I and the household of the Prophet peace be upon him nominate Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi

A headline in one of the newspapers reads: “Sisi has met God twice”. This is a headline that would have shaken Egypt had it been used at a different time about a different man. This is a discourse that bestows upon him (that Sisi) a special form of support.

(Clip of a turbaned man speaking in what appears to be a religious gathering) “I and the household of the Prophet peace be upon him nominate Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi. In doing so, we are only obeying Al-Hussein (the grandson of the Prophet himself).

(This is) a discourse of a new type in Egypt. It is causing concern for it surpasses the dividing fine and dangerous lines that separate the glorification of a person as a politician from elevating him to other forbidden (sacred) levels.

(Clip of the preacher Saad Al-Din Al-Hilali speaking before a large crowd of what seems to be an Interior Ministry function): “As God did before send on a mission two men, Moses and Aaron, here came Al-Sisi and Muhammad Ibrahim (the Interior Minister).”

Talking about himself, Sisi says that he possesses a special view of Islam. (clip of Sisi speaking in a recent Egyptian TV interview): “We have presented God in a way that is not befitting for His Almighty Status. This in absolute clarity is (what we have done). This requires from us, and requires, by the way, from all rulers to revise their positions.”

However, in his logic of rejecting the Islamists unveils a stark contradiction having joined hands with some of the mostintolerant and narrow-minded among them (the video shows the leader of Alnoor Salafi political party) at a previous moment necessitated by his personal political interest which he usually packages in religious expression and in weeping.

(A clip of Sisi addressing a groups of Sufi leaders in Egypt and appear to be tearful ): “It is hard for me to see people in agony fearful that life in Egypt might be wrecked. I (would not remain) indifferent. And this would not be doing good. I pray to God that this work will please our Lord.”

Sisi goes to extremes in exhibiting a quasi mystic style of religiosity which in essence is in contrast to the jurisprudential background of some of his allies who disagree over whether Islam is a religion of governance or one of mere rituals. When the matter is to do with turning the public against one’s foes, the second would be the option.And this is what prompted Sisi, as he himself says, to topple an Islamic current from power, which is the same power he has been seeking utilising a religious discourse that no one before him ever resorted to or exploited the way he does.He has described himself as someone who belongs to God’s camp. This is a discourse which critics say surpasses the mere exploitation of religion for material ends to using to justify murder. As for the lack of vision, this is camouflaged by the talk about the given. In this way, people’s poverty is seen as their fate, but neither more nor less. This is the manner in which it is very likely afterwards the accumulation of wealth may too be explained as divinely allocated sustenance.

Former post worker who stole equipment must repay his ex-employers - from his pension

Desmond Seaman, 34, has agreed to pay more than £13,000 compensation back to Royal Mail from his £60,000 pension pot

A former Parcel Force worker who stole his employer’s equipment must compensate them out of his own pension.

Desmond Seaman, 34, made more than £13,000 from stealing and selling his employer’s old equipment.

Now he has been ordered under the Proceeds of Crime Act to reimburse Royal Mail.

The entire sum will be paid from his pension with his former employer of £60,625 after 15 years’ work.

He has given his consent for the money to be taken back from his Post Office pension, Teesside Crown Court heard.

He stole 101 handheld computers and finger scanners, no longer in use and stored in a Middlesbrough depot.

He sold them to another company second-hand for £13,200, falsifying documents to make it look to the innocent buyer like a legitimate sale.

He used his work position to mail the stolen devices without paying postage, the court was told in February.

The equipment was sold on to an untraceable third party and never recovered.

Seaman spent the cash in a week as he rushed to pay off bank and credit card debt and mortgage payments.

He forged signatures and used the names of two other employees, wrongly casting suspicion on them.

He confessed to investigators, saying he was heavily in debt since a marriage breakup.

Seaman, of Penllyn Way, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, admitted his first crimes of theft, converting criminal property and four counts of obtaining services dishonestly.

He said he saw the redundant scanners “gathering dust” and acted thoughtlessly in a desperate financial position trying to support his estranged wife and his children. He was sorry and wanted to make reparations.

He was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years with 150 hours’ unpaid work in February. He was back in court yesterday for the proceeds of crime hearing.

It was agreed he made £13,667 from crime.

He could pay the full amount - plus £4,752 costs - from his pension pot, it was said.

Prosecutor Barry Robson said: “He’s got a pension plan with Royal Mail in the sum of about £60,000.

“There is a clause in the contract which allows Royal Mail to draw down on that for the benefit which has been realised in this particular crime.

“He’s signed a document which allows that to take place.

“All the money’s coming from the pension plan. That can be accomplished in 30 days.

“That allows the money to be directly taken from the pension fund and diverted towards Royal Mail in satisfaction of the debt.

“The pension pot has been accumulated over the 15 years he’s worked for Royal Mail.”

John Nixon, defending, said: “It resolves the matter satisfactorily.”

