The Northern Echo

Trainer Tells of Gunpoint Terror

Masked raiders rob County Durham racing star of [pounds]100,000 DRAMATIC details have emerged of how racehorse trainer Howard Johnson was held at gunpoint and forced to hand over [pounds]100,000.

Rapist Sentenced to Jail for Party Attack

A MAN convicted of raping a teenager after a party at his home has been jailed for seven years and put on the sex offenders' register for life. Barry Sinclair was convicted at Teesside Crown Court last month, but still maintains he did not attack the 19year-old as she slept.

Camels Thrill Racing Crowds in the Sand National

CAMELS replaced horses at a racecourse yesterday. The 1.40pm at Sedgefield Racecourse, County Durham, featured four camels ridden by jockeys who rode horses later that day.

Paedophile Preacher Could Be Sent to Prison for Life

A PAEDOPHILE preacher could be jailed for life after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing young boys. Keith Morton molested one of the children while he was working at a Methodist church in Darlington.

Air Rescue Team Flying High with New Guardian

The region's new [pounds]2m air ambulance begins work today. Reporter Jim Entwistle takes a ride as it is delivered to its new home THE Guardian of the North helicopter gets from Middlesbrough to Darlington in five minutes.

Baroness Kinnock On the Campaign Trail

BARONESS Kinnock visited the North-East yesterday, meeting voters in the key marginal seat of Durham City. With Labour candidate Roberta Blackman-Woods, the Foreign Office minister talked to people in Durham Market Place - the city is a key Liberal Democrat target.

Disgruntled Tenant in Hammer Attack

A FRUSTRATED council tenant battered a neighbour with a hammer a day after warning a housing official he would take the law into his own hands. Father-of-two Brendan Alderson was said to have been fed-up with loud music late at night from the flat below his home in Whitcliffe Grange, Richmond.

Firms Show United Front Against Crime

BUSINESSES on a Middlesbrough industrial estate have all pledged their support for a new neighbourhood watch scheme to help slash crime. Lawson Watch, which will cover the Lawson Industrial Estate, in North Ormesby, gained 100 per cent backing when police first visited organisations to gauge the level of interest.

Pair Threatened to Kill Robbery Victim

TWO robbers who terrified a taxi driver before stealing his takings were yesterday locked up for three years. Craig McKittrick thrust a broken bottle at Rifat Ali and threatened to kill him unless he handed over the money.

Flying the Flag

Paul Todd is flying the flag for green spaces. He tells Steve Pratt of efforts to ensure that parks and green spaces are accessible and welcoming to all PAUL TODD knows that saying he runs the Green Flag scheme could result in some people thinking he works for a car breakdown service or an environmental agency.

Garage Blaze Leads to Evacuation of Houses

A BLAZE that led to the evacuation of 30 homes because of gas blast fears is being treated as an arson attack. A 250-metre cordon was placed around wooden garages destroyed at Langley Crescent, New Kyo, near Stanley, County Durham, on Sunday. Emergency services evacuated the area when garage owner Kenneth Cribbin told firefighters that an acetylene cylinder was inside.

Computer Tyre Scam Puts Thief in Prison

A THIEF who tricked his employer by stealing nearly [pounds]120,000-worth of tyres over a four-and-a-half year period was yesterday jailed for 15 months. Christopher Edward Watson discovered a flaw in the computer software system used at Tyre Spot, in Chestnut Street, Darlington, which allowed him to make "phantom" transactions.

Just Visiting

V(Sci Fi Channel, 10pm) Olympic Dreams 2010 (BBC1, 10.35pm)

Theatrecritics

An Evening With Alan Bennett Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond

Blow for Workforce As Garage Door Firm Closes

A GARAGE door firm, which was established 90 years ago, has closed with the loss of nearly 80 jobs. The announcement follows a roller-coaster 15 months for workers at BRP Group Limited (BRP) based in Bowburn, near Durham City, who have faced a redundancy consultation and seen the firm fall into administration twice in that time.

Key Role in Plans for New Hospital

A LAW firm played an integral role in bringing plans for a new NorthEast hospital to fruition. Ward Hadaway provided legal advice for the development of the [pounds]464m hospital at Wynyard Park, near Billingham, Stockton, that was approved last month.

More Are Choosing Day Trips by Coach

A COACH company boss has reported a boom in traditional day trips, as more people choose to holiday at home. Durham City Coaches carried 156 more people on day trips last month than the same period last year - a 40 per cent boost in business.

Gary Gets Growing As a Green Therapy for Others

A NORTH-EAST man has combined his love of gardening with his experience of working in mental health to set up an innovative business. Gary Park has established Growing Health, an organisation offering social therapeutic horticulture as a mobile service to a variety of community groups, such as dementia, mental health, youth and men's groups.

Former Football Physio to Open Fourth Practice

A PHYSIOTHERAPIST who set up his own business after leaving a North-East football club has opened his fourth base in the region. Paul Gough set up Paul Gough Physio Rooms less than three years ago, and in that time, has expanded to open practices in Darlington, Durham and Hartlepool. Last month he added a fourth in Guisborough, east Cleveland.

Defra May Have to Pay Back Money to Brussels

THE National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) may have to pay back millions in unused EU money to Brussels. It believes the department over-estimated the uptake of its [pounds]200m Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) scheme.