Stories for 10 December 2007

The Northern Echo News

No charges, but priest is forced to stay away

A PRIEST who was suspended in mysterious circumstances three years ago is banned from returning to church even though all charges against him have been thrown out, The Northern Echo can reveal.Members of St Augustine's Church, in Darlington, are furious that Father Michael Higginbottom faces his fourth Christmas away from the parish on enforced leave.Police sources confirmed last night that no allegations of a sexual or violent nature have been made and Fr Higginbottom has never been interviewed.Father Higginbottom was suspended on December 10, 2004 when the church announced that investigations had begun into "information" received against him.But on the third anniversary of his suspension, it has emerged that inquiries by the police, social services and the Roman Catholic church have found no case to answer.Last night, the region's Labour MEP, Stephen Hughes, attacked the church for its "farcical" handling of the case.Mr Hughes, a member of the church in Coniscliffe Road, said: "All the parishioners feel that Fr Michael has not seen justice. We talk about this constantly and we are deeply disappointed and angry about the way this has been handled."I understand that the police, social services and the ecclesiastical investigation found no case to answer, but still he is not given the opportunity to come back."It is quite farcical. Parishioners are getting really angry about this."Mr Hughes said that the Right Reverend Kevin Dunn, the Bishop for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, had given parishioners "no answers" when asked about Fr Higginbottom's future.After his suspension, Fr Higginbottom lived in Minsteracres, a monastic retreat outside Consett, County Durham, and is now staying with family in the Newcastle area.The priest was removed from duty after information surfaced about his time as a teacher at Upholland College, a monastic training institute near Wigan, nearly 30 years ago.A police source said yesterday that Fr Higginbottom was never formally interviewed because the evidence against him was so weak."Police have dealt with this kind of allegation in the past and the individuals have always been questioned, but that has not happened," he said."We don't need that much evidence to interview someone if we have suspicions that they have done something wrong."The allegations are certainly nothing of a sexual or violent nature. He was never formally interviewed or arrested, and there was no intention of doing that because the information was so weak. There was nothing for him to answer to."The Northern Echo tried to contact Fr Higginbottom, but it is understood he has been told by the church not to comment on the case.A spokesman for the diocese said: "The distress felt by parishioners and friends of Fr Michael is shared by the Bishop and the diocese. This matter, despite the time taken so far, is still in process. We wish in no way to be unhelpful, but we are unable to make further comment at this stage."  more...

'An incredible journey'

