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 9th October, 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.

Judge describes a case of 'beer in - brains out' after Teesside University’s cleaning machine theft

The drunken theft of a floor cleaning machine has been described as a case of, “beer in - brains out,” by a judge.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the foolish theft took place on the night of Thursday, February 20 this year.

Mark Kowaltschuk, 34, and Joel Anthony Sallery, 24, had been out drinking at Teesside University’s Student Union on Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, when the pair decided to make off with one of the university’s industrial floor cleaners.

University staff were alerted by a customer that two men had left the building with the distinctive orange machine and staff confronted the drunken duo after spotting them running up Southfield Road with it.

Prosecutor Laurie Scott said: “They saw two men running away up the road pushing the machine. The males were taking it in turns to run at the curb with the machine - smashing it into the curb.

“One of the males fell over taking the machine with him.

When staff challenged the men, one of them said: “What are you doing? That’s mine.”

Ms Scott said there was some threatening behaviour, the members of staff had felt intimidated and used a radio to call for assistance.

“When the radio was produced, the two men ran off,” she said.

CCTV footage showed the pair making off with the machine however they weren’t identified until Wednesday March 12 when they returned to the Students Union and were recognised by staff - police were called and the men were arrested.

Neither of the men said they could remember anything of the evening.

Judge Howard Crowson, said: “I don’t for a second believe this was a planned theft, you headed to the Student Union because the beer was cheap and you drank too much of it and you behaved in a very foolish way.

“It’s a case of beer in - brains out. It seemed like a good idea at the time,” he said but added that being drunk did not mean the men were unable to form an intention to steal.

The university declined to give a victim impact statement on the grounds that the stolen £6,000 machine was still in working condition.

Rebecca Brown, defending asbestos removal supervisor Kowaltschuk, said the dad earned £40,000 a year and worked in various parts of the country.

Ms Brown explained that the Crown no longer believed that this was a “professional planned offence”.

John Nixon, defending Sallery, who works fitting eco-friendly equipment, said his client expressed remorse and regret.

Kowaltschuk, of Cecil Street, Manchester, who had pleaded not guilty but was found guilty in a trial, was sentenced to a community order with 80 hours’ unpaid work and £500 in costs.

Sallery, of Beechway, Liverpool, who pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, was given a community order with a four week curfew from 8pm until 6am and was ordered to pay £85 in costs.

Spurs' loss to Middlesbrough FC was wake-up call Ryan Fredericks needed

Watching Boro thrash Tottenham 5-0 was the “wake-up call” Ryan Fredericks needed to get his career up and running.

Due to a knee injury, the talented full-back watched a 2012 pre-season friendly between Tony Mowbray’s side and a Spurs Under-21 development team from the sidelines in Portugal.

But he what he did witness made him determined to get out on loan with a league club so that he could gain valuable first team experience.

Boro played Tim Sherwood’s Spurs XI in Penina, on the Algarve, in July 2012, and since then, Fredericks has spent time on loan with Brentford, in League One, and Millwall, in the Championship.

“I was there at the time but I didn’t play in the game,” recalled Fredericks, who celebrates his 22nd birthday tomorrow. “It didn’t go too well for us and that was the wake-up call that I needed to go out on loan and play some proper football

“I was injured at the time, I think I was recovering after fracturing my knee so I was doing re-hab. But even just looking on I could see the difference in size between our lads and the Boro players and the way they played, it was so different I just wanted to go and play proper football.”

Two years and three months later, Fredericks’ career has come full circle. He’s now enjoying regular first team football with the team that inflicted that heavy defeat in the Portuguese sunshine.

After joining Boro on a season-long loan in August, the young Londoner has adapted well to his new, if unfamiliar, surroundings.

“It’s all open roads and no traffic, which is nice, but it is very different from being back at home,” he admitted.

“I’ve settled in really well, all the lads are really good here, they’ve take to me really quickly, asked me out for dinner and what not so I’ve been getting on the lads really well and that’s helped me settle quite a lot.”

What’s also helped is the experience gained from those spells at Brentford and Millwall.

“This time it’s been easy (to settle), after one or two days I was thinking ‘this is my club’.

