Emmanuel Ledesma set for World Cup break, but will be thinking about next season with Boro

Emmanuel Ledesma plans to watch every game with his family in Argentina but will be keeping sharp to be at his best when he returns

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Emmanuel Ledesma

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Boro winger Emmanuel Ledesma is planning a busman’s holiday as he returns home to Argentina for the summer - to watch the World Cup.

“I am looking forward to a break after a long season,” he told the Gazette

“But when I go back home it will be football, football, football.

“It is the World Cup so everything in Argentina will be crazy - especially when we play!

“I will watch every game with my family and enjoy every minute. Everyone in Argentina will enjoy it.

“Especially as I think Argentina have a big possibility of winning the World Cup this time.

“We have good players, we have a good team and we have Messi who is fantastic.

“Do I think Argentina will win? I think we have a big possibility.

“But I think Brazil are the big rivals. They play at home and have the crowds behind them and they have great players too.

“They will be the favourites. They have a strong chance.”

But during the break it won’t be all about watching football on the box for the flanker.

“I will be thinking about next season while I am away,” he said.

“I will be working, running and keeping sharp to be at my best for when I come back.

“I will enjoy my holiday but I will look forward to coming back to start work again very soon.”

Thug who attacked woman with belt then carried out sex assault in Stockton home is jailed

Nigel Turner, locked up for more than four years, claimed the attack was retribution for 'years of women walking over him'

A brute who beat a vulnerable woman with a belt and sexually assaulted her in her home has been jailed for more than four years.

Nigel Turner, 41, grabbed the woman’s hair when she refused his instructions to take her clothes off, Teesside Crown Court heard.

When she resisted his attempts to undress her himself, he slammed her face into a door frame in her Stockton home.

He took hold of her hair, held her down and repeatedly struck her front and back with a belt.

Turner said it was for “years of women walking over him”, said prosecutor Ian Mullarkey today.

The scared, bloodied victim described “shrinking inside herself” during the violence.

Turner then gripped her wrists, knelt over her and sexually assaulted her, making sexual comments.

When he stopped, he told her how he thought women should behave and let her leave.

She went to a friend shaking, shivering, crying and swollen.

She went to A & E at the University Hospital of North Tees with extensive bruising to her face and head and numerous marks to her chest, back and right thigh.

Police found clumps of her hair in the home from where she was grabbed and dragged in the attack on April 1 last year.

Turner told officers he carried out the sexual assault “to provoke a reaction” and wanted her to “give him some sort of validation”.

He knew she was a “fragile and vulnerable lady”, added Mr Mullarkey.

The woman later said in a statement she had no lasting physical effects but still had to live with the psychological repercussions.

She said it affected her daily life, behaviour and interaction with family, friends and others. She had sleep disturbances and nightmares.

She also struggled as she had to recount the details of her ordeal in a trial.

Turner denied assault causing bodily harm and sexual assault.

He claimed she was consenting and instigated or provoked what he did.

The jury convicted him on both counts. He was cleared on two counts of common assault.

The court heard he was of previous good character and references spoke highly of him.

Judge George Moorhouse jailed Turner, of St Heliers Drive, Sandfield Estate, Port Talbot, for four-and-a-half years.

Turner was also given an indefinite restraining order banning him from communicating with the victim or going near her or her home.

Liberal Democrats celebrate Dormanstown by-election success

Sabrina Thompson was elected for the Liberal Democrats with 753 votes following resignation of her colleague Councillor John Earl

The Liberal Democrats are celebrating a by-election success in Redcar and Cleveland.

In yesterday’s Dormanstown ward by-election, caused by the resignation of Lib Dem Councillor John Earl, his party colleague, Sabrina Thompson, was elected with 753 votes.

Postal worker Neil Bendelow for Labour was second with 741 votes, while UKIP’s Andrea Turner polled 523 votes. The turnout was 38.94%.

The successful candidate joins Eric Howden (Lib Dem) and Ray Goddard (Lab) representing Dormanstown on the council.

It means the political makeup of the council stays the same, with Labour having 29 seats and the other parties and independents 30.

Redcar and Cleveland Council leader, Labour councillor George Dunning, said: “We came close but not close enough in taking this Lib Dem seat in Dormanstown. However, we can take this seat, and the Redcar constituency, come May 2015.”

