Stories for 2 August 2006

The Northern Echo News

Let me return home, says rhubarb attacker

A WOMAN given an anti-social behaviour order for attacking her brother with a stick of rhubarb wants to return to the village she terrorised.Margaret Porter, 52, told a judge yesterday she was willing to co-operate with a community psychiatric nurse to help her live in peace with neighbours.But Porter, who has an untreatable paranoid personality disorder, said she blamed villagers in Newbiggin, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, for picking on her.Since March last year, when she was given a six-year Asbo for hitting 72-year-old brother William in the eye with the rhubarb and other aggressive and abusive incidents, she has been living in a hotel and driving 33 miles to feed her horses.She told Teesside Crown Court that some of her new neighbours had been unfriendly, calling her "rhubarb" and "asbo".Porter, whose son Anthony and family also live in the village, breached her order three times last December and in January, said John Gillette, prosecuting. It banned her from behaving in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to neighbours and family members.She accused a local farmer of being a cat killer, told deliverymen her neighbour was a drug dealer, and shouted abuse at a couple in front of their ten-year-old daughter.Mr Gillette said: "She was arrested and she acknowledged that she knew she was bound by the terms of the Asbo, which she said she thought was hilarious.Porter told the court: "These neighbours have spent time trying to upset me and they have succeeded."I am not afraid to say what I think. I am sorry that I have upset people."But I want to go back to the village and to live in peace."Her barrister, Jim Withyman, said she was willing to co-operate with the community psychiatric nurse and the probation service, and realised she would be jailed if there was any further trouble.In July last year, she was jailed for two months by Northallerton magistrates for breaching the order within a fortnight by harassing her son's partner, Louise Handley, and a neighbour, Marie Winspeare.Yesterday, Judge Peter Armstrong said: "I don't want to send her to prison simply to keep her from trouble, unless that is the last resort."He adjourned sentence on the latest breaches for three weeks for a report from the community psychiatric nurse. Porter from Sinderby, North Yorkshire, was remanded on bail  more...

Family win DNA battle

THE Greek authorities have agreed to an independent DNA test on the kidney they say came from a North-East holidaymaker who died in hospital after a balcony fall six years ago.The family of Christopher Rochester, 24, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, say he died because of doctors' negligence.A kidney was missing when his body was returned. One was eventually sent but DNA tests proved it was not Mr Rochester's.The Greek authorities refused to accept the result of a DNA test. But now the Greek Ambassador to Britain, Anastase Scopelitis, has told Christopher's mother and step-father, Pam and George Cummings, that an independent test carried out in a "neutral'' country, such as France or Germany, would be acceptable.The family, who are fighting to have the doctors convicted of negligence, have welcomed the move but fear they could have to pay thousands of pounds for the test.It would be attended by a university professor from the Athens Forensic Service and the family would have their own expert observer."It is good news. For the first time in six years they are agreeing to this examination but we are 100 per cent sure that the findings will come back the same as the result of our test," said Mr Cummings."If that does happen then you are looking at a separate criminal investigation into what happened during the autopsy."The family last year launched a £15,000 appeal to help meet their legal costs as they anticipate that the Greek Supreme Court will order a re-trial of the three doctors, initially convicted of negligence but then acquitted on appeal, because of "defects'' with the process. The appeal fund stands at £2,000.Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, said: "It is a major step forward to get them to agree to the test and it is a tribute to the family's tenacity."  more...

New equestrian centre is big success

A FARMING couple's new equestrian business has proved a huge success - with all places taken and a waiting list opened. Catherine Sturrock and Eric Brannen had been renting out the land around Grange Farm, Bishopton, near Stockton, but were keen to develop their interest in horses as a business.Mr Brannen said: "We realised there were a number of horse owners in the area and the demand was there for a good quality livery service. "Our instincts were confirmed when we were consulted by McAuley-McGee Associates, who at that time were producing the Tees Valley Equestrian Strategy."They actually retained the consultants as project managers and gained planning permission and a grant through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs enterprise scheme.Work started last October to create a purpose-built stable block and arena with associated facilities, including a horse walker. The site covers two-and-a-half acres, and can cater for up to 40 horses. The farm has been in Ms Sturrock's family for more than 20 years and she was keen to see the development benefit the village.She said: "We have incorporated a play area on the site for local children and we were also keen to plant a range of trees - some 1,000 - which will make a big difference over the coming years."Mr Brannen said interest in their Grange Farm Riding Centre facilities had been wonderful. "Our development sits at the centre of one of the equestrian hotspots in the Tees Valley and is close to the predicted Tees Valley Trail," he said. "By co-operating with our neighbours, we hope to open up a range of off-road riding opportunities in the near future."As well as offering a livery service and off-road trails, the couple also offer horse training and riding lessons  more...

