Murders of the Sixties: Man stabbed brother-in-law to death in Middlesbrough house

The pair had bad blood between them for three years before it ended in murder in a Middlesbrough house

David Leyshon and his brother-in-law Alan Dodsworth had three years of domestic trouble before it ended in murder.

It was late one October night in 1963 when Leyshon entered a Middlesbrough house carrying a dagger-type knife and killed 25-year-old Mr Dodsworth.

Leyshon, 37, later told a police officer, who ran into him as he was walking away from the crime scene: “There is no need to nab me. I was coming to give myself up. I will plead guilty.”

However he later denied murder and went on trial in Middlesbrough.

The court was told that Leyshon divorced his wife Marjorie in 1960.

Marjorie then lived with her brother, Mr Dodsworth, and her children at a house in Westminster Road, Middlesbrough .

Mr Leyshon would sometimes come round to the house and would be violent towards his ex-wife.

The court was told that there was bad blood between Leyshon and Mr Dodsworth which dated back to September 1960.

On one occasion when the police were called to the house officers saw Mr Dodsworth and Leyshon. Mr Dodsworth had injuries on his face.

Leyshon said at the time: “Yes I will do it again. You are two-faced, tell them the true story. He is the cause of all my trouble, he asked for it. He has been causing trouble between me and my wife. I did not hit him hard enough - next time I will kick his head in good and proper.”

On October 16, Mrs Leyshon, Mr Dodsworth and a married couple were in the kitchen of the house in Westminster Road when Leyshon rushed in holding a dagger-type knife.

He ran up to Mr Dodsworth waving the knife in front of him saying: “We want you outside.”

Shortly afterwards Leyshon and Dodsworth were in the hall when Leyshon was seen striking Mr Dodsworth in the chest with the knife.

He then left the house and Mr Dodsworth collapsed. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Leyshon was then seen by a police officer walking down Linthorpe Road with the bloodied knife.

Leyshon said to the officer: “That is what I used. There is no need to nab me. I was coming to the police to give myself up. I will plead guilty to anything. I hope to God Alan doesn’t die.”

However when he was charged with murder the following day he told police: “I wish to plead not guilty.”

He claimed that he had never intended to stab Mr Dodsworth, it happened, he claimed, when Mr Dodsworth jumped towards him.

He was convicted of murder in December 1963 after he was found guilty by a jury.

He was jailed for life at Leeds Assizes.

When asked, he told the judge he had nothing to say before sentence was passed.

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Olympic swimmer Aimee Willmott tucks into lunch at Middlesbrough school

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Aimee Willmott tucks into lunch at Middlesbrough school

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It's not every day you have an Olympian to lunch.

But that’s just what happened at Eston Park Academy when super swimmer Aimee Willmott dropped by.

Aimee, who competed for Britain at the London 2012 Olympics in the 400m individual medley, spent the day at the Middlesbrough school in a motivational visit designed to inspire.

And over a tasty looking plate of chilli and wedges, she chewed the fat with sports students eager to know about her life as a top flight swimmer.

A member of Middlesbrough Amateur Swimming Club, the former Nunthorpe Academy pupil, who also studied at Eston Park’s sixth form, will be competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which get under way on July 23. Aimee, of Ormesby, will swim the 400m and 200m individual medley and the 200m butterfly at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

Eston Park head of PE Carl Gaskin, who taught Aimee A-level PE, said: “It was great opportunity to wish Aimee luck for the Commonwealth Games and for her to speak to some of our children.

“She did a few assemblies and for someone still so young, she talked in a really inspirational way

“The students loved having her here, particularly the ones who shared lunch with her. To have someone from “up the road” who went to our sixth form being so successful, it gave them a real hope that their dreams can also be realised.”

North TV presenter Kay Murray reveals her shock at seeing the poverty in Brazil

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Kay Murray's Brazil photos

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She's mingled with the biggest football stars on the planet as she reports on the World Cup action in Brazil.

But Middlesbrough lass Kay Murray has revealed how upsetting some parts of her trip to South America have been, as she witnessed the grinding poverty many live in.

