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, Wednesday 7th January 2015.

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UCLA’s Embarrassment: Prof. Abou El Fadl

The once-promising career of UCLA law professor Khaled Medhat Abou El Fadl has faded over the past decade. Gone are the pleasures of glowing attention of the media, the invitations to join important government bodies and to offer expert testimony at high-profile trials.

It’s not clear that this downward spiral resulted solely from my 2004 article demonstrating him to be a “stealth Islamist,” but that exposé, read more than 30,000 times, surely diminished his stature. In it, I showed how, despite Abou El Fadl’s once-vaunted reputation as a moderate Muslim, he

wants Muslims to live by Islamic law (the Shari’a), the law that among other things endorses slavery, execution for apostasy, and the repression of women, and which treats non-Muslims as second-class citizens. “Shariah and Islam are inseparable,” he has written, “and one cannot be without the other.” In a revealing passage, he confesses that his “primary loyalty, after God, is to the Shariah.”

This public airing of his true ambitions undercut his pretense of moderation.

Thus discredited, Abou El Fadl has, unsurprisingly, been itching to get back at me. He launched a trial balloon in 2010 but displayed his venom more fully in a recent book, Reasoning with God , in which he retaliates by attempting to portray me as “an anti-Muslim propagandist” who

will proudly post on his website narratives or people who allegedly discovered that Islam is a false religion or any piece of writing that questions the authenticity of the Qur’an or anything Islamic, like the very existence of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam.

Trouble is, UCLA’s Omar and Azmeralda Alfi Distinguished Professor of Law and chair of its Islamic Studies Program, whose name I shall abbreviate as KAEF, has wandered from fact into fiction. In the spirit of amicable academic hygiene, I offer some corrections.

The above passage contains two problems. First, my website contains an archive only of my own writings, so I do not “proudly post” anyone else’s. Yes, DanielPipes.org does host 140,000 comments from readers, but these run the gamut from praising ISIS to despising Islam. For KAEF to hone in on a sliver of this spectrum only serves to undermine his credibility.

Second, I wrote an article in 2000, “Who Was the Prophet Muhammad?” in which I surveyed revisionist works that raised questions about the historical accuracy of events of the usual chronology of early Islam. KAEF responded savagely then, and shows that 15 years later, he still remains outraged by that little article. He implies that I should follow Islamist pieties and not show interest – much less approval – of scholarship that might shed doubt on sacred myths. What kind of “professor” is this?

He then charges that I approve only of self-hating Muslims:

While propagandists such as this pretend to encourage Muslims to reform and progress, in practice they impugn the motives of any Muslim reformer who sees any merit in the Islamic tradition whatsoever. … the only Muslims these Islamophobes seem to like are self-hating Muslims who are ashamed of everything related to their religion.

Hardly: what KAEF calls “self-hating Muslims” are anti-Islamists battling to bring their faith back from the hell-holes of extremism, whether the barbarism of Boko Haram or the subtler villainy of a KAEF. I admire and support the work of pious Muslims, such as Zuhdi Jasser and Raquel Saraswati, who devote much of their lives to fighting Islamism.

Next: when others and I call someone like KAEF an Islamist, he charges we use it as “a cover for expressing an anti-Muslim prejudice.” But Muslims also use the term Islamist or one of its synonyms to characterize the likes of the Taliban, Al-Shabaab, Khamene’i, and Erdoğan. Would KAEF maintain that the tens of millions of Muslims demonstrating on the streets of Egypt against the Morsi government were not “expressing an anti-Muslim prejudice”?

KAEF then gets personal, accusing me of labeling “as Islamist any Muslim who threatens Pipes’s own sense of superiority toward Muslims or who threatens his sense of political and social priorities.” This business of my “sense of superiority toward Muslims” is a calumny fabricated to insult me. I challenge KAEF to produce evidence for this scurrilous claim. As for Islamists, I do not feel superior to them; I respect them as a worthy enemy and am at war with them.

KAEF closes with a final attack: “although perhaps not as extreme as Pipes, there are substantial numbers of writers who attempt to understand the world of Islam through a binary vision that ascribes to Islam everything that is inferior.”

No, dear KAEF: I am not “extreme” or even anti-Islam but solely anti-a-certain-kind-of-Islam – the kind I call Islamism – the kind to which you subscribe. You epitomize of the first clause of my refrain that “radical Islam is the problem, moderate Islam is the solution.”

Abou El Fadl and I disagree on one of the great issues of our time; what a pity that his scholarly deficiency and intellectual dishonesty preclude a constructive debate.

Mr. Pipes (DanielPipes.org, @DanielPipes) is president of the Middle East Forum. © 2015 by Daniel Pipes. All rights reserved.

The fatwas that can change Pakistan’s blasphemy narrative

Arafat Mazhar

Pakistan’s blasphemy law continues to sustain popularity and credence, with death being considered not only the most appropriate retribution for offenders, but the only one. This ideology is embraced most wholeheartedly when it comes to non-Muslims charged with blasphemy.

In my previous article when I spoke of the authentic Hanafi position on the permissibility of pardon for all blasphemers (Muslims and non-Muslims), the overwhelming response supported such a pardon for the likes of Junaid Jamshed (a ‘fellow Muslim brother who had offended some by mistake’) but held that the same principle of pardon could not be extended to non-Muslim offenders such as Asia Bibi.

This is largely reflective of the predominant public narrative on blasphemy.

Those who dissent – who speak of pardon and of waiving the death penalty, particularly for non-Muslims – are seen to be speaking from borrowed western ideologies or from a faith deemed too weak to be seen as a credible authority for the public. This has made it convenient for citizens to largely ignore those who plead for clemency, reducing these voices to a small, ineffective and irrelevant force, at best.

There was a time when this was not so – in fact, at one point, the most revered ulema (religious scholars) of South Asia had rallied together to defend the position that non-Muslims could not be awarded the death penalty for blaspheming.

This occurred in the late 19th century, when the South Asian ulema (the overwhelming majority of whom belonged to the Hanafi school of thought) were under ideological attack from the Ahl-e-Hadith.

The Ahl-i-Hadith originated as a movement influenced (and later funded) by the Wahabis of the Arabian Peninsula. This movement challenged the established Hanafi rulings on various issues, including blasphemy, alleging that these were based on opinion (ra`y) and Greek influenced analogy-driven reasoning (Qiyas), rather than on prophetic tradition (Ahadith).

In particular, they took exception to what they perceived as Hanafi lenience towards non-Muslims blasphemers (i.e. not prescribing a fixed death penalty and the provision for pardon) which they viewed as incompatible with Ahadith.These criticisms roused the Hanafi ulema to an impassioned rebuttal.

Many of them targeted the Ahl-e-Hadith from within their own framework, deconstructing several Ahadith that formed the basis of these criticisms.

One such example is a monumental, 21-volume commentary, the I’la al-Sunan (the exaltation of the normative practices [of the Prophet]) by Maulana Zafar Ahmad ‘Uthmani, aiming to demonstrate, against the charges of the Ahl-i-Hadith, that the legal doctrines of the Hanafi school were in fact solidly based in traditions of the Prophet (PBUH).