“I thought it might take a few weeks to come in and get a game but I feel like I’m gelling with the team now and know what players can do what and how they like to play so that’s helping me as well. I feel like I’m adapting to the team.”

Initially signed as cover for Damia Abella, Fredericks is now the first choice right-back following the Spaniard’s operation to repair a cruciate knee ligament injury.

“It’s never nice to come into the team that way but sometimes that happens and I suppose it’s his loss and my gain,” said the Spurs defender, who says the fact that he’s signed up for a full season is a huge bonus.

“That’s a nice thing, I haven’t got to think ‘will they keep me on’ from month-to-month. I’m here for the season so I can get my feet under the table and get playing.

“My aim was to cement a starting place and then show everybody what I can do, to take each game as it comes and do my best in every game I play and whatever comes from that I will have to take.

“My first game was more about showing I could be trusted to play so I was more playing safe and showing what I can do defensively,” he added.

“But now the games have opened up a bit and I can show what I can do offensively.”

Image released to trace man in connection with Stockton assault

Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to after an early hours assault outside a Stockton bar.

Two 23-year-old men were assaulted outside the bar between 2.30am and 2.45am on Saturday, October 4. One suffered a broken leg and another sustained a cut head and swollen jaw. Both needed treatment at the University Hospital of North Tees.

Cleveland Police want to speak to the man pictured in connection with the incident. He is described as white, in his mid-20s and of stocky build. He wore a dark blue top and had dark brown hair, shaved at the back and sides. He also had a distinctive tattoo on the back of his neck.

The man was in company with a woman described as white, in her early-20s, slim and with shoulder length, blonde hair. She wore a black and white striped top and black leggings.

Anyone with information on the man’s identity is asked to contact DC Gareth Davies on non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Cleveland Police branded 'vindictive' by former chief constable after £450,000 civil claim

Sacked Cleveland Police chief Sean Price has branded his former employer “vindictive” for launching a half-a-million-pound civil claim against him.

The force is suing Mr Price for £450,000 of alleged unlawful salary and bonus payments it says he was not entitled to - plus interest.

But the former chief constable says he was given the “golden handcuffs” deal over several years to keep him in post.

And after a preliminary hearing at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday he accused Cleveland Police of wasting taxpayers’ money.

But the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger said it had “a corporate responsibility” to pursue this case “on behalf of the public purse”.

Mr Price, from North Yorkshire, told Mr Justice Coulson that he was representing himself in the civil case.

A two-week trial has been set for March next year at a venue yet to be decided.

Outside court Mr Price told reporters: “I think it’s a real irony that Barry Coppinger was one of those people that authorised those payments to me because they wanted me to stay at Cleveland Police, and it’s now he that’s trying to get the money back.

“I don’t think it’s lawful what they are trying to do, but a court is going to have to hear it.”

Mr Price said “lessons aren’t being learned” at the force, and referred to the £5m cost of Operation Sacristy which investigated allegations of corruption in the force, and led to no-one being prosecuted.

“And now this feels like vindictiveness,” he said. “I have done nothing wrong. I haven’t got the money and this is just a further waste of public money.”

Mr Price claimed the cost so far in legal fees was £50,000. “Imagine how much a two-week trial is going to cost,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner said: “The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has a corporate responsibility to pursue this case on behalf of the public purse and it would be inappropriate to comment further until the conclusion of the ongoing litigation.”

Father-of-two Mr Price was arrested in August 2011 and sacked in October 2012 - the first police chief to be fired in 35 years - after a disciplinary hearing found he had lied about the role he played in the recruitment of former police authority chairman Dave McLuckie’s daughter.

Mr Price has denied any wrongdoing.

When he took up his role as chief constable in 2003, his original salary of £125,000 included a £32,000 car allowance, £4,000 a year towards private school fees for his son, and £1,000 towards private health insurance. By 2011, he was on £191,000-a-year.

Middlesbrough has highest proportion of asylum seekers in the country

Talks will be held with a government minister after it was revealed Middlesbrough has the highest proportion of asylum seekers in the country.

As reported, Middlesbrough is the only place in the country to breach national guidelines on the number of asylum seekers.

Now Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald is to meet with MP James Brokenshire, Minister for Security and Immigration at the Home Office, to discuss the issue.

