More than 20 women have come forward after police launched an international appeal for potential victims of one of the UK’s worst serial rapists.

Zhenhao Zou, 28, was found guilty last month of drugging, raping and filming 10 women – but detectives said he may have attacked up to 60 more.

Met Police commander Kevin Southworth said: ‘Given how prolific Zou seems to have been, there is every potential he could be one of the most prolific offenders that we’ve ever seen in this space.’

He added that 23 women have contacted them saying they may have been targeted, with work now underway to identify victims and ‘bring Zou to justice for the full extent of his crimes’.

Mr Southworth said: ‘We have victims reaching out to us from different parts of the globe.

‘At the moment, the primary places where we believe offending may have occurred at this time appears to be both in England, here in London, and over in China.

‘Given how active and prolific Zou appears to have been with his awful offending, there is every prospect that he could have offended anywhere in the world.’

Zou used hidden or handheld cameras to record the attacks, keeping the footage and sometimes the belongings of the women as souvenirs in a ‘trophy box’.

The footage showed four attacks on three victims in London, where he studied for a masters and PhD in mechanical engineering at University College from 2019 to 2023.

Two of the women were identified and gave evidence at his trial. Another was raped twice but has never been identified.

This Is Not Right

On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.

With the help of our partners at Women's Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.

You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.

Read more:

• Introducing This Is Not Right: Metro's year-long violence against women campaign
• Remembering the women killed by men in 2024

Videos showed seven more women being attacked in China, where the wealthy Communist official’s son returned home during the pandemic. They were never found.

Met police checked 1,270 videos and 9million messages, and hope to help dozens more victims.

Mr Southworth said: ‘We are still working to identify all of those women in those videos.

‘We have now, thankfully, had 23 victim survivors come forward through the appeal that we’ve conducted, some of whom may be identical with some of the females that we saw in those videos, some of whom may even turn out to be from the original indicted cases.’

The team of detectives needed to look at Zou’s potential crimes will have to increase and ‘more resources’ will be put into the investigation.

Mr Southworth added: ‘Ultimately, now it’s the investigation team’s job to professionally pick our way through those individual pieces of evidence, those individual victims’ stories, to see if we can identify who may have been a victim, when and where, so then we can bring Zou to justice for the full extent of his crimes.’

Zou lived in a student flat in Woburn Place, near Russell Square in central London, and later in a flat in the Uncle building in Churchyard Row in Elephant and Castle, south London.

He had also been a student at Queen’s University Belfast, where he studied mechanical engineering from 2017 until 2019.

His crimes were discovered in November 2023 when one victim – a Chinese national – told police he dragged her into a bedroom during a party at his flat, made her drink vodka spiked with drugs and raped her as she screamed.

The other victim identified said she was with Zou and friends in Chinatown in 2021. Her last memory before being raped in his flat was being sick in the street.

Jurors were visibly upset as they had to watch footage of nine of the rapes during his four-week trial at Inner London crown court.

In what will be a delicate situation, Mr Southworth said officers are waiting to hear from potential victims with a view to ‘supporting and understanding’ what has happened.

He said the detectives are looking to understand ‘what may have happened without wishing to revisit the trauma, but in a way that enables (the potential victims) to give evidence in the best possible way’.

The Metropolitan Police is appealing to anyone who thinks they may have been targeted by Zou to contact the force either by emailing survivors@met.police.uk, or via the major incident public portal on the force’s website.

Zou will be sentenced on June 19.

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Convicted sex offender Gary Glitter is bankrupt after failing to pay £500,000 in damages to one of his victims.

The woman sued Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, in 2015 for abusing her when she was a 12-year-old girl, as well as two other young people between 1975 and 1980.

The sum includes £381,000 in lost earnings and £7,800 for future therapy and treatment.

Richard Scorer, head of abuse law at Slater and Gordon, representing the woman, said: ‘We confirm that Gadd has been made bankrupt following our client’s application.

‘As he has done throughout, Gadd has refused to cooperate with the process and continues to treat his victims with contempt.

‘We hope and trust that the parole board will take his behaviour into account in any future parole applications, as it clearly demonstrates that he has never changed, shows no remorse and remains a serious risk to the public.’

The court heard that the woman had not worked for decades due to the trauma of being repeatedly raped and ‘humiliated’ by the disgraced singer, who is now 80.

Judge Mrs Justice Tipples said Gadd had subjected his victim ‘to sexual abuse of the most serious kind’.

The judge said the woman had not been able to find ‘any meaningful employment throughout her life’ as a result, and awarded her damages for complex psychological therapy and treatment and loss of earnings.

She said: ‘Her education was ruined and she has suffered severe psychiatric injury for the rest of her life.’

Glitter was put behind bars in 2015 for 16 years after sexually abusing three schoolgirls.

His sentence will end in February 2031.

Glitter was automatically released from HMP The Verne, a low-security prison in Portland, Dorset, in February 2023.

He had served half of his fixed-term determinate sentence but was imprisoned less than six weeks after walking free.

This was after police monitoring showed he had breached his licence conditions by reportedly trying to access the dark web and viewing downloaded images of children.

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The moment armed men tried to force their way into an upmarket London nightclub has been caught on camera.

Four men have been arrested after people ‘armed with machetes’ tried to gain access to Tabu nightclub in Mayfair in the early hours of Sunday morning, leaving two people injured.

Footage of the chaotic incident showed a small group of men shouting and brandishing what appears to be weapons above their heads in front of security staff.

Amid the confusion a car alarm was triggered, while one of the men picked up a metal post and threw it over his head towards bouncers and onlookers.

Police were called at 3.11am and one man was arrested at the scene on Dover Street.

Three more men were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told Metro: ‘Police were called to a venue on Dover Street, W1 following reports of a disturbance and three people in possession of weapons. 

‘Officers attended and one man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

‘Following initial enquiries, three men were arrested in Hertfordshire in the early hours of this morning in connection with this investigation. All four men remain in custody.

‘At this time, it’s believed that this was an isolated incident.

‘Two people sustained injuries which are not life changing.’

UK News and Pictures, whose photographer took photos of officers at the scene, reported a nearby venue manager witnessed the moment the men tried to force their way in.

The unnamed worker said: ‘It was pure chaos. The men tried to charge the door with large blades. How anyone wasn’t hurt was just pure luck.’

Praising the swift response from police, he said: ‘The officers dealt with it very quickly, and we saw a number of people being arrested.

‘It’s not good for business to have this kind of trouble, but thankfully the situation was brought under control.’

Tabu nightclub describes itself as ‘the home of Tokyo Nightlife, located in the heart of Mayfair’.

It adds that ‘for the best experience and the easiest way to gain access into our Tokyo inspired universe, a table reservation is highly encouraged’.

The Met has asked anyone with footage or other information about the incident to get in touch.

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Six teenage boys have been arrested after a ‘vulnerable’ 15-year-old girl was raped in a ‘horrific attack’.

The girl was attacked in Chichester, West Sussex, close to the Roman wall and stream by the A286 Avenue De Chartres between 7pm and 8.30pm on March 19.

Specialist officers have been supporting the young girl after she reported the rape to the police.

The six teenage boys, four 16-year-olds and two 15-year-olds, have been arrested on suspicion of rape. 

They have been released on bail pending further investigations until the end of June.

Detective Constable Gemma Mulloy said: ‘This was a horrific attack on a vulnerable victim and we recognise the concern this will cause in the community.

‘We swiftly arrested six suspects – some of whom are known to the victim – in connection with the incident, and we are now appealing for anyone with any information to please come forward, as we seek to establish the exact circumstances.

‘Were you in the area around that time and did you witness any suspicious activity? Did you capture anything on camera, or have you seen any relevant footage circulating online?

‘Contact us online or via 101, quoting crime reference 47250052298.’

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A lucky person has won £3.6million on the National Lottery but only has three weeks to claim the prize.

They have had quite a lot of time to come forward already after matching five numbers plus the Life Ball in the Set For Life draw on October 24, 2024 for just £1.50.

The winning numbers from the draw were 2, 11, 29, 37, 45, and Life Ball 6.

This means that the fortunate person has won the largest possible prize available in the Set For Life draw, with the winner matching all five numbers plus the Life Ball.

All we know is that this person is from Sevenoaks, Kent, and has until April 22 to win £10,000 every month for the next 30 years.

The National Lottery has been doing everything in its power to try and find this mystery person.

It has even resorted to taking over Sevenoaks railway station with special announcements, signs and messages on information boards.

Patrick Lisoire, from National Lottery operator Allwyn, said: ‘Sevenoaks station is one of the busiest transport hubs in the district, so it’s possible the lucky ticketholder, or someone they know, is travelling through here.

‘Wouldn’t it be incredible to be able to swap a season ticket for a winning National Lottery ticket.’

Southeastern’s Sevenoaks Station Manager, Jack Heidrey, added: ‘It’s exciting to think that one of our commuters could be the winning ticketholder but maybe doesn’t know it yet.’

Set For Life takes place on Mondays and Thursdays and those who match all five numbers without the Life Ball can still win £10,000 every month for a year, totalling £120,000.

It is not always good news though for people who win the National Lottery.

For example, there are some studies that suggest lottery winners in the US are more likely to declare bankruptcy within three to five years compared to the average citizen.

In the UK Michael Carroll, a bin man who won £9,700,000 on the National Lottery in 2002 – declared bankruptcy nine years later.