Job blow for teenager who is recovering from accident

AN apprentice recovering from a road accident which left him in a coma has been told that he no longer has a job to go back to.Jonathan Cadman, of Spennymoor, County Durham, was preparing to return to construction group MMP as an apprentice joiner after an 18- month battle to regain his health.But the 19-year-old was left devastated last month when the Newton Aycliffe company announced it was going into administration with the loss of 272 jobs.Mr Cadman was injured in January last year while standing next to his car after smoke began pouring from it on the Spennymoor by-pass. His vehicle was in collision with a mini-bus. His skull was badly fractured but surgeons rebuilt it, using two titanium plates.His position with MMP was held open during his nine months in hospital - 11 days of which were spent in a coma - followed by nine month of intensive rehabilitation.But as preparations were made for his return to work, Mr Cadman was told he was being laid off.His mother, Mhoira Cadman, said: "When the accident happened 18 months ago, we were told he might not survive, so we certainly didn't expect to have someone as fit and healthy as Jonny is now."When he first came round, he was just like a startled rabbit, he didn't know who we were, or what had happened."We were told that we could be taking him home like that, but you just don't know with brain injuries and he was getting better all the time." Mr Cadman, said: "I was gutted when I found out about my job. I used to enjoy work and seeing the lads."I do some of the things I used to do. I play football and go to the boxing gym. "I want things to be back to normal, that's why I wanted to go back to work - that and the money." Sarah Johnson, Mr Cadman's key worker at Rehab UK, which helps people back to work after serious injury, said: "There are still areas he needs to work on, such as speech and memory, but his confidence is growing all the time."He needs to be tested in the workplace now. Unfortunately, we are now having to help him search for a new job.  more...

MP seeks changes after crash horror

AN MP has called for changes to the transportation of suspects after it emerged that an Army instructor was not handcuffed when he caused a high speed car crash which killed a police officer.PC Joe Carroll, 46, died following the accident on the A69 near Hexham, Northumberland, on 13 April. Steven Graham, 39, who was being taken to police cells in Newcastle when he caused the crash, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years for manslaughter on Monday, after admitting the charge.In a statemen, Graham said he believed the tragedy would not have happened if he had been handcuffed.After the case, Northumbria Police announced a 90-day review of custody transport procedures. Hexham MP Peter Atkinson said specialist secure transport vehicles should be used and not police cars.A Durham Constabulary spokesman said last night: "The policy in Durham is that prisoners should be handcuffed when being transported in a police car, although officers do have the flexibility to make an exception if they assess the risk as being minimal. "Prisoners would always be in the rear of the car, and accompanied by an officer."A Cleveland Police spokesman said the force favoured using vans with cages to transport suspects."It is very rare we would use a Panda car, but will do if extremely busy. In most cases prisoners will be handcuffed."A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said a decision to handcuff a prisoner would be at the discretion the officer involved "bearing in mind they many only use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances".  more...

