Stories for 29 August 2006

The Northern Echo News

Defy the terrorists, says the family of bomb blast victim

THE family of a North-East woman killed in a bomb blast in Turkey last year are urging tourists to defy the terrorists.Trainee chef Helyn Bennett, 21, from Spennymoor, County Durham, was one of five people killed when a terrorist bomb blew apart a bus in the Aegean resort of Kusadasi last July.Her stepfather, Tom Holden, said that while the weekends bomb blasts had evoked painful memories, he insisted that Britons should not stay away from Turkey.The Kurdish separatist group, the PKK, has claimed responsibility for the latest blasts on Sunday and yesterday. Turkish authorities also blamed the terror group for last year's attack which claimed Helyn's life. But Mr Holden said it would be giving in to the terrorists if people were frightened off by the attacks. It's just a shock - I'm shaking," he said after hearing of the latest series of explosions, one of which blew up a mini bus. It brings everything back. I feel awful."Although he admitted his experiences would deter him from returning to Turkey, he said others should not be put off."Then the terrorists have won," he said. "I would not go. But people who haven't been touched, they'll still go. I don't think it should let it put them off."Helyn's fiance and four members of her family were hurt in the blast in July last year, which claimed the lives of a 17-year-old Irish tourist and three Turkish nationals. Mr Holden, along with Helyn's mother Sharon and aunt and uncle Lynn and Terry Debbage, escaped the explosion because they took a day trip to a Greek island. There, unable to contact their family, they had to wait more than six hours before Helyn's death was confirmed. Mr Holden said: "What we went through is horrific. We know what they are going to go through. They are going to have real troubles. They are not going to get a great deal of help, or financial support. They have done nothing wrong. They have just gone out to their country, spent money there and this is what happens."  more...

Man held after body of mother is found

A YOUNG mother who called police for help over a domestic dispute was found dead with multiple stab wounds just over 48 hours later.The body of mother-of-two Stephanie Malcolm, 21, was found at her home in Avon Street, Easington, County Durham, at 4.30am yesterday.A police spokesman confirmed they had been called to help her in a domestic incident last week.The spokesman said that when police were called yesterday, Miss Malcolm was found with multiple wounds to her upper body.A 31-year-old man from Avon Street, believed to be the woman's partner, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.The spokesman said: "When officers arrived they discovered the body of a 21-year-old woman in an upstairs bedroom of the privately-rented terraced house."She had sustained a number of wounds to her upper body, which are suspected to have been inflicted by a sharp instrument."Paramedics who attended confirmed the victim dead at the scene."A post-mortem examination was being carried out last night to determine the cause of death.He added: "Officers arrested a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder. He is being detained at Peterlee police station. A kitchen knife was also recovered from the house."Detective Superintendent Neil Malkin, who is leading the investigation, said crime scene investigators were conducting forensic examinations of the scene and inquiries were being carried out.He confirmed there had been an "incident last week where officers rendered assistance to the woman".Police said the couple's two-year-old son, Paul, was in the house. The couple also have a five-year-old daughter, Chloe, who was elsewhere.An incident room has been set up and anyone with information is asked to contact 0845 6060365, 6702632 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  more...

Patrol car blunder lets thief pinch gun

A PRISONER stole a handgun and ammunition after police officers left them unsecured in a patrol car, it emerged last night.The two officers left the 9mm handgun, bullets and a Taser stun gun in the front of the armed response car as it was parked outside Stockton police station.The weapons were missing for at least 14 hours while officers launched a search, before raiding a house in Middlesbrough yesterday after- noon.A man was arrested and police recovered the Sig pistol, Taser gun and bullets.Last night, Cleveland Police said the guns had been left in the footwell of the car and had not been locked in a secure gun cabinet as they should have been.The two officers from the armed response vehicle have been suspended from firearms duties and the matter voluntarily referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.A 24-year-old, who was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and was in the car on Sunday night, has been re- arrested on suspicion of theft.Assistant Chief Constable Derek Bonnard said: "I fully appreciate how concerned the public must be that such dangerous weapons can be stolen, and I share their concerns."A full investigation is under way to establish how this happened."The two firearms officers had been out on a routine patrol on Sunday when they arrested a man from Middlesbrough on suspicion of drink-driving.He was taken to Stockton police station for formal testing.The police officer escorted the prisoner into the station, leaving his weapons behind in the footwell of the vehicle with the second officer, while it was parked outside the station.When the suspect had completed the drink-driving tests, which proved negative, the two officers drove him back in their vehicle to Cannon Park, Middlesbrough, where he had left his motorcycle.Shortly afterwards, the officers realised the weapons were missing and raised the alarm.The Ford Galaxy car was outside the police station from about 11.30pm to midnight, and it is during this time that police believe the weapons were stolen.Every Cleveland Police officer was alerted to the missing guns. The weapons were eventually recovered when police raided a house in Chelmsford Walk, Middlesbrough, shortly after 1pm yesterday.Mr Bonnard said the officers would be suspended from firearms duties until the investigation was concluded.Last night, police did not say when exactly the man was believed to have stolen the guns and whether he could have been armed with them while he was being driven back to Cannon Park.Taser guns fire mini-barbed probes at a suspect, who is immediately incapacitated by a 5,000-volt shock.Suspects fall to the ground and are subdued for about five seconds. There is no lasting effect.Cleveland Police officers were issued with the US-made stun guns last December.Last month, the force used the Tasers for the first time, when two were fired simultaneously to prevent a man from harming himself in Stockton  more...

