Wanted man is arrested and charged after police appeal for help in search

A man wanted by police has been arrested and charged.

An appeal for information about the location of Stockton man Ashley James Fisher, 26, was issued by North Yorkshire Police earlier this month.

Fisher, from Hardwick, was arrested on Thursday in Hartlepool.

He was charged with conspiracy to steal, aggravated vehicle taking and failing to surrender to bail.

He appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on July 19, where he was remanded in custody to appear at crown court on a date to be fixed.

Saltburn primary youngsters recognised for positive work on children's rights

A group of pupils have been praised for their hard work and interest in their human rights.

Whitecliffe Primary School in Saltburn was runner up in the Speaker of the House of Commons School Council Awards.

Youngsters at the school were awarded with a silver plaque in recognition of their work on children’s rights.

Despite having applied last year and being unsuccessful, this year the work of the pupils was recognised out of over 700 entries.

The awards scheme celebrates the achievements of a school council. It doesn’t matter how big the project is, all that matters is that the children’s efforts have led to a positive change.

This year, the school council at Whitecliffe Primary held various children’s rights conferences, workshop and activities which were all planned, prepared and delivered to other children and parents by the children themselves.

By showcasing their work to other schools and community members, the youngsters have made a difference to other schools who are now more aware of the work that goes on involving children’s rights and UNICEF, the world’s leading organisation for children and child rights.

Chris Shannon, Headteacher said: “The children have been amazing. Their self-esteem and confidence has gone through the roof.

“Children have a right to express their views and to have their views taken seriously.”

As a result of the children’s hard work it is hoped that an East Cleveland Children’s Council will be set up in the near future which will involve neighbouring schools.

Chris said: “The children have powerful voices. If they do something, something will get done.”

The awards ceremony was attended by parents of the children. Local MP, Tom Blenkinsop was also their to present the youngsters with their award.

Chris added: “The children received a beautiful silver plaque and certificate which will take pride of place in the school.

“We are very proud of the children. They are all just brilliant.”

Search to resume for man reported to be in difficulty in River Tees in Stockton

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River search for man reported as being in difficulty

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Divers from Cleveland Police will this morning resume a search for a man who was reported to be in difficulty in the River Tees in Stockton last night .

Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade, the RNLI and the police helicopter carried out searches of the river in Stockton to try and locate the man after he was reported as missing at 7.40pm yesterday.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “Searches will resume today at the River Tees in Stockton. A dive team from Northumbria Police will attend to assist with the search.”

Speaking yesterday, Dave Cocks, spokesman for Redcar RNLI, said: “We were asked to assist with the search.

“We are searching an area just a bit further up from the Tees Barrage.

“We are not sure of the circumstances of what happened.

“We have one lifeboat involved in the search with four crew members on board.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101.

Morning news headlines: Ukraine crash bodies head for Holland, taser concerns, George celebrates birthday

The bodies of flight MH17 victims have begun a long journey back to the Dutch city where they boarded the downed airliner almost five days ago amid continued diplomatic tensions over the 298 deaths.

A UK expert is among international representatives waiting to start the process of identifying the remains when they arrive in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv before being flown on to Amsterdam.

Pro-Russian separatists yesterday agreed to allow 282 bodies recovered from the crash site to be sent there by train before being flown to Amsterdam on a Dutch C130 Hercules after days of global condemnation of their handling of the crash site.

Better future for girls sought

Parents who fail to prevent their daughters being subjected to female genital mutilation will face prosecution under new legislation to be unveiled by the Government at a summit in London.

A £1.4 million FGM Prevention Programme for survivors and those at risk of the practice are among a raft of plans to be announced by Prime Minister David Cameron at the Girl Summit, which is being co-hosted by the Government and Unicef.

The measures to combat FGM and forced marriage in the UK and abroad come as Unicef warns advances made in tackling them in the developing world could be reversed if the pace of action is not increased.

Major concerns over taser use

"Major concerns" remain over police using Tasers at point-blank range in what is "purely a means of pain compliance", a watchdog has said.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that the highly controversial practice is still being used, despite the tactic being largely removed from officer training.

In 2013 Tasers were used 287 times in so-called "drive-stun" mode, when the weapon without a cartridge is held directly against the body, out of a total of 1,733 occasions where the weapons were fired.

Royal gratitude for George goodwill

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have used their son's first birthday to issue a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has wished their family well during the past year.

As two touching photographs of William, Kate and Prince George were released to officially mark the toddler's anniversary, the Cambridges paid their own tribute to the public support they have received.

In a short message, the Duke and Duchess said: "We would like to take this opportunity on George's first birthday to thank everyone over the last year, wherever we have met them, both at home and overseas, for their warm and generous good wishes to George and our family."

Agenda to increase role of Islam

A Government-ordered inquiry into the Trojan Horse allegations is expected to say that there was a "sustained and co-ordinated agenda" to impose hardline Muslim views in some Birmingham schools when it reports back today.

The investigation, led by former anti-terror chief Peter Clarke, was commissioned by former education secretary Michael Gove in April to investigate the alleged plot by a group of hardline Muslims to take over schools in the city.

According to the Guardian newspaper, which obtained a leaked draft of the report, Mr Clarke, who served as head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit, concludes there was a "sustained, co-ordinated agenda to impose segregationist attitudes and practices of a hardline, politicised strain of Sunni Islam".

Student loans at tipping point

The student loans system is at "tipping point" due to Government miscalculations and problems with collecting repayments, a cross-party group of MPs has warned.

In a critical new report, the Commons Business Select Committee said the current system is under threat, and an urgent review is needed to address the issue.

