Section: News:UK News

COPS are urgently hunting for a topless man after a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted on the Tube.

Police said that their suspect struck on a Jubilee line train travelling between Southwark and London Bridge on Monday, June 30.

The alleged sexual assault happened just before 5pm, when thousands of commuters would be leaving the office and getting on the London Underground.

Now, the British Transport Police (BTP) has released a CCTV image in the hopes someone can identify the person of interest.

The picture shows a middle-aged white man of medium build with short dark hair.

He is wearing black and white patterned shorts and appears to have a tattoo on his right arm.

A BTP statement said: “Officers would like to speak to the man pictured as they believe he may have information which could help their investigation.”

The statement added: “Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 500 of 30 June.

“Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Data released by Transport for London revealed over 800 reports of sexual assault on the London Underground were made in 2024.

This was an increase of 56 assaults when compared to the previous year, with 745 occurring between April 2022 and April 2023.

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THE family of a boy of two murdered by his grandparents are calling for a change in the law.

Ethan Ives-Griffiths was found injured at the home of his mum’s parents but social workers were turned away.

Now relatives on the paternal side have set up a petition for “Ethan’s Law” — giving child services extra powers to bring in police if denied entry.

Mold crown court was told Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, subjected Ethan to “casual brutality” in Flintshire, North Wales.

They were convicted after a jury heard he was hit or shaken.

Ethan’s mother Shannon Ives, 28, had been living with them and was convicted of causing or allowing his death.

They will be sentenced in October.

Ethan’s paternal family set up a petition calling for an update in child protection services.

The petition also calls for checks to be carried out every five to seven days as opposed to the current 10-days.

It states: “Let us come together to push for these crucial reforms in child protection services.

“By signing this petition, you join us in advocating for the safety and security of all children like Ethan, ensuring that no child suffers in silence.

So far, the petition for ‘Ethan’s Law’ has over 400 signatures.

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A MAN and a woman have been arrested following the death of a three-month-old baby.

Cops have confirmed an investigation is ongoing after the newborn died at a home near Canterbury, Kent, on Sunday morning.

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Emergency services were scrambled to an address on Athelstan Road, in Thanington, at around midday.

Six police cars and four ambulances are understood to have been called to the property.

The two suspects, both in their 30s, were both taken into custody and have since been released on bail.

Kent Police told KentOnline that the pair were arrested in connection with the death.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death are ongoing.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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THIS is the shocking moment a Virgin Atlantic passenger hurled abuse at a hostess he threatened to “gang rape and set alight”

Disturbing footage shows Salman Iftikhar, 37, tell stewardess Angie Walsh she would be attacked in her hotel after landing.

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He spouted his vile rant after downing champagne on an eight-hour flight from London Heathrow to Lahore on February 7 2023.

Iftikhar said Ms Walsh would be taken from her hotel room, gang raped and set on fire.

Another passenger, who filmed the shocking scenes, can be heard saying “holy s–t”.

Iftikhar repeatedly accuses Ms Walsh of being a racist and says: “You called me a p-ki in front of everybody.”

The 37-year-old had been flying with his wife and three children, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Prosecuting, Abdul Kapadia, said: “During the defendant’s first meal service, the defendant was seen helping himself to ice, leaning over the bar he was drinking at, and taking ice with his hands.

“When told to stop, the defendant became irate, and started to film cabin crew with his phone, telling them: ‘Do not tell me what to do you b***h.

“When asked by the cabin crew to return to his seat, he then said: ‘Don’t tell me what to do you racist f***ing b***h. I know where you are from in Cardiff.”

Staff alerted the pilot and the seat belt signs were turned on, which only aggravated Iftikhar more.

He continued to call Ms Walsh a “f***ing b***h” before his escalating behaviour sparked a possible flight diversion to Turkey.

“The defendant was informed of this possible diversion, to which he replied: ‘I don’t care. F–it, go to Turkey. I have contacts,” the prosecutor told the court.

“The defendant then sat down, but his aggressive behaviour continued.

“His wife was ashamed. His three children were also on-board,
and other crew members were called to assist, but the defendant continued shouting and swearing.

“He was slurring his words, with his voice raised.

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“He shouted at the cabin crew: ‘Do you know who I am?’

“The defendant’s wife went to the food bar and tried to talk to cabin crew, but the defendant pushed his wife away, and shouted at her not to talk to crew.”

He grabbed one flight attendant, called Tommy Merchant, and threatened him with a fight.

‘YOU WILL BE DEAD’

The out-of-control passenger then told cabin crew he would blow up the floor of their hotel.

“The defendant knew the specific hotel, but also the hotel room numbers, and threatened the cabin crew with this,” Mr Kapadia told the court.

“He told Ms Walsh: ‘You will be dead on the floor of your hotel’.

“Iftikhar shouted at Ms Walsh and said: ‘The white sheep sh**ging b***h will be dead. The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear.

“He told Ms Walsh: ‘You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang raped and set on fire’.”

His violent rant unfolded in front of his wife and three young children – who were brought to tears.

Iftikhar was arrested at his £900,000 detached home in Iver, Bucks, on March 16, 2024.

‘IT HAS BROKEN ME’

In an impact statement, Ms Walsh said she was forced to take off 14 months and the altercation “changed my life enormously”.

“I can’t quite believe that one passenger has had this much of an impact on my, my job, my career and my life,” she said.

“I am a strong brave, happy stewardess, and loved my job. I am well known within the company.

“But I had to take 14 months off work. 

“I have been flying with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years. I was working when all flights were grounded on 9/11, and I’ve even flown into a warzone. But this incident has broken me.

“But I don’t feel strong enough anymore. I was abused for eight hours and 15 mins. It has broken me. It was a very personal attack.

“I was doing everything in my power to protect passengers and the crew from him. I felt exposed and vulnerable, especially as we were 39,000 feet in the air. There was nowhere for me to go.

“There was one moment where I felt I could not cope. I went into the cockpit and had a meltdown. I said to the captain I don’t know what to do. 

“Even the threat of diverting the plane to Turkey or Baku, Azerbaijan, had no effect.

“I was traumatised by the threat of being gang raped.

“Never in my entire career flying for 37 years have I not been sure what to do.

“I have had the best career in the world for 37 years. But he has taken that away from me.”

He told Ms Walsh: ‘You will be dead on the floor of your hotel’

Prosecutor Abdul Kapadia

Iftikhar, of Iver, Bucks, admitted making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment, in relation to Ms Walsh.

He was cleared of assault by beating and threats to kill in relation to Mr Merchant.

