Teesside Evening Gazette

Stranded in the Far East

A DISTRAUGHT family is “going through hell” as they battle to bring their seriously ill loved one home from Thailand. Marie Peacock, from Eston, became poorly five days after landing in the country with her husband Ray. Marie, 71, had complained of...

NO SIGN OF MUM FOR SIX WEEKS

A FRANTIC family have appealed for help in finding their loved one who has been missing in France for more than six weeks. Stephanie Thomson was last seen by her husband Ken on Thursday, January 29, and there have been no sightings since. Stephanie...

Tributes to ‘one of Boro’s finest’

TRIBUTES have been pouring in for a popular dad of four who has died just weeks after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Michael O’gara was on holiday in the Maldives with his family in January this year when he started to be sick and have...

KILLER IS RELEASED

A MURDERER, once deemed so dangerous he should die in prison, has been freed this week as the Deputy Prime Minister prepares to mount legal action. The Gazette has learned Reginald Wilson was released on licence, despite David Lammy serving papers...

PAUL WAS THE ‘BEST SON IN THE WORLD’

THE man who died following an incident in New Marske at the weekend has been named by police. Paul Stewart Miller died following an incident in an alleyway between Dale Street and Arthur Terrace on Friday, March 6. The 30-year-old, who lived in...

Van careers off road into busy restaurant

TERROR AS VAN SMASHES INTO BUSY RESTAURANT STAFF and customers were left “traumatised” after a vehicle hit a taxi, mounted a pavement and smashed into a restaurant window, showering them with glass. Mr T’s on Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough – which has...

SHOCK AT MURDER PROBE

NEIGHBOURS in the quiet village of New Marske have spoken of their shock following a suspected murder on their doorsteps. An investigation is under way after a man died following reports of a ‘violent assault’ in an alleyway. Paramedics were called...

DRUG TURF WAR SHOOTERS LOCKED UP

A DUO who cycled to a Teesside home late at night and fired through the back door have been locked up. Liam Hope and Rachel Mcnamara were embroiled in a turf war on a Stockton estate. Along with another man – who has never been identified – the two...

ACCUSED RECEIVED DRUGS FROM POLICE, COURT IS TOLD

AN alleged victim of Vincent Agar who claims he “tortured” her on two separate occasions told a court he received his drugs off Middlesbrough Police. Agar is accused of imprisoning and viciously attacking the woman in two historic incidents in...

WOMAN TELLS COURT OF ‘TORTURE CHAMBER’ AND ‘GIRL HANDCUFFED TO RADIATOR’

A WOMAN says the “drug dealer” accused of imprisoning and viciously attacking her said he’d take her “up to the torture chamber”, a trial has heard. Vincent Agar, known as Vince, 80, denies eight offences against two women in Middlesbrough at around...

‘SCARRED FOR LIFE’

170 STEEL JOBS SAVED

THE owners of Liberty Steel’s pipe making operation in Hartlepool say a rescue buyer has been found, saving about 170 jobs. An internal email sent to staff at the Brenda Road facility says a deal is close to be being finalised. An unnamed “major,...

COMING BACK WITH A BANG

FIREWORKS are set to return to Stockton for the first time in five years. The fireworks show at Stockton Riverside – a major draw for families and residents across Teesside - was last enjoyed by thousands in 2021. It was cancelled in 2022 and has not...

KNIFE CRIME WORRY

ADMISSIONS to Teesside hospitals as a result of injuries caused by blades or knives have shown a worrying increase – with patients aged under 25 the greatest concern. In the 12 months to July last year, 30 people who were aged under 25s sought...

On the move

PLANS for a £200m lithium refining plant at Wilton in Redcar have been dropped – and moved to Billingham instead. Tees Valley Lithium (TVL) will create 66 jobs initially with hopes of many more to follow. And optimism has been sparked that a mining...

120MPH SHAME

A TRAFFIC management worker from Middlesbrough employed to help keep the roads safe was caught speeding at up to 120mph while over the limit for cannabis. Yousef Majid put lives at risk while behind the wheel of a luxury high-powered Mercedes on the...

