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 1 May, 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.

UN chief concerned over Egypt mass death verdict

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern about Egypt’s decision to sentence hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters and its leader to death.

“The secretary-general is alarmed by the news that another preliminary mass death sentence has been handed down today in Egypt, the first of which was on 24 March,” the UN press office said in a statement issued on Monday.

“Verdicts that clearly appear not to meet basic fair trial standards, particularly those which impose the death penalty, are likely to undermine prospects for long-term stability,” the statement added.

Ban also noted that he would discuss his concerns with the Egyptian foreign minister later this week.

On Monday, a court in Egypt sentenced 683 supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi to death amid an intensifying crackdown on dissent.

The court issued the verdicts during a hearing in the southern city of Minya.

The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement Mohamed Badie was among the defendants who received the capital punishment sentence.

Egypt has been experiencing unrelenting violence since Morsi was ousted on July 3, 2013.

According to the UK-based rights group Amnesty International, 1,400 people have been killed in the political violence since Morsi’s ouster, “most of them due to excessive force used by security forces.”

MSM/AS/MAM

Islamic group calls for protests against death sentences

An alliance of Islamic groups supporting ousted president Mohamed Morsi has called on Egyptians to protest against mass death verdicts issued for 683 Muslim Brotherhood members.

The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy said in a statement that the protests would begin on Wednesday from in front of the homes of some of those sentenced to death.

A court in Mania on Monday sentenced 683 Morsi supporters to death amid an intensifying crackdown on dissent.

The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Party Mohamed Badie was among the defendants who received the capital punishment sentence.

The sentences should be approved by the grand mufti of the Egypt before they can be carried out.

The same court also reversed the death penalties of 492 out of the 529 people, it had passed in March, to life in prison sentences.

Brotherhood members and supporters have faced crackdown by the military-backed government over the past months.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been declared a “terrorist” organization by the Egyptian authorities. Commentators say the labeling justifies the punishment of any public show of support for the movement.

HRM/PR

Rights group condemns ‘outrageous death sentences’ in Egypt

The International Coalition for Freedoms and Rights condemned what it called “the outrageous death sentences” passed against 683 pro-democracy defendants in Egypt yesterday, a statement published by the organisation said.

The ICFR, whose delegation of international legal and human rights experts is currently in Egypt on a fact-finding mission, expressed “dismay regarding the arbitrary nature of the trial proceedings”. It said the death sentences were passed on defendants “who were not given the right to defence or legal representation and others who never even saw the courtroom”.

Dr Anas Altikriti, the general secretary of the ICFR said these sentences “might not have come as a shock to those closely monitoring the gradual and clear descent of the Egyptian judiciary into the grips of the military authorities since the coup in July last year”.

He added that ICFR “will be demanding that international institutions such as the UN, and countries including the US and UK live up to their individual and collective responsibilities in upholding the rule of law and justice.”

Egyptian court bans April 6 Youth Movement

A court in Egypt has banned the April 6 Youth Movement that spearheaded the uprising against former Egyptian ruler, Hosni Mubarak.

On Monday, the court issued the ruling against the movement based on a complaint that accused the group of defaming the country and colluding with foreign parties.

The movement turned into a critic of the military-backed regime after authorities stepped up pressure on dissidents following the ouster of former president, Mohamed Morsi, back in July 2013.

The group’s leader, Ahmed Maher, was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2013 for violating a law banning all but police-sanctioned protests.

The latest ruling comes after a group of pro-government lawyers filed a lawsuit against the group and called for military-installed interim President Adly Mansour to freeze the movement’s activities and confiscate its headquarters.

The lawyers say the lawsuit was based on recordings aired on television by a hostile TV presenter.

“The recordings showed the movement had received foreign funding,” media outlets quoted Lawyer Ashraf Saeed as saying.

Meanwhile, a court has sentenced to death 683 supporters of Morsi. The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Party, Mohamed Badie, is among the defendants.

This comes as international bodies and human rights groups have already denounced such rulings as a grotesque example of the shortcomings of Egypt’s justice system.

Figures show Egypt’s military-backed government has jailed nearly 16,000 people over the past few months.

JR/AB/SS

Egyptian court bans April 6 Youth Movement

A court in Egypt has banned the April 6 Youth Movement that spearheaded the uprising against former Egyptian ruler, Hosni Mubarak.

On Monday, the court issued the ruling against the movement based on a complaint that accused the group of defaming the country and colluding with foreign parties.

The movement turned into a critic of the military-backed regime after authorities stepped up pressure on dissidents following the ouster of former president, Mohamed Morsi, back in July 2013.

The group’s leader, Ahmed Maher, was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2013 for violating a law banning all but police-sanctioned protests.

The latest ruling comes after a group of pro-government lawyers filed a lawsuit against the group and called for military-installed interim President Adly Mansour to freeze the movement’s activities and confiscate its headquarters.

The lawyers say the lawsuit was based on recordings aired on television by a hostile TV presenter.

“The recordings showed the movement had received foreign funding,” media outlets quoted Lawyer Ashraf Saeed as saying.

Meanwhile, a court has sentenced to death 683 supporters of Morsi. The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Party, Mohamed Badie, is among the defendants.

This comes as international bodies and human rights groups have already denounced such rulings as a grotesque example of the shortcomings of Egypt’s justice system.

