Stories for 12 August 2006

The Northern Echo News

Rottweilershot three times with crossbow

POLICE are hunting thugs who shot a rottweiler with a crossbow as it slept in its kennel.The animal had to be put down after it was shot three times in the head and abdomen as it slept in the kennel outside its County Durham home.It was left to suffer excruciating pain until it was discovered later on Tuesday morning.It was taken to a vet, who had to put it down.Police are appealing for help to track down the attackers, who struck between 1am and 4am in Larch Avenue, Shildon.A police spokesman said: "This was a shocking offence. The crossbow must have been a powerful weapon to cause such harm."It is a huge concern that someone has a weapon like this, and more so that they are prepared to use it in such a manner."We want help to find the person who attacked a helpless animal that should have been safe in its secure compound, but was targeted when it could not escape."Anyone with information has been asked to call 0845 60 60 365.  more...

Teenager admits clubbing police officer

A TEENAGER being hunted for clubbing a police officer with a pair of bolt-cutters was found days later hiding in a shed with a newspaper cutting about the attack.Ambrose Richmond had kept a story from The Northern Echo about his attack on PC James Rouse in Victoria Embankment, Darlington, and bragged to a friend about it.A court heard yesterday that the 19-year-old said: "Did you hear what I did to that copper - broke his jaw in three places."The officer's jaw was not broken, but he had three grazes to his chin, a bruise to his head and had to have a skull x-ray.David Lamb, prosecuting, told a court that the attack, on April 14, was the latest in a series of offences the teenager had committed.He was also in court to be sentenced yesterday for two charges of driving while disqualified and without insurance, obstructing a police officer, burglary, theft, assault and being drunk in charge of a bicycle.Judge George Moorhouse adjourned the case for a fortnight because prosecutors did not have details of an alleged offence of breaching a court order.Richmond, of Geneva Road, Darlington, will return to court on August 25, and was remanded in custody until that appearance at Teesside Crown Court.He admitted the offences outlined.  more...

Gangland killers fail to get jail terms cut

TWO thugs who carried out an orgy of violence and murdered a man in an "underworld feud" must spend a combined total of at least 34 years behind bars.In March 2002, George Coleman, 46, and Thomas Petch, 27, were both jailed for life at Teesside Crown Court for the murder of Kalvant Singh and a number of other offences.At London's High Court yesterday, their tariffs - the minimum number of years they must spend behind bars before being considered for parole - were set by Mr Justice Openshaw.Coleman, of Thornton Street, North Ormesby, was given a 14-year tariff while Petch, of no fixed address, received a 20-year minimum term. When the time they spent on remand is taken into account, Coleman can apply for parole in 2015, while Petch can seek his freedom in 2021.However, they will only be released if they can convince the Parole Board they are no longer a danger to the public - and even then they will be freed on perpetual life licence and face recall to jail if they step out of line.The court was told market trader Mr Singh was killed in August 2001 when Petch and Coleman were recruited to murder a man alleged to have stolen drugs from prostitutes.Mr Singh was not the alleged thief, but was killed at a property in Errol Street, Middlesbrough, on August 5, after he was found in bed with a prostitute. He was thrown through a window and landed in a concrete yard below.Coleman was the getaway driver, while Petch entered the house and was seen attacking a second man, ramming his head through a glass fish tank.Further attacks took place at Southfield Road, Middlesborough - including one with a Samurai sword - and on August 7 Petch was part of a group who beat up another man, although Coleman wasn't involved.Both Petch and Coleman complained they received much longer sentences than Jonathan Crossling, the man who they claimed was behind the plot but who was eventually only convicted of manslaughter.However, Mr Justice Openshaw said there was "nothing in the point".Refusing to reduce the tariffs below 14 and 20 years, he said that Petch had a previous conviction for wounding, had a "violent disposition" and had carried out an "underworld feud".Coleman was less culpable, being only the driver, but still played a "significant and important" role in the planning process of the murder of Mr Singh and other attacks on August 5.  more...