Mr McDonald said he was “proud” to live in a country “where we offer sanctuary and solace to people in such circumstances”

The Labour MP added: “People seeking asylum have fled their home country for a whole number of reasons, with many escaping death and torture.

“I have already spoken in person to the relevant Minister, James Brokenshire, about the ability of the statutory authorities to properly respond in circumstances where the numbers seeking asylum exceed Government limits in any given area.

“We have agreed to meet formally in the coming weeks and I look forward to securing some assurances from him in this regard.”

The Government says that no local authority area should need to accommodate more than one asylum seeker per 200 of population.

But a Middlesbrough Council report has revealed almost 1,000 asylum seekers are currently being housed in Middlesbrough - almost 1.5 times the Government limit.

In Redcar and Cleveland, however, there is just one household of asylum seekers in the borough.

A spokesman for Redcar and Cleveland Council said: “In Redcar and Cleveland G4S’s preferred housing provider, a private landlord, has only one property and the number of asylum seekers is believed to be in single figures.”

The figures for Stockton are currently unknown as the Home Office does not break down figures into boroughs from national statistics and Stockton Council does not collate the information.

Most asylum seekers are sent to homes around the UK while the Home Office decides whether to grant them asylum - a process which can take up to a year.

Grangetown student caught waving machete to his mates in 'monumentally stupid' act

A college student spent his 20th birthday in the dock after he was caught waving a machete in the street.

One-time stab victim David Clark’s “monumentally stupid” first offence carried a maximum sentence of four years’ imprisonment.

He was showing off the “ornamental” blade to his mates when he was caught on CCTV, Teesside Crown Court heard today.

He was seen brandishing the large machete in the Somerset Road area of Grangetown.

CCTV operators spotted him in a white tracksuit top waving the weapon about at 2.55am on August 7.

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh said he showed the knife, but not in a threatening or aggressive way, then put it away.

Police caught up with the group of three young men and one woman in an alley off Wilton Way.

They tried to run but were stopped and arrested. Officers found the machete and a knuckle duster.

Clark, then 19, said he took the machete off a wall at his home to scare a group of men who had threatened him after a falling-out.

He denied intending to use it beyond that, and said he knew nothing of the knuckle duster.

Clark, of Attlee Road, Grangetown, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon. He had no previous convictions.

Andrew White, defending, said: “He wasn’t goading or threatening or posturing or anything like that.

“Monumentally stupid on his part. He does regret it.

“He simply shows it to his mates. He showed it to them for five seconds than put it back away again out of view.

“He had no intention of using this machete on anyone. He had received threats.

“He foolishly took this ornamental weapon with him and he took it to scare them off.

“He was frightened. He’s been seriously assaulted in the past. He’s been stabbed himself. He’s had his jaw broken.”

He told how Clark since disassociated himself from former associates, moved back in with his parents, no longer drank or took drugs, was looking for work and had enrolled on a college course in plastering.

The judge, Recorder Ben Nolan QC, told Clark: “The court is bound to consider deterrence when passing sentence in this case.

“There is a political move to make the carrying of these weapons subject to a mandatory prison sentence. But at the moment that has not been brought into force.

“I regard the possession of such a weapon as a serious offence for that reason.

“I take into account your previous character. You’ve managed to put your drug and alcohol dalliance behind you.

“But for this matter, your future is looking a lot brighter than in the past.”

Clark was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months with 140 hours’ unpaid work.

View: TJFA Game of the Week - Cleveland Juniors Pumas v Polton Allstars

Join us on social media.

For the latest local news straight to your Twitter, Facebook feed or e-mail inbox.

Facebook

Evening Gazette

Gazette People

Newsletters

Sign up to our daily newsletter

Twitter

@EveningGazette

@GazetteCourt

@Gazettepeople

@Gazettebusiness

@EGazetteSport

The Editor

Chris Styles

Editor, The Gazette

Email

chris.styles@trinitymirror.com

Twitter

@chrisstyles16

Chris was appointed editor of the Gazette in January 2012. He is also a former Gazette news editor. Chris has more than 20 years experience as a journalist and has previously worked in senior positions in Newcastle, Exeter and Nottingham.

