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, Monday 13th 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.

Domestic violence victim took drugs into prison for boyfriend who once stabbed her in the neck, court hears

A domestic violence victim was coerced to take drugs into prison by a boyfriend who once stabbed her in the neck, a court heard.

Jenna Cook, 29, was caught with two diazepam tablets and a stolen driving licence when she visited her ex-partner in Holme House Prison.

The mum-of-three said she felt under pressure to bring the Class C drugs to the Stockton jail on May 23.

She cried in the dock throughout her sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court this week.

Cook admitted conveying an article into prison and theft of the driving licence, which she said she had found.

She had 10 previous offences on her record but had never been jailed herself before.

Morgan Brien, defending, said: “Three years ago the defendant was in a relationship with an abusive partner.

“She was stabbed in the neck by him.

“For one reason or another, she recently decided to visit him in prison. A degree of pressure and intimidation was placed on her.

“She is seeking an injunction against this person in prison as he has continued to try to harass her.

“She has three children. She’s also pregnant with the fourth. She’s sole carer for her children.”

The judge, Recorder Ben Nolan QC, told the tearful defendant: “I am satisfied that you were brought under a good deal of pressure by that former partner.

“Indeed you were threatened with violence by that former partner and, although it doesn’t amount to a defence, it is essentially duress and that provides you with considerable mitigation.

“You have three children, you have certain mental health problems and I’m not going to impose an immediate prison sentence on you.

“It seems to me it would be unduly harsh to do so.”

He gave Cook, of Waverley Crescent, Lemington, Newcastle, who was supported by a new partner in court, a community order with a year’s supervision.

Recap: 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, Friday 10th 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.

People urged to only call 999 in emergencies as ambulance staff join strike action

People with minor breaks, women in routine labour or those involved in minor road traffic accidents will be told to make their own way to hospital tomorrow, as ambulance staff join strike action.

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) and unions have confirmed only patients in life-threatening situations will still get an ambulance response.

Others will be given clinical advice or told to make their own way to hospital.

The action takes place between 7am and 11am tomorrow, but NEAS expects the strike to cause disruption throughout the whole day.

Paul Liversidge, chief operating officer for NEAS, said: “We expect the strike action to have a considerable impact on our ability to respond to emergency calls and although the strike is only for four hours, we expect it to affect the whole day.

“Our overriding statutory obligation is to provide high quality and safe service to patients and our focus is on taking all reasonable steps to mitigate the consequences of this action.”

North East Ambulance will also not be able to provide a service for GP practices requesting urgent or patient transport during the Unison and GMB action.

The Patient Transport Service is expected to resume normal business after 12 noon, but those with life-threatening conditions such as dialysis, oncology, and palliative care are exempt from being affected by the strike action.

Proposed Ingleby Barwick war memorial railings already bought - Now council ask for public's views

Railings planned for Ingleby Barwick’s war memorial will protect wreaths and enhance the look of the feature, say town councillors.

Ingleby Barwick Town Council is asking for the views of members of the public on its plans to erect £2,195 ornamental wrought iron railings around the memorial near the main entrance to Romano Park.

A consultation is under way and residents are asked to give their views to the council on the proposals.

But some have taken to social media to criticise the town council for buying the railings before speaking to residents.

One resident wrote on a Facebook community page: “The railings were made in March at a cost of £2,195 which has since been paid. They are currently being held in storage - so what happens if we don’t want them? Is this what consultation is?”

Resident Andrew Duffell added: “Its beggars belief that the town council can ask residents what they think of a proposal they have already made the decision on.

“I think many residents feel that some members of the town council are completely out of touch with the community. The town council really needs to consider holding meaningful engagement with residents before making decisions.”

Town council chairman and Ingleby Barwick Mayor Councillor Philip English confirmed the railings had already been purchased but said he felt confident the town would be behind the plans.

He said the war memorial, which was erected around 18 months ago, has already been used as a centrepiece for a number of services.

He said: “It’s on a concrete base by the footpath, and it doesn’t really reflect fully the significance of it, so we thought we would like railings to make more of a feature of it.

“They are wrought iron railings with motifs of poppies around it. The wreaths in the past were just laid on the ground and they would be better projected and protected attached to the railings.

