headteacher, senior leaders, managers and governors has improved the quality of teaching and pupils’ achievement since the last inspection.”

Delighted with such a positive result, Priory Wood’s headteacher Bernadette Knill said: “We were really pleased and proud of the report.

“It’s great for the whole school staff team, it’s really nice for everyone’s hard work to be acknowledged. It was outstanding but we won’t sit on our laurels, we will keep on improving and achieving.

“We have fantastic teachers and we are privileged to work with some really special young people who make our job enjoyable.”

Israel targets Palestinian fishermen off Gaza coast

Israeli gunboats have opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the northwestern coast of the besieged Gaza Strip as the Tel Aviv regime’s aggression against Palestinians continues unabated.

One of the Palestinian fishermen said Israeli forces fired at the boats near al-Sudaniyya neighborhood, northwest of Gaza City, on Tuesday morning, causing excessive damage. There were no reports of casualties.

On March 26, Israeli warships targeted Palestinian boats near the city of Rafah, situated 30 kilometers (around 19 miles) south of Gaza City, injuring four fishermen.

On March 18, Israeli naval forces opened fire on several Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, forcing the fishermen to sail back to shore. No injuries were reported.

Palestinian boats are permitted to fish up to six nautical miles from the Gaza coast according to the terms of Israel’s naval blockade on the impoverished enclave.

The fishing area was extended to six nautical miles from three on November 21, 2012, in the truce deal that ended an eight-day Israeli military assault on the Gaza Strip.

Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, an act which has caused a decline in the standard of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.

The apartheid regime of Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages and adequate healthcare and education.

MP/PR/SL

Why EC, UP govt shying away from action against Amit Shah?

Stepping up pressure against BJP over alleged hate remarks of Amit Shah and Vasundhara Raje, Congress today demanded immediate action against them wondering why the Uttar Pradesh government and the Election Commission were “shying away” in the matter.

“Why the Samajwadi Party government and the Election Commission are shying away from taking action and why the SP government was not fulfilling its law and order duty by arresting Shah?”, party spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

Noting that Congress has filed a similar complaint against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to the EC for her remarks against a Congress candidate, he said while the EC has issued a notice today to Shah, no notice has been issued to Raje.

“We sincerely hope and request the EC to be bound by their consitutional obligations and duties and initiate action against Raje, Shah and all elements belonging to any political party who break the law,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said he was not questioning the impartiality of EC but the “delay” in taking action. “When expeditious action was taken against the Congress candidate, I welcomed it on behalf of the party”.

Door-to-door salesman who burgled and ransacked North Ormesby home is jailed

Robert Gray forced his way into the house and carried out a 'messy search', taking a water boiler out of the loft, jewellery and a laptop

A door-to-door salesman who burgled and ransacked a man’s home has been jailed for the first time.

Robert Gray, 27, got into the back yard of the home on Warton Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, forced his way into the house and carried out a “messy search”.

The householder later returned to find his home “trashed”, a water boiler taken out of the loft, jewellery and a laptop missing and his back gate and door damaged.

The cost in stolen possessions and damage was estimated at more than £1,500, Teesside Crown Court heard from prosecutor Ian Mullarkey.

The intruder had thrown an egg at a window and left his blood at the scene on March 5 to 6 last year.

The blood matched the DNA profile of Gray, who knew the householder.

When he was arrested he denied committing the burglary. He said he’d been at the home earlier in the year, had a fight and cut his hand, explaining the blood.

When the victim disputed this, Gray claimed he was lying and trying to “stitch him up”, and accused him of inventing the burglary.

Gray, of Ryedale Street, Middlesbrough, later admitted the burglary, the first on his record.

Andrew White, defending, said Gray had no memory of the crime whatsoever because of drink and drugs.

“He was constantly off his head, he tells me, at that point in his life,” said Mr White.

He said there was no planning or deliberate targeting and the occupier was not home so there were no threats or violence.

Gray since kept out of trouble, came off drugs, his alcohol consumption was “minimal” and he’d moved away from criminal associations.

He now worked in door-to-door sales and had a supportive partner who was pregnant with his child and gave him an ultimatum to give up drink, drugs and crime.

“His greatest wish is to be a good father to that child,” added Mr White.

“He’s decided it’s time to grow up. He’s determined to do so.”

Judge Peter Bowers said: “I still think I’ve got to send out a message that any sort of burglary cannot be tolerated.”

He jailed Gray for 12 months.

Great Broughton girl Jess looking to raise funds after landing US scholarship

Jessica Coverdale, 18, is set to take up a place at John Carroll University, Ohio, Cleveland, but needs to raise £15,000 to afford it

A student who landed a full US scholarship in spite of a series of debilitating conditions is looking to raise funds to realise her transatlantic dream.