Figures show Egypt’s military-backed government has jailed nearly 16,000 people over the past few months.

JR/AB/SS

Public responses to Egypt’s death sentences

Video clip showing responses of the families of some of those who were sentenced to death by an Egyptian court:

Commentator: Several cases of passing out and losing consciousness afflicted the relatives of some of those sentenced in the two cases. Others threw themselves on the pavement opposite to the court while weeping and crying.

First woman: My husband, my husband. They snatched him from home three months ago. He has nothing to do with the Muslim Brotherhood. He does not even pray.

A man: If they could come up with a photo of my brother or other evidence provided by town folks proving that he was there, I would not let them wait for the mufti’s decision. I would slit his throat by myself, so as for me to be the one who does it. But my brother is innocent. My brother is innocent.

Second woman: They have detained the poor, and they have executed the poor inside while those who perpetrated the crime are free.

Third woman: God is our refuge.

Commentator: As decided by the court in the Tmai case, there will be a retrial for those sentenced in absentia or if they get arrested by the police. The court also decided to reconvene on 21 June to pronounce sentences in the Al-Udwa Centre case whose defendants’ papers have been referred to the Mufti (that’s they’ve been given death sentences that await Mufti endorsement).

Party life will catch you up, challenger Paul Butler tells champ Stuart Hall

Undefeated 25-year-old Paul Butler is confident Stuart Hall's background will catch up with him during their bout at the Metro Radio Arena

Rival Paul Butler believes a past spent partying will come back to haunt Stuart Hall when the pair meet in the ring on June 7 in Newcastle.

Darlington boxer Hall, the IBF bantamweight title-holder, has taken an unlikely-looking path to becoming a world champion, having not competed as a professional until he was 28 after spending much of his youth revelling in Ibiza.

The 34-year-old won the belt in December and has vowed to do everything it takes to have an extended reign with it in his possession.

But while Hall might have moved on from his days as a party animal, Ellesmere Port’s undefeated 25-year-old Butler is confident that will catch up with the champion during their bout at the Metro Radio Arena.

Butler told Press Association Sport: “Everyone knows about his background, with him being in Ibiza for years partying.

“Believe me, I’ll make that pay on the night - it will all come back to haunt him.

“All those years of partying are all going to catch up with him on the June 7.”

Butler (15-0, 8 KOs) has only recently stepped up to bantamweight but feels he is growing into the category well and has no doubt he has what it takes to get the better of Hall (16-2-2, 7 KOs).

“I don’t think he’ll be any stronger than me or any more powerful,” Butler said.

“I’ve sparred with him and I’ve put my hands down by my sides and let him hit me on the chin. I’ve gauged his power.

“I just think I’ll be too sharp, too good. I’m just an all-round better fighter than Stuart Hall - that is what I believe.

“I’d beat everyone on his record, including the two that have beaten him. There is nothing he can do better than me.”

A world title is something Butler has long thought he was destined for.

“This is what I have dreamed of since I was about 10,” he said.

“I remember boxing in New York when I was 11.

“After I got beaten in the ring and thought I should have won, one of Barry McGuigan’s old opponents came over while I was crying my eyes out, grabbed me by my shoulders and said ‘believe me, you’ll be a world champion’.

“Ever since he said that, I’ve always believed I would go on to win a world title and here we are now, with me on the verge of it.

“I just can’t wait for the June 7 to come around now.”

There have been accusations from Hall, off the back of a press conference with the two fighters last week, of his opponent’s camp showing him disrespect.

And while there was a clear effort made by promoters to play that down at Monday’s follow-up media event in Liverpool, Hall feels he deserves greater respect in general.

He said: “Come June 8, on that morning, people are going to be talking about Stuart Hall.

“I think I haven’t had the recognition, but if I can take care of business in this fight and beat Paul in a great fashion, then people will start talking about me and I will probably get that bit of respect that I deserve.”

Hall is eyeing a world unification bout further down the line, with a rematch against Jamie McDonnell - who beat him in 2011 and is set to fight for

the vacant WBA bantamweight title in May - being his “dream fight”.

“Jamie is fighting for a world title the week before.

“If I can beat Paul Butler... massive unification fight,” Hall said.

“If I take care of business on June 7 and all goes according to plan, with Jamie winning, that is my dream fight.”

Darlington seeking to take a step towards club history

Quakers have never won promotion via play-offs, and a win in the semi final will leave them one game away from back to back promotions

Darlington are seeking to take a step towards club history when they face Ramsbottom United at Heritage Park tonight.

Quakers have never before won promotion via play-offs, and a win in tonight’s semi final will leave them just one game away from back to back promotions.

At Evo-Stik League Division One North level, the semi-finals are not played over two legs. Tonight’s match is a one- off.

Victory in this one – against a side that beat Darlington at home and away in the league – will leave Quakers facing a play-off final.

The club has been there twice before, losing to Plymouth then Peterborough at Wembley in 1996 and 2000 respectively.

Current Darlington manager Martin Gray was in the side that lost to Peterborough.

Eight years later they lost in a penalty shoot-out at Rochdale in a play-off semi-final, former Boro man Jason Kennedy, ironically now at Rochdale, missing from the spot.

This time around it is less glamorous, but the prize is the same, in that a place in higher level football is at stake.

