UNICEF: Israel violates international law in treatment of Palestinian children

In its annual report entitled “Children in Israeli Military Detention Observations and Recommendations”, UNICEF has said that Israeli treatment of Palestinian children is “in violation of international law”.

“Since March 2013, UNICEF has been engaging in a dialogue with the Israeli authorities on children’s rights while in military detention and on specific actions that can be undertaken to improve the protection of these children,” the report states.

UNICEF said it met with several senior Israeli officials and related departments in the Israeli ministries to procure information about the treatment of child detainees.

It said: “The dialogue focuses on what a child experiences when arrested and detained for alleged security offences in the West Bank.”

According to the report, UNICEF’s Working Group on Grave Violations against Children found that children had often been subjected to multiple violations throughout the arrest, transfer, interrogation and detention phases.

The report found that 162 children reported being blindfolded during transfer from the place of arrest to the police station; 189 children reported being painfully hand-tied upon arrest; and 171 children reported being subjected to physical violence during arrest, interrogation and/or detention.

The Working Group also found that 144 children reported being subjected to verbal abuse and intimidation during arrest, interrogation and/or detention; while 89 children reported being transferred from the place of arrest to the police station on the floor of the vehicle.

In addition, it said that 163 children reported not being adequately notified of their legal rights, in particular the right to counsel and the right to remain silent. A further 148 children reported being strip-searched at the police station and 76 children reported being strip-searched upon arrival and transfer to Israeli Prison Services’ detention facilities.

The report concluded that the “[i]ll-treatment of Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalised.” Adding that, “[t]hese practices are in violation of international law that protects all children against ill-treatment when in contact with law enforcement, military and judicial institutions.”

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, Tuesday 3rd March 2015.

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.

#OnThisBoroDay 2012: Boro beat Portsmouth to keep their play-off hopes on track

Crisis club Pompey handed Boro three much-needed points as Mogga’s men looked to cling on to their spot in the top six.

Goalless at the break, it was hard to see where one goal was going to come from in a game lacking quality, never mind four.

But then Ricardo Rocha decided to bundle Seb Hines over in the area. Barry Robson stuck away the penalty and the visitors were on their way to a crucial victory on this day in 2012.

It was tight at the top and after winning just two of their last nine games it was vital Boro got three points on the board at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth had other things to worry about. The growing threat of liquidation hung over the club who had already been deducted 10 points and were languishing in the relegation zone.

Marvin Emnes celebrates after scoring Boro's third against Portsmouth

To their credit, Pompey put up a fight. When Matthew Bates rifled in Boro’s second it looked like the game was put to bed but the hosts had other ideas.

Greg Halford hammered home a penalty just three minutes later before the relegation favourites pushed for a leveller. Thankfully, Boro stood strong and wrapped the game up when Marvin Emnes followed up a well-saved Adam Hammill strike.

It was Hammill’s first taste of action for Boro after completing a loan switch but he wasted no time in setting out his main ambition - promotion.

“There’s a lot of quality in the squad here and hopefully we can win promotion,” he told the Gazette.

“We are right up there and have a really good chance to go up.

“It was important to go to Portsmouth and stand up to what we knew they would throw at us.

“We did that, we matched them physically, we played well and got three goals so it was a great result for the team and a great start for me personally.”

Despite their wobble, Boro were still in the mix. Southampton were opening a gap at the top but Mowbray’s promotion hopefuls jumped back up to fifth, six points behind West Ham in second place.

What was now required was consistency but unfortunately Boro couldn’t oblige.

A damaging defeat at home to Leeds the week later was the start of an eight-match winless run that all but ended Boro’s promotion hopes for another year.

North East Business Awards launches new category

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Companies at this year’s North East Business Awards will battle it out for a brand new gong.

The Let’s Grow award recognises firms that have boosted their turnover and profit in the last 12 months.

It highlights businesses of all sizes that have shown exceptional and rapid growth in sales, profit, market share and headcount.

One of the region’s largest business events, NEBA celebrates the brightest, best and most inspiring companies the region has to offer. The annual competition is run by the Gazette and its sister paper, The Journal, in association with the North East Chamber of Commerce.

Last week, the finalists were revealed for the Teesside heat of the awards, which takes place on Thursday, March 26 at Teesside University.

FW Capital is sponsoring the Let’s Grow award.

Joanne Pratt, FW Capital’s Fund Manager in the North-east said: “FW Capital is pleased to continue to be associated with the North East Business Awards in 2015 and we’re proud to sponsor the ‘Let’s Grow Award’ in its first year.

“It’s an exciting new award that celebrates the businesses in the North-east that are achieving exceptional growth and highlights how they’re achieving these growth levels.

“Interest in the award is high and it’s clear that the extensive judging criteria have really sparked businesses’ imagination and this has resulted in an impressive shortlist. We met some interesting businesses during the judging process and there were some great examples of how they’re developing their competitive edge and successfully maximising their potential,” she continued.

“Good luck to all those businesses shortlisted this year and I hope that more businesses will be inspired by their example and consider their growth options.

“FW Capital can support businesses in the North-east with short and long-term investment packages through the North East Growth Plus Fund and Tees Valley Catalyst Fund and we’re keen to discuss their growth plans with them.”

