The dog got into the home of Irene Collins, 73, when she allowed officers to search her garden.

The Gazette
Newspaper

A man suffered a stab wound which “missed his internal organs by 2mm” in a brawl on a train., external

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Alex Metcalfe

An investigation into the scale of child exploitation by drug gangs has been launched in Stockton.

Panellists at the Safer Stockton Partnership, external were presented with a report on "county-lines crime" - a growing national problem where children are forced to travel across counties to supply drugs.

Steve Hume, community safety manager at Stockton Council said while there was little evidence of "county lines" dealing in Stockton, there was evidence of young people being criminally exploited in the borough and trafficking.

Youngsters who were homeless, living in care, not in regular education and trapped in poverty were also vulnerable to criminal exploitation, according to the council's report.

Tanya Evans, from Stockton Council's child support service, said the authority had seen an increase in boys being exploited.

Ch Insp Marc Anderson said tackling county lines was a "big intelligence requirement" and it was important to use information to "stamp on it immediately".

He added there had been examples in Stockton and Cleveland of drug dealing taking place in households of vulnerable people - otherwise known as "cuckooing".

A nationwide "coordination centre" has been set up in Birmingham by the National Crime Agency to try and tackle county lines crime.

Mr Hume said the base had assigned a North East coordinator with the aim of "building an intelligence base."

Image source, Evening Gazette/Teesside Live

A speedy tortoise and his wife have welcomed offspring for the first time.

Stuart Whincup
BBC Look North

An inquest into the death of a woman has heard that she would not have died had she not been bitten by a police dog.

Irene Collins, 73, allowed police officers to search her garden when they were looking for a suspected drug dealer in the Park End area of Middlesbrough in July 2014.

A police dog called got into her house after being released to look for a suspect and bit her more than once.

The grandmother was taken to James Cook hospital but died four days later.

An initial post-mortem examination found that she died as a result of lung disease, but the pathologist said she would not have died when she did had it not been for the dog bite.

Coroner Karin Welch told the jury that the purpose of the inquest is to establish the facts about Irene Collins' death and not to attribute blame.

The inquest continues.

Sunderland Echo
Newspaper

An unholy row has broken out between a clergyman and the council, external over claims that churchgoers are being preyed on by over zealous parking wardens.

Image source, SUNDERLAND ECHO

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Mike Veale has apologised after misleading officers over damage to his work mobile phone while at Wiltshire Police.

He told colleagues the phone had been dropped in a golf club car park and run over by a vehicle.

Mr Veale subsequently told the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) that the damage was in fact caused when he swung a club at his golf bag in frustration after playing a poor shot.

They began an investigation in January after receiving anonymous allegations that Mr Veale deliberately damaged his mobile phone to hide contact with various parties over Wiltshire Police's investigation into historical abuse allegations relating to former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath.

The IOPC found no evidence that the irreparable damage to the phone had been caused deliberately or with the motive to conceal any information.

IOPC director Catrin Evans, who oversaw the investigation, said: "Mr Veale volunteered to our investigators that he was embarrassed by his behaviour over a momentary loss of self-control on the golf course, at a time of personal and professional stress.

"However, chief constables are expected to promote ethical values, lead by personal example and act as ambassadors for the standards of professional behaviour.

"That Mr Veale chose to give a different account to the truth, both verbally and in writing on several occasions and for some time, in our view amounted to a case to answer for misconduct relating to honesty and integrity."

Image source, PA

The IOPC agreed for the issue to be dealt with by a management action plan put in place by Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger.

In a statement Mr Veale said he gave an inaccurate account to avoid "sensationalist" coverage in the media.

He added: "I regret that I gave any account at all as to why the damage was caused as there was no reason to do so as this was simply an accident.

"I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not handling this matter differently."

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger said: "...having now had the chance to witness the work of Chief Constable Veale at close hand for some months, there is no doubt in my mind that he is the right person to drive forward the process of transforming Cleveland Police so that our officers and staff can focus on their continuing programme of hard work and proudly keeping the public of Cleveland safe."

The RNLI says it does dog rescues to prevent owners going into the water after their pets.

Police are investigating after a woman in Ingleby Barwick suffered a serious head injury.

Police were called to an address on Hollybush Avenue at 05:00 on Satuday.

A 64-year-old woman was taken to the James Cook Hospital in a critical condition.

A 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

Cleveland Police has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to previous contact with the parties involved in the incident.

The Shields Gazette

Parents and teachers have teamed up to fight for the under-threat South Shields School., external

Image source, SHIELDS GAZETTE

Louise Hobson
BBC Tees

Tributes have been paid to a homeless man who was found dead on Wednesday last week at Eston Cemetery.

Police have named him as 32-year-old Michael Cash.

His body was discovered less than a week after he was reportedly assaulted and sprayed with red paint.

This isn't being linked to his death which police are not treating as suspicious.

Mark Denten
BBC Look North

Five companies bidding to build new trains for the Tyne And Wear Metro have been announced by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling (pictured).

The list includes Newton Aycliffe-based Hitachi Rail Europe.

Other bidders are Bombadier Transportation, a German company which has a factory in Derby; CAF a Spanish firm with a train assembly plant in Newton Aycliffe; Chinese firm CRC and Swiss company Stadler.

A decision on the successful bidder will be made by Metro operator Nexus next year based on quality and price.

The new trains will start coming into service from 2021. They will be phased in with one new train being introduced roughly every three weeks.The whole network should have new trains by 2023.

Visitors heard and viewed the bridge through seaside-style kaleidoscopes called Wonderloopers.

Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

Inspirational Alfie Smith has surpassed doctors’ expectations, external as the determined youngster fights on in his battle to walk.

Image source, HARTLEPOOL MAIL

A grandmother from Northumberland has told the BBC how she began hallucinating when medics at Newcastle's RVI hospital gave her the wrong drugs.

Val Argent from Stocksfield has Parkinson's disease and was in hospital with suspected pneumonia.

She attended A&E in January 2017, but staff confused her with someone else and gave her different drugs.

During her hallucinations she said she saw snakes and lizards.

Val said: "I've received a number of apologies. I'm also happy that systems are being put it place and training given so this doesn't happen."

In a statement Newcastle Hospitals Trust said it had apologised for the distress caused.

A spokesman also said the trust was introducing new systems which will require a wristband for basic monitoring.

You can see more on this story on Inside Out, BBC One at 19:30 tonight.

An existing tombstone did not list the names or ages of those who were killed.

Lisa Gallagher
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

A bright start with a few misty patches that will readily disperse.

Through the day, cloud will build, allowing for the odd shower, but many places will stay dry with some further bright intervals.

Later in the afternoon the temperature will peak at 19C (66F) in some areas.

Check out the weather near you.

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