Ben Walker-Nolan, defending, said Iftikhar was suffering from “amnesia blood loss” at the time.

Mr Walker-Nolan added: “Although there were over 100 incidents over the course of eight hours, the most serious, including threats to kill, were limited.

“The defendant has buried his head in the sand for a long period, and expressed regret.

“He has a long standing drug and alcohol problem which he has not addressed for many years.

“He is a successful businessman who employs a lot of people.”

THUG JAILED

Iftikhar has six previous convictions arising from 15 offences, including common assault in 2004 and drink driving in 2008 and failing to stop and possession of cannabis in 2021.

Judge Ms Recorder Annabel Darlow KC said: “Your threats to kill were made in the presence of children, specifically your three young children. 

“These were threats made with significant violence. 

“Your children had to be comforted by cabin crew staff while you made those threats.

“Ms Walsh has given up a job which she has loved for 14 months, but thankfully has now returned to work.

“This was a sustained incident which involved repeated racist abuse to Ms Walsh.

“You have a lengthy and appalling record of misconduct. You have not addressed the underlying cause of this for many years, that is your drug and alcohol problem.

“Given your lifestyle and your ability to earn money, your harm and risk has not moved.

“This was an appalling incident which has caused long lasting and devastating consequences.”

Iftikhar cried in the dock as he was jailed for 15 months.

His LinkedIn profile stated that he was the director and founder of recruitment firm Staffing Match.

Virgin Atlantic was contacted for comment.

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A TEEN boy died “in terror” after his dad crashed on a motorway while high on cocaine.

Daniel Burba, 31, has been advised by doctors not to drive when got behind the wheel of his wife’s van with 14-year-old Ryan Morgan in the passenger seat.

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The dad had been diagnosed with epilepsy just weeks before the horror which was made worse by the use of illegal drugs.

Despite this, Burba was four-times the limit for cocaine and its derivative benzoylecgonine – causing him to suffer an epileptic fit.

Ryan had no choice but to try to gain control of the van before it swerved off the M6 near Lancaster and hit a tree.

The teen was tragically pronounced dead at the scene after suffering head injuries.

Burba, who also only had a provisional licence, was taken to hospital with “relatively minor” injuries.

While being treated, a paramedic discovered a small bag of cocaine in the dad’s wallet.

Burba has now been jailed for ten years after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance.

In a victim impact statement, Ryan’s mum said her heart has been broken and told how she has been unable to grieve properly because she fears once she starts, she won’t be able to stop.

She continued: “I feel that no amount of time Daniel will serve will ever be enough for taking Ryan’s life. Not only did he take my boy’s life, he took my boy’s future.

“My boy will never grow and be a father, go to work and follow his dreams or travel. He didn’t even get to finish school. He hasn’t ever had a chance to experience life.

“It’s so unfair because Ryan did have a beautiful heart. He wanted to be a policeman. He would have changed the world. He made it a better place in the short time he was here. He made everyone smile who came into contact with him. He had a smile that lit up the room.

“Daniel has taken all that and more. Daniel has taken a precious son, brother, grandson, nephew, friend and cousin. He had so much to live for.

“The fact that Daniel knew he wasn’t allowed to drive due to his seizures, plus a lack of licence and insurance is just disgusting.”

Preston Crown Court heard the horror unfolded on April 20 as other motorists noticed Burba driving erratically with his hazards on.

He reached speeds of more than 70mph before leaving the carriageway and smashing into a tree.

The court heard the Peugeot Bipper van flipped over due to the force it hit the tree.

Police later discovered Burba had been told in October 2014 by his doctor to stop taking cocaine after he suffered a seizure which lasted up to four minutes.

He was also advised not to drive, with the same warning issued in February when he was admitted to hospital after more fits.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, told him: “You knew that cocaine predisposed you to further fits.

“You were not entitled to drive unsupervised and certainly not on the motorway. You should not have behind the wheel at all.”

As well as the jail sentence, Judge Altham disqualified Burba from driving for 14 years and five months.

Sgt Martin Wilcock, Senior Investigating Officer at our Road Policing Unit, said: “No sentence will ever make up for any loss of life, particularly in these tragic circumstances. However, Daniel Burba will have the rest of his life to reflect upon the catastrophic consequences his decision to consume drugs and then get behind the wheel have had. Sadly, his son will not.

“I hope the outcome of this case sends a strong message out to anyone who is considering driving, having been told by a doctor not to. Or anyone who is considering driving, having consumed drugs or alcohol.

“As is so very obvious from this case, you run the risk of taking a life but also ruining many others – including your own.”

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A TRAGIC three-year-old girl has been pictured after her mum was charged with murder.

Hope McGrath was discovered by police at home in Leeds, West Yorkshire, following a concern for welfare report.

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Tragically the youngster could not be saved and was declared dead at the scene on July 30.

Her mum Pippa McGrath today appeared at Leeds Crown Court charged with murder.

The 47-year-old spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address during the hearing.

Recorder of Leeds Guy Kearl KC said:”A post mortem on Hope has not taken place. It is to take place tomorrow.

“The heart of the issue will be a toxicology report.”

The court heard psychiatric reports would be prepared to establish McGrath’s fitness to plead.

A provisional trial date was set for February 24, with a further hearing set to take place on September 3.

McGrath is accused of murdering her daughter between July 26 and July 30.

McGrath, was understood to have moved with Hope to Austhorpe Close, in Leeds, just weeks before the tragedy.

Neighbours suggested that the youngster had suffered with a disability and required the use of a wheelchair, but was often heard playing in her back garden.

McGrath was taken to hospital before later being remanded into custody on suspicion of murder.

West Yorkshire Police previously said it was treating Hope’s death as an “isolated incident”.

Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “We are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Hope’s death.  

“A photograph of the three-year-old has been released by her family. I would ask that people respect their privacy at this extremely difficult time.”  

COPS have launched an urgent probe after a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted near a church as they urge any witnesses to come forward.

The shocking attack is reported to have taken place in Liftondown, Devon, at the weekend sparking a police investigation.

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The woman was sexually assaulted by a man at around 1am on Saturday, August 2, Devon and Cornwall Police say.

The attack allegedly happened near the Methodist church on the A388 in Liftondown.

Officers, who said the woman is being supported by specially trained staff, are appealing for dashcam footage from anyone driving in the area at the time.

Detective Inspector Neil Lloyd said: “The female victim is being supported by specially trained officers as our enquiries are continuing.

“We are currently appealing for dashcam footage from anyone who was driving in that area between midnight and 2am on Saturday 2 August.