* There’s still a handful of tickets left for the event - contact Andrew Forster on 0191 2016430 or visit the website http://bit.ly/17MONux

SBV Fabrication and Sire Services Ltd administration caused by dispute with Tata Steel

The administration of a Teesside-based SBV Fabrication and Site Services Ltd was caused by a cash flow problems following a major contract dispute with Tata Steel.

An estimated £4.08m is owed to unsecured creditors following the company’s administration, just before Christmas 2014.

The engineering firm provides steel fabrication, mechanical engineering, machining and engineering site services to the high end industrial, infrastructure and process sectors, and employs more than 200 people at its two premises in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.

It operates in the energy, nuclear, oil and gas, marine, heavy industrial and process industry sectors.

Administrators Howard Smith and Jonny Martson of KPMG believe around £917,880 will be available for unsecured creditors following an online auction of plant, machinery and vehicles.

The freehold of SBV’s Middlesbrough base, on Dormor Way, South Bank, will also be marketed.

Details within a report on the administrators’ proposals show SBV had been profitable until a dispute over variations on a fixed price contract with Tata Steel prompted cashflow issues.

The firm was then faced with a winding up petition from plant hire specialists Hewden Stuart Limited.

It forced a pre-pack sale of the business to a new company formed by the management, trading as SBV Engineering, for £100,000.

According to the administrators’ report, the new owners — directors Samantha Condren and David Geary — transferred 143 of the 185 staff at the firm, while 42 were made redundant.

SBV had been financed by GE and NatWest, who were owed £1.5m and £394,000 respectively.

Administrators expect both companies to recover their lending in full.

Middlesbrough FC strikers will hit the goal trail sooner rather than later

Aitor Karanka is backing Kike Garcia and Boro’s other strikers to hit the goals trail sooner rather than later.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat was the third occasion in five games that Boro have failed to score.

Kike, in particular, is suffering a Championship dry spell having scored just once in 13 fixtures.

“I could understand if he started the season not scoring goals because he has been here or six or seven months,” said Karanka, when asked about his £2.7m summer signing from Real Murcia.

“He isn’t scoring but I know what kind of player he is. I know his qualities and that’s the reason I brought him here.

“We have 12 games to go and all of us are expecting the best for him.”

Karanka doesn’t think any of his strikers are suffering from a lack of confidence, adding: “If they had each scored 25 goals and then scored none it could be a lack of confidence, but they have all gone through spells of scoring throughout the season.

“I don’t think it’s down to a lack of confidence but they have to improve.”

Egyptian public debt up $26bn in a year

Egypt’s public debt is reported to have increased by 200 billion Egyptian pounds ($26.2 billion) to reach 1.9 trillion Egyptian pounds ($0.25 trillion) by the end of September 2014 compared to 1.7 trillion Egyptian pounds ($0.22 trillion) at the end of the same period in 2013.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news site reported that the Egyptian Ministry of Finance yesterday revelaed that the country’s foreign debt fell to $44.9 billion by the end of September 2014 compared with $47 billion in September 2013.

According to a ministry report, the country’s foreign debt decreased because the government lowered its foreign borrowing during the first quarter of 2015.

The report noted that the overall budget deficit has increased by 6.9 per cent by the end of September 2014 compared.

The fiscal year in Egypt begins in July.

The Egyptian Ministry of Finance said it hopes to reduce the budget deficit by the end of the current fiscal year to 10 per cent compared to 12.8 per cent during the last fiscal year

Muslims must become Hindus if they want respect: VHP leader

“Muslims are at war across the globe and the hatred against them is growing. If they want respect in India, they should become Hindus,” joint general secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Surendra Jain said.

He was addressing a Hindu Sammelan at Yamunanagar as part of the organisation’s district-wise programmes in Haryana to commemorate its golden jubilee.

Dr. Jain said: “If they want to survive, they should take the blessings of the Hindu saints.”

“The ancestors of Muslims were not Aurangzeb or Babar. They had a Hindu lineage and it is the blood of Maharana Pratap and Chattrapati Shivaji which runs in their veins.”

Ghar vapsi to go on

The VHP leader said the ghar vapsi programme would continue. “Many people are saying that ghar vapsi intensified after the BJP government came to power at the Centre, but it has been on even before that.”

Earlier this week, in a programme at Rohtak, BJP MP Yogi Adityanath claimed that the main problem facing the country is not poverty or hunger but ‘politics of appeasement.’ He had also accused the Muslims of Mewat region of southern Haryana of not being patriotic and claimed that this was a problem in most minority-dominated areas.

Match report: Boro U21s 1 Wolves 0

MUZZY Carayol's first-half strike was enough to send Boro Under-21s top of the table after a fiery 1-0 win over Wolves at Victoria Park.

The winger slammed home inside 20 minutes as he scored his first competitive goal since recovering from a 10-month cruciate injury.

That was enough to send Paul Jenkins' men two points clear at the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Second Division summit, ahead of next week's crunch trip to title rivals West Brom.

Boro showed first on 10 minutes as Ryan Brobbel found David Atkinson at the edge of the box, but the defender blazed his shot high and wide.