Council boss praises return of Barker and Stonehouse to Stockton

Stockton Council's top official Neil Schneider has praised the return of Barker and Stonehouse to the borough.

The authority’s chief executive made the comments on a visit to the new £4.5m store being built at Teesside Shopping Park, as part of the furniture retailer’s growth policy.

Neil met Barker and Stonehouse managing director James Barker and chairman Richard Barker at the store site, and also talked to building project manager Dennis McLuckie of McLuckie Projects, the North Yorkshire-based company carrying out the construction.

The company is using local firms in the design, build and fit-out of its new store and will create more jobs ones it opens.

Project manager Dennis said work on the site is on schedule and progressing well.

“The project is moving ahead at a good speed, and we’re on target for the opening in early 2015,” he said.

James Barker said Barker and Stonehouse is pleased with how well the build is going.

“We were delighted to show Neil around the site and talk about some of our ambitious plans for the development – we very much appreciate the enthusiasm we have received from the Council,” he said.

“The Stockton site is an excellent location, and is allowing us to raise the bar and create a top quality, uniquely inspiring environment that customers will really enjoy visiting.”

As the UK’s largest family-owned furniture retailer, Barker and Stonehouse is one of Teesside’s flagship home-grown businesses.

The firm was founded in Stockton in 1946. It has grown significantly since then and now has showcase stores in London and across the country which have drawn awards and praise from national media and architectural bodies.

Neil said: “I am delighted to see works progressing well at the new Barker and Stonehouse site.

“The new flagship store will be a great new asset for residents and visitors and will also feature as a modern, attractive landmark on a key gateway into the Borough.”

“The progress of this regeneration and transformation of a derelict site is a credit to the hard work and ambition of all those involved – the team at Barker and Stonehouse has worked closely with our planning and technical services teams from the very onset to ensure things go smoothly. We are looking forward to welcoming such a prestigious company back into Stockton.

“There are some really promising signs of regeneration across the Borough, from major investments at Belasis and Seal Sands to the redevelopment of our town centres, new housing schemes and the exciting developments at Northshore.”

Ex-Cleveland Police chief Sean Price in court over £450,000 of alleged unlawful payments

Ex-Cleveland Police chief Sean Price is being sued by the former police authority over £450,000 of alleged unlawful payments relating to his salary and bonuses.

Mr Price, from North Yorkshire, told a preliminary hearing at Newcastle Crown Court today that he was representing himself in the civil case.

The former Cleveland Police Authority is seeking to recover £450,000 worth of alleged unlawful payments with interest.

A two-week hearing has been set for March next year at a venue yet to be decided.

Outside court, Mr Price said it was his case that Cleveland Police Authority wanted him to stay as Chief Constable and made payments to him in order to fulfil that.

He added: “I don’t think it’s lawful what they are trying to do.”

Dad-of-two Mr Price was arrested in August 2011 and sacked in October 2012 - the first police chief to be fired in 35 years - after a disciplinary hearing found he had lied about the role he played in the recruitment of former police authority chairman Dave McLuckie’s daughter.

Mr Price denied wrongdoing.

When he took up his role as chief constable in 2003, his original salary of £125,000 included a £32,000 car allowance, £4,000 a year towards private school fees for his son, and £1,000 towards private health insurance.

By 2011, he was on £191,000-a-year.

Any judgement against him could lay claim to his home, £300,000 pension payout, and assets.

Estimated £4m of NHS cash spent on stop-smoking drugs in the North-east in last year

An estimated £4m of NHS cash was spent on stop-smoking drugs in the North-east last year.

More than half the money was spent on Champix - with prescription rates in the region more than 60% higher than the national average.

Some 25,621 Champix prescriptions were written for the treatment in Durham, Darlington and Tees in 2013/14 - one for every 45 people. That is the highest rate in the country.

Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear is second, with 40,094 prescriptions of Champix - or one for every 48 people. The national average is one for every 77 people.

NHS figures say the average net cost of a single prescription of Champix - not including discounts, fees or dispensing costs - was £34 in 2013/14.

That makes the total cost of Champix across the two North East regions some £2.2m.

The estimated cost of all stop-smoking drugs - including patches, gum and another popular treatment called Zyban - was £4.0m.

