Stories for 3 August 2006

The Northern Echo News

North-East men launch sex abuse claim against Catholic church

DOZENS of men from the North-East are among more than 140 who have launched a multi-million pound sex abuse compensation claim against the Roman Catholic Church.   more...

Take leaf out of Caitriona's book and join workshops

Young writers have the chance to sharpen their skills at a series of free workshops.Eleven to 18-year-olds can spend a week working with professional writers and have the chance of seeing their work published in an anthology from the sessions that will be published in the autumn.The workshops are at six venues and form the fourth Orange Young Writers' Festival, sponsored by the mobile phone company.Caitriona Ryan, 13, of Brandon, County Durham, took part in a workshop last year on comic strip writing and will attend a session at Durham's Gala Theatre on performance poetry.She said: "It was great to meet other people interested in writing who were a similar age to me." The sessions are being held with New Writing North, to encourage and develop new writers, and are thought to be the only ones of their kind in the country.Sessions take place at:Darlington Arts Centre: Today and tomorrow (11 to 14 years) and Monday to Friday, August 7 to 11 (15 to 18 years) featuring Andy Croft (poet) and Maureen Almond (poet). Gala Theatre, Durham City: Monday to Friday, August 14 to 18 (11 to 14 years), featuring Kate Fox (stand-up poet) and Carina Rodney (scriptwriter) and Monday to Friday, August 21 to 25 (15 to 18 years) featuring Kate Fox (stand-up poet) and Rachel Mathews (screenwriter). Arc, Stockton: Monday to Friday August 14 to 18 (11 to 14 years) featuring Marion Husband (novelist) and Bob Beagrie (poet) and Monday to Friday August 21 to 25 (15 to 18 years) featuring Carina Rodney (scriptwriter) and Marion Husband (novelist). Sunderland City Library and Arts Centre: Today and tomorrow (11 to 14 years) featuring Lisa Matthews (poet) and Celia Bryce (prose & scriptwriter) and Monday to Friday 7 to 11 August.The sessions must be booked in advance by calling Holly Hopper at New Writing North on 0191-488 8580.  more...

Molly is our little miracle

A baby is safe at home after growing outside her mother's womb.Molly had only a five per cent chance of survival after doctors found out that she was growing in her mother's abdominal wall.Claire Simpson, 31, underwent an emergency Caesarean when she was 35 weeks' pregnant after doctors discovered her baby was in danger.Consultants were stunned to find her baby was not in the womb and Mrs Simpson was given only a one in five chance of surviving the operation.Molly was born healthy weighing just 2lb and 6oz and her mother pulled through too. Now, at 13 weeks old, she is at home with her father Michael, 41, and three sisters.Mrs Simpson, from Maplewood Avenue, Sunderland, who lost a 15-month old son to meningitis two years ago, said: "I just can't believe she survived after growing outside my womb."Her sister Jordan says she's a present from heaven, and she's certainly our little miracle."  more...