SIR Bobby Robson received one of the biggest honours in British sport last night when he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.The former Newcastle United and England manager, who has spent the past two years battling cancer and a brain tumour, received the award at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.The presentation, which was in recognition of Sir Bobby's 57-year contribution to football, was preceded by a guard of honour formed by players from England's 1986 and 1990 World Cup sides, and members of the 1978 and 1981 Ipswich Town teams that Robson led to the FA Cup and Uefa Cup respectively.Sir Bobby, born in Sacriston, County Durham, has been awarded a CBE and a knighthood for his contribution to the football, and has been made an honorary freeman of Newcastle. However, he said last night's ceremony was one of the proudest moments of his life.Accepting his award from Sir Alex Ferguson, he said: "I am absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award. It is a terrific honour and I am totally flattered and privileged.''Greeted by a prolonged standing ovation from the 8,000-strong audience, Sir Bobby said: "Nobody wins anything on their own and this award is really an extension and opportunity for me to say thank you to everybody who has supported me."Introduced to the game by his father, Sir Bobby said: "He would have loved this tonight and would have somersaulted his way all the way from Durham."He also attributed much of his success to his wife of 52 years, Elsie, saying: "I thank her for her loyalty, patience and support. Without her, I would not be what I am."He added: "To get a lifetime achievement award at an event as prestigious as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in front of a national TV audience was an extremely proud and special moment for me. I almost have to pinch myself."I have been passionate about football since the day I was born and, in return, it has given me a life and career I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams."That career began at Fulham in 1950, and went on to incorporate spells at some of the biggest clubs in the world.Almost 600 appearances for Fulham and West Bromwich Albion were accompanied by 20 caps for England, but Robson's biggest successes came when he swapped the dressing room for the dugout. He guided Ipswich Town to their first European trophy, led England to within a penalty kick of the World Cup final, won domestic trophies with PSV Eindhoven, Porto and Barcelona, and enjoyed a successful five-year spell in charge of his boyhood heroes, Newcastle United.He said: "It's hard to believe that a boy overawed by his first hero, Albert Stubbins, would end up rubbing shoulders with so many greats in the game."I was lucky enough to play for England with Billy Wright, Johnny Haynes and Bobby Charlton until I was left out for some bloke called Bobby Moore."What a privilege it was to be the manager of such great players as Terry Butcher, Bryan Robson, Paul Gascoigne, Romario, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer."I had Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Luis Figo in my teams as teenagers, pitted my wits against Cloughie and Fergie, was cheated by Diego Maradona and played a World Cup game when I was picked for England and Pele was left out for Brazil. All in all, it has been an incredible journey."Robson's most recent footballing role was as an international football consultant for the Republic of Ireland, but his activities have been curtailed in recent years as he has battled illness.A lengthy fight against cancer was accompanied by an operation on a brain tumour that robbed Robson of much of the movement on his left side, but the footballing legend insists that last night's award does not mark the end of his involvement with the sport.He said: "A lifetime achievement award suggests the next stop is a coffin. Let me assure you, that will not be the case."I am going to be more active in my role as president of Ipswich Town, I may stay involved with the Football Association of Ireland in some capacity and I will be watching as many games as possible."I have chatted to Brian Barwick (chief executive of the Football Association) about the England job."Unfortunately for me, he only wanted advice, not volunteers. If only I was a few years younger..."   more...

Canoe wife charged

THE wife of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin was tonight charged in connection with his disappearance.   more...

Driver seriously injured in early morning accident

A WOMAN driver was airlifted to hospital this morning with a serious arm injury after her car overturned on a remote North-East road.   more...

"Missing" canoeist appears in court

"Missing" canoe man John Darwin was remanded in custody by Hartlepool Magistrates this morning.   more...

Archbishop cuts up collar in Mugabe protest

THE Archbishop of York   more...

Angry police vote on right to strike

MORE than 140,000 police in   more...

Wind turbines ‘every half mile’ round coast

EVERY household in Britain   more...

North-East soldier dies in Afghan bomb blast

THE soldier killed in   more...

Asbestos victims may be denied payouts

NORTH-EAST victims of an asbestos-   more...

Artist’s statue bid for football’s first black professional player

AN ARTIST is campaigning for a   more...

Town shines for parade

MORE than 350 youngsters   more...

Mallon to chair Tory policing think tank

RAY Mallon is to chair a Conservative   more...

Man arrested on suspicion of murder following discovery of body

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of a body in the street.   more...

Robbery arrests

TWO men have been arrested by detectives investigating a robbery in which a pensioner was assaulted and tied up by intruders.   more...

Estranged husband stabbed wife over internet relationship, court told

A WOMAN was stabbed to death by her estranged husband after she told him she was starting a relationship with someone she had met on the Internet, a jury heard today.   more...

Romanian jailed over cash machine scam

A DEVICE which can be fitted to bank cash machines to fraudulently tap into customers' accounts was found in a car stopped by police.   more...

Hard-up businessman faked Posche theft, court told

A BUSINESSMAN faked the theft of his expensive sports car when he encountered financial difficulties, a court heard yesterday.   more...

Celebration planned to mark BR's steamy end

NEXT year marks the 40th anniversary of the end of British Rail's mainline steam services - and it is going to be celebrated in style.   more...

Murder hunt launched

  more...

Gin seed survival plan

THOUSANDS of wild juniper seeds have been collected in the Yorkshire Dales to ensure that the native shrub survives.   more...

Police found cash machine "skimmer" in car

  more...