But it is not all bad news as an Austrian man pocketed the £200 million EuroMillions jackpot last week.

Some Britons saw £83,000,000 and £65,000,000 jackpots drop into their bank accounts.

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One of the most complained about energy suppliers is going bust, with one customer saying they found out about the news through social media.

Rebel Energy announced it is ceasing to trade, becoming the latest supplier to go under.

This means that their entire customer base is now left without a firm – that is until Ofgem appoints a new one for them.

A statement said: ‘Rebel Energy is ceasing to trade. Ofgem, the energy regulator, is appointing a new supplier for our customers.’

Ofgem assured people that they will not see any disruption to their energy supplies, adding that they are protected.

Rebel Energy’s failure is the latest in a long line of suppliers going under in recent years.

The news has impacted customer Jacqueline Coffey-Raven, who lives in Colchester, Essex.

Like many people this winter, she has been scared to put her heating on and said she received no communication that Rebel Energy had gone bust.

‘Rebel Energy has been a joke since day one,’ she told Metro.

‘I went with Rebel Energy when I had to move flat back in September 2024 because they were the cheapest but of course you get what you pay for.

‘I’ve tried to use the app to keep track of what I am spending but since day one it hasn’t worked.

‘I’ve contacted them weekly since September to sort this and all I ever got told was they were in the process of building a new one.

‘Even though I have a smart meter, Rebel Energy cannot take readings from smart meters so I’ve had to do them by hand.

‘All in all, they have been pretty shocking. Their customer service is appalling.’

Jacqueline added that Rebel Energy ‘didn’t bother’ to tell customers like her that it had ceased to trade, instead she found out about the news on social media.

‘We still don’t know who we are paying at the moment,’ she added.

‘Because of the problems with Rebel Energy, I’ve been scared to put my heating on before because I don’t know how much I’m paying.’

Alex Belsham-Harris, head of energy policy at Citizens Advice, said: ‘The failure of Rebel Energy will worry its 90,000 customers.

‘With energy costs and household bills rising, this only adds to an already stressful situation.’

Simon Francis, Coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, added: ‘This is just another sign of the underlying failures in our energy market where the wider industry profits to the tune of billions of pounds, yet households remain at risk of having to pay the costs for failed energy suppliers.

‘While it is reassuring that customers of Rebel Energy should be protected under the Supplier of Last Resort measures, this will not be the end of the story.

‘There are huge questions for Ofgem to answer, including the circumstances around this supplier’s collapse and why the regulator’s new liquidity rules appear to have failed in this instance.’

Ofgem said suppliers must now have capital to cover their risks and ring-fence certain areas of their finances such as customer credit balances under new rules.

But some companies ‘will still fail occasionally’, it said, with the SoLR safety net ensuring that affected customers faced as little disruption as possible.

Ofgem’s director general for markets, Tim Jarvis, said: ‘Rebel Energy customers do not need to worry, and I want to reassure them that they will not see any disruption to their energy supply, and any credit they may have on their accounts remains protected under Ofgem’s rules.

‘We are working quickly to appoint new suppliers for all impacted customers.

‘We’d advise customers not to try to switch supplier in the meantime, and a new supplier will be in touch in the coming weeks with further information.

‘We have worked hard to improve the financial resilience of suppliers in recent years, implementing a series of rules to make sure they can weather unexpected shocks.

‘But like any competitive market, some companies will still fail from time to time, and our priority is making sure consumers are protected if that happens.’

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A dad’s holiday plans could be in jeopardy because he says his two-year-old son’s passport has been stolen.

Nathan Nethercot, 33, who lives in York with his wife and son Stephen Nethercot, said he was contacted by HMRC Childcare Services to send across his son’s passport and birth certificate to claim for tax-free childcare.

He sent Stephen’s passport and birth certificate off on March 7 and he said HMRC Childcare Services verified this on March 13.

But when Nathan received the envelope back on March 15, it only contained his son’s birth certificate, not his passport.

The dad says he was told by HMRC Childcare Services that both would be returned in the same envelope rather than separately.

Nathan believes that the passport has been stolen because photos show how the envelope appears to have been opened by a knife or letter opener.

It was reported to South Yorkshire Police by Nathan on March 18.

Once he realised that the passport was missing, he contacted HM Passport Services to cancel it.

The situation has left the dad who has recently moved from Sheffield searching for answers and an apology from those responsible.

He told Metro: ‘This has left me feeling stressed and annoyed because I don’t know where my son’s passport is.

‘It hasn’t helped because I feel like I’ve been going around in circles.

‘If somebody has stolen my son’s passport, it is worrying to know what they might end up doing with it.’

Nathan is meant to be going on holiday in June to the Dominican Republic, where his son is originally from – a trip that is expected to cost £4,000.

In the UK, around 400,000 British passports are reported lost or stolen each year, according to government figures.

This means that more than 83,000 applications for emergency travel documents to replace lost or stolen UK passports were made between 2019 and 2023.

A lot of the time, passports are stolen from people while they are abroad, so the Foreign Office has teamed up with crime experts to advise people about how to avoid becoming a victim to passport theft.

Nathan continued: ‘I’ve spent at least 10 hours on the phone with various different organisations trying to get this resolved.

‘Some of the people I’ve talked to as well have been rude to me which makes the situation even more frustrating.

‘It’s taken up so much of my time now and it would be nice to get an apology or money back for this happening.’

A Royal Mail spokesperson told Metro that items go through a whole network and process, through machines, automatic sorters, and eventually are manually handled.

They added there may be some few occasions where an item might be damaged like when a letter might get clipped and ripped by a letter sorting machine.

But what should usually happen is the item will be put into a ‘damage bag’ and then delivered.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: ‘We are sorry to hear of the customer’s experience. This issue has been escalated and we will be carrying out searches at the relevant delivery offices and mail centres.’

A HMRC spokesperson told Metro: ‘We’re sorry to learn about this issue Mr Nethercot has faced.

‘We’ve advised him to contact the postal service and offered to reimburse him for the cost of the passport.’

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police added to Metro: ‘On Friday (21 March), we received a report of a theft in Sheffield.

‘It is reported that between 8am and 5pm on 18 March, a child’s passport was stolen from High Street, Sheffield.

‘Officers have spoken to the child’s parent and enquiries are ongoing.’

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A man has been shot dead at Milton Keynes railway station after reports he was carrying a firearm.

Police officers were called to Milton Keynes Central station at Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, just before 1pm today after a man ‘was spotted carrying a firearm’.

The man was then challenged by armed Thames Valley Police personnel before shots were fired.

Despite attempts to save his life, the man was pronounced dead at 1.44pm.

Milton Keynes Central Station has reopened to the public, but extra barriers have been put up to obscure some of its exits, with multiple doors closed to the public and passengers staggered entering and leaving the station at times.

Thames Valley Police do not believe there is any further risk to the public.

A source near to the incident told Metro: ‘I just heard a bang and then the ambulances arrived.’

A worker at a store close to the station said the whole area was cordoned off and three or four police cars are still present.

He told Metro: ‘I have never known anything like it. It is obviously concerning, we have never heard anything happen like this before.’

‘The station has been closed for a couple hours now.’

Thames Valley Police said in a statement: ‘Officers from Thames Valley Police and British Transport Police were called to reports of a man carrying a firearm at Milton Keynes railway station, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, at 12.55pm today.

‘Armed officers from Thames Valley Police responded and challenged the man, before shots were fired by police.

‘Life-saving actions were immediately taken at the scene, but the man was pronounced dead at 1.44pm.

‘There is not believed to be any further risk to the public at this time.

‘We will provide more details as soon as we are able to.’

The police conduct watchdog have confirmed they are launching an investigation into the fatal shooting.

A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: ‘We can confirm we have begun an independent investigation into the fatal shooting of a man by Thames Valley Police (TVP) at Milton Keynes railway station today.

‘We were notified by TVP shortly after the incident and IOPC investigators have been sent to the station and the police post-incident procedure to begin gathering information.

‘Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died and all those who have been affected by this incident.

‘Our role in these circumstances is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the actions and decisions taken by the police.

‘We declared an independent investigation at 2.26pm. It is in its very early stages and no further information is available at this time.’

British Transport Police said: ‘BTP received a report from Thames Valley Police at 1pm today, of a man carrying a firearm at Milton Keynes station.

‘Armed officers from Thames Valley Police responded and he was shot and pronounced dead outside of the station.

‘BTP officers are on scene to assist our colleagues from TVP, and the station is open as normal.’

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The leaders are in prison, hundreds face trial, and they’re about as disliked as Prince Harry, Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage – but Just Stop Oil is claiming victory.

After three years of blocked roads, a souped Van Gogh and Stonehenge sprayed with orange powder, the bogeyman of British motorists is calling it quits on direct action.

They do so as ‘one of the most successful civil resistance campaigns in recent history’, they claim.

But just how true is that? Why are they really ‘hanging up the hi vis’? And is this actually the end of Just Stop Oil – or is there something more extreme on the horizon?

Born from frustration

‘Three years ago today, we were blocking oil terminals’, charity worker Stephanie, 37, told Metro.

‘That’s how we started, and then we moved into sabotaging petrol stations. That made sense to me.

‘I felt like going to the source, doing that kind of direct action and trying to shut down the oil industry in the UK, making it very difficult for people to buy petrol products – that made sense.’

Covid-19 had taken the steam from Extinction Rebellion’s step. By the time they returned to the streets of London after lockdowns, it seemed the world had stopped paying attention.