Norton man cut free from car following serious crash on A19 northbound

Car 'propelled' into the air and spun several times after it careered into a crash barrier just before the A139 Norton slip

A driver was cut free from his car after a serious crash in which his vehicle was propelled into the air.

The 25-year-old man was driving on the A19 northbound when his Renault Megane careered into a crash barrier.

The car was then “propelled” into the air and spun several times before it came to a stop on a grass verge.

The man was left trapped as a result and had to be cut free by firefighters.

Emergency services were called just after 10pm last night to the incident, which happened just before the A139 Norton slip.

Fire crews from Stockton and Middlesbrough attended the incident.

They removed the roof from the Megane to enable access to the casualty.

Crew manager Stuart Gardiner, from Stockton fire station, said the man was complaining of back injuries and took the roof off to remove him safely from the vehicle.

He was then handed over into the care of waiting paramedics.

Cleveland Police also went to the scene and officers closed two lanes to traffic.

The man, from the Norton area, was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he remains in a stable condition.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said he sustained a broken breast bone, internal injuries and lacerations.

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Training provider moves to Teesside to tap into offshore renewables boom

Offshore Marine Academy has relocated to a new base at Wynyard Park

Offshore Marine Academy (OMA), which provides bespoke training courses within the offshore renewables industry, has announced its re-location to a new operating base on Teesside.

OMA, which has been based in Bristol since 2010, has moved to Wynyard Park to support the growing number of renewables companies establishing themselves in the area.

In recent years the North-east has seen huge growth in the offshore renewables sector and OMA says it wants to play a key role in helping the industry’s continuous development.

It says its range of core and bespoke training courses – available to both individuals and companies - will help to address the offshore industry’s skills and knowledge gap.

David Martin, head of OMA, said: “We are really looking forward to the future of the academy. Our trainers have a wealth of technical and operational experience and our aim is to deliver credible and practical training courses that are based on real experience and knowledge.”

Business manager Antony Lewis added: “Having a presence in the North-east gives us easier access to the individuals and renewable companies that require our services. It is exciting to see the opportunity that is in front of us, and the team and I are looking forward to supporting continued growth of the industry while ensuring the highest safety standards.

“Once the decision was made to re-locate, we carried out extensive research on potential bases and we all agreed that Wynyard Park ticked every box for us. It has high-quality on-site facilities and is easily accessible from the A19, A1 and local airports.”

There are currently three staff working on site at OMA’s Wynyard base and it hopes to take on another new starter later this year.

It also has an extensive team of trainers currently working on projects or delivering courses around the globe.

Claire Tallon, facilities and estates manager at Wynyard Park, said: “We are delighted to welcome OMA and it is pleasing that our excellent facilities and convenient location have been acknowledged as a key factor in its decision to re-locate here.”

Wynyard Park, a 700-acre site, is currently home to around 70 businesses supporting some 2,000 jobs.

The Spa Brasserie: Rockliffe Hall launches new restaurant as part of development plan

View: New restaurant at Rockliffe Hall, in Hurworth, near Darlington, will offer informal platters, sharing boards and small seasonal plates

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Gallery: Spa Brasseries at Rockliffe Hall

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Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, near Darlington, has launched a new restaurant as part of its ongoing development plans.

The Spa Brasserie replaces the former Brasserie and offers informal platters, sharing boards and small seasonal plates, as well as favourites such as wraps, sandwiches, homemade burgers and a daily dish of the day.

It has its own, newly created cocktail and wine lists as well as offering smoothies and juices.

It also serves brunch from 8.30am to 11.30am daily.

Dishes on the all-day menu, served from noon until late every day, include a special Spa Salad and a “posh parmo”.

Newly-appointed brasserie head chef Aaron Craig designed the menu to offer a mix of wholesome and indulgent foods with healthier and smaller options.

“We wanted to offer something really different in the Spa Brasserie - something very informal that suits lots of different palates whether you want a few small dishes to share with friends, a snack with a cocktail, a late breakfast or maybe just a glass of wine on the balcony overlooking Rockliffe Hall’s grounds,” he said.

The new brasserie is open all day from 8.30am for brunch, teas, coffees, lunches, snacks, drinks and evening meals. It is open to residents and non-residents, whether on a spa day or not.

