The Chronicle
‘I know he’s got difficulties but it’s not an excuse for stealing’
A MUM has slammed a thief who claimed he was “lonely” when he stole her beloved dog. Shaun Flaherty, 38, stole Felicity Dickinson’s nine-year-old bulldog Lizzie from outside Molineux Pharmacy in Byker, Newcastle. Felicity, 59, had left Lizzie outside...
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£128m vision to transform ‘bleak’ corner of city centre
FRESH details have emerged of a £128m vision to regenerate an “inaccessible and bleak” corner of Newcastle with new homes, shops, a multi-storey car park, and an urban park. Proposals for a dramatic overhaul of a disused railway yard next to Central...
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Magpies are headline news on Europe’s big stage
UNITED SINK DUTCH VISITORS IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: SPORT
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Uninsured driver took pal’s car out – and crashed it
AN uninsured learner driver caused £7,000 of damage by smashing into a barbershop. Lewis Charlton decided to taken his friend’s “nice car” for a spin but lost control and crashed into Rayan’s Barbershop in Fawdon, Newcastle. The white Audi ended up...
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NHS ‘crack teams’ slash waiting lists
THE Government says that socalled “crack teams” sent into twenty NHS hospital trusts around the country – including in Newcastle – have brought down waiting lists three times quicker than on average. The then-new Labour Government announced the move...
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‘He’s got as far as he has because he is so determined. He’s amazing’
MEET the “miracle” four-year-old boy who has shown incredible bravery and continues to “defy the odds”. Robert Trewick was born at 24 weeks weighing just 1lb 5oz and was immediately placed on a ventilator to give him the best chance of survival. But...
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Charities’ words of support for legend Keegan
CHARITIES have issued messages of support after the news that Newcastle United icon Kevin Keegan has been diagnosed with cancer. A statement released by his family on Wednesday said the diagnosis came after an evaluation of “abdominal symptoms”. The...
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A sneak peek inside city’s renovated indoor market
FRESH images have offered a sneak peek inside a multimillion pound restoration of Newcastle’s Grainger Market. The city centre institution is undergoing a major revamp, in the hope of transforming it into a destination to rival Europe’s best indoor...
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Binned sausage rolls served to rail passengers
FIRST class rail passengers were served sausage rolls that had been in a bin, a tribunal was told. A train worker was sacked over the incident, which happened on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service. Peter Duffy was accused of preparing...
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Thousands wait for council house
OVER 40,000 unfilled applications for housing have been made across the North East this year, new data has revealed. Figures obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) through freedom of information requests show that at least 44,887...
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Former Metro HQ in city centre in line for major refurbishment
THE former headquarters of the Tyne and Wear Metro is in line for major renovations. Plans have been lodged for a significant refurbishment of Nexus House, the prominent former home of the Metro operator in Newcastle city centre. Nexus moved out of...
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Two senior Labour councillors step down
TWO high-ranking Labour councillors in Newcastle have announced their resignations. Lesley Storey and Paul Frew will stand down as councillors and from their positions in the city council’s cabinet as of January 1. Coun Storey is stepping down for...
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Primary school is ‘no longer safe for children’
A NORTHUMBERLAND primary school will not reopen after the Christmas holidays after structural engineers declared the building unsafe. Cracks were discovered in Mowbray Primary School in Stakeford earlier this year. A new report from a structural...
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Engaging event at annual dip
A SWIMMER proposed to his partner at yesterday’s Boxing Day dip. The annual event provided the perfect moment for Daniel Thompson to pop the question to Gemma Callender after braving the cold water at Longsands beach in Tynemouth. The North Shields...
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Police facing calls to beef up rural presence
A leading Northumberland councillor has called on Northumbria Police to commit more resources to rural areas following a spike in quadbike thefts. New figures from rural insurer NFU Mutual have revealed reported thefts of the “valuable vehicles” have...