Thief used cash ploy to steal top diamonds

A DIAMOND thief has been jailed for seven years after a judge said that he played for high stakes and lost.Richard Calvert, 31, targeted the best diamond rings owned by jewellers across the North of England by posing as a wealthy customer.Teesside Crown Court heard how he would wave a fistful of notes and distract assistants by asking to see jewellery from the bottom shelf of the window, which left them crawling on their hands and knees to retrieve.Meanwhile, he would make off with rings worth thousands, said Joseph Spencer, prosecuting.Calvert, from Church Street, Guisborough, east Cleveland, stole a diamond solitaire ring worth £22,000 from a jeweller in Hull on December 18, 2004.He also pocketed another ring worth £3,375 and a £395 gold ring from a Bridlington shop on January 25 last year.A diamond worth £41,000 from a Newcastle jeweller on March 9 last year, and diamond rings worth £29,500 and £11,250 from a shop in Lancaster on March 25 were also among his haul.Calvert also admitted other thefts in which he targeted the elderly.Mr Spencer said that on September 19 last year Calvert called at the Stockton home of a 79-year-old man recovering from two strokes and a heart attack and he stole £130 from his wallet.Then on October 29, he pushed his way into the home of an 87-year-old man by claiming to be selling fruit and stole the pensioner's £600 Christmas savings.Peter Makepeace, defending, said that Calvert was driven by a drug addiction and he was disgusted with his own behaviour.Stacey Parkin, 31, of Arron Walk, Guisborough, was jailed for 18 months after she admitted helping Calvert on some of his jeweller's shop thefts for £50 a time to pay off debts of £20,000.Judge Les Spittle told Calvert: "You played for high stakes and you lost. You did not take the rubbish, you were after the good stuff. It's quite clear that jewellers' shops were being targeted and you were travelling around."Calvert, who pleaded guilty to five thefts and a burglary, was sentenced to nine months recall from his last sentence, four years for the jewel thefts, six months for the theft in Stockton and two-and-a-half years for burglary at the other elderly man's home.  more...

On-board rower Dave breaks Guinness record

A SAILOR raised thousands of pounds for a hospital after he broke the Guinness world record for the longest continual row yesterday.Master at Arms Dave Harris has entered the record books for the third time after he completed 73 hours on a rowing machine on board County Durham's adopted Royal Navy ship, HMS Bulwark.He rowed 626,125 continuous metres on a rowing machine over three days as the ship made its way home to Plymouth, breaking the record at 9am.In the process, the 42-year-old father-of-three, from Plymouth, has raised money for the children's ward at Bishop Auckland General Hospital -one of HMS Buwark's adopted charities.He was sponsored by the ship's company and other organisations, and collected several thousand pounds."The hospital needs around £5,000 to buy a recorder to diagnose sleep-disordered breathing," said Mr Harris, whose job is to look after discipline on the ship.The record has stood since 2001, and was set in California, and Mr Harris already holds two world indoor rowing records. In November 2001, he broke the 24-hour non-stop record by rowing 307km.In November 2004, during HMS Bulwark's first visit to County Durham, he rowed 100,000 metres in six hours 55 minutes and 52.9 seconds, beating the previous best by more than 17 minutes.He said: "More people have walked on the moon than have rowed for even just 24 hours without stopping. Knowing that the ship's company and hospital staff were cheering me on was a real boost."To count as a continual row, the rules state the person has to row for 50 minutes out of every hour. This allows ten minutes out of each hour for eating, stretching and replacing lost fluids.  more...

NEIGHBOURS FROM HEAVEN: Community spirit that inspired nomination for Charlie and Pat