Asylum seekers can be sent back to Zimbabwe

Enforced deportations to Zimbabwe could take place within weeks after Home Secretary John Reid won a legal battle yesterday.Failed Zimbabwean asylum seekers reacted with dismay to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) ruling which put an end to the blanket ban on deportations, instead saying officials should make decisions on a case-by-case basis.The panel said there was no automatic risk that Zimbabweans returned to President Robert Mugabe's regime would face a "real risk" of persecution or ill-treatment.But tribunal chairman Mr Justice Hodge set out a number of exceptions when those who had fled the southern African state could be in danger if returned.Those linked with Zimbabwean opposition parties or with military or criminal records may be at greater danger of serious mistreatment during interrogation by Zimbabwean authorities, his ruling said.A Home Office spokeswoman said enforced deportations to Zimbabwe might resume soon, following yesterday's test case brought by a Zimbabwean man who can only be identified as AA.Outside the central London court, Zimbabweans declared their campaign would continue "on the British streets".Arthur Molife, a Zimbabwean who already has leave to remain in the UK, said: "The Zimbabweans have lost here today. It hurts."He told the two dozen who had turned out to support AA: "If you people are serious, take it up on the British streets today."Mafungasei Maikokera, 25, who arrived in Britain in 2002 and lost her asylum claim, said she feared she would be sent back to Zimbabwe and persecuted as a result of yesterday's ruling.Visibly anxious, Miss Maikokera said: "I was expecting something better from the decision here that would allow us to sleep peacefully. Instead we have nightmares. Not knowing is torture in itself."The crowd held banners declaring "Sent to Zimbabwe, sent to death" as they sang on the court steps.The ruling said there was no real risk of persecution simply because Zimbabweans had been returned from the UK.Although conditions in the country were "extremely difficult", they were generally not sufficiently severe for Zimbabweans to argue they should not be returned, it went on.Mr Justice Hodge said his decision reaffirmed an earlier ruling on Zimbabwe which said: "The fact of being a white Zimbabwean does not of itself put an applicant in danger."Last October, the AIT threw the Government's policy into doubt after AA won his appeal against the Home Secretary.But that decision had to be reconsidered after the Court of Appeal ruled in April that the AIT had "erred in law" in making its initial decision.An estimated 7,000 Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers are thought to be in the UK.Reacting to the decision, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "We recognise that there are Zimbabweans who are in genuine fear of persecution and that is why we have granted them asylum, but it is only right that we remove those who seek to abuse our hospitality."Home Office minister Joan Ryan said the Government remained very concerned about the political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. "We are working with our international partners to try to deal with these abuses," she said."But that doesn't mean the asylum system is the appropriate way to deal with this situation."  more...

Smog monster accusation after turbine rejected

A COMPANY boss who planned to blow away Teesside's "smog monster" nickname has accused councillors of talking green but acting grey.John Spence hit out at Stockton Borough Council after it rejected advice from its experts to stop him experimenting with an environmentally friendly wind turbine at his home.Mr Spence, of Emanuel Spence Limited, in Middlesbrough, applied for permission to put a 10ft turbine on the roof of his home in Valley Drive, Yarm.His company supplies heating systems, and Mr Spence said he wanted to carry out research at his home on the effectiveness of the turbines before they are marketed.But at a council meeting yesterday, most members voted against the proposal, despite officers recommending approval, saying the 1kw generator would not be prominent. The environmental health department also said concerns about noise were believed to be unfounded.Mr Spence said: "As we have spent years heating the planet as heating engineers, we would now like to cool it down a little."However, Middlesbrough and Stockton are clearly going to be still called smog monsters for a lot longer to come."I think the committee let the residents' opinions and local opinion overrule the national benefits. Clearly, you cannot test something of this nature and its effects on a residential area without trying it out in a residential area."Mr Spence will appeal against the decision.Objectors argued that noise from the blades and the visual impact were unacceptable.They said tests for a commercial venture should be carried out on commercial premises.Councillor Steve Walmsley said: "We are all in favour of something that will tackle climate change, but this is making people in the area unwilling guinea-pigs."I do not think people should be allowed to experiment where other people's lives are concerned. If we get a proliferation of these things, it's going to be like Heathrow Airport."Councillors dismissed the application on grounds of noise, visual impact and road safety. They also felt it could attract unwanted visitors and distract drivers.* The planning committee approved a wind turbine at Bishopsgarth School, in Harrowgate Lane, Stockton.  more...

German doctor's licence suspended for a year

A DOCTOR who used to work in Darlington has been suspended for a year after his treatment of a cancer patient was heavily criticised.At a hearing in Manchester this week, Dr Wolf Schriewersmann, a German doctor working temporararily as a GP in the town, was found to have exercised inappropriate, inadequate and unprofessional care while visiting a patient in August 2004.Dr Schriewersmann was working as a mobile GP for Primecare.It was alleged that during a consultation, Dr Schriewersmann used excessive force to examine the patient's stomach and did not treat the patient's pain effectively or prevent the suffering of a patient in the terminal stages of cancer.Dr Schriewersmann said his treatment was "effective and sufficient". A statement from the General Medical Council Fitness to Practice panel said: "The panel has not received any evidence that during his career of over 20 years there have been any other complaints about Dr Schriewersmann."It is satisfied that the events, in August 2004, were a serious instance of misconduct, but they do not believe that, as a result of this incident, it is fundamentally incompatible that Dr Schriewersmann should continue to be a registered doctor. "The panel note that Dr Schriewersmann had only worked on four occasions for Primecare. "The panel believes that his induction was wholly inadequate, especially as his regular place of practice was in a different country (Germany). "However, the panel does not believe that this in any way excuses the way he dealt with patient X and patient X's family. "Balancing all of these factors, the panel has determined that it would be sufficient and proportionate to suspend Dr Schriewersmann's registration."  more...