The Teessiders, who won 2-1 in September's reverse fixture, continued on the front foot as Lewis Maloney tried his luck after a surging run, but his shot flew wide of Wolves keeper Jonathan Flatt's post.

Boro deservedly netted the opener on 20 minutes as Harry Chapman danced his way past a couple of defenders before drilling a low cross towards the onrushing Carayol, who slammed home from close range.

Wolves, who came into the game on the back of five straight draws, looked for a quick response but it was Boro who always looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with Andre Bennett firing a 20-yard free-kick high and wide on the half hour mark.

The visitors started to push forward approaching half-time with Jim Kellermann's goal-bound effort blocked, while at the other end Carayol saw his low drive pushed away.

After the break Wolves started with added bite and should have levelled almost instantly when Kellermann ghosted into the box, but his shot was blocked and plucked to safety by Boro stopper Joe Fryer.

Wolves continued to shade territory and possession, but could not find a way past a Boro rearguard marshalled superbly by captain Jonny Burn.

On 70 minutes Boro survived their biggest scare, as Wolves defender Regan Upton found himself unmarked at the back post following Jordan Graham's free-kick- but somehow volleyed over from five yards out.

The Wolves onlaught showed little sign of stopping as Burn's last-ditch challenge then thwarted Donovan Wilson, before Wilson then ran through on goal - only to be denied by a superb Fryer save.

And despite a flurry of late corners, Boro's resolute defence held firm as they went top of the league.

Boro: Fryer, Atkinson, Jackson, Burn (c), Bennett, Tinkler, Maloney, Chapman (Fewster 82), Carayol (Kitching 75), McAloon, Brobbel. Subs not used: Pears, Weledji, Morelli.

Baroness Grey-Thompson tells Redcar students why democracy matters

The next generation of voters heard why voting matters from paralympian and politician Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Gazette columnist Tanni is one of several well-known ambassadors for “#S4SNextGen” - a two-week campaign, launched today, which will see more than 30 leading names from various fields visiting secondary state schools across Britain to engage and inspire the next generation of voters.

And for Gazette columnist Tanni, who lives in Eaglescliffe, the initiative kicked off with an engagement close to home - addressing students at Redcar Academy.

Baroness Tanni Greay-Thompson visited Redcar Academy to talk to pupils about the House of Lords, Parliament and voting

Tanni’s talk focused on the importance of voting and her role as a life peer, as well as touching on her sporting exploits.

As well as a question and answer session with Tanni, students also took part in a live-stream election debate, with panelists from Facebook, Change.org and more.

Other names backing the #S4SNextGen campaign include the leaders of the main political parties, plus leading figures from the worlds of business, the military, media, sport and the arts.

Software consultancy Symbiosys gears up for growth at Redcar

A software consultancy has expanded its Redcar operation ahead of an expected recruitment drive later this year.

South African-founded Symbiosys, which also has operations in the US, has moved into bigger premises in UK Steel Enterprise’s (UKSE) Innovation Centre on the Kirkleatham Business Park.

The consultancy said the move would enable it to add to its four-strong team of software developers to cope with an upsurge in work.

Rob Laverick, a developer who has been with Symbiosys for 10 years, said: “We are anticipating a very busy 2015. The demand is showing there is real potential for growth this year.

“Originally, we were rather dependant on one large contract but we are diversifying very successfully, which means our team will be growing too.”

Working with start-ups and multinationals, Symbiosys builds software systems and complex web applications for projects that include budget planning for research and development, industrial processes and financial systems. Launched in South Africa in 2001, it expanded into the US and then opened a UK development base in Redcar following support from UKSE.

Sarah Thorpe of UKSE said: “Our remit is to help companies create wealth and jobs in steel areas so we couldn’t be more pleased that Symbiosys set up and is now expanding in one of our Teesside Innovation Centres.”

UKSE innovation centres in Redcar and Hartlepool currently house around 80 of Teesside’s emerging young businesses. The business support subsidiary of steel giant Tata, the organisation offers tailored finance packages, independent advice and managed business premises.

Controversial proposals to change Stockton school admission zones are scrapped

Controversial proposals to change school admission zones in Ingleby Barwick have been scrapped after major opposition from parents.

More than 850 people responded to a consultation on Stockton Council’s proposed school admission arrangements for 2016/17.

Changes were proposed to the allocation of places to Egglescliffe School and to primary school admission zones in Ingleby Barwick - including introducing a new Zone B.

But these will not be taken forward, said the authority today.

Instead, it is proposed the council works with Egglescliffe School to ensure the school has the capacity to accommodate in zone applicants in 2016.

Parents packed into a number of public meetings in recent months to express their concerns over the review, saying the changes would leave them without their preferred choice of schools.

They also claimed the proposals could impact on the choices children have and influence house prices.

Councillor Ann McCoy, Stockton Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We have had a lot of interest in these proposals. We extended the consultation period to allow as many people as possible to have their say and having listened very carefully we are now proposing that these changes are not taken forward.”

“The consultation also revealed a preference for the proposed arrangements to instead be looked at in the context of the Borough-wide review planned for next year and which would come into effect from 2017/18 onwards.