Since being cruelly hurled down the pyramid two years ago by the Football Association, Darlington started the road back by winning the Northern League last season.

Success this time around would mean back to back promotions for the first time since the club won the Conference, then Division Four under Brian Little in 1990 and 1991.

Tonight’s game will be a sell-out, with a crowd of just over 2,000 packing into Heritage Park.

Darlington finished the season as runners-up to Curzon and Ashton, with only the title winners going up automatically.

Ramsbottom finished in fifth place, which is why Quakers have home advantage tonight.

Archive Boro: Boro secure league safety with final day victory over Newcastle

Boro won in style in high stakes derby victory over in-form Newcastle at Ayresome Park 24 years ago

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Gallery: Middlesbrough 4 Newcastle 1 May 5, 1990

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Bubbling Boro secured second division safety in an emphatic last day derby defeat of Newcastle in May 1990.

Boro’s win clawed them two points clear of rival basement battlers Bournemouth, who would have stayed up had they beaten Leeds in their final fixture.

It was high stakes at both ends of the table in the two interwoven games as Jim Smith’s in-form Newcastle could have snatched promotion – and even the title – had they won and Leeds or Sheffield United had slipped up.

But Bournemouth lost 1-0 at home as Howard Wilkinson’s Leeds went up as champions and that left Boro to haul clear of the drop zone with a sizzling second half salvo.

And Newcastle were left empty handed as Sheffield United won 5-2 at Leicester leaving the broken Geordies to limp into the play-offs where they lost painfully over two legs to neighbours Sunderland.

Bernie Slaven and Ian Baird bagged a brace apiece in a pulsating final flourish to what had been a disappointing season for Boro .

They had lost their first ever trip to Wembley in the ZDS Cup and seen popular boss Bruce Rioch axed as the campaign faltered.

But it finished on a high note with a famous clash that even now makes many fans’ list of all-time great games.

It started as a very nervous and scrappy affair with some robust tackling in a tetchy crad pocked game.

Mark Proctor fired off target and Simon Coleman headed over from a free-kick before Newcastle went close as Kevin Dillon fired over then Micky Quinn poked wide in a close fought and cautious first half.

After the break the cagey stand-off continued until just before the hour, a ripple of excitement then a huge roar swept around the ground as news filtered through that Leeds had scored at Bournemouth. It was as if Boro had scored themselves.

Soon after they did just that as Paul Kerr crossed from the left and when keeper Burridge hesitated, Slaven reacted well to stab home the opener.

Six minutes later it was two as Newcastle skipper Anderson put a poor back header short and alert Slaven nipped in to steal it from the advancing keeper then squared for Baird to slot into an open goal.

Newcastle pulled one back on 70 minutes as a Brock free-kick was deflected in by a Owen McGee header for an own goal.

But Boro quickly restored their lead as a neat Proctor pass sent Baird storming through to lash home a sizzling shot in front of a jubilant Holgate End.

And in injury time they wrapped it up as a low Proctor shot from the left clipped the post and flashed across the face of goal and predator Slaven stabbed in his 32nd goal of the season.

Palestinians gather in West Bank to respect martyrs

Thousands of Palestinians have gathered in the West Bank city of al-Bireh to welcome the remains of four Palestinians killed by Israel several years ago.

The Palestinians gathered in the city on Tuesday to pay respect to the bodies belonging to two members of Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas Imad and Adil Awadallah as well as Tawfiq Muhamid and Ezz al-Din al-Masri. The Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops nearly 16 years ago.

They have been held in unmarked graves by Israeli authorities since 1998. Tel Aviv began exhuming the bodies in January 2014 following years of international pressure to return them.

The remains of the four men were handed down to Palestinian authorities through Tulkarm checkpoint. Their funeral procession will be held later this week.

Human rights groups say now that the bodies of those killed have returned to their family, they can investigate how they were killed. The groups have also urged the international community to put more pressure on Tel Aviv to release over 280 more Palestinian bodies they are holding in unmarked graves.

The families of the killed Palestinians say they can finally give their loved ones a dignified funeral following years of campaign and international pressure on Israel.

IA/PR/HRB

Much-loved British actor Bob Hoskins dies age 71

Oscar-nominated star, who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease, passes away in hospital surrounded by family

Actor Bob Hoskins, known for roles in films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and The Long Good Friday, has died from pneumonia at the age of 71.

The star, who landed a best actor Oscar nomination for Mona Lisa, retired from screen work in 2012 after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

His family released a statement saying he died last night in hospital.

His wife Linda and children Alex, Sarah, Rosa and Jack said: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Bob.

“Bob died peacefully at hospital last night surrounded by family, following a bout of pneumonia.

“We ask that you respect our privacy during this time and thank you for your messages of love and support.”

The star, who was born in Suffolk after his mother was evacuated from the capital, grew up in north London and left school aged 15 to work in a series of odd jobs while dreaming of getting into acting.

He claimed he got his big break by accident after being mistakenly called for a theatre audition, but he proved a natural and stage success lead him into TV and small film parts.

His breakthrough role came in Dennis Potter’s 1978 series Pennies From Heaven in which he played the lovelorn sheet music salesman Arthur Parker.

