Halloween 2014 events: Find a spooky night out in Teesside

It's the spookiest time of the year, and there's a scary amount going on for Halloween across Teesside.

We've looked at the best days - and nights - planned for October 31, with everything from a tribute to the Rocky Horror Picture Show to terrifying woodland walks.

So whether it's something for the kids to enjoy, some highbrow theatre on the big screen or just the chance to dance the night away, there's an event for everyone this Halloween.

Some of our best-known parks and beauty spots are being transformed, while Middlesbrough's most popular clubs are also joining in the fun.

Search the map below for our pick of the best ways to spend your Halloween, if you're on mobile you can load it directly in Google Maps.

Head to the Gazette's Facebook page to share your days and nights out with our readers or see more events happening on Friday 31 October in Teesside.

No action taken following arrest over fake jobs at Yarm pub

An investigation into reports of a fraudster offering jobseekers fake jobs at a Yarm pub has been closed, police said.

Around 10 potential victims of a scam came forward after applying for apparently non-existent bar jobs advertised for the Union Arms, on Yarm High Street.

The pub had no connection to the job adverts, which were placed in Middlesbrough JobCentre in September last year.

A number of job hunters spoke to the Gazette and the police after applying for the jobs and subsequently discovering they were not real vacancies, fearing they had handed over their personal details to a scammer looking to commit identity theft.

Cleveland Police investigated the claims but say the probe has now come to an end.

One of those who came forward was 27-year-old Stephen Grafton, of Middlesbrough, who said at the time he was “disgusted” to discover the job he was so pleased to be offered did not exist.

Stephen, who is now in a full-time job, said: “When it all happened and I went to the JobCentre in Middlesbrough. They told me it had been passed over to the police by them and I should go to the station to report it myself.

“I went, and a few days later I received a voicemail from the police fraud department saying it was being investigated and someone had been arrested.

“It’s a shame to hear it has been dropped.

“I suspect no fraudulent crime was committed as he was caught before any damage could be done to us.”

A 29-year-old man from the Middlesbrough area was arrested on suspicion of fraud before being bailed pending further enquiries. He was later released without charge.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “An investigation was undertaken and a man was arrested in connection with the incidents.

“The evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service and it was decided that the man should be released without charge.”

Vaccum cleaner thief and street attacker Robert Wright avoids jail

A street attacker and vacuum cleaner thief has avoided a jail term again - despite spending time allowed to prove he could keep out of trouble behind bars.

Judge Michael Taylor gave Robert Wright six months to keep his nose clean when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court in April, deferring his sentence for stealing the appliance and repeatedly punching a man in the street until yesterday.

Wright had admitted the theft and assault and despite 62 previous offences including robbery and dishonesty, Judge Taylor told him: “If you keep out of trouble and hold down a job I’ll not send you to prison”.

But Wright, 32, has since spent “more time in custody than on the streets” and the court heard he was due to stand trial for burglary earlier this week.

The prosecution in the burglary trial offered no evidence, with the charges against him dropped. However, he was sentenced to 14 days jail for obstructing a police officer.

Mr Rod Hunt, defending Wright, said his period of deferment had been spent in custody and requested a short sentence “to see if that will give him some self-discipline”.

Sentencing him to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months with supervision and £80 costs, Judge Taylor said: “I maintain the view I expressed on the last occasion. There must come a time in your life when you turn the corner.”

Man who sent 32 intimidating messages to witness is spared jail

A MAN who sent intimidating text messages to a witness in a court case against him has escaped jail.

Michael Brown, 43, was charged with racially aggravated use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour after an incident of public disorder at Sainsbury’s, on Bankfields Road, Eston.

He knew a witness who worked at the store, and sent her a total of 32 messages in April this year, calling her a “grass” and threatening her, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Brown, of Barley Hill Close, Eston, had already been given a community order at Teesside Magistrates Court for the racially aggravated offence - and appeared at court to be sentenced for intimidation on Thursday, after Judge Michael Taylor had deferred sentencing in August.