“However, we also acknowledge that Egglescliffe remains a very popular school and have held early discussions with its headteacher about working together to ensure the school has the capacity to accommodate demand for places in 2016.

“We are now proposing to develop this work further and in more detail.

Stockton South’s Conservative MP James Wharton welcomed the announcement, saying: “This is great news for parents in Ingleby Barwick. These proposals were wrong from the start and the Government has confirmed that a grant given to Stockton Council only recently could be used to expand Egglescliffe, meaning these changes would not be necessary.

“A small expansion of one additional class would mean that zone changes were not needed and that is what has now been agreed.”

Louise Baldock, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Stockton South, said: “I am delighted the council has listened to the concerns of parents of Ingleby Barwick and indeed to those who live in Carlton, Elton, Long Newton and Redmarshall.

“It is right that no changes should be made in isolation, as I said in my formal response to the consultation, any future review needs to look at the catchment area for all schools simultaneously so that no pupils are put at an immediate disadvantage.”

Adam Johnson suspended by Sunderland following arrest on suspicion of having sex with girl, 15

Sunderland AFC have suspended Adam Johnson after the former Boro winger was arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

The 27-year-old, who has been capped 12 times by England, burst through the Academy ranks at Boro before moving to Manchester City following the club's relegation in 2009.

He later moved back to the area when he signed for Sunderland.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "A 27-year-old man was arrested earlier today on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16.

"He remains in police custody and is helping officers with their inquiries."

A club statement said: "Sunderland AFC has confirmed that Adam Johnson has been suspended from the club, pending the outcome of a police investigation.

"No further comment will be made at the present time."

Purple Pig refused Craig Charles gig late licence after holding 'stoppy backs'

A restaurant owner caught “dispensing alcohol straight into his friend’s mouth”, permitting smoking inside one of his venues and holding “stoppy backs” has had his application for a late night gig starring DJ Craig Charles refused.

But Som Emadi, owner of The Purple Pig - which has restaurants in Yarm and Harrogate as well as its Linthorpe Road venue - said the “intimate” gig will still go ahead - he will just hold it earlier to keep within the licensing rules.

Mr Emadi had applied for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) from Middlesbrough Council in order to hold the event on Saturday, March 14 from midnight to 4am.

But at a Middlesbrough Council licensing subcommittee meeting held today to listen to evidence from Blake Brunskill, accounts manager for The Purple Pig, and Licensing Sergeant Paul Higgins, from Cleveland Police, the panel - chaired by Councillor Bernie Taylor - refused the application.

Mr Brunskill told the panel prior to its decision that the gig was going to be an “intimate event” with up to 150 people in the upper room of the venue.

The Purple Pig in Middlesbrough

He added that the proceeds of the first 50 tickets - £500 - would be donated to Zoe’s Place baby hospice in Normanby.

In January a licensing officer visited the Middlesbrough premises and found that a number of conditions had not been complied with at that time, including displaying notices of a Challenge 25 policy and for patrons to leave the venue quietly, CCTV to have footage of 31 days and training records.

Mr Brunskill said all of the above conditions had now been put in place.

Sgt Higgins told the panel about a “stoppy back” until 4am at the Yarm restaurant in September, which local residents had complained about.

Mr Brunskill said it had been a staff party and no alcohol was sold after hours and they “hadn’t realised how late it was”.

“We did upset a lot of residents, it wasn’t the wisest of ideas,” said Mr Brunskill.

As it was the first incident of this type, the police decided to give them a formal warning.

The Purple Pig in Yarm

Sgt Higgins said that in January Harrogate Police contacted Cleveland Police’s licensing team after Mr Emadi was “dispensing alcohol into his friend’s mouth” - a breach of the licensing conditions and “smoking was being permitted” inside the Harrogate venue.

Police requested copies of CCTV footage but were “given blank discs” due to a fault with the system.

Sgt Higgins said: “It is very rare that we oppose TENs, we usually can negotiate with premises.

“But such are the concerns we have at how these premises are run it was necessary to take this step to oppose it all the way to a committee hearing.”

Cllr Bernie Taylor said after the panel held a private discussion to decide the outcome that they had decided to refuse the application for several reasons including CCTV not working properly and evidence provided by the police.

Mr Emadi said after the meeting: “I respect the decision of the committee. We will hold the Middlesbrough event earlier, from about 9pm to 1am.”

Adam Johnson arrested on suspicion of having sex with 15-year-old schoolgirl

Former Boro winger Adam Johnson has been arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 15-year-old schoolgirl, it has been reported this afternoon.

The 27-year-old, who has been capped 12 times by England, burst through the Academy ranks at Boro before moving to Manchester City following the club's relegation in 2009.

He later moved back to the area when he signed for Sunderland.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "A 27-year-old man was arrested earlier today on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16.

"He remains in police custody and is helping officers with their inquiries."

Johnson played for Cleveland Juniors Football Club as a youngster and attended Easington Community Science College, in East Durham.

He made his debut for Boro at the age of 17 when was introduced as a late substitute in a UEFA Cup tie against Sporting Lisbon in March 2005.

