Stories for 12 September 2006

The Northern Echo News

Man convicted of lover's murder

A MAN was last night convicted of the murder of a mother-of-five who was strangled to death in her home.   more...

Ward closure plan raises fears of winter hospital bed shortage

A hospital has drawn up proposals to close a 30-bed ward.If the plans go ahead, a long-established medical ward at Darlington Memorial Hospital will shut.One employee at the 1,000 bed split-site trust, who asked not to be named, said staff who worked on ward 43 were devastated by the proposals.Apart from reducing bed capacity at Darlington, the move would involve the break-up of nursing teams and the loss of staff on temporary contracts.Union officials fear the changes could leave the trust short of beds this winter.County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is believed to be under pressure from its local health care commissioners - Darlington Primary Care Trust - to reduce the number of patients admitted.In line with Government policy, Darlington PCT expects that a greater proportion of seriously ill medical patients will be treated in their homes or at local health centres.That would mean the amount the PCT pays to the hospital for medical admissions would be reduced.The proposal, which is expected to go before the trust's board later this week, would involve the reconfiguration of the medical directorate at Darlington Memorial Hospital.Kath Fawcett, lead steward for the Royal College of Nursing at the trust, said: "My concern is that we shouldn't reduce the bed capacity until we know for sure that medical admissions this winter will significantly reduce."Dr Peter Trewby, a consultant gastroenterologist, said: "We can try to ensure that the changes impact as little as possible on local people."A spokesman for the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals trust said: "We are developing proposals to get a better bed usage rate at Darlington Memorial Hospital. When ready, the proposals will be presented to the board."The spokesman said the trust would respond flexibly to any shortfall of beds this winter.A spokesman for Darlington PCT denied putting pressure on the hospital trust to cut medical beds, but pointed out that the Government wanted to discourage "inappropriate" admissions to hospitals.  more...

It's a matter of life Ant Dec

THE normally jovial Geordie duo Ant and Dec last night revealed a bleaker side to their outlook on life. The comedy stars have taken out an insurance policy in case one of them breaks up the highly successful partnership - by dying.The pair, who have worked together since meeting on children's drama Byker Grove, will get a ''massive payout'' if their TV partner is fatally struck down.Dec, 29, cheerily told the Radio Times magazine: ''I just know that if he (Ant) kicks the bucket, I get a massive payout.''He said: ''I don't know (how much). We have people who look after that.''Ant, 30, recently married long-term girlfriend Lisa Armstrong. He said: ''I don't think we are insured if we fall out, though.'' The pair were recently voted among Britain's 50 greatest TV stars of all time, alongside Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies.The I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! pair also tell the magazine about their recent royal interview with the Prince of Wales and his sons, William and Harry, to mark the 30th anniversary of The Prince's Trust.Ant said: ''At first, Charles was very cagey - we'd ask the boys questions and he'd answer for them.''We told them there was no hidden agenda, and once they realised that, the boys spoke more.''The interview revealed that Friends and American Idol are two of the young princes' favourite shows and that Prince Harry tuned in to watch X Factor.   more...

MURDERER

A MOTHER'S love for her murdered daughter saw a 17-year fight for justice come to an emotional and historic end yesterday, writes HELEN COOK, at the Old Bailey.A tearful Ann Ming finally saw her daughter's killer, Billy Dunlop, admit his guilt at the Old Bailey, in London.For nearly 17 years, Mrs Ming has campaigned, together with The Northern Echo, for a landmark change in the law that had previously prevented Dunlop from facing a retrial.Violent Dunlop, 43, thought he had got away with murdering young Teesside mother Julie Hogg. The 22-year-old was last seen alive in November 1989.Until yesterday, the details of how she met her death had not been revealed.During yesterday's brief hearing, Dunlop admitted murder.Mrs Ming, comforted by her husband, Charlie, broke down in court as the word "guilty" echoed around the historic court room. After the hearing, the devoted parents were taken to a nearby police station, where they heard for the first time how their daughter died at Dunlop's hands.In a taped police interview, he is heard confessing to strangling Julie, from Billingham. Thinking only of himself and in fear of being caught, he stripped her naked and wrapped her in a blanket before bundling her body behind the bath panel in her home.In the interview, he is heard telling officers how he pushed the body into the cavity beneath the bath using his feet.He tells how he "just lost it" when Julie ridiculed him for injuries sustained in an unrelated attack.He said: "She just started taking the mickey out of me and ridiculing me because I had a black eye and my eye was split open."I just lost it and got up and strangled her."The confession was recorded when he was arrested for perjury in October 1999.After being formally acquitted of Julie's murder, Dunlop bragged about it to prison staff and cell mates.Detectives from Cleveland Police, who were always sure of his guilt, arrested him for perjury and he was taken to Stockton police station.It was there he admitted lying during both crown court trials in 1991. Determined to get justice for Julie, Mrs Ming began her long battle to change the double jeopardy law.The ancient rule meant that no one could be re-tried once formally acquitted.But Mrs Ming was yesterday hailed as the force behind the legal change, which came into effect in April last year.After yesterday's hearing, Mrs Ming said: "It has been a long and difficult journey to see him standing in the dock at court today."He has done everything he could to avoid justice, but his lying and scheming have eventually all been in vain."We made a promise to ourselves that Julie's killer would be punished."No one can know what it is like to lose a daughter in such horrific circumstances. Our family will live with her death forever."It is a life sentence and a deep sadness that will never go away and we would give everything to have her here today."But through our love for Julie, we have helped leave a lasting legacy that we hope paves the way for other families to get justice."Detective Superintendent Dave Duffey was a detective inspector when Dunlop first confessed. During a Press conference yesterday, he said: "History has been made but, more importantly, justice finally achieved for Mr and Mrs Ming."There is no doubt that Billy Dunlop is an evil and extremely dangerous man who, for 17 years, quite literally got away with murder. From the very start, we were all convinced of his guilt."  more...

