Hello and welcome to the breaking news blog for Thursday February 27, 2020.
It’s Katie Collings here and I’ll be keeping you updated.
If you would like to get in touch with us today about any breaking news, here are my details:
Phone: 0191 201 6144
Email: katie.collings@reachplc.com
Twitter: @KCollingsNews
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Key Events
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
“Cloud increasing and thickening with outbreaks of rain reaching western areas mid-morning.
“This may initially be wintry with snow mainly confined to hills. Southeasterly winds freshening. Maximum temperature 7 °C.”
Dangerous driver Astin Martin O'Brien did 93mph in 30mph zone
A dangerous driver called Astin Martin O’Brien reached speeds of up to 93mph in a 30mph zone while being chased by police.
O’Brien took a Ford Fiesta and drove “incredibly dangerously” round the streets of Ashington.
A court heard he was already banned from the roads and had no licence or insurance at the time.
When he was eventually stopped by police, he appeared to be under the influence but he refused to give a sample.
Despite having 31 convictions, including a number for driving while disqualified, failing to provide a specimen and having no insurance, he was been spared prison.
Miss Recorder Davies, at Newcastle Crown Court, told him: “You have a bad record for offences involving driving.
“The police saw you driving at speeds of up to 93mph in a built up area of Ashington.
“It should be obvious to anyone that’s incredibly dangerous and it’s remarkable that no-one was injured on that occasion by your driving.
“It was not simply the driving but the fact that when doing so you were a disqualified driver and appeared to the officer to be intoxicated and failed to provide a specimen and failed to stop and were not insured, nor driving in accordance with a licence.”
Loved ones of murdered Connor Brown hope to create lasting legacy
Connor Brown’s family know better than most the heartbreak of losing a loved one to knife crime.
And standing at the base of the Knife Angel statue, they paid tribute to the much-loved Sunderland teenager senselessly killed by a coward armed with a blade.
Charming, sporty and hard-working, Connor was murdered at the age of just 18.
He had bravely stepped forward to defend others from 20-year-old Leighton Barrass, who had been threatening to stab people after an argument with another teenager.
In the angel’s month-long visit, Tanya and Simon Brown and their 14-year-old daughter Ellen have visited at least once a week, keen to honour Connor’s memory and to support the anti-knife crime work that has accompanied it.
The thought-provoking statue was brought to the North East thanks to the family of murdered mum Samantha Madgin, whose mother Alison and sister Carly have run workshops about the statue every day since it arrived.
Connor’s mum Tanya, 39, said: “Raising the awareness is amazing, I totally admire Alison and Carly for the work they’ve done.
“I admire the strength and the bravery of telling Samantha’s story over and over again.”
Full story here.
Three men who killed 'devoted' grandfather jailed for 53 years
Three men who killed a Newcastle United fan in a car park have been jailed for a combined total of 53 years.
John Williams was jailed for life and told it would be a minimum of 25 years before he is eligible to apply for parole after a jury found him guilty of murdering Simon Jones.
His co-defendants Kirk Guy and Jacob Ali were both found guilty of manslaughter following a five-week trial.
Derbyshire Live reports Guy was sent to prison for 20 years, while Ali was jailed for eight years.
The trio planned to rob a friend of Mr Jones called Carl Calladine, of cocaine in Chaddesden Park on April 20, last year.
But during the botched robbery Williams plunged a fearsome-looking hunting knife into the legs of the much-loved dad-of-two who had gone along with Calladine on that evening.
The 57-year-old victim, who was born and raised in North Shields , staggered to a nearby house and banged on the door for help.
Despite the best efforts of people at the scene and paramedics, the grandfather-of-five was pronounced dead around an hour later.
Full story here.
What will the weather be like tonight?
“Any wintry showers affecting western hills soon dying out to leave a dry night with increasingly clear skies developing as winds become light.
“This will allow temperatures to fall with frost forming. Cloud increasing after midnight but remaining dry. Minimum temperature -2 °C.”
Body of man found at Castle Keep in Newcastle
The body of a man has been found at the Castle Keep in Newcastle.
Emergency services were called to the area at 7.40am on Thursday and discovered the deceased man.
Northumbria Police says there is not believed to be any third party involvement.
A spokesperson for the force added: “At 7.40am today [Thursday], police were called to the Castle Keep in Newcastle after reports of concern for a male.
The body of a man has been found at the Castle Keep in Newcastle.
Emergency services were called to the area at 7.40am on Thursday and discovered the deceased man.