A couple with a sense of community spirit have been nominated for this year's Neighbours From Heaven award.Charlie and Pat Sargesson, from Cassop, in County Durham, are always happy to help their neighbour, Pauline Saiger, out - despite Mr Sargesson suffering from cancer.When Mrs Saiger, 63, is away for the weekend in her caravan, the couple look after their neighbour's greenhouse, garden and pond, feeding her six fish.Mr Sargesson, 71, who enjoys joinery, also used to help out with DIY jobs, while his wife, 68, is a talented seamstress who is always ready to help with any sewing or craftwork.Mrs Saiger said: "They are just a nice couple. Even though Charlie has cancer and has suffered a lot, he is always cheerful and always willing to help me. When I go away with the caravan, they care for my greenhouse and my fish in the garden pond."Once, when storms blew Mrs Saiger's gazebo down while she was away, Mrs Sargesson braved the torrential rain and gale force wind to rescue the covers, which were blowing away."She dried them all and put them in my sun room for when I got back," Mrs Saiger said.The couple, who have been married for 48 years, moved into their bungalow 12 years ago. Mrs Saiger moved in next door six years later, but has known Mrs Sargesson, who is originally from Cassop, for many years.Mrs Saiger, who was widowed 35 years ago, said the couple were always cheerful and have a good sense of humour.Mrs Sargesson was overwhelmed when she was told she and her husband had been nominated for Neighbours From Heaven.She said: "I was shocked. You don't expect this to happen to you. Pauline is a good neighbour - she is so nice."There are 40 places for Neighbours From Heaven on the King of Scandinavia ferry, which will take them for a weekend in Amsterdam. Just fill in the entry form or go to www.thenorthernecho.co.uk and tell us about your neighbour. Closing date is Friday, Septem-ber 1. If they win, you and your partner will join your neighbour and their partner on the trip. The ship leaves on Thursday evening, September 28, returning to North Shields on September 30. All sailing and hotel accommodation is paid for and there will be a tour of Amsterdam.  more...

Surplus of grouse glorious for estate

A NORTH Yorkshire moorland estate has bucked the trend with a surplus of grouse for today's Glorious Twelfth.Des Coates, head gamekeeper on Lord Peel's Grinton Estate, in Swaledale, says they have a near- record number this year.He said: "We could be looking at 2,000 brace, and possibly more, probably because it is a very dry moor."Many other estates are struggling to have only one or two days shooting, but Grinton has pencilled in 20 days.Good news for the estate, it should also boost the local economy.Estates keep their charges a closely guarded secret but, typically, a team of eight guns could expect to pay £10,000 to shoot 100 brace.The income is vital for estates such as Grinton, which ploughs much of it back into maintaining buildings, improving the habitat and carrying out other conservation work on its 6,000 acres.Mr Coates has been a gamekeeper for 34 years - 27 of them at Grinton - and is full of praise for Lord Peel, who he says spends a fortune on conservation.He said: "He has spent £96,000 over ten years on bracken control alone. It has regenerated 300 acres of heather and he has started another five-year scheme."Mild, moist winters are ideal conditions for a parasitic worm, which devastates grouse chicks and which has hit other estates hard.But Grinton has suffered its worst drought since 1949.The dry conditions have hit worm numbers and Mr Coates has also reduced their threat by creating 50 small ponds across the moor, so grouse, and other birds such as golden plover, lapwing and curlew, are not concentrated in just a few places. While there is no shortage of grouse on Grinton, the estate has struggled to find beaters.A local shortage of interested young people has meant they have had to recruit from Richmond and Barnard Castle, ten to 15 miles away.Mr Coates said it was a sign of the times: "We have eight coming from Richmond and five from Barnard Castle. I doubt if we have ten from the local area." The Game Conservancy Trust has carried out trials which show estates which employ gamekeepers have a richer variety of bird life because of their predator control and general management.  more...