Their demands were too scattered, and even thousands of protesters could barely make a dent on newspaper headlines, evening bulletins and the ecosystem of politics chat shows. It left a sense of frustration ripe for recruitment in existing activist circles.

‘Extinction Rebellion seemed a bit lost at the time’, said a mum-of-two in London who joined Just Stop Oil in the summer of 2022. She wants to stay anonymous, so we’ll call her Olivia.

‘Someone from Just Stop Oil walked into a local Extinction Rebellion meeting and I thought, “These guys sound like they’ve got a plan”.’

Three months later, Olivia was sat on a road wearing a hi-vis jacket and holding banners with other JSO activists, facing down angry drivers.

‘It was scary’, she told Metro. ‘But I also felt like this is what I need to be doing.’

They’re not here to be liked

Although JSO founder Roger Hallam once told a room full of left-wing activists that the reason they’re losing is ‘You’re all a bunch of f***ing c***s’, his plan was never to be liked.

He wanted attention on climate change, on Just Stop Oil, and on its key demands – an end to the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.

And he got it, the first part at least – a government ban on new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, a victory shared by several campaign groups, is tainted by the government’s support for airport expansions.

Within months of their first stunt, more than 90% of Brits at least knew they existed – making them more famous than Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves.

‘Some mainstream campaigns could never dream of getting that level of awareness that quickly’, Sam Nadel, interim director of the Social Change Lab, which tracks the impact of protest movements on public opinion, told Metro.

With a does-what-it-says-on-the-tin name, JSO struck gold on the airwaves, despite the coverage focusing on angry drivers, blocked ambulances, arrests, charges and jail sentences.

‘Even when you’re getting media coverage that’s incredibly negative, when the media is writing about your group, they also have no choice but to include your demand – I think that’s quite a savvy strategy’, Sam said.

The problem is, keeping the spotlight means changing tactics every time the public gets bored.

‘Often the most illogical protests get the most media coverage’, Sam said. ‘Things like shutting down a sporting event or throwing soup on a Van Gogh painting.’

But increasingly that drew the ire of both the British public – 64% hold an unfavourable view of JSO – and the government, which passed new laws to criminalise protests.

A crackdown on democracy

The Conservative government increased the penalty for willful obstruction of a highway from a £200 fine to a maximum of 51 weeks in prison, with a potential 10-year sentence for causing ‘public nuisance’.

It then handed the police sweeping powers to define and restrict ‘seriously disruptive’ protests, banning tactics like attaching yourself to another person or object, obstructing major transport works and key national infrastructure, and causing ‘serious annoyance’.

Under this law, police arrested dozens of people planning to disrupt airports like Manchester and Gatwick last summer.

Then Hallam and four other JSO activists were handed four-year prison sentences after blocking the M25 motorway for four days in 2022.

Two months later, two activists were jailed for throwing tin of Heinz tomato soup on the glass cover of Vincent Van Gogh’s 1888 Sunflower painting at the National Gallery.

Convicted of criminal damage, Phoebe Plummer, 22, was handed a two-year sentence while Anna Holland, also 22, was jailed for 20 months.

They are among the 173 climate activists sent to prison for non-violent offences in the UK since 2021, according to Rebels In Prison Support.

Prisons are running out of space, Just Stop Oil is running out of people

It has chilled the movement. Tim Crosland, a former government lawyer turned climate activist, told Metro: ‘There are only so many people who are going to be in a position to go, you know, yes, I’m okay with a four-year prison sentence.

‘And once those people are in prison, there are not so many left.’

Olivia had already been arrested four times, resulting in two convictions, two acquittals and luckily no prison time. She sat out the airport campaign.

So did Stephanie, who had been arrested eight times, with a suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service for smashing petrol pumps in 2022.

‘It’d been different years before when we were blocking oil terminals’, Stephanie said.

‘You knew that you’d get arrested, and you’d get in trouble, but you wouldn’t necessarily go to prison for that. There wasn’t that fear at all. I didn’t think about that.

‘Whereas with the airports, it was very likely, and I think that put a stop to more people signing up. Yeah, I think they really did struggle with recruitment for that.’

That may be ‘the real reason’ JSO has announced an end to its campaign, according to Dr Oscar Berglund, an expert on climate change activism at the University of Bristol.

He told Metro: ‘They just don’t have enough people to do the kind of actions that they have been doing.

‘People are put off, people are in prison, we’ve seen the criminalisation of protest – with a combination of repression and unpopularity, it’s difficult to renew as a movement.’

Is the future more moderate or extreme?

Many may have found Just Stop Oil’s activism aggravating, but it actually increased support for more mainstream groups like Extinction Rebellion, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace. That more moderate direction is where a large chunk of JSO activists may go.

Olivia has turned to ‘much lower risk demonstrations’, like disrupting Shell’s annual general meeting and protesting outside the Department for Transport to oppose airport expansions.

Stephanie says her activism will be more local from now on, focusing on ‘extortionate housing costs’, rising bills and inequality.

‘I personally don’t think we have gained any wins’, she said. ‘As much as JSO will say that there has been a big win with Labour stopping new oil and gas licenses, I don’t actually think that’s true at all. I think they finally realized that what they’ve done isn’t working.’

But there are those who – when faced with the question of ‘go hard or go home’ in the face of police crackdowns, like JSO was – choose to go hard, picking sabotage over disruption.

Already groups like Shut The System have cut fibre-optic cables to try and force insurance companies to stop funding fossil fuel companies by cutting off their internet access.

Tim said: ‘The real danger when you treat peaceful protest as being equivalent to serious crime is, it doesn’t go away – it takes other potentially more extreme forms.’

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A ‘do not eat’ warning has been issued for a popular crisp brand over an allergen mix-up.

Fans of Ruffles Sabor a Jamon Crisps will be disappointed to know there’s a recall due to unlabelled allergens, which could be life-threatening to some.

The product contains milk and soya, which was not disclosed in English on the packaging. The areas affected are in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Anyone who bought the popular crisps and suffers from an allergy is being urged to not eat the product, and instead, return it to the store where it was bought for a refund.

‘This product contains milk and soya making it a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents and/or an allergy to soya,’ the FSA said.

The recall affects the 150g packages – and covers all batch codes and all best-before dates.

It comes just days after a popular cheese was recalled over fears some blocks were contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

About 100,000 STEC bacteria can rest on the head of a needle – but only 50 are needed to make you sick enough to possibly die.

The virus can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever and, in extreme cases, life-threatening kidney problems and death.

Isle of Mull Cheese, a dairy farm on the Scottish island of the same name, has recalled its Hebridean Blue Cheese after tests revealed contamination with STEC.

Lidl also issued a recall for a brand of BBQ pork scratchings due to possible salmonella contamination.

The food recall affects Sol & Mar Chicharricos BBQ Pork Scratchings sold in 100g packages.

This applies to products with best-before dates ranging from August 5, 2025, through to August 12, 2025.

A food recall is when potential contamination is identified in a product.

The affected product or products are then withdrawn from shelves and recalled from customers when there is a possible risk to consumer health.

It is the FSA that oversees this.

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A high-street clothing chain has gone bust after 35 of its stores shut earlier this month.

Staff at Select Fashion have reportedly been told they won’t get redundancy pay or any unpaid wages as insolvency firm Moorfields begins the wind-down process.

The womenswear retailer already closed 35 shops in mid-March as the chain went under.

Forty-eight stories will survive the liquidation and trade as Select after a deal with Essence Fashion Limited.

Workers at the shops that shut have been told their outstanding wages worked before the closures will not be paid, according to The Sun.

They have also been advised to apply for the Government’s Redundancy Payment Service (RPS).

Other employees at the chain’s remaining 48 shops have also reportedly been warned of delayed payments.

But one employee of a Select Fashion store, which is remaining open, told Metro they were ‘really happy’ their shop had survived the closures.

In an email seen by The Sun, Select Fashion is said to informed their employees they had gone bust.

They added: ‘Please be assured that your wages will be processed and paid out next week.

‘We are doing everything we can to resolve this matter as swiftly as possible and appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.’

The struggling fashion brand drafted in advisors last week to oversee the business’s liquidation.

The liquidation was officially confirmed following a creditors’ vote at a meeting last week.

Select was founded by Turkish entrepreneur Cafer Mahiroğlu in the early 1980s and previously operated 105 stores.

Select fell into administration before in 2019, before being rescued by Genus UK.

The company reported a pre-tax loss of £1.1 million for the year ending February 2023, according to its most recently-filed accounts.

Select’s reported collapse follows a turbulent time for a string of high street giants.

Rival New Look has announced 26 stores are losing down in 2025, with 90 ‘at risk’ when their leases expire.

Rival brand Quiz shut 23 stores, a third of its total, in February after falling into administration.

The retailer cited reduced spending among its customers from the cost of living crisis for the decision.

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A 9-year-old girl has ‘not had a life’ while she has waited 53 months for a life-changing kidney transplant.

Amelia Bourne, from Thornaby near Stockton-on-Tees, has to have 10-hour dialysis sessions every day during her five-year wait for a new kidney.

Grandmum Shell Mount, 49, issued a desperate Facebook appeal for a donor last year and still, a successful match has not been found.

Amelia has nephronophthisis, a rare kidney disease that leads to kidney failure and has left her kidneys ‘dead’.

As a result, Amelia endures 10-hour overnight peritoneal dialysis, which involves a catheter inserted in her abdomen to remove waste and excess fluids from her body.

