A New Low - Daylight Robbery For UK Window Cleaner

A new low for window cleaners.

Thugs rob Walker window cleaner for ladders and takings - A window cleaner has been robbed for his takings in the rear lane between Welbeck Road and Middle street, in Walker, Newcastle, UK. A window cleaner has been robbed for his takings. Sometime between 6.30pm and 7pm on Monday thugs approached the man from behind, in the rear lane between Welbeck Road and Middle street, in Walker, Newcastle and knocked him unconscious.

When the victim awoke he discovered the money pouch he had been carrying around his waist had been stolen, along with his aluminium ladders. The man was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he was treated for concussion. Before he was assaulted he noticed a man in a white flatbed lorry driving behind him down the lane and police are now appealing for anyone who might have been in the area and who witnessed the incident to contact them.

Northumbria Police’s East End Neighbourhood Inspector Deborah Alderson said: “This has been quite a nasty assault where the offenders have stolen this man’s takings for the day and the ladders that he uses to do is job. “We are carrying out inquiries to locate those responsible who clearly didn’t care about the welfare of this man at all, and left him in the road unconscious. We have extra officers in the area to reassure residents and anyone with information is asked to get in touch with police.” Witnesses are asked to contact police on 101 ext 69191, or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sharp Eyed Window Cleaner Takes Action

Cramlington window cleaner snares sex pest: Window cleaner Paul Kerry snared a suspected sex pest opposite a nursery while out walking his dogs. The 31-year-old had spotted a man acting suspiciously in the bushes opposite Little Angels nursery in Cramlington. The dad-of-one was so concerned about what he saw that he phoned the police who raced to the scene and arrested the man on suspicion on outraging public decency. Today Paul has told of his shock at what he saw and how police commended him on his quick-thinking. He said: “I thought the man was up to something because he was acting suspiciously so I kept an eye on him. “I just had a feeling something wasn’t right so I didn’t want to let him out of my sight. “Because it was over the road from a nursery I was even more concerned about what was going on. He had his trousers down. “I was tempted to go over and confront him but I kept my cool and called the police. “I knew if I went over he might have chance to run away and it would have been my word against his.”

Paul, who lives in Cramlington with fiance Sarah Law and their three-and-a-half year old son Callum, dialled 999 and he says within six minutes officers were at the scene. A man was arrested and has since appeared in court charged with outraging public decency. The incident happened on Monday at 12.10pm at Seven Oaks Park, near Paradise Road. Paul was on a day off work and was out walking his two bulldogs Tito and Queenie when he spotted the man. He said: “I kept him in sight until the police arrived and arrested him. “Afterwards the police officers came and commended me on what I had done.

“I was disgusted by what happened, especially as it was near a nursery school, although there were no children outside at the time. “I rang the nursery as well to tell them of what had happened. This isn’t the sort of thing you would normally get round here and I was glad to do my public duty. “Lots of friends have commended me on what I did.”

Last month the Chronicle reported how Paul was the lucky fan that got Derby day goal hero Ryan Taylor’s shirt when he threw it into the crowd following the Toon’s 1-0 win against arch rivals Sunderland. Neighbourhood Inspector Dave Fitzgerald, who was present at the arrest, said: “This type of incident is one which police take seriously due to its nature. No people except police officers seem to have witnessed the man’s disturbing activities and no one had been approached by the man.”

Sergeant Michael Aspey and his local neighbourhood officers are actively reassuring the community and businesses in the area. A 46-year-old man from Cramlington has been charged with outraging public decency. He appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and was bailed to attend the same court on October 4.

Paul also made the news recently for other reasons (hence the picture)...

NUFC fan gets Ryan Taylor derby goal shirt: "Toon" fan Paul Kelly had the shirt off Derby Day goal hero Ryan Taylor’s back. But the Newcastle United mad dad didn’t have to move far from his seat during the match against arch rivals Sunderland after the player threw it straight into his lap. After the Toon beat the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light on Saturday players celebrated on the pitch, with some taking their tops off for the traditional swapping of the shirts. But an emotional Ryan Taylor – fresh from scoring the winning goal with a sweetly struck free kick on 62 minutes – threw his shirt into the crowd of travelling fans. And 31-year-old window cleaner Paul was the lucky fan that the shirt headed straight for. Today proud fan Paul, from Cramlington, said he planned to frame the shirt and give it pride of place above his living room mantlepiece.

Window Cleaning In Newcastle More Dangerous Than Afghanistan

Cadets and reservists honoured for work: It's not being on the frontline of a war zone that worries Paul McKeown, but window cleaning on Tyneside. He was one of scores of volunteers honoured yesterday for their role in supporting the armed forces. Dozens of members of the Territorial Army, cadets and other reservists gathered to be recognised for the part they play in protecting the country. And despite operating in one of the most dangerous places in the world, Sapper McKeown said being on the lookout for suicide bombers and insurgents wasn’t half as dangerous as his civilian job on Tyneside.

