Michael Wade was jailed for life for the rape and murder of Jean Whitfield in Gateshead but was released on parole in 2024

A killer who walked free from prison following a 25-year sentence for raping and murdering a defenceless woman has been locked up again after assaulting his own daughter.

Michael Wade, now also known as George Wilden, was handed a life sentence for raping Jean Whitfield before drowning her in a bathtub at her residence.

Weighing a mere seven stone and battling debilitating arthritis, vulnerable Jean stood no chance when Wade targeted her at her flat, mere months after his release from prison for a previous brutal assault. Wade barged into Jean’s residence in Birtley, Gateshead, before subjecting her to a vicious beating and rape.

When the 42 year old’s partner, Denis Fallon, arrived home from his shift, he discovered Jean’s lifeless body submerged in the bath, in August 1999. The monster, who received a life sentence and spent 25 years incarcerated, made repeated attempts to secure his release and, despite fierce opposition from Jean’s sister, Joan Robinson, he ultimately succeeded in 2024.

Mrs Robinson campaigned relentlessly to ensure he remained imprisoned and had previously shared her anguish with Chroniclelive regarding the Parole Board’s ruling. However, Wade is now back in custody after attacking his own daughter at her Gateshead residence and threatening her with the words “I will f***** kill you”.

The 69 year old thug, previously residing in Gateshead but now without a permanent address, had become embroiled in a row with the victim after she was unable to accompany him to view a property when he arrived at her home on May 20 this week. Despite her telling him to leave, he grew increasingly irate and pursued her into her kitchen, Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard.

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Clare Haswell, prosecuting, stated: “He launched at her and said “I will f***** kill you”. He attempted to grab her and he did and she hit her ear off the kitchen island. She tried to defend herself by raising forearm until her husband intervened and dragged him away.”, reports Chronicle Live.

“The defendant shouted “I should have killed you”. The complainant does believe her father is capable of killing her.” In a statement, the woman said: “My dad has previously served time in prison for rape and murder and I believe my dad does hurt women.

“I’m speaking to all my family to make sure they’re locking their doors due to the extreme violence he has used in the past to make sure everyone’s safe.” The court was informed that Wade had 97 offences on his record and was last sentenced for rape and murder back in 2001.

Miss Haswell explained that Wade remained a registered sex offender and was subject to a life-long licence following his release from custody. He has now been recalled to prison after admitting assault by beating against his daughter, magistrates were told. Jordan Parkinson, defending, said Wade had pleaded guilty and insisted this was a “one-off” incident. Miss Parkinson continued: “He has been out of prison for two years and this is the first time there has been any issues with his daughter.

“Of course, he will be recalled on life licence and he will undergo a hearing before the Parole Board in due course. At the time of the offence, he lost his temper with his daughter after they argued and said those words in the heat of the moment.

“He didn’t intend to act on the threats to kill.” The bench handed Wade a 16-week prison sentence, though he’s expected to remain incarcerated for considerably longer following his recall. An indefinite restraining order was also imposed upon him.

Many people are migrating within countries across south Asia to cope with extreme weather. In Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal, people often move from rural homes to urban metropolises when their homes and livelihoods become damaged or threatened by cyclones and storms, floods and droughts.

Most previous research has focused on migration of men who move to seek employment and how that affects the women and families they leave behind. But many women also move as a result of climate-related extreme weather.

Migrant households take many forms. My team’s research involved collecting data both through surveys and interviews with close to 1,200 households across these countries. Our work reveals a complex picture.

In India, Nepal and Bangladesh, women tend to be more involved in farming and livestock care. Men migrate to cities to work in construction or factories, often returning home for annual visits, or more often if they are closer to home.

“My husband has been away for many years,” 35-year-old Bagyalata, who lives in Odisha, a state in eastern India, told us. “I am busy with cattle and other farm work throughout the day but am also responsible for the children. Whenever there is any problem, the teachers ask me to come.”

But in Bhutan, it’s more common for women to move away to find work, either on their own or with their families. As one 45-year-old man describes: “My wife lives and works in Thimphu. As the eldest son, I returned to the village to look after my parents and disabled brother. Our family relies on income from oranges, but this has been declining due to irregular rainfall and new [crop] pests.”