Across England as a whole, some 1.8m prescriptions were written for stop-smoking drugs.

Some 696,799 were for Champix, 1.1m for generic nicotine replacement therapies like patches, and the remainder for Zyban.

The estimated net cost of all of those was £48.8m.

The highest prescription rate for all stop-smoking drugs was in Devon, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles, with one prescription for every 20 people. The national average is one for every 30 people. The lowest rate was in the Thames Valley, with one for every 65 people.

Power tools worth thousands of pounds stolen from Skelton Industrial Estate

Thieves stole power tools worth thousands of pounds from a unit on Skelton Industrial Estate.

The burglary took place on Sunday night, where tools including Makita chainsaws, jigsaws, hedge trimmers, drills, a mitre saw and a belt sander were stolen from an address on Holmbeck Road, Skelton.

Some of the equipment has the initials BTS written on them in marker pen.

It is believed those responsible made their way to the address on foot along the railway line and carried the stolen equipment back to a vehicle parked off Saltburn Lane at the back of Asda.

Anyone who may be aware of anyone selling Makita tools or anyone who saw anything suspicious on Sunday evening is asked to contact PC Richard Sweeney on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Man, 25, appears in court after police pursuit ended at Stockton pub

A man has been charged with multiple driving offences after a car chase that ended at a Stockton pub.

Durham Police had alerted Cleveland’s Roads Policing Unit after a car failed to stop in the Darlington area, then drove off towards Stockton shortly before 11pm on Sunday.

The vehicle was pursued by the police helicopter along Darlington Back Lane and into Stockton, where it pulled into The Rimswell pub car park on Bishopton Road West.

Douglas Ward, of Throstlenest Avenue, in Darlington, appeared at court yesterday charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop when required.

The 25-year-old was bailed to appear at Teesside Crown Court on October 21.

Saltburn Farmers' Market: Local foodies to take centre stage

Local foodies will take centre stage at Saltburn Farmers’ Market this weekend.

And members of Saltburn Allotment Association will be bringing the first of the Autumn harvest to their regular stall, with all profits being ploughed straight back into the town’s allotment community.

Sue Featherstone of Saltburn Allotment Association said: “We’re starting to feel a tinge of autumn in the air, so we’ll be making some hearty autumn allotment soup from vegetables grown right here in town. It’s perfect for warming up these crispier autumn days.

“We’ll also be bringing plenty of pumpkins – great with Halloween just around the corner – plus a really tasty harvest of tomatoes, chillies, curly kale & chard, onions, apples, pears, and some gorgeous autumn fruit preserves & jams made by allotment holders.

“All the profits from our stall go straight back into our work at the allotments,” said Sue. “That includes helping to maintain our communal gardening equipment, and developing a ‘Grow & Learn’ horticulture training project, part of which sees us growing vegetables right in the town centre’s Secret Square – literally just yards from the market itself.

“Everything on our stall is picked fresh from the allotments on the morning and brought straight to the Market – it doesn’t really get any fresher or any more local than that!”

The market features more than 35 stalls including locally produced sausages, meat & game; freshly baked artisan bread and handmade cheese. It takes place on Saturday 9am-3pm and is based just outside Saltburn Railway Station.

Billingham teacher hails efforts of unsung heroes who help keep school running smoothly

Nominate your local heroes in the Gazette Community Champions Awards

A grateful teacher has hailed the efforts of unsung heroes who help keep a school running smoothly.

Although not teaching staff, the five year managers at Billingham’s Northfield School work tirelessly to ensure the students’ various needs are met.

And it’s that dedication which has seen their nomination for a Gazette Community Champion award by someone who finds their efforts invaluable - English teacher and assistant Year 11 head Steph Story.

She said that during her 10 years at the school, she has worked alongside the five year managers “as we strive to support and encourage our students to be as successful as they can, both inside and outside the classroom.”

She said: “On a daily basis, each one of them deals with challenging issues that surround our young people, often going that extra mile to make sure that our students are supported emotionally, academically and socially.

“It never fails to impress me how much of themselves they give to the students and then still have something left to support the staff as well.”

Northfield’s team comprises John Chapman, who is responsible for Year 7, Jackie Hall (Y8), Kathryn Harvey (Y9), Jo Bailey Saunders (Y10) and Liz Lister (Y11).

