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'As soon as that knife went in there was no bringing her back': Sister of stabbed Jodie Wilkinson pleads for end to violence
More than six years on from the senseless killing of Jodie Wilkinson, her sister told Chronicle Live she believes her heart-breaking prediction about knife crime has become a reality.
Stabbed to death in daylight on a city street in 2016, Jodie Wilkinson’s death should have been a wake-up call to Tyneside. But when no one was convicted of the 27-year-old's murder, her devastated sister, Amy Wilkinson, feared that the tragedy sent out a worrying message about knife crime.
Today she has pledged her support for the Chronicle's Stop Knives Taking Lives campaign and begged communities to unite against knife crime and told of her anger at those who protect violent criminals.
The 33-year-old said: "As soon as that knife went inside her she was dead. There was no bringing her back. If there wasn't a knife there, Jodie would still be alive."
Man injured after brawl at Whitley Bay Caravan Park sees chair and punches thrown
A bar in a popular family caravan park descended into chaos when a chair and punches were thrown during a large brawl.
Ben Watson and Liam Clish were among those involved in the fight, which took place in front of some children, at Whitely Bay Holiday Park in September last year. A court heard that most of the violence was caught on CCTV and Watson was seen throwing a chair, which struck a man on the head.
Magistrates heard that the victim was left with a one-inch cut to his forehead. Meanwhile, Clish was seen to punch another man during the fracas, although no injury was reported.
Watson, 27, of Chester Place, in Peterlee, and Clish, 25, of Reynolds Court, also Peterlee, County Durham, appeared separately in the dock at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. The former pleaded guilty to affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, while the latter admitted affray.
Ex-Sunderland footballer says sharing his cancer journey has 'saved five lives
A former Sunderland footballer has urged people to get themselves checked for cancer and recalled how five years ago surgery had saved his life.
Maurice Hepworth, 69, is backing the NHS's national 'Help Us Help You' cancer campaign, fighting to raise awareness of common symptoms and pushing people to head to the GP if they're concerned about any changes in their health. He said wearing a Prostate Cancer UK 'man' pin badge had seen him help to save the lives of at least five others who - like himself- have been diagnosed with prostate cancer early enough to be treated.
County Durham-based Maurice said: "It's about getting the message out and making sure men have the bottle to actually do this. They owe it to their wives, to their families to get the test. It takes ten minutes and without that I wouldn't be here now."
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