Local Democracy Reporting Service
James Harrison

Firefighters in County Durham are soon to be fitted with body cams following bonfire night celebrations

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue staff faced four attacks during the annual celebration.

No one was injured, but it has prompted brigade bosses to bring in the measure in an attempt to improve safety.

Between 25 October - 7 November, there were four recorded attacks on firefighters in County Durham, compared to none in the same period last year (2017) and just one in 2016.

Body cams had previously been introduced for firefighters in County Durham last year on a trial basis, however this was later scrapped because it was felt unnecessary.

A watchdog has cleared Northumbria Police over the fatal shooting of James Carlo Wilson now his inquest has concluded.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct report found the force's response was “appropriate”.

The IOPC says it did not find evidence “of misconduct or performance issues for any individual officer” and “the officers' belief that Mr Wilson poses a threat to the public and to themselves was reasonable".

James' mother Tracy Todd made a brief statement outside the inquest.

She said: "I was right all along my son didn’t commit suicide."

BBC Sport

Former England international Peter Beardsley is coaching at non-league side Gateshead following his suspension as Newcastle assistant manager in January.(Mail), external

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Denten
BBC Look North

A jury has concluded a man shot by police in South Shields in March 2016 was lawfully killed.

James Carlo Wilson was shot by the police in Frenchman’s Way and died in hospital three days later.

Police believed he was carrying a firearm but it was actually an air weapon.

The twio-week inquest heard James Carlo Wilson was warned seven times by police before initially being shot with a rubber bullet, followed five seconds later by a rifle round which hit him in the chest.

He’d earlier phoned police twice to say he had a 9mm gun and would kill officers.

Lucy Moody
Journalist

Police are hunting for a "heartless" thief who stole sentimental jewellery from a 95-year-old woman while she slept in her chair in County Durham.

A woman got into Hazel Noble's house in Station Road in Seaham last Wednesday morning and stole 10 gold rings from her jewellery box - including her late husband's signet ring and her engagement ring.

Her daughter Margaret Hayes says she's been left badly shaken.

Det Sgt Gavin Wilkes said: “To prey on an elderly and vulnerable lady in the place where she should be able to feel at her most safe and comfortable is despicable."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Durham Constabulary on 101.

Police ask people with video of a fatal crash to take it off social media and to contact them.

Phil Connell
Look North

A pharmacist from Middlesbrough who is accused of killing his wife has told Teesside Crown Court he had nothing to do with her death.

Image source, IAN MCINTYRE/THE GAZETTE

Mitesh Patel, who ran a local pharmacy with his wife, is accused of killing Jessica Patel at their home at Linthorpe in Middlesbrough in May.

In the witness stand this morning, Mr Patel was asked about his relationship with a man.

He said when it emerged, he was fearful of being exposed as an Asian gay man, but told the court his relationship with his wife was perfectly fine.

He denies murder. The trial continues.

Image source, FAMILY HANDOUT

Matthew Hedges, the academic pardoned over UAE spying claims, is reunited with his family in the UK.

Police have arrested two men from County Durham and are seeking more suspects after another ATM was ripped from the wall of the Spar at Hensingham, Whitehaven.

Image source, Mike Robinson

Police were called at about 02:30, and arrested the two men, but say there were almost certainly more people involved.

The cash machine was found nearby and it is not thought any money was taken.

Det Insp Matt Scott said: “We believe a dark blue Jeep Cherokee, registration LD05 WSZ was involved in the incident and we want anyone who sees this vehicle to call 999 immediately.”

The wife of freed academic Matthew Hedges has tweeted this photo of them together after seven months apart:

BBC Tees

Cuts to the police "have been too deep and gone on for too long".

That's the message from Cleveland's Chief Constable Mike Veale.

Since 2010, the budget for Cleveland Police has fallen by more than a third in real terms.

Mike Veale, who joined Cleveland in March says that his force no longer has the resources to protect communities and has called for more funding for his force to be able to recruit enough new officers in the future.

Durham University says it is looking forward to welcoming back Matthew Hedges after he arrived in the UK following his pardon on spying charges.

Mr Hedges, who was arrested at Dubai airport in May, said he was innocent and had been researching the country's security strategy as part of his PhD studies at the university.

His wife Daniela Tejada campaigned tirelessly for his release.

Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, Professor Stuart Corbridge, said: "We look forward to welcoming Matt and Dani back in Durham as soon as they feel able to join us."

Image source, Durham University

The story of Matthew Hedges, the academic pardoned over UAE spying claims has made headlines this morning.

The Times has reported that the PhD student is believed to to have delivered a coded message to British officials that his confession was made under duress, external.

Image source, Daniela Tejada

Rafael Benitez says Newcastle's 2-1 at Burnley was "almost perfect", and calls on his side to "keep the confidence high".

Lucy Moody
Journalist

Newcastle-based bakery chain Greggs has upped its full-year profits after seeing like-for-like sales growth pick up 4.5% in the eight weeks to 24 November.

The group said it now expects full-year underlying pre-tax profits of at least £86m, compared with £81.8m in 2017.

Image source, PA

Newcastle move up to 13th in the Premier League as they capitalise on Burnley's defensive frailties to record their third successive victory.

Lisa Gallagher
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

Once any early fog has lifted, there will be sunny intervals and isolated showers through much of the day.

Later on there will be more rain, with possible wet snow over high ground and it will become increasingly breezy.

Now we'll look at some of the other stories making the news across the North East.

UK student Matthew Hedges may have been released by the UAE, but the balance of power has changed.

David Haigh (pictured), the former managing director of Leeds United, spent nearly two years in a Dubai prison following a fraud conviction in 2014.

He told BBC Breakfast: "I was tricked to come to Dubai get on a plane to settle what I thought was a commercial dispute and then within about 15 hours I'm literally lying on the floor of a Dubai police jail being kicked and beaten and being forced to sign a false confession in Arabic - much the same way we hear Matthew was.

"From my own time and from now the work I do with hundreds of ex-pats that are jailed there unjustly it's just a standard process that you hear, particularly with the false confessions, trials that last one or two minutes, no access to a lawyer, not much help from the embassy, poor health, solidarity, confinement, poor conditions - it's the same over and over again.

"So I remember when I read the sentence of Matthew last week the first thing that came to my head was 'not again'."