This treatment and a ‘shed’ of 13 other medications mean Amelia suffers from ‘high blood pressure’ and ‘really bad’ bones.

Shell, who is her legal guardian, told Metro: ‘It is a struggle and it is really hard.

‘There is a risk if we do not get this kidney it will bring more bone issues

‘She just wants to be a normal child. She just wants to go on an aeroplane and have a normal life.

‘She cannot go swimming or do school overnight trips.’

Amelia is one of 145 children waiting for a kidney transplant in the UK.

More than 6,500 people are waiting for a kidney transplant as a whole.

In 2023/24, 418 people died while on the waiting list for an organ transplant.

Shell thought her granddaughter would be saved when she found out her kidney was a perfect 1.1.1 match for Amelia.

But testing revealed a hole in one of Shell’s kidneys, ruling out a potential donation.

‘I was telling them to take it and they wouldn’t,’ she added.

‘I’ve had a life, but she hasn’t.’

Amelia has been waiting on the on-call transplant list for 53 months. In that time numerous family and friends followed Shell’s appeal to get tested but no others have been a match.

The girl is beginning to desperately ask when she is going to get ‘this stupid kidney’, while her ill-health and dialysis routine means she is cannot go on valuable school trips.

Shell said: ‘If she gets a kidney it would just be amazing. It would be a change to the whole household.

‘She would get the chance to live a childhood. You cannot get your childhood years back.’

In the meantime, Amelia is being treated for her condition at Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle.

Her grandmother said that while their care is ‘outstanding’ she cannot help but be frustrated at the enormous wait for a life-changing kidney.

In her Facebook post in March last year, Shell said: ‘My gorgeous granddaughter is fed up now of 6 years doing this journey.

‘This girl just takes everything in her stride since day 1 but now she’s getting fed up as she’s 8 years old and shouldn’t have had to wait all this time for a kidney.

‘So whether you are young, old, male, female, black or white it doesn’t matter any kidney will do if it’s a match. I beg you please get a blood test to see if you’re a match.’

The family are reissuing their appeal as another year has gone by without a successful donor.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, at NHS Blood and Transplant said: ‘There are not enough donated organs which sadly means some people wait years for a transplant or never receive one at all.

‘There are thousands of people, including hundreds of children, waiting for an organ transplant in the UK right now, and most of them need a kidney transplant.

‘We urge everyone to confirm their decision to be an organ donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell their family they want to save lives after their death.’

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A murder investigation has been launched after a 57-year-old was killed and a woman and child were seriously injured during a knife attack.

Detectives said the knife attack happened at a home on Hartfield Avenue in Brighton, East Sussex, around 7.30 am Tuesday morning.

A 19-year-old was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and serious assaults and taken to police cells for questioning.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: ‘We have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man in Brighton. Officers attended and found a 57-year-old man inside the property with significant injuries. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘A woman and a boy were also located at the address with serious injuries and have been taken to hospital for treatment. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.’

A post-mortem will be carried out on the murdered man’s body and an inquest will be opened later by the East Sussex Coroner.

The victims have not yet been named by police.

Local business Sonia Campos Inner Healing told Metro: ‘I heard the road was blocked this morning due to an incident, but I haven’t seen or heard anything.’

Officer Rachel Carr said: ‘Following an emergency call to police, an immediate response was sent to Hartfield Avenue, where sadly, a man was found deceased, and a woman and child were found seriously injured.

‘A suspect is in custody and a fast-moving investigation is underway to establish exactly what happened and why.

‘This is a tragic incident and we understand it will cause shock and alarm among the local community. However there is not believed to be a wider threat to the public at this time.’

A cordon has been placed around the property in Brighton and forensic science experts were called to the scene to collect evidence about the incident.

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A man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly ‘attacking a prisoner with a claw hammer.’

Damien Bendall, 35, is accused of bludgeoning an inmate’s head in a prison workshop at Frankland Prison in Durham.

Bendall has been charged with attempted murder after the attack allegedly happened in May last year.

Sources told The Sun was ‘allegedly hit three or four times with a claw hammer’.

Durham Constabulary said: ‘A man has been charged following a serious assault at Frankland prison, in Durham, on Friday, May 10, last year.

‘Damien Bendall, of no fixed abode, has been charged with attempted murder.

‘The 35-year-old has been remanded in custody and will appear at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday, May 21.

‘The victim sustained serious head injuries and was taken to hospital but is now recovering.’

Bendall appeared at Teesside Crown Court on 4 March but did not enter a plea.

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An Indian restaurant has sounded the alarm about an alleged ‘dine and dash’ couple who ploughed their way through £130 worth of alcohol and food before casually leaving one after the other.

The Agra Palace in Nuneaton has shared CCTV images of a man and woman who are said to have left after saying they were going for a smoke.

The couple dined on a Saturday night, with the woman knocking back two bottles of wine and her partner four or five pints of Cobra beer.  

She then left a few minutes before the man — who left behind his jacket containing nothing but a packet of Rizla.

They are also thought to have struck at two other dining venues in Warwickshire, using the same ruse.

Restaurant owner Jamal Ullah told Metro: ‘It was about 8.45pm when they came in with no booking.

‘They came in, they sat down, they were a very polite couple.  

‘They ordered lots of starters and main courses and had plenty to drink.  

‘Towards the end the lady said, “I’m going for a smoke” and went outside.  

‘The man was there and then he suddenly said, “I’m going for a smoke as well.”  

‘We didn’t think much of it. He had left his jacket there as well. 

‘There is nothing in it other than a pack of Rizla.

‘Then that was it, they were gone. We went out and couldn’t see them. 

‘From what it looks like, they planned it.’

Mr Ullah wants to alert other venues about the alleged culprits, who visited the award-winning restaurant on March 22. 

After he shared the pictures on social media, other users commented that the couple had carried out the same trick elsewhere.  

‘We’ve found out that they’ve done this to other restaurants and pubs, and it looks like they’ve been doing this for quite a while,’ he said.  

‘This isn’t going to make or break us but it’s the principle.

‘They need to be stopped.’

Another dining establishment in Warwickshire, which did not want to be named, told Metro: ‘They racked up a bill, told the waitress they were going for a cigarette and drove off, thats all there is to it really.’

The Red Lion in Corley, near Coventry, described a couple using a ‘thought out plan’ on March 17. 

A spokesperson for the pub told CoventryLive: ‘I’m angry and disappointed. They’ve clearly done it at many other places.

‘They come in and once ordered pop in and out for a smoke, so when they do run I guess it’s so you think they’re just going for a smoke. 

‘But the bill was an excessive amount for two people, including bottles of wine, pints of beer and even shots of gin.

‘Starters, the most expensive mains and sides.

‘So it’s a thought out plan they have.

‘They had no intention of paying.’ 

A Warwickshire Police spokesman said: ‘Enquiries are ongoing as officers work to identify the individuals involved.’

Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact josh.layton@metro.co.uk 

MORE: Restaurant owner shames ‘dine and dashers’ who walked out on £390 bill

MORE: Dine-and-dashers dodge hefty £155 bill on restaurant’s opening night

MORE: Moment dine-and-dashers speed off with waiter hanging onto their car

Three people have died after a bus and a car crashed outside a prison in Feltham, west London. 

The Mercedes hit a single-decker bus outside Feltham Young Offenders Institution just after midnight. 

The H26 bus was heading towards Hatton Cross at the time of the incident that happened on the brow of a railway bridge. 

It is understood that the three who died in the crash were teenagers. Two were male and one female. 

Another girl in the car survived the crash, and a friend of one of the boys who died told Metro: ‘He was a lovely guy he would give you anything he had.’

He added: ‘He was generous and hardworking. He lived close to where the crash was. He must have been going home.

‘His family are heartbroken, absolutely devastated. When the mother lays the table for dinner there will be one less place.

‘It’s terrible.

The bus driver was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

The charred shell of the bus remained at the scene today while the burned car was covered with a blue tarpaulin. 

A prison worker told Metro: ‘There was a crash there just last week. Cars are always speeding down here.’

Local Alan McCandless, 70,said: ‘They speed over the bridge I have lived here 25 years there are accidents there and deaths.

‘There are always flowers there for the dead. 

‘What a shame it’s heartbreaking. There were police everywhere overnight. ‘Specialist accident investigators are on the scene. 

A witness Nero Verbickas, 45, said: ‘We heard boom like a bomb then I saw a fire. There were people screaming

‘It was terrible. The police told me a woman was driving the car.’

Jessica Fell-Hicks, 22: ‘The bus was smoking ambulances police everywhere. The front of the bud exploded it was like a fireball.

‘There’s accidents all the time. We saw a motorcyclist fire there recently.’

A London Ambulance spokesperson said: ‘At around 23.55 hrs on Monday, 31 March officers in a response vehicle came across a car alight on Bedfont Road, Feltham.

‘The vehicle had been involved in a collision with a bus at the location.

‘Very sadly, three occupants from the car were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth occupant was taken to hospital. We await an update on their condition.

‘The bus was also alight and officers led the driver and all passengers to safety.

‘Some were treated for injuries at the scene and two were taken to hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

‘London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service were in attendance to assist with the incident and roads in the area will remain closed while an investigation continues.

‘Anyone with information which could assist is asked to contact 101 quoting CAD 8411.’

A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘At around 23.55 hrs on Monday, 31 March officers in a response vehicle came across a car alight on Bedfont Road, Feltham.

