Police appeal for witnesses after attempted robbery in which man received a stab wound

Police investigating an attempted robbery in which a man received a stab wound are continuing to appeal for witnesses.

The incident took place at around 4pm yesterday at Metcalfe, Kime & Co on Allensway in Thornaby.

A 60-year-old man who received a not life-threatening stab wound to the abdomen has since been released from James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

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A motorbike which was missing a registration plate was abandoned at the scene and two men made off on foot.

An extensive area search was carried out with assistance from air support and the dog section.

Three men aged 23, 22 and 20 were arrested on suspicion of robbery. They have now been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Any witnesses or anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Amy Campbell from the major crime team on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Stockton thief who helped her internet lover steal a boy's Christmas presents is jailed

A mum who helped ransack a family home and steal the Christmas presents of a five-year-old boy has been jailed for 12 months.

Mum-of-two Leanne Aaron and her internet lover Brian Ince broke into the flat twice on the same night, stealing valuables worth more than £1,900.

Included in their stash were wrapped Christmas presents and electrical music equipment, which the young lad’s chef dad desperately needed to earn a second income as a DJ.

The child was unable to understand how some of Santa’s presents had disappeared from beneath the tree, while his devastated parents were unable to buy him replacement gifts in time for Christmas Day.

And the family have been left so frightened and upset, they are being forced to move away from the area.

At a previous hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, serial burglar Ince, 40, Dean House, Newcastle, was locked up for two years and nine months after he admitted being the main player in the burglary.

Now, Aaron, 42, of Mount Pleasant Walk, Sillington, Stockton, who admitted burglary, has joined her lover behind bars after she was jailed for 12 months.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victims had left their flat on Brussels Road, Wallsend, North Tyneside, on the late evening of December 6. They returned around 1am to scenes of chaos.

CCTV from a local shop showed Ince and Aaron had broken into the upstairs flat twice within half an hour.

Jailing Aaron, who has no previous convictions for burglary, Recorder Jamie Hill QC said: “The pair of you entered the property while the householders were out and, on two visits within the space of half and hour, you took away Christmas presents and valuable DJ equipment, which the householder relied on to earn a second income.

“Although the owners were not at home, I have read their victim personal impact statement, which says there was a huge emotional impact on this family, trauma, as well.

“The male in the house is finding it more and more difficult to work because his wife doesn’t feel safe in the house alone. It looks like they may have to move away because of the actions of you and Brian Ince.”

He added: “You don’t have previous convictions for burglary. You do have a conviction for shop theft.

“However, there are some offences that are just too serious and cannot be dealt with other than immediate custody and, I’m sorry, this is one of those cases.”

Jeff Smith, mitigating, said: “This was a heartbreaking and devastating burglary.

“The only picture that can be drawn of the defendant is someone who is naive, gullible and vulnerable.

“She has no family in the area and she recently became estranged from her husband of 18 years. She had been drinking on the night in question and is extremely remorseful.”

Georgia judge jails Muslim woman for wearing headscarf to court

A city judge in Georgia has in the past eight days barred two Muslim women wearing Islamic headscarves from entering his courtroom, jailing one, and prompting an inquiry from the civil rights office at the US department of justice.

Judge Keith Rollins of Douglasville, Georgia, yesterday ordered Lisa Valentine, 41, to jail after she refused to remove her scarf before entering the courtroom, citing rules governing appropriate dress. Last week, Sabreen Abdulrahmaan was forced to leave Rollins’s court before her son’s probation hearing because she would not remove her scarf.

“It’s a religious right,” Valentine said. “It’s our constitutional right that we can have our religious practices, no matter if it’s a courtroom or not. He’s supposed to be handing out justice, not taking away civil rights.”

Valentine said she sought to accompany her nephew to a traffic hearing yesterday but was told by a court security officer that she could not enter the courtroom with her headscarf on. She said she refused to remove it and turned to leave, saying, “This is bullshit”.

Security officers handcuffed her and brought her before Rollins, who sentenced her to 10 days in jail when she declined to defend her actions at the security checkpoint, her husband Omar Hall said. Valentine, an insurance underwriter, was forced to take off the scarf and don an orange jumpsuit, chained and put aboard a jail bus with men and women.

“It felt like I was naked, because that’s how I feel without my hijab,” Valentine said. “You could have taken off my clothes and it would have felt the same way.”

Her husband phoned an Islamic civil rights organisation and sought an attorney, and she was released without explanation after about seven hours.

“Judge Keith Rollins has inexplicably, blatantly usurped our innate human rights as American citizens,” Hall said

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Sale of Nunthorpe Hall Farm and Blacksmith's Yard for housing is given green light

Development guidelines have been approved for the future of a group of historic buildings in Nunthorpe which are set to go on the market.

