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A pub raider who stole thousands of pounds when he targeted five bars and social clubs across Tyneside and Northumberland is facing jail.
Serial thief John Cook broke into the licensed premises between June and November and usually smashed up fruit machines to pocket the cash inside.
A court was told the bungling 39-year-old was snared on each occasion by either leaving an item of clothing or blood at the scene or setting off an intruder alarm.
On his final break-in, at the Lochside pub, in High Heaton, Newcastle, he made off when was confronted by the owners but later tracked down by a police dog.
Now, Cook, who said he was of no fixed abode but is formerly from Coach Road, in Wallsend, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary and was found guilty after a trial in his absence of a fifth count.
He also admitted a separate charge of theft during a hearing at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court.
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Northumberland County Council has welcomed fresh government support to bring back rail passenger services throughout south east Northumberland.

The new Council Leader, Coun Peter Jackson, has committed to reintroducing direct trains between south-east Northumberland and Newcastle Central - with thousands of residents a day being transported along the 20-mile route between Ashington and Newcastle city centre.

The government has now reaffirmed the Department of Transport’s support for the scheme, as part of Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s new rail strategy that could see the reopening of some lines that were closed in the 1960s.

This new Northumberland line is among those proposals across the country “currently being looked at and candidates for further consideration”.

The next stage of the new Northumberland Line (GRIP 3) involves assessing and selecting the most appropriate options that deliver the council’s requirements and establishes the scheme can be delivered at the right cost.

Work towards starting Grip 3 is being progressed and a report prepared for councillors to discuss in the coming weeks.

Council leader Peter Jackson said: "We have always supported this ambitious proposal to help secure future jobs and growth across the whole county.

"This is positive news from central government and reaffirms their support to work with us on this flagship project.

“While there is still some way to go until passenger trains are running again, a great deal of work is happening behind the scenes which has our full support. It’s good to hear the government is backing our strategy.

We have an ambitious and forward looking aspiration for our county and we will work with all partners and especially with the Government to deliver a prosperous future for everyone in Northumberland. ”

Reintroducing passenger services to the current freight line could boost the local economy by up to £70m with more than 380,000 people using the line every year by 2034.

Commuters and shoppers could speed between Ashington and the heart of Newcastle in as little as 38 minutes, with several new or rebuilt stations along the route linking towns to key areas of employment, training and leisure attractions as well as providing transport links across the wider region and the UK.  
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If you’re a landlord looking for a project then this two-bed flat in Bedlington could be for you.
It’s going under the hammer next month with bidding set to start at £14,000. Situated in Liddle’s Street, the ground-flood flat is just yards away from the ‘Good’ Ofsted rated Bedlington Primary School. There are regular bus links to Newcastle, which is 25 minutes away by car, while Bedlington’s town centre is around half-an-hour’s walk away, or 10-15 minutes on a bus.
There are local shops, including a Boots pharmacy and Premier convenience store on Ravensworth Street, which runs parallel to Liddle’s Street.
But there is a reason the price starts so low: the property is in need of a “full refurbishment,” as the pictures show. Estate agent Rook Matthews Sayer says it is a “must view” for anybody interested, and it looks like taking a thorough look around is a good idea before putting in a bid at the auction house.
In the estate agent’s words, “this ground floor flat would make a great purchase for those looking for a project”.
Inside there’s an entrance hall, kitchen area, lounge, bathroom and two-bedrooms. There is a shared yard to the back and a garden in the front.
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Police have released CCTV footage of two people they would like to speak to in connection with the use of a suspected stolen bank card.
The bank card was used at The Premier shop in Blyth on Monday, October 16.

It followed an overnight house burglary, Sunday into Monday, October 15-16, at Woburn Drive, Bedlington Station, where a bank card was reported stolen.
Anyone who recognises either person is asked to ring 101, quoting reference 0185 of 16/10/17 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
 
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Newcastle firms JDDK Architects and Fairhurst Consulting Engineers have formed a new partnership that will design and build cutting edge cancer treatment centres across the country.
The new partnership is called DFJ Designs and also includes Manchester building consultants Dresco. It will work exclusively on the development of three proton beam therapy centres, which are used to treat cancer, including one in Northumberland.
The oncology centres are being brought to the UK by Proton Partners International, and will be built in Reading, Liverpool and at the Earth Balance centre near Bedlington, Northumberland.
Each cancer centre will offer proton beam therapy as well as conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, diagnostics, imaging, and wellbeing services.
Kevin Turnbull, director of JDDK Architects, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed on a long-term strategic partnership contract for Proton Partners International and to have now been confirmed as the incumbent team to deliver all future centres for the company across the UK.”
DFJ Designs was launched at JDDK’s 30th anniversary celebrations. The partnership has already collaborated on two of the projects at Northumberland and Reading, while the Liverpool project is set to start in January.
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Children’s Minister Robert Goodwill met with members of the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership in Northumberland on Friday (November 17) to hear from them about their experience of delivering 30 hours free childcare.