Lock me up please - I need a rest

NOT many people turn up at a police station begging to be locked up for the night.But for Jean Beliveau, halfway through a 12-year, 50,000-mile walk round the world, anywhere with four walls and a roof is luxury.Unfortunately for Mr Beliveau, the cells at Darlington police station were full - so he slept at the nearby fire station instead.Mr Beliveau, 50, from Vancouver, Canada, arrived in the town on Thursday night and left for Thirsk on Friday morning.His three-wheel buggy, which carries his few possessions, was swelled with a County Durham Fire Service T-shirt, cap, and cufflinks."The people I meet on the way keep me going," said Mr Beliveau. "It's a big chain of people, all around the world, pushing me on."John Walkden, manager of the green watch at Darlington fire station, said: "We are so humbled by his achievements - we are in awe of him. It's nice that we were able to give him some support."Mr Beliveau's adventure started in Montreal on August 18, 2000 - his 45th birthday.Since then, he has walked across North and South America, before travelling to South Africa.While in Durban, the mayor introduced him to another special guest - Nelson Mandela."That was an amazing moment," said Mr Beliveau, who proudly keeps the photo in a scrapbook of his journey.Mr Beliveau walked up the east coast of Africa, along the north coast to Morocco, and crossed into Europe.He arrived in Britain after crossing Spain, France, and Ireland - and says that nowhere has been more welcoming."England is my favourite place," he said. "Everyone here is so kind and supportive - I love them."I would like to say thank you for all the love and help I have had."Mr Beliveau decided to walk round the world to mark the United Nations decade for children's peace - yet it was children who almost caused him to give up."When I was in Ethiopia, there would be hundreds of children everywhere I went, asking for money," he said."I was tired, missing home and thought, 'I can't do this', but when I e-mailed my wife she wrote back to say I must go on."Mr Beliveau is expected to meet the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, in York, and will appear on BBC alongside Sharon Osbourne later this month.To honour his television appointment, he is getting the train from York to London, but will then catch a train back so he can complete the same journey on foot.For more information on the walk, visit www.wwwalk.org  more...

12-mile park proposed along city centre route

A TWELVE-MILE long "necklace park" snaking its way around the banks of a river is likely to be the first result of plans to improve a city's image.Tourism expert Claire Lancaster has been appointed to develop a park in Durham made up of pockets of land strung out along the River Wear.The park is the first proposal to emerge from the city's 20-20 Vision project, designed to help Durham shed its "beautiful, but boring" image.The 27-year-old, who until recently worked for the tourism team at development agency One NorthEast, will work with landowners, residents and other groups with an interest in the river to create an unbroken chain of land along the Wear from Sunderland Bridge to Finchale Abbey.The idea is to seek agreements with landowners so public spaces and open sites can be linked by paths and bridleways to create spaces for public events, walks, sports and other activities.Ms Lancaster said: "The aim is to enable local projects to happen within environmental, heritage and regional image guidelines, while ensuring that all landowners also benefit from being involved in the park."My first task will be to gather information, talk to landowners and find out what the community wants, and we are organising a series of events to be held over the August Bank Holiday to sample some of the things that might become regular activities."The park would be in addition to proposals for a £5m Lottery bid to restore the 17th Century terraced gardens on the steep slopes between the cathedral and the riverbank.The necklace park proposal is one of a number of suggestions that are expected to be subject to further consultation this year, including plans to stage more arts schemes and events in the city centre, renovate the Market Place and improve city lighting and signs.Last year, the 20-20 Vision Steering Group staged the biggest consultation ever in the city, when 3,500 people gave their views on the future. Most were in favour of change, but only if the city's heritage was protected.  more...

Rosie moved to hospital nearer home after improvements

A YOUNGSTER left fighting for her life when she suffered horrific injuries in last month's Dreamspace tragedy has been moved to a hospital nearer her home.Almost three weeks after the disaster, Rosie Wright is slowly but surely making progress.And her family were delighted when the three-year-old was transferred this week from Newcastle General Hospital to the children's ward at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City.Her parents, Lee and Penny, had been making a daily 40-mile round trip to be at their daughter's side, but the move means Rosie is now being cared for only three miles from her home in Langley Park.Her grandfather, Des Richards, said: "She is still in traction, but she is still making good progress and we are delighted that she is nearer to home."Rosie suffered horrendous injuries in the accident in Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street, on July 23, when the inflatable sculpture slipped its moorings and took to the air with about 30 people inside.Rosie was thrown from the artwork then crushed by a falling metal fan, which left her with injuries that included a punctured lung, two fractures to her spine, bruising to the brain, two broken bones, rib fractures, lacerations to her liver and a head wound. Her life is thought to have been saved when she was treated at the scene by anaesthetist Dr Peter Evans. She was then airlifted to the paediatric intensive care ward at Newcastle General Hospital, where she spent more than a week on a life support machine.Rosie's fight for life touched the hearts of the nation, and her family have been inundated with messages of support from well-wishers.Grandmother Anne Collings, 69, of Seaham, east Durham, and Claire Furmedge, a 38-year-old radiographer and mother-of-two, from Chester-le-Street, both died in the accident.A police and Health and Safety Executive inquiry into the tragedy is ongoing.  more...