Bhutan and Nepal are both mountainous areas prone to floods and landslides. Water collection has traditionally been a woman’s task. But piped water systems provided by the state have made water supplies more reliable and accessible. That said, other domestic and care tasks such as cooking, childcare and care of older relatives continue to remain the responsibility of women. This leaves them with little time for other activities. One woman, Darji, in Nepal told us, “I could do tailoring, but with caring for the family and animals, I don’t have any time”.

Who controls the assets?

Despite contributing more to the workforce, women in Bangladesh, India and Nepal still don’t have much control over assets (land ownership and family finances). They don’t get much say in terms of political leadership either.

In Indrawati, a rural region in Nepal, one woman living with her two children told us: “Although my mother-in-law permits me to use the land to farm vegetables, I must give her half the harvest.” Access to land continues to be mediated through family and kinship structures.

In Bhutan, matrilineal inheritance or the inheritance of land through the female line (from mother to daughter) means that women own more land, especially in non-migrant and couple-migrant households.

It is only when women migrate that they start to have control over the income they earn and investments they make. This can strengthen the decision-making position of other women who remain, as households reorganise around women’s contributions, both in terms of money and social support.

One 40-year-old widow in Odisha, India, had multiple jobs in order to support her four children. She farmed millets and turmeric plus she collected firewood in the forest and foraged for seasonal foods such as mushrooms. Her oldest daughter moved to a coastal town to work in a fish factory.

The widow told us: “She wanted to go … there was no money at home. She said she will make extra to help us.” Payments from her oldest daughter provide financial support for the family. That extra money also enables her to make somewhat risky financial decisions including shifting to a cash crop, cashew in this case. Cashews are subject to both price fluctuations and climatic variability, but they can lead to more profit, so she hopes this risk will pay off in the long term.

Reconfiguring the norm

Climate pressures deepen some existing gendered and intergenerational inequalities. For example, extreme weather can increase women’s work burdens without necessarily improving their asset ownership, financial control or community leadership.

But our research shows how climate pressures have complex influences on migration and adaptation. Climate migration can lead to a renegotiation of household relationships – this depends on who moves and who stays. Other factors include the material conditions and resources available to the household, the social dynamics and support, as well as gender norms around roles, responsibilities and expectations.

In Nepal, we see overall a movement towards building more reciprocal relationships. This enables parents to contribute jointly to their future and help build a more stable future for their children. As Diya Gurung from Nepal confidently told us, “How can a husband decide without consulting his wife, or vice versa?”

Bhutan reflects a continuation of cultural advantages in terms of economic and social equity, though this is being disrupted somewhat by migration. There is currently an emphasis on building unity and community cohesion in rural areas, witnessing rapid depopulation. In India and Bangladesh, women are taking on greater responsibility to manage farms, handle finances and participate in agricultural cooperatives or savings groups, often without control or leadership.

Fair wages and working conditions are key. But beyond that, climate migration is changing the gendered responsibilities for care at home and at work within families. It also affects who owns and controls finances and land, and it influences how households make decisions. To support families as the dynamics change, it’s important to strengthen women’s land rights, improve access to financial services and support collective institutions that enable meaningful participation and leadership.

African countries that were first to roll out a breakthrough malaria vaccine have seen a “significant reduction” in child deaths, a landmark report found this week. 

Malaria kills around 600,000 people annually, most of them in Africa, and most of them children. However, the RTS,S malaria jab, which performed well in clinical trials, is now having a positive impact on the ground, the research showed.  

Published in the Lancet health journal, the study observed infant mortality rates over four years in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi after they introduced malaria vaccinations for children. One in eight child deaths, it noted, had been avoided in the countries since the jab was rolled out. 

Twenty-five African countries now offer malaria vaccinations to children. Researchers expect similar results, or better, in countries that took up the vaccine more recently. Other vaccines are in development.   

“This is very solid evidence of the potential for malaria vaccines to change the trajectory of child mortality in Africa,” said the World Health Organization’s Dr Kate O’Brien, co-author of the evaluation. 

Challenges remain, however. “More financing is needed so that countries can purchase enough vaccine, along with other malaria prevention tools, to reach all the kids most at risk,” she said.