Despite monolithic individual efforts of such stature, the most profound and relevant in terms of blasphemy, in my view, was Fath Al Mubeen Tanbeeh Al Wahabin (an explicit victory and a warning against the Wahabis).

This contains a fatwa (see below) that clearly states that a non-Muslim blasphemer cannot be killed unless he/she is habitual in the offense.

This last part is an important qualifier because it differentiates single acts of blasphemy from multiple and deliberate attempts, in fact from what is considered politically rebellious blasphemy

The Ahl-e-Hadith, in challenging the Hanafi position on blasphemy presented a compilation of Ahadith which supposedly showed that blasphemous offenders (including non-Muslims) were in fact killed, and that therefore the Hanafi ruling was erroneous in this regard.

In the rebuttal, the fatwa pointed to an important flaw in the Ahle-Hadith argument — that the Ahadith thus presented all pertained to cases of repeat or habitual offenders.

There is not a single case where a non-Muslim was ever killed for committing a singular offense of blasphemy.

(Further, according to Imam Abu Hanifa, the death penalty is awarded in cases where it is categorised as siyasa (political) punishment, as opposed to sharia (divine) punishment, against elements openly rebelling against the Islamic state, using habitual blasphemy as a tool).

This legal position was approved and signed by no less than 450 of the most prestigious names in the Hanafi ulema, not just from South Asia, but around the world.

It is difficult to come up with a case study of a bigger systematic consensus (ijma) than this one. Hundreds of leading ulema of their time from South Asia have declared that non-Muslims cannot be killed for a single offense for blasphemy and their pardon is acceptable unless it becomes a habitual and high frequency offense.

But to really appreciate the magnitude of this ruling for a country like Pakistan, we must look to some of the key signatories of this stance — one of them being Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi.

Many readers might know that Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi was the founder of the Barelvi school of thought, one of the two predominant Hanafi groups, and the religious orientation to which groups like Sunni Tehreek subscribe. The founder is considered a Pir, Saint and a most revered figure, amongst his followers, and the general populace.

Ironically, four years ago this month, Punjab Governer Salman Taseer was assassinated by Mumtaz Qadri, for pleading for pardon for Asia Bibi.

Mumtaz Qadri, who is a devout Barelvi, would be surprised, I am sure, to learn that the founder and most respected figure of his sect had endorsed pardon for non-Muslim blasphemers, and the view that non-Muslims cannot be killed for a single offense of blasphemy.

Incidentally, the co-founder of the other of the two Hanafi groups (Deoband), Mahmood Hassan Deobandi – also known as the Sheikh al Hind – is also a signatory on the above

Both the founders of Deoband and Barelvi have endorsed the position that a non-Muslim cannot be killed for a single offense of blasphemy and therefore must be pardoned.

It is interesting to note that as per the Hanafi thought, we might be talking about no jail time/punishment for the first offenseQuite apart from this fatwa, there is another key scholar of immediate relevance in the minds and hearts of the nation who has echoed the same position as these revered names.

Maulana Maududi is a household name across the country and is the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the main religio-political parties in Pakistan.

Readers might be surprised to know that Maulana Maududi has also said that an act of blasphemy does not leave non-Muslims liable to capital punishment by the stateAll this nuanced handling of the issue is a far cry from the reality of its application today, where a single unfortunate, ill-informed, ill-judged alleged utterance can lead to a conviction under the law, and the death penalty.

Our law in letter and in its judicial interpretation prescribes a hudd punishment for a single offense of blasphemy.

It makes no distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims, repeat vs single offences, siyasa vs sharia punishment.

It goes against hundreds of top South Asian ulema and it goes against the founders of the predominant religio-political groups in Pakistan.

The idea that the current interpretation of this law is based on a complete consensus in the religious tradition is a myth.

This is especially crucial for those currently charged under the law, held in jail and fighting for their lives, as in the case of Asia bibi.

She is not guilty of multiple offences of blasphemy.

She has begged for pardon multiple times.

According to the rulings of founder of Hanafi School, founder of Deoband thought, founder of Barelvi thought and the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, Asia Bibi should be given a pardon.

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Visiting Al-Aqsa ‘every Muslim’s right’

JERUSALEM: The head of the world’s largest Islamic organization on Monday paid a rare visit to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque , urging Muslims to follow suit and come to the city in a bid to strengthen Palestinian claims to the holy site.

The visit by Iyad Madani, secretary-general of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation , came at a sensitive time following months of tensions and violence surrounding the holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City . The hilltop compound is revered by Muslims.

Al-Aqsa is Islam’s third-holiest site after Makkah and Madinah.

“Coming to the mosque is a right for me as well as every Muslim,” Madani said. “It is our right to come here and to pray here. No occupation authority should take this right from us.”

Israel usurped East Jerusalem, including the Old City, in 1967, in a move that has not been internationally recognized.

The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

The hilltop compound housing Al-Aqsa lies at the heart of the dispute over Jerusalem.

While Madani’s predecessor, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu , a Turk, also visited Jerusalem, visits by Saudi dignitaries are rare and need to be coordinated with Israel

Live: Glen Durrant plays Karel Sedlacek in BDO World Championships at Lakeside

Middlesbrough darter Glen Durrant is tonight playing Karel Sedlacek in the first round of the BDO World Championship at Lakeside.

Duzza, from Ormesby, is going into his first match of the 2015 competition full of confidence.

His match - live on BT Sport - against Czech qualifier Sedlacek is third on tonight's bill after Fallon Sherrock plays Maria Mason.

A19 crash causes rush hour delays for motorists

Rush hour traffic is queuing on the A19 after a crash on the southbound carriageway this evening.

The accident, which involved two vehicles, has closed one lane of the A19 between the Portrack and Norton turn-offs.

Police say that lanes two and three of the southbound carriageway are moving steadily.

But reports of heavy traffic has seen motorists waiting for around 20 minutes.

The Cleveland Roads Policing Unit, who are currently on scene clearing debris, said on their Facebook page: “We’re working to keep you moving.”

Teachers Forced to Spy on Muslim Children

As if asking Muslim mothers and wives to spy on their jihadi menfolk wasn’t Gestapo enough, the Home Office is now expecting nursery school teachers and child-minders to report toddlers at risk of becoming terrorists.

This ridiculous demand was stated in a 39-page document issued by the Home Office in an attempt to boost the Government’s ever-failing Prevent strategy. The report comes in light of home secretary Theresa May’s proposed Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, which is only a continuation of draconian measures that will further criminalise Britain’s Muslim community.

The bill identifies nurseries and childcare providers, along with schools and universities, as having a duty “to prevent people being drawn into terrorism”. The consultation document also added: “Senior management and governors should make sure that staff have training that gives them the knowledge and confidence to identify children at risk of being drawn into terrorism and challenge extremist ideas which can be used to legitimise terrorism and are shared by terrorist groups.”

Tory MP David Davis, human rights group Liberty, and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) were amongst the many critics who described the outlandish idea as “unworkable” and “heavy-handed”, and accused the Government of treating teachers as “spies”.

The unfounded claims of the Trojan Horse scandal of an alleged Islamist plot to takeover Birmingham state schools, and Ofsted’s damning report of six Muslim schools in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, strongly suggests that the Government has embarked on a systematic campaign to liberalise Muslim children under the banner of teaching ‘British values‘.

