Teesside Evening Gazette
‘Within two minutes of parking the baby just popped out’
A MUM gave birth to her baby on the back seat of her car at a petrol station while rushing to the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton. Sarah Frost welcomed son Albie into the world on Sunday evening at the Esso forecourt in Sedgefield. The...
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MURDER ACCUSED MUM CONFESSED FOUR TIMES, COURT TOLD
A MUM accused of murdering her eight-year-old son “made four confessions”, a trial has heard. Louise Cameron, 41, is charged over the death of her son Rhys.
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GUILTY OF KILLING PAL WITH AXE
A MAN who stood over his best friend and repeatedly hit him with an axe has been found not guilty of murder. A jury, however, found Callum Howe, 23 guilty of the manslaughter of his pal, Shaan Rasul, also 23. The jury reached its verdict after less...
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Gunmen fired at window of home
TWO gunmen who shot through the window of a family home were hired to force a man to pay a ‘£20,000 drugs debt’. The bullet lodged into the living room wall behind the head of a mother who avoided being hit by jumping onto her sofa, Teesside Crown...
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DAD, 23, IS ACCUSED OF BABY SON’S MURDER
A DAD has gone on trial accused of murdering his son. Bradley Thomas “violently shook” Emmerson-oak Thomas “after losing control” when the 14-week old wouldn’t settle, the prosecution allege. Teesside Crown Court has heard that Thomas was alone with...
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Flower locker idea soon in full bloom
A FLORIST is preparing to launch what she thinks is a first for the region – fresh flower vending machine. Karen Woodhams, 56, has worked in the industry for decades and recently ran a shop before switching to a home-based delivery model. With a...
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Murderer Billy Dunlop to face second public parole hearing
“Now that Mr Dunlop has served the relevant minimum term of imprisonment and while he remains in custody, his case is subject to regular consideration by the Parole Board and, in my view, it is important in the interests of transparency and...
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12 years with a cost of £700m for new flyover
A 12-YEAR wait and a £700m cost. That is the time and money needed to build a new crossing over the River Tees, Tees Valley Conservative Mayor Ben Houchen has said. The Department for Transport has said there are currently no plans for a wholly new...
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LIBBY, 20, DIED AFTER DAYS IN AGONY
NEGLECT contributed to the death of a law student who died in agonising pain and was made to feel like a “time-waster” by medics on Teesside, a coroner has found. Libby Instone, 20, from Billingham, died in 2023.
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‘It stinks really from my point of view’
A COUNCILLOR has complained that he was “kicked off” a board overseeing Government investment in Eston and the surrounding area. Cllr Paul Salvin said he was told in an e-mail from Redcar MP Anna Turley he was being removed from the TS6 Together board...
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PCS risked lives on cliff edge to rescue woman
A TEAM of courageous Cleveland Police officers who risked their lives to save a vulnerable woman in crisis on a cliff edge have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards. PCS Adam Gressmann, Daniel Dredge and Elizabeth Mcclure climbed over...
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Man ‘was hit in face with an axe 10 times’
ALLEGED murder victim Shaan Rasul was hit in face with an axe “10 times”, a jury has been told. Hartlepool man Callum Howe, 23, is standing trial accused of murdering his childhood friend at a flat in the town’s Allerton Close, in the Dyke House...
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Nursery’s award for healthy eating advice
A NURSERY that encourages children to enjoy healthy new foods has been recognised with a top award. Happy Little Sunbeams Day Nursery has achieved the Eat Well Early Years Gold Award, given by Middlesbrough Council. The scheme recognises those early...
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Result of probe at prison has an impact on crime figures
A POLICE investigation into historic abuse at a prison accounted for more than 700 crimes recorded in the last three to four months, a meeting was told. Councillors and leading officers have heard how the longrunning Operation Magnolia – Cleveland...
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Man arrested on suspicion of murder after police hunt
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder following an incident in Eston. Detectives from Cleveland Police are investigating the death of a man on Ayton Crescent in Eston. Emergency services were called at around 11pm on Saturday to the street...