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Mayor wants all old Metro trains scrapped by next summer
ALL of the old Tyne and Wear Metro trains must be out of use by next summer, the North East mayor has demanded. On the 12-month anniversary of the first of the Metro’s new fleet entering service for the first time, Kim Mcguinness has called for every...
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‘Another big milestone for Metro fleet project’
THE Tyne and Wear Metro driver training for the new fleet has now been completed, with Nexus marking the major milestone in its £362million project. The intensive training programme has now been undertaken by more than 200 members of train crew,...
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Nissan welcomes measures to boost automotive sector
THE boss of Nissan’s Sunderland plant has welcomed a series of Government measures intended to bolster the beleaguered UK automotive sector. Adam Pennick, Nissan’s vice president of manufacturing in the UK, spoke at an event to mark the start of...
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Cannot
Bruno says United will use anger from derby defeat to fuel bid for Carabao Cup semis: SPORT
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Delilah set for her first Christmas at home
A BRAVE South Tyneside toddler will be spending her first Christmas at home since overcoming a rare type of blood cancer. Last July, little Delilah Ansell was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a rare type of blood cancer where an...
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Covid loans conman is jailed for 17 years
A CONMAN who fleeced banks and a Covid loans scheme out of £1.5m has been jailed for more than 17 years. And his accomplice, who is on the run, has been handed a 20-year jail term in his absence. Through ‘shell’ companies, Sundeep Chahal operated a...
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Drug dealers who tried to evade police jailed
THREE drug dealers who drew attention to themselves by trying to evade police in their car have been jailed. It was in the early hours of June 15 2022 that police were on patrol in South Shields when their attention was drawn to a VW Golf. Newcastle...
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Stanta’s grotto rises from the flames
TAKE a look at the incredible Christmas light show which was thrown into jeopardy after a fire destroyed the owner’s Halloween display weeks earlier. Stan Yannetta vowed not to do a Christmas display this year as all of his props and his garage had...
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Woman bit and spat on police officers
A WOMAN bit, kicked and spat on three officers after her own parents called police to the Newcastle home they shared because of her aggressive behaviour. On the first occasion, officers entered the address where Asha Khan and her mum and dad lived in...
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Drug campaign launched
A NEW campaign is warning of the dangers of illegal drug use this Christmas. Independent charity Crimestoppers is urging those in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear to be aware of the issue – and be mindful of the risks of spiking and how using illegal...
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Christmas shoppers urged to buy local to support our artists
A BOLD campaign encouraging people across the North East to shop small, shop local and support the region’s artists and creative businesses has been launched in the run-up to tomorrow’s Small Business Saturday. Floated by North East Cultural...
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Big Dan set for panto role? Oh yes he is!
NEWCASTLE United star Dan Burn has landed a role in a pantomime at his hometown theatre. The Blyth-born defender will make a cameo appearance in the Phoenix Theatre’s production of Aladdin, as the voice of the Genie. The casting of the...
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A whole STACK of new outlets – and a familiar feel
WHEN the original city centre STACK closed over three years ago, it proved a huge miss. There have been new STACKS since of course, including the matchday favourite near St James’ Park, but now the container village hub is back in the heart of...
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Critics claim festive market is ‘generic’
A GROUP of city centre traders have demanded a “rethink” of Newcastle’s Christmas Markets, after accusations that they are hurting neighbouring businesses. The NE1 Hospitality Group, an alliance of food, drink and leisure venues, has claimed the...
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‘You are all real heroes... your families must be very proud’
TWENTY Northern youngsters have been given awards and special gifts to mark the way they have bravely dealt with life-changing illnesses from heart failure to leukaemia. The Braveheart awards highlight children and teenagers from across the region who...
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Victim attacked with ‘a big plank of wood’
A VIOLENT home invader left a woman with an open fracture to her arm by repeatedly hitting her with a plank of wood. The victim was at home with her partner when Connor Searle and two unknown men forced entry in the West End of Newcastle. It was at...