The Minister visited Bedlington West End First School, one of the five providers who launched the Partnership, to meet with council, school and nursery staff involved in the government’s early delivery scheme which offered 30 hours to local families from September 2016.

The minister also confirmed that councils will be able to bid for additional funding to support projects that will directly benefit their delivery of 30 hours. The Delivery Support Fund, worth over £8.5 million, will help councils work with childcare providers to deliver 30 hours to all parents who want a place, as demand continues to increase into the summer term.

Children and Families Minister Robert Goodwill said:  "I have heard excellent things about the delivery of 30 hours in Northumberland so I am delighted to have seen for myself how it’s working and to speak to providers involved with the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership.

“I commend the way Northumberland has worked closely with providers to address the unique challenges it faces from being a rural area. Parents who previously may not have felt able to go back to work or increase their hours, are now getting the benefits of 30 hours of free childcare.” 

Northumberland is also taking the lead in sharing their learning from delivering 30 hours through the Department for Education’s ‘buddying’ scheme for councils. The scheme will partner high-performing councils, including more of the 12 early delivery areas, with those who are still in the early stages of delivering 30 hours.

Councillor Wayne Daley, Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council, and cabinet member for Children’s Services, said:  “I know how important childcare is and this fantastic scheme allows us to make sure we give children the best start in life and support parents to work. 

“This visit was a great opportunity for Minister Goodwill to see an example of how this scheme is implemented and discuss the benefits and challenges we have faced along the way.”

The Delivery Support Fund, which opened to council bids on Friday 17 November, will be available for a range of projects to help with delivery of the 30 hours scheme. These projects might include better business support for providers, developing effective networks locally like the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership, increased support for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) taking up 30 hours, or enhanced IT systems to allow for automated payments to providers. The fund could also be used to hold events or workshops for councils to share best practice.

The West Bedlington Early Years Partnership was established with the support of the Early Years team at Northumberland County Council. It is made up of Bedlington West End First School, West End Preschool, Trinity Preschool, Trinity Out Of School Club and St Bedes RC Voluntary Aided Primary School.

The Minister’s visit ended with a tour of the First School’s site, which is currently being redeveloped to expand its 30 hour provision, thanks to a successful capital bid from the Department.
 
This build will rehouse West End Preschool and Trinity Out Of School Club, increasing the number of 30 hours places available. Staff spoke to the Minister about how the providers are working together to support accommodation needs, making sure parents can access the childcare they need while building work is underway.
 
The 30 hours offer, which launched nationally in September for working parents of three and four-year-olds in England, can save families around £5,000 per year on the cost of childcare, helping them to balance their jobs and family lives. Thousands of families are already taking up the offer this term, and those who are eligible for places from January 1 are being encouraged to apply now and by November 30 to secure a place in good time. 
 
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This round-up of events is written by readers. To get your charity event or story included, simply fill out the form at www.chroniclelive.co.uk/charitynews
New resource funded by £25k from Morrisons Foundation
A brand new technology training room for foster carers and adopters to learn the skills they need to safeguard the children in their care has been opened by leading UK children’s charity Barnardo’s. The room is based in the North East Fostering and Adoption office, in Lumley Court in Chester-le-Street .
The equipment and training will allow foster carers and adopters to work with confidence around social media applications and websites, such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. It will help Barnardo’s staff demonstrate the risks and issues around the internet effectively and get the safeguarding message across to some of the most vulnerable young people in the North East.
Alison Rowland, Assistant Head of Business Family Placement East, said: “It is great to have this resource available to spread this vital message. All children can be at risk of sexual exploitation when going online and interacting with strangers, even if they have a supportive home environment. What can start as an innocent and harmless chat with a ‘friend’, can very quickly develop into a dangerous relationship with devastating consequences.
“That’s why it’s crucial carers can make the children they foster or adopt aware of the dangers online and explain how to keep themselves safe. I’d like to thank the Morrisons Foundation for supporting us to help us keep some very vulnerable young people safe online.”


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