“Incidents of this nature understandably cause great concern in the local community, and we urge anyone with any information to contact us.”

A SIX-year-old boy died in his sleep after accidentally bumping his head while racing with friends at school, an inquest heard.

Mohammed Yaseen Uddin, who attended Marlborough Primary School in Small Heath, Birmingham, died on December 11 last year.

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He had been playing with pals during his lunch break the day before and accidentally bumped his head on a wall.

The youngster told a school receptionist: “I was running really fast, racing my friend and bumped into the wall.”

As reported by Birmingham Live, an inquest heard how Yaseen picked himself up and appeared to behave normally after the fall.

A paediatric school first aider applied an ice pack to a visible bump on the pupil’s forehead.

Yaseen’s mother and sister were given a letter with medical advice upon picking him up.

The inquest, held today at Birmingham Coroner’s Court, heard the youngster appeared to be acting normally after going home.

He had attended a local mosque after school and celebrated his sibling’s birthday with cake.

Later in the evening, Yaseen told his father he didn’t feel well, and he was given some Ibuprofen.

At around 11pm, the little boy complained about head pain “out of nowhere” and started to throw up.

His family were on their way to the hospital but took him back home to change after he vomited again.

The inquest heard they tried to leave again but Yaseen told them he just wanted to sleep, so they put him to bed.

Dad Simriel Uddin said he looked in on his son at 3am and again at 5am when he got up for work, both times Yaseen was asleep.

But the youngster was tragically found dead a few hours later.

Heartbroken dad Simriel Uddin previously told the Mail: “He was a bright, joyful spirit and he was a beautiful, kind-hearted little boy.

“He had a head collision in school -the school told my wife ‘Oh, your son has bumped his head.’

“When she asked if it was anything serious they said, ‘No it’s nothing serious, it’s just a bump’.”

The inquest heard how Yaseen’s brother Khalil performed CPR while waiting for an ambulance.

Paramedics rushed Yaseen to hospital at around 11am but the six-year-old was pronounced dead at 12.08pm.

Guirish Solanki, a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon, concluded Yaseen had suffered a “traumatic head injury when he struck his head on the wall.”

Yaseen’s cause of death was given as a traumatic right frontal extra-axial haemorrhage, which means a bleed outside of the brain but within the skull.

Louise Hunt, the Senior Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull said: “Yaseen was a six-year-old little boy who was normally fit and well.

“He was described as happy and engaged when he came to school, a big character, who was always bubbly.”

She confirmed Yaseen had been playing with his friends before falling at around 12.29pm.

The coroner was also satisfied the family had been given a letter outlining medical advice, despite the fact they previously disputed this.

She said: “This was a tragic accident and I record in conclusion this was an accident.

“I’d like to reiterate and offer my condolences to all the family. It must be very hard for all of you and I’m very sorry if today’s inquest has made things more difficult. I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

Speaking after the inquest, Yaseen’s sister Sumaya told BirminghamLive: “Thank you to everyone for their support.”

In a previous statement, Razia Ali, the executive headteacher at Marlborough, said: “Our school community has been left devastated by the tragic passing of one of our wonderful and much-loved pupils.

“Yaseen was an incredibly helpful, kind and caring pupil who brought a smile to the face of everyone who came across him.

“I know I speak for everyone when I say he will be deeply missed. All our thoughts and prayers are with Yaseen’s family and friends.”

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AN OASIS fan says she slipped over just yards from where a man plunged to his death at the reunion concert.

The man – aged in his 40s – was understood to be sitting in the upper tier of the stadium when he plunged to his death at Wembley on Saturday night.

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The highest stands in the 90,000-seat venue are some 170ft above the ground.

Police and paramedics attended to the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Gallagher brothers said they were “shocked and saddened” to hear about the fan’s death.

Now, other fans have blasted the “deathtrap” Wembley stadium, calling for the venue to be “held accountable”.

Gig-goers who danced the night away to Wonderwall say they were forced to hobble along low railings with a steep drop and a “lethal” slippery floor that was “like an ice rink.”

Some are labelling it “horrendous” given “the amount of money they’ve spent on this new Wembley”.

Jade, 31, from Essex, was at the gig and stumbled in a domino effect of falling fans, suffering minor injuries.

A man a few rows up from her fell down, tumbling into her and knocking her down too.

“The floor was slippery from loads of spilled drinks,” she told The Sun.

“My bag got soaked. Everyone in the seated section was jumping and dancing and way drunker than other concerts.”

She fell onto the row in front of her about halfway through the concert, and people helped her up.

“I just got up and carried on. But today I have a dodgy ankle, a few bruises and hurt knees.”

“People were absolutely w***ered,” recalled another on Reddit.

“A bloke near us collapsed, tumbled over a couple of seats and had to be evacuated by the medics – everywhere you looked people were out of their minds.

“It occurred to me that all it would take is one wrong step up there and you’d be a goner.”

One fan said on Facebook: “You’d think a modern venue like Wembley would have sufficient guards for this kind of thing.”

“The top tier is bloody steep. It’s dreadful the barrier is so low,” added another on Facebook.

Not everyone agrees that the stadium is to blame.

One fan said on a fan group: “18 years worth of events, most with 90,000 people attending, and never an incident like it. It’s a tragic accident, and blaming it on the venue or security is ridiculous.”

An eyewitness to the fatal fall wrote on Facebook: “He fell from the top tier into our block. My friend’s daughter did CPR until the paramedics arrived.”

Another shaken onlooker, who was sitting just three seats away, recalled: “Hearing the bang and seeing the aftermath was just something that will stay with you forever.”

“The atmosphere was incredible,” commented a third on Facebook.

“We were nearing the end of the concert, when in the middle of Wonderwall, he fell right in front of us, a few metres away.

“It was very shocking and we left Wembley very upset.”

Oasis released a statement about the man, saying that they are “shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan at the show last night.

“Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved.”

Before singing Live Forever on Sunday, Liam Gallagher appeared to pay his respects to the late fan.

He said: “This one’s for all the people who can’t be here tonight, but who are here if you know what I mean, and aren’t they looking lovely.”

But Liam has used that line before singing that hit song on the other tour dates.

In the gig after Ozzy Osborne passed away, the Britpop duo paid tribute by displaying an image of the Black Sabbath singer on stage during Live Forever, then dedicated Rock ‘n’ Roll Star, to Ozzy.

In a statement on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police confirmed a man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene after sustaining “injuries consistent with a fall”.

A Wembley Stadium spokesperson said: “Last night, Wembley Stadium medics, the London Ambulance Service and the police attended to a concert goer who was found with injuries consistent with a fall.