The TV presenter, for works for North American sports network beINSports, was taken on a trip to the favelas of Rio this week.

As she prepared to cover the final between Argentina and Germany tonight she told the Sunday Sun: “On Friday night I went to a favela for the second time since coming here, but I was taken right into the heart of the place by an ex-player called Carlão, who has a charity to help the poorest kids in the area, through football. Barely any of them had shoes and some of them lived in a house with six to a bedroom.

“It was eye-opening and upsetting. Carlão wants all the kids to be able to take part in his Football Programme but the Brazilian Government say that kids without sand shoes cannot join for insurance purposes. He’s raising money to help provide them with clothing, shoes and food.”

Kay, who previously worked for Real Madrid TV and who now lives in Miami, USA, admitted that reporting on the World Cup has been a dream come true.

She said: “Even though I have had some incredible experiences out here, nothing quite beats the feeling I had when I saw my first game here - Netherlands versus Spain. It was my first ever World Cup game and a very emotional moment for me. I had dreamed of going to a World Cup since 1990 and 24 years later, here it was, coming true. The fact it was such a good game with a shock result made it even more exciting.”

And after a summer of fun in Brazil Kay is set to return to the UK for a holiday but confessed she wouldn’t make it back to her beloved Boro this time.

She added: “I’ll be in London briefly but not long enough to make it up North on this occasion, I have been home about four times this year and will probably next be back at Christmas. I’m very much looking forward to the new season and delighted that the channel I work for carries the rights to the Championship. Come on Boro!”

Concern grows for missing 'vulnerable' Stockton man Tony Harris

A vulnerable man has gone missing.

Police are concerned about the welfare of Tony Harris, 42, from Radnor Close, Stockton.

He was last seen at 10.25pm last night in Morden View, Elm Tree, in Stockton.

He is described as being 5ft 10 inches, of slim build with short brown/greying hair.

He was wearing a white T-shirt, blue trousers and blue trainers when he was reported missing. He also has cuts to his arms and face.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.

North Ormesby house fire victim is named as Teresa Ryan

A woman who died in a suspicious house fire has been named.

Teresa Ryan, 50, was pronounced dead at the scene at Warton Street, in North Ormesby, just before midnight on Wednesday.

Investigators from Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade are treating her death as suspicious.

A police spokesman said: “Teresa was dropped off at home by her family at around 9.45pm on July 9 and police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspicious after that time, or if anyone can offer other information they should contact police.”

Neighbour Hayley Duffield, 31, raised the alarm after hearing a smoke alarm ringing.

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Pictures: Scene of fire at Warton Street, in North Ormesby

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She said: “I was staying with my nana who lives next door to the house which was on fire.

“It was about midnight and I woke up after hearing a smoke alarm going off.

“My nana is deaf so she hadn’t stirred at all. I went downstairs as I thought it was my car alarm.

“I saw that it wasn’t and then went back upstairs and I saw smoke.

“My main concern was to get my nana out. So I woke her up and took her outside.”

Appliances from Marine, Grangetown and Middlesbrough fire stations were at the property until around 1am.

The woman who died is believed to have lived at the property by herself.

Miss Duffield, from Whinney Banks, added: “She seemed like a nice lady. We didn’t really see her much. She kept herself to herself.

“We would see her going in and out but that was about it.

“It is all very sad.

“This is such a quiet area. It’s probably the quietest street in North Ormesby.

“Nothing ever happens here.”

Anyone with information about the fire or who saw anyone acting suspiciously should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Man aged 26 in hospital after early morning street fight in Stockton

An investigation is under way after a fight in a Stockton street left one man in hospital and another arrested.

Officers have cordoned off an area of Londonderry Road in Primrose Hill Estate, Stockton, as detectives investigate the incident which took place at around 5.30am this morning.

A 26-year-old man was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees where his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: “We were called to reports of several people fighting in the street. On arrival a 26-year-old man reported an assault and was taken to hospital.”

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and remains in police custody today.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.