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Hit-and-run driver admits causing death of student
A HIT-AND-RUN driver has admitted being causing death by dangerous driving in a heartbreaking case which saw a promising law student killed. Abigail Eggleston, 22, was crossing the A167 at Neville’s Cross, Durham, in the earlier hours of October...
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Sports night is a huge hit for charity
THE Chronicle’s Sunshine Fund charity has raised more than £14,500 at its annual Question of Sport fundraising dinner in Newcastle. The event is a much-loved gem on the charity’s annual calendar, with an enjoyable and always competitive sports-themed...
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Eight people are held as woman fights for her life
EIGHT people have been arrested in connection with an attempted murder investigation in Newcastle as a woman fights for her life in hospital. Emergency services were called to reports of concern for a woman and a man at an address on Durham Street in...
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High-purity cocaine, ecstasy and MDMA found at man’s home
A DRUG dealer was most likely supplying high-purity cocaine to wholesalers as well as selling to his own list of customers, a court was told. James Fawcett, 23, was caught with a block of cocaine in his Ford Fiesta, when he was stopped late in the...
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100th birthday celebrations!
FOUR generations of a family have gathered to celebrate a great-gran’s 100th birthday. Jenny Gill marked an incredible milestone and all of her family were there to enjoy the special day with her. Jenny’s daughter, Kath Gill, 67, organised a...
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Outside the box thinking in oyster homing
THOUSANDS of oysters have been released off the North East coast in the hope of restoring the nearextinct native species to UK waters. In a UK first, 20 specialised reef cubes with 4,000 oysters attached have been deployed in the North Sea at Whitburn...
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Plans to convert hotel into Jewish college rejected
PLANS to convert a hotel with views of the Angel of the North into a Jewish religious college have been rejected by councillors. Gateshead Council’s planning threw out the application on the grounds of potentially increased disturbance and the...
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It’s time for the games to begin!
WHAT do you get if you mix the much loved British pastime of a game of darts with an extensive menu of expertly crafted cocktails? The answer is Flight Club, which will officially open in Newcastle today. The Eldon Square premises that were once home...
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‘Momentous’ day as the Toffees train at Hebburn
HEBBURN Town Football Club have reflected on the “momentous moment” that shocked fans and locals alike as Everton players trained at The Trustmark Group Stadium grounds earlier this week. Ahead of Monday night’s Premier League fixture at the Stadium...
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Man avoids jail after sex chat with ‘child in Sweden’
A METRO customer services worker communicated sexually with a “child” in Sweden and downloaded indecent images of youngsters. Northumbria Police were notified by the National Crime Agency about a Kik account suspected of uploading indecent images from...
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Christmas classic sets the mood for festivities
DESPITE it still being only the start of November, Christmas officially arrived in Newcastle on Sunday night, as this year’s Fenwick’s window was revealed. If you’re in Newcastle over the festive period, a trip to see the display is an absolute must,...
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DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW.
Plans for licensed premises in your neighbourhood could be hidden from view if new government proposals for secret alcohol licensing notices get the green light. SCAN THIS QR CODE and complete the survey to #defendyourrighttoknow
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Trio found guilty of grandad’s murder
A GUNMAN who shot a grandad through the window of his County Durham home and two of his accomplices have been found guilty of murder. Barry Dawson was fatally shot through a downstairs window of his terraced house on Elm Street, South Moor, Stanley on...
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Out in a blaze of glory?
Schar wants to end his career with United – but not before bagging more trophies: SPORT
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Teen locked up for killing man dies in custody
CONVICTED murderer Jordan Tams has died after being locked up, aged just 18 years old. Tams was one of three teenagers found guilty of the murder of Gary Belfield at Newcastle Crown Court in December, and he passed away on October 18. He was residing...
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Lone women targeted in bag snatch attacks
A STREET robber left two lone women terrified and ruined a graduation celebration after targeting them in brazen city centre bag snatch attacks. Hungry for cash after losing his job, Daniel Lee turned to Google to look up handbag robberies and ways to...