‘The vehicle had been involved in a collision with a bus at the location.

‘Very sadly, three occupants from the car were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth occupant was taken to hospital. We await an update on their condition.

‘The bus was also alight and officers led the driver and all passengers to safety. Some were treated for injuries at the scene and two were taken to hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

‘London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service were in attendance to assist with the incident and roads in the area will remain closed while an investigation continues.

‘Anyone with information which could assist is asked to contact 101 quoting CAD 8411.’

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There’s a reason the entire nation is talking about Adolescence. 

It grips you from its first one-shot take. The brilliant writers and cast hold you through four harrowing episodes.

It’s far from easy viewing, but like all impactful dramas, Adolescence leaves you talking about it for days afterwards. That’s certainly how it felt watching it with my family. 

Because the power of Adolescence goes further than the small screen. It’s captured something deeper in our national understanding. 

Part of that is because it shines a light on a problem that is too often swept under the carpet.

A problem that many of us are aware of, but too few people feel like they have the tools to respond to: The devastating effect of misogyny on our society. 

The dangers of online radicalisation. The lure of crime in young people’s lives. And the need for role models who can point young people in the right direction.

These are challenges our children, schools and families face every day.

And perhaps most scary of all, just how banal and commonplace it is. How children – young children – can be drawn into this so easily. That it could almost happen to anyone.

That’s why I backed a call in the House of Commons to screen Adolescence in schools.

And now I’m delighted that Netflix is making the drama free for secondary schools across the country. This is a fantastic step to start the essential conversations we need to be having in classrooms across the nation.

Because almost every week, we hear shocking stories of violent crimes against women. 

This Is Not Right

On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.

With the help of our partners at Women's Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.

You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.

Read more:

• Introducing This Is Not Right: Metro's year-long violence against women campaign
• Remembering the women killed by men in 2024

Just this year, the case of Kyle Clifford, who watched misogynistic content before murdering three women, horrified the nation. His victims included his ex-girlfriend, just because she’d shown the courage to end their relationship. 

I read that, sickened. But it wasn’t new to me. As Director of Public Prosecutions, I saw first-hand the devastation that misogyny and violence leave behind, how it tears through families and communities. 

I think of John and Penny Clough. Their daughter, Jane, was a nurse. She was stabbed to death in the car park of the Blackpool hospital where she worked by the man awaiting trial on multiple charges of raping her.

I vowed then that I would do everything I could to prevent violence against women and get justice for the victims.

So much of this is about prevention, about pulling young boys back before they get in too deep. It’s about youth work, good role models, neighbourhood policing, and mental health support so young people learn to deal with their emotions and the challenges they face. 

But it’s clear that one of the greatest dangers to young people today isn’t on our streets – it’s in the home. 

If children can access corners of the internet that glorify violence and encourage hatred in their bedrooms, there is nowhere they are safe. And parents who think they are doing the right thing are left in the dark about the terrifying content accessible to every young person today. 

I want our young people to learn about treating each other with respect and dignity now, but I also want them to have the opportunities that mean they feel hopeful about the future and an important part of our country.

That’s part of this government’s plan for change. We’ll make sure every child has the best start in life so we can build a better future together.

There isn’t a simple solution, or a single policy lever to pull that will tackle this complicated problem. We’ll need everyone to get involved across society. 

As Prime Minister I will play my part to work with those people who are vital to supporting our children.

It was a privilege to meet with the creators of Adolescence, as well as charities and young people to begin that action, discussing the issues the show raises so powerfully, and how we can come together to keep our children safe.

This is important to me as Prime Minister, just as it was when I was Director of Public Prosecutions. 

But as a father, watching Adolescence with my teenage son and daughter, it hit home hard.

Adolescence has given a voice to everyone fearful and isolated, wondering what to do and wanting to change the culture of male violence. 

It has lit a touchpaper. It may save lives. It has the power to change our country. 

I am so pleased that as many people as possible will watch it. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Birmingham has declared a ‘major incident’ after the city was engulfed by17,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish due to a bin strike.

Rats the size of cats, piles of bin bags and residents fighting over waste collection have become common sights in the rubbish-plagued city.

The city council has pledged it will deploy dozens of street cleaners and fly-tip removers to dismantle the towers of waste.

‘Birmingham city council has today declared a major incident to address the impact of the waste service industrial action,’ it said in a statement.

Officials will also ask for help from neighbouring authorities and the government to manage the heaps of garbage, as well as the related health and fire risks.

Members of the Unite union launched the strike amid a long-running dispute over the council’s plans to scrap waste collection and recycling officer roles, causing rubbish in Birmingham to pile up and its rodent population to soar.

Council officials say depots are blocked every day by pickets, meaning workers cannot get their vehicles out to collect waste.

Recycling, green waste and bulky waste collection have all been suspended during the strike.

John Cotton, the leader of the council, said: ‘It’s regrettable that we have had to take this step, but we cannot tolerate a situation that is causing harm and distress to communities across Birmingham.

‘I respect the right to strike and protest; however, actions on the picket line must be lawful and sadly, the behaviour of some now means we are seeing a significant impact on residents and the city’s environment.

‘Unless we declare a major incident and deploy the waste service’s contingency plan, then we would be unable to clear the backlog of waste on the streets or improve the frequency of collections.’

The council says the level of uncollected waste in the city skyrocketed from 483 tonnes a day in the week of March 10 to almost 900 tonnes a day in the week of March 24.

The number of properties receiving one bin collection a week dropped from 87% to 17% in the same period.

The major incident has been declared just days before the city’s council tax is due to rise by 7.5%

The council tax rise will act as a lifeline for the cash-strapped council, which declared effective bankruptcy in 2023.

On Sunday, talks between Unite and the council slumped to a new low, with the union’s leader, Sharon Graham, accusing it of ‘bullyboy tactics’ and describing its behaviour as ‘absolutely disgusting’.

Unite claims that 150 workers could lose £8,000 per year in pay under the council’s plans.

The council denies the claims, saying the plans to restructure the service are a crucial part of the authority’s efforts to become financially sustainable.

Grahame Turner, technical manager at the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA), described the waste build-up as a ‘huge public health danger’, advising residents to take uncollected rubbish to the tip themselves.

He says that rotting food is an ‘absolute banquet’ to pests like rats, mice and even squirrels.

‘Birmingham is already extremely vulnerable due to previous strikes and infestation levels of rodents that are observed within urban areas,’ he adds.

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The family of an 82-year-old ‘recluse’ have won a legal battle to keep his £650,000 home after he signed it over to a waitress.

Richard Joy had never married and didn’t have children, spending most of his time at the library or caring for his rare coins and medals.

In May 2018, two years before his death, he gifted his home in Harrow, north west London, to 38-year-old Mariia Romanyshyn.

Mr Joy met Ms Romanyshyn, from Ukraine, in 2011 while she worked as a waitress at a local breakfast café he visited three times a week.

The pair formed a close bond, with the pensioner inviting Ms Romanyshyn and her child to live with him as his ‘adopted family’.

Ms Romanyshyn claimed he ‘thrust’ the deeds of the home into her hands in 2016, saying: ‘The house is yours. I want you to keep the house.’

But Mr Joy’s cousin and executor of his estate, Martin Larney, sued the waitress, arguing he was too mentally frail to understand what he had done.

The two sides agreed to settle the court battle, with Ms Romanyshyn’s claim to the house being ‘dismissed’ by a judge.

Judge Simon Monty KC ruled that Mr Joy’s estate would be divided up as per the terms of a 2011 will, which leaves most of his estate to Mr Larney, his 87-year-old mum, Doreen, and a former friend.

Central London County Court heard that Mr Joy never had a family of his own, spending his entire life in his parents’ home in Harrow.

Mr Larney’s barrister, Andrew Nicklin, claimed the pensioner was ‘vulnerable with apparent cognitive impairment’ and ‘dependent’ on Ms Romanyshyn before he passed away.

But the waitress told the court she treated him ‘as her uncle’, while her daughter viewed him ‘as a grandfather figure’.

Ms Romanyshyn also said he played chess with her daughter and followed episodes of Sherlock on TV, using that as proof he was still mentally sharp enough to make major decisions after signing over the house.

When she first met Mr Joy in 2011, Ms Romanyshyn said she offered to help him with shopping after he had a hospital spell.

She soon began helping him regularly and he ‘repeatedly encouraged’ her and her family to move in with him, Ms Romanyshyn said.

Referring to house deeds, she claimed he told her: ‘I have a present for you’, to which she replied: ‘Don’t worry, I will look after it very well for you.’

She added: ‘He received and felt the care, love and affection from me and my family.’

Both parties involved in the legal battle agreed to settle their dispute out of court after negotiations behind the scenes.

Judge Monty stated he had been ‘satisfied on the evidence heard that the last true will of Richard Anthony Joy was the will dated November 26, 2011.’

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A teacher who ran off with one of his students is believed to be in a relationship with a woman 15 years younger than him.

Jeremy Forrest, 42, was jailed in 2012 after leaving his wife to elope to France with a pupil, aged 15, from Eastbourne, East Sussex.

He was jailed for five-and-a-half years the following year for child abduction and five charges of sexual activity with a child.

Forrest was also placed on the sex offender register for life and ditched by his first wife, Emily, after the scandal unfolded.

He remarried after his release from prison, where he trained as a baker, and moved in with his second wife in Canterbury.