David Cameron and his gang are desperately trying to implement this strategy by colluding with the likes YouTuber Humza Arshad aka ‘Diary of a Badman’, and now forcing nursery teachers to be 007, while playing Lego with Muslim toddlers.

As Theresa May continues her crusade to establish the ideal neocon police state, Muslims took to social media to express their frustration at the Government’s latest Orwellian policy.

Similar to Mayor Boris Johnson’s moronic suggestion that Muslim children should be taken into care to safeguard them from radicalisation, which sparked the comical #SignsOfARadicalBaby trend on Twitter, the Home Office’s expectation of teachers to report Muslim children initiated the #ToddlerTerror trend.

Here are eight #ToddlerTerror tweets that had me in stitches…

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http://ift.tt/1xLNNj5

Woman's dog escaped from garden before biting young girl playing in the street

A woman has been convicted in court after her dog bit a child who was playing in a Middlesbrough street.

The lurcher dog escaped from Gail Ayton’s Marton garden and attacked the youngster by biting her on her upper thigh.

The girl screamed and ran to her father saying she had been bitten.

Two other dogs belonging to Ayton - a Great Dane and a Yorkshire terrier also escaped and were seen as being out of control.

The 44-year-old today appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court where she admitted one charge of owning a dog which was dangerously out of control in public caused injury and three of owning a dog which was dangerously out of control.

District Judge Martin Walker told Ayton that the dogs would not be destroyed.

Instead he made a contingency order that the dogs must be muzzled and on a lead when in public and they are not to be in the yard of her home without supervision.

The court heard that on October 6 last year Ayton had left her dogs in the yard of her home.

They managed to get out and ran into the street. The lurcher bit a young girl who was playing outside.

Prosecutor Bob Moore said: “Her father heard a scream and his daughter was crying and said she had been bitten by a dog.

"The dog was loose and not on a lead and the owner was nowhere to be seen.”

The court heard that the bite did not break the skin and the injury was minor.

Two dog walkers also came across the lurcher and the other two dogs on the same day.

She said all three were loose in the street.

Mr Moore said the women were walking when the three dogs came towards them.

The lurcher grabbed the bottom of one of the women’s trousers.

The dogs were trying to bit the womens’ dogs before they ran off back to Ayton’s house.

No one was injured or bitten.

John Clish, mitigating, said Ayton was full of remorse and said this was an “isolated incident”.

Ayton was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the young girl.

Steve McClaren rules himself out of Newcastle head coach vacancy

FORMER Boro manager Steve McClaren has ruled himself out of the Newcastle head coach vacancy and insists he remains fully committed to securing promotion with Derby County.

McClaren was the bookies’ favourite to replace Alan Pardew at St James’ Park, but today pledged his loyalty to the Rams.

Boro fans could be excused for taking an interest in McClaren’s movements, with any possible disruption at promotion rivals Derby surely welcome.

But days after Derby chief executive Sam Rush dismissed the link, McClaren has given his strongest indication yet that he is not interested in a return to North-east management.

“Sam Rush spoke to me about three times last week and I said to him then, ‘look, don’t worry, I am going nowhere’”, McClaren told the Derby Telegraph.

“I have got a job to do here. I don’t want to let people down. You’ve got to show loyalty.

“Derby have given me a great opportunity. They have backed me and Sam and the owners have been fantastic.

“We have asked players to commit to long contracts to take Derby forward, and the staff as well. We are building here and I want to see the job through.

“I don’t want to let people down and there is no question of that, despite all the rumours. These things are going to crop up with players and with staff, and it can’t derail us.

“Our objective is to push for the Premier League and we feel we are in a good position to do that.

“I don’t want to let people down on that. The supporters have been fantastic with me from day one. There is nothing in my mind that says I am going anywhere.”

Derby sit third in the Championship, two points ahead of Aitor Karanka’s side.

Devastating blow for Rhys Williams after scans confirm ruptured Achilles tendon

Rhys Williams faces the frustration of another lengthy spell on the sidelines after scans confirmed the Australian suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon against Barnsley.

The 26-year-old was set to undergo surgery in London this afternoon for the injury which will rule him out for the rest of the season.

It's a devastating set-back for Williams who spent all of last year on the sidelines after suffering a similar injury against Wigan in January.

But remarkably, medics say the latest injury isn't related to the problem which kept Williams out of action for 11 months in 2014 and forced him to miss the World Cup in Brazil.

© CameraSport

Middlesbrough's Rhys Williams throws his boot on the floor in frustration after suffering an injury which forced him to be stretchered off

Williams was making his first start for 49 weeks for Boro against Barnsley in the FA Cup on Saturday but crumbled to the turf clutching his ankle after just one minute.

Aitor Karanka admitted he feared the worst for the classy defender after he was stretchered off just 60 seconds into his return and Boro's concerned players were all quick to pass on their wishes to their unlucky team-mate.

A statement on the club website says: "The current rupture – where the tendon attaches to the heel – is said by medics to be extremely rare and not related to his original problem."

In an interview in November as Williams approached the end of his last injury ordeal, he said: "You have to keep some perspective - there are so many people worse off and I can’t sit around moping about a sore Achilles.

"It’s all about how you pick yourself up after setbacks. Maybe me missing so much football will ultimately extend my career a bit longer."

Ched Evans: Latest updates as Oldham Athletic continue talks over signing convicted rapist

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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.

Premier League player to appear on suspicion of drink-driving

West Bromwich Albion striker, Saido Berahino is set to appear in court after being arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

Cheshire Police said a court summons was due to be issued to the, who was called up to the England senior squad in November last year.

Berahino was arrested in the early hours of October 22 after a police patrol stopped a car travelling southbound on the M6 near Warrington.

In a statement, Cheshire Constabulary said the 21-year-old's bail had been cancelled and he would instead be issued with a summons to appear at court on a date to be fixed.

The player scored four goals in Albion's 7-0 FA Cup win over Gateshead last Saturday and signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with the Baggies in December 2013.

Berahino came to the UK from war-torn Burundi as a child with his mother, brother and sisters and settled with his family in Birmingham.

The England under-21 star was selected for the full England squad in November but was a non-playing substitute for matches against Slovenia and Scotland.

It is understood Berahino has been sent a postal requisition instructing him to appear at North Cheshire Magistrates' Court in Runcorn on Monday January 19.

A spokesman for the striker's club declined to comment on the court proceedings.

Men told woman they could cure her of 'black magic' before stealing her jewellery from Middlesbrough home

Two men told a woman they could cure her of “black magic” before they burgled her of her jewellery.

Detectives investigating a burglary at an address in Middlesbrough have released images of two men that they want to speak to in connection with it.

The burglary took place at around 1.30pm on Friday November 28.

Two suspects approached a 40-year-old woman as she was shopping in Middlesbrough town centre with her young child.

They told the woman that they could sense “black magic” and that they could get rid of it.

The victim allowed the men to follow her to her home. Inside the property they got the victim to remove all of her jewellery and put it into a bag.

They then made off with the jewellery. The men spoke in Punjabi and another language, believed to be Pashtu.

