“You can cry as much as you want in a documentary, but is that genuine? Until you see and hear it for yourself, you can’t pass judgement.”
Marie Johnson lost her parents in a catastrophic motorway collision in 2021, when lorry driver Ion Nicu Onut failed to stop in time for stationary traffic.
He had been using his mobile phone.
In March, Durham Constabulary’s Victim Care & Advice Service facilitated a meeting between Marie and Ion.
“In my head I wanted him to be a monster,” she said, “but he wasn’t. He was just a normal man.
“It was like having a conversation with a friend about what we’d been through. I never gave it a thought that this man was the man that killed my parents.”
Watch Marie’s full interview below.
The original documentary about the fatal collision can be seen here: https://youtu.be/UztJcUjGXbY
🎥 Durham Constabulary
This afternoon, Stacey Vint, 34, from Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after being involved in the disorder in Middlesbrough town centre.
She was part of a group who set alight a wheelie bin, then pushed it into a police cordon. In the process of doing so, Stacey fell to the ground and was then arrested by officers.
Cleveland Police have now released footage showing the moment she fell and was subsequently arrested.
A teenager who was caught on CCTV “celebrating” after throwing bricks at police officers has been convicted.
Cole Stewart threw multiple objects at officers who had been deployed to violent disorder in Darlington on Monday evening (August 5).
A CCTV camera captured him repeatedly throwing bricks and other objects at the officers near North Lodge Park, with one of them hitting an officer.
The 18-year-old was arrested at the scene, charged with violent disorder, and remanded in custody.
He appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court today (August 7) where he pleaded guilty to the offence.
Stewart, of Victoria Road, Darlington, was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing at Teesside Crown Court on Friday (August 9).
Brandon Welch, of Warkworth Way, Darlington, was also charged with violent disorder after he allegedly used racist language and encouraged people to smash up property.
The 18-year-old did not enter a plea when he appeared before magistrates’ today. He was also remanded in custody and will appear at Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday, August 28.
Assistant Chief Constable Richie Allen, of Durham Constabulary, said: “Cole Stewart attended the area on Monday night with the sole intention of causing serious harm to our community and their property.
“He engaged in vile and destructive behaviour and attacked the police officers who were deployed to protect members of the public.
“As we have previously said, we will not tolerate criminality and violent disorder in our communities.
“I reiterate to anybody who commits these types of acts, we will tirelessly look for you and deal with you robustly. This will always be Durham Constabulary’s approach when dealing with incidents such as this.
“Our investigation remains ongoing, and we will strive for justice on behalf of our communities - they do not deserve to be intimidated by this behaviour.”
If you have any information that could assist our enquiries, please contact Durh
Offices remain in attendance at Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough following a protest which turned into a riot officers are still protecting and ensuring public safety
A car has been flipped over and set on fire on Borough Road in Middlesbrough near Hartington Road.
Rioters have set a car on fire on Parliament Road in Middlesbrough
🎥 This is the shocking moment a police car was set on fire in Dent Street after a night of violence in Hartlepool.
Several officers suffered minor injuries during the night after they had missiles, glass bottles and eggs thrown at them.
Eight arrests were made during the evening relating to public order offences, with more arrests expected in the coming days.
Anyone with information should contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference number 145045. You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
There remains a policing presence in the Murray Street area of Hartlepool while officers deal with disorder after responding to a protest - several arrests have already been made.
The road is still closed and people are advised to avoid the area.
Anyone with information relating to the disorder is asked to call Cleveland Police on 101.
Ongoing incident at the top of a high rise building in Middlesbrough opposite the Cleveland Centre.
Cleveland Fire Brigade are en route.
A man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries following a stabbing in Darlington.
Shortly before 2.30pm today, officers were called to the Eastbourne Road area of the town following reports that a man had been stabbed.
Police, including armed officers, attended the scene and found the victim in Louisa Street. He was taken by ambulance to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for treatment to a single stab wound to the back.
A suspect has been arrested. It is believed that this was a targeted attack and there is no risk to the wider public.
Two police cordons have been put in place in the area and it is expected there will be a large police presence for some time.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident 209 of July 29th.
Video footage taken from the scene shows the Yorkshire Air Ambulance leaving and returning to their base.
The Great North Air Ambulance has landed in the Marlowe Road area of Hartlepool.
🎥 Demi Louise Milburn
Police presence at Braemar field, Billingham.
Go North East has a special message for its passengers…
A drunk driver who killed a baby and his auntie when he slammed into the back of their car at 141mph while on his phone has been jailed.
Darryl Anderson was more than twice the drink drive limit when he hit the Peugeot 308 that eight-month-old Zackary Blades and his auntie, 30-year-old Karlene Warner, were travelling in on the A1(M) in the early hours of Friday, May 31.
The pair sustained fatal injuries and tragically died at the scene.
When breathalysed at the roadside, Anderson blew 95mg – the legal limit for driving with alcohol in your system is 35mg.
Forensic examinations of his mobile phone also found that the 38-year-old had been repeatedly making calls and sending texts throughout his journey from Newcastle Airport right up until the time of the collision, which happened at 3.18am on the A1(M) between Chester-le-Street and Bowburn.
He took a photo of his dashboard moments before the collision which showed the car’s speedometer at 141mph.
Anderson, of Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
He initially denied the offences, telling officers that he had picked up a hitchhiker outside the airport and had allowed him to drive his car.
He claimed to have fallen asleep during the journey and only woke up at the point of the collision.
However, his story was disproved by investigators, and he pleaded guilty to both counts.
He appeared at Durham Crown Court today (July 9) where he was sentenced to 17 years and three months in prison.
He was also banned from driving for 21-and-a-half years.
Zackary’s mam, Shalorna Warner, was driving the Peugeot at the time of the collision after picking her sister, Karlene, up from Newcastle Airport.
She bravely stood up in court today and recalled the moment her baby, Zackary, was found by a lorry driver on the opposite side of the carriageway after his chair was flung from the car.
“I heard a painful scream from the lorry driver cr
Video footage of the police helicopter hovering over the Firthmoor area of Darlington this evening.
Reports have suggested police were chasing a number of off road bikes.
INCIDENT
Police are in attendance at Jet Garage on Norton Road in Stockton following an RTC in which an elderly gentleman has hit the wrong pedal and crashed into the front of the shop.
The shop has damage and as a result is now closed. Police remain on scene
𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙨
Police responded to reports of a house explosion at around 1.30am today (June 24) in Coronation Terrace, Willington.
A man sustained serious injuries during the incident and has been taken to hospital by paramedics for treatment.
A cordon has been put in place around the property while emergency services work at the scene.
Nearby residents have been evacuated as a precaution and people are advised to avoid the area.
Follow our page for the latest updates
INCIDENT
Armed Police have surrounded a car and arrested one male in dramatic scenes near to the Tees Barrage in Stockton.
WARNING CONTAINS SCENES WHICH MAY BE DISTRESSING
Ongoing incident near to Runnymede Close, Roseworth
Armed police and dog section on scene
Cleveland Fire Brigade have been in attendance at High Newham Road in Hardwick earlier following flooding which was causing a number of issues.
Firefighters were faced with issues when youths didn’t want them to stop their fun.
An eye witness said “No soon as the firefighter was putting up the fire tape, kids were snapping it down and hindering their efforts to protect life, in the end a number of Police units arrived on blue lights and officers were persuading the kids out the water”
Cleveland Police sent a number of units to assist firefighters at High Newham Road and one resident described it as “You’d think there was a riot the way they’re going on and the amount of Police there is”
Three Police units attended the incident on Blue Lights.