Judge Howard Crowson formally made a confiscation and compensation order for the £13,667 to be paid to Royal Mail.

Union slams Middlesbrough Council decision to give senior officer up to £18,000 pay rise

But Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon has responded to the comments by calling them 'disingenuous and mischievous in the extreme'

A union has dubbed a Teesside council’s decision to give one of the highest paid senior officers up to £18,000 more as “morally indefensible”.

And a councillor has said it is “alarming” a “so-called cash-strapped council” has given the nod to increase the pay of a senior manager.

But Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon called the comments “mischievous in the extreme”.

As reported, Middlesbrough Council has announced a shake-up of its senior management structure which includes reducing the number of senior managers from 22 to 12 over the past four years cutting almost £1m in costs and the addition of three extra executive members which will cost nearly £37,000 in allowances.

As part of the reshuffle, director of transformation Tony Parkinson is to become executive director of commercial and corporate services - a move which boosts his annual salary from £95,000 to between £102,681-£113,484.

Janet Greig, Unison regional organiser, said: “When this man was awarded £95,000 to be director of transformation we said it was morally indefensible when they were asking their staff to accept cuts in terms and conditions.

“Now to come along and raise it by 20% - if he gets the top of his grade - it’s morally indefensible.“At the same time is the cost of these extra executives instead of employing a couple of managers who would have the skills necessary to take on that role.

“Members have a 1% increase in their salary so this is an absolute disgrace. They are shouting that they don’t have any money and Middlesbrough is hit the hardest with the national cuts but at the same time they can find this additional revenue.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon hit back saying: “The comments from Janet Greig are clearly disingenuous and are mischievous in the extreme. She is well aware that this is not a pay rise - this is a new role and the salary reflects the particular position and the duties and responsibilities that go with it.”

Coulby Newham ward councillor Michael Hudson said: “It’s alarming to learn that Tony Parkinson has been awarded an £18,000 pay rise when the so-called cash-strapped council is in financial difficulty and especially when services are being reduced.”

Mr Mallon has defended the shake-up saying the increase to nine executive councillors, each receiving an allowance of just over £12,000 is “as cost-effective, as to employ two officers, at that level would cost at least £90,000”.

SABIC workers vote against strike action, but in favour of overtime ban in pension dispute

Unite the union says staff are 'upset and angry' after SABIC UK told them it was planning to close its final salary pension scheme

Hundreds of SABIC UK workers involved in a pensions dispute have voted against strike action.

Unite the union says staff are “upset and angry” after the global chemical company, which owns the Cracker (Olefins 6) plant at Wilton among others, told them it was planning to close its final salary pension scheme.

Workers who rejected SABIC’s offer of a pay-out say they don’t want to walk out in protest - but they have voted three to one in favour of an overtime ban across the chemical company’s Teesside sites.

The decision comes as the company, which employs 600 on Teesside, is carrying out major £50m “turnarounds” - maintenance and inspection events - for the Cracker during May and June.

The overtime ban is due to take effect from 7am on Monday and last indefinitely, according to union officials.

Unite organiser Bob Bolam said: “The first [ballot] question was about strike action, which did not get the required majority. The second was for action short of a strike; which got a 3-1 majority.

“The reps have met and have agreed a course of action, which is an overtime ban. Everybody is upset and angry at the proposed loss of the final salary pension scheme, which was one of the main reasons people have stayed with SABIC.”

The Cracker, which is spread over a 223-acre site at Wilton, produces chemicals for everyday items from toothbrushes to textiles, cars, TVs and computers.

The pension scheme closure is part of a series of measures by SABIC UK to increase competitiveness, due to a global drop in demand for its products. The company is also halfway through a restructuring process, announced last year, which will lead to around 100 job losses.

SABIC UK’S manufacturing director Mike Ducker said: “We very much regret this outcome.

“SABIC and Unite have agreed to work closely together to ensure that the action will not compromise the environment, health or safety performance or impact any of our employees in any way.

David Botterill leads the way in memorable day at Croft

Tees racer David Botterill expected a tough time on his latest visit to Croft Circuit.

Instead he enjoyed one of his best days ever on the track.

Botterill, from Ingleby Barwick, took his Porsche 944 to one outright win in the Northern Saloon and Sports Car Championship at Darlington and District MC’s Spring Meeting, and was a whisker away from claiming a second victory.

And on top of that he scored 10th and fifth place finishes in the day’s two Bayliss and Harding Porsche Club Championship with Pirelli races at the wheel of his Porsche 964 C2.

Flying Scotsman Paul Brydon (BMW M3) started the day leading the championship overall and class A1 - in which Botterill also competes - after the opening two rounds of the year at Oulton Park.

Heavy rain had lashed down in the morning at Croft, but Botterill took the bold gamble of going out on slicks for the opening race for classes A and E.

And it paid off as he streaked to a 36.9 second win over Colin Simpson (Marcos Mantis) with Andrew Wareing (Lotus Europa) third.