He made his Premiership debut against Arsenal in September that year.

Johnson left Boro to join Manchester City in a £7m transfer in January 2010 with the selling club receiving a further £1m payment four months later when he made his debut for England in a friendly against Mexico at Wembley and to date has been capped 12 times for the Three Lions.

He was an FA Cup and Premier League title winner with City before returning to his native North-east in August 2012 when he signed for Sunderland in a £10m transfer.

Vic and Bob tour 2015: 14 dates and venues revealed

The news Vic and Bob fans have been waiting for.

Boro-born comedian Bob Mortimer has revealed where and when the comedy duo will be playing on their upcoming tour.

Here is the information you need that Bob shared via his Twitter account.

For up to date information visit this link.

Clyde Auditorium @ SECC, Glasgow

Wed, Nov 11

7.30pm

Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle

Thu, Nov 12

7.30pm

Liverpool Echo Arena Two, Liverpool

Sat, Nov 14

7.30pm

O2 Apollo, Manchester

Tue, Nov 17

7.30pm

Opera House, Blackpool

Thu, Nov 19

7.30pm

Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Fri, Nov 20

7.30pm

Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Sat, Nov 21

7.30pm

Colston Hall, Bristol

Wed, Nov 25

7.30pm

Guildhall, Portsmouth

Fri, Nov 27

7.30pm

Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth

Sun, Nov 29

7.30pm

City Hall, Sheffield

Tue, Dec 1

7.30pm

Regent Theatre, Ipswich

Wed, Dec 2

7.30pm

Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham

Thu, Dec 3

7.30pm

Brighton Centre, Brighton

Fri, Dec 4

7.30pm

Your Nursery Preston Primary School

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School/nursery name:  Preston Primary School

Address:  Preston Primary School, Laurel Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton on Tees TS16 0BE

No. of pupils in nursery class:  25 morning pupils in nursery, 34 on roll.

What projects are you currently/recently doing with the pupils?  Our topic this term is animals. We recently looked at polar animals and now we are focusing on jungle animals.

 We bake animal-themed biscuits and cakes weekly, this includes tiger decorated biscuits, polar bear cakes and tiger bread. Our role play area has changed to ‘The Tiger who came to Tea (Preston)’.

 We make jungle masks and paint/print animal patterns. We will be looking at the Elmer books in a few weeks and patchwork patterns.

Contact name and number:  Miss Sue Clarke on 01642 784735

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Plans to turn Middlesbrough nightclub into lap dancing venue stalled

Plans to turn a Middlesbrough nightclub into a lap dancing venue have been stalled.

It was revealed at a Middlesbrough Council’s licensing subcommittee meeting today that the owner of Slam! on Exchange Square has withdrawn its application to vary its premises licence.

It had requested to lengthen its opening hours.

Cleveland Police also told the panel chaired by Councillor Bernie Taylor prior to the meeting that, following negotiations with Slam!, they would withdraw their objections.

Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald - who had previously called the plans “demeaning” and “juvenile” said today: “It seems that good sense has prevailed. I’m delighted that this will not now go ahead.”

As reported, Wild West Leisure Ltd who own Slam! - formerly the Royal Exchange near Middlesbrough Railway Station - submitted the application to vary the premises licence, which proposes the supply of alcohol from 11am to 4am daily and provision of regulated entertainment from 11am to 4am daily.

Currently the premises sells alcohol from 11am to 4am Monday, 11am to 3am Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 2am Sunday.

Alterations revealed in the council meeting’s agenda included a new entrance, a new wall to create two rooms, removal of fixed seating and provision of booth seating to create a lap dancing area.

The application did not include an application for a sexual entertainment venue licence. If the application to vary the premises licence had been successful, then a separate application for a sexual entertainment venue licence would have had to have been submitted and granted prior to “any activities classed as sexual in nature” taking place at the premises.

Cleveland Police objected on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety quoting several assaults at the venue and raising concerns it would attract the “wrong clientele”.

Middlesbrough’s first lap dancing club Secrets within Spensley’s Emporium on Albert Road opened amid controversy in 2003.

It was closed in December 2010 following complaints by the police.

The Gazette has been unable to contact Wild West Leisure Ltd for a comment.

Aitor Karanka: 'Everyone connected with Boro should be proud of what the players have done so far this season'

Aitor Karanka believes everyone connected with the club should be proud of what his players have done so far this season.

Ahead of the Championship clash against Millwall, Boro sit second in the table.

As Karanka pointed out in aftermath of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, the club was struggling in the bottom half of the division when he took charge in November 2013.

And, to be second in the table with a similar budget to last season’s, is a major achievement in his eyes

“If we were in this position having spent a lot of money on big, big players then you could say that’s only to be expected because we have spent a lot of money - but we have spent nothing,” he argued.

Aitor Karanka

“The money have spent is the money we received when we sold players at the start of the season so with the same budget last season we were two points above the relegation position when I came here and now we are second in the table,” added Karanka, who’s maths wasn’t quite accurate because Boro were actually five points above the drop zone when he took charge.

“So the job is going well, the work is going well but not just my work it is all the people’s work here and for this reason I want to transmit to everybody where we were 15 months ago.