Heading for a fall - and it's still high summer

SWELTERING temperatures are causing many of the region's trees to shed their leaves prematurely.Trees, including birch, beech and sycamore, have begun to drop their leaves in the extreme temperatures as a way of preserving moisture. Many leaves have turned golden or brown in many places and experts warn that if the hot weather continues, the trees could suffer long-term damage.Nick Collinson, from the Woodland Trust, said: "Trees and plants are under a great deal of stress. "We can tell this because we would not usually see leaves changing colour and dropping until October, but it already looks like November in some places."Across the country, this year's horse chestnut crop is in doubt because a lack of water has failed to swell the fruit.In Balk, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, one silver birch has already created a deep golden carpet of leaves on the ground.It's a far cry from June last year when part of York House Caravan Park where the tree stands was hit by flash floods which devastated some villages at the foot of the Hambleton Hills.Owner Phil Brierley said: "We were inundated, we lost ten caravans to the floods but luckily only one small piece of the park was affected as the rest is on much higher ground - now, a year on, it is so dry the trees are shedding leaves."The high temperatures have been blamed for a major rock slide at Robin Hood's Bay in which hundreds of tonnes of debris crashed onto the beach between Dungeon Hole and Ruck Ness.A group of 80 fossil hunters were in the area at the time as part of an organised trip, but escaped injury.Meanwhile, as the start of the grouse-shooting season approaches many moorland estates are expecting another bad year.Last year's mild, wet winter followed by a cool, wet spring and an indifferent summer left grouse stocks severely depleted.Lindsay Waddell, head gamekeeper at Raby Estates in Teesdale, County Durham, and chairman of the moorland branch of the National Gamekeepers' Organisation, said: "Last year's crash probably took grouse numbers down to the lowest they've been for about 100 years in many places."This year we've had a cold spring but in many ways the warm summer so far has probably made up for that."But still many places may only be able to offer only 10 per cent of what they usually could." * The North York Moors National Park is today (Wed) expected to announce whether its temporary suspension of the public's right of open access can be lifted.Visitors have been restricted to the Park's many public footpaths and bridleways since Friday of last week when the fire risk was judged too great to allow them to wander the tinder dry moors.  more...

5,500 North soldiers to leave for Iraq tour

AN Army base will be virtually emptied of soldiers for the second time in three years when 5,500 troops leave for Iraq.The announcement of the deployment of troops based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, came on the day four British soldiers died in Afghanistan and Iraq.Prime Minister Tony Blair last night paid tribute to the dead soldiers as MPs again called into question Britain's military campaigns in the troubled countries.The fatalities took to 115 the number of British service personnel who have died in Iraq since the start of hostilities in 2003 and saw the number of soldiers killed in Afghanistan in the past two months climb to nine.In a redrafted foreign policy speech in Los Angeles last night, Mr Blair spoke of British troops' bravery and sacrifice.He said: "It brings home yet again the extraordinary courage and commitment of our armed forces, who risk their lives and, in some cases, tragically lose them, defending our country's security and that of the wider world."These are people of whom we should be very proud."In one of the deadliest strikes against British troops stationed in Afghanistan, Taliban militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns ambushed and killed three soldiers while on patrol.The troops included two from the Household Cavalry Regiment and one from 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.A fourth soldier was seriously injured. He was taken to a military hospital, where he was in a critical condition last night.The Ministry of Defence said the servicemen, who were all travelling in the same vehicle, came under attack at 7.30am local time (4am BST).In Iraq, a soldier died after a multinational force base in Basra came under mortar fire at 3am local time (midnight BST). He was taken to hospital by helicopter, but died from his injuries.He was last night named as Corporal Matthew Cornish, 29, of 1st Battalion The Light Infantry. Cpl Cornish grew up in Leeds and was married to Abby. He had a daughter, Libby, and son, Ethan.He died on Yorkshire Day, three months into a third tour of Iraq as part of the 20th Armoured Brigade.The Catterick Garrison soldiers bound for Iraq are part of the 19 Light Brigade, stationed across the North of England, which is due to relieve 20 Armoured Brigade in peacekeeping and counter- insurgency in November.They will operate in southeast Iraq, including Basra, for six months under the command of the British-led multi-national division.The move will leave 5 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers the only soldiers at the garrison.The picture is similar to summer 2003, when 5,000 troops from 19 Mechanized Brigade - the forerunner of 19 Light Brigade - travelled from the base to the Gulf for a six-month tour.An Army spokesman said last night: "We have already got 1st Battalion the Devon and Dorsets in Iraq and, from November, it will be decidedly quiet at Catterick Garrison, just the same as it was in 2003."Brigadier Tim Evans, commander of the brigade, said: "We are well prepared for the forthcoming operation in Iraq. "We will have an important role in supporting and training the Iraqi forces so that they can maintain the security of their own country.  more...

End to itchy Biggles' bad hair days

BIGGLES the itchy pony has followed in the footsteps of celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss - by having hair extensions fitted.The 13-year-old Dales pony rubbed away clumps of his mane on a scratching post just before he was due to appear in a national competition, leaving his owners at the Unicorn Riding Centre, in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, concerned his punk look would let the side down. So they called in stylists Amy Sturgeon and Vicky Carr, of Saks, in Stockton, to put hair extensions in the pony's mane.Amy said: "Biggles stood like an angel throughout the session, and loved all the attention. "The centre had supplied a sample of his mane so we could get an exact colour match. This is certainly something to put on my CV."Centre manager Claire Pitt said: "Biggles looks absolutely fabulous now - a typical Dales pony with long flowing mane and tail."Biggles had qualified with rider Kate Telford to compete at the national Riding for the Disabled Association's Horse, Pony and Rider Championships in Gloucester, and with Sarah Smith in the Dressage Championships.Although he was not among the prize winners, he certainly turned a few heads.  more...