His portrayal of doomed London gangster Harold Shand in The Long Good Friday made him a film star and he followed it with stand-out roles in Mona Lisa and The Cotton Club.

Pakistan under fire for media attacks

Pakistani authorities should investigate the country’s powerful military and intelligence agency for human rights abuses against journalists following attacks on leading reporters, Amnesty International has said.

In a report published on Wednesday, called “A bullet has been chosen for you: Attacks on journalists in Pakistan“, the human rights group documents the threat it says the country’s media faces from political parties, armed groups, Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and other sources.

At least 34 journalists may have been killed in Pakistan because of their work since 2008, the group said, and eight have been killed since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was elected in May 2013.

“A critical step will be for Pakistan to investigate its own military and intelligence agencies and ensure that those responsible for human rights violations against journalists are brought to justice,” said David Griffiths, Amnesty’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director.

“This will send a powerful signal to those who target journalists that they no longer have free reign.”

The Amnesty report follows an attack on a high-profile political talk show host, who was shot and wounded in the city of Karachi earlier this month.

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Police constable sacked over Plebgate row press leaks

Gillian Weatherley was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity

A police constable has been sacked over leaks to the press linked to the Plebgate row, Scotland Yard said.

Gillian Weatherley was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity; orders and instructions; confidentiality; discreditable conduct and challenging and reporting improper conduct in a three-day misconduct hearing.

She was on duty in Downing Street on the day of the confrontation between then-chief whip Andrew Mitchell and fellow constable Toby Rowland in September 2012.

The next day, Weatherley sent a photograph of an email that Rowland had sent to his bosses about the row to another officer, James Glanville. He was later sacked for leaking the information to the Sun newspaper.

Weatherley was found guilty of gross misconduct after the hearing before a panel which included an independent representative, a Superintendent and Commander Julian Bennett.

As well as sending the photograph to Glanville, Scotland Yard said Weatherley went on to exchange 12 text messages with him in the days following the confrontation, all of which she later deleted.

The force said she had given “ inaccurate and misleading” statements to officers investigating the aftermath of the row, and had been suspended from duty since her arrest in February last year. Prosecutors have already decided not to press charges.

Another two officers, also from the diplomatic protection group, are due to face gross misconduct proceedings in the coming weeks.

The next hearing will begin tomorrow, for another Pc accused of denying he had been in contact with Keith Wallis, a fellow officer who was jailed and sacked for sending his MP an email in which he pretended to have witnessed the Downing Street confrontation.

A third constable will face her gross misconduct hearing on May 20, where she will be accused of giving false statements to the police investigation into Plebgate.

It is claimed she knew about Wallis’s email and her partner leaked information to the Sun. The hearings are taking place in private as dictated by statute, but Mr Mitchell was invited to attend and Scotland Yard said it would publicise details of the decisions made.

The only misconduct hearing the force has previously held in public is that of Pc Simon Harwood, who was sacked after the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson, when it was ordered to do so by police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Mr Mitchell said: ``Disciplinary hearings in the Metropolitan Police are held in private and therefore I am limited in what I can say - at this stage.

“What I can say today is that I felt the hearing was well-conducted.

“This gross misconduct hearing was in respect of police officer Gillian Weatherley, who first obstructed my exit from Downing Street on September 19 2012 in breach of clear instructions from the head of Downing Street security.

“I hope the transcript of the inquiry and its supporting evidence will be published in full in the interests of openness and accountability.

“This case has serious consequences for the Government, the police and every citizen in this country.”

England boss Roy Hodgson to announce World Cup squad for Brazil three weeks early on May 12

The England coach will name his 23-man squad for this summer's tournament in Brazil on Monday May 12 - despite not needing to until June 2

Roy Hodgson has brought his England World Cup squad announcement forward another 24 hours – and will name his boys for Brazil three WEEKS before the FIFA deadline.

Hodgson was expected to confirm his list of 23 plus seven standby players on Tuesday May 13, which is the day the FA have only to give FIFA a provisional list of 30 players.

But the Three Lions chief wants to end the shadow of uncertainty hanging over his World Cup wannabes as early as possible, intending to confirm his first-choice squad and the names of those who could still be drafted in.

And now Hodgson and the FA have agreed that the names will instead be announced on Monday May 12, the day after the end of the Premier League season.

Unlike in 2012, when Hodgson named his European Championships squad at Wembley, the announcement will take place at the Luton base of England's main sponsors, Vauxhall.

Vauxhall's business headquarters at Griffin House will see the hopes and dreams of Hodgson's contenders made or broken as the names are confirmed.

Hodgson then plans to take just the 23 to the training camp in Portugal and to St George's Park ahead of the farewell friendly with Peru at Wembley on May 30.

The squad will then regather 36 hours later for the flight to Miami and the final warm-up games with Ecuador and Honduras in the Sun Life Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins, on June 4 and 7.

Under World Cup regulations, the final squad does not have to be confirmed with FIFA until June 2, when England will be in Florida, allowing Hodgson to make changes if players are ruled out by injury or, potentially, a catastrophic loss of form, although the Three Lions boss has admitted he will not alter his opinion of players on that basis.

After that deadline players can still be taken out of the squad – if they have a tournament-ending injury confirmed by FIFA medics – up to the day before England's first game against Italy in Manaus on June 14.