“At the beginning of the season we thought if we get promotion it is perfect or if we don’t get promotion but we are fighting until the end then.

“But I don’t like to think what will happen in May, I only think about the next game but it is true all of us have to be realistic.

“If you said to us in pre-season we would be second in March I think all of us would have taken it.”

Councillor suspended from Conservative group on Stockton Council

A long-serving councillor has been suspended from the Conservative Group on Stockton Council.

Yarm Councillor Andrew Sherris was suspended by Ben Houchen, chair of Stockton Conservative Association and the recently elected leader of the Conservative Group.

He said in a statement today that he 'would not be acting in the best interests of residents not to take action' in relation to Cllr Sherris.

Cllr Houchen added: “I am unable to comment further at this point due to the ongoing investigation.”

While Cllr Sherris was not selected to stand again for the party recently he was due to remain a member of the Conservative Group on the council up to the election.

Stockton Council has been informed of the suspension.

Councillor Sherris, who sits on the authority’s planning committee, represents Yarm Ward and was elected in 2005.

He was previously on Stockton Council between 1983-1995 and is also a member of Yarm Town Council.

In recent months he has been vocal in fighting for improved road and cycle safety in Yarm as well as making sure housing developer Taylor Wimpey adhered to planning conditions over the time of construction work and deliveries at the Morley Carr Farm development, in Yarm.

The Gazette has approached Mr Sherris for comment.

Only one Stockton pub caught watering down vodka in last three years

Good news for drinkers.

No pub or club in Redcar and Cleveland has been caught watering down alcohol during the past three years.

And a spokeswoman for Stockton Council said one premises had been found to water down vodka in the past three years.

The establishment owner had been issued a written warning.

Middlesbrough declined to comment - but a spokesman said the authority would issue a statement if a pub was caught.

The figures were obtained following The Zetland Hotel in Middlesbrough being fined after it was caught watering down its vodka.

Its owner later said that he was out of the country at the time and that there would not be a repeat.

Cllr Stuart Smith, Redcar and Cleveland’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “There have been no cases of watered down alcohol within Redcar and Cleveland in the past three years - although it is not something our environmental health officers routinely sample for as there have not been any recent complaints or intelligence to suggest this is a problem.”

If consumers suspect they are being sold watered down alcohol he said they should ring environmental health on 01642 774774.

Reeves and Mortimer tour: Rob O'Connor's guide to characters who may feature

North-east comedy legends Reeves and Mortimer are set to go back on the road for the first time in years.

Gazette columnist Rob O’Connor, a huge Vic and Bob fan and self-confessed comedy nerd, looks at which characters fans might be seeing on the tour.

Vic and Bob are pretty much the bestest ever giggly things the world has ever seen!

Well, I reckon so anyway and, let’s face it, I’m bound to be right.

Hark back 25 years to the time when Big Night Out was about to burst onto the telly.

I’d seen the trailers, and could sense something a bit good was in the air.

But I didn’t think it was going to be THAT good!

Just as the post war generation had The Goons, the new Channel 4 generation now had Vic and Bob to tip the world upside down – and they totally and utterly took the country by storm.

So, it’s fantastic to hear they’re going on a bit of a tour later this year.

At the time of writing this, I’m not sure exactly where they’re going to be playing, but I can’t wait to see who they bring out of the box with them.

Among those who could be appearing are:

1. The Bra Men

Two overly aggressive Donkey jacket wearing Northerners with an deeply sensitive attitude towards others who have the temerity to look at their bras.

Which they don’t appear to actually be wearing.

“You looking at my bra?”

2. Judge Nutmeg

Dating back from the Vic Reeves’ Big Night Out era, Judge Nutmeg, played by Bob, would preside over the “That’s Justice” game.

This involved a member of the audience being tried for a random and nonsensical crime.

“Terrible man, terrible man, terrible terrible terrible man”.

3. Donald & Davey Stott

Chatshow kings and brothers from Shildon known for their argumentative nature and moustaches made from gaffer tape.

Behind gameshows including “Read the Anthony Trollope novel”.

4. Graham Lister

Brought many of his dubious acts to Novelty Island, although perhaps the best was Lard for Laughs involving lard and cereal packet with the face of Mickey Rourke on it.

5. Councillors Cox & Evans

Armed with their Paul & Debbie Daniels fun bins and seafront helicopter landing pads.

Overweight wig-wearing bigwigs at Aldington on Sea District Council.

6. The Man With The Stick

And, obviously, surely no tour would be complete without – ladies and gentlemen – I hereby give you THE MAN WITH THE STICK!

“What’s on the end of the stick, Vic?”

It’s all a mind-boggling bunch of genius, and it inspired and opened the door for bags of other amazing stuff to follow in their footsteps – Little Britain and Bo Selecta spring to mind for starters.

But, almost without anyone noticing, I reckon they’re pretty much the best ambassadors that this neck of the woods has ever had.

Proof, if it was ever needed, that being brilliant on Teesside doesn’t mean having to say ‘eeeeeeeeeeeee’ in every second sentence, or constantly harping on about parmos every 10 minutes.

Genius wins out. Every time.

