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Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson is based in the North East of England and has worked for PA Media since 2001. He covers breaking stories, court cases and general news from the region. He can sometimes be seen toting a video camera as well as a notepad.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt during their visit to Sunderland University to promote a new film studio which will be built (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Business

Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt turn tables on media and get behind TV cameras

<p>The match between the two non-league sides was called off</p>
Crime

Charges dropped against man accused of driving hearse onto pitch

<p>Storm Pia </p>
Weather

Storm Pia could disrupt Christmas travel plans in UK

The 167-year-old smokehouse in Craster, Northumberland, has been given Grade II listed status (Historic England/PA)
UK

Historic home of Craster kippers given listed status

Gordon Gault died in hospital six days after the incident (Northumbria Police/PA)
Crime

Murder trial shown CCTV footage of moment 14-year-old fell from e-bike

Forestry workers fell a Sitka Spruce tree in Northumberland’s Kielder Forest before it makes the 330-mile journey south to Westminster (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

Christmas tree begins 330-mile journey to Big Ben

The felled tree at Sycamore Gap shocked and upset many people (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

Teenager arrested after Sycamore Gap tree was felled will face no further action

Gordon Gault, 14, who was fatally stabbed in Newcastle last November (Northumbria Police/PA)
Crime

Teenagers celebrated 14-year-old’s murder with rap lyrics, court hears

Gordon Gault, who died in hospital on November 15 2022 aged 14, after he was stabbed in Newcastle’s West End six days before (Northumbria Police/PA)
Crime

Boy fatally stabbed as part of tit-for-tat violence between groups, court hears

Toby Kelly was found guilty of murder after Sheldon Flanighan was killed and his friend was badly injured when Kelly deliberately hit them with his van in a pub car park (Northumbria Police/PA)
Crime

Man to be sentenced for off-duty ambulance man’s car park murder

Storm Debi has brought disruption to Ireland, bringing down a tree in Dundalk, and an amber weather warning is in place for North West England on Monday (Liam McBurney/PA)
UK

Gusts over 70mph recorded as Storm Debi blows in

Maya Chappell (Durham Police/PA)
Crime

Man who shook partner’s toddler to death guilty of murder

The felled Sycamore Gap tree did damage Hadrian’s Wall when it fell, experts have said (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

Hadrian’s Wall was damaged by felled Sycamore Gap tree, experts say

UK

Hadrian’s Wall was damaged by felled Sycamore Gap tree, experts say

The felled Sycamore Gap tree did damage Hadrian’s Wall when it fell, experts have said (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Adam Johnson was struck in the neck by an opponent’s skate during a game at the weekend (Will Matthews/PA)
UK

Teammates may struggle to get back on ice after player’s death – psychologist

A new study has found that graphic health warnings like the ones on cigarette packets could help reduce meat consumption and benefit the environment (Durham University/PA)
News

Cigarette-style warning labels could reduce meat consumption, study finds

A message board with a tribute to Nottingham Panthers’ ice hockey player Adam Johnson outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, the home of the Panthers. Mr Johnson died after an accident during a Challenge Cup match with Sheffield Steelers on Saturday night. Picture date: Monday October 30, 2023.
Sport

Inquiry into ice hockey player’s death will take some time, police say

Police said the inquiry will take some time (Will Matthews/PA)
UK

Inquiry into ice hockey player’s death will take some time, police say

Police said the inquiry will take some time (Will Matthews/PA)
UK

Inquiry into ice hockey player’s death will take some time, police say

UK

National Trust properties assess damage after Storm Babet

Waves crash against South Shields lighthouse after the top was ripped off as Storm Babet batters the country (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

Lighthouse loses its dome as Storm Babet blasts in

Waves crash against the lighthouse in Seaham Harbour, County Durham (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

Storm Babet has already caused changes to coastline, experts say

Van driver Luke Widdop did not stop at the scene of the collision in Sutton-in-Craven in September 2021 (West Yorkshire Police/PA)
Crime

Hit-and-run drug-driver who killed boy on country road jailed for eight years

The blue plaque to honour civil rights campaigner Charles Minto (North Tyneside Council/PA)
UK

Blue plaque honour for North Shields boxer and civil rights campaigner

<p>Megan Royle, 33, was told she had cancer and received treatment, only to find two years later she had been misdiagnosed </p>
Home News