The sale of Nunthorpe Hall Farm and Blacksmith’s Yard was given the green light by Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Sub-Committee for Property in a meeting at the Town Hall yesterday.

It gives permission for the sites to be marketed with development guidance from the North of England Civic Trust (NECT) which outlines that the main farm building and the Blacksmith’s Yard should remain as they are externally but can be turned into homes.

There will be a maximum of 20 dwellings. However, this number will depend as there will be a mix of dwellings and garages.

The proposals were first put forward in April 2012, when the committee considered a report on the Review of Non-Strategic Assets regarding the disposal of land and property.

In July 2013 the sale of the properties, at West Side in Nunthorpe Village which are let by the council for farming and commercial use, to be re-developed as housing was approved.

However, during the discussions it was decided that as both sites are in the Nunthorpe & Poole Conservation Area and contain historic buildings, the council should commission the North of England Civic Trust (NECT) to prepare development guidance.

Nunthorpe Hall Farm and Blacksmiths Yard, Nunthorpe Village

Councillor for the Marton West Ward, Chris Hobson, said: “I think there is some disappointment about the loss of jobs but I know there is discussions with the tenants for relocating.

“This will eventually be an asset for Nunthorpe.”

The move was welcomed by English Heritage who found the council’s proactive approach refreshing.

NECT subsequently liaised with the tenants of both Nunthorpe Hall Farm and the Blacksmiths Yard in preparing their development guidance.

A four-week consultation period was also held in Autumn 2014, to which 11 responses to the plans were received on issues including access, parking, traffic, conservation, over-development and the environment.

Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for regeneration, councillor Charlie Rooney, said: “These buildings are non-strategic but are of historic importance to the town, so it is right that we do all we can to preserve this piece of our heritage.

“Because of this it was right to ask the NECT to prepare the development guidance which addresses the three themes of understanding the heritage assets, evaluating what is significant and managing change.

“These themes follow recognised conservation planning practise and the process of actively managing change to a heritage asset in order to protect what makes it significant.

“The council has gone over and above its statutory duty in its approach to conservation and we are glad this has been recognised by English Heritage.”

Chair of the committee, councillor Dave Budd, said: “There is little point of having historic buildings if they have no usage. This hopefully, will solve that problem.

“There are a few minor issues to iron out but this feels like the right way to do it and the right result at the end of it.”

Race night held at Acklam Rugby Club to raise funds for South Cleveland Heart Fund

A race night was held in Middlesbrough to drive up funds for the South Cleveland Heart Fund.

The event - which included a pie and peas supper - was held at Acklam Rugby Club, on Saltersgill Lane.

The South Cleveland Heart Fund was set up to keep James Cook University Hospital’s cardiothoracic unit at the leading edge of advances of care.

Last year, it set itself its biggest challenge yet - raising £1m to replace an MRI scanner and upgrade another.

Sam Hussain, organiser of last night’s event, said: “We have held a couple of race nights at the rugby club, which do a great job of helping me. Last time we made £1,300 and we’re hoping to raise even more than that. We’ve almost sold out with 100 people turning up at £5 a ticket plus raffles, horse racing.”

Residents wait on whether Middlesbrough petrol station will be granted licence to sell booze

Residents are facing wait on whether a Middlesbrough petrol station will be granted a licence to sell booze.

Coronation service station in Acklam wants to sell alcohol from 6am until 11pm, seven days a week.

However, residents, local councillors and police objected to the application with regards to anti-social behaviour in the area.

And Middlesbrough councillors have now deferred their decision until next week after it was decided more time was needed to look at the evidence.

Yesterday the applicant, Rontec Watford, put forward their case in a meeting at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Robert Botkai of Winckworth Sherwood, presenting the application for Rontec, said: “The shop is very small. Spirits will be behind the counter so that they can’t be accessed.”

It was also explained that there would be a fridge for chilled beers and a space for wines.

In total, approximately ten per cent of the shop’s floor space would be taken up by the alcohol.

Mr Botkai said: “When you put alcohol on to the site the other shop sales increase as well. It lifts the shop sales. That is why it is important for Rontec to have a licence.

“We believe that the shop would perform better if it sold alcohol.”

As reported by The Gazette, it is feared that if Middlesbrough Council grant the licence, it could lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour.

Cleveland Police showed concern as the premise is situated on the edge of a densely populated housing estate and is in close proximity to areas where anti-social behaviour and alcohol related incidents are already an issue.

Chair of the committee, councillor Bernard Taylor, said: “We have not got protection against the anti-social behaviour.