And to Steph, the way they deal with the vast range of issues young people have is worthy of recognition - hence her nomination of all five in the Children and Young People’s Champion category, sponsored by Stockton Council.

She said: “It’s one of those jobs where people do it but don’t realise how important they are.

“They aren’t teaching staff but they go above and beyond, doing everything we can’t do when we’re teaching.

“Time after time, I have watched them coach anxious students with patience and kind words, offer comfort to students who are so upset and calm down stressed teenagers.”

Talking to The Gazette between lessons, she said: “I’m currently sat in Liz’s office and in the past half hour, we’ve dealt with eight students with a complete range of issues. But every day, the year managers just deal with it.

“They were a bit embarrassed to learn they had been nominated but I think they’ve taken it in their stride!

“But to me, they epitomise what the Community Champion awards are about. To them it’s just a job, but we rely on them heavily so that we can do ours.”

Milwaukee Yamaha rider back on the podium at Brands Hatch

Guisborough's Milwaukee Yamaha team fought to overcome the challenges of Silverstone for the penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, with Josh Brookes claiming a hard-fought third place in the opening race.

Brookes made a flying start to break the pack with Shane Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari.

The trio were embroiled in a fierce contest for the podium places with Brookes pushing to second on several occasions before holding third at the finish. Team-mate Tommy Bridewell was 10th.

In the second race Brookes again was fighting with the leading pair, but a crash on lap six saw his hopes of a double podium shattered.

Bridewell was fighting for the third place but was eventually pushed to fourth over the closing laps.

Brookes and Bridewell hold third and fourth places in the standings ahead of the triple-header final round at Brands Hatch in two weeks.

Brookes said: “I knew we had a chance of the podium but as usual we pushed on hard and made changes right up until the first race.

“We found something that meant I could be a part of that amazing race and it was pleasing to be back on the podium rather than parc ferme after the race.

“I wished I had a little bit more to put into it and have a chance for the win, but pushing for second was a great improvement.

“Being back on the podium and in the fight felt as good as a win to me and I would have paid for a ticket to watch that one!”

Bridewell, however, admitted the day was “far from what we expected”.

He added: “It is a shame because we were a race behind. We are in a bit of a see-saw at the moment – we have one good race and one bad race.

“I could have got ahead of Josh here and now it looks like I will have to try again at Brands Hatch.”

When is the last garden waste bin collection of the year for Teesside councils?

The nights are drawing in, there's a distinct chill in the air - and your weekly grass cuts are coming to an end.

Here we have collated information for the last green waste collections across Teesside, and when you can put your lawn mower away for the winter...

Stockton Council

Red week bin collections end this week and will recommence in the spring.

Blue week bin collections end next week (week commencing Monday, October 13).

Find out which route you are on here .

Middlesbrough Council

The final collections of the year for garden waste will take place on Friday, October 31 and are due to resume again in April 2015.

Residents can also take their green waste to either Newham Grange Leisure Farm or the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Haverton Hill.

Find out the days your bins are collected here.

Redcar and Cleveland Council

The final collections of the year for garden waste take place between Tuesday, November 18 and Friday, November 28 depending on the zone in which you live. They will recommence in the spring.

You can find out which zone you live in and the corresponding last green waste collection date here.

Hambleton Council

The final collections of the year for green waste are in the week commencing Monday, December 1.

They recommence again on Monday, February 23

You can find out when your last green waste collection date is here.

Tour of Hamsterley taken off RAC Rally Championship calendar

Next year’s SG Petch Tour of Hamsterley Rally will not be a competing round of the RAC Rally Championship.

The rally is organised by Stockton and District MC on behalf of the Teesside Motorsport Group.

In a joint statement, clerks of the course Steve Waggett and Derek Holgate said: “This is very disappointing for the whole team of organisers and our supporters, not to mention our principal sponsors SG Petch Garages, especially when we have gone to extreme lengths to maintain our position in the championship over the last two years.

“Indeed the rally did not make a profit this year as we expended extra monies on running the event and securing the stage in Raby Castle to provide what we believe is one of the best organised events in the country.