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Heartache as the last act in a real saga of a season ends in tears for Boro fans
THIS time last week, Middlesbrough fans were playing the waiting game, as they held their breath on how the ‘Spygate’ saga would end. Earlier in the month they’d been resigned to the notion that their season was over – but then Southampton faced EFL...
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Nurse pens dementia book just for children
A NURSE from Teesside has turned her passion for dementia care into a children’s book – while facing the heart-breaking loss of her own speech through her own illness. Julia Taylor, who is based at Woodside Resource Centre in Middlesbrough, has...
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Energy storage site granted permission
A BATTERY energy storage plant to be sited on agricultural land north of the A171 near Guisborough has been granted planning permission. Battery energy storage systems enable electrical energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind power to be...
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Cheers as housing proposal is rejected
RESIDENTS cheered as contentious plans for 67 new homes in Guisborough were turned down by councillors. Members of the public had packed out a meeting of Redcar and Cleveland Council’s regulatory committee, which considered a Miller Homes proposal on...
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From former theatre to flats
FLATS could be built on the site of a former theatre in Loftus which later became a bingo hall and cinema. Outline planning permission was previously granted in 2023 paving the way for potential development of the former Empire Theatre, on the corner...
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‘Wholesale’ drug dealers are jailed
TWO men caught taking delivery of almost a kilo of cocaine have been locked up. The package was delivered to Joshua Dean’s Coulby Newham home by a taxi driver, on March 21, 2023. Inside the house, Dean and his drugs partner John Robinson, weighed and...
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‘It’s our heritage’
“THIS is ours, this is our heritage,” was the passionate defence made by one Teessider when asked about the Transporter Bridge. The famous bridge’s future remains uncertain – described as “neglected” by one man – with potential costs to restore the...
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GUILTY
THREE defendants have been found guilty of the murder of 44-year-old Anthony Dickons in Middlesbrough – as one defendant is convicted of his manslaughter. Dominic Hall, 24, Greencroft Walk, and Morgan Caldwell, 26, of Cannock Road, were both found...
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FREE FAMILY PASS
VALID JUNE UNTIL 14, INCLU 2026 DING SPRIN THE G HOLID BANK AY
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Councillors vote to reject flats plan
A PLAN to turn an empty 19th century building that is plagued by break-ins into 22 flats for professionals has been rejected after it emerged that the scheme would have only five parking spaces. Three Grade II listed buildings – once home to...
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Boyfriend strangled and stamped on partner in horror holiday row
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Judge ‘ran a very tight ship of which he was captain’
have been picked to defend the sailor, but the fact that the job went to Peter, altered the course of his life and career. He won the case – it was thrown out of court – and he was later congratulated by the Judge Advocate of the Fleet. Peter later...
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FIRM AT FAULT OVER MAN’S FALL DEATH
LOGISTICS company Bertschi Ltd has been found guilty of health and safety offences following the death of a worker from a fall. Respected warehouse supervisor Peter Hutchinson, 60, died after he fell about 5ft and hit his head while helping to load a...
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‘SADISTIC BULLY’ JAILED FOR 19 YEARS
A JUDGE branded a former drug dealer “sadistic” as he jailed him for a raft of chilling and horrific offences against vulnerable women. Vincent Agar, now 80, carried out two appalling attacks against one of the women using hot knives and a hammer, and...
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Drugs cash was bag full of toilet roll, court is told
A FATAL machete attack took place after a bag meant to contain a cash payment for drugs had been filled with toilet paper, a jury heard. One of the four accused of murdering Anthony Dickons told a court that the bag “should have been money – around...
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‘Best value notice’ will remain in place
MINISTERS are considering “appropriate next steps based on the evidence” when it comes to the lifting of a best value notice slapped on the Tees Valley Combined Authority last year. The notice – a formal notification of concerns about governance and...
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Deal is sealed for £2bn incinerator
CONTRACTS valued at £2bn have been signed for the delivery of a controversial household waste incinerator scheme on Teesside. The deal on the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TVERF) marks the end of a process lasting several years when the scheme...