Woman gets two years of cancer treatment after being misdiagnosed

Joe Scott, 19, who died when a car crashed into a bus stop in Newcastle (Northumbria Police/PA)
UK

Man who died at bus stop when BMW crashed into queue named by police

A police cordon at a house in Wharton Terrace, Hartlepool (Tom Wilkinson/PA)
Crime

Man, 70, killed in street attack named by counter-terror police

<p>Megan Royle, 33, was told she had cancer and received treatment, only to find two years later she had been misdiagnosed </p>
Home News

Woman gets two years of cancer treatment after being misdiagnosed

Joe Scott, 19, who died when a car crashed into a bus stop in Newcastle (Northumbria Police/PA)
UK

Man who died at bus stop when BMW crashed into queue named by police

A police cordon at a house in Wharton Terrace, Hartlepool (Tom Wilkinson/PA)
Crime

Man, 70, killed in street attack named by counter-terror police

The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) issued an apology for the distress caused to the family of the woman, who was in her 50s (Alamy/PA)
Home News

Woman declared dead ‘for a second time’ after waking up in hospital

Home News

Woman declared dead ‘for a second time’ after waking up in hospital

The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) issued an apology for the distress caused to the family of the woman, who was in her 50s (Alamy/PA)
A property has been cordoned off in Wharton Terrace, Hartlepool (Tom Wilkinson/PA)
UK

Counter-terror officers lead murder probe after man found with fatal injuries

Parents demonstrate in support of St Leonard’s Catholic School, Durham, which has been disrupted by sub standard reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) (Tom Wilkinson/PA)
UK

Parents dismayed by exam decision at Raac-affected school

Work begins to remove the felled Sycamore Gap tree, on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA)
News

Sycamore Gap tree is finally lifted away after felling

Work begins in the removal of the felled Sycamore Gap tree, on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA)
News

Crane set to remove felled Sycamore Gap tree

Work begins in the removal of the felled Sycamore Gap tree, on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA)
News

Crane set to remove felled Sycamore Gap tree

Durham Cathedral has been transformed for the new sound and light show inspired by science (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Science

Durham Cathedral transformed in the name of science

Police investigations are continuing into how the famous tree at Sycamore Gap came to be felled (Owen Humphreys/PA)
News

Felled Sycamore Gap tree to be removed by crane

Forensic Officers on Maple Terrace in Shiney Row near Sunderland where a 54-year-old man was killed in a dog attack on Tuesday evening (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

Man allegedly killed by XL bully stood no chance, says friend

Police activity on Maple Terrace in Shiney Row near Sunderland where a man died after a dog attack (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

Murder investigation launched after fatal ‘XL bully’ attack

10,000 molluscs were released at Sunderland Marina, which will inhabit a newly created reef, the size of a football pitch, off the coast of Sunderland (Owen Humphreys/PA)
News

New reef created to home 10,000 wild oysters in North Sea

Kelvin Bainbridge, 19, who died following a police pursuit in 2019 (Family handout/PA)
UK

Teenager’s death after police pursuit ruled as misadventure

Kelvin Bainbridge, 19, who died following a police pursuit when he exited the vehicle he was driving and was struck by a Durham Police vehicle (family handout/PA)
UK

Jury out in police pursuit inquest

Parents demonstrate in support of St Leonard’s Catholic School, Durham, amid the Raac crisis (Tom Wilkinson/PA)
UK

PM ‘understands parents’ frustration’ over Raac crisis in schools

Parents demonstrate in support of St Leonard’s Catholic School, Durham (Tom Wilkinson/PA)
UK

Secondary school hit by concrete crisis now ‘one of top on list for rebuild’

St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham has been badly affected by the concrete crisis (Tom Banks/PA)
UK

Parents at concrete crisis school to urge minister to back rebuild plans

Pupils and parents outside St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham which has largely closed due to the reinforced concrete crisis (Tom Banks/PA)
UK

School hit by concrete crisis wants lockdown-style GCSE and A-level assessments

UK

School hit by concrete crisis wants lockdown-style GCSE and A-level assessments

Pupils and parents outside St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham which has largely closed due to the reinforced concrete crisis (Tom Banks/PA)
Kelvin Bainbridge suffered head injuries after being struck by a police car in Spennymoor, County Durham (Family handout/PA)
UK