Brydon had to make do with fourth place both on the road and in class.

With the conditions drying in the afternoon, Brydon went off like a rocket and established a commanding lead, with Simpson second.

But Botterill never knows when he’s beaten and got stronger as the race wore on.

He battled his way past Simpson, who later retired, and then trained his sights on Brydon.

Buccaneering Botterill set the fastest time by more than a second but when he found a way past Brydon it was after they had passed the chequered flag and he had to settle for second.

One more lap and he’d have hit the front, for sure.

“It was a fabulous day’s work,” purred Botterill.

“I made a brave tyre choice in the morning. I went on slicks when it was wet because I thought they would work as it dried and they did.

“I got a very good start and although I conceded a couple of places after getting into the lead, I sat behind them for a couple of laps then thought ‘I need to go now’ and I went past them and pulled away.

“The second race was a fantastic race.

“My car just got faster and stronger. I got past Colin, although he had some sort of problem, although while I was fighting with him I lost a bit of ground on Paul.

“But on the last lap I really put the hammer down. Paul took a defensive line on the hairpin but otherwise I’d have got through.

“We both got a good line and then it was just a drag race to the finish.

“We did a little refresher to the car over the winter and now it’s just like it was a few years ago. Once again it was brilliantly prepared by Strasse.”

It looks like being a fascinating battle for class A1 honours as the season unfolds and Botterill is in the thick of it.

“There are a lot of people in class A1 and a lot of really quick cars,” said Botterill.

“When I looked at the entry list for this meeting I thought ‘I’m not going to come anywhere!’ I thought I’d be lucky to get in the top five.”

Class B is another fiercely competitive section in this season’s race for NSSCC honours.

And Ingleby Barwick’s Mike Williamson (Mitsubishi Evo 4) is among the drivers fighting for the title.

The top three were the same in both races for classes B, C, D and H with Andrew Morrison (Seat Leon Cupra) winning from Williamson and former champion Mike Cutt (BMW M3) in a class B clean sweep first time out before Cutt led Morrison and Williamson home next time.

Williamson led both races in the early stages.

“I’m really pleased with a second and a third,” said Williamson, who is celebrating a new sponsorship deal with Oak Road Motor Factors.

“Over the winter I did some work on the car - I fitted a new crankshaft and put it together with some love and attention, I think you could say.

“I’m delighted to have a new sponsor, so thanks to them, and to everyone who rallied round at the weekend - my dad, my little lad and friends.

“It’s going to be a competitive class - Mike and Andrew are always extremely fast in the wet and the dry, we’ll wait and see what Andy Wilson does in the Monaro and Steve Kell always puts on a good show.”

Kell, another Ingleby Barwick driver, started the day with one of his best ever finishes, a fifth place overall (and fifth in class B) in his Ford Sierra XR4x4.

A lightning getaway in the second race saw him second to Williamson early on before a high speed excursion into the barriers brought him down to earth with a jolt.

But he got back on the track and went on to finish seventh overall (fifth in class), albeit minus his front bumper.

“I’ve made a lot of changes to the car, and I’ve got a lot more power,” said Kell, who took a year out last season to develop it.

“I went well in qualifying and had a good result in the first race.

“I made a good start in the second race but going into Tower I lost the back end under braking and hit the barriers.

“The speedo was saying about 130mph when I hit the brakes - I just happened to glance at it just before.

“I had a bit of a wild ride along the grass, hit the barrier and spun round.

“A marshal got the bumper out of the way and I thought I’d do a lap to see if I’d damaged any of the mechancicals, the intercooler or anything, but it’s seemed good so I kept going.

“I got my head down and passed a few cars! It was the most I’ve ever passed in a race so I was really pleased!

“There was a bit of damage but we’ll soon have it fixed.”

Darlington’s double former champion Paul Moss (Citroen Saxo) started the day with maximum points.

But he was forced to retire from the opening race with gearbox problems which also prevented him starting the second race.

It was only the second meeting he had done with the gearbox, and he left his local circuit knowing he’ll have an uphilll battle if he’s going to regain the crown, currently held by Yarm’s Bill Addison.

Stokesley company boss John McCullagh (Porsche Boxster S) scored two third places in the Porsche Club Championship.

McCullagh won the class two and overall championship last year but has stepped up to class one this term and is proving to be one of the front runners.

Disappointed to be only sixth on the grid in the wet qualifying session, as the cars came out for race one in the early afternoon an inspired tyre choice from his Hartech Racing team saw them fit wet weather tyres at the last minute.

Many of his rivals caught on slick tyres were forced to start from the pitlane.

After a race long chase of second-placed Pete Morris, the pair were right together on the final lap, and Morris had to stoutly defend his position to hold McCullagh at bay into the final hairpin.

The track had dried by the time of race two when McCullagh was again embroiled in a race-long battle with Morris, once more being forced to settle for third though he still bagged valuable championship points.

“It was a good day, a tough one for a lot of people but we seem to have picked our way though all the attrition and get the car on the podium twice,” said McCullagh.