Farm's micro-pig was among 250 animals stolen in Cleveland Police area last year

Four day-old piglet was later left on a doorstep in New Marske and died :: Other animals taken included fish, pigeons and dogs

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Newham Grange Leisure Farm pigs

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A micro-pig snatched from a leisure farm was among almost 250 animals stolen in the Cleveland Police area last year.

The four-day-old piglet was taken from Newham Grange Leisure Farm in Coulby Newham last March.

It was left on the doorstep of a house in New Marske and later died .

In response to a Freedom of Information request, Cleveland Police said 249 animals had been registered as stolen in 2013.

They included 60 fish, 48 pigeons, 30 other birds and 19 dogs.

At the time the black pig was snatched, police said a woman had been seen in the pens and asked to leave.

She was seen to pour water on the piglet's mother before grabbing the newborn.

No one has since been arrested in connection with the incident, Cleveland Police confirmed yesterday.

A total of 58,550 animals were stolen across the country.

They included 30,000 bees, a red rump tarantula and a llama.

Silver salver belonging to Boro legend George Hardwick goes for £4,500 at auction

Item was presented to Saltburn-born star by FIFA President Jules Rimet after playing for Great Britain in the 'match of the century'

An engraved silver salver presented to one of Middlesbrough’s greatest footballers after he starred in what was billed as ‘The Match Of The Century’ sold for £4,500 at an auction yesterday.

Saltburn-born England and Middlesbrough captain George Hardwick received the salver from FIFA President Jules Rimet – after whom the original World Cup trophy was named – when he captained a star-studded Great Britain team against Europe in front of a crowd of 137,000 at Hampden Park on May 10,1947.

The Great Britain team – which also featured Stanley Matthews,Tommy Lawton and Hardwick’s South Bank-born England and Middlesbrough team mate Wilf Mannion - thrashed Europe 6-1, with goals from Mannion (2), Lawton(2) Billy Steel and an an own goal.

The silver salver presented to George Hardwick is engraved: “Great Britain v Europe,Hampden Park,Glasgow, May 10, 1947, presented by Jules Rimet, President FIFA, to George Hardwick, captain of the Great Britain team in appreciation of your contribution to the ‘match of the century.’”

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Gallery: George Hardwick

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The salver also features the engraved signatures of of the 22 players who took part in the historic match.

It is a fine quality piece of silver as it was made – in 1909, nearly 40 years before the match of the century - by the renowned Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company, of Regent Street, London.

It went on sale at Graham Budd Auctions in London and had been expected to sell for between £2,500 and £3,500.

It was sold with a key for identification of the signatures and a signed photograph of George Hardwick shaking hands with the opposing captain before kick off.

George Hardwick was born at Saltburn on February 2, 1920, and he went on to captain England and Middlesbrough and become one of Boro’s greatest stars.

According to the late football historian Douglas Lamming Mr Hardwick was also “reckoned the best looking footballer of his day”.

A bronze statue of George Hardwick by Keith Maddison was unveiled at the Riverside Stadium on November 25, 2000, the year Mr Hardwick celebrated his milestone 80th birthday and four years before his death,at the age of 84, on April 19, 2004.

Thornaby firm Stainton Lighting Design Services awarded contract for street light design

Stainton Lighting Design Services awarded contract to design a street lighting project which is set to save Stockton Council £1.8m a year

A Thornaby company has been awarded the contract to design a street lighting project which is set to save Stockton Council £1.8m a year.

In March Stockton Council’s Cabinet agreed to invest £14m in a three year programme to replace almost 28,000 street lighting lanterns with modern, highly efficient LED lighting units.

All street lighting columns that are more than 25-years-old – around 8,500 in total – will also be replaced.

Stainton Lighting Design Services has now been appointed to plan the lighting replacement to ensure the borough’s streets are lit effectively.

Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Mike Smith, said: “I’m delighted that this project is not only going to deliver year-on-year savings for the Council but is also making use of the top-class expertise offered by a local Thornaby based company.

“We know how important it is to get the design right as better lighting makes people feel safer so we are looking forward to working with Stainton Lighting Design Services to make sure the lights are positioned where they will most benefit our communities.”

The projected annual savings will come from the lower energy bills and reduced maintenance costs associated with the more efficient and reliable LED lighting.

The replacement programme will be delivered in-house by Stockton Council and is expected to get under way in July.