Sikh taxi driver tells of racist abuse

A SIKH taxi driver has condemned racists who have used this week's terror alerts to taunt him and his son.Balbir Singh,45, from Darlington, said since Thursday morning he and his family had been subjected to abuse from youths in the town.Mr Singh said more needed to be done to educate people about different religions as he feels, as a Sikh, he is victimised.On one occasion, he was taunted by yobs who accused him of being a Muslim and a terrorist.Yesterday afternoon, he was called by his wife who said there was a gang of youths outside their house who had been shouting racist abuse.His eight-year-old son, Harbaljit, has also been the target of the abuse.Two Sikh priests who were visiting Darlington were also called "Bin Laden" and "Pakis", he said, and the Sikh temple in Lawrence Street was being damaged by vandals.Mr Singh said he had never experienced abuse of this nature until Thursday's terror alerts.He said: "I am from the Punjab in India and have been living here since I was ten years old. People should get the message that there is a difference between people."When I try and tell people I am a Sikh I just get more abuse."It's going to get a bit out of hand. If they keep getting me wrong, there'll be other people who are having the same thing happen to them. We have nothing to do with this."Mr Singh said he has not yet reported the incidents to police.Inspector Bill Dutton, of Darlington police, said he was not aware of any increase in racist incidents following the terror alerts. He said: "It would seem people have been quite understanding and well educated about it. However, I would urge anybody who has been subject to the abuse of this nature to come forward."  more...

Drunks who put manhole covers on line spared jail

TWO drunken friends who put manhole covers on a railway line narrowly avoided prison as a judge gave a stark warning about the dangers of dicing with death on the tracks.Lee Costello, 19, and Terry Kelly, 26, were given suspended jail sentences yesterday for what one barrister described as their "thoughtless, feckless and reckless" actions.They were also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work in the community by Teesside Crown Court judge George Moorhouse, who told them: "This was an act of gross, drunken stupidity."Judge Moorhouse accepted the incident was "wholly out of character" for both young men, and that they had both shown remorse since the incident, on August 26 last year.The judge could have jailed them for up to two years for obstructing a railway line, being reckless as to whether the safety of a person was thereby endangered.And he told the pair: "It is my duty to ensure that others like you who commit offences like this get a clear message that it will receive a custodial sentence."Costello, a warehouse worker of Evenwood Close, and unemployed debt collector Kelly, of Waverley Street, both of Stockton, Teesside, were each given a nine-month sentence suspended for a year.The court heard how the friends had gone on to the trackside of the freight line at Stockton that Friday afternoon armed with an air rifle and bottles of beer.They were spotted putting six metal manhole covers on the line by a closed circuit television operator who contacted the police and the rail authorities so trains could be halted.When police arrived at the scene, the pair had gone into nearby woodland and one was found trying to climb a tree while the other still had the air weapon.In interview, they claimed they had gone out for some shooting practice and had used the manhole covers to balance bottles on to give them better targets to aim for.Peter Sabiston, defending, described Costello as "a decent young man who has behaved appallingly on one occasion" and added: "He is ashamed and concerned about the lives he may have endangered."Paul Newcombe, for Kelly, said: "This was an act not born of malice, but of gross stupidity. This was an act not born of calculated mischief, but of gross error of judgement. It was an act not designed or timed to hurt or injure, but, on Terry Kelly's part, as thoughtless, feckless and, essentially, reckless."The men denied the more serious charge of obstructing a railway line with intent to endanger persons - which carries a life sentence - and not guilty pleas were recorded.  more...