Rookie police officer resigns over webcam sex act shame

A POLICE officer who shamed his force by exposing himself on the Internet dressed in his uniform has quit.Middlesbrough bobby Ian Mercer resigned after the pictures of his lewd online performance were published in a national Sunday newspaper.The 22-year-old appeared on a webcam stripping off his police uniform, wearing women's underwear, exposing himself and performing a sex act.Last night, officials at Cleveland Constabulary confirmed that they had accepted the resignation of the officer, who had only recently finished police training school.The News of the World newspaper printed pictures of PC Mercer's performance, and also claimed he paid for a string of online sex sessions with a dominatrix for £45-a-time.Some of the photographs showed the shamed officer with his name and force collar number scrawled on his chest, suggestively sucking on his finger.During the display, his Cleveland Police badge - featuring the force's motto "Putting People First" - was clearly visible, and PC Mercer also showed off his warrant card and truncheon.According to police discipline guidelines, officers who use their position to conduct improper business, or who bring the force into disrepute, can face severe disciplinary action including hefty fines, suspension and even dismissal.After the photographs were published in June, PC Mercer's boss at Middlesbrough police station, Superintendent Steve Swales, said the embarrassing case would be referred to the professional standards board and the officer could be disciplined.He said: "This matter is one which could be damaging to the reputation of the officer and the force."Last night, a Cleveland Police spokeswoman said there will now not be a professional standards board hearing following the young officer's decision to quit.A statement from the force said: "An officer who was the subject of media reports regarding appearances on the Internet has tendered his resignation - which has been accepted."PC Mercer is thought to have filmed the lewd acts at his home in Stockton.  more...

'Let councillors select new members of house of Lords'

LOCAL councillors should select members of the new-look House of Lords to give it a strong North voice, one of Tony Blair's key allies suggested yesterday.Hazel Blears, the party's chairman, proposed a system of indirect elections to prevent the reformed upper chamber being "London-centric".The model - adopted in France and Germany - would see councillors elected by voters in the region and elsewhere pick people to sit and vote in the House of Lords.The idea would be to prevent the domination of the chamber by the great and the good from the capital once the remaining heridiatary peers are removed.MPs will vote this winter on the Lords reform, following an embarrassing failure over many years to agree its composition.The issue has been given greater urgency by the damaging "cash for peerages" inquiry into allegations that both Labour and the Conservatives rewarded major donors with seats.However, it is widely thought that Mr Blair - fearing the Lords would become a rival to the Commons - will agree to direct election of no more than 50 per cent of the chamber.Now Ms Blears, in an interview with a politics website, has suggested indirect elections as a way forward.She said: "I think, personally, that there could have been some agreement around a greater regional input into the second chamber. That is something I would like to see worked on."I think institutions are better for having a wider variety of voices in them."Last night, the idea won cautious backing from Albert Nugent, the Labour leader of Durham County Council, despite his personal preference for scrapping the Lords altogether.However, Mr Nugent warned it risked a similar backlash from voters who decisively rejected a North-East elected assembly because they did not want "another tier of politicians".He said: "I would not want to do the job myself, but it could be good for the region as long as it had a proper balance of Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat."However, people might see it as just another tier of politicians claiming money from the taxpayer."Previously, it was suggested some Lords members should be selected by the elected regional assemblies Labour pledged to set up across England. However, the plug was pulled on the assemblies two years ago - leaving councillors as the only locally- elected group able to perform the role.  more...

