Stockton and Redcar teacher sickness rise claim sparks anger

The Department for Education says teachers' sickness levels tripled in Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland

Tony Gavin, headteacher at Laurence Jackson School in Guisborough

Figures released from the Department for Education have revealed the Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland boroughs have the fastest rise in teacher sickness in the country.
Since 2010 the number of sick days teachers have taken has tripled in both Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland.

But the two authorities have dismissed the figures as “inaccurate” and not reflecting their own statistics.
Stockton Council and Redcar and Cleveland Council were in the top 12 local authorities where the average number of days sick teachers take off are the fastest rising in England, according to the DfE.
In 2010 the average number of sick days taken was three in Redcar and Cleveland and 3.3 in Stockton. The following year these figures rose to 6.6 in Redcar and Cleveland and 8.7 in Stockton.
In 2012 they had risen to 9.5 in Redcar and Cleveland and 9.8 in Stockton.
Joan Guy, cabinet member for children’s services and education at Redcar and Cleveland Council, said: “We work closely to support our schools and teachers.

“In doing so we closely monitor the sickness absence levels of teachers and we believe there are a number of inaccuracies in these figures.”

Councillor Ann McCoy, Stockton Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We work with schools and trade unions to closely monitor and explore the reasons for sickness absence.

“This means we can then offer appropriate advice and support to schools and teaching staff to prevent sickness and help them improve their overall health and well-being.
“These figures do not reflect our own sickness absence statistics. In fact our figures show a much-improved sickness level.”

Tony Gavin, headteacher of Laurence Jackson School in Guisborough, said that apart from one member of staff having an operation he has had no one off sick this term so far.

He added that LJS is part of the Tees Valley Health Service’s Better Health at Work scheme.
“All schools now have absence monitoring and sickness review with a very positive welfare approach to it,” he added.
“We use occupational health and we have a staff forum. Feedback from the forum has been extremely positive.
“Our staff absence has diminished over the last three or four years.”

Article from Gazette Live
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/stockton-redcar-teacher-sickness-rise-6020620

Teesside pervert who posed as Justin Bieber to trick underage girls jailed for 14 years

                                         Robert Hunter tricked hundreds of underage girls into exposing themselves over the internet

A PEDOPHILE who groomed hundreds of girls from around the world on the internet was today jailed for 14 years.

Robert Hunter was told by a judge that the case was the most serious he had ever heard and should act as a warning to parents.

Hunter admitted 15 charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and 14 of making indecent photos of children.

Teesside Crown Court heard how he pretended to be a 14-year-old boy to persuade girls to expose themselves on a webcam.

On occasions, he also convinced his victims - some as young as 11 - that he was the teenage heartthrob Justin Bieber.

Hunter, of Brough Court, Middlesbrough, used social networking sites and an online music site to target the schoolgirls.

Prosecutor Richard Bennett told the court that girls across Europe, Asia, the US, Canada, the UK and Australia were targeted.

One 11-year-old victim was threatened that her parents would be told what she has been doing if she did not comply with his requests.

He threatened to kill the brother of one girl if she refused his demands, Mr Bennett told Judge Peter Bowers.
More than 800 films and stills taken from the online chats were discovered on Hunter's computer and on disc.

None of the sickening images the balding beast had amassed had been downloaded from the internet, Mr Bennett said.

His barrister, Tamara Pawson, told the court that he knows he has a problem and wants to receive treatment.
Judge Peter Bowers accused Hunter of "gross exploitation" and told him: "I don't know what damage you've done."

He added: "The deceits you used were elaborate, persistent and clever at times.
"It represents callous - almost sadistic - exploitation of young girls. Their feelings were manipulated and their naivety and vulnerability undermined and used by you for your own benefit and personal gratification.
"This is one of the most serious cases of internet abuse the courts have dealt with in this area.
"It is certainly a salutary warning to all parents of teenage children and what is capable of being done on the internet and how it can be abused."

Miss Pawson said: "He knows what he did was wrong and knows that he needs punishment."