“Despite their efforts, the fan very sadly died.

“Our thoughts go out to his family, who have been informed and are being supported by specially trained police officers.

“The Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.

“Tonight’s Oasis concert will go ahead as planned.”

Saturday’s gig was the fourth of seven London shows on Oasis’ blockbuster reunion tour.

The band crashed ticket sites when they announced they were making a comeback last year – as more than 14 million fans tried to secure a seat at the highly-anticipated gigs.

Last month Liam and Noel reunited on stage in Cardiff for the first time since a backstage bust-up broke up the band 16 years ago.

The Britpop icons returned to their hometown of Manchester for five dates in July.

They performed a 23-song setlist of classic hits, including Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back in Anger and Live Forever to a roaring crowd of 80,000 people at Heaton Park.

They will head to America later this month before returning to London for two more gigs in September.

Wembley Stadium said in a statement to The Sun: “Wembley Stadium operates to a very high health and safety standard, fully meeting legal requirements for the safety of spectators and staff, and is certified to and compliant with the ISO 45001 standard.

“We work very closely and collaboratively with all relevant event delivery stakeholders – including event owners, local authorities, the Sports Ground Safety Authority and the police – to deliver events to high standards of safety, security and service for everyone attending or working in the venue.”

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A TEEN boy who tortured, killed and dismembered two kittens with a girl in a warped bid to reduce his urge to kill a human has been locked up.

The depraved pair used rope to tie up the defenceless animals before “mutilating” them.

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One of the kittens was found cut open on the ground in Ruislip, North West London, while the other was hanging from a tree.

Chillingly, the boy, 17, wrote how he “really wanted to murder someone” and killed cats to “reduce my urges”.

He also made a number of harrowing searches about sacrificing animals to Satan.

The boy has been detained for 12 months after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the protected animals by “mutilating and killing” them.

His co-defendant will be sentenced for the same charge this afternoon.

The teens, who legally can’t be named, also admitted one count of possession of a knife.

Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court was told the horror unfolded on May 3.

Footage released by police showed the girl, 16, and 17-year-old boy strolling through a residential street.

The boy could be seen clutching a bag that is believed to have been used to carry the kittens.

CCTV then captured the twisted pair running back down the same street after killing the baby cats.

Prosecutor Valerie Benjamin said the animals were discovered with their flesh and fur cut off and burnt.

As well as the tragic kittens, knives, blowtorches and scissors were found at the scene.

Police later discovered a note on the boy’s phone that read: “I really wanted to murder someone and I was searching how to get away with murder.

“I have come close.

“I have killed cats to reduce my urges.

“I have skinned strangled and stabbed cats.”

The boy had also carried out a number of chilling searches for “killing cats and dogs” and “how to kill a human”.

Ms Benjamin said: “There were concerns about his desire to go on to killing humans.

“He questioned how easy it would be get away with murder and how to kill homeless people.”

It also emerged the teens had chillingly put out adverts for the kittens and went to pick them up before killing them.

Sentencing, Judge Hina Rai also imposed a lifetime ban from caring for animals on the boy.

She said: “You have caused extreme suffering to those two kittens. You knew exactly what you were doing and it would result in their suffering.

“Without a doubt these are the most awful offences I have seen against animals in this court.”

A BELOVED grandmother choked to death after being fed the wrong food in a care home.

Joan Whitworth died at the Oaks Care Home in Northumberland after staff prepared her meal in a way which “did not comply with her diet plan”.

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An inquest heard the 88-year-old had lived with her daughter Gillian but moved into the facility when her dementia progressed.

When eating a meal on March 3, 2023, Joan began to display signs of choking.

But the inquest heard how a care assistant did not intervene and had to ask another staff member for help to deliver back slaps and abdominal thrusts.

And, CPR was not performed due to the “inaccurate understanding of a registered nurse”.

Following the hearing, Northumberland’s senior coroner Andrew Hetherington has written a “prevention of future deaths” report.

The care home and NHS trust have 56 days to respond.

The coroner concluded Joan died “in a care home as a result of choking”.

And in his written report, he outlined a total of six “matters of concern”.

Of these, one was regarding the NHS trust and five were directed to the care home’s operator Hillcare.

The first issue was found with the speech and language team.

Joan’s assessment had not been written down in a formal report, meaning observations of her eating had only been passed on verbally.

The coroner also concluded that a nurse and care assistant at the home “were not in date with their training in Basic Life Support and First Aid at Work”.

The coroner added: “I am concerned that a chef in evidence at the inquest was not aware that breaded fish was not a suitable food stuff in the diet identified for the deceased.

“I am concerned that other residents could be fed inappropriate food stuffs that are not in line with their identified diet plans.”

Bryan Smith, Joan’s son-in-law, told ChronicleLive: “Right from the start, we knew what had happened – that they hadn’t given her the right food.

“We knew she hadn’t been looked after.

“The reason we have pursued this is that we knew what had happened.”

Bryan added how the family had been “shocked and astounded by the quantity and severity of the mistakes” that were highlighted in the inquest.

He told how many families have shared similar “painful and shocking experiences”.

In a statement on behalf of the family read in court, they paid tribute: “Joan was a well loved character in Blyth. She was manager of Robson’s shoe shop and then moved to the Water Board.

“When we used to go shopping with Joan, it would take you an hour to get past the car park – as she knew everyone in Blyth with a tap or a pair of shoes!”

A Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “All referrals to our speech and language therapy service are robustly triaged using a risk and evidence-based approach to inform the most appropriate care for that individual. This includes information on the referral form and discussion with the patient and / or those who care for them daily to gather the most up-to-date information.

“We cannot comment further on this case due to patient confidentiality, but would like to offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Whitworth’s family and loved ones.”

A spokesperson for The Oaks Care Home said: “We acknowledge the Coroner’s report relating to the death of Joan Whitworth at our home in March 2023. Our thoughts remain with her family and loved ones.

“Following the incident, we carried out a full review and made all necessary changes to our practices and procedures. These have been in place for some time and will be reflected in our formal response to the Coroner’s report. The safety, dignity, and wellbeing of those in our care remain our highest priorities.”

CRUCIAL evidence used to prosecute Britain’s worst child serial killer Lucy Letby has been ripped apart by experts who claim “grossly misleading” methods were used to secure the nurse’s conviction.

Now, The Sun’s chief feature writer Oliver Harvey – who has studied the trial intently and is convinced of the nurse’s innocence – delivers his damning verdict, picking out four key claims that will further growing calls to reexamine the case.