DC Matthew Hewitt said: “The victim in this case has been duped into letting two men into her home. They have then persuaded her to remove her jewellery under false pretences and have made off with it.

“We would like to trace these two men as it is believed that they may be able to assist us with our enquiries. Anyone who may know their identity is asked to contact police.”

Anyone with information regarding the identity of either of the men is asked to contact DC Matthew Hewitt on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Motorist dies after crashing into a wild boar in Wiltshire.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a motorist was killed after crashing into a wild boar.

The 47-year-old man was driving his Seat Ibiza on the M4 between Chippenham and Swindon in Wiltshire at 6.40pm yesterday.

His vehicle collided with the wild pig on lane two of the motorway before being hit by a white Renault articulated lorry.

The man, from Royal Wootton Bassett, was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been informed.

The driver of the Renault lorry received treatment at the scene for minor shoulder injuries.

Wiltshire Police closed the road for eight hours while the Collision Investigation Unit attended the scene.

Sergeant Steven Love said: "This is a truly tragic incident and my thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim.

"It is quite rare for a wild boar to be on the carriageway of the motorway.

"It is more common for the police to receive calls involving horses or deer but each is equally dangerous to motorists.

"This was a particularly large wild animal and would have caused considerable damage to any vehicle.

"I would appeal for anyone with any information about the incident to contact us as soon as possible."

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Mark Cargill via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information may be left anonymously.

Secondary school teacher who had sexual relations with boy, 14, banned from teaching indefinitely

A secondary school teacher who had sexual relations with a 14-year-old Stockton boy has been banned from teaching indefinitely.

Andrew James Duffell, a former ICT teacher at Easingwold School, was last month found guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct”.

The 29-year-old was also ruled to have brought the teaching profession “into disrepute” by his actions.

Following the hearing before a National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) conduct panel Mr Duffell has now been prohibited from teaching indefinitely.

He “cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England”.

In coming to the decision Alan Meyrick, on behalf of the Secretary of State, said: “Mr Duffell has shown no remorse or insight into his behaviour.

“His actions have had a deeply harmful effect on (the teenage boy).

“I agree with the panel’s recommendations that a Prohibition Order without the opportunity for an application to have it set aside is an appropriate and proportionate sanction.”

Mr Duffell has the right of appeal to the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days.

As reported, the NCTL panel heard he struck up a relationship with the Stockton boy, first via social media and texts, then in person in 2012.

His sexual activity with the schoolboy, who was not an Easingwold student, was exposed when the youngster’s mother discovered “inappropriate messages” between Mr Duffell and her son.

The NCTL panel heard that from the content of the text messages she had seen on her son’s phone, the boy’s mother “considered that there was a serious risk that Mr Duffell had been grooming her son or treating him in a predatory manner”.

Cleveland Police immediately launched an investigation and he was suspended by Easingwold School.

When interviewed by police Mr Duffell said he assumed the boy was 16 as “this was stated on his Facebook profile” and he claimed the boy had told him that was his age.

But the NCTL hearing, which Mr Duffell did not attend, felt that as a secondary school teacher “Mr Duffell should have known” the boy was under 16.

In her own evidence the boy’s mother said at the time her son was 14 and “very much looked like a child”.

Mr Duffell - who had been promoted to the post of assistant principal teacher in business and enterprise in 2011 - resigned from his position in September 2013.

In December of that year he was informed that police would take no further action in relation to the allegations against him.

Woman arrested and charged in connection with assault at Middlesbrough town centre restaurant

A woman has been arrested and charged in connection with an assault in a Middlesbrough restaurant.

The 21-year-old woman was arrested, charged with assault and released on bail after a 17-year-old girl was assaulted and a 14-year-old boy was verbally abused in an incident at Banana Leaf, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough.

The incident happened on Monday September 29 between 4.50pm and 5pm.

The two victims were at a table in the restaurant when a verbal altercation took place with a woman and two men who were seated at a table a short distance away.

The 17-year-old girl was then assaulted, leaving her with a cut lip and a bruised back. She did not attend hospital.

One of the men then approached the table where the victims were sitting and began to verbally abuse the 14-year-old boy, using threatening and abusive language.

A second man remained at the table eating his meal while the incident took place.

Police still want to speak to a male suspect who is described as white, aged 20-25 years old, of slim build, around 5ft 9 tall with short, brown hair which was haven at the sides and slightly longer on the top.

Any witnesses to the incident or anyone who may know the identity of the man is asked to contact PC John Eeles from Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Attack on Muslims on Sunday night was planned, says panel

A day after the communal clashes at Parel, Byculla, Dadar and Worli, the State Minority Commission on Monday wrote to the Mumbai Police claiming that the assault on several Muslim youths at Lalbaug on Sunday night was a planned conspiracy aimed at instilling fear in the minds of members of the minority community.

“On Sunday night, those returning from a procession celebrating Prophet Mohammed’s birth anniversary were attacked. The visual evidence available shows that the incidents in Parel, Byculla, Dadar and Worli were pre-planned,” the minority panel’s chairman Munaf Hakim said in the letter. He further stated that an armed mob deliberately stopped and assaulted Muslims who were travelling in vehicles.

“The visual evidence clearly shows that a mob emerged from these localities and stopped cars and motorcycles and assaulted people,” the letter stated while demanding action against all those found to be involved in the incidents.

“These incidents have occurred in the same majority-dominated areas where such attacks have taken place earlier too. These attacks have been carried out to disturb the law and order situation in the state and also instil fear in the minds of the minorities,” Hakim said.

Byculla MLA Waris Pathan too claimed that members of the minority community were deliberately targeted. “Some people complained to me they were stopped because of their appearance and assaulted,” Pathan said.

However, Shiv Sena MLA Ajay Chaudhary, who was at the spot on Sunday night, refuted the charge. He claimed the clash was not because of an accident, as some people claimed, but because of behaviour of the bikers who were returning from the procession. “People returning from the procession abused people on the road. Firecrackers were thrown by these people towards those bystanders. They even surrounded a traffic warden at Bharatmata signal and were about to assault him. It was only then that the public got involved and assaulted some of them,” Chaudhary said.

– See more at: http://ift.tt/1wiMTYq

101-year-old woman waited six hours for ambulance while staying one mile from James Cook University Hospital

A 101-year-old woman was forced to wait six hours for an ambulance to take her to hospital just a mile away.

The pensioner took ill with breathing problems over the Christmas period while staying with family a mile away from James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Despite her suffering from respiratory problems, the family finally decided to cancel the call after the lengthy wait.

The woman was one of two people facing long waits for ambulances over the festive period which have been highlighted by Middlesbrough MP Tom Blenkinsop.

He said the second case saw an 89-year-old lady with dementia wait for 11 hours before being reached in her home, which was about half a mile away from the hospital.

Mr Blenkinsop said: “Unfortunately this is not a new issue and is not just affecting Teesside, it is across the country.

“I have raised it over and over again with the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and he refuses to speak to me.

“Two years ago, a Marton woman waited 12 hours for an ambulance and it still hasn’t changed.

“We are really getting to a point now where the Health Secretary needs to start planning properly, which he has not done to this point and which is why we are in this situation.

