Cleveland Police are continuing to investigate the rape of a woman in her thirties in Redcar on Friday;

An opticians employee has appeared in court accused of stealing thousands of pounds;

...and a former merchant seaman who took part in the D-Day landings has been awarded the Legion d'Honneur.

Cleveland Police are continuing to investigate the rape of a woman in her thirties in Redcar on Friday.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was with her toddler on the sea front near to the boating lake in Redcar between 11.30am and 12.30pm on Friday lunchtime when a dark-coloured saloon vehicle drove along the ramp towards them.

Two men got out of the vehicle and the woman and child were forced into the rear of the car, before it then made its way down Turner Street and drove to Longbeck Lane at Yearby, just off the A174, where the woman was raped.

The child was unharmed.

Between 5.30pm and 6.30pm, the victim and her child were then forced out of the vehicle on Kirkleatham Lane, between the turn off for Kirkleatham Museum and the bus stop towards Redcar.

They ran across the road and towards the wooded area.

The first suspect, who was driving the vehicle, is described as a white male, aged in his late twenties or early thirties, around 5ft 7” to 5ft 10” tall, with short, brown hair, of large build and with the word “love” tattooed across his knuckles.

The second suspect, the passenger in the car, is described as a white male, aged in his early twenties, around 5ft 5” to 5ft 6” tall, of medium build, clean shaven and with brown hair. He had a local accent.

Detectives would appeal to anyone who may have seen two men in a dark saloon in the area around the time of the incident on the sea front on Friday or anyone who may have seen the men or the vehicle in Yearby the same day.

They would also appeal to any witnesses who may have seen a woman and child in a distressed state in the area of Kirkleatham Lane on Friday evening.

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 

An opticians employee has appeared in court accused of stealing thousands of pounds.

It's alleged that 22-year-old Poppy Hope stole £5,860 from the tills at the Redcar branch of Specsavers where she worked between January and September last year.

Ms Hope did not enter a plea to a charge of theft by employee.

Her case was committed to Crown Court where she will appear at a later date.

 

A former merchant seaman who took part in the D-Day landings has been awarded the Legion d'Honneur.

John Ronald Murray was presented with France's highest honour by the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Coucillor Barry Hunt to mark his service during the Second World War.

The 93-year-old, who is known as Ron to his friends, previously gained five medals for his service, which included a period from June 1944 when the Allied forces invaded northern France and began to liberate the country from the Nazis.

Ron, who is originally from Northumerland, met his future wife, Mary, at dance at the Swan Hotel in Redcar on a weekend off, whilst visiting a friend not long before D Day. Six months later Ron and Mary were engaged and they married in April 1945.

The couple, who have been married for 71 years, have three sons – Jeff, who lives in Brotton, Alan who lives in the USA and Brian who lives in Loftus. They have ten grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.


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