Residents claim victory in lap dancing club battle

RESIDENTS were tonight celebrating what was hailed as a 'landmark' victory in seeing off a bid to open a lap dancing club.   more...

Back from Panama to face the music

THE wife of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin is to be quizzed by detectives today after being arrested on suspicion of fraud on her return to Britain.As her husband was preparing to appear before magistrates in Hartlepool this morning, Anne Darwin was waking up having seen her dream move to Panama, from her home in Seaton Carew, turn into a nightmare in the space of a week.Mrs Darwin was arrested yesterday morning after arriving in Britain on an overnight flight from Atlanta, in the US. Reports suggest armed police boarded the flight after it arrived at Manchester Airport.The 55-year-old was detained for several hours before being escorted to Teesside in an unmarked police car yesterday afternoon.The news was revealed by Greater Manchester Police, who said: "At approximately 9.25am, Greater Manchester Police arrested a 55-year-old woman in connection with allegations of fraud as part of an investigation being headed by police in Cleveland."She arrived at Hartlepool police station, her head bowed in the back of a car in an attempt to avoid waiting photographers.A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "Anne Darwin is in police custody in Hartlepool police station, where she is undergoing a medical examination before any formal interviews can take place."Mrs Darwin's husband was presumed dead after his canoe was found smashed off the coast of Seaton Carew, in March 2002.But the father-of-two and former prison officer at Holme House Prison, in Stockton, walked into a London police station last weekend, claiming: "I think I am a missing person", and saying he had no recollection of the past seven years.He was arrested on Tuesday night at his son's house in Basingstoke, Hampshire, before being brought back to the North-East.On Saturday, only days after a picture was published showing Mr Darwin with his wife, apparently in Panama last year, police announced they had levelled charges against him."The Crown Prosecution Service this afternoon authorised Cleveland Police to charge 57-year-old John Ronald Darwin on offences of obtaining a money transfer by deception and making an untrue statement to procure a passport," Detective Sergeant Iain Henderson said at a press conference in Redcar."He will remain in police custody until he appears at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court on Monday, where a remand application will be made."Inquiries are still ongoing."Det Sgt Henderson said Mr Darwin was fit and well, but could not say if there would be more charges brought against him.He also said he could not disclose whether the investigation would be extended to look at other members of the Darwin family, including his sons, Anthony and Mark.On Thursday they claimed they were victims of a "scam" and said they wanted no more contact with their parents.Detective Superintendent Tony Hutchinson, of Cleveland Police, is expected to give a press conference this afternoon at the force's headquarters, where he will give an update on the investigation.Meanwhile, it has emerged that Mr Darwin has written a short message to his elderly father since his arrest, the first contact between the pair since he went missing.Ninety-year-old Ronald Darwin, who lives in Blackhall, County Durham, said the note read: "Dear Dad. Just to let you know, please don't worry."  more...