Pc apologises at inquest to parents of teenager who died in police pursuit

Kelvin Bainbridge, 19, who died following a police pursuit (Family handout/PA)
UK

Police pursuits ‘horrible’, officer tells inquest into teenager’s death

Parents St Leonard’s Catholic School have set up a group calling for a complete rebuild following the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete on the site (Tom Banks/PA)Picture by Tom Banks
UK

Parents at school with collapse-risk concrete demand it is rebuilt

Cleveland Police is no longer in special measures (Robert Lazenby/Alamy /PA)
UK

Cleveland Police chief praises staff after force comes out of special measures

Cleveland Police is no longer in special measures (Robert Lazenby/Alamy /PA)
UK

Cleveland Police chief praises staff after force comes out of special measures

Kelvin Bainbridge exited the vehicle he was driving and was hit by a Durham Police vehicle in Spennymoor (Family handout/PA)
UK

Teenager who died in police pursuit said Pc wanted to ‘kill him’, inquest told

Kelvin Bainbridge, 19, who died following a police pursuit when he exited the vehicle he was driving and was struck by a Durham Police vehicle in Spennymoor in October 2019 (family handout/PA)
UK

Teenager who died in police pursuit feared going to jail, inquest hears

Kelvin Bainbridge, 19, who died following a police pursuit when he exited the vehicle he was driving and was struck by a Durham Police vehicle in Spennymoor (Family handout/PA)
UK

Police officer could not have avoided colliding with teenager, inquest hears

The shiny Sage Gateshead, now known as The Glasshouse (Tom White/PA)
UK

Name change for top music venue

Jewson’s Middlesbrough branch was found to have badly managed materials containing asbestos over a number of years, landing its owners with a £400,000 fine (Middlesbrough Council/PA)
Business

Jewson owners fined £400,000 over asbestos failures

The Second World War vintage Tiger Moth plane takes to the sky over Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

Tiger Moth trips give thrill-seekers chance to reach for the skies

Andy Foster died after a suspected ammonia attack (Northumbria Police/PA)
Crime

Two in court charged with suspected ammonia attack murder

Newcastle United’s Jamaal Lascelles, whose group was said to have been attacked on a night out in the city (Tim Goode/PA)
Crime

Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles ‘threatened with gun’ in nightclub fight

Durham Cathedral which stands on The Bailey, a peninsula formed by the River Wear looping around the historic centre of Durham (Jane Barlow/PA)
UK

Historian to follow Scottish prisoners-of-war’ ‘death march’ route

Newcastle United’s Jamaal Lascelles, whose group was said to have been attacked on a night out in the city (Tim Goode/PA)
UK

Police investigation after Newcastle United club captain ‘attacked’

Delighted teaching assistant Jess Ward has passed her GCSE maths at the fourth attempt (Bradford Grammar School/PA)
UK

Fourth time lucky for GCSE maths student, 29, who can now train as teacher

UK

Fourth time lucky for GCSE maths student, 29, who can now train as teacher

Delighted teaching assistant Jess Ward has passed her GCSE maths at the fourth attempt (Bradford Grammar School/PA)
Seb Murphy, 16, celebrates his GCSE results with parents Helen and Ben after battling health problems (Bradford Grammar School/PA)
UK

Teenager celebrates nine GCSEs after battling serious health problems

Lisa Skellon and Jamie Hobbs are getting married next month after a Sliding Doors moment at Bournemouth Airport in 2019 led to them meeting (Tui/PA)
UK

Love is in the air: Pair to marry after delayed plane led to chance meeting

Student Jake Zibe battled through long Covid to win a place at university to study computer science (Dame Allan’s Schools/PA)
UK

Student hit by long Covid wins university place after losing months of schooling

Gilsland the osprey lands after making her first flight at Kielder Forest (Kielder Water and Forest Park/PA)
UK

Stunning pictures show osprey’s first flight from forest nest

Gilsland the osprey lands after making her first flight at Kielder Forest (Kielder Water and Forest Park/PA)
UK

Stunning pictures show osprey’s first flight from forest nest

Triathletes at Roker Beach in Sunderland (Will Matthews/PA)
News

Exact source of norovirus found in sea swim triathletes may not be known

Bethany Cox (right) arrives at Teesside Crown Court in Middlesbrough (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Crime

