Latest news with #Thorntree
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Thug fired BB gun at taxi and smashed window after 20p dispute with driver over fare
A taxi driver said he 'shouldn't be shot at' while trying to work to feed his family after a thug repeatedly fired a BB gun at his vehicle during a terrifying incident. Liam Blackburn took offense at being asked to pay £3.70 upfront for his taxi journey in Thorntree and said it should only be £3.50. His anger spiralled and he hurled abuse at the driver before firing a BB gun at his taxi - which saw one window shatter as the dad tried to escape. Years later, the 22-year-old wielded a machete at the Sporting Lodge Inns Hotel, in Low Lane, Stainton, in September 2024. This was weeks before his fingerprints were found on a loaded and ready to fire shotgun found upon his arrest. READ MORE: Vet trio launch new practice aiming to keep prices down for pet owners on Teesside READ MORE: Claims residents 'misled' over garden waste bins as green rubbish can be put with non-recycled trash Sam Faulks, prosecuting, said, in February 2022, Blackburn got into a taxi and was asked by the driver to pay up front, in line with the firm's policy. He began arguing it should be £3.50 - 20p below the fare requested by the victim. He handed him £10 but as he tried to sort his change Blackburn told the driver to drive, said Mr Faulks. "He called him a c*** and threatened to smash him in". Blackburn got out of the car, leaving the door open, so the driver got out to close it. He was then "racially abused by a number of women in the street" before Blackburn appeared with a "small black glock type handgun" and began firing it at the taxi. It was an air weapon handgun but Teesside Crown Court heard that as the victim drove away one of the windows shattered. The passenger side window had a "clear hole in it". Police were called and armed officers attended the house. The victim said: "The incident has left me feeling very shocked and very sad... I am a father and a husband and I go to work to provide a service for the public... I should not be shot at." The damage to the car cost £400. While on police bail, on September 29, 2024, Blackburn and another person arrived at the rear of the Sporting Lodge Inn Hotel, in Stainton, in a taxi. Blackburn emerged with a large machete and they went into the rear of the bar area. "He reappeared follow by the assailant who was carrying a bag. People in the bar would not engage with police," Mr Faulks said. But Blackburn was identified by an officer from CCTV footage. "On October 24, he was at his father's address in Stockton. Armed police officers attended to arrest him," said Mr Faulks. Officers found a bag in the garden which had inside a sawn off shotgun which was "loaded and ready to fire". Analysis showed Blackburn's fingerprints were among those on the gun and he was charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm - prohibited weapon. Rod Hunt, mitigating, said the death of Blackburn's mother was "completely devastating" in his family life and the now 22-year-old found himself looking for "guidance and acceptance in the wrong places" which has been "seized upon by others". "This defendant is still only 22. He is still a work in progress. He is going, now, in the right direction," said Mr Hunt. Blackburn, of Roworth Road, Thorntree, admitted possess an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, criminal damage, a section 4 public order offence, conspiracy to possess a firearm, and possession of a knife blade article in a public place. Blackburn was jailed for five years and was made subject to a criminal behaviour order upon his release. This will prevent him from associating with named individuals and attending "well known hotbeds of drug dealing and weapon offences". For the latest Teesside news direct to your inbox every day, sign up to our free newsletter
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Daily Record
'Welcoming' Scots pub with panoramic coastal view that's 'better than any TV'
With warm weather in Scotland, the pub with a seaside beer garden in Port Seton is a top spot for a pint. With sunshine finally on the cards for Scotland, many are eyeing the best spots to soak up the heat. Few places rival a beer garden in good weather, so what about one at a coastal pub with an outstanding view ? Nestled in the East Lothian seaside town of Port Seton, just under half an hour from central Edinburgh, the Thorntree Inn has quietly become one of the country's most beloved spots to enjoy a cold pint by the sea. Although the pub itself sits modestly on the High Street, it is the beer garden tucked behind the building that truly steals the show, Scottish Daily Express reports. Overlooking the Firth of Forth, the garden has earned a devoted following among locals and visitors alike, and online reviewers cannot stop raving about it. The Thorntree currently holds a 4.6 out of 5 score on Google from nearly 250 reviews, with many singling out the panoramic seaside view as its biggest draw, while also hailing the "welcoming" atmosphere. One delighted visitor wrote: 'The lounge bar has the added attraction of a huge window overlooking the Firth of Forth (better than any television). Would definitely recommend to visitors.' Another reviewer praised both the location and the hospitality, saying: 'Traditional pub serving a good selection of beers. Beer garden overlooking the sea. "Visited on a few occasions as we were on holiday in the area. Made to feel welcome by the staff and locals.' Others called the views 'fabulous' and 'incredible,' with one customer describing it as a 'hidden gem' and adding: 'Couldn't have been more friendly and helpful, a great place in the summer.' The praise continued on TripAdvisor, where reviewers shared similar admiration. One wrote: 'There's plenty of room in the lounge area for a large group or for couples to sit by the vast windows to take in the breathtaking views of the sea. On a clear day you can see Fife across the water.' Yet another fan shared their glowing experience of the pub's charm: 'Great 'old style' pub. Lovely staff and customers. Even though I'm a tourist, still welcomed by all. "The view from the beer garden on a sunny day is stunning! And the Guinness is good too.' The Thorntree's location is just as appealing as its atmosphere. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Port Seton and neighbouring Cockenzie were once distinct fishing villages but are now regarded as a single town, increasingly popular with holidaymakers thanks to the nearby Seton Sands caravan park and easy transport links to Edinburgh. Long gone are the days when the skyline was dominated by the Cockenzie coal-fired power station, once visible even from the Royal Mile. Today, the area is flourishing for all the right reason, and for those chasing sun, sea and a cold pint this summer, the Thorntree Inn may be just the place.
Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Are we finally getting over Brexit? It feels like it up here
Walking around the scabrous postwar blight of Thorntree, in Middlesbrough, the immense benefits of leaving the European Union are not immediately apparent. Boarded-up houses, some smoke-damaged, a scabby patch of grass for the kids to play and the dogs to crap on, the zombified skagheads and overweight men with no teeth on mobility scooters … how can I put this? There does not seem to be a sense of jubilation in the air, of victory, of triumph. And yet, of course, there should be. On June 23, 2016, a greater proportion of people in Thorntree voted to leave the EU than in any other council ward on record. The Leave vote was 82.5 per cent — that's getting close to unanimity. But in Middlesbrough as