Judge Taylor had told him on that occasion that he would either give him community work or “send him to prison”.

Mitigating for Brown, who had admitted intimidation, Zoe Passfield told the court that since the last hearing he had found work as a labourer.

He had also worked closely with the probation service to deal with his drinking.

And the court had received a note from his victim, which said she had known him for a few years and understood he had a problem with alcohol.

It read: “He’s not a bad lad. I don’t want him going to jail. He’s probably learned his lesson by now.”

Judge Taylor said: “Witness intimidation is a very serious matter, and this is something that crosses the custody threshold.

“However, the Magistrates Court, in their wisdom, have already sentenced you for the racially aggravated offence and sent you to Crown Court to be sentenced for intimidation.

“You could have gone to prison, but I have heard that you have now found work and that you are looking to deal with your drinking. In this case, I can suspend your sentence.”

He gave Brown a six month jail term, suspended for 12 months.

Muggers steal boys' bikes in Stockton park

TWO teenage boys were mugged in a Stockton park and had their bikes stolen.

The boys, aged 13 and 14, were in Newham Grange Park yesterday at about 7.05pm when they were approached by three males and threatened.

The offenders left the park heading towards the A1027 with the two bicycles.

They are described as being in their late teens, wearing dark sports clothing. One was wearing a blue Adidas hooded top.

Police are appealing for any information or witnesses to the incident to contact DC Christopher Pringle at Stockton CID via the non-emergency 101 number.

Compensation on way for hundreds of Redcar savers despite collapse of local credit union

Compensation worth £200,000 is on the way for hundreds of Redcar savers despite the collapse of a local credit union.

Payments have now been made to more than 800 members of Redcar and Cleveland Money Tree and Glen Credit Union (Redcar & Cleveland CU), said the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

As reported, more than 800 members had around £200,000 with the credit union but their money was protected by the FSCS.

The payments were in the post just days after the Redcar-based credit union was wound up on Friday.

People with up to £1,000 will receive a letter to get cash over the counter at their Post Office while anyone with more than £1,000 will get a cheque.

The FSCS had promised to pay back members within a week.

Mark Oakes, head of communications, said: “FSCS protects people when authorised financial services firms go bust. So I’m pleased to confirm FSCS payments have now been made to members of Redcar & Cleveland Credit Union. It is good news for those members.”

FSCS protects savings up to £85,000, which covers 98% of people in the UK with bank, building society or credit union accounts.

Since 2001, FSCS has protected more than 4.5m people and paid out more than £26bn.

Teen remanded in custody over charges relating to Hemlington crash in which dad Andrew Corfield died

A man has has been remanded in custody after being charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a crash in Middlesbrough in which dad-of-three Andrew Corfield died.

Jake McCabe, 18, of Cramlington Close, Hemlington, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court today on six charges, including causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury through dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking.

Other charges were driving without an appropriate licence, using a vehicle without insurance and failing to report an accident.

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The dad-of-one spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

Alice Corfield, 17, from Hemlington, who was a passenger in Mr Corfield’s car remains critical but stable in James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Police, ambulance and fire crews were called to a two-vehicle crash involving a silver Ford Fiesta and a silver Hyundai Santa Fe on Cass House Road near the junction with Fordyce Road at 7.30pm on Tuesday.

McCabe was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday, November 13.

Woman hit by bus in Stockton town centre remains in critical but stable condition in hospital

A WOMAN hit by a bus in Stockton town centre remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Hannah Baxter, 32, from Thornaby, was hit by the bus at Maxwell’s Corner, in Stockton town centre, on October 21.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said she is in a critcal but stable condition at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.

It was the second time in just over a month that a pedestrian was involved in a collision with a bus on the high street.

“Bubbly and loving” Kelly Marie Evis, 28, died in hospital 15 days after being hit by a bus on Stockton high street on Monday, September 15.

Cleveland Police, the Great North Air Ambulance and the North East Ambulance Service attended the scene of Tuesday’s incident.