Vauxhall Motors Marketing Director Peter Hope said: ''We are delighted to be welcoming the England Manager to Griffin House on such an iconic day in England’s World Cup campaign.

''For our employees to be engaged in such a big day in the England team calendar is very exciting and we look forward to welcoming all of the media to Vauxhall HQ.''

Club England Managing Director Adrian Bevington added: "We have enjoyed an extremely close relationship with Vauxhall since they became England Team Sponsor three years ago, and this is a fine example of that.

"This will be an important day for Roy and the players ahead of an exciting summer in Brazil. It is always a day of interest to the whole country, and we're glad we can share it with Vauxhall."

Modi’s wife confined to unkown place to prevent Modi embarassment?

An advocate from Meerut has written a letter to the Chief Justice of India and Delhi High Court Chief Justice seeking their intervention for the “safety and security” of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s wife Jashodaben, alleging she has been “wrongfully confined at some unknown place”.

“It is seriously apprehended that she has been wrongfully confined by certain anti-social elements in collusion with top-level Gujarat security personnel,” said the letter written to Supreme Court Chief Justice R.M. Lodha and Chief Justice G. Rohini.

“It appears that she has been abducted and had been kept in wrongful confinement at some unknown place and her life is in danger.”

Sources from the Delhi High Court confirmed that a letter written by advocate Hari Shankar was received April 25 but is yet to be placed before Chief Justice Rohini.

Asking the court’s direction to trace Jashodaben, Shankar also forwarded the letter to the union home secretary and the Delhi Police commissioner.

Shankar said “her (Jashodaben’s) life is in serious danger” and it also needs to be investigated whether she is “alive or not”.

“You are requested to kindly look into the matter and the life and liberty and safety and security of Jashodaben without any loss of time.”

The letter said that for the first time it was known that Modi was married to Jashodaben.

“She was shown by some news channel in Rajosana village in Gujarat… her interview was also recorded. Suddenly, she disappeared and her whereabouts are neither known nor available for the past many days,” it said.

Modi had written Jashodaben’s name as his wife in the affidavit while filing his nomination papers in Vadodara, from where he is also contesting the Lok Sabha polls apart from Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi constituency.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader had so far remained silent on his marital status.

Modi, in his earlier affidavits filed in the 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2012 assembly elections, did not reveal he was married.

“… one thing is clear that she is in wrongful confinement and her life is in serious danger and it also needs to be investigated whether she is alive or not,” the letter said.

Media reports recently claimed Jashodaben was being kept at one of the ashrams of yoga guru Baba Ramdev in Uttarakhand until the election is over.

Ramdev has, however, refuted the claim.

(IANS)

Unicorn Centre rider fights back from life-threatening injuries with sights set on Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Jane Lishman suffered horrific injuries after being dragged underneath a horse, but is now determined to compete in the Paralympic Games

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Ian McIntyre

Pictures: Jane Lishman

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A rider who suffered horrific injuries after being dragged underneath a horse is determined to compete in the Paralympic Games.

Double amputee rider Jane Lishman has set her sights on qualifying as a Paralympic dressage rider in Rio 2016.

She is back in the saddle after a remarkable fight back from life-threatening injuries suffered in a freak accident.

Back in 2006, Jane had to have both legs amputated after she was dragged underneath a horse while worming it.

Doctors told her she was lucky to be alive but she was left confined to a wheelchair.

Jane, 46, said: “I lost both my legs, one above the knee and one below the knee, but it took another year of treatment and operations to finally save the limb below the knee.”

Having ridden most of her life, she was desperate to continue with her love of horses.

“As a saying goes ‘You either get busy living or get busy dying’. I always thought I could ride again and this was always my aim through the difficult times.”

Undaunted by her disabilities, she started riding at the Riding for the Disabled Association’s Unicorn Centre at Hemlington.

Although she had never ridden a dressage test before, she entered her first of many Unicorn Centre RDA dressage competitions and won.

Since then, Jane has never looked back.

For the last three years she’s competed at the RDA National Championships at Hartpury, Gloucestershire, winning fistfuls of medals.

Last year she bought her own horse, Lily. She felt safe riding Lily, who “did not bat an eyelid at my wheelchair”.

“At our first show with Lily, I competed against able-bodied people at the Unicorn Centre and we won both our classes. This gave me the confidence to take the next step and I entered my first Para dressage competition where, again, we won.”

From then on Para Dressage became Jane’s objective, and her burning ambition is to compete in Rio in 2016.

Jane, from Darlington, says she is not afraid of hard work but does need financial backing to help her achieve her dream.

She said: “I never thought I would be able to ride again. I never thought I would be doing what I’m doing now.”

To sponsor her, visit Jane Lishman Para Dressage Rider page on Facebook or call Claire Pitt at the Unicorn Centre on 01642 576222.

US-led forces censured for holding Afghan citizens

Afghanistan has accused US-led NATO forces of violating international law by holding citizens as “hostages” at foreign military bases in the country.

“Holding Afghans as hostages – and for a long period – is arbitrary. It’s against (the) Afghan constitution and international conventions,” said Abdul Shakoor Dadras, a member of the presidential commission sent to evaluate the conditions of prisoners in Kandahar and Helmand provinces, on Tuesday.

“We went to international forces’ detention facilities, did our investigations and noticed all the wrong things done in these detention facilities,” Dadras added.