Rantzen praises approach to tackle new forms of bullying

CHILDREN'S champion Esther Rantzen has praised a North-East council for remaining at the forefront of bullying by tackling it with e-mail and text messages.Ms Rantzen, the founder and chairwoman of ChildLine, was at the launch of Durham County Council's updated anti-bullying policy - revised to include all new forms of "technology bullying".She said: "We had no idea when we launched ChildLine of these developments."We were dealing with vicious name-calling. Children were teased viciously about ethnic grouping, for being too clever, too tall, short, fat or thin. The pernicious thing about this form of bullying is that it can follow you wherever you go."Young people are very aware of technology and use it to communicate with."But equally, when you switch on your computer and suddenly find there is a horrible new website with photographs sometimes and vicious remarks, it can be very attacking. And if all you are getting on your mobile phone is vicious and unpleasant texts, you can be left utterly miserable."Ms Rantzen also presented prizes to young people who created designs for the new policy, and awarded certificates to schools that have gained anti-bullying accreditation.Val McFarlane, of the county council's anti-bullying service and the North-East anti-bullying co-ordinator, said: "The county has long been at the forefront in tackling the issue of bullying in schools."But the new policy will be available to all staff working in children's services to ensure young people in the county get the best possible anti-bullying protection."Guidelines have been updated and include information for young people, their parents or carers and staff who work with them in schools and other organisations."It contains information on how to deal with technology, racist and homophobic bullying."Forty-nine primary, secondary and special schools in the county have gained the anti-bullying accreditation which is awarded annually to ensure high standards.The award has proved so successful that 15 other councils in the North-East and South-West have adopted it and been trained by the county's anti-bullying service  more...

Golf course targeted on eve of tournament for second year

VANDALS targeted six greens on a golf course on the eve of a popular tournament.Armed with spades, they caused thousands of pounds-worth of damage at Middlesbrough Municipal Golf Centre.Centre manager Maurice Gormley said the vandals struck in the early hours of Sunday at the Ladgate Lane course.He believes the attack was carried out in an attempt to disrupt the centre's am-am tournament, which had attracted more than 140 amateur players.Mr Gormley said the damage could take up to two weeks to repair and lose the club £5,000 to £7,000 in revenue.He said: "I was absolutely distraught. They knew about the course and the competition, and they knew what was going on. It was malicious."They came with spades and dug up chunks of the turf. Whoever did this must have a problem with themselves."Police were called to the course at 8am on Sunday.Officers said it would prove difficult to find the vandals' footprints because of dew on the green, while dozens of golfers had also been walking on the turf that morning.They believe the vandals may have struck at about midnight.The greens from the third to the eighth holes were damaged, with the sixth and seventh holes suffering the most damage.Mr Gormley said the tournament was able to go ahead due to several winter greens that are kept for reserve use.He said: "They came solely with the aim of doing this damage. We will not let them beat us though."A police spokesman said: "It must have taken them some time to do this damage. If anybody has seen anything, we ask them to call us."Vandals targeted the golf course four days before last year's am-am tournament, when someone damaged the irrigation system for the greens.On that occasion, 12 irrigation boxes were damaged and centre bosses decided to install concrete blocks over the boxes to protect them.Anyone with information is asked to call (01642) 303126 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  more...