Police chiefs reject bullying allegations

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Youth on run after attack

A teenager with severe psychiatric problems is on the run today after alledgedly attacking his carer during a fishing trip.   more...

Residents hit out at report on demolition

RESIDENTS opposed to the demolition of their homes have expressed anger that a council report said there was insufficient money to start the scale of demolition first envisaged.The Gresham area of Middlesbrough will lose 37 streets if the borough council's proposals to pull down 1,500 terraced houses in the town centre are approved.The council said they would be replaced by modern residential developments.The Middlesbrough Council report said there was insufficient funds to start the scale of demolition first envisaged, with a knock-on effect for the timetable of the entire scheme.Protestors are also are angry that more than £1.6m of the £11m cost of work will come from council funds.Residents' spokesman Ash Marron said: "This means that nearly all the budget is going into acquisition and demolition rather than regeneration we have heard so much about, because they do not have the money for that."He said of the project: "It is in complete disarray and so must go back the drawing board.''Objectors have also questioned claims that more than 80 per cent of owner-occupiers in the first streets planned to be demolished have indicated a willingness to sell.A council spokesman said: "In the early days, there was a general acceptance of the council's policy and recognition that it was right. People were really wanting to get to the point where we were discussing terms with the council.Mr Marron said: "Everything is for sale at the right price. "To claim 80 per cent are willing to sell is like saying eight of ten owners say their cats prefer a pet food."Residents have also hit out at alleged plans to replace some of the flattened houses with shops.Resident Eddie Johnson said Tennyson Street, where he lives, would be bulldozed to help create a specialist retail, bar and cafe quarter, despite the fact there were empty shops nearby that could be converted.A council spokesman said residents were still being consulted. He said: "It may be that this will suggest the need for a limited amount of retail on a small part of the cleared site, for example, for convenience stores for the local area, but it is important to stress that the council's primary aim is, and always has been, to put replacement residential development on the site."  more...

Record attendance at summer show

RECORD crowds attended Stockton's Summer Show and got a taste of life in the circus.Circus skills were taught free of charge to youngsters by members of the Festival Circus, including juggling, tumbling and balancing. Movie and TV horse trainer Gerard Naprous brought his Devil's Horsemen jousting display to the arena at Preston Park, Eaglescliffe. The Golden Eagle Archers also demonstrated their prowess.Carol Croft, one of the event team organisers, said: "It has been packed every day, absolutely packed. I would say record crowds and we have been very lucky with the weather.''  more...

Last month's heatwave only a distant memory

THE bank holiday weekend stayed mainly dry across the North-East and North Yorkshire although disappointingly low temperatures put a slight dampener on things.There were some heavy downpours, especially on Sunday evening, but most of yesterday stayed dry. More rain was being predicted last night for some areas.Making the most of what rain there was were ducks at Monk Park Farm in Bagby, Thirsk.Temperatures struggled to get above 18C (64F) across much of the country and those who went to Saltburn, east Cleveland found it surprisingly chilly for the end of August.Lee-on-Solent, in Hampshire, recorded the highest temperature in Britain with 21C (70F).Across the country, there were highs of 16C to 18C, with western Scotland and Northern Ireland only reaching temperatures of between 14C and 16C.Steve Randall, Met Office forecaster, said: "For this time of year it has been very average - there has been a lot of cloud, some wind and some showers."The coming week it is going to be unsettled with temperatures about average. Ironically, it may actually feel warmer, even if it does get colder."  more...