Seven days later, it's a global affair

JUST a few days ago, Anne Darwin was as anonymous as most other people in England.The only claim to fame the bespectacled woman had was that she was the widow of a man who had disappeared off the North-East coast five years previously while out on a canoeing trip.It was news at the time, but relatively speaking, it made barely a ripple.What a difference a week makes.Her arrest yesterday, on suspicion of fraud, brought to an end a whirlwind week, which has seen headlines made locally, nationally and internationally, and has changed the lives of her and her husband forever.The first time John Darwin's name had been mentioned by anyone other than those closest to him for the past five years was when he walked into a London police station last weekend and uttered the now immortal words "I think I am a missing person".For 24 hours at least, it appeared to be a miraculous story of how a man, believed drowned, had survived for five years not knowing who or where he was.But slowly to begin with, and then with a pace you could barely keep up with, the "real" story of what had happened in those intervening years began to unravel. First, we learnt that Mrs Darwin had left the North-East some weeks earlier to start a new life.Then a day later, newspapers were reporting the joy of Mr Darwin's father, Ronald, on hearing the news his son was alive.His sons, Mark and Anthony, said their father's reappearance had come as a total shock, adding: "We are extremely happy that he is alive and we are looking forward to spending time with him." The boys said Mrs Darwin had been informed of the good news and was "delighted to hear it". Mr Darwin did not comment, his memory of the past five years apparently wiped.But only hours later, detectives attempted to jog his memory when they announced they had arrested him on suspicion of fraud.He was detained in Hampshire, before being driven to Teesside through a throng of flashing cameras and journalists' microphones.As he sat in the interview room being asked to rack his memory, the recollections of others were beginning to come to the fore.One source told The Northern Echo that he had seen Mr Darwin near his home two years ago, but although it was reported to police, it was such a fleeting glimpse that it was noted by detectives, but not taken any further.Amateur sleuths were now offering theories in pubs and corner shops, and newspapers were dispatching their scribes up North and booking them on flights across the Atlantic.Clearly, there was now much more to the story than had originally met the eye.Detectives appealed for information on "the missing years", but obviously suspected more than they were letting on.With Mr Darwin being beyond the reach of the press, attention turned to his wife and just when it was thought there could not be another twist, there was.An otherwise innocuous picture of a smiling couple about to begin a fresh chapter in their lives surfaced on the internet.It showed Mr and Mrs Darwin in Panama, a year ago, and provided irrefutable proof that their story did not add up.The sons, who had expressed such happiness at finding their father, were now declaring themselves victims of a "scam" and told the world they had disowned their parents.Mrs Darwin was pictured, head in hands, in two national newspapers as she was confronted with the photograph, the revelation leading to an unburdening of her, as yet untested, version of the truth.She then left Panama, and went into hiding in Miami, where she continued to reveal more of what was fast becoming the most read tale of the year, including the fact that her husband had been living in Hartlepool for years after his disappearance.Police now appealed to Mrs Darwin to contact them with urgency.Yesterday, she finally obliged, arriving in Manchester, via Atlanta, Georgia, where she stepped off a plane and into the grasp of Cleveland Police.  more...

Four-year-old Imogen has the world at her feet

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD has the world at her feet after securing a modelling contract and being chosen to sing on television.Imogen Nicholson, from near Stanley, County Durham, has photoshoots booked with Ikea and chocolate shop Thorntons, and will record a song for GMTV.She will sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, one of her favourite nursery rhymes, for the broadcast before Christmas.Success has come very quickly for Imogen, who only started at Sacred Heart School, in Byermoor, in September, but has already been snapped up by Bond Model Management, in Leeds, and acting agent Celebrity Circles, based in London.However, she has taken it in her stride and is setting her sights even higher."I like singing. I want to be a pop star," she told The Northern Echo, before bursting into a rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.Her mother, Emma Nicholson, 27, a former model and Miss Great Britain runner up in 2001, is delighted with her daughter's success, but said Imogen needed no encouragement to push for stardom.She said: "She is a real little performer. She loves it. She is always singing and thinks it is great. They do not even need to tell her what to do when they are taking pictures. She knows."Celebrity Circles says she is going to be the next Kate Moss."She is going to make a single of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star for GMTV and it's going to be used on Yorkshire, Tyne Tees and Anglia, so it is going well."Mrs Nicholson who, with husband Colin, 38, has two other children, twins Olivia and Libby, two, said: "Both me and her dad are really proud of her."I have done quite a bit of modelling, but we did not push her into it. There is a bit of travelling involved, but I go everywhere with her."Imogen recorded her version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star at Whitewolf studios, in Tanfield Lea, County Durham.Nicola Swain, of Bond Model Management, said: "We have a few models her age."She definitely has the potential for television and as a photographic child model."She is quite a good little actress and has a good voice. I am sure my clients will love her."  more...

Darwin: sons are not suspects - police

The two sons of John and Anne Darwin are being treated as victims and are not suspects, police stressed this afternoon.   more...

Police appeal for help in Darwin investigation

Cleveland Police this afternoon appealed for anyone who may have seen canoe man John Darwin after his apparent death to contact them.   more...