Northumbria Police says there is not believed to be any third party involvement.
A spokesperson for the force added: “At 7.40am today [Thursday], police were called to the Castle Keep in Newcastle after reports of concern for a male.
A number of police cars and an ambulance were also seen outside The Vermont Hotel, at Castle Garth.
Will Goldburn, facilities manager at the castle, said: “A body was found in the pit.
“When I arrived the fire brigade were extracting the body. There were four police cars, two fire engines, two ambulances and the area was cordoned off when I arrived.”
A690 delays
There’s still delays as usual on the A690 between the A1(M) Carville Roundabout and A181 ( Gilesgate Roundabout).
Fortnite pervert jailed for sexual relationship with schoolgirl he met on XBox
XBox child groomer David Wood has been jailed for more than six years after having a sexual relationship with a schoolgirl he met playing Fortnite.
Wood, 37, “stole the childhood” of a girl he first met when she was 14 and admitted having sex with when she was 15.
The victim’s mother even unknowingly dropped her off at his home on a number of occasions - thinking she was visiting a boyfriend in her year at school.
When the mum eventually found out what was going on, Wood continued communicating with the girl, sending her messages telling her not to cooperate with the police.
A court heard police found indecent images of the youngster on his phone and there was also a pregnancy testing kit and a lace body suit at his home.
Now Wood, of Washington, has been jailed for six years and eight months after pleading guilty to sexual activity with a child and making indecent images.
He was sentenced to 15 months in November for attempting to pervert the course of justice by trying to derail the police investigation into him.
Full story here.
A1 delays
There’s delays of around 10 minutes on the A1 Western Bypass southbound from the Metrocentre to the Angel of the North.
Queues around Moor Farm Roundabout
Traffic is queuing on the A19 in both directions around the A189 (Moor Farm Roundabout).
Police searching for 'aggressive male' with an axe in Hetton-le-Hole
Police are searching for a man with an axe who was “making threats” in Hetton-le-Hole.
Officers were called out to the town at around noon on Thursday following a dispute but the man in question had left the scene.
Firearms officers were deployed to the scene but have not yet tracked him down.
A search is ongoing but police say there is not believed to be a wider threat to the public.
A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “Shortly before 12pm today (Thursday) we received a report an aggressive male had been making threats on The Avenue in Hetton.
“Officers attended the scene and began carrying out enquiries where it was reported the male had been carrying an axe.
“Firearms officers were deployed to the scene and enquiries to locate the man are ongoing.”
Breakdown on the Central Motorway
There’s reports that one lane of the A167(M) southbound is blocked at the A1058 due to a breakdown.
Breakdown on the A19
One lane of the A19 northbound is blocked around Easington due to a broken down vehicle.
Girl, 15, dies days after being hit by a car in Sunderland
A teenage girl has died in hospital days after being hit by a car in Sunderland.
Alisha Webster, 15, was knocked over on Wessington Way, near the Sainsbury’s supermarket, just after 4.30pm on February 19.
Emergency services attended the scene and she was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries.
Police have now confirmed that Alisha died as a result of those injuries on February 25. Her family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers at this time.
Sergeant Matt Sykes, of Northumbria Police’s motor patrols department, said: “This was a devastating incident which has sadly resulted in the death of a 15-year-old girl. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time and I would ask that their privacy is respected as they come to terms with their loss.
“We are committed to finding out the circumstances surrounding the incident and an investigation is ongoing to determine events directly before the collison happened.
“I would like to thank members of the public who have already come forward to assist with our enquiries but we would still urge anyone who witnessed the collision, who is yet to contact police, to get in touch as soon as possible.
“We are also keen for anyone who was passing through the area at the time, who may have dashcam footage, to get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 770 19/02/20 or by emailing the officer in charge at 471@northumbria.pnn.police.uk .
Train delays
There’s currently delays of up to ten minutes on London North Eastern Railway at Newcastle due to a passenger illness on a train.
Heavy on the A1
There’s heavy traffic on the A1 Western Bypass southbound from Seaton Burn to Kingston Park.
Lane closure on the A69
Traffic is also heavy on the A69 in both directions around Bridge End Roundabout due to a lane closure for roadworks.
Prolific burglar put behind bars again
A prolific burglar has been put behind bars again after police officers tracked him down in less than an hour.
Brian Coakley, 41, had only been released from jail eight days before being caught by officers fleeing from a stolen vehicle in Scotland Gate, Northumberland, on January 10.