Police prepare £350,000 bill over aborted mergers

DURHAM Police are to bill the Home Office for more than £350,000 compensation for ten months of wasted work leading up to the failed police merger plans.The cash-strapped force has become the second in the region to reveal its costs following the Government's U-turn on the controversial plans.The Government had wanted to merge Durham Police with Northumbria and Cleveland, to create a North-East superforce, and merge North Yorkshire Police into a much wider Yorkshire force.However, in July the merger plans, which had divided the country's police forces, were scrapped as the Home Office admitted it did not have the money to support the plans.Last week, North Yorkshire Police became the first force in the region to announce it would be asking the Government for £250,000 for the wasted work.And yesterday - although Cleveland Police is yet to finalise its costs - chairman of the police authority, Councillor Dave McLuckie, said Cleveland would be asking for between £100,000 and £250,000.This brings the bill to at least £700,000 - with Northumbria, the biggest force by far, yet to work out its costs.The total bill for this region is likely to break the £1m mark.George Oliver, spokesman for Durham Police, said: "We will be making a submission to the Home Office to reimburse the costs incurred."As a force that has been praised for its prudent financial management, obviously monies that are no longer available to use are important to the running of the force."We need the money, we can't afford to lose this type of money within our budgets, that's why we are making the submission."Durham Police has warned it will be £8m in the red within two years after several years of poor financial settlements from the Government.The Durham and Northumbria forces were behind the plans for a North-East force, but Cleveland was strongly opposed and launched a judicial review to stop the amalgamation.The Home Office is likely to draw a distinction between spending that would have occurred anyway and additional costs - such as travel and consultants fees - brought about by the merger plans.Both North Yorkshire and Durham forces said they had shelled out about £60,000 of additional costs and these figures are included in their submissions to the Home Office.Coun McLuckie, said a meeting on August 23 would determine how much it was to bill the Home Office for.  more...

Fury as woman spared jail for grave urination

A FAMILY has reacted with fury after a grandmother was spared jail for urinating on the grave of a cancer victim.Annette Slight, 54, of Well Street, Pallion, Sunderland, was given a two-year community punishment order and will be electronically tagged for six months.Sunderland magistrates ruled she must be indoors from 6pm to 10pm and carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.Her solicitor said Slight intends to appeal against the ruling because she is physically and mentally disabled and unable to undertake the work.She previously admitted causing alarm, harassment and distress by her actions on January 29.John McGlone, prosecuting, told the court how three weeks before the offence, Henry Tutty had been interred at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, in Sunderland.Mr Tutty's widow, Jean, and daughter, Lauren, had taken his grandchildren, Chloe, six, and Elliott, two, to the grave. They were tending it when Slight and her husband came along with three dogs and let them off their leads.The family protested when one of the dogs urinated on Mr Tutty's grave, and were outraged when Slight lowered her trousers and did the same after shouting abuse at them.Lauren took a photograph of Slight on her mobile phone and called police.Slight handed herself in after the picture was made public.Lisa Bishop, in mitigation, said: "There is genuine remorse from her and she is very sorry about what she has done."She has physical problems and suffers from mental health issues."If it was not for her husband caring for her, she would be in residential care."The court heard that her house and car have been vandalised by people angry at what she did and that the couple have suffered crank phone calls.Jean Tutty, 57, said the sentence was lenient.She said: "What she did devastated and disgusted us at a time when we were grieving over Henry's loss. "I would have liked her to get a six-month jail sentence, or at least have be forbidden from entering the cemetery."I would like people to write to Sunderland City Council to campaign to have her banned for life."  more...

Aeroplane bomb plot 'linked to al Qaida'