“I seemed to have been chasing Pete Morris each race, but we are getting closer to him every time and I’m looking forward now to the next outing at Silverstone.

“I feel much more comfortable with the car now, it’s been really well prepared by Hartech and I am really enjoying driving it.”

See next week’s Neal’s on Wheels for a feature on John McCullagh.

Mike Thornton and Dave Scrimgour celebrate their first award in rallying

Driver Thornton and navigator Scrimgour were second in class on the John Overend Memorial Stages Rally at Melbourne

Tees crew Mike Thornton and Dave Scrimgour are celebrating their first award in rallying.

Driver Thornton, from Redcar, and Guisborough navigator Scrimgour, were second in class on the John Overend Memorial Stages Rally at Melbourne, the former World War Two airfield near York in their Escort Mexico.

“We were running in the historic class,” said Scrimgour.

“It’s an old car. In fact it’s on its last legs to be honest, but it’s reliable as hell!

“The course was half tarmac and concrete and the other half just like we were in the forests.

“But Mike drove well and the car ran faultlessly.

“We were delighted with 22nd overall which was our best result in a field of that size and over the moon with second in class as it was our first award.

“We’d finished second in class there before but they didn’t give awards for second on that occasion.”

Kev Hullah (Saltburn)and Chris Harding (Marske) were 18th overall and sixth in class in their VW Golf.

A loss of intercom of stage one led to a lot of shouting and hand signals and they also lost the use of the washers on another stage.

An intake of water to the air box resulted in a misfire and lack of power while a lost fan belt, damage to the rear bumper and a broken exhaust bracket led to a busy day for the team with constant checks required due to the conditions.

Tees Valley Mohawks' young guns to take on the nations' best

Tees Valley Mohawks are stepping up their bid to boost the awareness of junior basketball in Teesside

Tees Valley Mohawks are to enter a team in the Under-14 National League for the first time next season.

After a very successful Under 14-and Under-16 campaign at local level, the Mohawks are stepping up their bid to boost the awareness of junior basketball in Teesside.

Players from across the area will be attending the Olympia Building at Teesside University on May 24 and 31 for try-outs.

And the club hopes that a successful junior programme will lead to the discovery of future first team stars.

Coaches Steve Butler and Tony Hanson will cast their eye over the talent on show and select the top 15 players to form their squad.

Also enlisted to help the club build up its junior ranks is Hartlepool Heat coach Sharon Weatherill.

She said: “These are exciting times for the Mohawks and we are looking forward to helping the partnership grow and see the young kids playing at a higher level.

“This can only benefit our local teams once the players are back playing against each other in the Teesside or Durham Leagues.”

The Mohawks will be applying to enter the Under-14 North league which boasts teams from cities including York, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds.

The competition is tough but Butler, head coach of the Mohawks’ EBL National League Division One senior team, is looking forward to the challenge.”

“I’m really looking forward to the new junior set-up,” he said.

“It will be a new experience for everyone and it’s something the club is looking to forward to.

“We are growing at a fast rate and we need to build for the future of the club as some of these players will hopefully be putting Mohawks men’s jerseys on in a few years’ time.”

The season may have finished but there’s no rest for the hard-working Butler.

Mohawks’ junior sessions continue to run throughout the week, every Wednesday at Middlesbrough College from 5- 7pm, priced at £4 per person, and on Saturdays at Mohawks home venue, the Olympia Building from 12-2pm at £5 per person.

The sessions are community based and open to anyone aged six to 16 from beginners to advanced level. They are open to boys and girls .

Contact Steve Butler through the Mohawks website contact page at http://ift.tt/1uAyuIH or call him on 07895 594018 for details.

Thorntree stabbing: Craig Conway appears in court accused of murdering Simon Bennett

Defendant, 30, has yet to enter a plea after being charged with barber's murder :: Conway is remanded in custody until July 11

A man accused of the murder of Middlesbrough barber Simon Bennett has this morning made his first appearance at Teesside Crown Court.

Craig Lee Conway, of Berwick Hills Avenue, Brambles Farm, Middlesbrough, is charged with murdering Mr Bennett on May 9.

The 30-year-old appeared in court today via video link to Holme House Prison.

He has not yet entered a plea to the murder charge.

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Ian Cooper

Police on The Greenway, Thorntree

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Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, remanded Conway in custody until a plea hearing on July 11.

Mr Bennett, 28, is thought to have died from a single stab wound following an incident at The Greenway, Thorntree, last Thursday.

He was found with serious injuries at 11.30pm and was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Known to friends as “Simo”, Mr Bennett worked as a barber and lived in the Netherfields area of Middlesbrough.

Friends and family have spoken of their sadness and shock since his death and hundreds of tributes were paid on social networking sites and by Middlesbrough College, where Mr Bennett previously studied.