Jessica Coverdale, 18, is set to take up a place at John Carroll University, Ohio, Cleveland, but needs to raise £15,000 to afford it.

The Great Broughton teen’s dreams were very nearly dashed when she was struck with two separate conditions within months of her exams.

While preparing for her GCSEs, the Stokesley School student was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and, just months later, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a condition that left Jessica unable to use her right hand or walk without crutches.

Jessica said: “My hearing problems were first diagnosed in 2010 - I found out that the bones in my ears haven’t developed properly.

“Then, when I was sitting my GCSEs, my foot was swollen and bruised, it went on for weeks to the point where I couldn’t walk.

“I went to hospital but there wasn’t anything that showed up in my blood tests so they weren’t sure what it was.

“Eventually they diagnosed me with complex pain syndrome.

“Basically it means I have over-sensitive nerves; I can just slip off a curb and then I won’t be able to move my foot for weeks.”

Despite having to sit in a separate room and dictate to a scribe during her exams, Jessica went on to achieve an amazing eight As and four Bs at GCSE level before moving on to study A-levels at Stokesley School.

Jessica’s mum Sarah Tilley, 40, from Great Broughton said: “She worked really, really hard for it.

“She had to have a scribe during her GCSEs, but she came out with such brilliant results - I’m extremely proud of her.”

Jessica’s has had an interest in crime and criminal psychology for as long as she can remember.

She said: “It sounds really weird but I got the idea watching crime programmes.

“I’ve always been interested in crime and how the mind of the criminal works.

“But when I started psychology at sixth form I realised that there are jobs out there to do with it.”

Jessica’s hard work paid off and her scholarship grant of $18,500 a year will cover her tuition fees studying Forensic Psychology and Behavioural Science.

But studying in the US doesn’t come cheap and now Jessica is looking to raise £15,000 to pay for accommodation and travel.

On her YouCaring page she wrote: “I have been offered a scholarship which goes towards my fees, but am still trying to raise the rest of the money to make this dream a reality.

“I know that this is a big ask, but I would be grateful for any donations no matter how small.”

To help Jessica to achieve her dream, you can make a donation at http://ift.tt/1lKa7TT.

Flatts Lane attempted murder accused makes first appearance before crown court

Tony Griffin was charged after a woman was found with wounds to her throat in the Normanby area last month

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Police on Flatts Lane, Normanby

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A man accused of trying to kill a young woman has made his first appearance at Teesside Crown Court.

Tony Griffin, of Sandmoor Close, Eston, was charged with attempted murder and possessing a knife in a public place.

The 20-year-old is accused of seriously assaulting a woman near the old railway line, Flatts Lane, Normanby, Middlesbrough, on the afternoon on March 25.

She was taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital with knife wounds to her throat.

Griffin appeared in court yesterday via video link to Holme House Prison.

He has not yet entered pleas to the charges.

He was remanded in custody by Judge Peter Bowers until a plea hearing on June 20.

European Senior Tour English Senior Open returns to Rockliffe Hall this summer

Hurworth venue hosted event last year, and success suggests golfers and fans can expect more of the same when the Tour returns in August

Top golf action returns to Rockliffe Hall as preparations begin for the European Senior Tour English Senior Open.

The Hurworth venue hosted the event last year, and its success suggests that golfers and fans can expect more of the same when the Tour returns in August.

Managing director of the European Senior Tour, Andy Stubbs, and 2013’s Order of Merit winner, Paul Wesselingh, joined Rockliffe Hall’s chairman, Warwick Brindle, to announce details about the prestigious tournament which will this year include a charity partnership with Catterick-based Help for Heroes Phoenix House Recovery Centre, which works with recovering veterans and service personnel.

In the pre-tournament pro-am event, Rockliffe Hall will sponsor a team from Phoenix House, who will undergo a period of intensive golf coaching with Rockliffe PGA professionals and Paul Wesselingh, to bring them up to pro-am standard.

In addition, Rockliffe Hall announced that this year’s English Senior Open will also have a title sponsor which will be revealed in the coming months.

Last year, the prestigious tournament attracted players such as Carl Mason, former Ryder Cup captain Mark James and Senior Tour favourites such as Barry Lane, Des Smyth and Peter Fowler, as well as Wesselingh who will return this year.

The winner was Steen Tinning who scooped the prize fund in dramatic style in front of more than 2,000 spectators, having broken the course record with a 63 on the Saturday. Tinning carded a final round of 67 to finish on 17 under.

The English Senior Open will be the biggest one-off sporting tournament of its kind to be held in the North-east this year, with around 10,000 spectators expected during the three-day event which takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday until Sunday, August 22-24, with a pro-am tournament on the Thursday 21.