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After two trials, Letby was found guilty of killing seven newborns and attempting to kill eight others in one of the most shocking murder cases in the nation’s history. 

She was handed 15 whole life sentences, meaning she will never be released from prison.

Described as a cold-blooded, calculating killer, Letby was said to have used her trusted role on a neonatal intensive care unit to cause catastrophic harm to the most vulnerable newborn babies – without leaving a trace. 

But even as authorities consider more charges against her, a growing number of expert voices are now questioning the evidence used to convict the former nurse.

A new ITV documentary explores the views of a team of international scientists who claim the prosecution case simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, including crucial statistic evidence and claims over the methods used to kill newborn babies.

Between 2015-2016 something was going terribly wrong at the neo-natal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Nearly three times as many newborn babies had died in that period than normal.

Doctors raised suspicions that Lucy Letby had been present at a number of these baby deaths, so she was moved off the unit and into a desk job.

A team from the Royal College of Paediatrics was invited in to investigate. It identified a shortage of nurses and a lack of consultant cover risking patient safety – but could find no definitive reason for the rise in mortality.

However, the unit’s senior doctors were unhappy with the outcome of the reviews and wrote to hospital bosses doubting that the deaths and collapses could be explained by natural causes.

In March 2017 the police were called, and in November 2020 Letby was charged with seven counts of murder and 15 counts of attempted murder, relating to 17 babies. She pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution’s case centred on a few central pillars; a shift chart, which showed Letby was always there when something terrible happened, hand-written notes presented as confessions, blood tests suggesting babies had been poisoned, and medical evidence taken from the babies’ notes to support theories that Letby had attacked them.

The person who came up with most of those theories was a retired paediatrician, Dr Dewi Evans.

During the trial there was eight months of prosecution evidence and a series of prosecution witnesses.

But Letby’s legal team presented not a single expert medical witness in her defence.

She was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others.

As the country started to reflect on the horror of Letby’s crimes, concerns were already being raised about the evidence that was used.

Mark McDonald, Letby’s new barrister, was instructed last September after two failed attempts to appeal her convictions.

He says: “People started contacting me, medically qualified people, scientifically qualified people, statisticians saying ‘we think something has gone wrong here’.”

In the weeks after Letby was convicted, professor of statistics Richard Gill was among a handful of professionals who were questioning the verdict.

He is known to be controversial and outspoken but his work has led to two nurses in Italy and the Netherlands who were convicted of similar crimes having their convictions overturned. 

Professor Gill believed the shift chart which helped convict Letby was misleading.

Leading medical statistician Professor Jane Hutton agrees, saying: “It has influenced a lot of people into thinking she must’ve done it because she was always there and nobody else was.

“It has a very strong visual impact but it doesn’t tell you how the data has been selected. You know it is clear that this is aimed to present a conclusion.”

Their main concern was the left hand column of the chart. Each entry presents a death or life-threatening event.

But these were not all the deaths or life-threatening events in that period. The prosecution made a selection.

Dewi Evans’ early reports for the police identified other events which he said were attacks on babies. But these happened when Letby wasn’t on duty and those events don’t appear on the chart.

“This is a summary that is so crude it can only be described as grossly misleading,” says Jane Hutton.

According to the prosecution, Letby used various methods to try to kill. The most simple was by dislodging a baby’s breathing tube.

This is a summary that is so crude it can only be described as grossly misleading

Jane Hutton

Countess of Chester paediatrician Dr Ravi Jayaram told the court he had never known of the breathing tube of a baby born at 25 weeks to become accidentally dislodged.

But Dr Richard Taylor, a neonatologist with over 30 years experience, and some of his colleagues disagree.

He explains: “The prosecution allege that the tube was intentionally dislodged and the first thing I would say is accidental dislodgement is distinctly common.

“It can be dislodged by the operator and it can also be dislodged by the baby themselves just by moving their head or thrusting their tongue.”

Convictions ‘unsafe’

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The jury couldn’t decide if Letby was guilty of attempting to murder one of the babies, Baby K, by dislodging its breathing tube. That single case went to a retrial and Dr Ravi Jayaram gave evidence.

He told the court he went into the room and saw the baby’s blood oxygen levels dropping dangerously low while Letby stood by and did nothing. He also said Letby had not called for help.

But an email has come to light from Jayaram detailing the event in which he said Letby herself had called him in because the baby was collapsing. The jury was never told about this email.

The documentary claims that Dr Jayaram isn’t the only medic who appears to have contradicted his own testimony. Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering baby C by forcing air into its stomach.

ITV’s documentary will only add to the increasing groundswell of opinion that an innocent woman now languishes behind bars

The Sun’s Oliver Harvey

Dr Dewi Evans based this theory on an X-ray taken on June 12, 2015 which showed air in the baby’s stomach. But Letby had been off work that day and she hadn’t met Baby C when the X-ray was taken.

When challenged on this at trial, Dr Evans couldn’t rule out that air had been injected into the veins, but the prosecution maintained that Letby must have injected air into the baby’s stomach.

Now Dr Evans has committed to another theory. He says Letby killed Baby C a day later by injecting air into the veins, causing something called an air embolism.

Mark McDonald claims the fact that Dr Evans has changed his mind, and was the lead expert for the prosecution, makes all the convictions unsafe.

Mental anguish

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Police investigated Letby for three-and-a-half years before she was charged. During searches of her home, some notes were found which appeared incriminating, with one noting: “I’m evil, I did this.”

In court Letby admitted writing the notes, but said she did so at a time of mental anguish and she was just scribbling down thoughts as a form of therapy.

The hospital had provided a therapist to support Letby during the investigations. Her name appears several times on the notes.

The jury was never told it was this therapist who suggested Letby express her feelings in this way as part of her treatment.

Nearly a year after the police began investigating Letby they made a breakthrough: blood tests which showed high levels of insulin and low c-peptide. The prosecution said this was proof that insulin had been given to the babies externally and was therefore an attempt to poison them.

The prosecution told the jury that two of the babies had been poisoned with insulin and they had test results that proved it.

But a leading forensic scientist says those results cannot be relied on as they will have been done quickly in a medical setting for diagnostic purposes and were not retested to forensic standards.

Over the last six months a team of scientists have been instructed by Letby’s legal team.

They have been given access to the babies’ medical notes and asked to look again at the insulin test results.

Chemical engineer Helen Shannon says: “We have spent hundreds of hours investigating every facet of the science and there is a completely obvious solution that does not involve poisoning.”