'Thank you for your support'

THE parents of toddler Rosie Wright, who is recovering after suffering serious injuries in the Dreamspace tragedy, last night thanked wellwishers for their overwhelming and comforting support.Penny and Lee Wright said Rosie faced a long road to recovery, but was in high spirits after leaving an intensive care unit. The three-year-old from Langley Park, County Durham, was injured when the inflatable artwork broke free from its moorings and flipped over. Rosie was thrown from the sculpture and then hit by a metal fan in the accident at Riverside Park, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, on July 23.Her brother, Jack, who was five last week, was pulled clear of the structure by a stranger as it began to lift.Rosie's injuries included a punctured lung, spinal fractures, bruising to the brain and two broken bones. In a statement last night Rosie's parents said: "We would like everyone to know that Rosie is making steady progress and her condition is improving. "We would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt wishes, cards and gifts. They are all very much appreciated. "The kindness and support we have received has been overwhelming and has been particularly comforting."They added: "Rosie still has a long way to go on her road to recovery. "She is still unable to sit up in bed and finding it difficult to sleep after the trauma of that day. However, her spirits are high and we will keep everyone informed of her progress."The accident claimed the lives of two County Durham women.A funeral service for Anne Collings, 69, of Dalton Heights, Seaham, was held at St Paul's Methodist Church, Murton, yesterday. Mrs Collings' husband Bill, 70, a retired colliery foreman, and daughter, Susan Campbell, also from Seaham, had watched in horror as the inflatable with Mrs Collings and her 14-year-old grandson, Craig, took off. Craig was treated for minor cuts and bruises. The funeral service for Claire Furmedge, 38, of Graythwaite, Chester-le-Street, will be held in St Mary's and St Cuthbert's Church, in the town, at 2.15pm today. A family notice said: "Claire was like sunshine, her smile lit up a room and her laughter made it warm. "She will be terribly missed by all who loved her."The family of the mother-of-two have asked for flowers only, with donations to the Steps charity, which helps people affected by lower limb conditions.Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact 0845 60 60 365. Pictures can be sent as a text to 0773 608 5272.  more...

Hero auntie saves little Joshua's life

A WOMAN has hailed her sister a hero after she saved the life of her two-year-old son.Marie Zangana, 23, from Stanley, County Durham, left Joshua in the bath while she went to answer the front door to her sister.She returned two minutes later to find him lying on his side in the bath with his mouth and nose under the water.The toddler, who had turned blue, was lifted out of the bath by Mrs Zangana, who then carried him downstairs and called for an ambulance.Meanwhile, her sister, Karen Tempest, who is trained in first aid, laid Joshua on the floor and started to resuscitate him.The 28-year-old said: "Autopilot takes over and you have got to do something. "I checked his pulse and could not feel a pulse or a heartbeat. "I started doing CPR. It must have been three or four minutes but it seemed like forever."I knew I had to keep going or he wasn't going to make it. Then I breathed into his chest and I saw it rise. Then I heard a gurgling noise and he vomited."Joshua started having seizures so Miss Tempest put him in the recovery position until paramedics arrived.Joshua was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City. He was later transferred to Newcastle General Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.Mrs Zangana said: "I thought I was going to lose him, I was really panicking. If it wasn't for my sister he would have been a goner. Josh owes his life to his auntie."Last night, Joshua's condition was much improved and Mrs Zangana is hoping he might be well enough to return home today. She also hopes her experience will serve as a warning to other mothers.She said: "I hope other mums realise that anything can happen and never to leave their kids alone, even just for two minutes."  more...

Pensioner jailed over love rival gun threat

A pensioner who threatened his love rival with a gun - then accidentally shot himself - has been jailed for five years.   more...

Internet strip cop quits

A POLICEMAN who embarrased Cleveland Police by exposing himself on the internet has quit the force.   more...

Man who killed Middlesbrough fan acted in self defence - court told

A KNIFEMAN who stabbed to death a North-East football fan was today jailed for four years in Amsterdam.   more...