Meanwhile, a NATO official confirmed that an Afghan commission was visiting prisons in southern Afghanistan.

“We are aware of the Afghan government officials’ investigation to the detention facilities in Kandahar and Helmand provinces. The ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) officials are cooperating with the members of the team in this regard.”

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence of many US-led troops.

Washington also carries out targeted killings through drone strikes in Afghanistan, which it says targets al-Qaeda militants. However, local officials and witnesses maintain that civilians have been the main victims of the attacks over the past few years.

NT/AS/MHB

Watch: Memory lane is destination in 500 Group Vintage Bus Running Day

Vintage buses brought back memories for older travellers as they gathered in the shadow of Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge

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Ian McIntyre

Pictures: 500 Group Vintage Bus Running Day

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It was all aboard as bus enthusiasts enjoyed a trip back in time.

Vintage buses brought back memories for older travellers as they gathered in the shadow of Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge.

The 500 Group Vintage Bus Running Day returned to the iconic structure on Sunday, with a number of nostalgic journeys on offer.

This year the group was celebrating its silver jubilee. David Hunter, chairman of The 500 Group, said: “This is the 14th year that we have run the event, and we have worked very hard to make the event even better and more enjoyable than ever before.”

Enthusiasts enjoyed riding on a selection of preserved and active buses owned by enthusiast groups or individuals.

David said: “Many have local connections and will bring back memories of those days of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

“Most people come for nostalgic reasons, particularly the older generation, but there are a lot of younger enthusiasts.”

Throughout the day visitors were able to enjoy free rides on the vintage buses, leaving from the Transporter Bridge and taking in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Yarm, as well as a country bus to Great Ayton and Stokesley.

The enthusiasts included coach driver Robert Facey, 60, who was driving a 1961 Bristol MW bus. He said: “My uncle was a bus driver. He used to give me rides in his bus when I was just little.”

Redcar man attacked ex-partner hours after being cleared of another alleged assault against her

Court told how Daniel Graham, 33, put his former girlfriend in a headlock and squeezed her neck until she thought she'd pass out

A drunken man attacked his ex-partner the same day a court cleared him of assaulting her.

Daniel Graham assaulted his former girlfriend, repeatedly squeezing her neck until she felt dizzy and couldn’t breathe.

The victim became so weak she thought she’d pass out, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Just hours earlier, he’d been cleared of another alleged assault against her.

He came to her Redcar home and attacked her on the night of March 21. She’d told him to go away after receiving 19 calls.

He pushed his way into her home, grabbed and bent her arm and forced a pizza box into the side of her head, said prosecutor Sue Jacobs.

He pulled and pushed her to the floor, put her in a headlock and squeezed her throat.

He let go when the police broke in to come to her aid.

She was left with a bloodshot eye, bruises, marks and pain.

Graham, 33, was already on bail for offences against the same woman months earlier.

He shouted at her and threatened her in the street in front of her young daughter and threw her phone at a railway line on November 29.

Then in the early hours of the morning, he texted her “we’ll see” and she told him she didn’t want him in her life.

He turned up at her home, kicked at the front door, tried to climb over her fence, smashed a window and pulled at broken glass trying to get in.

They had previously been in a relationship for two years and had a child together.

She described Graham as a “Jekyll and Hyde character”, particularly when he’d had a drink.

She took out a “non-molestation order” at Middlesbrough County Court banning him from going near her home.

Graham, of Langley Close, Redcar, admitted breaching the order and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Andrew Turton, defending, said Graham sought help and was now tackling his issues.

The judge, Recorder Abdul Iqbal QC, told Graham: “This is the mother of your son.

She mercifully suffered injuries that are not as serious as they could have been.

“This was not a momentary slap or punch. This was a sustained assault.”

Due to his lack of relevant previous convictions, the judge gave him a chance - a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years with supervision, 150 hours’ unpaid work, a “building better relationships” programme and a three-year restraining order.

Teesside head-hunters Watson Lily target global talent shortage

Head-hunting firm specialising in executive recruitment for international oil and gas, renewable energy and process sectors recently launched on Teesside

A head-hunting firm specialising in executive recruitment for the international oil and gas, renewable energy and process sectors was recently launched on Teesside.

Watson Lily, which is based at Wynyard Park, is being run by Clare Fenwick from Hartlepool who says the “boutique” executive search firm caters for the challenging and fiercely competitive global energy sector.

“The competition in this industry, coupled with the ever-changing, growing energy sector environment, provides a fundamental challenge to organisations seeking to attract and recruit the best candidates in the market place,” she said. “Senior level appointments can transform an organisation, so selecting the right executive search firm is essential for sustainable success.”

Clare is supported by her sister Toni Fenwick, who is also an experienced recruitment consultant.

“As a ‘boutique’ executive search firm, our business ethos is to work in partnership with a small number of client organisations to provide a depth and breadth of service that guarantees success. Although our HQ is on Wynyard Park, we have an international focus as many of our clients locally have global operations, or are seeking to expand internationally.”

Clare worked as an international head-hunter for almost a decade before returning to the North-east in 2007.

The company’s name is derived from the names of Clare and Toni’s grandmother and an aunt of their late father, Peter, who worked offshore on oil rigs.