Actors show off necklace park's duels to city visitors

VISITORS to part of the region may have been surprised to see pistol duels taking place in the streets yesterday.But it was all harmless fun - and part of a series of events at sites along the River Wear in Durham City, aimed at giving people a taste of a new "necklace park".The Victorian duels, staged by Durham Light Infantry Museum staff, were held near Prebend's Bridge.Other activities at the weekend included fishing, kite-making and an outdoor cinema.The necklace park is a ribbon of riverside sites and open spaces in and around Durham.The aim of the park project is to join locations using public paths and bridleways and, by agreement with private landowners, to create spaces for public events, walks, sports, and other activities.The park is one of the first projects to grow out of the Durham City 2020 Vision project, which is looking to create a vibrant future for the city and its surrounding area over the next 14 years. The park will extend from Sunderland Bridge to Finchale Abbey.  more...

Three dead in Turkish explosions

TEN British holidaymakers were last night recovering from their injuries after a weekend of bombings at Turkish holiday resorts left three people dead.A militant Kurdish group claimed responsibility for Sunday's blast - which seriously wounded four of the Britons - in the popular seaside town of Marmaris, and warned that Turkey is unsafe for tourists.But the British ambassador to Turkey and travel industry representatives said British holidaymakers were apparently undeterred.Another bomb attack in Istanbul on Sunday injured six people, and a blast yesterday in the Turkish coastal resort of Antalya left three dead and at least 20 injured.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said initial reports suggested there were no Britons among those killed or injured in Antalya.It also said a rapid deployment team was on its way to the Marmaris resort to join consular teams working with British holidaymakers affected.The ten Britons and 11 Turks were injured late on Sunday after a bomb blew apart a minibus in the centre of Marmaris.There were two other explosions at the same time in rubbish bins on the town's main boulevard, which caused no injuries.Earlier, a bomb blast in a poor neighbourhood of Istanbul injured six people.The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, claimed responsibility for both attacks on Sunday.It is the PKK that Turkish authorities believe planted a remote-controlled bomb on a minibus, which killed five people, including 21-year-old Helyn Bennett, 21, of Spennymoor, County Durham, in July last year.A man is due to stand trial for murder following the attack in the tourist resort of Kusedasi.Following the latest blasts, the PKK warned: "Turkey is not a safe country. Tourists should not come to Turkey."Kurdish militants have been fighting for autonomy in south-east Turkey since 1984.Six of the Britons injured in yesterday's blast, including a seven-year-old boy, were taken to Ahu Hetman Hospital, in Marmaris.Four others, including a 73-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl, were admitted to the private Caria hospital.The injuries, none of which are said to be life-threatening, included burns and shrapnel wounds to the legs. Four of the Britons have undergone surgery.Jill Thornton, of Consett, County Durham, said her son, Daniel, 19, witnessed the aftermath of the Marmaris bus explosion.Daniel, who was walking with his girlfriend, Laura Stalker, 17, said he was met by a shocking scene.Mrs Thornton said: "He has seen one of the buses which has blown up, but he had heard that there were three altogether."He is only 19 and his girlfriend is only 17. I am panicking."His girlfriend was very upset. Her parents are out there too."The Government has not changed the level of its official advice for British travellers visiting Turkey, but it warns of "a high threat from terrorism".  more...

New college brings in total smoking ban on premises

STUDENTS and staff at a new college will be banned from smoking -even in the privacy of their own cars.The entire Darlington College campus will be smoke-free, meaning those who want to light up are going to have to leave the grounds and the car park.The £35m college, in Haughton Road, will open to students next month, following a move from its Cleveland Avenue site.The ban came as more venues are stopping smoking ahead of a Government ban on smoking in enclosed public places, due to come into force next year.Darlington College has been presented with a National Clean Air Award in recognition of its total smoking ban. The certificate praised the college for its stand against smoking.Students Danny Mitchell and Lynsey Bell welcomed the award. Danny, 17, of Darlington, who is studying for a public services qualification, said: "It is much better that the whole grounds are smoke-free and you do not have to walk through clouds of smoke to get into the building."Lynsey, 18, of Darlington, who is studying for a national diploma in early years and childcare, said: "It might even help persuade smokers to try and give up as they will not be able to smoke so much during the day."Sue Campbell, from the college, said the board had given the issue a great deal of thought, and said the ban had been in the health interests of everyone at the college.She said: "The effects of passive smoking are damaging and far-reaching so -to protect everyone's health; staff, students and visitors -the decision was taken not to allow smoking anywhere."Stop-smoking advisor Darcy Brown, from Darlington Primary Care Trust, said: "It is great to see organisations wanting to make progress ahead of the Government deadline."We would encourage anyone who smokes to use this time to make the decision to stop and get support and advice to help them."For help and advice on stopping smoking, call (01325) 746114.  more...