A 19-year-old man, also arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Oscar Pistorius to spend 30 days in psychiatric unit to see if his mental health led to killing of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Athlete will spend a month in a government facility while doctors assess if he is suffering from an anxiety disorder

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been sent to a psychiatric unit for 30 days so experts can assess whether an anxiety disorder played a part in his killing of Reeva Steenkamp.

The chief prosecutor in the athlete's murder trial requested that the runner be put under observation after an expert witness testified that he had an anxiety disorder.

A psychiatrist for the defence, Merryll Vorster, said the disorder she diagnosed in Pistorius could have played a role in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend Reeva at his home in February 2013.

The Blade Runner will now be sent to a government facility for a 30-day evaluation, after Judge Thokozile Masipa agreed to prosecutor Gerrie Nel's request.

The trial, which has already over-run by a number of weeks, will be delayed while this is carried out.

Giving the reasons for her decision in court this morning, Judge Masipa highlighted that the law said a defendant should be referred for psychiatric evaluation if mental illness or a mental defect meant they "might not be criminally responsible".

She said that while Pistorius may not have raised this as a possibility himself, evidence given on his behalf has done, and cannot be ignored.

She referred to Ms Vorster's evidence, in which the doctor described Pistorius as "hyper-vigilant", and someone with a long history of generalised anxiety disorder "that appears to be increasing with time".

This, the judge said, had created doubt over whether he may have another defence of "diminished criminal responsibility", and a referral was needed to ensure he gets a fair trial.

An order will now be prepared and formally handed down next Tuesday, when Pistorius will begin his 30 day assessment.

Judge Masipa said the aim of the referral was "not to punish the accused twice", and requested he be treated as an outpatient.

Pistorius says he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he shot her in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year. Prosecutors say he killed her in anger after an argument.

When asking for the psychiatric assessment, Mr Nel questioned why the defence had asked Ms Vorster to testify on behalf of the Olympic runner.

He suggested that the trial is not going well for Pistorius and his lawyers are floating the idea that a disorder contributed to Reeva's shooting and that therefore Pistorius bears less responsibility for her death.

Pistorius's chief lawyer Barry Roux said Pistorius should not be sent for 30 days of psychiatric evaluation and that he wanted to call another witness to continue evidence, but Judge Masipa disagreed.

Tributes paid to Nunthorpe mum who died in horror crash on A172 in Stokesley

Dozens of tributes flood in for former Nunthorpe Academy student Elaine Florence Teasdale, 33, who died following the rush-hour smash

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Katie Lunn

Pictures: Police close A172 following accident

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Tributes have been paid to a mum who died in a horror rush-hour smash.

Elaine Florence Teasdale, from Nunthorpe, died following a crash in Stokesley last month.

The 33-year-old was travelling on the A172, close to the market town’s leisure centre, when her Peugoet 206 was in collision with a Vauxhall Vivaro van, travelling in the opposite direction.

Both vehicles burst into flames as a result. Sadly, Ms Teasdale, a former Nunthorpe Academy student, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokeswoman for the school said: “Everyone at Nunthorpe Academy sends their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Elaine Teasdale.”

Dozens of other tributes have also flooded in for Ms Teasdale, who last year graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy.

Professor Paul Keane OBE, Dean of Teesside University’s School of Health and Social Care, said: “Elaine was an excellent student and our condolences and thoughts are with her family.”

One friend said on Facebook: “There is such a lot I could say about you Elaine you were truly an amazing girl. All our love to you, and that gorg smile will always be watching over us all Elaine you will never to be forgotten.”

Another friend said: “Thank you for some of the best times of my life. My angel, always have been, always will be.”

Ms Teasdale, a mum to her 15-year-old daughter, was involved in the crash shortly before 7.45am on Tuesday, April 29. An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned last Tuesday.

Fire appliances from Northallerton, Coulby Newham and Thornaby attended the scene.

The road was closed for several hours as emergency services attended the scene.

The 57-year-old driver of the van was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough with serious chest injuries and released the same day.

Ms Teasdale’s funeral will take place on Friday at the Chapel of St Bede, Teesside Crematorium.

Boro hot prospect Dael Fry aiming to help England Under-17s put heat on Holland

Boro young guns Dael Fry and Callum Cooke are aiming to fire England to glory in the European Under-17 Championships

Boro hot prospect Dael Fry believes England’s Young Lions can put down a marker tomorrow as they face highly-fancied Holland in the European Under-17 Championships.

Both sides have already qualified for the knockout phase after 100% starts in their group games in Malta and will be looking to get a psychological advantage in case they meet again, possibly in the final.

“We might play them again in the later stages so it would be nice to beat them now and maybe get a bit of an edge,” said defender Fry, a mainstay of John Peacock’s England side along with Boro team-mate, midfielder Callum Cooke.

“We’ve already beaten Holland this year,” he continued. “We played them in the Algarve tournament in March and won 2-0. Callum got both goals.

“Technically they were very good as you would expect and they have a good shape but this England squad are good too.