“I’ve spoken with quite a number of people about it and they have been quite keen on it.

“The railings were bought on the basis that it was always intended that there would be railings there.”

Addressing the question of what will happen if a majority of residents express that they do not want them, Cllr English said the town council would “cross that bridge if they come to it.”

A consultation document put out to residents says: “As residents will be aware, 2014 is the Centenary of the beginning of the First World War.

“It is proposed that these be erected in 2014 to commemorate the centenary.

“Currently, wreaths are laid loosely at the War Memorial and are subject to being blown around in inclement weather.

“The Town Council would like to hear residents’ views on the proposal and would be grateful to receive your comments.”

Comments need to be sent to the Town Council by Friday, October 31. You can write to Ingleby Barwick Town Council,

Barwick Lodge, Ingleby Way, Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 0RH, or email town.clerk@inglebybarwicktowncouncil.org.uk. You can also give your views through the website here.

Norton and Thornaby victorious on a day of mixed fortunes for Teesside in the Northern League

Norton and Thornaby notched 3-2 victories on an otherwise winless Saturday for Teesside in the Northern League.

Second division promotion contenders Norton won by the odd goal in five at Ryton, as did Thornaby at Teesdale Pak against Willington.

Elsewhere in the second division, Billingham Town drew 1-1 with South Shields but Stokesley lost 3-1 to Seaham.

Marske were held to a 3-3 draw by 10-man Bedlington in a top of the table clash in Division One as Guisborough came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw with Penrith and Billingham Synthonia were bombed out 5-1 at Newcastle Benfield.

Norton made a flying start at Ryton as they went ahead through a close range Karl Charlton goal, but they trailed 2-1 at half time after the hosts turned the tables.

Harrison Davies smashed in the equaliser as Norton rallied and they completed their comeback as Davies put in a pinpoint cross between the last defender and keeper for Charlton to tap in the winner.

“It was the best we had started for a long time but we conceded a silly goal and Ryton went on to dominate the last 15 minutes of the first half,” said Norton manager Andy Campbell.

“We had a mini inquest at half time where we spoke about being at the top of the league for a reason and deserving to be where we are.

“And to be fair the lads were exceptional in the second half. They got on the front foot and pinned them back and they were unable top get out of their half at times.”

Campbell added: “It’s nice that the players are getting some recognition and we they deserve to be up there at the top of the league.

“But we’ve got to keep going. Nothing is won in October.”

Thornaby fell behind after 17 minutes to a Jason White goal but came storming back to win with strikes from Kieran Edwards, Clayton McDonald and sub Richie Walker.

Stephen Howe added Willington’s second when he tapped in following a corner but Thornaby were never really in danger of losing their lead.

Willington’s opener arrived after James Riordan was caught in possession, but Thornaby levelled with a tremendous 30-yard strike from captain Edwards which fizzed into the bottom corner.

Right-back McDonald then blasted in from 20 yards and Walker followed up to score Thornaby’s third after his initial shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

Thornaby’s latest win maintained their unbeaten home record, meaning they go into their first game under their new floodlights on Tuesday night against Stokesley in the Ernest Armstrong Cup full of confidence.

Marske’s decision to switch to one up front midway through the second half came back to bite them as they had to settle for a 3-3 draw at home to 10-man Bedlington Terriers after they had led 3-1.

Jamie Owens gave Marske the lead with an early free kick which was cancelled out by Lee Scott when he sprang the offside trap and slotted the ball under Robert Dean.

Marske regained the lead just after the half hour point when Sam Garvie turned in a low Owens shot at the near post, and things got even better for the home side soon after as Sam Walton was sent off for kicking out at Seasiders skipper Craig Gott.

Josh MacDonald put Marske 3-1 up in the final minute of the first half with a brilliant left-foot strike after cutting in from the right and across the edge of the Bedlington box.

Marske almost got a fourth when Gott smashed a shot against the bar following a MacDonald corner.

But things began to go awry as Scott pulled another goal back with his and Bedlington’s second from the penalty spot after Darren Hollingsworth tripped up Dylan Williamson.

Marske began to make increasingly hard work of it as they were unable to make the ball stick up front, and it was no surprise when Bedlington equalised five minutes from time through Williamson’s rasping shot into the bottom corner at the end of an incisive move.