“As councillors and this committee looking on our town, residents have said the last thing we want is another outlet selling alcohol.”

However, Mr Botkai said: “We are not going for long hours. We have imposed restrictions on this licence that other licenses don’t have.

“We won’t be selling strong beers, or single cans or bottles. It is also likely to be more expensive.

“In what way can the granting of this licence aid to any issues in this area? The protection you need is there by a condition of the licence.”

At the moment, the store sells grocery items such as cereals, pasta, sandwiches, snacks, tissues and washing up powder.

Mr Botkai added: “You are safe to grant the licence. We are not doing anything new for Middlesbrough.”

A decision is due to be made within the next five working days.

Mark Proctor: 'Coventry could be the perfect job for Tony Mowbray'

I saw Tony Mowbray is the favourite for the Coventry City job and it would be an interesting role.

Coventry is a massive club in League One and has a good fan base. It’s had plenty of issues in the last few years moving out of the stadium and then back in, and I’m not sure what the politics are behind the scenes.

But if they are all sorted out then it’s a really good job for anyone, and I can understand why Tony is being linked to it.

Tony has been favourite for other jobs before, so you can’t ever think anything is done and dusted. But people are aware that he’s looking to get back into work and I think this could be the right job.

It’s a bit of a lottery really. You read articles and see reports that people are nailed on for certain jobs, and then all of a sudden it goes to someone else out of left field.

What I do know about Tony is that he’s very organised, very thorough and has a philosophy of how he wants his teams to play football.

He likes his teams to play in an entertaining way, albeit the bottom line is it’s a results business and it’s all about winning.

But if you can win in style then even better. Football is also an entertainment business, and that’s what Tony wants to achieve. He is renowned for his style of play - he took West Brom up to the Premier League playing some great football.

He started out at Hibernian and finished in the top four in both seasons and won the Scottish Football Writers’ Association manager of the year.

So any Coventry fans that don’t know what Tony is about only need to search for him on the internet and see what he’s achieved.

He likes to be hands-on. He’s a tracksuit manager who is down on the training ground every day working with th players.

He sometimes let myself and Mark Venus run the sessions at Boro but he always liked to be there and watching what was going on.

So I think Tony would possibly be a good fit at Coventry. It’s a club that probably should be competing at the top end of the Championship and pushing to get back into the Premier League.

But there’s so many clubs like that now littered throughout the leagues and looking to get back up there again.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Tony and certainly for the first two years at Boro I felt we were punching above our weight.

We were cutting the wage bill and getting rid of some of the high-earners, but were predominantly in the top six of the division.

Tony obviously took over from Gordon Strachan when the team was struggling at the bottom, but we finished 12th in the table.

Then we spent much of the next season in the top six, and the first half of the 2012/13 campaign too.

I had some good memories working with Tony at Boro. We got to the quarter final of the League Cup but lost to Swansea, and then we had the tussle with the old enemy Sunderland.

We didn’t quite hit the heights that either of us wanted in terms of finishing in the play-off places, but overall it was a great few years at Boro.

Boro head to Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon - a club I know very well from my playing days.

It’s a massive club and I remember playing at Hillsborough between 1987 and 1989 in front of 55,000 fans in the old First Division.

I also played with their manager, Stuart Gray, at Nottingham Forest and I’m sure he’s enjoying the job.

But it’s a difficult role with issues over the club being taken over and working on a restricted budget.

I think it would be interesting if clubs came clear over what budgets they are working with and what resources are available.

Fans don’t often realise what managers are working with - and only when you know that can you truly judge who is over-achieving and who is under-achieving.

That’s what I found during my time in senior management and coaching. People are unaware about the restrictions imposed on you and it’s all a bit cloak and dagger.

Boro will face a really tough test at Hillsborough this afternoon on the back of a crucial mid-week win over Bolton.

I know there was a lot of criticism aimed at the players by fans and Aitor Karanka, but at this stage of the season I think it’s just about winning and grinding out those results.

If you win ugly then fine, as long as you get the three points.

Today’s match will be difficult with a big atmosphere at Hillsborough, but I think Boro fans must be in utopia at the minute.

With the colour, the excitement and the euphoria of winning matches and the possibility of Premier League football, it doesn’t get any better than that.

I’m sure everyone is getting a little anxious at this time of the season, and teams are trying to scramble into the promotion mix.

Boro have a difficult set of fixtures coming up and I think how they fare in those will make or break this season.

I would be disappointed if Boro didn’t finish the job and go up in the automatic promotion places.

If you look at the table, gaps are starting to form at the top and I don’t see any reason why Boro can’t finish in the top two and avoid the play-offs.