We have spent hundreds of hours investigating every facet of the science and there is a completely obvious solution that does not involve poisoning

Helen Shannon

“The insulin case has applied basic clinical guidance for healthy adults to tiny, compromised neonates,” adds Helen.

Many newborn babies are born with proteins in their blood called antibodies. The team says that insulin in the blood stream can stick to these antibodies, giving a higher reading, while c-peptide continues to be cleared, giving a low reading.

Helen says: “It doesn’t have any effect on the child at all, it just floats around. So as a result it gives a very high reading on the test that was done at the time.

“We can’t see any justification at all for the prosecution statement that it can only be poisoning.”

Earlier this year a panel of international medical experts, who reviewed Letby’s case, told a press conference that they did not find any evidence of murder. 

Chairman Dr Shoo Lee provided what he said were highly detailed grounds baby-by-baby for concluding that none of the murders occurred.

He added: “We did not find any murders. In all cases, death or injury were due to natural causes or just bad medical care.

“Lucy was charged with seven murders and seven attempted murders. In our opinion, the medical opinion, the medical evidence doesn’t support murder in any of these babies.”

‘Deeply distressing’

The expert panel report has been delivered to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and her case can only be returned to the Court of Appeal if there is new evidence.

To reexamine the cause of the babies’ deaths, the expert panel was given access to all the babies’ medical records to compile their report. For Professor Neena Modi those records tell a story of failure by the hospital and the doctors.

She says: “On reading through the detailed medical notes, what was harrowing was seeing a story unfold where possibly things could have been recognised earlier and interventions put in place and possibly for some of the babies the outcomes might not have been what they were. This was deeply distressing.”

The increase in deaths coincided with the unit having to take babies who were more unwell than they were equipped or staffed for, it is claimed.

Professor Modi says: “The babies we are referring to were all extremely vulnerable. Some of them were demonstrably and recognisably on a knife edge.

“Others could have been recognised to be on a knife edge but they were not monitored appropriately or treated appropriately.

“Problems went unrecognised until the point at which a baby deteriorated very abruptly. The babies might not have died had their difficulties been addressed earlier.”

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In a statement to ITV, the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Lucy Letby was convicted of 15 separate counts following two jury trials. In May 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed Letby’s leave to appeal on all grounds rejecting her argument that expert prosecution evidence was flawed.”

They confirmed they are considering a file of evidence from the police relating to further deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “Due to the Thirlwall Inquiry and ongoing police investigations it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

Dr Dewi Evans told ITV that his evidence was subject to cross examination agreed by a jury after thorough review from a judge and subsequently agreed by the Court of Appeal.

He added: “None of the evidence presented by Shoo Lee’s expert panel has been subject to any such scrutiny and it contains factual errors. It is trial by speculation.”

Dr Ravi Jayaram declined to comment.

Lucy Letby: Beyond all Reasonable Doubt? Is on ITV1 on Sunday 3 August.

Additional reporting by Amanda Killelea

MIGRANT hotel residents have been spotted laughing while they video protesters and counter-demonstrators clash.

People believed to be asylum seekers inside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel, in Islington, waved and blew kisses at protesters in the street below.

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The protest outside the north London hotel was sparked today, while another demonstration will also take place in Newcastle outside The New Bridge Hotel.

The Metropolitan Police said the display was organised by local residents under the banner “Thistle Barbican needs to go – locals say no”.

Online groups called Patriots of Britain and Together for the Children have voiced their support for the demonstration.

A counter-protest, created by Stand Up To Racism, has also unfolded.

On student involved said he wants migrants to “feel safe” in the UK.

Pat Prendergast, 21, said: “I want people to feel safe. I think the (rival protesters) over there are making people feel unsafe.

“I want to stand up in solidarity and say that, you know, we want people here.

“We want migrants. We want asylum seekers.”

Meanwhile people against the hotel being used for migrants shouted “get these scum off our streets”, while waving England flags.

A large group of masked protesters dressed in black and chanted “we are anti-fascist”.

A man donning an England football shirt was also arrested by police after an aggressive altercation with officers.

There were clashes before cops separate the two groups.

Chief Superintendent Clair Haynes, in charge of the policing operation, said: “We have been in discussions with the organisers of both protests in recent days, building on the ongoing engagement between local officers, community groups and partners.

“We understand that there are strongly held views on all sides.

“Our officers will police without fear or favour, ensuring those exercising their right to protest can do so safely, but intervening at the first sign of actions that cross the line into criminality.

“We have used our powers under the Public Order Act to put conditions in place to prevent serious disorder and to minimise serious disruption to the lives of people and businesses in the local community.

“Those conditions identify two distinct protest areas where the protests must take place, meaning the groups will be separated but still within sight and sound of each other.”

In a statement, the organisers of the counter protest said: “Yet again far-right and fascist thugs are intent on bringing their message of hate to Newcastle.

“They aim to build on years of Islamophobia, anti-migrant sentiment and scapegoating.

“In Epping and elsewhere recently we have already seen intimidation and violence aimed at refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.

“Newcastle, like the rest of the North East, has a well-earned reputation for unity in the face of those who seek to divide us.

“Whatever problems we face, racism and division are not the answer.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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A KNIFEMAN is on the loose after a teenage boy was stabbed to death in a Powerleague football car park.

Cops now say a murder investigation has been launched after the brutal attack in Bury, Greater Manchester.

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The 19-year-old man was attacked just before 9pm on Friday, August 1 in a car park on Market Street, according to Greater Manchester Police.

He sustained several stab wounds and later died from his injuries, the force said.

His family are being supported by specially trained officers.

No arrests have yet been made in what police believe was a “targeted attack” and officers have appealed for any witnesses to contact them.

Detective Chief Inspector John Charlton, from the Major Incident Team, said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends after this tragic and upsetting incident – our specially trained officers are supporting them at this difficult time.

“This incident will have shocked the community and distressed anyone who witnessed it, but we believe this was a targeted attack with no wider threat.

“We have several scenes in place with the investigation ongoing in order to identify and apprehend the offenders responsible.

“There will be officers in the area today and in the coming days as we are determined to bring the family the answers they deserve.”

A FOUR-year-old girl was tragically killed after a careless driver, 23, ploughed into the pavement.

Mayar Yahia was struck down on a Birmingham street while walking with her family after celebrating Eid.

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Horror unfolded on April 14 last year when Javonnie Tavener sped through a barrier in his Corsa.

He ploughed into the little girl, her mother Sara, and their neighbour on Upper Highgate Street.