Article from the Northern Echo
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10677285.Teesside_pervert_who_posed_as_Justin_Bieber_to_trick_underage_girls_jailed_for_14_years/?ref=twtrec

Redcar baseball bat robbers jailed for attack on lone shopkeeper

A pair of dangerous robbers have been jailed after attacking a Redcar shopkeeper with a baseball bat

Anthony Gent, left, and Adam Leonard

 Two "dangerous" robbers who battered a lone shopkeeper with a baseball bat have been locked up for a total of more than 12 years.
Anthony Gent and Adam Leonard demanded cash but then set about the victim with the bat, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The vulnerable shopkeeper was attacked at night while alone in his general store in Sandringham Road, Redcar.
He suffered serious facial injuries and was left lying on the floor while his hooded attackers made off with the till.

Police received reports of smashing noises coming from an alleyway and youths running off. Officers found the smashed-up till and coins left behind.

Gent and Leonard, plus a teenager who had acted as lookout during the robbery, were found at a nearby address. When searched in custody, Gent was found to have money hidden in his buttocks, the court heard.

Yesterday Gent, Leonard and the 17-year-old, who can’t be named, appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced for the June 2 robbery, which was admitted.

Only the day before, on June 1, Gent had been involved in another robbery in which a Redcar supermarket was raided for cigarettes and alcohol. Gent asked for this second robbery to be taken into consideration.

The court heard the victim of the baseball bat attack suffered a fractured cheekbone and had been left in extreme pain. The shop premises was also their home and he and his wife had been left feeling nervous and apprehensive.

The court heard that Gent and Leonard’s previous convictions both included robbery.
Barristers for both men said they accepted they faced substantial sentences. Nigel Soppitt, for Gent, said events were hazy as he had taken drink and drugs but he had pleaded guilty and shown remorse.
Richard Bennett, for Leonard, said he had been candid and wanted it to be known that he had wielded the bat.

Mr Bennett said Leonard is in a state of shock after his friend, Lucas Bishop, was very recently killed.
Gent, 21, of Scott Street, Redcar, was jailed for six years and four months in jail while Leonard, 22, of Bradhope Road, Middlesbrough, received a six-year jail term. The 17-year-old, from Redcar, had his existing referral order extended.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC described Gent and Leonard as “very dangerous young men” who had thought nothing of their “luckless” victim and carried out the offence for their own selfish needs.

After the case, Detective Sergeant Paul Husband said: “They have been given a lengthy custodial sentence which reflects the serious nature of the robbery, which saw an innocent, lone shopkeeper exposed to a traumatic ordeal, sustaining serious facial injuries as a result of their actions.”

Article from Gazette Live
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/redcar-baseball-bat-robbers-jailed-6020608

Flood ravaged Teesside residents welcome Government aid move

Teessiders devastated by the region’s flash floods have welcomed urgent official moves to apply for emergency Government cash aid

Teessiders hit hard by the region’s devastating floods today welcomed official moves to apply for emergency Government cash aid.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop and Redcar and Cleveland Council leader George Dunning are writing to Local Government Minister Eric Pickles to urgently demand the immediate release of emergency cash help for the council and local communities affected by last week’s disastrous flooding. One of the worst hit areas was St Joseph’s Court, Redcar, where residents could be out of their homes for months.

Married mum of one, Leanne Moscrop, 33, who lives in the street, said: “I welcome this move. Residents here need all the help they can get.

“We’re forming a committee to try and help take this forward. We need urgent action from all agencies to prevent this ever happening again.”
Kirkleatham Owl Centre, near Redcar, lost five birds which drowned in the floods.

Spokesman Craig Wesson said: “This is a very positive idea. We have at least a couple of thousand pounds’ damage to aviaries and fencing and sheds.”
Mr Blenkinsop said: “The council’s preparing a formal request for help under the Bellwin scheme. This covers many areas, including removal of fallen trees dangerous to the public and repairs to highways, pavements and footpaths and cost of evacuating people from homes and temporary rehousing.

