Pallion prankster given ASBO

A Pallion nuisance caller could be jailed if he continues to pester the 999 service without good cause.

Paul Simpson has been given a three-year Antisocial Behaviour Order after making more than 100 nuisance calls to Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary in the last year.

They have included requests to be given a lift home when he is drunk and foul-mouthed abuse, with more calls placed with the ambulance service where he has also wrongly claimed he needed help.

It follows a previous order, which ran from 2005 to 2007, with the level of Simpson’s bad behaviour dropping until the last year, when repeated calls to the emergency services were made.

Adults who breach Asbos can be fined up to £5,000 or sentenced to five years in prison, or both.

Story first seen on Sunderland Echo at http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/pest-caller-dialed-999-for-a-lift-home-when-drunk-1-5612607

Woman arrested after Millfield fire

Photo from sunderlandecho.com

A woman has been arrested by police investigating a fire that burnt down the Zeba takeaway in Millfield, Sunderland.

The fire happened at around 2 am at the Hylton Road balti house on Tuesday March 12 but no one was injured.

Northumbria police have previously stated that it was a suspected arson attack.

Handbag stolen from woman in Pallion

A woman has had her handbag snatched on Westwood Street in the Pallion area of Sunderland.

The incident happened between 12.50pm and 1pm on Sunday, February 17, when the woman’s bag was grabbed causing her to fall to the ground. She suffered a graze from the fall and was left shaken.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and is helping police with their enquiries.

Neighbourhood Inspector Dave Pickett said: “Additional police will be on patrol in the area to reassure residents and answer any concerns they may have. We’d urge anyone who saw what happened to contact police.”

Any witnesses should contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191.