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MAN WHO TRIED TO RAPE JOGGER IS JAILED
A MAN who tried to rape a woman out running has been locked up for seven years. Michael Wanless, 41, punched his victim in the jaw in the incident in Eston on a morning in 2023. As the woman lay on the ground, he began pulling at her clothing and...
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Murder accused’s internet searches
ONE of the four males accused of murdering Anthony Dickons in a “ferocious” machete attack, made a number of online searches afterwards, a jury has heard. Daniel Simpson, 31, searched for “attempted murder”; “ferry to Belfast”; “non extradition...
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Evie builds on her family history on the Steel River of today
A YOUNG quay worker has become the fourth generation of her family to work on a site that continues to power Teesside’s industrial might. Evie Duce, 20, is a logistics coordinator at Steel River Quay, South Bank, helping to oversee major shipment...
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BBC Proms to make its debut at town hall
BBC Proms will make its debut at Middlesbrough Town Hall this summer in a “landmark moment” for music in the town. The BBC Proms in the North East returns in 2026 with its biggest regional programme yet, spanning Middlesbrough, The Glasshouse in...
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A TURNING POINT AT LAST?
IPSWICH DRAW MAY HAVE ENDED AUTOMATIC PROMOTION HOPES – BUT BORO CAN TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR PERFORMANCE: SPORT
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Stadium trek has a very special goal
AN AVID fundraiser will take in a hat-trick of North East football stadiums as he tackles his latest charity challenge. Paul Cunningham and best pal Craig Strike will cover 42 miles this Wednesday, April 22, starting at St James’ Park in...
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Drivers are being ‘ambushed’ by limited speed info
UNSUSPECTING motorists have been ticketed for speeding on a country lane after not realising it has a 30mph limit. A stretch between Skelton Green and Boosbeck in East Cleveland has been subject to speed camera enforcement action after concerns about...
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CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE IN ‘EXCELLENT’ HANDS
TEESSIDE’S Education Training Collective (Etc.) has been named a Clean Energy Technical Excellence College by the Department for Education. One of just five Clean Energy TECS announced nationally, it puts the Teesside college group, which incorporates...
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A ‘positive experience’ after a traumatic ordeal
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy injured in a hit-and-run in Thornaby has visited the Matrix team following the traumatic ordeal. Ezra Nunn, from Thornaby, was involved in a collision with an electric bike last month. The nine-year-old suffered only minor...
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Making a ‘hole’ load of progress on road repairs
MIDDLESBROUGH Council is repairing potholes at the second highest rate of any local authority in the UK, according to a survey. Between 2021 and 2025 a total of 47,154 pothole repairs were completed in the borough, equating to 8,144 per 100km of road....
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‘We need a push on rehoming people’
CLEAN-UP issues associated with homelessness in Middlesbrough could harm its bid to become the UK’S next City of Culture, a councillor has suggested. The council’s bid was recently longlisted for the prestigious title due to be awarded for 2029....
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Community is left ‘absolutely devastated’ at death of girl in suspected dog attack
A COMMUNITY in Dormanstown has been left stunned and heartbroken after a baby girl died in a suspected dog attack. Neighbours on Hardale Grove described the death of the girl – who was just three months old – as “absolutely devastating” and...
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Care home celebrates ‘good’ authority rating
COUNCIL plans to revamp a “much loved” kids paddling pool in Redcar have been hit by delays. Concerns were first raised about the condition of the pool, on The Stray close to the beach, two years ago when it was described as neglected and in need of...
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PARAMEDICS BEING MET WITH MORE VIOLENCE THAN EVER
PARAMEDICS and ambulance workers in the North East are facing more violence and aggression on the frontline than ever before. North East Ambulance Service bosses say they’ve seen a steep 47% increase in “reported violence and aggression incidents”...
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Public parole hearing bid over killer
NOTORIOUS murderer Billy Dunlop could face another public parole hearing after serving more than 20 years behind bars. In September last year, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) confirmed Dunlop’s case would be referred again to the Parole Board, “in line...
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DON’T MISS A THING!
THE looming closure of a care home has left the daughter of a resident in despair. Donna Ward said her mum Lorraine Welsh has specific needs and would not be able to cope when she has to move out of the Gables in Middlesbrough.