Airport's parking charges among highest in country

DURHAM Tees Valley Airport has some of the highest parking charges in the country, it was revealed yesterday.Despite running flights by numerous budget airlines, prices in the car park can reach £53 a week, which is often more expensive than the plane tickets. The cost of parking is only exceeded by major airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick.In a survey by Which? consumer magazine, conducted in June, it reveals the costs of leaving a car at 12 of the UK's major airports -and contrasts the rates with the cheapest off-site alternative.Although Durham Tees Valley Airport, which was recently named the UK's third favourite airport in a consumer survey, was not included in the Which? investigation, it was yesterday revealed to have charges far in excess of airports including Stan-sted, Manchester and Newcastle. It was also revealed that to park only metres away from the airport in the neighbouring St George Hotel for a week costs as little as £26.25 -half the airport price. Airport officials last night told The Northern Echo the parking rate fell if customers booked, and said it was confident the charges were competitive. The charges were criticised by one airport user, who has campaigned against the prices since he was charged £23 for 25 hours' parking.David Sugden, from Wolsingham, County Durham, has complained to the airport several times over what he called extortionate charges. He said: "It really is excessive, especially when compared to other airports around the country."Only Heathrow and Gatwick North are more expensive to park there - and they have over 300 flights each day to a much wider variation of destinations."When I went on a business trip to London, I was charged £23, only slightly more than my actual flight cost."The prices are really unreasonable, and when you consider the off-site alternative is so close, it really does show how overpriced it is."An airport spokesman said that car-parking charges should be monitored consistently to make sure that like-for-like prices were compared, and said prices could be as low as £36 for a week's parking if booked. He said: "It is for these reasons that Durham Tees Valley Airport is confident that its car park tariff is competitive when compared with equivalent car parks at other UK airports."  more...

Flight attendant denies falling asleep

A CREW member put scores of passengers' lives at risk when she allegedly fell asleep on a flight to Durham Tees Valley Airport, a tribunal heard.Senior attendant Vanessa Redmond, who had key security tasks to perform, is taking an unfair dismissal case against budget airline Ryanair.Ms Redmond, who was head of cabin crew, denies sleeping during the flight, which was carrying 82 passengers from Dublin to Teesside, on May 19 last year.It is alleged she blocked off the front row of the plane, sat down in the row and began reading a "fiction-type" book before falling asleep.Two junior crew members on the flight also claimed Ms Redmond, from Dublin, failed to carry out a final cabin safety check and delegated a critical security task.Ryanair personnel manager Darrell Hughes said major air accidents were always a result of a chain of events."This could easily have been one of those links in that chain," he told an employment appeals tribunal.Ms Redmond was told of the accusations against her on May 26, last year, after a complaint from a passenger, who was also the husband of a Ryanair employee.Disciplinary procedures followed, and Ms Redmond was informed of the outcome on June 30. However, she continued to work until a letter informing her of her dismissal was issued on July 4.Dermot O'Loughlin, of the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union, suggested Ryanair bosses were negligent in allowing the claimant to continue working if they believed her to be guilty of gross misconduct."I wouldn't say negligent. I would call it an oversight," said Mr Hughes.The personnel manager testified he had no diary and kept no written notes from which he could refer to the entire disciplinary process.While accepting he was ultimately responsible for the personnel matter, he admitted he had not spoken to the original complainant or the two junior cabin crew who made allegations.He said it was clear there were imperfections in procedures leading to the dismissal but, in the whole, it was fair.The Dublin hearing was adjourned until October 16.  more...

What Gran did in the war

THE author of a book which documents the role of women during the Second World War has held an launch party with the book's stars.Hazel Yeadon, from Barnard Castle, County Durham, celebrated the completion of the book with 31 of the 35 Teesdale women who gave their account of their experiences of the war.The book, called What did you do in the War, Granny? was started by Mrs Yeadon last May after she heard the story of local woman Margaret Ambrose, who served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.As part of the book launch, Mrs Yeadon gave copies to each of the women. They also enjoyed songs from Joyce Towler, who spent time as a singer in Darlington in the war.The book tells stories such as the one of Eva Stubbs, who was born in Sunderland but was evacuated to a farmhouse in Stainton Village, near Barnard Castle.She went on to work for the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, in London, and later went to countries such as Israel, Egypt and Italy.Another intriguing tale is that of Joy Welch, whose work involved trying to break the codes of the German Enigma machines. Mrs Yeadon said: "I have enjoyed every minute of writing the book, it has been fascinating. I really liked going round to all of the ladies' houses and chatting to them."I compiled the book myself, I designed it and I published it - so it's great to finally get to see the finished article."All the ladies had a wonderful time at the launch, one lady came up to me and said, 'Thank you, things like this don't happen to me very often'."* Copies of the book can be bought by calling Hazel Yeadon on (01833) 638710. The price is £6 plus postage.  more...

