Gary Oliver

Transport and business leaders in the North East have today made an impassioned plea to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to commit to a new Metro extension and the re-opening of the Leamside Line, which they say are vital to the region’s future prosperity.

A man who turned up at his ex-partner's home and launched a volley of racist abuse towards her friend has avoided custody.

Officers had gone to the house after a report of an “orange light” emitting from the property at Croft Avenue, Sunderland, in April 2020. Footage shows the family home had been converted to contain four “growing rooms”, where there were 191 cannabis plants, in various stages of growth. A video, taken by the police at the scene, shows 51 suspended ceiling lights and a complex series of equipment and wiring, linked to what appears to beoverloaded electrical boxes. The crop was capable of producing…

Blaine Hammond, 22, was found with multiple severe head injuries in a green utility box, formerly used for telecommunications equipment, down a quiet cut near some allotments at Saltburn Road, Sunderland, in December. Newcastle Crown Court heard doctors and paramedics attended the scene but nothing could be done to save his life. Anthony Keating, 23, of Palmerston Road, Sunderland and Louis Whelan, 23, then of Saltburn Road, Sunderland, both deny his murder and are being tried by a jury. Mr Hamm…

Blaine Hammond, 22, was found with multiple severe head injuries in a green utility box, formerly used for telecommunications equipment, down a quiet cut near some allotments at Saltburn Road, Sunderland. Newcastle Crown Court heard doctors and paramedics attended the scene but nothing could be done to save his life. Jurors have heard Mr Hammond was described by his mum as being well liked with lots of friends and “would lift your spirits and never hurt a fly”. Anthony Keating, 23, of Palmerston…

So when St Etienne finally take to the stage at Sunderland’s Fire Station for a long-awaited rearranged gig, we can enjoy an evening of the dreamily delicious, sublime sounds of a band that has treated us to slices of perfect pop for some 30 years now. Is it really that long since the seminal Foxbase Alpha slipped smoothly from its sleeve on to record players across the country? Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs perfectly capturing the zeitgiest of the indie-dance scene and starting fans of the band on…

Terry Gray carried out the attack in the early hours of the morning which left his victim needing hospital treatment. The 36-year-old, who has seven previous convictions to his name, has now been given a ten-year restraining order against the woman. Nicoleta Alistari, prosecuting, said: “The complainant was the defendant’s partner at the time of the offence. “She and the defendant had a troubled relationship up to the point of the offence. “On the 15th of January 2021 she called 999. She reporte…

Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach is a two-part podcast which explores the events that took place following the discovery of human remains on the Featherbed Rocks. Fiona Thompson, who covered the story as a reporter for the Sunderland Echo at the time, takes listeners through the actions of police and others in the weeks, months and years that followed, in the exhaustive attempt to identify these remains. Testimony: The Body on Seaham Beach features interviews with key people and agencies invo…

David McBeth was already serving an extended licence period for a similar offence when he launched the assault on November 7 last year. Newcastle Crown Court heard that the 32-year-old began chatting to the victim and his friend earlier in the night, but the atmosphere became hostile later on. Prosecutor Rachel Glover said: “The complainant visited the same bar in Sunderland city centre as the defendant and they weren’t known to one another prior to this incident. “On the day in question, the co…