Marske enjoyed late pressure but Liam O’Sullivan shot wide from their best chance after Bedlington keeper Sean McAffery palmed substitute Reece Kelly’s corner straight into his path.

Guisborough remain in sixth despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Penrith.

Ben Jackson put the Cumbrians in front nine minutes into the second half but a double Guisborough substitution quickly paid off as replacement Luke Bythway charged down a clearance to equalise.

Penrith keeper Josh Richardson repelled everything that Guisborough threw at him, as did the visitors’ back up keeper Tom Newton - their only substitute - who came on after Richardson suffered a hand injury.

Billingham Synthonia were unable to follow up their FA Vase replay win at Celtic Nation with three Northern League points as they were undone by a Paul Brayson masterclass in a 5-1 defeat at Newcastle Benfield.

Former Newcastle United starlet Brayson struck four times as Synners were sunk at Sam Smiths Park, with Dillon Morse getting Benfield other goal.

Synners top scorer Nathan Porritt scored a consolation goal when the visitors were 4-0 down.

Billingham Town are finding it hard converting positive performances into points and their 1-1 draw with South Shields means they are still without a home win.

Darren Trotter’s side enjoyed a bright first half and were rewarded with a goal in a purple patch at the end of it when Michael Dalton put them in front.

Gary Redman swung the ball across the face of the Shields goal after good approach play involving the former Stokesley winger and Nathan Mohun, and Dalton did the rest as he side-footed past the keeper.

Paul Kane equalised for the visitors with a 63rd minute penalty following a clumsy Stuart Browne challenge and although Town went close to scoring a winner through Drew Lambert a second goal failed to materialise and they finished with 10 men as Redman was sent off following a second yellow card.

Stokesley were upended at Broughton Road by form side Seaham, whose second goal came from former Stokesley striker Sonny Andrews.

Darryll Donnelly put Seaham ahead from a corner and although Wilf Dinsdale pulled a well-worked goal back at 2-0 down from David Edwards’ perfectly-weighted pass inside the full-back, Seaham added a late third through a deflected David Palmer shot.

Stokesley also lost skilful winger Steven Roberts to an ankle injury at half time.

Daniel Ayala's star is starting to rise for Middlesbrough FC

Slow-burner Daniel Ayala is finally on a rising curve.

The Spanish defender is beginning to look the business at the back.

In fact, I feel it’s worth going out on a limb and claiming that he has the potential to become one of Boro’s topcentre-backs of the modern era.

That’s no mean achievement for a player who displayed lots of raw edges – not to mention the odd costly mistake – when he first arrived on loan from Norwich City.

Ayala has found his footing in English football the hard way, having failed to make the grade at his first club Liverpool, and enduring several loan spells before putting down roots on Teesside.

The 23-year-old has also made a few brave career decisions before establishing himself.

As a youngster, he was very highly rated at Sevilla, but rejected a contract offer in order to try to make the grade at Liverpool.

He failed to create his Anfield dream, and instead was forced to learn his trade in loan spells with Hull and Derby before Norwich City finally came in with the chance of a permanent move. Still it didn’t work out. Ayala failed to win a regular place at Carrow Road and went out on loan again to Nottingham Forest.

It was at this stage that former Boro boss Tony Mowbray showed an interest – and he made a failed bid to bring Ayala to Boro in the summer of 2013.

Mogga’s interest did not wane, and Ayala finally arrived at the Boro on a three-month loan deal 12 months ago.

Then, last January, Aitor Karanka offered Ayala a three- and-a-half year contract after having agreed a fee, believed to be around £400,000, with Norwich.

Ayala still had a lot to prove when handed the opportunity to be a first team regular with the Boro.

He has had his dodgy moments, but he appears to be a fast learner.

Ayala is quickly banishing the rough edges which created a few question marks last season.

This season Ayala has moved a few more rungs up the ladder.

In fact, Boro have coped with the absence of England defender Jonathan Woodgate, who continues to battle against niggling injuries. There’s still the problem of Ayala picking up unnecessary bookings. He’s already served one ban.

But his defensive qualities, not to mention his threat at set pieces, mark him as a player with a big future ahead.