Following enquiries, Coakley was quickly linked to an earlier burglary at an address on Eider Close in Blyth where the keys for a Mercedes C350 were taken along with a laptop and briefcase.
Luckily officers responded quickly and located the stolen car and Coakley within an hour of the call coming to the police.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with burglary and theft of motor vehicle.
Coakley, of no fixed address, first appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on February 7, where he pleaded guilty to both charges.
On Monday, he was back at the court where he was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
Det Con Alison Felton, of Northumbria Police, said: “Brian Coakley is a prolific thief who repeatedly shows blatant disrespect to both the law and the victims he targets.
“Burglary is an incredibly personal and invasive crime which often leaves a mental and financial impact on the victims - some of which can be too scared to return to their beloved family homes and are forced to move.
“Unfortunately for Coakley, quick-thinking officers used their skills to track him down and gather enough strong evidence to secure a charge and see him back behind bars.”
Storm Jorge to bring strong winds to North East
People in the North East are being warned to brace themselves for strong winds as Storm Jorge heads to the UK.
Named by the Spanish meteorological service Agencia Estatal de Meteorología on Thursday, Storm Jorge will track across the north west of the UK over the weekend bringing another spell of strong winds and heavy rain.
The North East is also expected to get strong gusts, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for wind, lasting from midday on Saturday to midday on Sunday.
Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “This weekend we’ll see another named storm bring strong winds to parts of the UK with several wind and rain warnings in place.
“On Friday a band of rain associated with Storm Jorge will move across the UK - we have issued rain warnings for parts of Wales and northern England, where rain will be heaviest and we could see 60-80mm possible over the highest ground.
“South-westerly winds will strengthen through Saturday morning and it’ll turn widely windy except for northern Scotland, with wind warnings in place for Northern Ireland, Wales, southern Scotland and much of England.
“Where warnings are in place gusts of 50mph-60mph are likely quite widely, with 65mph-70mph possible in coastal areas, however the strongest and most damaging winds are expected across the Republic of Ireland.”
Police treating one of Sunderland house deaths as suspected murder
Detectives investigating the discovery of two bodies in a house in Sunderland are treating one of the deaths as suspected murder.
Shortly after 10am on Wednesday, Northumbria Police received a report of concern for a woman at an address on Satley Gardens, in the Tunstall area of Sunderland.
Emergency services attended and found the bodies of a 44-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, and at this early stage, nobody else is believed to have been involved.
However, police are currently treating the death of the woman as a suspected murder.
Det Chief Insp Jane Fairlamb, the senior investigating officer of the case, said: “This is a tragic case that has led to the deaths of a man and a woman. “Their next of kin have been notified and are currently being supported by a team of specialist family liaison officers. Our thoughts go out to them at this awful time.
“Forensic teams have been at the address overnight and officers will continue to remain at the property throughout today to carry out a range of enquiries. “I would like to reassure members of the community that there is no wider threat to the public and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident at this stage.
“The man and woman were known to each other and we are continuing to investigate the circumstances behind their deaths.”
Anyone with information surrounding the deaths is asked to call 101 quoting log 230 260220 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Tyne Tunnel to close northbound for short while tonight
We are being informed that there will be some brief closures tonight at the northbound Tyne Tunnel for essential maintenance work.
Beginning at 11.50pm, there are to be three intermittent stoppages lasting approximately 20 minutes.
Man whose body was found in woodland took his own life, inquest rules
A man whose body was found in woodland took his own life, an inquest has ruled.
Dean Langley, of Sunderland, had been reported missing by his family on September 24 and police made an appeal to help find him.
However, the next day officers were informed that a body had been found in a wooded area near Durham Street, in Houghton-le-Spring.
At an inquest in Durham, it was said Mr Langley, a 26-year-old factory worker, had a history of depression and had sent text messages before his death indicating he wished to take his own life.
Read the full article here.
Horse put down after road crash
We have now received further information about the collision involving a horse on Edge Lane, in Burnhope, County Durham, this morning.
Durham Constabulary say the animal had to be put down.
A spokesperson added: “We were called to reports of two horses loose in Edge Lane, Burnhope, just before 5.30am this morning.
“A van collided with one of the horses, leaving it with leg injuries. The driver is believed to have been uninjured.
“Officers closed the road and a vet was called to assess the horse’s injuries. Unfortunately it had to be put down at the scene.
“The other horse was uninjured and recovered by its owner.”
The road was reopened just after 8am.