“If this cash is released it could be possible to supplement it with help for individuals and families who have suffered directly via the council’s own hardship welfare fund.”
Cllr Dunning said: “Lots of people have suffered from these floods. We’ll respond to people’s requests to clean and make safe affected communities, but can’t do this on our own.”

Meanwhile, a vital Teesside women’s refuge has suffered tens of thousands of pounds damage in the destructive torrential storm which has devastated the region. But the Redcar area’s Foundation UK refuge for women and children fleeing abuse want people to know they are still fully operating despite suffering extensive damage to a quarter of their large, modern premises and its contents.

Five foot shark washed up on Redcar beach

Picture of the shark on Redcar beach. Picture by Gerard Hind.

A five foot shark has washed up on Redcar beach.
The dead shark was discovered on the beach this morning, as mentioned on our live news blog.

A spokeswoman for Redcar and Cleveland Council say a specialist team at the scene to move the animal and dispose of it.

The shark is believed to be a porbeagle - a common species of mackerel shark found all around the UK in deep waters.

The summer heatwave is said to have attracted more sharks to UK waters and many porbeagles have been spotted off the North-east coast over the last few months.
Porbeagle sharks are a member of the Great White family and although they are capable of doing so, they are not known to attack humans.

They generally prefer cooler water and it is thought they head north to cool off when temperatures rise in the British summer.

Article from Gazette Live
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/five-foot-shark-washed-up-5861653

Redcar Summer Sound festival a huge success

The five-hour inaugural Redcar Summer Sound festival at Redcar Racecourse has been hailed a huge success

Abba Sensation were one of the hits of Redcar's Summer Sound festival

Organisers of a music festival say they are already planning for even bigger events after an encouraging debut rocked Redcar Racecourse.

More than 4,000 people attended the inaugural Redcar Summer Sound festival at the town’s racecourse on Saturday.

And despite a few teething problems, the five-hour festival has been hailed a huge success - with hopefully bigger and better to come.

Delighted Jason Bushby, MD of Future Festivals UK, said: “The event had been planned for several years but due to other commitments and event dates it took us a while to bring it to reality.

“Redcar has needed something like this for a long time and the racecourse is an ideal venue that can enable us to do it. We hope over the years, this will become something to put Redcar on the festival map.”

Jason, of Redcar, has been involved with many major festivals over the years, including Global Gathering and Creamfields, but helping organising one on home turf has given him a real buzz.

He said: “We didn’t just book any cover band, we got the best tribute acts. We had a few teething problems which you expect with a new project. The bars found it difficult to cope with the initial rush when the gates opened, which led to a few frustrated people, but once the bars settled, everyone got into the party mood and enjoyed a fantastic night’s entertainment.”

Hosted by Real Radio’s Gary Philipson, the night featured the Beatles Tribute Band, Abba Sensation, JK as Robbie Williams, Kings ov Leon and Oasis UK, as well as a selection of stalls, street entertainers, a white knuckle fairground ride and a fireworks display.

Mark Taylor, manager of Kings ov Leon, said: “This was definitely one of our best gigs - the crowd was amazing.”

Caroline Smith, marketing manager at Redcar Racecourse, was encouraged by how the night went.
She said: “Everyone would love a music festival in Redcar and this is what people have been waiting for for a long time.

“Any problems we had this year will be resolved. If we can improve for next year’s event, it’s going to be really special.”

Artcile from the Gazette Live
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/redcar-summer-sound-festival-organisers-5846316

Butterwick Hospice require Transporter Bridge bungee jumpers

CHARITY bungee jumpers are invited to dress in Halloween outfits to jump off Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge in aid of the Butterwick Hospice Care on Sunday, October 27. The entry fee is £15 but jumpers are requested to raise a further minimum £85 sponsorship. To register call Steve Robson on 01642-628930 or email steverobson@butterwick.org.uk.

From the Nothern Echo
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/teesvalley/redcar/10656841.Butterwick_Hospice_require_Transporter_Bridge_bungee_jumpers/