“I want people to know that I am just going to keep raising the issue and keep hassling him until he starts doing his job.”

The North East Ambulance Service said it could not comment on these specific cases but its Chief Operating Officer for the North East Ambulance Service, Paul Liversidge, said: “During winter months, the demand for NHS services increases significantly as cold weather means there are more slips, trips and injuries.

“Generally more people feel unwell during the winter as they spend more time indoors and coughs and colds are passed around the family, friends and colleagues at work.

“This all adds up to more of people having an accident or becoming unwell with a winter bug, meaning more people want to see their GP, attend accident and emergency or call 999.

“We are experiencing severe pressures in responding to emergency calls and with additional pressures across the wider NHS network causing delays in ambulance turnaround times at hospitals.

“Patients do sometimes experience a longer than normal delay and for that we apologise.

“At times of heavy demand, our resources must concentrate on the most serious, life-threatening cases, meaning that our response to some other patients is longer than we would like.”

Johnson cleaners to close more than 100 stores putting Teesside jobs at risk

Around 20 Teesside jobs are at risk after the country’s largest dry cleaning chain announced it was closing more than a third of its stores.

Johnson Service Group plans to shut 109 of its 307 branches as it continues a shift away from traditional high street locations towards collection and delivery points within supermarkets.

The company, which has outlets in Norton, Marton, Yarm, Guisborough and Darlington, has not disclosed how many jobs will go or which stores will close.

But with a typical store employing four people, the planned closures could affect around 20 people locally and 400 across the UK.

A spokesperson for Johnson said: “We are commencing a consultation exercise with affected employees and anticipate that branches will close during the first half of the year.

“The remaining 198 better-performing premium branches are in more convenient locations with an infrastructure capable of receiving dry cleaning from various collection and delivery points.”

Johnson, which also closed more than 100 branches in 2012, said its dry cleaning business failed to boost sales last year despite several initiatives to reach new customers.

The company has established collection and delivery points in office premises with a high concentration of staff and now has a presence within 78 Waitrose stores, with a further 46 locations due to be opened in the early part of this year.

The company is also planning to launch an online home collection and delivery service for higher-value or bulky items.

The majority of stores set for closure have leases expiring within the next two years, with renewal not seen as financially viable.

Man arrested after number of thefts from cars in Middlesbrough area

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a number of thefts from vehicles in the Middlesbrough area.

The incidents took place between midnight and 2am overnight on Saturday and Sunday on Martonside Way and Hutton Road and on Sunday into Monday on Abingdon Road, Saltswell Road and Lansdowne Road in Middlesbrough town centre.

Further thefts also occurred in Merlin Road and Bowfell Road in the Pallister Park area.

The man was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and theft from a motor vehicle.

He remains in police custody.

Police are reminding motorists to keep all valuables that are left in vehicles out of sight.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Vietnamese man jailed after claiming he thought cannabis farm he grew was herbal cold cure

A Vietnamese cannabis farmer who claimed he thought he was growing a herbal cold cure is in prison awaiting deportation today.

Illegal immigrant Ha Dong, 22, was caught tending a house-based skunk cannabis farm with a potential annual yield of £135,000.

He was convicted of producing the Class B drug after he failed to convince a jury that he thought he was growing herbs for a cold cure.

Police raided the end-terrace house on Newlands Road, Eaglescliffe on May 27 last year.

They discovered 100 cannabis plants and 129 seedlings growing in two bedrooms and a loft, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The house’s electricity supply had been bypassed and the plants would have produced 4.5kg of skunk worth £45,000. The yields over a year would be worth £135,000.

The property had been rented to a man calling himself Johnnie Chan who paid in cash and has never been traced.

Officers arrested live-in gardener Dong, who spoke no English and had been left with two mobile phones and an iPad.

Dong denied producing cannabis. In his trial in November, he told jurors he thought he was growing herbs for a Vietnamese cold cure medicine.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said he came to the UK through Poland and Russia in August 2013 in search of a better life.

He told how he was taken to Eaglescliffe by people who told him he owed them £22,000, a fortnight before the police raid.

He said he knew nothing about drugs and had never seen a cannabis plant before.

Dong said: “I believed what they told me, that they were only herbal plants.

“I believed it was a herb used by Vietnamese to treat the common cold.

“They said that they had got a camera in the house, and they told me not to do anything against them or they would beat me up or kill me.

“I did not think that what was being grown in the house was an illegal drug.”

Dong denied production of cannabis and was found guilty by a jury.

As he appeared in court for sentencing yesterday, prosecutor David Crook said plans were being made for Dong’s future by the immigration authorities.

Andrew Turton, defending, said: “He seems to have had a thoroughly miserable existence, as a young child being sold by his adoptive parents into servitude and remaining there.

“That is presumably what he has to look forward to in the future.

“Clearly the motive was to pay off a debt.”

Judge Les Spittle told Dong: “You did not accept responsibility for your role in this offence.

“And you put forward a story to a Teesside jury which they did not believe.”

He said the court gave some credence to Dong’s account of being sold off in Russia, Poland then the UK, and getting involved in the farm to pay a debt.

He jailed Dong for one year for his “lesser role”.

He added: “I have been informed that the UK Border Agency are well aware of you and they may very well take steps to have you deported as an illegal immigrant.”

Middlesbrough dad urges more Asian families to become foster carers and help make a difference

A father-of-three who recently became a foster carer is urging other families to help make a difference to a child’s life.

Rasub Afzal, 48, says that there is a lack of Asian families in Teesside who are willing to take on the role but hopes that this could be changed in the future.

Offical statistics show that three of the 108 foster families across Middlebrough are British Asian although council officials said this does not currently pose any problems.

But taxi driver Rusub does not share their opinion.

“There is an obvious lack of Asian foster carers in Middlesbrough,” he said.

“The needs of Asian children, especially the culture difference is huge and these needs are not being met.

“Being a foster parent is not easy, but these children need to be looked after and cared for.”

All three of Rasub’s children have made a success of their lives, which is partly what prompted him and his wife, Shameem, 48, to enroll on a fostering course two years ago.

Since completing the course, the couple have helped look after two children, one of Asian origin, and Rasub believes that it is not just the foster children who can benefit from being looked after by a foster family.

He said: “When one of the girls left us, it made my children really appreciate what they had.

“It made me and my wife appreciate what we had, in fact it made everyone appreciate everything.”

Rasub finds it hard to understand why there is a lack of Asian families willing to foster a child.

“Why are Asian families not fostering?” said Rasub.

“It is encrypted in our faith to look after children and all other religions encourage it as well.

“There is a shortage of foster carers in the region full stop, but especially among the Asian community and this needs to change.”

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said: “At the present time our demand for placements of Asian heritage is being met from within the current cohort of foster carers.

“We currently have three British Asian foster care families out of 108 foster care families.

“We are always on the look-out to recruit new foster carers from any part of our community, and would certainly encourage members of the Asian community and other groups to consider fostering for Middlesbrough Council.”

For more details about fostering:

Contact Stockton Council’s fostering team on 01642 526218 or email: child.placement@stockton.gov.uk

Request an information pack from the Fostering section on Middlesbrough Council’s website http://ift.tt/1kW4ztd

Or ring Redcar and Cleveland Council’s family information service free telephone number on 0800 0738800.