Pressure builds on under-fire Ian Holloway with Millwall fans calling for him to be sacked ahead of Boro clash

Under-pressure Ian Holloway faces the possibility of following in the footsteps of his predecessor and being pushed through the exit door by Boro.

Steve Lomas was never the popular choice at Millwall due to his West Ham connections and got the boot just days after Boro inflicted a 2-0 win on the Lions at The Den last season.

Holloway got the job and managed to lead the league strugglers to Championship safety, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely he’ll manage to repeat the trick this season.

Livid Millwall fans called for Holloway’s head in the final stages of their side’s 2-1 defeat at Rotherham on Saturday, a relegation six-pointer that left the London club six points adrift of safety.

The manager was set to discuss the current plight with chairman John Berylson before the squad made the trip to Teesside today.

And despite insisting he’s still the right man for the job, Holloway will realise he’s got his work cut out ahead of games against promotion chasing Boro and Norwich City.

Millwall manager Ian Holloway

“Results are what it’s all about and I’m not getting them,” he admitted after the defeat at the New York Stadium.

“The fans then turn on me but I’m glad they’re turning on me and not my team.

“Everybody is under pressure and that’s where football is these days. I’m in the results business and if I’m not getting them we will discuss that as a club.”

Shocking images emerged of Millwall fans clashing with police as their side threw away a one-goal lead at Rotherham.

The Lions have now won just once in their last six and lost three of their last four, yet Holloway remains positive of pulling off a great escape.

“I’m always a total optimist and it’s a good job I was last year when we stayed up,” he told News at Den.

“I still am optimistic because there was no difference between us and them (Rotherham).

“It tests you and at the moment we’re finding it very, very difficult to get the right results. And that’s all of us.

“So I understand how the modern-day fan feels and normally you can have an effect the more noise you make.”

VIEW GALLERY

He added: “I believe it’s me who can turn this around but if other people don’t then that’s outside of my control.

“If a group of supporters had the button, they’d have probably pushed it.

“We’ve got to deal with that. The press will write things and the pressure seems to be building and building in the Championship, which is the hardest division of them all.

“I’m not talking about speculation and all of that nonsense now. I’m preparing for Middlesbrough away and Norwich at home.

“I still believe we’re a great club who will stay up in a very tough division.”

Boro have history when it comes to getting managers the chop in the Championship. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked by Cardiff in the wake of a 1-0 home defeat to Aitor Karanka’s side earlier this season while Steve Kean and Henning Berg were both shown the exit door at Blackburn after suffering losses against Boro.

Paul Ince was also in trouble at Blackpool when Boro recorded a rare victory at Bloomfield Road last season. Indeed, the Guv’nor was given his marching orders just a week later.

Frozen fever has children singing their hearts out at Middlesbrough Town Hall singalong

Frozen fans sang their little hearts out at a special Elsa and Olaf themed children’s event at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Forever Frozen was held on Saturday and yesterday in aid of Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation to support its Schools Hardship Fund.

Face painter Cheryl Grange and four-year-old Sara

There were two, half-hour singalong and dance performances featuring the hit Disney film’s best known characters - Elsa, Anna and Sven - from Make My Day Events.

There were stalls selling Frozen-themed cup cakes, hair accessories, slush drinks, bubbles and sweets, as well as refreshments and a picnic box for children.

Some of the cast

Friends Lucy Appleton, three, from Billingham, Jessica Richardson, four, from Thornaby, and Alex Bradburn, six, from Thornaby, who all go to Eclectic Dance Academy in Thornaby, were very excited to watch the show.

Jessica’s mum Lisa Ede said: “She is totally obsessed with Frozen. Elsa is their favourite character. Jessica even has a Frozen playroom.”

Lucy’s mum Yvette, 32, said: “Lucy thinks she IS Elsa!”

L-R Alex Bradburn, six, from Thornaby, Jessica Richardson, four, from Thornaby, and Lucy Appleton, three, from Billingham

Cousins Bobby Metcalfe, from Acklam in Middlesbrough, and Laila Douthwaite, from Ingleby Barwick, both seven, were enjoying their picnic before the show began.

Bobby was dressed as his favourite character Olaf the snowman while Laila said her favourite character is Sven the reindeer.

Vigilantes smash windows of paedophile's home and try to torch his family's car

A paedophile’s wife lived in terror after he was jailed for his years of sex crimes, a court was told.

Every window was smashed in their home on a Teesside estate, it was repeatedly burgled and an attempt was made to set fire to the family’s car.

His wife became yet one more victim of 44-year-old Simon Evans’ depravity while he was securely locked up in Holme House Prison, Stockton.

Evans’ barrister Kate Dodds told Teesside Crown Court that the vigilante attacks began immediately after the address was made public in unrestricted reports of his case and she successfully applied for a ban on its further publication.

Making the order today judge Recorder Felicity Davies said: “It was extremely unfortunate that acts of damage were caused to the property, which must have been extremely frightening for his wife.”

Evans, who ran discos with his wife, had breached a Sexual Offences Prevention Order by twice contacting a 17-year-old girl on Facebook when he was banned from having contact with anybody under 18.

