Latest news with #Northumbria
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Father dragged away from his dying daughter's hospital bedside by police faces legal bill of up to £100,000 after losing wrongful arrest case
A father who was forcibly dragged away from his dying daughter's hospital bedside by police is now facing a legal bill of up to £100,000 after losing his wrongful arrest case. Dr Rashid Abbasi, an NHS consultant, had brought a civil claim against Northumbria Police for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment, and assault and battery following the harrowing incident at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. Disturbing police bodycam footage showed Dr Abbasi shouting 'b*******' and biting officers as they restrained and removed him from the children's intensive care unit in August 2019. The five-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court ended with a judge condemning Dr Abbasi and describing his behaviour as the spark for the violent incident in the paediatric unit. He also described who described Dr Abbasi as a 'menace' on the ward. Now, six years after the incident, the father faces a massive legal bill. He will have to cover not only his own costs but also between 60 and 70 per cent of the legal fees incurred by Northumbria Police. This bill is estimated to be anywhere from £50,000 to £100,000, the Mirror reports. Despite attempts by Dr Abbasi to recover some of the costs through a one-way cost shifting regime, it is understood that the police opposed the move, and the judge is expected to reject it. This means Dr Abbasi will be liable for tens of thousands of pounds in costs. Recorder James Murphy, who presided over the case, said police footage showed Dr Abbasi instigated the violence in the hospital ward. The ruling dealt a heavy blow to Dr Abbasi, who had previously expressed deep distress at being removed from his daughter Zainab's bedside shortly after her life support was withdrawn. In court, the judge said there was sufficient reason for police to believe a breach of the peace was imminent. He added: 'If I was a bystander having watched this footage, a reasonable description would have been that Dr Abbasi was a coiled spring waiting to breach the peace.' Following the verdict, Dr Abbasi said the judge's description of him as a 'menace' was 'unwarranted' and 'hurtful,' and that the video footage 'tells its own story.' He added that the officers accepted he was not aggressive or threatening before they laid hands on him. Rashid Abbasi, his wife Aliya and another relative, are seen at Zainab's bedside as police enter the ward The incident involving Dr Abbasi took place at Newcastle's Great North Children's Hospital - which was named after an injunction was lifted by the Court of Appeal in 2020. The Court of Appeal also allowed the naming of the doctors in charge of Zainab's care, but this was appealed by the NHS trusts involved. However, the Supreme Court last month unanimously dismissed the appeal - allowing the medics to be identified. Dr Abbasi's arrest came after the he and his wife were involved in a protracted dispute with doctors over the care of their critically ill daughter. The six-year-old was suffering from respiratory problems and a rare genetic illness called Niemann-Pick disease, which meant she was likely to die during childhood. Medics insisted Zainab should be allowed to die but Dr and Mrs Abbasi fought for further treatment that they were convinced would keep her alive. The couple clashed with Zainab's doctors for years over her treatment. They said that on two previous occasions when Zainab was critically ill they had successfully argued for her to be treated with steroids instead of having life support withdrawn, and were proved correct when her condition improved. After her admission to hospital in July 2019, Dr and Mrs Abbasi believed that, while their daughter was dangerously ill, she could survive with the right care. But the following month on August 19, doctors told the Abbasis that Zainab was dying. An audio recording revealed how one doctor told them that 'the next steps would involve taking her off the ventilator'. Rashid and Aliya pleaded for further tests, but one of the doctors refused, saying the process of moving Zainab on to palliative care needed to start 'straight away'. Rashid told them they would have to get a court order to do so. Urged again to carry out more tests, the doctor replied 'We are not going to be doing any more going round in circles', adding: 'You will never come to terms with this.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Great Park homes evacuated due to suspected unexploded device
People have been evacuated from their homes following reports of a suspected unexploded Police said it received reports about the device on Swinhoe Road in the Great Park area of Newcastle at 12:20 said a number of nearby properties had been evacuated as a precaution and emergency services were in force's explosive ordnance disposal team was due to attend the scene, it added. Great Park Community Centre posted on social media that it had shut for the day after being advised to evacuate. Follow BBC Newcastle on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Heartbreak as grandma, 86, dies after being struck by electric motorbike ‘while using zebra crossing' in horror crash