Claim for damages in Heron murder

A PENSIONER accused of murdering his wife has made three claims for damages against a police force over its handling of the case.The Northern Echo can reveal that retired businessman Peter Heron is seeking compensation for wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.Mr Heron, 70, was arrested last November by detectives hunting the killer of his second wife, Ann, whose throat was slashed as she sunbathed at their home on the outskirts of Darlington.He made several court appearances and was to face a trial for murder this year, but the case was discontinued by police in a shock move at the beginning of February.Last night, on the eve of the 16th anniversary of the killing, Durham Police said they would "vigorously" contest the claims contained in a letter from Mr Heron's solicitor, Peter Wishlade.And the man leading the long-running investigation said a breakthrough could still be made at the end of a review of forensic evidence ordered by the force's new chief constable.Mother-of-three Mrs Heron, 44, was found with her throat cut at the couple's home at Morton Palms, on the hottest day of 1990 - August 3.Despite one of the biggest manhunts ever mounted in County Durham, the killer was never found, but police believed they had made a significant step forward last year.Mr Heron was arrested at his new home in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, and brought to the North-East to be questioned, before he was charged with murder.During one of Mr Heron's court appearances, Mr Wishlade said his client "vehemently denies" the killing, and after the case was halted, he said: "There has never been any evidence."The decision to discontinue the prosecution was taken after a review of the case by a leading barrister and forensic expert resulted in new information coming to light.Last night, a spokesman for Durham Police confirmed that the force had received a letter from Mr Wishlade's Teesside law firm and had replied to it.The response says the former haulage company boss's detention was justified, and adds: "The fact that the prosecution was not continued to trial does not negate the lawfulness of Mr Heron's arrest."The letter is believed to remind Mr Heron's legal team that if new evidence or information is discovered, the decision to discontinue the case could be rescinded.Chief Superintendent David Jones, the man leading the murder investigation, said last night: "We are still pursuing several lines of inquiry."The investigation is still very much a live inquiry, and we are awaiting the outcome of a full forensic review commissioned by the chief constable, Jon Stoddart."To succeed in a malicious prosecution claim, Mr Heron would have to prove that the police were motivated for malice rather than a proper desire to initiate the criminal process.Mr Heron was not available to talk yesterday despite repeated attempts by The Northern Echo to contact him, while Mr Wishlade's office would say only: "He will speak to you when there is something to say."  more...

Heartache over stab death verdict

THE parents of a North-East football fan knifed to death in Amsterdam suffered fresh heartache last night when their son's killer was cleared of murder.A court ruled that drug dealer Iwan Roy Vyent was defending himself when he stabbed Brendan O'Connor and badly injured his friend, Howard Boville, during a drunken fight about drugs.Dutch prosecutors immediately launched an appeal against the verdict and the four-year sentence imposed for manslaughter and attempted manslaughter.Mr O'Connor's parents were too upset to talk to the media about the case, but a spokesman for Cleveland Police said they were bitterly disappointed by the outcome.After an earlier hearing in Amsterdam, Kevin and Pat O'Connor, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, told of their "living nightmare".They said: "We cannot eat or sleep properly and not a day goes by without many tears being shed. Nothing can compensate for the complete waste of a wonderful, loving, beautiful young man."The two Middlesbrough fans had travelled to Amsterdam to watch their side's Uefa Cup match against AZ Alkmaar, on November 24, but were unable to get tickets.They spent the night drinking in a pub with other supporters, before ending up in the red light district in the early hours, when a row about drugs started in a bar and spilled into the street.At an earlier hearing, Vyent, 43, told the court he was beaten with a bottle, and kicked and punched, after the friends followed him into an alley to complain about fake drugs he had sold them.Vyent, a Surinam-born Dutch national who was known to police, stabbed the friends with a 25cm kitchen knife, which fell from his pocket during the fight, before fleeing in a taxi.Mr O'Connor, 36, died, while Mr Boville, 38, suffered serious injuries and was not released from hospital in Amsterdam until January.Vyent faced a sentence of 15 years if he had been found guilty of murder and attempted murder, but the judges said he had the right to defend himself - although not by stabbing.In a written judgement, they said: "For killing a person - and taking into account the importance of self-defence - there must be a long custodial sentence."The accused has, through his acts, brought irreparable suffering to the relatives of O'Connor. Boville, who only just survived the stabbing, took months to recover from his injuries."In the accused's favour, the court considers that he was not the one who started the fight."The accused was attacked and beaten by O'Connor and Boville."The court said both fans were under the influence of large amounts of alcohol, and added: "These circumstances clearly influenced the - wrong - decision of the accused to strike back in the manner he did."Following his death, friends of Mr O'Connor, a self-employed quality control worker for oil company BP, described him as a peaceful man.He had been brought up on Teesside but moved from the North-East to London after graduating from Durham University in literature 16 years ago.He lived in Chalk Farm, Camden, with his wife of seven years, Tanya, a headteacher.Father-of-one Mr Boville, from Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, a manager with BT, spent weeks in a Dutch hospital receiving treatment after suffering injuries to his pancreas.  more...