Prosecutor Rachel Masters said that he was jailed for four years in 1992 for serious sexual offences against a boy.

He completed 70 hours on a sex offender’s treatment programme while in prison, and on his release he was monitored and given a Life Plan to support him in future relationships.

In 2005 there was a risk assessment report on him compiled by the NSPCC but he did not comply with the plan and in April 2010 Social Services applied to magistrates for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order against him.

But Evans repeatedly breached it by contacting single mothers on UK Chatterbox sometimes staying overnight with them and their children in their homes, and he fathered a child with one of them.

He was later jailed for 30 months for breaches of the order and he was released in December 2013.

He is now on licence recall in prison until March 21.

Miss Dodds told the judge: “He invites the court to see that giving him some help rather than a prison sentence would be the most practical way of dealing with him.”

The judge told him: “This latest offence was a flagrant breach of this order, as you well knew.

“You seem to fail to grasp that Social Services have a duty to protect children from sexual offenders such as you and that is why they are vigilant about your behaviour and that is why the order was obtained against you in 2010.”

Evans, whose address cannot be published, was jailed for 10 months after he pleaded guilty to breaching the order.

Number of asylum seekers in Stockton temporary housing reaches all-time high

The number of asylum seekers housed in temporary accommodation in Stockton is now at an all-time high.

The vast majority of asylum seekers have nowhere they can stay when they arrive in Britain, so they are placed in temporary housing while the Government decides whether to allow them to live in the UK as refugees.

At the end of last year there were 682 asylum seekers placed in housing in Stockton - the highest of any three-month period since records began in 2003.

That is up a quarter on the 542 who were housed in the borough in December 2013.

There were more than 26,000 in so-called 'dispersed accommodation' around the country - meaning about one person claiming asylum in 39 is placed in Stockton.

There were 742 placed in Middlesbrough at the end of last year. That was down 5.3 per cent on the 788 recorded in December 2013.

In October, the Gazette reported that the town had the highest proportion of asylum seekers in England - becoming the only place in the country to breach national guidelines.

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

But a Middlesbrough Council report revealed almost 1,000 asylum seekers are currently being housed in the town - almost one-and-a-half times the Government limit.

There were just two in Redcar and Cleveland at the end of December 2014. There were five at the end of December 2013.

Middlesbrough and Stockton house some of the highest numbers of people waiting to hear whether they will be granted refugee status in the UK.

The Home Office's guidelines state that asylum seekers should be placed outside London and the South East 'as a general rule' because of the housing shortage in and around the capital.

The two regions combined had 4.2 per cent of the UK asylum seekers in temporary accommodation at the end of December.

Man attacked by three men while waiting for taxi to work at 4.45am

A man was left with cracked ribs and bruising following an unprovoked attack as he waited for a taxi.

The 28-year-old was in Billingham waiting for a taxi to go to work when he was approached by three men on Marsh House Avenue at about 4.45am on Saturday.

The men asked the victim for the time before going on to push him to the floor and kick and punch him.

They then stole his wallet and mobile phone before making off.

The man was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees where he was treated for his injuries. He was later discharged.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said the incident was unprovoked and no arrests have yet been made.

Anyone with information or any witnesses should call the force on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Boro consider taking action over allegations Jose Semedo spat at Grant Leadbitter

Aitor Karanka has confirmed Boro are considering taking action over an alleged incident involving Grant Leadbitter and Jose Semedo at Hillsborough on Saturday.

There was a flashpoint 20 minutes into the second half of the match when the two players faced-off.

Leadbitter was then seen angrily complaining to referee Stephen Martin who, soon after booked Lee Tomlin and Semedo for a separate incident.

After the match it was claimed Leadbitter had complained that he'd been spat at.

However, when quizzed in the post-match interviews, both Sheffield Wednesday boss Stuart Gray and Boro head coach Karanka said they had not seen the alleged incident.

Today, though, Boro's head coach did say the club were looking into taking the issue further.

He said: “We are going to work (on it) but I prefer not to say anything because I don't know what the steps are here and can't say one thing because maybe I make a mistake.

“Grant and the club are working and let's see but I prefer not to say anything.”

It's unknown whether referee Stephen Martin included the alleged incident in his match report. If nothing is mentioned in the report Boro could consider making a formal complaint to the Football Association.

Middlesbrough's Grant Leadbitter (L) and Sheffield Wednesday's Jose Semedo in action

What Karanka did say on Saturday was that in his view, Leadbitter would not complain about something that hadn't happened.

“Grant, I know him, he is a very good lad, a very good player, a very good character and if he did something like that (reacted) it is because something has happened but I can't say what happened because I don't know,” he said.

“He is a strong character but he doesn't do anything if he does not receive anything bad.”

Karanka, meanwhile, says he hopes to include Jelle Vossen in his squad for tomorrow's match if the striker receives the all-clear from the medical staff. The Belgian suffered concussion in the home clash with Leeds on February 21.

The Boro boss confirmed Ryan Fredericks missed the Sheffield Wednesday defeat for tactical reasons but is likely to be in the squad for the visit of Millwall tomorrow.

Dani Ayala (thigh) won't be involved though Mustapha Carayol may be named on the bench.