Under major reforms of higher education funding, which saw tuition fees at English universities trebled to a maximum of £9,000 in 2012, students can now get a loan from the Government to cover their fees, with the money paid back once they have graduated and are earning at least £21,000 a year. The debt is written off after 30 years.

Shortage of secure unit places

A family court judge has warned of a "terrible national shortage" of places in secure units for dangerous youngsters.

Judge Sarah Singleton said there was a "gross shortage of resource" which created a "lack of protection for the public".

The judge made her comments in a written analysis of a case, involving a 15-year-old boy who had a "terrifying" history of violence, following a private family court hearing in Lancaster.

Truce bid as Gaza death toll rises

The overall Palestinian death toll passed 560 as high-level attempts to end Israel-Hamas fighting hit serious problems.

As the United Nations and US Secretary of State John Kerry stepped up diplomatic efforts, Gaza's Hamas rulers signalled they will not agree to an unconditional ceasefire.

And Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will do whatever is necessary to keep Israelis safe from Hamas attacks.

Litvinenko inquiry to be held

The Government will announce today that a public inquiry is to be held into the death of poisoned ex Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, it has been reported.

Mystery has surrounded the death of the former KGB officer since he died after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium-210 with two ex-colleagues at a London hotel in 2006.

But the latest move, which reportedly will be announced by Home Secretary Theresa May, will mean investigators can probe whether the Russian state was behind his murder.

Miliband meets Obama at White House

Labour leader Ed Miliband has met US President Barack Obama at the White House.

Mr Obama dropped in on talks between the British politician and US National Security Adviser Susan Green for around 25 minutes, a Labour aide said.

Their exchanges - said to have touched on a range of international issues - were described by one who was in the room as "very warm and friendly".

New dad jailed for 18 months after attacking best man at Tall Trees wedding reception

A new dad will miss the first nine months of his baby’s life after being locked up for attacking a best man at a wedding reception.

Andrew Christopher Bywater was a guest at the wedding at Tall Trees, in Yarm, when he attacked the man.

While on bail for this offence, the 25-year-old then went onto commit two further offences when he “lunged” at a decorators window with a six-inch kitchen knife while intoxicated.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Bywater was drinking to excess like “a sailor on shore leave” when he was not working offshore.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said the defendant “appeared to be upset or angry” at the wedding on July 21, 2012, and struck out at the best man for no apparent reason.

“He swung his right hand at the victim’s head,” he said.

“The defendant was holding a glass and this smashed in his face causing a number of cuts.”

“His injuries were not as serious as they could have been,” he added.

Bywater was not arrested for the offence until December 2012.

“The police knew who they were looking for but had difficulty finding him,” said Mr Dryden. While on bail for this offence, Bywater went on to commit further crime.

The court heard that on the evening of June 23 this year while at an address in Guisborough, he called police twice to say he had first been burgled then threatened with a gun. Both times police noticed he was under the influence of either drink or drugs.

Once officers left his home for the second time, Bywater went to Westgate in Guisborough armed with a knife.

A man, outside the methodist church, saw the defendant. Feeling uneasy, the man locked himself inside his car and Bywater launched himself at the vehicle’s window with the knife. The man managed to reverse and leave without being injured.

Bywater then scared two other witnesses nearby who also managed to flee unharmed.

Rod Hunt, defending, said: “His partner gave birth recently while he was in custody. He missed the birth of his child because of his behaviour.

“Whether he thought the man was burgling the church who knows. Clearly he was upset with himself.

“He has no one to blame apart from himself. He knows that.”

Bywater, of Brunton Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to three offences of grievous bodily harm, affray and possession of an offensive weapon.

He has 18 other convictions covering 35 offences on his record.

Judge Peter Armstrong said: “There seems to be no motive for the offence on July 21, 2012. You clearly weren’t thinking straight.

“You took it out on the best man at the wedding, what is meant to be a joyful occasion.

“It is fortunate for the victim and for you that you didn’t cause him to lose his eyesight.”

Judge Armstrong added the second incident “was an undoubtedly extremely frightening” for the victim.

He jailed Bywater for 18 months.

North-east competing against other regions for £1m of free advertising at Heathrow Airport

People in are being urged to vote in a competition that could see the North-east showcased to millions of visitors.

The region is competing against the North West, Northern Ireland and the Midlands to win £1m worth of free advertising at Heathrow Airport.

It will be decided by a public vote with an image of each region being displayed on Heathrow Airport’s Facebook page.

The North-east is being represented by an image of Hadrian’s Wall, with the other regions using pictures of the Lake District, the Giant’s Causeway and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The North East Chamber of Commerce is calling on businesses and individuals to back the region in the contest. People can vote for the North East by going to http://ift.tt/1ttHI7H .

The chamber’s chief executive James Ramsbotham said: “NECC and our members have been seeking to raise awareness of the many Great Reasons there are to live, work and invest here in the North East and this competition is an excellent way of energising that campaign.

“The picture of Hadrian’s Wall at Housesteads is truly beautiful, but of course what we in the region know is that we have countless spots of equal beauty and many others with just as much historical or cultural significance.

“What we must now do – each and every one of us – is mobilise as many votes as we can to ensure that the North East wins. That way we can win the chance to showcase many others parts of our region and ultimately attract investors and visitors to this often under-sold part of Great Britain.”

People have two weeks to vote for their chosen region, simply by ‘Liking’ the corresponding image. The competition will close just before midnight on August 4.

The winning region will have four advertisements showing its breadth and beauty shown across digital screens in all terminals at Heathrow from the end of August until the end of November.