“My dad went offshore when I was two and his memory – and our family links with oil and gas industry - are the driving forces behind my return to the North-east and the launch of the company,” said Clare, a mum of six-year-old son Marley.

She graduated with a law degree and subsequently became a legal head-hunter.

Watson Lily’s office is based within Wynyard Park’s Serviced Office Scheme.

Claire Tallon, facilities and estates manager at Wynyard Park, said: “Watson Lily shares our commitment to high quality service so the company is a great fit for Wynyard Park.”

If they execute me 1,000 times, I will not give up what’s right: Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Badie

The Supreme Guide to the Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Badie said he will not give up his position or his fight for justice saying “if they execute me 1,000 times, I will not give up what’s right”.

In a statement read by Osama Mohammed Morsi, son of the ousted president, Badie said: “We were not delusional when we said death in the name of Allah if our highest hope. God accept us. God accept us.”

Osama said: “Today I witnessed a historic moment, the moment when Dr Mohammed Badie told us about the death sentences passed down to him and the best of Egyptian men. From behind a cage he said: ‘If they execute me 1,000 times, I will not give up what’s right. We were not delusional when we said death in the name of Allah if our highest hope. God accept us. God accept us.”

Security guards stole iPhones worth over £12,000 from Tesco depot at Teesport

Ali Rahbari from Linthorpe and Gary Knight from North Ormesby each given a suspended prison sentence with 150 hours' unpaid work

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Ali Rahbari and Gary Knight

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Two security guards stole iPhones worth more than £12,000 from a Tesco depot, a court heard.

Ali Rahbari, 38, and Gary Knight, 53, nicked 20 iPhone 5s from the Tesco “high value unit” where they worked at Teesport.

Prosecutor David Crook said: “The site identified that phones had gone missing then checked CCTV footage.

“They observed both of these defendants, Knight and Rahbari, apparently helping themselves to items from that high value unit.”

They hid the expensive stolen goods in their coats and snuck them out in a bag, Teesside Crown Court was told yesterday.

They then sold the stolen iPhones, which were worth a total of £12,380.

Rahbari, of Burlam Road, Linthorpe, and Knight, of Alphonsus Street, North Ormesby, both Middlesbrough, were employed by a security firm and worked at the site for two years. They both admitted theft.

Knight said he took iPhones on two occasions, put them in his jacket and split them with an accomplice he wouldn’t name.

He said he sold them in pubs for £250 apiece, making a total of £2,500 to £3,000.

Rahbari said he stole phones once, put them in his coat pocket, stored them in parts of the depot and over time moved them out of the site.

He said he sold them to a man on Parliament Road, Middlesbrough.

The day after he was arrested, he was leaving the country with £2,000, said Mr Crook.

Both men have been dismissed from their jobs since the crime came to light in February. Defence barristers said they acted out of character and wouldn’t be back at court.

Jonathan Walker, representing Rahbari, said it was a “completely unbecoming... foray into dishonesty” at a time when he was vulnerable.

He said: “It is palpable the level of insight, the level of apology that this defendant would wish to publicly make for this moment of idiocy.

“He’s greatly let himself and his employers down. Both of them have succumbed to temptation.”

Rahbari had been in the country for about 16 years, had no previous convictions and was said to be taking steps to repay Tesco.

Graham Brown, for Knight who had two references, said he described it as a “total aberration” and he’d repeatedly asked himself why he did it.

He said the offence, at a time of financial pressures, had cost him a lot, caused his family anxiety and he showed real regret and remorse.

The judge, Recorder Abdul Iqbal QC, told the pair: “Both of you were trusted security staff.

“Rather than providing security, you breached it and abused it. The way you stole the telephones was amateurish but the theft itself serious.

“Both of you will suffer the blemish on your record. Both of you will suffer the fact that employers will not want to employ you, I rather suspect, for good reason, in future.”

But he said they were working men of otherwise good character who quickly accepted guilt, and they were assessed as a low risk of reoffending.

He gave each a four-month prison sentence suspended for a year with 150 hours’ unpaid work.

Child aged just 11 was referred for drug and alcohol treatment services in Middlesbrough

Call for improved drugs education in schools after investigation reveals primary school children are being flagged as at risk of becoming addicts

A child aged just 11 was referred for drug and alcohol treatment services in Middlesbrough, it has emerged.

Charities have called for improved drugs education in schools after a national investigation revealed primary school children are being flagged as at risk of becoming addicts.

Experts said the most common reason for children to come into contact with drugs and alcohol is through their parents and preventative work is key to heading off misuse among youngsters.

The Government defended the old and new curriculum, adding that all pupils should be taught about how drugs and other substances can be harmful to the body.

Information released under Freedom of Information laws covering the past two years showed the youngest child referred for treatment in Middlesbrough was aged 11.

No information was provided for Stockton or Redcar and Cleveland.

Andrew Brown, director of programmes at charity Mentor UK, which works to protect children from drug and alcohol misuse, said he was shocked at the findings of the Press Association investigation.

Indian man on fire hugs politician on TV, both in critical phase

A television debate show in northern India has ended in horror after a spectator set himself ablaze and embraced a local politician, leaving both men fighting for their lives, police and a witness told AFP news agency.

The election show on India’s state-owned national TV channel Doordarshan was being recorded in a park on Monday in Sultanpur, a town about 160km from the city of Lucknow.