“Unfortunately, we were advised by the RAC Championship manager that many of the historic competitors thought some of the roads in the Hamsterley complex were not smooth enough for them, with these competitors apparently preferring to rally on the ‘motorway’ style forest roads elsewhere in the UK.”

But the statement added: “Despite all of this we remain committed to Hamsterley and are not giving up because the North-east needs a professionally organised forest rally that encourages grass roots competition and we do not want to let down those competitors, marshals and spectators who have supported this team since 2009.

“The event will also run on an alternative, yet to be confirmed, date but one that will give the chance of much better weather and road conditions in the forest.”

Meanwhile Able UK will sponsor the Riponian Rally on February 22 next year.

Peter Stevenson, CEO of the company, won the event last year with Ian Windress in a Ford Focus WRC.

Robinsons Road Planing Services have also offered support to the rally, organised by Ripon MSC and Whitby and District MC.

Stockton centenarian puts secret of long life down to 'a loving family'

Stockton centenarian Vera Tomlinson puts the secret of her long life down to “a loving family”.

Vera toasted her milestone 100th birthday yesterday with friends, family and staff at Millbeck Care home in Norton.

Stockton-born Vera was the youngest of eight children and lived most of her life in Roseberry Road Norton with her husband Jim, where they raised their only child, daughter Carolyn.

The couple met at the Maison dance hall in Stockton.

But the thing that really caught Vera’s eye was Jim’s flashy MG sports car.

“It was the only one in the area,” she said. “His grandfather was mayor of Durham City and when he died Jim bought it with his inheritance.

“We used to drive around the countryside in it a lot.”

After they married the couple honeymooned in Belgium. Jim worked as an accounts clerk with ICI and served with the RAF in Palestine and Egypt during the Second World War. Vera herself worked for a while as a typist at ICI.

In her younger years she enjoyed playing tennis and hockey for Stockton Ladies’ Hockey Team.

Her husband died around 20 years ago, but Vera only moved into the care home four years ago.

She put the secret to her longevity down to “being a mother” and having a loving and friendly family.

A 100th birthday party was thrown in her honour yesterday, which the Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Barbara Inman attended.

Vera said she was “not a great party girl” and didn’t like a fuss, but felt the celebration was just right.

Her daughter Carolyn Henson, 66, joined other member’s of Vera’s family, including her only great grandchild, Vinnie, who is two in December.

And Vera proudly showed off her birthday card from the Queen.

“We have a lovely Queen,” she said.

Artist donates painting to James Cook radiotherapy unit that saved his life

An artist has donated a unique painting to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital following life-saving cancer treatment.

Laurie Peacock, from Billingham, is one of many patients to benefit from a specialist treatment - stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR).

The 81-year-old, who studied at the Royal College of Art and has seen his work exhibited worldwide, was diagnosed with two tumours - one on his lung and another on his gullet.

SABR delivers very high doses of radiation to tumours in the chest with millimetre precision. By maximising the dose to the tumour, the risk of damaging surrounding normal tissues is minimised, increasing cure rates.

Laurie had SABR to treat his lung tumour followed by chemo-radiotherapy on his gullet.

To say thank you, Laurie has donated a painting entitled The North York Moors In Winter to the oncology and radiotherapy team.

Dr Nick Wadd, clinical director for oncology and radiotherapy, said: “We are extremely grateful to Laurie for donating this artwork.”

Jeff Winter: Becoming Hartlepool manager could be a dream job for Mark Venus

I was disappointed to hear Colin Cooper and Hartlepool parted company on Saturday night.

Pools’ 3-0 drubbing by fellow strugglers Carlisle United was the final straw.

Coops, like many young coaches, had waited patiently to get his chance in management.

It seems to be very difficult to get a manager’s post.

It also usually means starting at the bottom with limited resources.

Last season Colin did very well with a team predominantly made up of youngsters.

He then added experience over the summer, bringing in former Boro players Matthew Bates and Stuart Parnaby but it just hasn’t worked out for him.

Scoring goals has been a problem for the club ever since Joel Porter left.

League Two is a very hard level to learn not only as a coach but also as a player.

It’s physical and unforgiving and now Pools must appoint wisely because to drop out of the League might be the last straw for long-time owners IOR.

