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A 15-year-old-boy convicted of murdering a teenager in a park can be named as Leighton Amies after a judge lifted reporting restrictions.

Victim Tomasz Oleszak, 14, collapsed after he was knifed in a nature park in Gateshead last October.

Amies – who was 14 at the time of the killing – denied murder but was found guilty today following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

The killer’s identity could not previously be published but following his conviction, judge Mr Justice Spencer lifted the reporting ban.

The judge said: “There is a public interest in trying to deflect young people from the carrying of knives, where when that happens, this kind of utterly tragic outcome can occur.”

The trial heard that Amies boasted “I’ve wetted your boy” after stabbing the victim deep in his chest.

He claimed he did not know he had stabbed Tomasz and slashed another youth’s coat after being attacked by a gang.

Tomasz Oleszak, 14, collapsed after he was knifed in a nature park
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Tomasz Oleszak, 14, collapsed after he was knifed in a nature park


Jurors heard that the killer was walking through Whitehills Nature Park with his girlfriend at around 8pm when a group of youths followed them.

He was carrying a serrated kitchen knife in his jacket pocket, which he claimed he picked up at home for “reassurance”, and used it to slash Tomasz when he came under attack from a group.

The killer shouted to the gang: “I’ve wetted your boy” after landing the fatal blow, the court heard.

Mark McKone KC, prosecuting, told jurors: “He wanted them to know he had stabbed one of their number.

“It was a boast.”

Peter Makepeace KC, defending, told jurors the youth had not looked for trouble and asked the jury to put themselves in his situation.

He said: “This is a 14-year-old under group attack and having to make terrible decisions under a moment’s notice.”

The jury also convicted him of a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm on the boy whose coat was slashed.

The defendant had previously admitted carrying a blade.

Amies will be sentenced in June.

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‘No other drug does this amount of damage so quickly to your kidneys and bladder’: How party drug is destroying lives

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Tasers to be used in prisons to tackle ‘unacceptably high’ levels of violence

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Tasers to be used in prisons to tackle 'unacceptably high' levels of violence

Tasers can be used in prisons for the first time to tackle “unacceptably high” levels of violence, as part of a new trial.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said she is “determined to keep prison staff safe”.

Specialist officers from two bases in Oxfordshire and Doncaster can now be deployed to incidents in adult male prisons in England and Wales, equipped with Tasers.

In a demonstration hostage situation, officers used pyrotechnics to distract an aggressive inmate
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In a demonstration hostage situation, officers used pyrotechnics to distract an aggressive inmate

Officers tackled an aggressive 'inmate' after he was distracted by pyrotechnics
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Officers tackled an aggressive ‘inmate’ after he was distracted by pyrotechnics in the demonstration

Reporters attending a demonstration were shown how they could be used in certain scenarios, where there is a threat to safety, including hostage situations or riots, and where multiple people are involved in “mass disorder”.

One demonstration involved four prisoners who had become disruptive in the exercise yard.

After staff were forced to withdraw, three inmates turned on one and it was deemed there was an “immediate threat to life.”

Officers gave verbal warnings before deploying the Tasers at a distance.

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This trial will use the Taser 7 model, which is what police officers currently use.

It can generate 50,000 volts when triggered, but drops to about 1,500 volts when hitting the target.

In a separate hostage situation, officers used pyrotechnics which produced loud bangs and smoke to distract an aggressive “inmate” before putting them in handcuffs.

An 'inmate' is tackled by a security officer during a role-play demostration
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An ‘inmate’ is tackled by a security officer during a simulation

At first, specialist national officers from the two bases can be deployed if such incidents occur.

It’s understood at the moment these teams get 800 callouts a year – averaging just over two a day.

The trial will run until enough data is collected to determine whether Tasers should be rolled out more widely.

Ms Mahmood said she intends to have further updates in the autumn and will “consider” whether local staff inside jails can use them.

“From my perspective, this is very much the beginning,” she said.

Violence in prisons has been rising. In the 12 months to December there were 10,605 assaults on staff, a rise of 13% on the year before and a new peak. Serious assaults were also up 10% on the previous 12 months.

An 'inmate' is tackled by a security officer during a role-play demostration
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A security officer demonstrates the Taser in use

Earlier this year, Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi attacked prison staff at the high-security jail HMP Frankland, using hot cooking oil and homemade, or improvised, weapons.

The justice secretary said the incident at Frankland “forced the pace” of further measures to tackle violence.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana also allegedly attacked a member of staff at HMP Belmarsh by pouring hot water over them from inside his cell.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) union urged ministers to consider protective equipment and stab vests for staff.

Read more:
Tories call for Tasers to be used in prisons
‘Bleak’ prison in special measures

Last month, the government announced the use of body armour at certain units in high-security jails, which house some of the most dangerous inmates.

But while “grateful” for a “step in the right direction”, the POA don’t think the new measure goes far enough – and instead want specialist staff inside jails trained to use Tasers.

“It is pointless a national response being several hours away if, locally, Taser is needed to immediately preserve life and combat threat,” Mark Fairhurst, the POA’s national chairman said.

Whitehall wants to consider the “lessons” from this trial before any potential further rollout.

Ms Mahmood pointed out that while Tasers have been used for many years by the police, “a custodial setting is different to usage in other scenarios”.

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Paul Gallagher, older brother of Oasis stars Noel and Liam, is charged with offences including rape

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Paul Gallagher, older brother of Oasis stars Noel and Liam, is charged with offences including rape

Paul Gallagher, the older brother of Oasis stars Noel and Liam, has been charged with multiple offences including rape.

The Metropolitan Police said Gallagher, 59, of East Finchley, north London, has been charged with rape, coercive and controlling behaviour, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of intentional strangulation, two counts of making a threat to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The offences are reported to have taken place between 2022 and 2024. The charges follow an investigation which began last year, the force added in a statement.

A woman is being supported by specially-trained officers, the statement continued.

Paul Gallagher, who is about one year older than Noel and seven years older than Liam, has never been involved in Oasis.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 27 August.

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