AL QAIDA terrorists based in Afghanistan may have been behind an alleged plot to bring down airliners over US cities, it was claimed last night.Meanwhile, detectives investigating the alleged plot were granted warrants for the further detention of 22 people held in the operation.A total of 24 people were arrested following raids in London, High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, and Birmingham were carried out by police in the early hours of Thursday.A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the warrants allowed officers to detain the 22 suspects until Wednesday.A hearing regarding the detention of another person was adjourned until Monday. Another of the people arrested was released with no further action.Nineteen of the 24 people arrested over the alleged plot, at least three of whom are converts to Islam, have had their assets frozen by the Bank of England.Meanwhile, the worldwide intelligence operation into the alleged plot to crash ten jets over US cities continued.In Pakistan, authorities said seven people had been held in Karachi and Lahore.They claimed it was the arrests there that had triggered the police operation to act.Its foreign ministry also said there were indications of an "Afghanistan-based al Qaida connection" to the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic passenger jets in mid-flight.One of the men held, Rashid Rauf, had links with al Qaida, according to Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherapo.The FBI and MI5 were working flat out to identify whether or not a second al Qaida cell may be waiting to launch attacks in the event of the first alleged plot being discovered.Intelligence sources in the US claimed the huge surveillance operation began shortly after the July 7 London Underground bombings last year, when Scotland Yard received a call from a worried member of the Muslim community.By late last year, the operation involved several hundred intelligence officials on three continents after MI5 decided to confide in Pakistani and US intelligence services.They kept tabs on dozens of people and watched as the alleged conspirators made trips from Britain to Pakistan to raise money and refine the plan.Investigators believe the operation involved three cells. Members of each group may not have been aware of the others or the size of the alleged operation, which rivalled the September 11 hijackings in scope.The disruption caused by the worldwide terror alert continued to cause chaos last night.Although flights from Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley were getting back to normal, long-distance travellers were warned to expect problems at major international airports.In the North-East, many passengers found themselves trapped in the chaos which has engulfed Heathrow and Gatwick since Thursday morning.No flights into or out of Teesside were cancelled yesterday, and delays were substantially shorter than the previous day.Newcastle Airport suffered many more problems yesterday, with 22 flights into and out of the airport cancelled.EasyJet had 12 flights cancelled and British Airways ten. All were internal flights, plus the budget airline's flights to and from Budapest.The situation appeared to be easing, but last night eight flights into and out of Newcastle over the weekend - to Malaga, Geneva, Alicante and Heathrow - were cancelled  more...

Thousands of fans gearing up for superbike meeting

THOUSANDS of biking enthusiats will visit the region this weekend for a top race meeting.The British Superbike Championship arrives at Croft Circuit, near Darlington. And with four races to go and three riders with a chance of championship glory, the season is reaching a thrilling climax.Police have warned fans not to treat the region's roads as a racetrack.Throughout last year, 559 motorcyclists were killed, with another 5,939 seriously injured.Motorbikes made up one per cent of traffic, but were involved in 18 per cent of fatalities.This weekend, officers from four forces - North Yorkshire, Durham, Cleveland, and Cumbria - will be out in numbers to ensure the safety of all road users. Sergeant Pete Mason, of North Yorkshire police, said: "More than 99 per cent of those coming to Croft want to enjoy riding safely on the region's great motorcycling roads."But I am warning the one per cent who ride like idiots, we will catch you and deal with you very firmly."Durham Police Chief Inspector Paul Goundry said: "We ask visitors to respect the communities they are heading through, and respect other road users."This should be a great weekend and we would hate anyone to spoil that."Superbikes appear identical to their road-going versions, but have more powerful engines, different suspension, and specially-made tyres.North Yorkshire County Councillor Pete Sowray, executive member for roads and traffic, said: "Many motorcyclists will have similar bikes as they see speeding round the track - but the same behaviour on the roads will not be tolerated."Police insist force boundaries will be irrelevant as all forces work together to prevent accidents. Roadside speed checks and extra patrols will be in place.North Yorkshire's automatic number plate recognition team will also be working on approach routes to detect criminals and check insurance details.Sgt Mason said: "Last year's operation showed we can successfully mix tough enforcement with friendly advice."The result is no casualties, a positive mood, and an easier job of easing thousands of cars and bikes through the busy approach roads."I'm hoping for a perfect weekend with no motorcyclists stopped for speeding or anti-social behaviour."  more...