Now he is reportedly in a relationship with a 27-year-old he met at a bakery where he worked.

Forrest, who also goes by the name Jeremy Buonocore, has now left the marital home, The Sun reports.

He is believed to be living with his brother and sister-in-law in Sidcup, Kent.

A close source told The Sun he had fallen for the woman a few months ago and they had been keeping their romance secret because of ‘the fact he is married’.

One of Forrest’s co-workers revealed he had left his wife, saying: ‘He is divorcing. He’s met someone else.’

Forrest’s new partner reportedly did not know about his dark past when the two began dating.

He allegedly told her he was planning on getting a divorce.

Forrest was sacked from another bakery in 2023 when bosses discovered his past.

Meanwhile, the schoolgirl’s father said he would be ‘proud’ to walk her down the aisle.

The girl, who has written to Forrest’s parents to declare her love for their son, also said she intended to visit him in prison.

The pupil eventually moved on in 2013 and found a new boyfriend of a similar age.

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Tributes have been paid to a ‘beautiful daughter, sister, mother and auntie’ who died in Clacton, Essex.

Rachel Dixon, 49, died after being seriously injured in Skelmersdale Road, a residential street near the city’s railway station, on March 21.

She was given CPR at the scene but was declared dead soon after ambulance crews arrived at 11.30am.

Rachel’s family paid tribute to her today, saying she will be ‘greatly missed’.

‘Our beautiful daughter, sister, mother and auntie, who will be greatly missed by all who was taken away from us far too soon,’ they said.

‘Please respect our privacy at this time.’

Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood added: ‘My thoughts are with Rachel’s family at this incredibly difficult time.

‘Our officers will be supporting them while our work continues in this investigation.’

Rachel’s son, Oliver Grange, who was taken to hospital in a ‘serious condition’, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Grange, of Skelmersdale Road, will appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on April 25.

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A woman beat a man to death with a kettle so severely his injuries could have been mistaken for being from a ‘high-impact road collision’.

Elizabeth Sweeney, 36, denied murdering Neil Jolly, 49, at his Aberdeen flat in June 2023.

The High Court in Aberdeen heard how the ‘murderous assault’ occurred at Jolly’s flat in Marischal Court, a high-rise in Castlegate.

Jolly suffered more than 70 blunt force injuries to his head, neck, arms, hands and torso, including several self-defence wounds.

Sweeney was given a mandatory life sentence for murder and will spend at least 18 years in prison following a 10-day trial.

Judge Miller told Sweeney: ‘You inflicted a severe and fatal brain injury and other head injuries which, according to the medical evidence given at your trial, were of a kind which might be expected to result from a high-impact road traffic collisions or a fall from height, along with fractures to a rib and to a structure in his throat.’

Sweeney and Jolly were alleged to have been partners or ex-partners – Jolly had assaulted Sweeney twice in the weeks leading up to his death, the trial was told.

Sweeney woke up the morning of June 22 with the belief she was in danger, her defence said.

The murder happened between that evening and the early hours of the following morning, with CCTV footage showing Sweeney outside the housing complex shortly after.

Sweeney, the court heard, soaked the victim’s body in water and allegedly tried to clean the blood from the bathroom and kettle.

Judge Miller told Sweeney: ‘During the intervening weekend, you did nothing to seek help for Neil Jolly or to allow his body to be recovered.

‘Instead, you appear to have spent that weekend in much the same way as you might have spent any other weekend, apparently giving little, if any, thought to Neil Jolly’s fate or your part in it.

Police discovered Jolly’s body on June 26 after Sweeney phoned 999.

The judge added: ‘Statements written by Neil Jolly’s mother, son and sister powerfully express the enormous loss which his death represents to his family, which includes his three children.

‘It is clear that the family’s distress has been magnified by the knowledge of how Mr Jolly died and the knowledge that you left him where he lay for three days after you murdered him before contacting emergency services.’

Sweeney claimed that the murder was an act of self-defence after Jolly allegedly sexually assaulted her in her sleep.

But jurors found her guilty last month following a trial at Aberdeen’s High Court.

Judge Miller said: ‘Although you maintain your general description, which the jury rejected, of how this incident began, the report states that you take full responsibility for Neil Jolly’s death and that you feel remorse for your actions.’

Detective Inspector William Murdoch said: ‘We acknowledge this sentence today and hope that this brings some comfort to the family and friends of Neil Jolly.

‘I would like to thank all officers involved for their dedication and commitment throughout the investigation as well as those members of the public who assisted with our enquiries.’

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A girl who slipped and fell into the River Thames has been named by police as Kaliyah Coa.

Emergency services launched a major search operation after an 11-year-old girl entered the water close to Barge House Causeway, near London City Airport, at about 1.15pm on Monday.

That search was scaled back last night, with London Ambulance Service (LAS), London Fire Brigade (LFB) and the RNLI saying crews had been stood down, but the search has resumed today with police boats patrolling the water.

Kaliyah had been playing with another girl and a young boy close to the water, residents said.

Speaking on Tuesday evening, Chief Superintendent Dan Card said: ‘Our specialist officers are supporting Kaliyah’s family through this deeply upsetting time and our thoughts go out to all those impacted by what has happened.

‘We are committed to finding Kaliyah and are working with partners to conduct a thorough search over a wide area – utilising drone technology and boats.

‘I’d like to thank the members of public, our first responding officers, and colleagues from other emergency services, as they responded rapidly to carry out a large-scale search during a highly pressurised and distressing time.

‘Equally, we appreciate this has affected the wider community who have been extremely supportive. You will see extra officers in the area during the coming days – if you have any concerns then please speak to them.’

One local told The Sun: ‘She was with two other kids. Obviously we were thinking, why aren’t they in school? But I think a lot of schools are off for Eid.

‘The little boy was holding her hand to help her step in the water but obviously she slipped, because it’s really slippy.’

The neighbour added: ‘So what we understand is the girl was playing down by the water.

‘As soon as she fell she was gone. She just disappeared into the tide. The boy came running to one of my neighbours for help but it was too late.

‘While the other kid — a little girl — went running to get a donut. All of us rushed out but it’s freezing in there.’

Shaleen Rajaendram, 59, who lives on Barge House Road which leads onto the causeway, said: ‘I heard upstairs a guy was screaming “wait there, wait, the police is coming”.’

The man was standing on a balcony in a flat block overlooking the river and later told Ms Rajaendram he had been alerted by the children ‘shouting, screaming’, she said.

Ms Rajaendram continued: ‘Then I saw suddenly two kids were coming out to the top of the bridge, I said “what happened?”

‘Then they said “one of my friends was playing in the water, one of my friends has gone into water and she’s gone underneath and we can’t find her”.’

The girl returned home while the boy told Ms Rajaendram where it happened.

Ms Rajaendram then called her neighbour, Kerry Benadjaoud, 62, who took a life ring down to the water but could not see the girl.

A man said he had called the police, Ms Benadjaoud said, adding: ‘But he said at the time he could see her (the girl’s) hands going down. So, by the time I got down there with the ring I couldn’t find her.’

She said she found shoes, a sock, a coat and a phone near the river, and handed the items to the police.

‘Apparently she was paddling, so her socks and shoes were off, her coat, then she must have slipped and gone down,’ she added.

Ms Benadjaoud said the boy who had been with the girl was around eight or nine years old.

She said: ‘The little boy turned around and said “I tried to hold her hand but it slipped”.

‘I said to the little boy’s parents, obviously he needs to see someone because it’s going to affect him later.’

Barge House Causeway is a concrete slope that goes directly into the River Thames and is used to transport boats, and residents pointed out that it appeared to be covered in moss and is slippery.

Kaliyah’s family have been made aware and are being supported by officers.

LAS was called at a similar time to police after receiving a report of a person in the water at Lowestoft Mews, close to the airport.

‘We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team,’ a spokesperson said.

‘Our crews assisted our emergency services partners at the scene but were later stood down.’

LFB deputy assistant commissioner Joseph Kenny said: ‘Firefighters responded to reports of a person in the River Thames near Lowestoft Mews, Newham.

‘Crews from East Ham, Barking, Ilford and Bexley fire stations were sent to the scene alongside crews from the HM Coastguard, RNLI, London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police Service.

‘The brigade also deployed its drone team and fire boat as part of its response, with crews carrying out a systematic search of the area.

‘The brigade was first called about the incident at 1.23pm. Search operations for firefighters were concluded at 3.49pm when responsibility for the incident was left with the police.’

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: ‘Tower RNLI was requested to launch this afternoon (March 31) to an incident near Woolwich.

‘The lifeboat was later stood down.’

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The largest ever EuroMillions jackpot has been scooped by one lucky man in Austria.

He won £209,000,000 on Friday night after spending just €10 on online tickets, according to Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung.

The man’s identity hasn’t been revealed and it’s not yet clear if he’s chosen to remain anonymous.

Many jackpot winners do, although UK couple Joe and Jess Thwaite, who won the fifth largest amount, €215 million (around £184 million at the time) in May 2022, did go public.

They said they didn’t want to burden friends and family with such a big secret.

More about the Thwaites and others who have gone public

Joe was 49 at the time of the win and working as communications sales engineer and Jess, was 44 and a business manager of a hairdressing salon.

The parents-of-two, from Gloucestershire, said the phenomenal win ‘gives us time to dream which we haven’t had before’.

Their first purchase was a chest of drawers and a wardrobe for their bedroom – but they said their number one priority was supporting family members after a ‘hard few years, just like many people and families across the country’.