Crews from Stockton Fire Station were also called but were stood down on their arrival.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to contact PC Martin Tramner, of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, on 101 quoting incident CVP-14-185761

Work on schemes costing £1m set to begin after 49-strong list of projects in Redcar and Cleveland approved

Work on schemes costing £1m is set to begin after a 49-strong list of projects in Redcar and Cleveland was approved.

In January, the borough council earmarked £2m to be spent on “public realm” improvements.

After workshops and consultations were held, lists of projects - ranging from short-term, high priority schemes to longer term proposals - were drawn up.

And now the council’s Cabinet has recommended work starts on phase one of the programme - 49 schemes costing a total of just over £1m, ranging in scale from tree planting and extra waste bins to the largest individual amount, £100,000 on new shelters for Saltburn Promenade to replace ones swept away by the December 2013 tidal surge.

In Redcar, the list includes £65,000 of new paving in Station Road, fencing for the Locke Park tennis and basketball courts (£20,000) and improvements to the High Street pedestrianised area, including new street furniture, a loudspeaker and electronic information boards (£30,000).

Smaller scale projects across the borough include tree planting, lighting, fencing, street furniture installation, path and road resurfacing, new residents’ car parking bays, playing field improvements and landscaping schemes. Speed reduction schemes are proposed for the western end of Broadway, Dormanstown but they may be grant funded.

The wards set to benefit are Coatham, Loftus, Dormanstown, Kirkleatham, Longbeck, Newcomen, St Germains, West Dyke, Zetland, Eston, Grangetown, Normanby, Ormesby, South Bank, Brotton, Guisborough, Hutton, Lockwood, Saltburn and Skelton.

A report to the Cabinet said 452 possible projects were originally identified but would have cost £14.2m - “way beyond the current committed budget of £2m.” It added: “It is proposed to deliver as many of the 49 projects, estimated at a cost of just over £1m, as funding availability and procurement procedures allow. It is then proposed that further consultation takes place with members to set the priorities for the remaining projects from the medium, long and further investigation categories, over the next nine months, which will then make up phase two of the programme.”

Councillor Helen McLuckie, Cabinet member for highways, planning and transport, said the list was a “working document” that could be subject to change “depending on circumstances and deliverability.”

She added: “Delivering schemes like this is not an exact science.”

Council deputy leader, Councillor Sheelagh Clarke, said: “It’s excellent that we are doing so much to upgrade the borough.”

South Bank house went under the hammer for £1... but sold for quite a bit more

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A South Bank house which went under the hammer for £1 eventually sold for quite a bit more.

When Gazette photographer Katie Lunn arrived, she had to step carefully over missing floorboards to photograph the interior of the three-bedroom mid-terrace.

Even so, the property on South Terrace, which was set to go under the hammer for just £1 with Agents Property Auction (APA) eventually sold for £19,125.

Speaking about the property, APA’s principal auctioneer Richard Francis said, “it needs work, but it has so much potential”.

The home was described as having a spacious entrance hall, living room, kitchen and bathroom/WC to the ground floor, along with three good sized bedrooms to the first floor.

The auctioneer’s website said the house could appeal to the property developer and buy-to-let investor.

Once refurbished, they estimate the house could generate a monthly income in the region of £340–370 (£4,440 per year).

Ahead of yesterday’s auction, Mr Francis said there was a chance someone could pick up a real bargain.

“A starting price of just £1 is fantastic for a property like this,” the auctioneer said.

“We are anticipating a lot of interest in this property and we eagerly await the outcome of the auction.”

The auction took place at the Marriot Hotel, Gosforth Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Bidders, both at the hotel and over the phone, showed great interest in the cut price home.

Eventually the sale went to an unnamed telephone bidder for £19,124 above the starting bid.

Spurs loan star Milos Veljkovic could make Boro debut at Rotherham

Aitor Karanka has revealed he is planning to unleash Serbian new boy Milos Veljkovic.

After three games on the bench the on-loan Spurs man could get some pitch time at Rotherham on Saturday.