Double Manx Rally winner Arron Newby heads to Croft for Jack Frost Stages rally

Double Manx Rally winner Arron Newby is among the confirmed entries for the Autogas 2000 Jack Frost Stages in association with Cartersport at Croft later this month.

The Lancastrian is bringing his powerful Subaru Impreza over from his Carnforth base for the second of the venue’s two annual winter rallies a week on Sunday and starts as one of the favourites.

But Newby, who’ll have John Cope beside him, can expect stiff competition in his pursuit of the trophy.

Among his rivals could be the Skoda Fabia WRC of 2014 REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship runner-up John Stone.

So far 80 crews have signed up for the popular Darlington and District MC-organised event, leaving just a handful of places left.

Other entries include three-times winners and event sponsors, Chris Wise and Tracey Taylor-West in their iconic MG Metro 6R4 plus Peter Smith at the wheel of a similar car, fresh from his third place finish in the the recent Swift Signs Christmas Stages Rally, also at Croft.

Billingham businessman Peter Stephenson could be Teesside’s best hope of taking top honours in his mighty MG ZR while Darlington all-rounder Paul Swift and Northallerton’s Graeme Bell will by vying for two wheel drive honours in their respective Ford Escorts.

Yorkshire forest rallying legend Steve Bannister has an outing in his recently rebuilt Escort and also expected to perform well is the Ford Fiesta R5 of Russell Morgan, whose son Adam won a BTCC race last year.

With more names still expected to appear on the list before it closes on Friday, the event is set for one of its strongest fields in recent years.

Crews will battle over eight stages totalling around 40 stage miles.

Scrutineering is from 6am with the first car starting at 9.15.

Solway Sharks pushed close by the flu-stricken Billingham Stars

Billingham Stars director of coaching Terry Ward praised his flu-stricken side for a gritty performance after they opened the New Year with a narrow 5-4 defeat at reigning champions Solway Sharks.

Icing a squad already short on defence, the Teessiders made the journey to Dumfries with a side suffering badly with illness, however an exciting, end-to-end National Ice Hockey League (North) Moralee Division One fixture ensued.

The tone was set very early in the game when Ultimate Windows Stars netminder James Flavell pulled off an almost unreal double save with just over a minute gone.

It was the home side who got the breakthrough in the 11th minute, a fine solo effort from Struan Tonnar as he took on the entire Stars team, carrying the puck from his own blue line before letting fly into the roof of Flavell’s net.

Billingham did not allow their heads to drop and Chris Sykes bagged the equaliser in the 14th minute, shooting low past Solway netminder Jordan Boyle.

Tonnar restored the Sharks’ lead in the 27th minute with a low shot between Flavell’s pads.

Defensive errors allowed Solway to extend that lead in the 31st minute, Richard Bentham directing the puck home right in front of Flavell’s net, and it was Bentham again who made it four with a contested effort in the 36th minute.

The goal seemed to fire up the visitors who immediately went on the offensive, James Moss robbing a Sharks defenseman on his own blue line and taking the puck the full length of the ice before scoring off the back of Boyle to narrow the gap.

Just a minute later Michael Bowman pounced on a rebound off the back boards following an attempt from Ben Davison, leaving just one goal separating the teams going into the final period.

Billingham’s hard work in getting back into the game appeared to be undone when Steven Moore scored his side’s fifth in the 43rd minute, but despite some players looking visibly ill, the Stars refused to throw in the towel and Michael Elder scored the goal of the game after excellent set-up play from Moss.

Billingham threw everything they had at the Sharks in the final 10 minutes, but were unable to find a way through and the match closed with the home side hanging on for victory.

Andy Munroe was Billingham’s man of the match.

Ward praised his sick side for their gutsy display after the game.

“We went to the game with 90% of the players ill, but they put in a performance that they can be proud of,” he said.

“We went 4-1 behind and we came back into the game strongly.

“The boys gave it everything they had - we had a lot of chances and missed opportunities. On another day they might have gone in.

“It was all Billingham in the last 10 minutes but it’s all about taking your chances and we didn’t take them.”

Billingham are in cup and league action this weekend as they travel to Telford to take on the Tigers in their final British Challenge Cup fixture on Saturday (face-off 5.30pm).

They then return to the Forum for a league derby clash with North-east rivals Whitley Warriors on Sunday (face-off 6.30pm).

Positive Strokes is hoping for your Wish support

A self-help support group for those who have suffered a stroke is hoping for your help in this year’s Wish campaign.

Positive Strokes was set up to help bring stroke patients back in to the ‘real world’ after leaving hospital.

According to the Stroke Association, there are round 152,000 strokes a year in the UK. Even though most people affected are over 65, anyone can have a stroke including children and babies.

Strokes can have a huge effect on a family. If it wasn’t for Positive Strokes, the group’s members from across Teesside would most likely be confined to their homes.

All of the members at the group have had a stroke and attend with their carers or families. Together they enjoy a range of activities at their regular meetings at Ormesby Social Club.

Last year, the group used the Wish support they received to continue providing the support to its members.

With regards to this year’s Wish campaign, Les Spicer said: “We intend to spend this year’s Wish money on having parties, entertainment, talks about helping stroke patients and bingo.

“During the summer we also go out on trips and usually to a hotel that caters for the disabled.”

Every year, The Gazette’s Wish campaign gives away thousands of pounds to not-for-profit groups and organisations benefiting the Teesside community.

Each registered group will be guaranteed a share of our £40,000 fund.

The more tokens a group collects, the bigger its share of the prize pot. Tokens are now appearing daily in The Gazette.

The last token will appear on January 21.

Submissions for tokens will close at 5pm on Monday, February 23.

To help Positive Strokes, send your tokens to: 14 Beech Court, Ferndale, Stockton on Tees, TS19 0XR.

NHS under "huge amount of pressure" admits Jeremy Hunt

There is a "huge amount of pressure" on the NHS in England and hospital bosses feel they are "running just to keep still" to cope with rising demand, Jeremy Hunt has acknowledged ahead of figures expected to show A&E waiting times at their worst level for a decade.

Many hospitals have struggled under the pressure this winter, with some failing to meet the target of dealing with 95% of patients within four hours.

Health Secretary Mr Hunt insisted that nine out of 10 patients were being seen within four hours, which was "better than any other country in the world".

The pressure on hospitals has led to a number of trusts declaring major incidents in order to cope with a surge in patients.

Mr Hunt told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "There is a huge amount of pressure, that's absolutely clear."

An Accident and Emergency sign

But he added: "I think we also have to recognise, despite the particular pressures, despite the major incidents - and you always get some major incidents at this time of year - that the NHS is continuing to see in A&E departments nine out of 10 people within the four-hour target.

"That is actually better than any other country in the world that measures these things."

Mr Hunt stressed that maintaining patient safety was more important than meeting targets.

"We want to do better than that, and we want to do everything we can, but what we don't want to do ... is for trusts to make compromises, as has happened in the past, on patient safety, on compassionate care, just in order to hit the targets.

"Targets matter, but not at any cost."