Kidnap duo found guilty

A man has denied outraging public decency by recording himself naked and wearing black lingerie in a Middlesbrough park. David Causier also pleaded not guilty to possession of extreme pornographic images involving a number of animals. The...

‘BEAUTIFUL BOY’ MYLO ‘TOUCHED HEARTS OF EVERYONE HE MET’

GRACIE, 5, HAS ULTRA RARE DISORDER

A BRAVE youngster – who underwent heart surgery at age just one – has been diagnosed with a rare disorder shared with less than 35 people worldwide. Gracie Charlton’s mum, Sophie, spent four years with scores of hospital visits trying to get to the...

TWIN PEAKS

A COUPLE who were told they could never have children now have two sets of twins – born on the same day one year apart. Alisha Young, 25, and Connor Craster, 26, discovered they were expecting naturally conceived twins while she was at the hospital to...

INMATES ‘FREEZING’

A MENTOR and ‘big sister’ of a prisoner who is “absolutely freezing” has shared her concerns for the welfare of inmates at a North East jail. HMP Holme House in Stockton has been left without heating and hot water for a week now. It is still unclear...

MAKE ANN MING A DAME

CALLS to make justice campaigner Ann Ming a Dame have been taken to the Prime Minister by the Tees Valley Mayor. Ben Houchen wrote to Keir Starmer, Justice Secretary David Lammy and other politicians, urging them to recognise Ann with the top...

FUJIFILM’S £400M EXPANSION OPENS

POINTED SHOTGUN AT TWO WOMEN IN FLAT

AN intoxicated man threatened two women with a shotgun before firing it inside a block of flats. Jamie Bullock, 38, caused his victims to go into hiding when he pointed a shotgun at them before firing it at the ceiling following an argument over his...

Man dies in A19 crash

A MAN has died following an accident on the A19 in Stockton. The northbound carriageway was closed yesterday, following the fatal crash at around 7am, just before the Norton turn-off. The pedestrian, a 50-year-old man, died at the scene. Cleveland...

We can host the Olympics

NORTHERN leaders including Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen want the North to host the Olympics. A group of 12 mayors and council leaders - from all four main political parties - have written to the Government setting out how the Olympics could be staged...

SLASHED MAN ‘FROM SHOULDER TO HIP’

A STOCKTON builder who slashed a man from his “right shoulder to his left hip” while on bail for assaulting a police officer has been jailed. Darren Mcgee, 45, punched a man on Dovecot Street, before pulling him to the ground and stamping on his...

‘HE’S A MONSTER’

THE former wife of “Suffolk Strangler” Steve Wright has told how she left the serial killer after fearing for her own life. As Steve Wright admitted killing a sixth victim, Victoria Hall, his former partner also shared her belief that he may have...

Options on table for regeneration scheme

SIX options are on the table for the future of the Gresham regeneration scheme. The project, formally named Crown Square back in May 2025, hit a brick wall at the back end of 2025 as the scheme was deemed “financially unviable” and now potential...

JAILED FOR SAVAGE ATTACK

A Drug-fuelled brute attacked a woman he barely knew in her own home during a horrifying ordeal. Lewis Adams left his victim with a bleed on the brain and 11 fractures including to eight ribs, her nose, clavicles and sternum. Teesside Crown Court...

‘HE LEFT ME IN THE ROAD, NOT KNOWING IF I WAS ALIVE OR DEAD’

A DRUG-DRIVER smashed into a pedestrian and drove off “not knowing if he was alive or dead”. Police and paramedics were out looking for Craig Pollock, 37, on November 5, 2025, when he got hold of the keys to his mother’s BMW and began revving the...

POOL PLAN APPROVED

PLANNING permission to turn a section of Teesside Park’s former Rainbow Casino into a swimming pool has been granted. The plans come alongside ambitions to enable local children to learn the important life skill. Middlesbrough Council officers have...

