Hello and welcome to the breaking news blog for Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
We will be bringing you regular updates throughout the day of all the breaking news and sport.
We have pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Newcastle, Teesside and North East traffic, weather forecasts, crime and council news too.
It’s Hannah Graham here and I’ll be keeping you updated on what’s going on across the North East including the latest on the roads.
If you would like to get in touch with us today about any breaking news, here are my details:
Phone: 0191 201 6109
Email: hannah.graham@reachplc.com
Twitter: @HannahGraham21
You can reach the ChronicleLive newsdesk on 0191 201 6446 and to get breaking news sent straight to your phone, download the free ChronicleLive app here.
Today's must-read news, sport and entertainment
Good night
That is all from us for today, but we will be back as always on Wednesday morning.
For now, hear is a recap of some of the biggest tales today.
100 up
How canny is she?
Enjoy your birthday Elizabeth!
Roadworks
No reported incidents on the roads this evening, thankfully.
However there are roadworks, most notably the A185 Jarrow Road Westbound which is closed due to roadworks from A194 Newcastle Road to Hobson Way.
Also the A189 Killingworth Road in both directions closed due to major roadworks between West Farm Avenue and A191 Benton Park Road.
Boy racer
A boy racer who should not have been behind the wheel when he led police on a high speed chase has been spared prison.
George Leighton “panicked” when he saw police trying to pull him over in a car he had bought the day before, which he was not insured to drive.
Lager attack
This is a nasty tale.
The victim told a court that the ugly incident left him ‘sick to his stomach’.
Thug's horror attach on shop workers
A thug subjected a newsagents worker to a traumatic assault when he tried to confront him for stealing cans of lager.
Garry William Addison launched the attack on shop worker Craig Reid after going into Peggs newsagents, in Hexham , in October last year.
In CCTV footage which shop manager Edd Green said made him feel “sick to my stomach”, Addison can be seen shoving Mr Reid against the shop shelves, attempting to rip his hoodie off and throwing several punches.
The brute then assaulted police officers who turned up at the scene to arrest him.
Here’s our full court report and watch the shocking CCTV footage here.
Legacy kept alive with lifesaving equipment
The heartbroken family of a young man who died in Ibiza hope to keep his legacy alive and prevent tragedy from hitting another family.
Paul Gardner, of North Shields, was celebrating his 24th birthday in the Spanish resort of San Antonio last August and had been jumping off rocks into the sea below with friends.
The strength of the sea caused the dental technician to swallow water and he passed out in the water, with his friends pulling him to dry land but tragically none of them, apart from Paul, knew CPR.
Now his mum Carla Hunter, 44, and step dad Billy Ions have unveiled a memorial and five new defibrillators in North Tyneside.
Angel of the.... South???
The UK’s largest cast bronze sculpture - dubbed the south’s answer to the Angel of the North - is being unveiled after two years in the making.
The “young, powerful” female figure, entitled Messenger, has been cast at a foundry in a tiny Welsh village, using the ancient technique of lost wax casting.
I mean, it looks very nice and all but a challenger to our Angel? I’m not so sure.
She stole £100,000 to 'buy friendships' and is paying back £1
A manager at a packaging company who helped herself to £100,000 of company money in order to “buy friendships” has been spared jail and must pay back just £1.
Sarah Taylor was the branch finance manager of Samuel Grant North East Ltd, in Jarrow, and had responsibility for all of the cash coming into and going out of the firm.
A court heard she diverted large sums of money to herself by moving money around and misusing the company credit card.
Taylor said she used the money to purchase gifts for her family and colleagues in order to buy their friendships, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Taxi bursts into flames near Holystone roundabout
A taxi burst into flames near the Holystone roundabout, engulfing the car “within minutes”.
The dramatic scenes unfolded in North Tyneside on Monday afternoon as shocked drivers watched on.
Miraculously, the driver of the taxi walked away without injury.
Metro delays
Nexus says there are delays of up to 20 mins to trains running between South Hylton and Pelaw due to a failed train.
'Know where your children are' police warn
Northumbria Police have shared details of a “crackdown” on antisocial behaviour in Sunderland and South Tyneside.
Heartwarming display of Geordie spirit
The moment a homeless man asked a group of Newcastle revellers for money has left people stunned after one of them handed over his bank card and PIN number.