Warwick Brindle, chairman of Rockliffe Hall, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be the hosts of what will be the biggest one-off sporting event in the North-east this year. We’re expecting even more interest in the tournament this year as people travelled from all over the North to watch. The feedback from spectators, the European Senior Tour and the players was superb.”

Managing director of the European Senior Tour, Andy Stubbs, added: “After the immense success of last year’s English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall and the incredible support we got from the North-east, it’s great to be back again.

“It really is a five star venue that put on a great tournament for us and we’re looking forward to announcing a strong field of players in the coming months.”

Paul Wesselingh, who won last year’s Order of Merit and will return to Rockliffe in August, said: “It really was a wonderful tournament last year and all of my fellow players were incredibly impressed with the standard of the course.”

Former Open de France winner Graeme Storm is another professional attached to Rockliffe. He added: “We really do have a magnificent golf course at the heart of the North-east and I am really proud to work with the team who make it such a success.”

Rockliffe’s golf club was recently named as one of the best in Europe, collecting the 59 Club’s Gold Flag award which is seen as the industry benchmark.

The course, which opened five years ago, was designed by leading golf architect Marc Westonborg. Its engineering and construction allows the course to remain open all year round with no winter greens.

Rockliffe is home to a highly-regarded golf academy with coaching from respected PGA professionals and is a Cleveland Golf and Srixon Centre of Excellence.

For further title sponsorship details contact 01325 729999 or enquiries@rockliffehall.com.

Criminal history of two callous robbers locked up for attack on former soldier

Court was told of the previous convictions of Gary Mills and Matthew Putson

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Gallery: Attack victim Cyril Edmonds

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Neither Gary Robert Mills nor Matthew Paul Putson - locked up for the cowardly attack on Cyril Edmonds, 78 - were strangers to the courts, even at their young ages.

“Three strikes” burglar Mills, 22, had by far the worst record of the two, with 18 court appearances.

He hadn’t long been released from a six-year sentence when he robbed 78-year-old Cyril Edmonds.

He was given the six-year term, aged just 19, in November 2010 for two robberies, a burglary and an assault.

He was the oldest of four young offenders condemned by a crown court judge as “bully boys” who frightened, abused and threatened decent people.

Judge Les Spittle said: “You and people like you, young men like you, are a scourge on our society.

“You have no conscience for anybody, be it young male, young female, those who are under a disability.

“You think you can go through life doing what you like and get away with it.”

Mills took part in the violent robbery of a 16-year-old girl’s phone, where she was dragged across the ground, and an attack on her boyfriend in Albert Park, Middlesbrough.

A week later, he burgled a retired woman’s Middlesbrough home and shed and, with a knife tucked in his shorts, robbed another 16-year-old boy of a mountain bike, punched him, kicked him to the head and threatened to stab him.

His record began when he was 15, with a caution for assault after he and another man used a knife to take a man’s bike.

He burgled a Middlesbrough home to steal jewellery in 2009 and burgled an Essex home posing as a door-to-door salesman.

Putson, aka Matthew Sharpe, 17, had a reprimand for burglary when he was just 10.

He started offending in earnest when he was 13, with convictions for theft and damage.

In one case, he demanded money with threats to take cash from two victims.

He had a conviction for assault in North Cumbria where he kneed and punched a school teacher, and for burgling his grandmother’s home and stealing her jewellery and car.

Luke Williams and Nathaniel Chalobah have ability to be stars, says Craig Hignett

Luke Williams and Nathaniel Chalobah have caught the eye of Boro assistant head coach Craig Hignett

Luke Williams and Nathaniel Chalobah have the ability achieve great things in football if they work hard day-in, day-out, according to Craig Hignett.

Boro’s assistant head coach believes the talented duo have bags of technical ability but need to make sure they fulfil that talent by applying themselves in every training session and match.

Both have caught the eye in the Championship in recent weeks and Hignett wants them to build on those promising performances.

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Katie Lunn

Nathaniel Chalobah

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“They are very technically gifted footballers,” he said.

“But the key to succeeding is concentration, working hard every day and trying to get better every day.

“You can’t just coast through training because if you do you will end up coasting through your career.

“If you are focused and work hard every day and want to learn, coupled with the kind of players they are - with the technical ability they’ve got - they will go far in the game.”

Former Hartlepool assistant manager Hignett worked with Williams during the playmaker’s loan spell at Victoria Park earlier this year and has huge faith in the 20-year-old.

He said: “I think Luke is at his best when he knows people believe in him. Aitor’s given him a chance and he’s been excellent against Brighton and Derby.

“I think you can really see him enjoying his football again.”