Two people rescued on The Cheviot

TWO people were rescued after becoming disorientated while walking on The Cheviot.

The pair, in their 20s, became lost when hill fog came in on Wednesday afternoon.

Unable to find their way back, the pair called the police and then mountain rescue.

Iain Nixon, team leader for Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team, said: “They absolutely did the right thing by dialling 999 and asking for the police then mountain rescue.

Rescue teams said they roughly knew the pair’s location, however, it took a while to reach them as conditions were poor.

A DRUNK couple shouted racist abuse at their neighbours after they heard them chatting in their native language.

Tara Fairbairn and Wayne Newth took exception to the victims talking to each other in Croatian as they sat in their garden on a sunny summer evening.

The louts then launched into a racist onslaught, Newth waving a hammer and yelling “I am going to kill you”, a court heard.

Fairbairn then also shouted “Yes, kill them” as the tirade of abuse continued, forcing the victims to retreat into their home in fear.

The police were called and the pair were arrested and the hammer was found in their property.

Fairbairn, 47, and Newth, 35, both now living in Melbourne Court,

Shieldfield, Newcastle, appeared before magistrates in North Tyneside to plead guilty to a raciallyaggravated public order offence.

Newth also admitted possessing a Class B drug after he was found to be carrying cannabis when arrested.

James Long, prosecuting, said Fairbairn and Newth had lived next door to the victims on Philip Place, in Arthur’s Hill, for three years.

He said: “The complainants describe previous difficulties with the defendants but, on that sunny evening on June 24 last year, they were sitting on their front door step minding their own business and talking to each other,.

“They were talking in their native language and it seemed to aggravate the defendants.”

The court heard Fairbairn was first to go over to the victims and shouted “F*** Croatia, why are you speaking in Croatian?” across the fence.

However, shortly afterwards the abuse escalated as Fairbairn was joined by Newth.

Mr Long added: “He is in the garden waving a hammer.

“It was metal and black in colour and he started shouting abuse towards both complainants.

“He said “F*** Croatia, I am going to kill you, why are you speaking in Croatian?”

“These comments were supported by Fairbairn, who shouted “Yes, kill them”. Both complainants feared for their safety and retreated into the house.”

Magistrates heard police arrived on the scene and Fairbairn’s and Newth’s racist abuse continued in front of officers.

In a statement, one victim said: “As a result of this and previous incidents, my husband and I are living in fear of our lives.

“I believe we will be attacked by Tara and her partner.

“Had my husband not rung the police I think we would have been attacked with the hammer.”

Alanna Wesencraft, defending Newth, said the couple had now moved address.

She added: “Mr Newth accepts he has issues with alcohol.

“He accepts he has gone out of his property with a hammer.

“He says the hammer was in his hand while shouting but was not used to threaten the complainants.”

Janice Hall, for Fairbairn, said the incident was “entirely out of character.”

She added: “She struggles with anxiety. She does not recall this incident as she was under the influence of alcohol but has accepted responsibility at the earliest opportunity.”

Fairbairn and Newth were each fined £150 and given a 12-month community order.

They must also pay a total of £200 in compensation to their victims.