In fact, Ayala has already increased his market value several fold.

Yorkshire Regiment soldiers in Iraq assisting Kurds in fight against Islamic State

Soldiers from Teesside could be in Iraq, it has been revealed today.

Troops from the 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment were returning to the country this weekend according to several reports.

The battallion, which includes recruits from across Teesside and North Yorkshire, will be assisting the Kurds in their desperate fight against Islamic State (ISIS).

As part of the fight against the brutal regime of the radical Islamist group, that has seized large swathes of territory in eastern Syria and across northern and western Iraq, the Yorkshire boys will teach peshmerga fighters how to fire the powerful British-supplied L1A1 12.7mm heavy machinegun.

The training mission will join a small UK military reconnaissance team, which has already been on the ground for several weeks, helping to unload weapons and plan what future assistance could be provided by the UK.

The latest deployment from our region comes as a series of car bomb attacks rocked Iraq’s capital yesterday, killing 38 people in Shia areas.

Police officials said the first bombing happened on Saturday night, when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into a security checkpoint in Baghdad’s northern district of Khazimiyah.

Fierce fighting is also said to be under way in a Syrian border town, where Kurdish militiamen are struggling to repel advances by the Islamic State group.

Marton Road collision: Woman, 85, freed by firefighters after crash leaves car on side

An elderly passenger had to be freed by firefighters after a crash on Marton Road last night.

Crews from Middlesbrough and Coulby Newham Fire Stations were called to the scene opposite the Highfield Hotel on Marton Road at 8.23pm to reports of a crash involving two cars.

On arrival the firefighters found a Hyundai car on its side. An 85-year-old woman was trapped inside.

The driver, believed to be the injured woman’s son, managed to climb out of the back hatch of the car despite being injured himself.

The crews cut the woman out of the car using hydraulic rescue equipment.

They were both taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital by ambulance.

Their injuries are unknown at this time.

Police and ambulance paramedics were also in attendance.

The driver and passenger of the other car, believed to be a Renault, escaped unharmed.

The road was blocked until around 10.30pm, when the fire service left the scene.

Boro sweat on African Cup of Nations call up for Albert Adomah

Albert Adomah could miss five or six key Boro games if he is selected for Ghana’s African Cup of Nations squad.

The Black Stars are bidding to qualify for the biennial tournament, which gets underway in Morocco on January 17.

Managerless Ghana played the first leg of their play-off with Guinea in Casablanca last night, with the return taking place on Wednesday.

Adomah was not selected by caretaker boss Maxwell Konadu for the latest back-to-back qualifications games but if his impressive Boro form continues it is a fair bet he willl be recalled.

If Ghana do progress to the finals and the Boro winger is selected, he will have to link up with the squad at least a week before the tournament starts.

He could therefore be out of the picture for most of January and, potentially, the first two weeks of February.

The event is scheduled to end on February 8 and, despite enduring a poor World Cup campaign, Ghana will still be fancied to win through to the latter stages in Tunisia.

Adomah, then, could theoretically miss Championship games against Reading (January 10), Huddersfield (Jan 17), Cardiff (Jan 24), Brentford (Jan 31), Charlton (February 7) and Blackpool (Feb 10). That will be a concern for Boro head coach Aitor Karanka, who is a huge fan of Adomah.

He said: “Albert is very important.

“He is very important because, like I said last season, he is a leader.

“He is a leader on the pitch and off the pitch and as a player he is the kind of player that when he is on the pitch you have a lot of options.

“He can play in a lot of positions and for this reason - as a person, as a player, as a leader - he is a very important player for us.”

Adomah, who was Boro’s top scorer last season with 12 goals, represented Ghana in their disastrous World Cup campaign in Brazil, making just one appearance as a second-half substitute against the United States in Natal.

The West African nation ultimately finished bottom of their group with an off -the-field row over payments between several players and the national governing body over-shadowing on-field matters.

Former manager James Kwesi Appiah left his post last month.

The Ghana FA have compiled a shortlist of candidates which includes ex-Chelsea boss Avram Grant, Italian World Cup winner Marco Tardelli and Dutchman Patrick Kluivert, who played for Newcastle United.