Image: Annie Spratt

Martin O’Neill has been on the receiving end of abusive calls and messages

Martin O’Neill has disclosed that he was compelled to change his mobile phone number following a torrent of abusive messages during the end-of-season chaos in Scotland.

The Hoops manager also responded to Tony Bloom’s assertions that Hearts players were attacked during the Parkhead pitch invasion last week – describing the Jambos chief’s comments as ‘irresponsible’. O’Neill is preparing for Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final clash with Dunfermline.

However, he finds himself dealing with the aftermath of last weekend’s Premiership decider, having faced criticism from a Hearts statement for appearing to minimise the pitch incursion and the abrupt conclusion to the dramatic encounter.

O’Neill has also endured a personal bombardment following the contentious win at Motherwell which led to the final day showdown, reports the Daily Record.

He said: “I’ve changed my telephone number because it was circulated around. You want to hear some of the comments on those.

“That was from the Wednesday night. I had to change it.

“It’s not a problem but I’ve had it for 35 years and it was kind of part of me at the end of the day.

“It got circulated somewhere, but they are on tape. It was messages, texts, everything.

“That was before the game. I decided on Friday I needed to change it to concentrate on the game on Saturday.

“I might put it back again just to listen to the messages.

“I haven’t contact the police yet but I may do.

“There were only about 250 calls!”

O’Neill hit back at Hearts following Bloom’s assertion on national radio that one or two Jambos players had been subjected to attacks.

The Celtic manager stated: “I heard Tony Bloom saying that there were two players assaulted.

“It’s not true – if it is, it hasn’t been proven yet.

“I’ve watched the pictures back, and I think one of their players actually snaps a phone away from a lad and stamps on it.

“But that’s besides the point, I can understand that.

“What was remarkable about it was, pitch invasion or not, do you know how took to clear the pitch invasion? Two minutes and 50 seconds.

“For someone to say, without proof at this moment, that the players were assaulted, I think that’s irresponsible.

“If it is proved that those players had been assaulted, that’s not on.

“That’s an offence at the end of the day. I think if it’s the case, and it is proved that they’ve been hit, it would be more than an apology from us.

“If that’s the case, it’s not on. It’s not on at all.”

The Scottish FA released audio evidence on Thursday confirming Hearts manager Derek McInnes consented to ending the match.

O’Neill believes there has been heightened criticism directed at Celtic due to the club destroying Hearts’ romantic title aspirations.

He commented: “What has happened is that people have taken out the emotion of the game.

“I didn’t know what Hearts’ argument was at the end of the day.

“Because the pitch invasion had taken place? Had the game finished or not? Were we going to go back and play the last 15 seconds if that was the case?

“I also didn’t know it was the rules that the referee, Don Robertson, doesn’t have to blow a whistle to finish the game, as was proved at Leverkusen. Because Leverkusen scored another goal to put it beyond them and to win the game.

“There have been pitch invasions here in this country. There was one at Kilmarnock when Derek (McInnes) was on the pitch at the time.

“If pitch invasions are going to be universally blocked, fine. And if it’s a criminal offence to go onto the pitch, that’s something else. I’m not sure in the euphoria.

“I don’t know this for certain, but if the situation had been reversed and happened at Hearts, I think there wouldn’t have been the clamour that there has been here.

“I do agree with the football club in apologising for the Hearts players not getting the opportunity to acknowledge their own fans and for their fans to show their appreciation for their efforts.

“Regardless of all of this, Hearts’ participation has made it a season to remember.”

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Three teenage boys were assaulted by three men back in April

Police have released new CCTV footage of a man they would like to speak to in connection with a robbery. Three teenage boys were assaulted by three men at around 5pm on April 18 in Peterborough.

The incident took place on the railway footbridge between Maskew Avenue and Ivatt Way, linking New England and Ravensthorpe. A bike was stolen and one of the victims suffered minor injuries, but he didn’t require hospital treatment.

Detective Constable George Corney said: “I would like to thank the members of the public who contacted us to identify one of the men from an earlier appeal. We are now releasing the video footage of another man we would like to speak to in connection with the incident.”

Anyone who recognises the man in the footage or has any other information should call police on 101 or report it online and quote reference 35/28529/26.

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Former England centre-back Rio Ferdinand has described the leaking of Thomas Tuchel’s squad before the official announcement later as “madness” on X.