She was an extraordinary young girl, only four-years-old, full of life and joy, and her absence leaves an irreplaceable void in our lives

Mayar’s grieving father

Paramedics tragically pronounced the tot dead at the scene, while Sara and her friend were rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

Three other pedestrians were also hurt in the crash.

Cops later detained and charged 23-year-old Tavener with causing death by careless driving, causing death whilst driving uninsured and two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.

He pleaded guilty to all charges at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday this week.

The defendant has been remanded in custody while awaiting a sentencing date.

In a statement, released via West Midlands Police at the time of her death, Mayar’s grieving father said words failed to capture his grief.

He said: “It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we share the devastating loss of our cherished daughter, Mayar.

“She was an extraordinary young girl, only four-years-old, full of life and joy, and her absence leaves an irreplaceable void in our lives.

“Among all, she held a special place in my heart.

“Words fail to capture the depth of our grief and the magnitude of this loss.

“However, we find solace and strength in the unwavering support and compassion shown by the police officers, our community, family, and friends.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who have stood by our side, offering your love, prayers, and support during this incredibly difficult time.”

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from WMP’S serious collision investigation unit, said: “Mayar was just four years old when her life was tragically taken away from her.

“She was walking back with her family and friends after celebrating Eid.

“Pedestrians should be afforded and be reassured of protection when walking on the pavement and a split-second decision by Tavener to overtake where he did has led to this tragic chain of events.

“I would urge all drivers to think about this incident and how those decisions can have such catastrophic consequences.”

The road where Mayar was killed is now set to be pedestrianised after a campaign led for safer streets and roads.

It will stop traffic from reaching a stretch of Upper Highgate Street near New Hope Community Park.

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PLANS for a giant new village next to a UK holiday hotspot with 1200 homes have now been unveiled.

The proposals to launch Canford Garden Village in Dorset will be essential in tackling the ever-pressing housing crisis in the UK.

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The Canford scheme aims to create a new community focusing on family housing and social infrastructure.

The site will be located near Wimborne in Dorset, and it is thought to be prime real estate, according to W.H. White.

W.H White are behind the plans which were submitted to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP).

The plans are to build 1200 new homes across the 230 hectares site, creating a characterful village which is architecturally striking which fits within the landscape.

In order to help ease the housing crisis currently taking hold of the UK, it has been reported that 40 per cent of the new buildings will be affordable homes.

What’s more, it will not be just a housing development, as the plans recognise the need for supporting infrastructure.

For example, there will be a community hub, flexible workspaces, community facilities, and a care home.

There will also be education and healthcare provision, as well as local infrastructure improvements to ease the pressure that would be placed on surrounding areas.

A total of 600 of the homes would be dedicated to first-time buyers, social rent and shared ownership schemes.

Scott Worsfold Associates were selected to create a complete design vision.

The plans for the site were was unanimously approved for a new sustainable community in March 2021 by the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

The land used to be a former quarry and golf course, and will now be made into a biodiverse community.

Current farmland is also earmarked to be turned into 90 hectares of publicly available green space with new habitats and allotments.

The proposal has garnered support from various stakeholders, including Dorset Chamber and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, who emphasise the economic benefits and job creation potential of the development.

However there has been some backlash to the proposals.

It was reported that there were critics to the plan due to concerns regarding the potential impact on existing infrastructure, traffic congestion, and highway safety, particularly concerning access to the site from Blandford Road.

Some were also concerned about the proximity to existing facilities like Lockyer’s Middle School, which could cause longterm disruption. 

Ward councillor for Bearwood and Merley, Richard Burton, said: “We’ve had a lot of development in Bearwood and therefore I know my residents will be very worried about this because of the impact it could have.” 

However, he said the scheme is in the very early stages and this scoping application does not mean the local authority is supporting it. 

“From a political point of view, I do totally understand that we need more affordable housing in BCP, but just choosing the easiest places to build, which is currently Green Belt, isn’t the way forward and it’s not sustainable,” said Cllr Burton. 

W.H. White said there would be a commitment to low carbon construction with solar energy, ground source heating and opportunities for localised renewable energy. 

A spokesperson for W.H. White said: “The current shortfall in housing supply, combined with well-documented viability challenges of delivering homes on urban land, has prompted renewed interest in strategic and deliverable opportunities such as at Canford Village.”

BCP Council previously said it would soon initiate a new call for potential development sites in the conurbation as part of ongoing efforts to deliver new homes.

Cllr Millie Earl, leader of BCP Council, previously said: “It is important that we balance our future development priorities whilst protecting the beautiful area that we live in and the precious natural environment we are so lucky to have.”

THE draw for tonight’s National Lottery EuroMillions (August 1, 2025) has taken place, with life-changing cash prizes at stake.

Check the results to see if you have just won a fortune and bagged enough to start that jet-set lifestyle you always dreamed of.

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Every EuroMillions ticket also bags you an automatic entry into the UK Millionaire Maker, which guarantees at least one player will pocket £1million in every draw.

You can find out if you’re a winner by checking your ticket against tonight’s numbers below.

Tonight’s National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers are: 04, 16, 25, 29, 30 and the Lucky Stars are: 02, 10. 

The UK Millionaire Maker Selection winner is: TGLL13138.

Tonight’s National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are: 02, 09, 20, 23, 27 and the Thunderball is 13.

The first EuroMillions draw took place on February 7, 2004, by three organisations: France’s Française des Jeux, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado in Spain and the Camelot in the UK.

One of the UK’s biggest prizes was up for grabs on December, 4, 2020 with a whopping £175million EuroMillions jackpot, which would make a winner richer than Adele.

Another previous UK winner who’s whole life was altered with their jackpot was a player who wanted to remain anonymous on October 8, 2019. They walked off with a cool £170,221,000.

Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs in Scotland, netted a huge £161,653,000 in the July 12, 2011.

Adrian and Gillian Bayford, from Haverhill, Suffolk, picked up £148,656,000 after they played the draw on August, 10, 2012, while Jane Park became Britain’s youngest lottery winner when she scooped up £1 million in 2013.

The odds of winning any EuroMillions prize are 1 in 13.

Could tonight’s jackpot of £145 million see you handing in your notice and swapping the daily commute for slurping champagne on a super yacht or lying back on a private beach in the Bahamas?

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HORRIFYING footage shows the moment a monster who killed his own grandad glassed a punter who confronted him for boasting about his evil crime.

Sick thug Jakob Walpole, 33, killed vintage car expert John Brown, 81, in a brutal attack on his grandfather in Bulkington, Warwickshire.

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The “internationally renowned” Jaguar restoration expert suffered serious head injuries in his home at the hands of Walpole, who was convicted of John’s manslaughter.