“We have got a fantastic group of players and a great spirit and we are all very confident we can beat them again.”

England found their feet in Malta with a 3-0 win over the hosts then came from behind to beat Turkey 4-1.

“We’ve done well so far and I think we are getting better in every game,” said Fry, 16, from Berwick Hills and a pupil of Unity City Academy.

“We started against Malta and they had a big crowd behind them and it was quite intimidating at first but we settled quickly and once we scored we took control really.

“Then against Turkey we were a goal down and then we conceded a penalty soon after that but that was saved and then we pushed on and won quite comfortably in the end.”

Central defender Fry and Cooke, from Peterlee, are surrounded by starlets from top flight clubs, including several who have actually made cameos in the Premier League.

But the pair are taking heart and inspiration from being fixtures in the squad against some tough competition.

“It is great to measure yourself against some of these brilliant players,” said Fry, who has been with the Boro Academy since he was nine after being spotted playing for Cleveland Juniors in the Teesside Junior Alliance as a youngster.

“We are training and playing with them and learning every day so it is a really valuable experience for us,” he said.

“Some of the lads here have already played first team football at their clubs and that drives you on and inspires you to aim for the same.

“And being at Boro helps too as you know it is a club with a great record in helping young players in our position step up.

“Obviously in the past players like Stewart Downing and Adam Johnson have done that and played at the top level.

“But we just need to look at Bryn Morris who has been in the first team squad this year and even made his debut and he’s only a year older than us.

“He has stepped up and played at this level for England too so you know if you are good enough and work hard enough then it is possible for us too.

“And then there are players like Luke Williams and David Atkinson who have made the step up too. We have to look at people like that and be determined to match them and get into the first team.

“We know we are very lucky and we are living the dream. A lot of other young lads would kill to be where we are now.

“We have to savour every minute we are out here with England, learn from it and then go back to Boro and make sure we apply it all and keep improving as players.”

The Boro duo now have one eye on the latter stages of the European Championships.

England and Holland are already through from one group but in the other it is very tight with Scotland and Germany battling to join Portugal in the next phase

“That group is wide open but we are confident we can match any of them sides on our day,” said Fry.

“I don’t know if we can win it but we will certainly give it our best shot. We’ve got a chance.”

England play Holland in Poala at 11am tomorrow with the match live on Eurosport.

Death of Eaglescliffe doctor prompts coroner to take action over condition of A19 at Stokesley

Believed Alan George Cowie lost control of his car and careered off A19 at A172 northbound off-slip to Stokesley as a result of standing water

The death of a doctor has prompted a coroner to take action over the condition of a major Teesside road.

Alan George Cowie, from Eaglescliffe, died on January 28 this year when his car careered off the A19 at the A172, northbound off-slip to Stokesley.

It is believed that the 55-year-old lost control of his car as a result of standing water on the road.

An inquest at Northallerton Coroner’s Court yesterday heard evidence that water is a common problem on the area of road during or after a heavy downpour - just like on the evening Dr Cowie lost his life.

As a result, Coroner Michael Oakley said he was to issue a Section 28 report to order that the Highways Agency carry out an investigation.

“That will recommend that something is done about this,” he said. “The matter needs to be addressed.”

The court heard that NHS director, Dr Cowie, was travelling back home from work in Bradford when the accident happened.

Although there were no witnesses to the incident, it has been concluded that he lost control of his Audi TT Quattro because of water on the road.

His car then careered into a crash barrier, which “launched” the car into the air. It came to a stop on its side after hitting a road sign.

On the evening of Dr Cowie’s death, the court heard there was heavy rain and visibility was poor. As a result, a CCTV camera at the location was unable to pick up any footage.

But the court heard statements from two people, travelling separately on the road, who passed the scene after the incident had happened, at about 7pm.

Alan Charles Watson said he travelled the route regularly and knew to be aware of standing water near the A172.

Stephen Kirkbright, forensic collison investigator for North Yorkshire Police, also gave evidence.

He said Dr Cowie was travelling at at least 72mph when he “lost control” - “a result of his reaction to the road conditions.”

Neil Raper, a civil engineer at Sir Robert McAlpine which maintains the road, said the issue of standing water had never been raised until after the incident.

Speaking after the inquest, a spokesman for the Highways Agency said: “Safety is our top priority and we will therefore carefully consider any issues raised by the coroner as a result of today’s inquest.”

A post mortem concluded that the medical cause of Dr Cowie’s death was extensive and severe internal head, chest and abdominal injuries.

Coroner Oakley gave the cause of death as “accidental”.

Mr Cowie’s family declined to comment.

Wednesday's morning news headlines - Claudia Lawrence probe, Eastern European job figures due, fatal car crash

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Two houses 100 miles apart have been searched by police after a man was arrested on suspicion of murdering missing university chef Claudia Lawrence.

The 59-year-old man, named locally as Michael Snelling, was arrested yesterday morning at a house in North Shields, Tyneside, on suspicion of murdering Miss Lawrence, who went missing in York in March 2009.