Everything is coming up roses for region in awards

DURHAM City has scooped prizes in the Northumbria in Bloom Awards a year after its success in Britain in Bloom.It won the best small city category and the Royal Horticultural Society Award for the best campaign encouraging biodiversity. Meanwhile, Durham University won the award for the best prison, college, university or sports grounds.Last year, the city won the gold award in the large town/small city category of the national awards.Carol Woods, the city council's cabinet member for environment and leisure, said: "We've an excellent environmental services team at the City of Durham, together with a loyal network of partner organisations and volunteers, eager to keep Durham looking at its best."These tremendous results are a just reward for the outstanding efforts which have been made by all those involved in the Durham in Bloom campaign."Stockton won the best city award for the third consecutive year.Steve Nelson, Stockton Borough Council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "We are delighted. All the positive comments the council has received about the floral displays confirm to us the importance of making the local environment one which people are proud of."The Cross Keys, in Gainford, near Darlington, won the award for the best outside of pub, restaurant or hotel premises.Landlord Ian Ross said: "We have about 50 baskets all around the pub. It's quite hard going keeping them all watered so I'm fixing a watering system up for next year. It's been hard work making sure they don't dry up in the heat this summer. "Everyone remarks about the baskets, and they can't wait for spring to see them all flower."Saltburn scooped the best coastal resort award and the best rail, bus or Metro station award.Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's mayor, Councillor Mary Ovens, praised the borough's efforts, which also saw Stanghow collect a silver award in the best small village, while Lingdale and Moorsholm won bronze awards in the best large village and best village.Coun Ovens said: "It was a terrific day and wonderful to see so many of our communities getting a reward for all their efforts this summer." The awards were held yesterday at Alnwick Garden in Northumberland. Earsdon, in Northumberland, was the overall winner  more...

Parents urged to talk about sex

PARENTS will today be urged to talk openly with their children about sex to rescue the Government's failing strategy to slash teenage pregnancies.Ministers will unveil plans to persuade parents to be less "uptight" when discussing relationships to encourage teenagers to delay sex - or use contraception properly.They will highlight "poor knowledge and skills among young people in relation to sex" and a "lack of support for parents on how best to discuss relationships and sex" as causes of unwanted teenage pregnancy.The updated strategy follows figures revealing the Government is on course to miss its flagship target to halve rates of teenage pregnancy between 1998 and 2010.Although the rate fell by 11 per cent between 1998 and 2004, there must be a dramatic improvement to hit the target by the end of the decade.Among the areas where conceptions increased are Newcastle (up 8.6 per cent), Stockton-on-Tees (up 1.5 per cent) and Redcar and Cleveland (up 0.1 per cent).Now the Government will pinpoint local authorities where the teen pregnancy rate rose, with some in line to receive extra cash.A Department for Education and Skills (DfES) spokesman said: "The key thing is getting parents more involved and comfortable in talking with their children about sex and relationships."We know from young people themselves that they recognise that talking with their parents about sex is important and can make a significant difference."The strategy will also step up efforts to persuade teenagers to stay on in schools, because of the strong link between poor exam results and early pregnancy.Midwives and health visitors will be told to give better contraceptive advice to young mums, because 20 per cent of teenage pregnancies are second births.The strategy will promise improvements to personal, social and health education lessons in schools to focus more on sex and contraception.Compulsory lessons - from a young age - are credited with delaying the age at which youngsters begin having sex in countries such as Holland, which has a low teenage pregnancy rate.However, the DfES has defended the opt-out by insisting that research showed most youngsters' preferred source for learning about sex was their parents - not their school  more...

Doctor faces hearing over TV show comments

A HOSPITAL doctor who went on television to allegedly accuse a former colleague of operating while drinking to excess will appear before a disciplinary hearing.The Fitness to Practice panel of the General Medical Council (GMC) will look into allegations that the actions of Dr Shobha Srivastava were "irresponsible, unprofessional and not in the best interests" of a number of patients treated at South Tyneside District Hospital in South Shields, South Tyneside.According to the GMC, in June last year, Dr Srivastava went on BBC 1's The Real Story and said a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol while at work between 1992 and 2001.Dr Srivastava, a consultant anaesthetist who is now retired, also said hundreds of patients would have been operated on while the consultant was drinking to excess.The consultant in question, who has not been named by the GMC, died in 2001.The GMC also alleges that at a meeting after the programme had been screened, Dr Srivastava stated that he "had no evidence to back up what he had said on the television programme".Dr Srivastava, whose area of practice is described by the GMC as Tyneside, will appear between September 18 and 21 in Manchester.Another North-East medic, Dr Niamh McCabe, from Sunderland, is facing a separate Fitness to Practice panel in Manchester between September 18 and 29.The panel will look into an allegation that while working as a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology at Sunderland City Hospital, Dr McCabe failed to heed the advice of a fellow doctor that a pregnant patient needed a caesarean section and delayed making the decision to take the patient to the operating theatre.  more...

Mother and three children trapped in fire drama

A MOTHER was trapped with her three children in an upstairs bedroom as fire engulfed their kitchen.   more...