Fans ecstatic at appointment as club celebrates first win

ECSTATIC Sunderland fans could barely contain their joy yesterday as they celebrated a double -their first win and Roy Keane's appointment as manager.The former Manchester United captain agreed to a three-year-deal with the Black Cats after he watched the team run out comfortable 2-0 winners against West Bromwich Albion at the Stadium of Light yesterday.The match was the Black Cats' first league victory of the season and lifted them off the bottom of the table. Fans streaming out of the stadium said Keane's signing was a major coup.Tony Gallagher, 68, of Consett, County Durham, said: "This is what we have needed at Sunderland for a long time."Howard Wilkinson and Mick McCarthy had no personality. This man has charisma and personality and will fire up the team." Jill Gowan, 31, of Sunderland, said: "It can only be positive. Since Peter Reid left, we have not had anyone with the ability to get more than 50 per cent performance from the players. Roy Keane will expect them to give 100 per cent. They played with fire today. They are aware they are going to have to play for their positions."Her husband, Gavin, 32, said: "This goes back to when Kevin Ball was captain. He motivated people."If Keane, as manager, is anything like what he was as a player, he will get something out the team."Today, the crowd enjoyed the game for a change." Alan Fenwick, 58, of Peterlee, County Durham, said: "It is fantastic. Roy Keane has done everything and won. We cannot go any lower than what we are now. He has to be something positive for the club."I do not think it will change overnight, but next year could be well different." Violet Buddle, 87, of Grangetown, Middlesbrough, who has followed the club's fortunes since 1937 said: "I am overjoyed by the appointment."I hope to be around for a good few years yet and hope to see the contribution he makes to the club."Steve Hogg, 49, of Seaburn Dene, Sunderland, said: "Roy Keane has the strength and the power and Niall Quinn will be behind them in the boardroom. It will be a winning combination."Graham Garland, 36, of Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, said: "He has reignited their fire. He will bring the team's passion back."  more...

Hundreds of protestors at power station

HUNDREDS of climate campaigners have descended on a field by one of Britain's biggest power stations to demonstrate against emissions they say cause global warming.The ten-day Camp for Climate Action is targeting the huge Drax power plant near Selby, and the eco-warriors have vowed to break the law and ignore a legal injunction designed to keep them from the site.One protester, Foye Hatton, 28, of London, said: "On Thursday, the plan is through mass civil disobedience to close down Drax power station."People also will form small groups who go off and do other actions in the build-up to the big day."Another, Richard Lane, 28, from York, said: "We know we are not going to make a difference to the UK emissions with this action, but the fact is that we all know global warming is a disaster looming down on us."On the first day of the demo, there was a heavy police presence on the roads around the camp, and some officers were photographing anyone who entering it.Inside, there was a festival atmosphere, with the field split into "neighbourhoods" of activists who held group meetings to decide how their section would be run.Police are understood to have cancelled new requests for leave in order to cope, should a confrontation happen, and other officers are being drafted in from other forces.Drax supplies seven per cent of Britain's electricity and has warned that any shutdown could destabilise the National Grid and lead to power cuts.Earlier this month, plant bosses obtained a court injunction banning protestors from the site.In a statement, police said they were working with partner agencies to keep the situation under control.Deputy Chief Constable Ian McPherson said: "We aim to provide reassurance by promoting safety, maintaining order and reducing the fear of crime."We also aim to minimise disruption to local communities, residents and businesses by maintaining the local neighbourhood policing service."He added: "We will facilitate lawful and peaceful protest, but criminality or disorder will be dealt with swiftly and firmly."  more...

