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Bethany Fisher’s devastated parents bravely read out heartbreaking statements in court as the killer driver who took their “beautiful daughter” from them was locked up.
Mum Isabel Easson found her daughter dying after Jordan O’Donnell lost control of his Ford Mondeo ST outside her house.
O’Donnell was “on the face of it showing off” after offering to give 19-year-old birthday girl Bethany and her best friend, Meg McBurnie, a lift.
As he reached estimated speeds of around 60mph in residential streets of Bedlington, Northumberland, the girls in the back seat asked him to stop it.
But as the 20-year-old - who had only passed his test weeks earlier - carried out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on a bend, he lost control, smashing into parked cars, careering out of control and hitting a fence and wall.
The noise of the crash woke Isabel and she went out into the street on Victoria Terrace to seek to help - only to be confronted with the horrific scene of her daughter fatally injured and Meg lying on the ground screaming in agony.
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A teenager out celebrating her 19th birthday was killed outside her mum’s home by a danger driver who ignored her pleas to slow down then fled the scene and left her to die.
Jordan O’Donnell was “on the face of it showing off” behind the wheel of a high-powered saloon after offering to give Bethany Fisher and her best friend, Meg McBurnie, a lift.
As he reached estimated speeds of around 60mph in residential streets of Bedlington, Northumberland, the girls in the back seat asked him to stop it.
But as the 20-year-old - who had only passed his test weeks earlier - carried out a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on a bend, he lost control, smashing into parked cars, careering out of control and hitting a fence and wall.
The noise of the crash woke Bethany’s mum, Isabel Easson, and she went out into the street on Victoria Terrace to seek to help - only to be confronted with the horrific scene of her daughter fatally injured and Meg lying on the ground screaming in agony.
Despite the devastation he had caused, O’Donnell callously fled to his home nearby and calmly phoned police, lying that his turbo-charged Ford Mondeo ST had been stolen during a burglary at his home and requesting police attend.
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Man jailed following fatal collision in Bedlington.
Today, Jordan O’Donnell, 20-years-old of Waverley Court in Bedlington, has been sentenced to 6 years in prison following a fatal collision earlier this year.
The incident took place at around 1.45am on 19th August 2017, on Victoria Terrace, Bedlington and involved a car colliding with a number of parked vehicles.
The driver of the car, Jordan O’Donnell, left the scene without reporting it to police and later tried to claim his vehicle had been stolen to try and avoid prosecution.
A passenger in Jordan’s car, 19-year-old Bethany Fisher, sadly died at the scene and another woman sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision.
Jordan appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on 18th September 2017, where he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, causing death whilst uninsured, attempting to pervert the course of justice and failing to stop after a road traffic collision.
Sergeant Steve Armstrong, Northumbria Police Motor Patrols said: “Jordan O’Donnell’s actions that evening were extremely dangerous. He drove his Ford Mondeo motor car in a dangerous manner at speeds well in excess of the speed limit through a built up residential area and showed no regard to the safety of members of the public or his passengers. At the time of the fatal collision Jordan was under the influence of alcohol and his vehicle was not insured.
“I would like to thank the local community in Bedlington for their help and support during this investigation and my thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved at this difficult time.
“Northumbria Police are committed to dealing with those who think that it is acceptable to drive motor vehicles on the road in a dangerous manner, under the influence of alcohol or uninsured and anyone who is identified as doing this will face prosecution.”
 
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People are dying because passers by are too scared to carry out CPR – a heart charity has claimed.
The British Heart Foundation said 85% of people would not give CPR if someone suffered a cardiac arrest due to a lack of knowledge.
Every minute without CPR increases a person’s risk of death by around 10%.
The BHF survey found that just 41% of people in the North East would feel confident giving CPR to a stranger, citing concerns about causing more harm than good.
However, more than a third of North East residents feel they lack the skills and knowledge to perform CPR at all.
Mike Jones, 63, from Nedderton near Bedlington, had his life saved by CPR when he suffered a cardiac arrest on June 19 after a game of table tennis.
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They are the scenes of some of the North East’s most notorious crimes - but how many people realise it?
Most are mundane sites you wouldn’t look twice at. But due to events they have the notoriety of being a part of the region’s criminal history.
While some have changed beyond recognition due to re-development, others look familiar to those who remember the original crimes.
Here we list the scenes of the most infamous of crimes as they were when the event took place and how they look now.
Location: Pesspool Bridge, South Hetton, County Durham. January 5, 1967.
Arguably the North East’s most famous crime, the so-called ‘one-armed bandit murder’ which reputedly helped inspire the Get Carter film starring Michael Caine.
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A coach at a Newcastle trampoline club has appeared in court charged with child sex offences.
 