Neighbours said his car was seized as police officers began a search of the semi-detached property.

EASTERN EUROPEAN JOB FIGURES DUE

The numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians who have taken up employment in Britain since access restrictions to the labour market were lifted at the turn of the year will be revealed in official figures published today.

Labour market data, published by the Office for National Statistics, will show how many citizens of the eastern European countries were employed in the UK between January and March this year.

A total of 144,000 Romanians and Bulgarians were employed in the UK between October and December last year, according to the last batch of statistics, an increase of 9,000 from 135,000 in the previous three months

BANK TO ANNOUNCE ECONOMY FORECASTS

The Bank of England delivers its latest forecasts for the UK economy today, with any marked improvement likely to be seen as a signal that interest rates may increase earlier than expected.

Experts have pencilled in a hike in the cost of borrowing from its historic low of 0.5% for the spring of next year.

But the City is likely to bring forward its expectations of a rate rise if the Bank’s quarterly inflation report signals a belief that key economic indicators are showing accelerating improvement.

TOP EARNERS ’DO BEST FROM RECOVERY’

The highest earners have been the biggest winners from the economic recovery so far, according to figures compiled for Labour.

Analysis by the House of Commons Library found the top 1% - around 300,000 people - increased their share of national after-tax income from 8.2% in 2012-13 to 9.8% last year.

Meanwhile, the bottom 90% - some 27 million people - saw their share fall from 71.3% to 70.4%.

LABOUR POLL RATING AT FOUR-YEAR LOW

Another poll has found evidence of a Tory resurgence as the economy recovers.

YouGov research for the Sun put the Conservatives and Labour neck and neck on 34% each.

It is the lowest rating for Labour since July 2010 - before Ed Miliband took over as leader. Ukip were on 15% and the Liberal Democrats 8%.

MINISTER HEADS TO NIGERIA FOR TALKS

A Foreign Office minister will visit Nigeria today for talks on how Britain can help find scores of girls abducted from their school a month ago.

Mark Simmonds will hold high-level meetings amid suggestions that UK drones and other surveillance assets could be used in the hunt.

Downing Street said earlier that David Cameron had watched footage released by Boko Haram militants of around 130 captives, and it had underlined to him the “pure evil” of the crime.

DRIVER HELD OVER FATAL CAR CRASH

The driver of a coach that crashed killing two women continues to be questioned on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The coach was carrying more than 50 passengers on what is believed to be an Age Concern trip to the popular seaside town of Looe in Cornwall when it careered into a hedge on the A387 at Morval, at around 1pm yesterday, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

A woman died at the scene while a second woman was taken by air ambulance to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth but was pronounced dead on arrival, police said.

GSK EXECUTIVE ACCUSED OF BRIBERY

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline is facing fresh allegations of corruption after Chinese police accused a senior executive of bribery.

The UK-based company has been at the centre of a slew of allegations in recent months, including from investigators in China, Iraq and Poland, after they alleged GSK reps paid doctors and hospital officials to prescribe its products ahead of others.

In a statement carried by the official Xinhua News Agency, police in the central city of Changsha said GSK’s Mark Reilly was accused of pressing his sales team to bribe doctors, hospital officials and health institutions.

PARLIAMENT TO CLOSE FOR THREE WEEKS

MPs will leave the Commons for almost three weeks today despite the looming international crisis in Ukraine, provoking warnings Parliament could be “left behind” .

At around 7pm, Leader of the Lords Lord Hill will read a message from the Queen, sparking a constitutional procedure involving tricorn hats and Norman French, proroguing Parliament until the State Opening on June 4.

The event will shut down Parliament and unlike a normal recess, recalling MPs in the event of an emergency is very difficult and would require a Royal Warrant.

Man stole 13-year-old's mountain bike in Middlesbrough after being mocked for 'girl's pink cycle'

Mark Robson took the Christmas present from a teenager near the pond opposite Teesside Crown Court - where he was jailed for the offence

A man mocked for his “girl’s pink cycle” ended up robbing a 13-year-old of his mountain bike.

Mark Robson was riding past a group of youths when they passed comment on his bike, a court heard.

Robson then approached the group, who were all on their bikes, and went up to one of them, a 13-year-old boy.

Prosecutor Rachel Masters told Teesside Crown Court he grabbed the boy by the chin and tried to punch him, before stealing his mountain bike.

He took the bike, which had been a Christmas present, from the teenager and rode off on it, abandoning the pink cycle he had been riding.

The robbery happened near the pond opposite Teesside Crown Court - the court in which Robson ended up appearing after being identified as the suspect.

Robson had been living at Stages Academy in Bridge Street West, Middlesbrough, but had been evicted and had his belongings with him, the court was told.

And when police arrested him he was found in possession of two knives, along with cannabis and diazepam.

Robson spent the night in custody and was searched again the following morning, when more cannabis was discovered.