The Health Secretary said "some progress" was being made in recruiting more clinical staff, but he acknowledged the frustration felt by those running hospital trusts.

"Although capacity is expanding, there is a sense of running just to keep still because the demand at the front door continues to increase at an even greater rate," he said.

Mr Hunt's Liberal Democrat colleague, Norman Lamb, admitted the NHS "is not meeting" its targets,

Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain, Mr Lamb said Britain's ageing population means hospitals are having to treat older patients with chronic conditions.

He said: "We rightly have the toughest targets in the developed world. We are not meeting them.

An ambulance outside an A&E department at a hospital

"We are living longer, the pressures of people living with chronic conditions. We hear lots of reports from A&E departments of older people particularly turning up more ill than they have in the past."

A surge in demand at emergency departments has forced several hospital trusts to activate major incident plans.

Gloucester Royal, Cheltenham General Hospital, Scarborough Hospital and the University Hospitals of North Midlands in Staffordshire have implemented the emergency measure.

Others, including the Royal Surrey County Hospital urged people to stay away from A&E unless their case was a genuine emergency.

Mr Hunt said the changes set out by NHS England's Simon Stevens could help address the problems in the health system.

"In the last six months something very big has changed, which is that the NHS itself has lifted up the bonnet on this problem and looked at the heart of the issue and come up with its own plan to deal with it.

"It was put together by NHS England by Simon Stevens, the new chief executive, and the Government in the Autumn Statement - because it costs money - agreed to fund it, and we can do that on the back of the strong economy, that is possible because of the difficult decisions that have been made.

"I don't want to say that's a silver bullet but I think that is a sense of progress."

Mr Hunt said changing the way elderly people were treated in the health service was crucial to easing the pressure on hospitals.

He said: "The incentives aren't right. Let's look at the heart of this: the real issue is the way that we look after the most vulnerable and frail older people.

"At the moment all the incentives are to treat them in hospitals, and that is causing hospitals to fill up."

The president of the College of Emergency Medicine said the pressure on staff was "intolerable", with around 20,000 more patients a week attending A&E than a year ago.

Dr Clifford Mann said: "We have reached a tipping point - 20,000 extra patients a week all have to be accommodated within the same bed stock and the same capacity as the system in 2013."

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The thing that concerns me is this daily, weekly intolerable pressure is starting to have an effect on staff. They are more likely to become sick, they are more likely to be unable to work and they burn out and choose to go into other professions.

"That means this is not a sustainable situation."

He highlighted a shortfall in recruitment for A&E roles: "There is a 50% vacancy rate for the last three years of training. We recruit well into year one because emergency medicine is a very professionally rewarding career, but by the time they get to year three, 50% choose either to choose a different specialty or to emigrate.

"So there are now 500 UK-trained emergency doctors working in Australia which cost the British taxpayer a quarter of a billion pounds to train."

Sustainable staffing levels "will only happen when we stop penalising acute trusts" because "the current tariffs mean that you can run a successful, indeed profitable, hospital if you do specialist commissioning work in elective care, but all acute care loses money".

He added: "In times of austerity, it's difficult for trusts to invest properly in an emergency department which they see as a loss-making part of the business."

Mike Proctor, deputy chief executive of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation, which is responsible for Scarborough Hospital, also highlighted difficulties in recruiting staff in the UK.

He told Today: "They do not exist, that's the major problem at the moment, they do not exist. We are about to, as an organisation, go out to Spain next month to actually recruit some nurses from Spain."

Retrial of former Guatemalan dictator postponed

The retrial of former Guatemalan dictator Jose Efrain Rios Montt's on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity has been postponed.

The decision dismayed victims who have long sought to see him punished for the massacre of thousands of Mayan Indians during his 1982-83 regime.

Clad in pajamas and covered in a blanket, the 88-year-old was wheeled into a courtroom after the tribunal threw out a defence argument that he was too frail to attend.

Judge Jeannette Valdez initially turned down a motion that she recuse herself because she wrote a master's thesis on genocide, calling it "a strategy to obstruct" the proceedings.

But the two other judges who make up the panel accepted the motion, causing the trial's onset to be postponed.

Former dictator Efrain Rios Montt enters the court room while he is carried on a stretcher and covered by a blanket in Guatemala City, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015 (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Human rights activists and victims shouted after learning of the decision: "Genocidal killer! Justice is what we want, coward!"

Rios Montt was convicted on the same charges in 2013 in what many considered a historic ruling for a nation still struggling coming to terms with its long and bloody civil war. Soon after, however, his 80-year sentence was overturned and a new trial ordered.

In an interview last week at her dirt-floor adobe home in Nebaj Quiche, 88-year-old Magdalena Bernal de Paz recalled how villagers fled to the mountains when soldiers attacked in 1982.

"They burned the corn, the house, the clothing," she told The Associated Press, speaking in the Ixil language as her granddaughter translated into Spanish.

"They left us with nothing ... It was all lost."

Ms Bernal testified to all that in the 2013 trial. But now, she said, her health is too delicate to make the 155 mile trip to the capital.

"Saying it once is enough. If they want me to retell it again, it will have to be here," she said.

Meanwhile, several other witnesses at the last trial have died in the interim.

Rios Montt's former chief of intelligence, General Mauricio Rodriguez, also appeared yesterday.

"I am ready for the new trial. I want to end this humiliation already," said Rodriguez, who added that he suffers from leukaemia.

According to a UN estimate, some 245,000 people died or disappeared during Guatemala's 1960-1996 conflict, the vast majority at the hands of the armed forces or paramilitary bands.

Tees Valley Mohawks in good shape after a winter warm-up

Tees Valley Mohawks hope they’ll hit the ground running when they launch a crucial second half to their EBL National League Division One season this weekend.

The first half of the campaign was a torrid one for Steve Butler’s men who sit three places off the foot of the table with just two wins from seven games.

They return to competitive action after the festive break when Kent Crusaders visit Teesside University’s Olympia Building on Saturday, and blew away the cobwebs with friendly match against BBL big guns Durham Wildcats.

Charles Rhodes and Bryan Hockaday were both back from the USA in time to play and, although some first teamers were missing, that provided a chance for the fringe players to get some valuable court time under their belts.

The game was played with a 15-minute running clock and Mohawks started brightly with Hockaday making an impression inside and Lloyd Samuels hitting some long range jump shots.

However veteran former Mohawk Ralph Bucci ran the show in the first quarter as Wildcats took a slender 23-20 lead.

In the second quarter Mohawks switched to a zone defence but Wildcats executed their offence well.

Ike Attah battled on the boards at the other end and with Jordan Nichols looking impressive, Mohawks took the quarter 25-19.

Mohawks coach Steve Butler told his players to improve on transitional defence as Durham were scoring too many easy points on the fast break, and his team did just that in the second half.

Baskets were traded in the third quarter as Rhodes and Alvaro Pontes produced some great shooting but a couple of baskets in the last minute by Bucci saw the visitors take the session 24-16.

With tired legs on both teams in the fourth quarter, Mohawks produced their best basketball of the game.

Rhodes found his range as he knocked down a trio of three- pointers while his side stepped up defensively too as they won the quarter 26-22.