A HEARTBROKEN family have paid tribute to their 86-year-old grandma who died after being struck by an electric motorbike in a horror crash. Gloria Stephenson was mowed down as she used a zebra crossing on Burdon Road in Sunderland on May 16, police revealed. The black Sur-Ron e-bike was travelling in a southbound direction when it was said to have hit Ms Stephenson, said Northumbria Police. Cops confirmed that an 18-year-old was arrested later on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after allegedly fleeing the scene, with the bike also recovered. The teenager has since been released on police bail pending further inquiries. Gloria's family have now paid tribute to the "amazing" pensioner, saying she was "full of life". 'We are all devastated at the loss of our vibrant, active, beautiful, and intelligent mam, grandma, mother-in-law and great grandma," the family said. They added: "She was active, fit, healthy, and had years left to give her love and share her energy and zest for life with everyone who knew her. "The family want to express their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone who supported mam, and her daughter and grandson at the scene." Locals said she was walking her daughter's rescue terrier at the time. Following the tragedy, neighbours revealed Gloria was walking her daughter's rescue dog - and said she was so fit and healthy that they had expected her to live to 100. Northumbria Police has urged witnesses to contact them with information and footage of the collision. Sergeant Russell Surrey, of Northumbria Police, said: "Our thoughts remain with all of Gloria's family and loved ones as they try to process what has happened. "We will support them in any way that we can, as we look to get them the answers they deserve. "I'd like to thank those who have been in touch to share information and footage with us so far – and would urge any further witnesses to contact us. "As ever, we would ask people to refrain from speculating on the circumstances both online and in the community – as it could have a negative impact on the case." 1
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Teenager arrested after woman, 86, killed while ‘using zebra crossing'
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after an 86-year-old woman was allegedly hit by an electric motorbike while she used a pedestrian crossing, police have said. The family of Gloria Stephenson, from Silksworth, Sunderland, has paid tribute after she died on May 16 on the city's Burdon Road. Northumbria Police said it was understood she was using 'a zebra crossing when she was struck by a black Sur-Ron electric motorcycle, travelling in a southbound direction'. Her family said: 'It is with great sadness that our amazing mam, Gloria Stephenson, was tragically killed on the 16th of May. 'We are all devastated at the loss of our vibrant, active, beautiful, and intelligent mam, grandma, mother-in-law and great grandma. 'The press described her as an 'elderly lady' – however, we want to make absolutely clear that our mam was full of life. 'She was active, fit, healthy, and had years left to give her love and share her energy and zest for life with everyone who knew her. 'The family want to express their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone who supported mam, and her daughter and grandson at the scene.' Northumbria Police said the rider initially drove away from the scene but he was arrested later on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and the bike was recovered. The teenager has been released on police bail pending further inquiries. Sergeant Russell Surrey, of Northumbria Police, said: 'Our thoughts remain with all of Gloria's family and loved ones as they try to process what has happened. 'We will support them in any way that we can, as we look to get them the answers they deserve. 'I'd like to thank those who have been in touch to share information and footage with us so far – and would urge any further witnesses to contact us.'
Telegraph
4 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Grandmother, 86, killed by e-bike while crossing road
An 86-year-old died after allegedly being hit by an electric motorbike while she was using a pedestrian crossing. Police said a teenager has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after Gloria Stephenson died in Sunderland on May 16. Northumbria Police said it was understood she was using 'a zebra crossing when she was struck by a black Sur-Ron electric motorcycle, travelling in a southbound direction'. 'Vibrant, active, beautiful' Paying tribute, her family said: 'It is with great sadness that our amazing mam, Gloria Stephenson, was tragically killed on the 16th of May. 'We are all devastated at the loss of our vibrant, active, beautiful, and intelligent mam, grandma, mother-in-law and great-grandma. 'The press described her as an 'elderly lady' - however, we want to make absolutely clear that our mam was full of life. 'She was active, fit, healthy, and had years left to give her love and share her energy and zest for life with everyone who knew her. 'The family want to express their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone who supported mam, and her daughter and grandson at the scene.' 'Get them the answers they deserve' Police said the rider initially drove away from the scene but he was arrested later on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and the bike was recovered. The teenager has been released on police bail pending further inquiries. Sergeant Russell Surrey, of Northumbria Police, said: 'Our thoughts remain with all of Gloria's family and loved ones as they try to process what has happened. 'We will support them in any way that we can, as we look to get them the answers they deserve. 'I'd like to thank those who have been in touch to share information and footage with us so far - and would urge any further witnesses to contact us.'