‘NEGLECT’ FINDING OVER DEATH

NEGLECT in the care and treatment of a 24-year-old joiner in hospital contributed to his death, an inquest has concluded. In October 2023, Daniel Mallett was taken into James Cook University Hospital suffering from severe headaches. He tragically died...

105 YEARS

FOUR men and a teenage boy who murdered Jordan Hogg in a case of mistaken identity have been handed life sentences. Sidney Bashford, 29, Oliver Connelly, 28, Ryan Moore, 23, Michael Charville, 44, and Kaiden Mciver, 17, will serve a combined 105 years...

DON’T MISS A THING!

NO LABOUR CUTS HERE...

Inspirational 8-year-old’s 100 mile, 100 club challenge!

AN inspirational eight-year-old boy from Redcar has laced up his boots to start a mammoth fundraising challenge of running 100 miles around 100 different football grounds across the country. Bohdi Cartwright kicked off his “100 Miles, 100 Clubs”...

Twins, 20, earn rave reviews for Brit gastropub

CASEY and Cameron Lewis are hitting the mark with their gastropub business, which is attracting people from around the world. Since opening in July, The Brickyard in Brotton has proved a huge success, offering tasty meals, fine dining experiences,...

‘BETRAYAL’

POLITICAL leaders and unions have described reports that Chinese steel will be used for the Net Zero Teesside project as “a slap in the face” for UK industry. It is understood that steel will be imported from a manufacturer in China to create the...

TEACHER JAILED AFTER INTERVIEW HALTED

A former deputy headteacher has been jailed after admitting during an interview for a tutoring position that he was barred from teaching children. Richard Swinnerton’s interview was immediately halted.

Plans for spa and wellness centre agreed

(consisting of cast iron axle boxes installed in 2018, steel water tanks and solid steel wheels installed in 1979). PLANS have been approved to provide a new town centre spa and wellness centre. Proposals had been submitted to Hartlepool Development...

URGENT ACTION NEEDED ON KNIVES

LOVED ones of victims who lost their lives to knife crime have come together to make an urgent plea. Eden Hollis says her life was “ripped apart” when partner Lloyd Donkin died after being stabbed in Stockton in 2024. Eden joined other families of...

‘Let the light she brought live on’

THE heartbroken father of a little girl allegedly murdered in Thornaby paid tribute to his “beautiful” daughter as mourners gathered to remember her. After helping carry her tiny coffin into church yesterday, Josh Welsh spoke about his love for his...

Man extradited and charged with murder

FIVE people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead in Stockton. The 49-year-old man was found at an address on Egglescliffe Close in the Hardwick area on Saturday evening. A 19-year-old man, two 18-year-old men and two...

MAN TOOK £32,000 FROM OWN GRANDAD’S BANK ACCOUNT

A GRANDSON helped himself to thousands of pounds of his grandad’s money while he was in a care home. Jacob Hackett admitted taking £32,000 from his grandad’s bank account over several months. The 28-year-old had been trusted to use the card to buy...

WOMAN KILLED IN HOUSE FIRE

A PROBE has been launched after the body of an elderly woman was found following a blaze at a house in Guisborough on Monday. Emergency services attended the property in Sandwood Park after the fire was reported at about 7.45pm. Neighbours expressed...

‘AN ACHE THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY’

THE heartbroken family of a young dad allegedly murdered following an incident on New Year’s Eve has paid tribute to him, saying the ache in their hearts will never go away. Aiden Matthews, 31, was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, in...

A BADGE OF SHAME

MIDDLESBROUGH Council has issued nearly 3,000 fines to people abusing the Blue Badge scheme in the town over the course of six years. Figures show that 2,868 fines were issued by the council between 2019 and 2024 (inclusive) for misuse of disabled...

BLUE BECK PROBE

A BECK which turned an “unusual” shade of blue has caused controversy and confusion on social media. Pictures of Layland Beck were taken on New Year’s Day showing the icy blue-coloured water. The Environment Agency (EA) has confirmed that it has...