In a heartwarming clip posted on Facebook , the mystery Good Samaritan shows what the caring Geordie spirit is all about when he is approached for spare change..
'Army could have saved Alice'
They trained him to be a ruthless killer, then ignored the warning signs when he became a dangerous stalker.
The family of murdered Alice Ruggles have hit out at the British Army after a report highlighted missed opportunities to prevent her death.
Police respond to speculation over the death of Sophie Gradon
Northumbria Police has confirmed that the force is not investigating any new lines of inquiry into the death of Sophie Gradon.
The force responded to speculation over the tragic death of the Love Island star who was found in her parents home in Northumberland last June.
The statement comes as her inquest was delayed after the 32-year-old’s family said they had received new information.
The proceedings were due to begin again on Thursday but a spokesperson for Northumberland Coroner’s Court confirmed there had been a delay after new information was passed to the family.
An inquest into the death of Sophie’s boyfriend Aaron Armstrong was held on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said on Tuesday that they didn’t believe there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and they did not believe anyone else was involved.
The full statement reads: “We are aware of reports in the media and social media relating to reports of new lines of enquiry relating to the death of Sophie Gradon last year.
“This has been an incredibly difficult time for Sophie’s family and the family of Aaron Armstrong who was found dead 20 days after Sophie’s death.
“Following this speculation, we can confirm the police are not investigating any new lines of enquiry.
“We do not believe there was any suspicious circumstances around Sophie’s death and we do not believe that anyone else was involved.
“The family received the coroner’s report for the first time last week and had asked the coroner for more time to review the file.
“The police have not been asked to review any further evidence relating to the case and it will be for the coroner to determine a cause of death when an inquest is held.
“We would ask that the public not speculate about the case on social media and respect the privacy of both Sophie and Aaron’s families at what continues to be a difficult time for them.”
Slow in Leam Lane
Traffic is slow on the A194(M) in both directions around Newcastle Road.
Inquest into tragic death of 'happy-go-lucky' Aaron Armstrong held
An inquest into the death of Aaron Armstrong who was tragically found dead at his family home in Blyth has been held.
The fit and healthy boat captain, 25, was found dead in his bedroom on July 10 last year, the inquest at North Shields heard.
Aaron’s death came just weeks after his girlfriend Sophie Gradon died aged 31.
Coroner Eric Armstrong told the inquest that Aaron was “extremely distressed as a consequence of finding Sophie”.
The coroner said Aaron had alcohol and cocaine in his body when he died, and the effects of the substances had prevented him from thinking rationally.
The inquest heard, on July 9, Aaron went to a barbecue with a friend.
He was found dead that night, by his devastated mum Donna.
In a statement, Aaron’s mum Donna told the inquest hearing that he had been upset and very quiet in the days after Sophie’s death.
Full story here.
Breakdown on the A19 at Seaham
The entry slip road of the A19 southbound at Seaton Lane is closed due to a broken down vehicle.
Crash in Consett
Benfieldside Road is blocked in both directions after a crash at Western Hill.
Tragic stabbing victim Connor Brown laid to rest
Hundreds have gathered to pay tribute to 18-year-old stabbing victim Connor Brown.
The teenager was allegedly murdered behind The Borough Pub in Sunderland city centre on February 24.
Just hours earlier, he had posted pictures of himself with friends having fun on a night out.
Crowds of mourners, many of them young people, filed into Sunderland Crematorium to say goodbye to the popular Farringdon lad.
His coffin was carried in a horse drawn carriage and draped in the colours of his beloved Sunderland AFC.
Heartbroken family followed behind in cars as the procession made its way down Chester Road.
Leighton Barrass, 20, of Hartside Square, Sunderland, has been charged with murder.
A second man, Ally Gordon, 19, of Polmuir Road, Sunderland, has now been charged with murder and possession of a bladed article.
Full story here.
Roadworks on the A69
Traffic is queuing on the A69 westbound between Stagshaw Roundabout and Bridge End Roundabout due to roadworks.
Slow in North Tyneside
There’s busy traffic on the A19 southbound around the Coast Road.
Breakdown on the A1
One lane of the A1 Western Bypass southbound is blocked near the Angel of the North due to a broken down van - traffic is heavy.