Joe said he normally bought a EuroMillions Lucky Dip ticket ‘because it’s easier’ and purchased the winning ticket on The National Lottery App.

They had no idea of the result until Joe woke up at 5.15am the next morning to tend to their dogs – and received an email saying ‘Good news, you’ve won a prize’.

Showing extreme self control, Joe didn’t wake up his wife to share the news after seeing the nine-figure prize.

‘I saw how much and I didn’t know what to do’, he said. ‘I couldn’t go back to sleep, I didn’t want to wake Jess up so I just laid there for what seemed like forever.

‘I spent some time searching for property with no budget limit, which was a novelty!’

When the alarm finally rang, Joe turned to Jess and said: ‘I’ve got a secret, I’ve got something to tell you.’

Hearing the news in disbelief, his wife thought he was joking, concluded that it wasn’t worth getting too excited about as it probably wasn’t true and got up to make a coffee.

But, after going about their normal morning routine, the pair called dedicated phone number when the lines opened at 8am and were told they had just become the UK’s then biggest-ever winners.

While many of us would call our managers to say we weren’t coming in and crack out the champagne, Jess and Joe went about their normal day, doing the school run and settling down to work from home.

Unable to keep the news in, Jess met her mum in a car park before work – with her screaming reaction bringing it home how life-changing the money would be and both breaking down in tears.

The couple have acknowledged their previous financial situation was ‘not horrendous’ but say the cost of living crisis had ‘affected our lives’.

Jess said: ‘Just like many people and families across the country, the last few years have been hard. My sister and I have tried to look after the business and the 20 staff, but times are difficult in hairdressing. 

‘Joe has been working hard and we have always tried to put everything into doing the best we can for the children.

‘We’ve had one week to think about this and we now have time to share lots of experiences and go on adventures with our family and friends.’

One couple who scored a £115 million EuroMillions jackpot had given away more than half of their winnings to loved ones, charities and those in need during the coronavirus crisis within two years of wining.

Frances Connolly wrote a list of 50 close friends and family to help as she was too excited to sleep on the night she and husband Patrick, 56, secured their fortune on New Year’s Day 2019.

Almost two years on, the pair had given away £60 million – extending their generosity to health workers on the Covid-19 frontline, care home residents, hospital patients and hundreds of other people.

The husband and wife, from Moira, County Down, vowed to not become part of the ‘jet set’ when they celebrated their win with a hug and a cup of tea.

They stayed true to their promise, laughing off the opportunity to live in a 15-bed stately home and deciding against flying first class to New Zealand to visit their daughter. They say they could have helped a young couple pay off a mortgage with the ticket price.

Another couple who went public with a EuroMillions win was Richard and Debbie Nuttall, from Colne, Lancashire.

They scooped £61.7 million share of a £123 million jackpot in January 2024.

They were in Fuerteventura celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary in January when an email from the National Lottery told them they had exciting news.

Mr Nuttall, a self-employed accountant, said when he checked his account online he saw a win of £2.60.

He said: ‘So I went through to Debs and I said we’ve won £2.60 on the lottery and she was like: “Woohoo, we’ll go and have a bacon butty or something with that.”‘

But he later realised the £2.60 was from a win in November and when he logged in again later that day, after another email, he saw a figure of £61,708,231.

He tried to call the National Lottery from Fuerteventura but a bad signal in the Canary Island meant four calls kept cutting out.

‘I’m thinking, “this is a scam, someone’s trying to extract information out of me inch by inch,”‘ he said.

He said: ‘Obviously we were stunned but also very excited at the time, it was almost like Del Boy and Rodney when they come out of Sotheby’s and they start cheering and punching the air, the car was rocking.’

And in 2016 Sonia Davies, then 53, and her family won £61 million on the EuroMillions after she asked her daughter to buy tickets because she was ‘on a roll’ days after having a potentially deadly tumour removed.

The mum was in the US for the pioneering surgery when she called her eldest daughter, Stephanie, 23, back home in Wales, and asked her to pick up some tickets for the family syndicate and said ‘we’re on a winning streak’.

Stephanie bought six lucky dips with 40 minutes to spare before the deadline, and one of those turned out to be very lucky.

Admin assistant Sonia said: ‘I felt cured by the Friday and was a multi-millionaire by the evening, it was just unreal.’

What have EuroMillions winners bought in the past?

In the past, people who have gone public with lottery wins have chosen to spend their cash on new houses, cars, holidays and on their family and friends.

‘The people who spend the money too quickly are a very, very small percentage,’ Andy Carter, who was a Senior Winner’s Advisor at former Lottery owners Camelot, previously told the Metro.

‘The vast majority of winners are very conservative – they have been blessed with a huge amount of money and they want to protect it.’

Can winning the lottery bring more misery than joy?

Although many winners, like Andy said, are careful with their money history has a fair few examples of winners who haven’t been so cautious and their lives have taken a turn for the worse as a result.

Some studies suggest lottery winners in the US are more likely to declare bankruptcy within three to five years compared to the average citizen.

Around one-third find themselves in financial trouble – and it does not end there.

The pressure may force someone to spiral into depression, and lead to alcohol and drug abuse and problems with family and friends.

One such example in the UK is Michael Carroll, a bin man who won £9,700,000 on the National Lottery in 2002 – but declared bankruptcy nine years later.

Dubbed the ‘Lotto lout’, he gave £4 million to friends and family, including £1,400,000 to his wife Sandra Aiken.

But shortly after the couple wed in 2003, she decided she had had enough.

Over the next few years, Carroll appeared in court more than 30 times while a mansion he bought in Norfolk fell into a state of disrepair.

He has admitted he wasted millions on cocaine, gambling, prostitutes and drinking two bottles of vodka a day.

By 2013, Carroll was broke and homeless, so he returned to Scotland and worked in a biscuit factory and then a slaughterhouse before landing a job as a coal man.

Then there’s Adrian and Gillian Bayford, who won  £148,656,000 in August 2012, but are no longer married.

Gillian now has a conviction for threatening her ex-boyfriend, domestic abuse charity worker Gavin Innes, who she pushed and shouted at in 2017.

She then married convicted fraudster Brian Deans, before ditching him because he begged for more and more money after blowing the monthly allowance she gave him on cars, watches and trips with friends.

Adrian, meanwhile, turned to eating 50 Cornish pasties a day to cope with loneliness after being dumped by younger women, one of whom he dated while sending saucy messages to an ex.

Another jackpot winning couple to divorce after scooping big was Colin and Chris Weir, who won £161.6 million in 2011.

They split up some months before Colin died of sepsis and an acute kidney injury in December 2019, at the age of 71.

By then he had spent half his £80million share of the fortune on cars, property and a controlling stake in his favourite football club, Partick Thistle.

The former TV cameraman also donated millions to the Scottish National Party and the pro-independence Yes campaign ahead of the 2014 referendum.

What actually happens when you win the EuroMillions?

If you find yourself in the almost impossible-to-imagine situation of having a winning lottery ticket, the first thing to do (once you’ve finished screaming into a pillow or jumping up and down) is to turn the ticket over and find the phone number to ring.

Andy explained: ‘If you were to win the EuroMillions tomorrow night, you would check the ticket, ring the number on the back of the ticket and that would put you through to a lottery line. They would then get a member of my team to call you back.’

This first phone call to the National Lottery call centre is important, because it sets in motion the crucial steps that all lottery winners must follow to claim their prize.

How does the National Lottery contact winners?

From the moment you realise you’ve won to actually getting the money, winners are looked after every step of the way by a dedicated team of National Lottery ‘Winner’s Advisors’ like Andy.

It is their job to support winners through the entire process so they can begin to enjoy their life-changing win.

Andy, or one of his advisor team members, will call lottery winners back as quickly as possible once they receive news that a EuroMillions prize has been claimed.

After the initial phone call with the winners’ advisor team, Andy or one of his colleagues will visit the winner, in person.

Ideally, you’ll get a visit the next day, or failing that as soon as the winner can allow.

How long after winning the lottery do you get your money?

During the home visit by the Winners Advisory team, a number of checks will be carried out to verify the winner.

‘Within half an hour I can tell if someone has won the money,’ Andy revealed.

As well as checking the winning ticket is legit,the advisory team are there to answer any questions that the winners may have and, as you can imagine for someone who has just become a (sometimes multi) millionaire, they have more than a few.

‘Sometimes we get to people’s houses and we don’t even open the computer for an hour because we just sit there and answer people’s questions,’ Andy said. ‘This could sometimes last all day.’

As soon as the winning ticket is verified and the ID of the winner confirmed, the Lottery can pay the winner their money on that very day.

However, once the money is paid into an elected bank account, it takes two days for the money to process before it can be withdrawn.

This means that the longest you have to wait before getting the money is around three days between discovering you’ve won the lottery and actually being able to spend the cash.

Where do lottery winners put their money?

Winners have no choice but to have their winning sum deposited in one, single bank account by the Lottery – so there’s no stuffing it under your bedroom mattress or locking it in your personal safe.

The winner can choose the bank they would like to hold the money with, but a brand new account with that bank is set up – usually with a private arm of that bank who specialise with dealing with large sums of money of this kind.

This bank account can be open for as long as the winner needs it to be, or they can move the money to other accounts once it has cleared after a couple of days.

Can EuroMillions winners remain anonymous?

Yes and as we mentioned earlier, many people choose not to go public.