New Year, new plan

ONE of Middlesbrough’s most wellknown buildings could have a new lease of life after previous works stalled. Plans have been submitted to Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC) that could see Corporation Road’s Vancouver House put to new...

Centre of controversy

THE town centre stretch of Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough has not often been discussed in positive terms in recent years. Major shops have been closing regularly, leaving more and more units empty on what used to be the town’s prestigious...

LET ABBIE MAKE SOME GREAT MEMORIES

FRIENDS of a young Teesside paramedic diagnosed with incurable cancer have raised thousands to help her live life to the fullest. They want to “give something back” to caring Abbie Tutchings, 31.

REALITY STAR FREED EARLY

EX Big Brother star Simone Reed has been released from prison weeks into a 32-month sentence imposed for her part in a horrific petrol bomb attack by her then-boyfriend.

CRACKING YEAR FOR BLITZ ON CRIME

‘Disrespectful’

CLEVELAND’S top police officer has rebuked Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, saying his criticisms of the force as “broken” were “wrong and deeply disrespectful”. Victoria Fuller scolded the mayor for “unnecessary criticism” in a letter publicly shared...

Chris Rea 1951-2025

CHRIS Rea found fame in the late 1970s and 80s with huge hits such as Driving Home For Christmas, Fool (If You Think It’s Over) and Let’s Dance. Known for his gravelly voice and latterly for his slide guitar playing, he was nominated for a slew of top...

‘ABSOLUTE WARRIOR’

AN incredible Teesside woman has raised more than £8,000 for the hospital which has supported her gruelling battle with incurable cancer for more than six years. Abbi Hewitson, along with her family and friends, have raised the money for the...

JAMAL WAS LOVED BY SO MANY

HUNDREDS of heartfelt tributes have been pouring in for a popular restaurant-owner who has been cooking up incredible food for Teessiders for three decades. Jamal Chowdhury – owner of Jamal’s Indian restaurant in Middlesbrough – has died suddenly at...

JORDAN’S KILLERS

FOUR men and a 17-year-old boy have been found guilty of murdering Jordan Hogg. The 28-year-old rigger was stabbed and slashed across his neck during an attack in his own home. Following a lengthy trial, Oliver Connelly, Sidney Bashford, Michael...

‘YOU HAVE DECEIVED, YOU HAVE LIED’

A FORMER director turned fraudster from Stockton who made up fictional lorry drivers and billed fake HGV journeys to pay off his drug debt has been jailed. Matthew Eeles, also spelled Eales in court documents, was slapped with a suspended sentence...

‘PEEPING TOM’ SENT TO JAIL

“CLASSIC peeping Tom” Thomas Milton has been jailed after he filmed women and girls getting undressed with a secret spy camera and used an AI bot to create naked photos.

SCHOOL’S OUT

PLANS for a new college in Middlesbrough have been booted out, after being paused for over a year. The proposed free sixth form for 480 students, led by Eton College and Star Academies, was first announced in 2022, with the previous Conservative...

GRESHAM VISION ‘FINANCIALLY UNVIABLE’

A FLAGSHIP £200m regeneration project has been put on hold after being described as “financially unviable” at this time. The Gresham-based development, which was given the name Crown Square this spring, saw work on the proposed hotel, student...

PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO TEWV MENTAL HEALTH TRUST

A PUBLIC inquiry is to be launched into a scandal-hit mental health trust. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, announced an investigation will be conducted into the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley (TEWV) NHS Trust. The...

WOMAN HAD 30 DOGS INSIDE HER FILTHY HOME

THIRTY dogs were found living amongst faeces, rotten food and rat droppings in a Teesside home. Ginette Warne, who kept the animals in filthy and hazardous conditions in her mid-terrace Loftus property, has now been banned from keeping animals for five...

I won’t let this go’

A grieving mum has made an emotional appeal for help as she faces another Christmas without her much-loved daughter. Natalie Jenkins vanished on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, after last being seen on Park Road South in Middlesbrough. A body has never...