“It was very important for us to get some game shape fitness in,” said Butler.

“Durham are a great squad and were at full strength but in some parts of the game it didn’t look like a BBL versus an EBL team - which I’m very proud of.

“We have got things to work on, especially getting back on defence after a missed shot or turnover plus some fitness issues but I’m very impressed with how we conducted ourselves and how we played.

“Charles played really well and it’s great to see Alvaro back on the court after missing most of November and December and I think he will be a big player for us in 2015.”

Tip-off on Saturday is at 5pm and is preceded by Mohawks II’s National League Division Three game against Nottingham Hoods, which gets underway at at 2pm.

Ticket prices are available at a special rate of £5 for adults and £3 children to watch both games. Normal ticket prices for just one game.

Clarence Wiggins, who began his UK career with the Mohawks, has died suddenly aged 58.

Born in North Carolina, he became a teacher in the East Midlands and helped set up Derby Trailblazers.

Young Teesside athletes in good form on the indoor circuit

Teesside youngsters have been in impressive form on the indoor circuit.

English Schools champion Charlie Myers (Middlesbrough AC), continued where he left off his outdoor season by smashing his personal best in the pole vault and the vault Manchester competition.

Chasing the qualifying height for this summer’s European Junior Championships of 5.15 metres, Myers improved his own personal best of 5.00 metres to 5.10 metres before narrowly missing 5.15 metres.

Elsewhere Amy Carr and Plamedi Mukendi were setting personal bests galore at the Comm Sport open meeting held at Sheffield.

Carr (Middlesbrough AC) took over a tenth of a second off her best in the disability 60 metres running 9.55 seconds, before returning to record three personal bests in the long jump with a final distance of 3.69 metres.

That moved the teenager to within striking distance of the British Athletics qualifying distance for the World Championships of 4.00 metres.

In her first race representing her new club Mukendi (Gateshead Harriers) followed her encouraging performance at Gateshead in November with a fine win and personal best in the Under-15 girls’ 60 metres.

Mukendi drew clear of the field winning the race in a time of 8.09 seconds.

Myers and Mukendi are among the athletes due to compete at the North of England indoor Championships at Sheffield in two weeks’ time.

President of European Turkish-Islamic Union calls on Europe to take action against Islamophobia

The president of the European branch of the Turkish-Islamic Union, Ihsan Oner, has called on European governments to take action against the growing attacks against immigrants and Muslims in Europe, Anadolu agency has reported.

“We must stop the ugly developments that began because we do not know how and when they will end,” Oner said in a statement on Sunday.

In the statement, Oner referred to recent anti- Muslim protests organised by the German far-right movement “Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West” (PEGIDA). As well as organising a series of December rallies reportedly attended by a record 17,000 anti-Islamic protesters, the movement’s members have engaged in a number of Islamophobic attacks, including writing racist slogans and drawing swastikas on the walls of mosques, such as “Turks will be killed”.

One warned of the growing Islamophobia in Europe, despite the EU’s claims to defend freedom of belief, thought and human rights.

PEGIDA, which began in Germany, has recently grown from a few hundred members to several thousand following recent demonstrations in Germany by Kurdish Turks wishing to arm the PKK aagainst ISIS. The movement organises anti-immigrant protests every Monday.

“Did racism and anti-Islam, which started from Germany, begin to get out of control in Europe?” Oner asked, pointing out that PEGIDA’s activities are creating tension among Muslims and immigrants in European countries.

A professor of political science at Dresden Technical University, Hans Vorlander, has warned that the demonstrations organised by Pegida will harm Germany’s reputation. A record 17,000 people rallied in Dresden on 22 December, singing Christmas carols and chanting anti-immigrant slogans. Around 4,500 counter-demonstrators also marched in the city, under the banner “Dresden Nazi-free”.

The Protestant bishop of Saxony state, Jochen Bohl, said the PEGIDA followers, by singing Christmas carols, were seeking “to exploit a Christian symbol and a Christian tradition” for political purposes, German news agency DPA reported. Political parties across Germany have condemned the extremist movement’s activities

Man admits robbery of mobile phone outside Stockton High Street bank

A Stockton man has admitted robbing a man outside a bank.

Lee Raw, 34, appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to the robbery of a mobile phone from his victim outside the Santander Bank on Stockton High Street on November 30 last year.

He made the admission at his first appearance at a preliminary hearing, which should give him the credit for a reduced sentence.

His lawyer Alex Bousfield told the judge: “According to sentencing guidelines the sentence might lie between 12 and 18 months, and that could be considered for suspension.”

The judge Recorder Recorder Bernard Gateshill QC told Raw: “You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter and I have to warn you that you are facing a sentence of imprisonment for this offence.

“I think that there should be a full pre-sentence report.”

Raw, of Campbell Court, Portrack, Stockton, was released on extended bail until sentence on January 26.

The court ordered that he must remain on a tagged curfew which runs from 7pm to 7am.

Live: Cleveland Police carry out drugs raids in Teesside area

Cleveland Police's Organised Crime Unit are taking part in a number of drugs raids in the Middlesbrough area this morning.

Our reporter Laura Woodcock is with them and will be providing live updates from the raids.

Three men and one woman make guilty pleas in court after disorder on Black Eye Friday

Four people have been convicted in court of offences committed on Teesside during the Black Eye Friday festivities.

Three men and one woman appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court yesterday where they were convicted of disorder offences which happened on “Black Eye Friday” - December 19 or early hours of December 20.

Among them was Amanda Jackson, of Dovecot Street, Stockton, who pleaded guilty to drunk and disorderly behaviour.

The 30-year-old was arrested after police were called to reports of two females fighting outside Darlington Building Society on Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, just after midnight on Saturday, December 20.

On arrival, the women were seen shouting and pulling each others hair.

Defending herself in court, Jackson said: “I was waiting for my boyfriend and I was attacked so I retaliated.”

She was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs.

Stephen Davis, 26, of Letita Street, Middlesbrough, also pleaded guilty to drunk and disorderly behaviour in the early hours of December 20. The court heard that he was “being abusive” in Newport Road, so was arrested.

He spent seven hours in custody and District Judge Martin Walker said that time and the time spent in court yesterday waiting for the hearing was a sufficient sentence for the offence.

Carl James Smith, 19, of Geltsdale, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive words or behaviour on Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, at 11.05pm on Friday, December 19.

The court heard that “police officers said the defendant was squaring up to another man” who then started to “scrap” on the floor.

“Both men had been drinking,” said Bob Moore, prosecuting. “The defendant was drunk.”

Smith, who is of previous good character, told the court the incident was a “stupid drunken act.”

He was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs.

Ryan Mark Taylor, 18, of Westray Street, Carlin How pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty in Redcar high street.

The court heard that he was arrested after shouting at an officer and failing to calm down after being asked to.

He accepted to the court that he was drunk at the time.

He spent time in custody after his arrest - in early hours of December 20 and District Judge Martin Walker said that coupled with the amount of time spent in court yesterday for the hearing was enough of a sentence.

Police had extra patrols across Teesside for this year’s Black Eye Friday festivities.

In total Cleveland Police received 699 reports from the public between 5pm on December 19 and 5pm on December 20.