A man, named by police as Durgesh Kumar Singh, emerged from a crowd of about 150 onlookers, doused himself in petrol and then grabbed the local leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Kamruzzama Fauji, engulfing the pair in flames.

Singh sustained burns on 95 percent of his body which are likely to be fatal, while Fauji was in a critical state with 75 percent burns, police said.

“This man suddenly came on the stage, poured petrol on himself and set himself on fire before tightly hugging one of the political guests,” local photographer Pankaj Kumar Gupta told AFP.

“People were just too shocked to know what was happening,” said Gupta, whose photos show the men engulfed in flames with spectators fleeing the scene.

Two other local politicians taking part in the show, Ram Kumar Singh and Chowdhary Hriday Ram Verma, also sustained minor burn injuries while trying to save the pair.

“The injured were first admitted to the district hospital here (in Sultanpur) and were then referred to Lucknow,” said a statement from the police.

The motive for the incident is unknown.

The election, the world’s biggest, will end on May 12.

Photographer Gupta said the show on Monday was called Janmanch 2014 (People’s Forum 2014) featuring five local politicians which was coming to an end when the man suddenly appeared.

Morning news headlines: Nigel Farage not running as MP, Royal relationship woe and Tube trouble

The latest updates from around Britain and the world

Ukip leader Nigel Farage has ruled out running for Parliament in the by-election triggered by the resignation of disgraced former Tory MP Partrick Mercer.

Mr Farage said he did not want to do anything that would distract from the party’s campaign for next month’s European elections, where he predicted Ukip would cause an “earthquake in British politics”.

He told the BBC: “I don’t want to do anything that deflects from the European election campaign, so I am not going to stand in this by-election.

“I want to focus the next three weeks on winning the European elections.”

Mr Mercer quit as the MP for Newark after facing a six-month ban from Parliament over a cash-for-questions scandal.

HARRY AND GIRLFRIEND CRESSIDA SPLIT

Prince Harry and his girlfriend Cressida Bonas have split up, but remain “the best of friends” after calling time on their two year relationship.

The pair had been widely tipped to walk up the aisle, with speculation growing in recent months that the 29-year-old fourth in line to the throne and 25-year-old Cressida would marry.

“It’s very, very sad that they have decided to split. It’s very amicable but they have decided to go their separate ways,” a source close to the couple said.

TUBE USERS FACE MORE DISRUPTION

Travellers in London face a second day of disruption because of a continuing strike by Tube workers in a long-running row over ticket office closures.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will end a 48-hour walkout at 9pm tonight, with a further, three-day stoppage planned for next week.

LU said half of train services ran yesterday and two-thirds of Tube stations were open, much more than during a previous strike in February.

CAESAREAN TO FOLLOW JUDGE RULING

Doctors are today expected to perform a caesarean section on a mentally-ill woman who is 36 weeks pregnant after a High Court judge ruled that she could be restrained “if necessary”.

Mr Justice Hayden - who also said the woman could lawfully be sedated - made the ruling following a hearing at the Court of Protection in London late yesterday.

A health authority in Sunderland had asked the judge to declare a caesarean section lawful.

POLICE QUIZ TEACHER STAB SUSPECT

A schoolboy will spend a third day being questioned by police over the fatal stabbing of a much-loved teacher in front of her pupils.

Spanish teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was just months away from retiring in September after working at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds for more than 40 years.

The 15-year-old was detained by staff following the stabbing on Monday and arrested at the school.

BLUNKETT SETS OUT EDUCATION REFORMS

Labour would put power over education back into local hands to end the burgeoning “Kafkaesque” central control of schools under plans to boost standards drawn up by David Blunkett.

The former education secretary accused Michael Gove of freeing some schools from all forms of accountability except directly to him.

That has led to troubles such as the impending closure of Al-Madinah in Derby, which was branded “dysfunctional” by inspectors, Mr Blunkett warned.

QUEEN TO CONCLUDE TOUR OF WALES

The Queen and Prince Philip will conclude their two-day tour of south Wales with visits to a stationery firm and a prestigious residential school.

The Royal couple enjoyed a busy first 24 hours in the principality undertaking a total of five engagements.

Among the highlights of yesterday included a check on the progress of racehorse Tea For Three - who fell in the Grand National - during a visit to a specialist horse hospital in Narberth, Pembrokeshire.

EIGHT CARE HOME WORKERS SUSPENDED

Eight care workers at an Essex care home have been suspended after secret cameras filmed alleged poor care of residents.

Anglia Retirement Homes said it had launched an independent inquiry into the allegations after the BBC says it filmed staff mocking residents and ignoring their calls for help.

One care worker who was caught slapping a women was “summarily dismissed”, it added.

CLIMATE CHANGE ANALYSIS ’ONE-SIDED’

Treasury assessments of the costs of climate change policies fail to take account of the economic and health benefits of cutting emissions, it has been claimed.

Economic modelling carried out for the Treasury by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ignores the financial impacts of climate change, such as the flooding that damaged the UK earlier this year.

It also fails to include the potential for creating new jobs in industries such as offshore wind, and the economic and health benefits of tackling emissions, including reduced illness from air pollution, according to analysis by Harvard economist Dr Frank Ackerman.