Families meet up to pay tribute to bomber heroes

The crew of a Lancaster shot down over Belgium and the brave resistance members who risked their lives to help the survivors will be celebrated with the unveiling of a plaque near the crash site on Sunday. Gavin Engelbrecht talks to the North-East family of one of the crew members.IT was their eighth mission with 619 Squadron - their target on the shortest night of the year was a fuel store at Wesseling, near Cologne, Germany.But at 1.20am on the night of June 21, 1944, their Lancaster bomber was hit by ground fire and flames quickly engulfed the starboard engine.What followed encapsulated the bravery and sacrifice of so many during those dark days of war. Despite bomber ME846 being badly damaged, Pilot Officer Mark Anthony Hamilton Davis remained at the controls of the aircraft, allowing four members of the crew to bale out successfully.They included Sergeant Dennis "Geordie" Belshaw, of Bearpark, near Durham. The pilot, together with two gunners, did not survive the crash, while the survivors were helped by rescuers to reach the resistance.Now, more than 60 years later and with the help of the Internet, survivors and their friends and family will meet the descendants of the resistance members who helped their loved ones. On Sunday, dozens will be travelling to an area near the crash site in Postel, Belgium, to unveil a memorial plaque, dedicated to the memory of the crew and to the Belgian people who helped them. Among those present will be Christine Cardose, the niece of Sgt Belshaw, and Australian crew member Peter Knox's daughter.A random Internet search more than five years ago brought the two women, and eventually all the survivors' families, together. Mrs Cardose, of Cramlington, Northumberland, said her mother recalled Peter's father, Brigadier Sir Errol Knox, who had called to Bearpark to visit the family to say thank you for looking after his son. Mrs Cardose said: "She said she knew that there was a connection with journalism in the form of the paper The Argus in Australia - and many years later I looked up the name on the Internet and went into the website."Lo and behold, there was a picture of my uncle Dennis. There was an e-mail address and I made contact with Pete's daughter Jane Knox-Kiepura. The rest, as they say, is history."My mum, grandma, Dennis and the boys could never have dreamt that we would all meet one day and become so close, and more importantly, come full circle, back to the place where the plane came down." Dennis was eventually captured by the Germans and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner. Mrs Cardose said: "As children, my sister Alison and I grew up avidly listening to my mum, Vera, tell us of her childhood in Bearpark, Durham, where she grew up with her beloved brother, Dennis, and their mum, my grandma, Dorothy. "We heard of their pride as Dennis grew up and joined the RAF, and of his precious time spent with them on leave - and, of course, his abiding comradeship and friendship with his fellow crew members of the Lancaster, especially Peter Knox and John "Porky" Bowering. "Mum, who now lives in Wide Open, remembers the day he asked my grandma if two crew members, one from Australia, the other from Canada, could come to Bearpark on leave as it was to far for them to go home. The answer was a firm 'yes'."Mrs Cardose said her mother had many memories - socialising at Durham ice rink, sitting by the fire at Kingston Avenue looking at the "Picture Post" with Porky, "while Pete sat with grandma by the fire, discussing world events and village life".She added: "Of course there were the worrying times when they were shot down, and relief and joy mixed with devastation when they heard that Pete and Dennis were safe, but their dear friend Porky had died."Dennis eventually died in his late sixties.Peter Knox died in the UK in 1998, aged 74.  more...

Visitors make truck stop as vehicles prove crowd-puller

THE North-East's biggest truck show ended yesterday with organisers saying the standard had gone up a gear once again.The event at Streatlam Farm, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, attracted more than 500 trucks, from small vintage models to streamlined modern machines. The event took place at the weekend, with about 2,500 people staying on site in caravans and thousands of visitors flocking to a show which boasts far more than just trucks.There were also about 80 trade stands, a fun fair, side shows and rock concerts, while European lorry racing champion Martin Oliver brought along the huge vehicle in which he won his titles.There was also the regional final of the strongest man contest, where contestants showed their strength in five events, which included a log lift, cones basket circle, Hercules hold and carry and drag, each involving lifting several tonnes.The contest culminated with each competitor pulling a Scania truck and trailer weighing more than 80 tonnes for 25 metres. About 1,500 people saw Dave McAnany from the Lake District win the event, with John Parker, from Stockton, second and James Placett, from Nottingham, third.It was not just the strongmen fighting for first place, however, as yesterday saw the judging for the best vehicles.The show's organiser John Toulson, started the event with the help of his daughter Hayley, 21, and it has grown steadily each year, attracting people from all over Britain.He said that this year had seen an unprecedented range of trucks in 20 categories, leaving the judges with a number of tough decisions. "The standard of trucks is high and trucks are taking part that have never been here before. The choice of trucks is the best yet."The competition was really difficult because everyone pulled out all the stops and made their trucks look better than ever."It's been great - the weather wasn't quite as good on the last day which was disappointing, but it was our prize giving day so everyone was happy."  more...

Mother admits killing baby

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Boyfriend charge with murder

The boyfriend of a young mother-of-two who was killed in a frenzied knife attack was today charged with murder.   more...