Louis Murray, 22, from Blakelaw, has been charged with engaging in sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
 
He appeared before Bedlington Magistrates Court on Monday morning where he was remanded in custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court at a later date.
 
Specialist officers are supporting the male victim in this case who attended the club ran by Louis Murray.
 
Police will continue to work with the local authority as their investigation continues but officers are encouraging anyone who thinks they have information that would be useful to police to get in touch by calling 101 quoting log 821 07/10/17.
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A new 20 mph speed limit has been introduced outside Stannington First School following the safety concerns of  parents, teachers  and local councillors.

New 20mph signage has been erected outside the school advising motorists they are entering a reduced speed zone, while plans are in place to introduce double yellow lines and keep clear signs outside and around the school.

Young pupils have also been involved  in a competition to design a symbol and slogan to promote slow and safe driving  past their school.
The winning slogans have  been included on a banner which is now proudly displayed outside of the school.

Stannington First School is situated on Church Road and has  over 100 pupils between the ages of 3 and 9 years on its register.
The school has  worked closely with  local County Councillor, Eileen Armstrong, the parish council,  Northumbria Police and Northumberland County Council to secure the  20 mph speed limit.

Local county councillor, Cllr Eileen Armstrong said:
“ Stannington First School is very close to the road.  Parents and teachers were becoming increasingly concerned, about the speed of the traffic in the vicinity of the school  and justifiably so. The introduction of the  new speed restriction by the council  makes Church Road a safer place for everyone. ”

“ I would like to congratulate the winners on their designs for the new banner which will go a long way to help enforce this important message.”
Research has found clear evidence that decreased traffic speeds reduce collisions and casualties. Collisions happen less often and when they do happen there is less risk of fatal injury.”

Northumberland County Councillor Glen Sanderson, cabinet member for environment and local services said:
“ Cllr Armstrong has worked hard with local people to get this scheme off the ground - it is a great idea and I’m sure it will be successful.”
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Former Journal and Chronicle reporter Dave Black has died suddenly aged 61.
The father-of-two died at home in the early hours on Sunday morning.
Dave was a well-respected journalist who worked for the Northumberland Gazette before moving to work for the Journal in 1986.
His family have been left devastated by his sudden unexpected death.
He leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Linda, daughter Cassie, 29, son, Robbie, 32 and step-daughter Donna Anderson.
He lived in Alnwick for over 30 years and covered south east Northumberland for both the Chronicle and the Journal before he left four years ago.
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A mobile phone app which makes it easier for residents to report issues affecting their local community is being rolled out across the region.

The mobile app, ‘MyStreet Northumberland’, was designed by the Safer Northumberland Partnership and Improving Croft and Cowpen Quay (ICCQ) following a pilot in the “12 Streets” campaign which focused on identifying issues affecting twelve streets in Cowpen Quay and putting in long-term solutions.

Residents can download the new app and use it to access information on a number of problems such as anti-social behaviour, noise, litter, street lighting and roads all in one place.

From here, app users can access advice or report specific incidents to the council or if they have information or concerns about crime and disorder where they live they can access advice via the app or they can contact their local neighbourhood policing team direct.

Councillor John Riddle, chair of Safer Northumberland, said: “While Northumberland has low crime levels, we know there are issues that affect people’s quality of life and it’s important communities can easily access advice and report anything they’re worried about.

“The app has already been successful, being downloaded thousands of times in its first year, and we’re delighted it’s being rolled out by Northumbria Police to other local authorities in the  area.”

The app is free to download onto iPhone, Android, and Windows devices by searching ‘MyStreet’ in the app store.

People should always call 999 when it’s an emergency.


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