Welcome to your daily look at the news in the North East.
Each morning and afternoon we'll bring you some of the latest news from the North East - from breaking news and top stories to NUFC updates and the cost of living latest.
Today, we bring you news that a family is hoping to bring a loving grandad home after he died suddenly while on a cruise in Hawaii, a pair have been banned from a host of North East retail stores after being arrested nearly 400 times for antisocial behaviour.
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This is your morning North East Today update.
County Durham family hope to bring grandad home after he died on Hawaiian cruise
Our chief reporter Kali Lindsay spoke to a family who is hoping to bring a loving grandad home after he died suddenly while on a cruise in Hawaii.
John Thompson, 74, and his wife, Eileen, were visiting Honolulu and enjoying a meal on the seventh night of their holiday when he suddenly became unwell and collapsed. Emergency services were called and worked frantically on John before he was taken to hospital for further treatment but they were unable to revive him.
Eileen had to fly home without her husband of 35 years and the family is now trying to get John's body returned home, but issues around the holiday insurance have made it challenging.
The family are facing medical bills in the region of £30,000 and a further £5,000 for funeral costs to have John cremated and flown home. And they are now raising funds to assist with the cost.
Pair banned from South Tyneside shops after being arrested 360 times for 'relentless' behaviour
Next up we have the news that a pair have been banned from a host of North East retail stores after being arrested nearly 400 times for antisocial behaviour. Anne Marie Simpson, 36, of Woodbine Street, Bensham, and her partner Christopher Rutherford, 40, of Hazlett Avenue, South Shields, were both handed two-year criminal behaviour orders earlier this month for their “relentless” activities.
Simpson has been arrested more than 190 times, and has previously been arrested for offences including assault, burglary and robbery. She will be arrested on entering any Asda, Heron Foods, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores in the Northumbria Police area, as well as Next or Wilko in South Shields town centre.
Meanwhile, Rutherford has been arrested more than 170 times and has previously been arrested for offences including burglary, drug offences and robbery. He pleaded guilty after the incident saw him verbally abuse a staff member at Tesco Express on Prince Edward Road in South Shields on November 14, 2022, and was sentenced to one month behind bars – as well as being handed the order to prevent further criminality. This sees him banned from Asda, Heron Foods, Next, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores across South Tyneside.
An exclusion zone has also been set up barring Rutherford from setting foot in areas covering Prince Edward Road to the Coast Road, Ocean Road and King Street towards Station Road, and Westoe Road towards King George Road, unless for a planned appointment.
Both Criminal Behaviour Orders were granted in February and are set to expire in two years’ time in 2025.
Monkseaton to North Shields Metro off all week as £4.5m repairs to begin at station after storm damage
Finally, a heads up that Metro services between Monkseaton and North Shields will not run until at least the end of this week, as Whitley Bay station remains closed due to storm damage.
A glass panel fell from the roof inside the station during Storm Otto last week, and further inspections of the Grade II listed canopy have revealed damage in an area directly over the Metro line.
Engineers are working to secure the canopy, and replacement bus service, 900, is operating in the affected area while work continues. There is also Metro ticket acceptance on local bus routes 51, 53, 54, 57, 306 and 308.
Former Premier League referee and PGMOL chief urges Nick Pope's suspension to be delayed
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has called on the governing bodies to delay Nick Pope’s cup-final suspension. A foolish handball outside of the area left Anthony Taylor with no option but to dismiss the goalkeeper in Newcastle United’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Pope has been one of the Magpies’ star performers since his £10million arrival from Burnley last summer. The England international’s performances have resulted in Newcastle conceding just 15 top-flight goals this season - the fewest in the division.
However, Toon supporters gasped as soon as the incident happened as a red card appeared inevitable. At that point, the immediate fixture was the last thing on fans’ minds with the Carabao Cup final up next.z
Unless the Magpies appeal, which is unlikely, Pope must serve a one-match suspension - ruling him out of the Wembley showdown. To make matters worse, backup option Martin Dubravka, who came on against Liverpool, is cup-tied due to representing Manchester United in an earlier round.
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