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Metrocentre NHS site proves big hit
IN just a year, more than 55,000 NHS patients have been seen for vital tests and scans at the Metrocentre. That’s in the time since the pioneering community diagnostic centre (CDC) opened in the old House of Fraser unit at the Gateshead shopping...
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Paws to the pedal as pup lights up night on ‘Glow Ride’ in city
TOBY the Jack Russell was among a group of cyclists who took part in a ‘Glow Ride.’ Dozens of people came together for a mass bike ride through Newcastle on Wednesday evening. At around 6.30pm, they cycled from the Civic Centre, across Exhibition...
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‘The secret is love and having the odd whisky and water’
A HAPPY Northumberland couple have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary – and their secret to a happy marriage might be the odd whisky and water. John and Eileen Atkins are both residents at their RMBI Care home in Cramlington, and recently...
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Council drops cuts to SEND post-16 travel service again
CONTROVERSIAL cuts to free school transport in Newcastle for some pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been dropped for a second time. Newcastle City Council had been expected to sign off plans to end its universal home...
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Ceremony marks opening of station
THE latest station on the Northumberland Line has been officially opened to the public. Officials were joined at Blyth Bebside by pupils from The Dales School at a ceremony to mark the occasion yesterday. The first service rolled out of the new...
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Brazen gang used vans with British Gas and AA logos to transport drugs
THE boss of a heavily armed organised crime group involved in the supply of huge amounts of drugs has been jailed for 27 years. Shaun Monaghan was in charge of a “professional and busy” underworld North East gang who shipped cocaine, heroin,...
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Workers hit in pocket as steel plant closes early
STAFF at a Tyneside steel plant say they have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after the company was placed into administration by its US owners. Union Electric Steel in Gateshead announced earlier this year that it would close next...
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Metro fan choo-chooses a train tattoo as tribute
A NEWCASTLE man has paid a unique tribute to the Tyne and Wear Metro service with a tattoo of an old train. Simon Dowling, 38, of High Heaton, now has an image of the Metro train emblazoned on his calf, as a permanent reminder of the former...
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Flyover demolition to start next week
DEMOLITION works around the Gateshead Flyover will finally begin next week - but the removal of the deserted highway itself will not start until 2026. The A167 Gateshead Highway flyover has been out of use for 10 months, having been shut last December...
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It’s still Hall to play for
Injured star Lewis has time to make his mark: SPORT
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Tour de farce
United stars Bruno and Joelinton fly around the world with Brazil – while United anxiously wait to welcome them home: JOHN GIBSON: Page 45
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‘HE PUT THE GUN UP... HE WAS LOOKING AT ME’
dad was shot Woman admits perverting the course of justice deny
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Road menace wrote off two cars in chase
A road menace who reached 90mph in a 30 zone before writing off two cars has been jailed. Jack Fowler, jailed last year for his part in a riot in Sunderland, led police on a pursuit which was so dangerous officers repeatedly had to pull out of it for...
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Big delays for drivers as major repairs begin on Central Motorway
DRIVERS have faced delays of up to half an hour since further roadworks on Newcastle’s Central Motorway started this week. Monday, October 6, marked the next phase of major disruption on the busy route which runs through the city centre. For the next...
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‘We feel disgusted, it’s like she doesn’t matter’
A TERMINALLY ill five-year-old girl has been refused a place in her preferred special school as it costs too much. Sapphire Elgie, 28, and Michael Cosgrove, 34, from Wallsend, were devastated to learn that their daughter Delta-rae had a life-limiting...
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Abuser who tried to kill his partner dies serving time
A CONTROLLING abuser, who stabbed his partner 29 times and left her for dead, has died while serving his prison sentence. Steven Wood was jailed for a minimum of 12 years for attempting to murder Martina Turner at the home they shared in Winlaton...
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