The highly-rated Serbian Under-21 central defender or holding midfielder, 19, joined the club a fortnight ago, initially until January.

He was an unused substitute at Brighton, Wolves and then Watford last weekend but could soon make his Boro debut.

“I hope I can give him a chance soon,” said Karanka. “Milos is a young lad and he is training very well with us but it is difficult when you arrive in a team where all the players are playing well.

“It is hard to give him an opportunity when that is the case but I told him if he keeps working in the same way the chances will appear for him.”

Veljkovic has featured twice as a sub in the Premier League for Spurs and also twice in the Europa League this term.

“So he is capable of playing in this team,” said Karanka. “I said to him that Ryan (Fredericks) and Ken (Omeruo) are good examples for him.

“Both didn’t play at the beginning and when they got their chances they took them and kept playing in the first 11.

“Milos knows this and he’s training well. He’s ready.”

Coroner tells grieving dad of Billingham man struck by car in Dubai: 'No words of mine can give you any comfort'

A coroner yesterday thanked a grieving father for his dignity following the death of his son.

After ruling on the death of popular Billingham man Gavin Duffy, acting Teesside assistant coroner Malcolm Donnelly told his dad Mike: “No words of mine can give you any comfort.”

Quantity surveyor Gavin, 29, died after being struck by a car in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city in the early hours November 23 last year.

An inquest heard how, due to the limited evidence made available to the British Embassy, some questions would remain unanswered.

Addressing Mr Duffy’s father, Mike, Mr Donnelly said: “When people die abroad it is complicated because my jurisdiction only extends to the United Kingdom.

“Mr Duffy had been out for a meal and as he got out of a taxi he has been struck by a motor vehicle.

“I don’t have the power to check these details in any way, such as imposing sanctions; it’s outside my jurisdiction”

Mr Donnelly described how following the incident, a 31-year-old Brazilian driver had been imprisoned for four months and had been told to pay 200,000 United Arab Emirates dirham (£33,760) in blood money to Mr Duffy’s family.

The inquest heard how a post-mortem examination was carried out in Dubai which found that Mr Duffy had died from “multiple injuries”.

However, due to the embalming process carried out on Mr Duffy’s body in the UAE, a British forensic pathologist was unable to establish some details after Mr Duffy’s body was repatriated to the UK.

Mr Donnelly said: “When your son was returned, there had been a post-mortem carried out in Dubai. A separate forensic post-mortem was carried out here by Dr Jennifer Ruth Bolton at the RVI in Newcastle.

“The post-mortem was complicated because your son had been embalmed as can happen when people die abroad.”

Mr Donnelly told the inquest that Dr Bolton was therefore unable to be sure if ethanol found in Mr Duffy’s system had been a result of the embalming process. Therefore Mr Donnelly said the ethanol found in Mr Duffy had, “no evidential value”.

Reading from the British post-mortem, Mr Donnelly said Mr Duffy had suffered injuries “consistent with having been caused by a road traffic incident”.

He continued: “It is likely that Mr Duffy was instantly unconscious with death a short time afterwards.”

In his closing remarks, Mr Donnelly said: “In so far as our being able to ascertain what happened, we’re dependent on the information provided by the embassy.

“It is an unusual conclusion that reflects what we know .

“What I want to be careful of is to record a conclusion that does not reflect badly on Gavin.

“Accidental death possibly implies that Gavin was putting himself in a situation that was a risk but there’s no evidence of that.

“The conclusion I’m going to reach today is that he died as a result of injuries consistent with having been struck by a motor vehicle.”

Addressing Mr Duffy’s father, Mr Donnelly said: “That is of no comfort to you, sir, and I do not pretend for a moment that it is. No words of mine can give you any comfort.

“It must be astonishingly difficult for you, I thank you for your dignity.”

Speaking shortly afterwards, Mr Duffy’s father spoke briefly and said: “The people of Teesside have been wonderful and that has kept us going.”

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 30th 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.