The 47-year-old, from Newcastle, said: "I’m a window cleaner and about a year before I was posted to Afghanistan I had an accident at work which almost killed me. "I fell off my ladder and fractured my skull in five places, broke my ribs and had fractures to my arms and legs. They say Afghanistan is a dangerous place, but the closest I’ve come to death was on the streets of Newcastle." The grandfather-of-one spent seven months last year in the war- torn country operating in Kabul providing close protection work for high-ranking diplomatic figures.

He joined the TA three years ago but was a member of the regular Army between 1979 and 1993. He was among the volunteers honoured with certificates by the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear Nigel Sherlock. They were recognised for their work during an hour-long presentation ceremony at the TA Centre in Heaton, Newcastle. It was a family affair for the Carrolls, as husband and wife Jospeh and Theresa Carroll from Newcastle picked up awards for their TA service. Joseph has served abroad while Theresa has been based back in the UK.

Corporal Paul Smith, from Low Teams, in Gateshead, was given a commendation for his services in Afghanistan. The soldier has been in the TA for 19 years, and recently spent six months in the war zone. He was responsible for ensuring supplies reached front-line troops. Cpl Smith, 39, said: "I was chuffed to get the award, very honoured. I love my job. There are dangers, but you get used to being places like that." Mr Sherlock said: "It has been a pleasure handing out the awards. All these people here give up their spare time to give something to the wider community."

Sainsburys Offer Free Window Cleaning

Residents plagued by 10 months of dust offered window cleaner as compensation: UK supermarket giant Sainsbury's is compensating dozens of residents plagued by 10 months of noise and dust from the building of a new store – by paying for a window cleaner. More than 40 residents will have their windows cleaned as a 'goodwill gesture' before the opening of the firm's Newcastle store on November 3. But families whose Ashfields New Road homes back on to the development have been left insulted by the offer of a window-cleaner. They had expected hundreds of pounds of Sainsbury's vouchers after putting up with noise and dust from the building site for months.

Monica and Peter Wainwright (pictured) considered putting their two-bedroom terrace home up for sale after 43 years living in the street because of the disruption. Retired teacher Mrs Wainwright, aged 65, said: "We have completely lost a summer as we haven't been able to sit outside – nobody can give us that back. "I have cleaned the windows twice myself because they were so dirty you couldn't see through them. "Sainsbury's has said the window cleaning is the final offer and we have not even had an apology. "I don't want to stand in the way of progress but to be offered something worth £5 for what we have been through is horrendous."

The new Sainsbury's is being built on the former Newcastle College site. Retired gardener Mr Wainwright, aged 69, said: "This is an insult. I won't be shopping in the new Sainsbury's store even though it's next door. I'd rather go to Morrisons. "We had no trouble living next to the college. The only noise was when the students were coming in, dinner time or at going home time. But that was during the day and Sainsbury's will be open from 7am to 11pm." 

 Alan Rushton, who has lived in Ashfields New Road for 10 years, today labelled the window-cleaning offer as "derisory". The 59-year-old, who runs an electrical supplies shop, said: "I shall have the windows cleaned and I want the frames doing because they are filthy. We have had a lot of dirt and dust and we couldn't use our garden all summer because of it." Sylvia Butler, chairman of Ashfields New Road Residents' Association, lives on the opposite side of the road and has called in Newcastle MP Paul Farrelly. She said: "These people have had to put up with so much. It would have been nice for Sainsbury's to offer them at least a week's worth of free groceries."

Residents can expect their free window-cleaning service over the next fortnight. A letter to residents from Sainsbury's project manager Gary Mudge, below left, states: "Sainsbury's would like to offer you the opportunity to have your windows cleaned free of charge. "We are arranging for a window-cleaner to visit the properties in close proximity to the site to carry out window cleaning." In a statement to The Sentinel, Mr Mudge added: "Dirty windows was the most common complaint. "We believe window-cleaning is the fairest way to offer a goodwill gesture to those directly affected. "So far a large number of residents have taken us up on this offer."

Bad Egg

A WINDOW cleaner who set up a burglary at a Cambois home has been jailed for four-and-a-half years. Christopher Anderson, 24, maintained he did not commit the burglary at the home in Wilson Avenue on November 19 last year. But he visited the property several days after the break-in and told the owner he could find the missing goods. Anderson, also of Wilson Avenue, then returned nearly all of the stolen items to the homeowner before being arrested. He accepted his part in the raid when forensic scientists found his blood on a fridge inside the property. He pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court. Jailing Anderson for four-and-a-half years Judge Esmond Faulks told him: "Despite your young age you have a very bad record in relation to burglaries. "In this case you took advantage of your job as a window cleaner. "People want to be able to trust their window cleaner. "But you ransacked this home. I accept that there were a number of people involved, not just yourself. "The court was told the team of burglars made off with £100 in cash, the homeowner's underwear, compact discs and a vacuum during the raid. Robert Adams, defending, said Anderson, who was jailed for five years in 2002 for aggravated burglary, was with two others who took part in the raid.