Ms Masters said Robson initially denied the robbery but later made admissions, saying he had sold the bike for drugs.

In a victim statement, the 13-year-old said the incident had made him feel sick and very scared.

The court heard how Robson had many previous convictions for offences including robbery, possessing a bladed article and drugs possession.

Julian Gaskin, mitigating, said it fell into the bracket of a street robbery or mugging.

Low level force was used and thankfully there appeared to have been no injury.

Mr Gaskin said the incident had been sparked after Robson rode past the youths and “there had been some comments made about him riding a pink girl’s bike”.

It was an opportunistic offence and Robson was disgusted by his behaviour and realistic about the outcome, said Mr Gaskin.

There was no suggestion Robson had the knives with him at the time of the robbery.

Jailing him for 12 months, Judge George Moorhouse told him robbery was a very serious offence and in this case the victim was “a vulnerable 13-year-old boy”.

Ben Gibson gets England Under-21 call-up following breakthrough season at Boro

Boro defender will make his debut for England Under-21s - managed by Gareth Southgate - in a friendly against Wales

Ben Gibson has been rewarded with an international call-up after a big breakthrough season at Boro.

The impressive central defender has been named in the England Under-21 squad for a summer of big games.

He is being fast-tracked into the squad, managed by former Boro boss Gareth Southgate, and will make his debut next Monday evening in a friendly against Wales at Swansea.

He will then travel with England for the Toulon Tournament on Tuesday.

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England will be pitched against Qatar on Thursday, May 22, then Brazil on Monday 26, Korea on Wednesday 28 and finish against Colombia on Friday 30.

The squad also includes Chelsea duo Nathaniel Chalobah, on loan at Boro in the second half of this season, and Josh McEachran, at the Riverside last term.

Gibson stepped up the Boro first team this term after cutting his teeth with impressive loans spells at Plymouth, York and Tranmere.

He made a string of appearances under Tony Mowbray but has become a first team fixture at the back under Aitor Karanka.

He has played 33 games in all and grew in confidence as the campaign unfolded.

And some assured and commanding displays helped him to win both the supporters’ and the club Young Player of the Year awards.

Meanwhile Boro icon Juninho has been called up for international duty too. He will join the BBC squad of pundits for the World Cup.

Juninho, who won the tournament in Japan and Korea in 2002, will give expert insight on games featuring host nation Brazil.

Great Ayton mum admits child cruelty after toddler found with 14 bruises

Little girl awaiting adoption after the 25-year-old single mum was given a suspended jail sentence at Teesside Crown Court

The mother of a toddler who was found with 14 bruises and blackened with dirt in urine-soaked clothes has admitted child cruelty.

The little girl is now awaiting adoption after the 25-year-old single mum from Great Ayton was given a suspended jail sentence at Teesside Crown Court.

Prosecutor Jonnie Walker said that medical experts were amazed at the child’s development since she was taken into care in February last year.

The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed that bruises to her daughter’s face were caused by falls, and that many others on her back were caused by a friend’s child who used to pinch her.

The judge Recorder William Lowe QC said when he passed sentence: “It seems to me that although others had access to the child, it is likely that these injuries were being caused by her mother.”

Mr Walker said that the mother’s grandmother regularly looked after the child and she said that she often needed to wash her to remove the dirt on her face, hands and feet.

Social workers who visited the home on February 6 last year found dog excrement on the floor and the toddler’s clothes and hands were black.

A few days later the mum told her former partner’s mother when they met at Middlesbrough bus station: “You are going to go mad when you see her face”.

Four days later a family member who went to pick the child up at an arranged meeting place in Stokesley saw a fresh dark bruise on her face.

The mother excused a large bruise on the left cheek and scratches by saying the tot had fallen over on to a coffee table.

The child was examined by a paediatrician at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, and her former partner was arrested for child cruelty but later released without charge.

He said that the mother behaved aggressively while in drink.

Mr Walker said that the child was instantly removed and the mother was arrested on February 18 last year.

The child’s clothing was soaked in urine and she was dirty.

She had a large bruise on her left cheek, and faded bruises on her forehead and below the eye.

She had 14 bruises on her back including pairs of finger-deep bruises.

Mr Walker added: “The Crown would say that the mother failed to protect the child from the causes and there is some level of concealment and failure to seek medical help, which clearly the child could have been assisted by.”

Rachel Dyson, defending, said there was no suggestion that the mother had caused the injuries, and she accepted that she had failed in many respects to inform others or to protect her daughter from harm.

She added: “She is not being punished for causing those injuries, she is being punished for failing to seek treatment.”

The judge told the mother: “You had a duty to protect her from injuries, you had a duty to get her treated and to keep her clean, and you covered up the fact that she was being injured.”

She was given an eight-month jail sentence suspended for two years with supervision, 200 hours’ unpaid work and a four-month tagged curfew between 6pm and 6am after she pleaded guilty to child cruelty between December 2012 and February last year.