Date-rape drug find is biggest ever haul

THE biggest haul of the date-rape drug GHB seized in England has been recovered from a North-East allotment.The £1m consignment includes hundreds of thousands of doses destined for the regions' nightclubs.Experts believe the seizure in Stanley, County Durham, may have prevented thousands of drug-induced rapes.Detective Sergeant John Foreman said: "We are very pleased with the seizure but it shocked us and is very unusual."It gives us cause for concern because it makes us wonder how widespread the use of this substance is."This raid has considerably reduced the risk of GHB being administered for illegal purposes."One-and-a half kilos of the drug were seized in 15 plastic containers, along with £20,000 worth of diazepam - also a known date-rape drug - £2,000 worth of cocaine, and 1,000 prescription tablets thought to be used as a mixing agent.The raid was carried out on April 4 at an allotment in Craghead, Stanley, but forensic tests have now identified the powder seized as being the deadly GHB.The seizure forms part of Operation Debris, which involved six months of intelligence gathering and was carried out by Durham Constabulary's north proactive team.Det Sgt Foreman said: "We had no idea what it was at first, and it is the first time we have become aware of it in this area. We have never encountered it before."GHB stands for gammahydroxy-butyrate and is a manmade sedative, first synthesised in 1960. It is a white powder that is odourless when mixed with drinks but can have a slightly salty taste and is most commonly found in small bottles in liquid form.GHB is also known as liquid ecstasy and is thought to be used by nightclubbers and bodybuilders, as well as sexual predators.It is popular in the region's gay clubs, and one in ten drug rape victims are male.  more...

Mugging victim's husband in hospital after collapse

THE husband of a Darlington pensioner who broke her hip after trying to fight off three muggers has been rushed to hospital with heart problems.Stanley Gaunt, 70, collapsed only 48 hours after his wife, Joan, underwent a five-hour operation to repair her hip.He has heart and asthma problems and suffered an angina attack shortly after visiting his wife in Darlington Memorial Hospital on Monday.Their daughter, Susan Hughes, said: "He collapsed at home on Monday night. I think it has been as a direct result of my mam being in hospital."Mrs Gaunt, also 70, is still recovering from the operation and was last night described as comfortable.The Northern Echo reported on Tuesday how three teenagers grabbed the pensioner's handbag as she was walking home to the Red Hall estate, in Darlington. They fled with up to £150 in cash.She tried to fight them off with her walking stick, but was thrown to the ground, breaking her hip.The attack took place in Mill Lane, between Haughton and Red Hall, on Saturday afternoon as she was returning from the hairdressers.She lay on the ground for 20 minutes after the attack until she was found by people living nearby.Mrs Hughes added: "This is tearing a family apart. All I have done since Saturday is cry and I cannot get my head round why it happened and why they have done it. This has really wrenched me.""I have never felt so much anger and so much pain as I have now. I am petrified about using the lane again."Acting Detective Sergeant Jim Honeyman, of Darlington CID, said: "Mr Gaunt was distraught. He is an elderly man with angina and has had an angina attack. He is also asthmatic with breathing difficulties. It has become apparent it has had a devastating effect on the family."Anyone with information is asked to call Acting Det Sgt Honeyman on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. * Three 16-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of robbery and released on bail pending further police inquiries.  more...

"Worst ever" paedophile jailed for 20 years

A 65-YEAR-OLD man from North Yorkshire was jailed for 20 years today for a 30-year campaign of rape and sexual abuse against young children described as the worst ever to come before the courts.   more...