Police inquiry over the death of man in river

MYSTERY surrounds the last moments of a grandfather whose body was recovered from the River Tees.Police have mounted a high-profile investigation into the death of the dementia sufferer who had been reported missing.Officers are treating the incident as suspicious after a post-mortem examination revealed unexplained injuries on the body of Middlesbrough grandfather James Hodgson.No details have been released about the nature of his injuries, or how long he had been in the water before he was discovered by the crew of a dredger near the Tarmac Jetty in Tees Dock on Thursday morning.The divorced 61-year-old father of three was last seen by his carer on Monday at about 10.30am at his home in Monkland Close.Forty officers have been drafted into the investigation to scour security-camera footage and carry out door-to-door inquiries.Detective Superintendent Tony Hutchinson, who is leading the investigation, is calling on friends to come forward to help retrace Mr Hodgson's movements since his disappearance.He said: "It may be these injuries have occurred while he was in the water. It is clearly important that we establish his movements and discover exactly how he came to be in the river."There is currently no idea of how long he was in the water, but we need to know when and where he entered the river."Mr Hodgson, known as either Jim or Howard, was a popular man in the community where he lived and was not believed to have been involved in any arguments or disturbances prior to his disappearance.Det Supt Hutchinson added: "I am keen to hear from people who have seen James since Monday. I want to hear from people who knew James - what were his habits, did he often go to the river and where would he walk?"He was well known to people in the area where he lived and a regular visitor to Captain Cook Square, where he often sat reading his newspaper."An incident room has been set up at police headquarters and a telephone hotline has been opened to receive calls. Anyone with information is asked to call (01642) 301333.  more...

Aeroplane bomb plot 'linked to al Qaida'

AL QAIDA terrorists based in Afghanistan may have been behind an alleged plot to bring down airliners over US cities, it was claimed last night.As Scotland Yard detectives prepared to question the 24 people held during Thursday's raids in the UK - one of whom was released last night - Pakistani intelligence officials claimed they had found an al Qaida link.And sources in the US said the British secret service had decided to act only when they believed the alleged bombers were planning to carry out a "test run" within days.The disruption caused by the worldwide terror alert continued to cause chaos last night.Although flights from Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley were getting back to normal, long-distance travellers were warned to expect problems at major international airports.And late last night, eight weekend flights into and out of Newcastle were cancelled.Meanwhile, the worldwide intelligence operation into the alleged plot to crash ten jets over US cities continued last night.In Pakistan, authorities said seven people had been held in Karachi and Lahore.They claimed it was the arrests there that had triggered the police operation to act.Its foreign ministry also said there were indications of an "Afghanistan-based al Qaida connection" to the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic passenger jets in mid-flight.One of the men held, Rashid Rauf, had links with al Qaida, according to Pakistan Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherapo.The FBI and MI5 were working flat out to identify whether or not a second al Qaida cell may be waiting to launch attacks in the event of the first alleged plot being discovered.Nineteen of the 24 suspects arrested over the alleged plot, at least three of whom are converts to Islam, have had their assets frozen by the Bank of England.They are being held at police stations across London and detectives have up to 28 days to question them.Intelligence sources in the US claimed the huge surveillance operation began shortly after the July 7 London Underground bombings last year, when Scotland Yard received a call from a worried member of the Muslim community.By late last year, the operation involved several hundred intelligence officials on three continents after MI5 decided to confide in Pakistani and US intelligence services.They kept tabs on dozens of people and watched as the alleged conspirators made trips from Britain to Pakistan to raise money and refine the plan.Investigators believe the operation involved three cells. Members of each group may not have been aware of the others or the size of the alleged operation, which rivalled the September 11 hijackings in scope.In the North-East, many passengers found themselves trapped in the chaos which has engulfed Heathrow and Gatwick since Thursday morning.No flights into or out of Teesside were cancelled yesterday, and delays were substantially shorter than the previous day.Newcastle Airport suffered many more problems yesterday, with 22 flights into and out of the airport cancelled.EasyJet had 12 flights cancelled and British Airways ten, all of them internal flights, other than the budget airline's flights to and from Budapest.The situation appeared to be easing, but last night eight flights into and out of Newcastle over the weekend - to Malaga, Geneva, Alicante and Heathrow - were cancelled. Converts to Islam - Page 5  more...