Woman, 22, denies using poison for abortion during pandemic

The ECB permanently disqualified Michael Strange from all cricket activity in April 2006 (Mike Egerton/PA)
Cricket

ECB to launch review after former coach admits to sexual assault of 14-year-old

Michael Strange, 63, appeared via videolink at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court (Northumbria Police/PA)
Crime

Cricket coach jailed for abusing young players admits further sexual assault

Former Durham coach Michael Strange has admitted sexually assaulting a teenage player (Northumbria Police handout/PA).
Cricket

Former Durham coach admits sexually assaulting 14-year-old player

Nikki Allan’s mother Sharon Henderson is to sue Northumbria Police (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

Mother of murdered Nikki Allan to take legal action against Northumbria Police

Stephen Ansbro has been jailed for life for the murder of Jane Collinson (Durham Police/PA)
Crime

Sheltered housing murderer said he would ‘do time’ for victim before attack

Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s house in North Yorkshire have now been bailed (Danny Lawson/PA)
UK

Greenpeace protesters bailed following roof-top protest at PM’s home

A former chief constable who told a female officer she could touch herself as they sat in a car has been indefinitely barred for serving after being found guilty of gross misconduct (PA)
UK

Chief constable who told officer to ‘touch herself’ barred from serving

Gordon Gault, 14, who was allegedly murdered in Newcastle last year (Northumbria Police/PA)
Crime

Six teenagers deny murdering stab victim, 14

<p>Joan Scott needed to have both legs amputated after becoming trapped under a bus </p>
Crime

Woman dragged under bus lost legs after driver refused to let her on

Adam Bale graduated in law from Sunderland University (Sunderland University/PA)
UK

Hitting the bar! Ex-footballer to tackle legal career after degree success

Forestry England ornithologist Martin Davison with one the osprey chicks that the team ringed at Kielder Forest, Northumberland (Forestry England/PA)
UK

Team rings osprey chicks at Northern England stronghold

Beavers are released at Wallington Estate in Northumberland in a project to improve local biodiversity and mitigate the effects of climate change (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

National Trust makes first beaver release in northern England

The review also looked into how the NEAS dealt with whistleblowing (PA)
UK

Ambulance service accused of covering up errors when patients died apologises

The Northumberland site is usually a safe breeding ground for the Arctic terns (National Trust Images and Derek Hatton/PA)
UK

Bird flu outbreak at breeding colony ‘devastating news’ for Arctic terns

Beavers are released at Wallington Estate in Northumberland in a project to improve local biodiversity and mitigate the effects of climate change (Owen Humphreys/PA)
UK

National Trust makes first beaver release in northern England

The review also looked into how the NEAS dealt with whistleblowing (PA)
UK

Ambulance service accused of covering up errors when patients died apologises

The Northumberland site is usually a safe breeding ground for the Arctic terns (National Trust Images and Derek Hatton/PA)
UK

Bird flu outbreak at breeding colony ‘devastating news’ for Arctic terns

Olivia Burt was killed outside a Durham bar when a decorative screen fell on her (Durham County Council/PA)
Crime

Parents criticise pub chain Stonegate after student’s death outside bar

Olivia Burt, a Durham University student, who died when a decorative screen fell on her outside a club in 2018 (Durham County Council/PA)
Crime

Pub chain Stonegate faces fine after student’s death outside busy bar

Olivia Burt was killed by a screen falling on her outside a Durham nightclub in 2018 (Durham County Council/PA)
Crime

Death of student, 20, outside club ‘senseless and avoidable’, court told

Six teenage boys have been charged with the murder of Gordon Gault in Newcastle (Northumbria Police/PA)
Crime

Six teenagers in court charged with 14-year-old’s murder

Mike Veale faces a misconduct hearing (Rod Minchin/PA)
Home News

Former chief constable facing misconduct over alleged ‘sexual’ remarks

David Lee who admitted abusing a seagull (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Crime

Man who abused seagull to be sentenced

A five pound note, recovered from the wreck of the Titanic (Phil Noble/Archive/PA)
UK

Pilot of stricken sub is ‘extraordinary explorer’, says British Titanic diver

Olivia Burt was a first-year student at Durham University (Durham Police/PA)
Crime

Queuing student died when ‘unsuitable’ screen collapsed outside club, court told

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