Having lost Darlington, it would be terrible for the North-east if Pools followed suit.

But, such is the competitiveness of the Conference these days, there’s no guaranteed return.

I hope Colin is back in the game soon because he likes his players to play the game the right way and deserves another chance with more resources at his disposal.

Former Boro assistant Mark Venus would love to get into management.

After his brief spell in the hot seat at the Riverside, he’s been close to getting the top job at Hibs and Carlisle recently and as a Hartlepool lad it would be a dream job for him.

It may be though that in their precarious position the club goes for experience.

Whatever their decision, I hope that the new boss is successful and keeps the club in the Football League.

Fugitive tackled in front of pub customers at last orders after police chase

Regulars enjoying a late-night drink at a Stockton pub nearly choked on their beers when a police fugitive burst through the doors.

The bell had just rung for last orders at The Rimswell, on Bishopton Road West, when the man rushed in - closely followed by a number of police officers.

Outside the police helicopter hovered overhead, while around six police cars and several unmarked police vehicles parked up in the pub’s car park.

Durham Police had alerted Cleveland’s Roads Policing Unit after a car failed to stop in the Darlington area, then drove off towards Stockton, shortly before 11pm on Sunday.

The vehicle was pursued by the police helicopter along Darlington Back Lane and into Stockton, where it pulled into The Rimswell’s car park.

Steve Sharp, landlord of The Rimswell, described the “surreal events” that followed.

“Last orders had gone when police came in and said ‘Where is he?’,” he told the Gazette.

“The barmaid had seen the guy go into the toilet and then into the bar.

“One of the customers then spotted him going behind the bar where he snuck upstairs into my flat.

“The police all chased upstairs and checked the room but there was no sign.

“The next thing I knew they were bringing him down.”

Steve, 48, who has been landlord of The Rimswell for two years, said the fugitive had climbed out of a window onto the pub’s roof, but was quickly spotted by police outside.

“The police were very thorough,” he added.

“They were looking in the fridge at one point, for the car keys. They found them in the toilet in a hoodie.

“They guy never said anything at all when they brought him down. I said ‘Tell him he’s barred!’”

Steve said around 15-20 customers were still in the pub at the time.

“It all happened that quick,” he said.

“It was all surreal - police helicopters and dogs. They were all giant coppers as well.”

Cleveland Police said a man was arrested for a number of offences.

He was taken to Darlington in custody. The vehicle was seized.

Fugitive tackled by pub customers at last orders after police chase through Stockton

Regulars enjoying a late-night drink at a Stockton pub nearly choked on their beers when a police fugitive burst through the doors.

The bell had just rung for last orders at The Rimswell, on Bishopton Road West, when the man rushed in - closely followed by a number of police officers.

Outside the police helicopter hovered overhead, while around six police cars and several unmarked police vehicles parked up in the pub’s car park.

Durham Police had alerted Cleveland’s Roads Policing Unit after a car failed to stop in the Darlington area, then drove off towards Stockton, shortly before 11pm on Sunday.

The vehicle was pursued by the police helicopter along Darlington Back Lane and into Stockton, where it pulled into The Rimswell’s car park.

Steve Sharp, landlord of The Rimswell, described the “surreal events” that followed.

“Last orders had gone when police came in and said ‘Where is he?’,” he told the Gazette.

“The barmaid had seen the guy go into the toilet and then into the bar.

“One of the customers then spotted him going behind the bar where he snuck upstairs into my flat.

“The police all chased upstairs and checked the room but there was no sign.

“The next thing I knew they were bringing him down.”

Steve, 48, who has been landlord of The Rimswell for two years, said the fugitive had climbed out of a window onto the pub’s roof, but was quickly spotted by police outside.

“The police were very thorough,” he added.

“They were looking in the fridge at one point, for the car keys. They found them in the toilet in a hoodie.

“They guy never said anything at all when they brought him down. I said ‘Tell him he’s barred!’”

Steve said around 15-20 customers were still in the pub at the time.

“It all happened that quick,” he said.

“It was all surreal - police helicopters and dogs. They were all giant coppers as well.”

Cleveland Police said a man was arrested for a number of offences.

He was taken to Darlington in custody. The vehicle was seized.