Less than four minutes later, Walpole was seen on CCTV footage emerging from the property and from there headed to a village pub.

He stayed at the pub for a matter of minutes before moving on to a working men’s club.

It was here the cowardly thug was also convicted of breaching a restraining order and assaulting two other victims, a court heard on Wednesday.

Now, footage released showing the cowardly killer boasting about his despicable crime and attacking others has surfaced.

Jurors heard drunken Walpole attacked Dennis Hopson from behind in Bulkington Working Men’s Club after openly speaking about the vicious assault on his grandad.

Drunken Wallpole also “ignored” Mr Hopson’s pleas to moderate his language as he continued to badger the drinker.

He was then caught on “clear” CCTV footage attacking the elderly drinker.

Matters came to a head when Walpole took the victim’s seat before smashing a pint glass over the back of his Hopson’s head after being told to move.

The attack caused cuts to Mr Hopson’s ear, neck and head and prosecutor Michael Duck KC told jurors: “There can be no suggestion (Walpole) was acting in self-defence or anything of that sort.”

A barman was then punched in the face as he frogmarched Walpole out of the club.

“Belligerent” Walpole was arrested for all three attacks later the same night.

He remained abusive throughout the process and “booking in” at a police station, the court heard.

Jurors were also shown “haunting” footage of “world-renowned”  restoration expert John pleading for help on a security camera before he was attacked by Walpole.

Earlier that evening, Walpole had been seen on CCTV arriving at John’s bungalow, before going inside and attacking the pensioner. 

The pensioner could be seen waving at the camera – said to be linked to his daughter, Walpole’s mum – while in the garden before heading inside.

Mr Duck told jurors: “John Brown is Jakob Walpole’s grandfather.
He was a frail man and he had recently been diagnosed with the early stages of dementia.

“He was plainly a vulnerable individual and the evidence will demonstrate that this defendant was acutely aware of that.”

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John was well known in the local community, having run a successful car panel and body repair business due to his expertise in respect of vintage cars, the court heard.

Police summoned to the bungalow by John’s daughter, Lynda Brown, found the pensioner “dazed and confused” and with significant injuries to his face and arms.

Despite being rushed to hospital, over the following hours John suffered a bleed on the brain as a result of the attack and passed away six days later.

Walpole had also attended a match at Coventry City‘s home stadium that lunchtime before visiting local pubs in the run-up to the spree of violence.

Concerns about Walpole’s “deteriorating behaviour” had led to a security camera being installed at his grandparents’ home address in Bulkington.

He was also already subject to a restraining order when he carried out the attack on his grandfather.

‘ACT OF COWARDICE’

Walpole, of School Road, Bulkington, Warwickshire, will be sentenced next Monday.

Commenting after the case, Natalie Kelly, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Jakob Walpole carried out a senseless and brutal attack on his own grandfather who had tried to help him.

“He showed no concern or remorse following the attack.

“Rather than call for help, he callously left his vulnerable and elderly grandfather severely injured and went to a local pub where he assaulted two further elderly victims.

“Everyone who knew Mr Brown saw how much he did for his grandson, often going out of his way to care and support him – but Walpole simply took advantage of his kindness.

“While this conviction ensures Walpole is held accountable for his actions, the family have been left with a deep and lasting pain that no justice can erase.”

Detective Inspector Gareth Unett, who led the investigation for Warwickshire Police, said: “John Brown was a kind, gentle, hardworking man whose loss has left a huge void in the lives of his loved ones and friends.

“Not only was he loved greatly by all those around him, he was known internationally as one of the best restorers of classic Jaguars.

“The legacy he leaves is not only in the love and generosity he showed to those around him, but also in the countless classic cars that will survive for generations more thanks to his work.

“Walpole’s attack on his grandfather, who had shown him nothing but kindness and generosity, was an act of cowardice and brutality that, in decades of policing, I struggle to find a comparison for.”

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A BELOVED children’s author who wrote over 150 books has died aged 87.

Allan Ahlberg produced a host of bestselling nursery classics during a stellar career as an author.

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Some of his most famous work includes lasting favourites Peepo!, The Baby’s Catalogue and Each Peach Pear Plum.

He came to writing in his late thirties, when his wife Janet grew tired of illustrating non-fiction and asked him to write a story for her to illustrate.

Allan later recalled the moment was “as if she turned a key in my back and I was off”.

The Ahlbergs went on to produce 37 books together, and Allan also wrote more than 100 others, some in Janet’s lifetime, and some since her death from breast cancer in 1994.

Following Janet’s death, Allan worked with illustrators such as Raymond Briggs and Bruce Ingman.

His career came full circle in a series of collaborations with his daughter Jessica including Half a Pig and a pop-up set of anarchic variations on the tale of Goldilocks.

Belinda Ioni Rasmussen, CEO of Walker Books Group, which published some of his books, said: “He was enormously playful in spirit and language and had the ability to make you smile in one sentence.

“Allan inspired generations of children’s writers, inspired all of us who worked with him, and inspired artists to make some of their very best work.”

SHOCKING footage shows the moment youths armed with large knives fought in broad daylight.

Locals and pedestrians watched on in horror as the chaos unfolded on what appears to be a residential street, in a video going viral on social media.

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The footage is believed to have been taken in Normanton, Derby, according to the original source.

Footage filmed by a passerby shows a number of young men lunging towards each other while they shout threats.

More than one appear to be brandishing large knives which they waved in their rivals’ faces.

The youths are caught on camera feinting towards one another with most dressed in tracksuits and hoodies.

A road sign reading Grove Street is visible during the shocking confrontation.

One man is seen with a bike while only one yob is seen without a face covering.

In the video, the mask-less man was seen tumbling to the floor during the confrontation but manages to get up just in time.

As he and a man in a grey tracksuit run away, they appear to be chased by two youths dressed in dark colours.

The skirmish ends when the yobs are seen running off in different directions.

The footage then cuts away as they run out of sight behind a bush.

Derbyshire Police have been contacted for comment.

It comes after horrifying footage shows the moment a car ploughed into machete-wielding thugs brawling on the street in broad daylight.

The bare-chested yobs were captured on camera fighting on Clements Place in Dundee, Scotland.

As many as eight people were involved in the brutal street fight as shocked motorists watched on in horror.

A number of thugs were armed with metal poles and machetes as the scrap spilled across a pavement outside residential properties.

Meanwhile, violent thugs armed with foot-long machetes were seen fighting on a tube station platform in full view of terrified commuters.

Shocking footage shows hooded yobs armed with knives at Queensbury station in North West London.