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HOUSE IS TARGETED BY GUNMAN
AN investigation has been launched after gunshots were fired at a house in Thornaby. Officers attended Northumberland Road at around 3.30am on Thursday after reports that a firearm had been discharged. According to one resident, a couple live at the...
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‘UTTER CHAOS’ OVER THE BINS
ALMOST 6,000 households missed out on recycling collections on the first day of a new system, prompting an apology from Stockton Council. A leading councillor has said they are overcoming “teething problems”, while an MP has criticised the system...
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SUSPECTED MENINGITIS CASE IS PROBED
A SUSPECTED meningitis case at a school in Teesside is being investigated, with the UK Health Security Agency warning people to “remain aware”. Reported to health authorities on Tuesday, the case involves a student at Conyers School and Sixth Form in...
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Mayor to get more planning powers
THE Tees Valley mayor is set to get more planning powers, at the expense of local councillors. Changes to planning policy are currently making their way through parliament, with greater powers going to the regional level, while councillors will be...
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MUM LIVED THE HIGH LIFE ON HER CROOKED PARTNER’S DRUG CASH
A Mother-of-four who helped to “conceal” her partner’s “serious criminality” – and spent £145,000 of the profits on luxury cars, holidays and watches – has been jailed. Samantha Donovan 33, used her business Teesside Furnishings as a cover to hide...
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Councillor puts the boot in on lay-by ‘blot’
A COUNCILLOR has been accused of “political point-scoring” after criticising the “disgusting state” of a lay-by on the A171 Guisborough to Whitby Road. Redcar and Cleveland councillor Steve Kay highlighted littering and evidence of drug use in the...
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Neighbour hailed a hero as boy is saved
A NEIGHBOUR has been hailed a ‘hero’ for saving the life of a young boy as flames ripped through a Hartlepool home. Four fire appliances were fighting the flames after fire broke out in a terraced property on Hartlepool’s Lindsay Road. The woman, who...
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GUILTY TWO WOMEN
A FORMER Middlesbrough drug dealer has been convicted of detaining two women against their will, one of whom he brutally attacked while holding her captive. Following a trial at Teesside Crown Court, a jury found Vincent Agar, 80, guilty of six of...
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‘We owe Karen a huge thank you for everything’
A VETERAN of Teesside Airport’s Air Traffic Control team has retired after more than four decades of service. Karen Maidment put down her headphones for the final time on Saturday, March 21, ending a career which started at the airport in 1981. Karen...
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Drone footage shows progress at Grove Hill
DRONE footage of a new affordable homes development in Grove Hill in Middlesbrough has been shared as the project passes its halfway point. The 296-home Hillside Gardens development, on Grove Hill, will consist of two, three and four-bedroom houses...
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Doorman jailed for sexual assault
A PUB doorman sexually assaulted an underage girl, after plying her with drink and drugs. Faisal Baruud was caught when police stopped his Range Rover Evoque as he drove through Stockton, in the early hours last year. Teesside Crown Court heard...
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‘We need a clean set of audited accounts’
THE Tees Valley mayor has said he does not think that TVCA’S Best Value Notice (BVN) will be lifted “for some time”. Conservative Mayor Ben Houchen gave his view to Tees Valley residents during Mayor’s Question Time, held in Darlington last Wednesday,...
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DONNA KEOGH MURDER PROBE RETURNS TO LEEDS
DETECTIVES investigating the murder of Middlesbrough girl Donna Keogh are focusing their investigation on Leeds as they explore potential sightings in the city. Donna disappeared in 1998 with her family so far facing an agonising wait of almost 28...
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FEARS OVER FINANCIAL STABILITY OF STDC
DEBT levels at the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) have triggered fears over its financial sustainability – prompting a call to take back regeneration land fully into public ownership. Debts built up by the STDC, which is responsible for the...
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NOT A SINGLE PENNY FOR TEESSIDE
TEES Valley Combined Authority will not receive any of the £1.7bn citycentre funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The move has been slammed by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, who said Teesside has been let down for too long by governments “of...
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