We know that Harry Maguire, Adam Wharton, Jarrod Bowen, Morgan Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer, Luke Shaw, Phil Foden and Lewis Hall are among those to miss out.

Manchester United star Maguire posted a heartfelt message on social media yesterday, but both his mum and brother were less careful, describing the call as “disgusting” and “possibly be the worst decision I’ve ever seen in my life” respectively.

Could be some more fallout to come, so stay tuned.

Heat health alerts are to come into force across parts of the UK on Friday as the country braces for a heatwave over the bank holiday weekend.

Temperatures are expected to soar as high as 30C in London, which is hotter than holiday destinations including Mykonos, Santorini, and Ibiza.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow warnings across London, the South East, the East and the Midlands starting from 9am.

The warnings mean there is likely to be a minor impact on health and social services, and a “greater risk to life of vulnerable people”, according to the UKHSA.

This is a breaking story, more to follow…

Hundreds of airport staff in Edinburgh and Glasgow are set to strike during the peak summer holiday season, threatening significant disruption during the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Unite, the union, announced on Thursday that precise strike dates would be revealed in the coming days, with industrial action expected to coincide with these major events.

Around 370 workers at Edinburgh Airport Limited and approximately 320 employed by ICTS and Menzies Aviation in Glasgow have backed the walkout over ongoing pay disputes. Unite emphasised that ICTS staff are crucial for passenger security screening and processing flights, highlighting the potential impact on airport operations.

“Workers across Scotland’s largest airports have overwhelmingly backed summer strike action.

“This is a direct result of their very profitable employers’ refusal to make a fair pay offer,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.

“The workers have no other option and the blame for this situation lies entirely with wealthy companies choosing to boost profits before people.”

A spokesperson from Menzies Aviation said: “We are disappointed the union has progressed industrial action in an attempt to disrupt flights at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports this summer.

“We have engaged constructively throughout and put forward a fair and workable offer for all parties that recognises the challenging operating environment caused by the Middle East conflict.

“Pay at both locations has consistently increased above inflation since the Covid pandemic, and our current proposal again exceeds inflation and aligns with agreements the union has reached with other ground handlers at Edinburgh and Glasgow. We hope an amicable resolution can be reached soon.

“Should industrial action take place, we have robust and proven contingency plans to minimise any potential disruption to our airline customers and their passengers, ensuring flights can operate as scheduled.”

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “Constructive talks on pay were held today with Acas between Edinburgh Airport and its unions, including Unite.  

“Further talks are planned for early next week.”

A spokesperson for AGS Airports said: “We are aware of the regrettable developments involving Unite, Menzies and ICTS including threats to disrupt passengers’ holiday plans.

“Both Menzies and ICTS continue to engage in discussions with the trade Union as they work to find a resolution on the pay awards.”

In the North East, a £1.2 million scheme will support on-street charging for drivers without driveways, allowing them to power up at lower domestic electricity rates.

The funding comes from the Government’s electric vehicle (EV) pavement channels grant and will benefit more than a thousand families across the region.

Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said: “I am determined the North East leads the way in the transition to electric vehicles, and this funding will make EV ownership more accessible for more than a thousand families who don’t have a driveway.

“Where you live should not make a difference in whether you can choose an electric vehicle.

“This fund means families can charge at home, at cheaper residential rates, just like those with off-street parking already do – putting money back in people’s pockets and making electric vehicles a realistic option for far more people.”

The funding will allow local councils to install pavement charging channels – covered gullies that run beneath the pavement and allow a charging cable to safely connect from a home charge point to a vehicle parked at the kerb.

This discreet solution removes trip hazards while enabling convenient, low-cost charging.

The move supports the region’s goal to lead in clean transport and builds on the already UK-leading pace at which new EV charge points are being rolled out across the region.

Keir Mather, aviation, maritime and decarbonisation minister, said: “We’re investing £1.2m in the North East to make charging cheaper and more accessible, giving drivers the confidence to go electric.

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“This support is targeted at residents without private driveways so they can tap into domestic electricity rates and charge up for as little as 2p per mile.”

Residents will be able to take part in the pilot by applying through their local council, though application dates and criteria may differ depending on the area.

For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-electric-vehicle-ev-pavement-channels-grant