‘All winners are anonymous,’ Andy confirmed, ‘This is the default position for all lottery winners.’

Andy also impresses that any publicity surrounding a winner is a personal choice and there is no set media schedule – every winner is different.

‘It’s entirely the winner’s decision if they want to share news of their win. We have an aftercare programme in place to ensure that all winners have access to legal and financial advice.

‘Sometimes we go to a winner’s home and we’ve already had media enquiries before we even get there because the winner wants to celebrate their win and mark it publicly,’ Andy explained.

‘Often the rule of thumb tends to be the higher the amount of money the more likely the winner will be to take publicity.’

However, if a winner does choose to keep their newfound wealth a secret, then Andy and his team are the only ones to know about the win.

He says: ‘It’s often the case that when a winner decides to remain anonymous, we are the only people that know about their win so we keep in touch with them for as long as they want to. Often they like to talk to someone or just let us know what they have been up to.’

Is your spouse entitled to your lottery winnings?

When it comes to the decision to keep a lottery win a secret or tell the whole world, you’d think that either way, one of the people to definitely be in the loop would be the winner’s partner or spouse.

But, should you want to keep your newfound wealth entirely to yourself, the National Lottery certainly isn’t going to tell you otherwise.

‘A National Lottery win belongs to the signatories of the relevant validation paperwork. How a winner(s) chooses to share (or not) winnings is their personal decision,’ Elanor Corbett, PR Executive at The National Lottery confirmed to Metro.

Are EuroMillions winnings taxable?

‘There is no tax on the win itself, but if the win produces an income through interest, then that will be taxed as part of your normal income tax,’ Andy explained.

Does EuroMillions money go to charity?

‘The only way the EuroMillions jackpot would go to National Lottery Good Causes is if the jackpot is won in a draw but, for whatever reason, the ticket-holder does not then subsequently come forward to claim,’ Elanor told us.

‘Unclaimed prizes have a maximum of 180 days to be claimed from the date of the winning draw. After that, the money plus the interest it has generated whilst it is held in trust, is passed over to National Lottery Good Causes.

‘Each week, The National Lottery raises around £30 million for Good Causes because every time a National Lottery ticket is bought a proportion of the ticket sale automatically goes to National Lottery Good Causes.’

Which countries have had the most EuroMillions winners?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, out of the nine countries that take part in the lottery, those with the highest populations have the largest number of jackpot winners over the years.

The UK, with a population of almost 67 million, tops the table with 132 jackpot winners since the contest started in 2004, while France, which has a population of around 66.6 million, follows closely behind with 130 winners.

Spain, with a population of 49 million, comes third with 122 winners.

Portugal, meanwhile has had 86 winners, Belgium 45, Switzerland 26, Ireland 19 and the tiny country of Luxembourg, 4.

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A GCHQ intern put the UK’s national security at risk when he downloaded top secret data onto his phone and took it home.

Hasaan Arshad, a 25-year-old from Rochdale, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Computer Misuse Act at the Old Bailey today.

While doing a year-long placement at the intelligence agency, Arshad connected his work mobile to a supposedly secure, top secret computer on August 24, 2022.

He then downloaded data onto the phone and took it home, where he transferred it to a hard drive connected to his personal home computer.

This ‘unauthorised act’ had the potential to cause ‘serious damage’ to national security.

Sensitive information, where compromise might cause widespread loss of life or threaten the security or economic wellbeing of the country or friendly nations, is given the classification ‘top secret’, according to Ministry of Justice security guidance.

A month later, on September 22, Arshad was arrested and his home was charged.

His sheet said: ‘Between August 23, 2022 and September 23, 2022 [he] did an unauthorised act in relation to a computer and at the time of doing the act knew that it was unauthorised; and the act caused, or created a significant risk of a material kind, this being damage to the national security of a country; and he intended by doing the act to cause serious damage of a material kind or was reckless as to whether such damage was caused.’

Arshad admitted the charge on the ‘basis of recklessness’, his lawyer Nina Grahame KC said.

The 25-year-old had previously admitted two charges of making an indecent photograph of a child in relation to a number of images found between September 7 and 23, 2022, the court heard.

He has been granted conditional bail ahead of his sentencing for all charges on June 13. The conditions include not accessing the dark web.

Mrs Justice McGowan said: ‘I want you to understand because of your age I am making the request for the pre-sentence report in this case but that does not mean there will not be a custodial sentence.’

Previously, the senior judge had ruled that some parts of Arshad’s case would be heard behind closed doors, in the absence of the press and public.

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A woman as been arrested on suspicion of concealing a birth, neglect and infanticide after a baby boy was found dead outside a Notting Hill Church.

The child was found in a Marks and Spencer’s bag near All Saints Church in Notting Hill.

The infant was declared dead at the scene on Talbot Road in Notting Hill shortly before 1pm.

A woman in her thirties was found by police on Saturday and arrested in connection with the death.

She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and still receiving care there.

Medical experts will conduct a forensic post-mortem later this week to assist in investigations into the baby’s death.

Superintendent Owen Renowden, who leads policing for Kensington and Chelsea said: ‘This is an ongoing, fast-paced investigation, with officers working tirelessly to ascertain the circumstances of the baby boy’s death.

‘We believe that the woman is the baby’s mother and I am reassured that she is receiving the support she needs, while officers continue their work to understand what took place.

‘I recognise that the news of this arrest may cause concern among our community, but when dealing with investigations of this nature our priority is to ensure the welfare of all involved and ensure that all lines of enquiry are fully explored.

‘I appreciate the high level of attention that this investigation has received, but we politely ask for the public not to speculate.’

The deputy warden at All Saints’ Church in Notting Hill said she had ‘never heard anything like this in my life.’

Marcia Haynes told reporters: ‘I came here to prepare for the food bank and I just saw loads of police arriving, and when I came out it was all taped over.’

Marcia added the news a baby had died ‘just freaked me out, and I just I had to abandon what I was doing and go home because I thought I was going to be ill, to be honest’.

‘I’ve been here since 1966, I’ve never heard anything like this in my life.’

Moving tributes were later placed outside the church, including bunches of flowers and a toy bunny.

A note, left under a lit candle, read: ‘God bless the little Baby x’.

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An escaped XL Bully was shot dead after it mauled and killed a pensioner in Warrington a year after the breed was banned.

The 84-year-old died yesterday after he was attacked by the banned breed in Warrington last month.

The police also shot another XL Bully 19 times during the incident and seized a third, smaller dog.

XL Bullies have been banned since February 1 last year following a spate of fatal and serious attacks.

Among the victims was 52-year-old Ian Price, killed by two XL Bullies in Staffordshire in September 2023.

Esther Martin, 68, was attacked by two dogs in Jaywick in February last year as she visited her nine-year-old grandson. She died from her injuries.

The dogs were not immediately confirmed as XL Bullies, but her daughter claimed they were the banned breed.

People who already owned the breed when the ban came into effect were allowed to keep them as long as they had applied for a certificate of exemption by January 31, 2024.

The dogs must also be neutered, kept in a secure place where they can’t escape, muzzled and kept on a lead in public. Owners must be 16 or older and have third-party public liability insurance cover.

It is illegal to breed, buy, sell, adopt, rehome or abandon the breed.

While XL Bullies have made headlines recently, another dog breed has caused concern following an alleged rise in popularity – the cane corso bred as a guard dog and not subject to a ban.

Here is a roundup of all five dog breeds which are banned.

Which dog breeds are banned in the UK?

There were 15 fatal dog attacks in England and Wales alone between 1981 and 1991 – so in 1991 the government banned four breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

On February 1 this year, the XL Bully became the fifth breed to be banned.

Banned breeds are managed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

XL Bully

The XL Bully is a type of bulldog.

It was developed by breeding several dogs, including the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bulldog and English Bulldog.

The US Kennel Club – which recognises the breed – says that ‘aggression is characteristic of this breed.’

It is thought the breed – of which there are four sizes; standard, pocket, classic, and XL – first appeared in the UK around 2014 or 2015 and numbers have since grown rapidly.

Pit Bull Terrier

The UK’s Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 outlawed the possession and breeding of pit bulls.

They were originally illegally bred as fighting dogs.

Japanese Tosa

Although it is forbidden in the UK and many other nations, the Japanese Tosa is nevertheless bred in Japan to participate in dog fighting.

In accordance with Japanese dog-fighting regulations, this breed is expected to be able to battle in total silence.

Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino was developed for boldness and protective qualities as well as for big-game hunting.

Due to these behavioural characteristics, the Dogo Argentino was outlawed in the UK.

Fila Brasileiro

A huge mastiff-like breed called the Fila Brasileiro was initially raised to chase down fugitive slaves from plantations.

Despite the fact that they are fiercely devoted and protective, these dogs have a reputation for being hostile to both people and other animals.

Can the police seize a banned dog?

The police or local council dog warden can take a dog – even if it isn’t acting dangerously and there hasn’t been a complaint.

They don’t need a warrant in a public place.

What is the penalty for owning a banned dog?

If an owner can’t prove to the court that their dog isn’t a banned type, or doesn’t have an exemption certificate they can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months (or both).

The dog will also be put down.

Why do I still see Pit Bulls in the street?

It’s possible the dog has an exemption certificate.

If a court decides the dog is not a danger to the public, owners can keep it and it can be added to the exempt list – but it has to be neutered, microchipped, kept in a secure places and on a lead with a muzzle in public.

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Nothing is more iconic in Benidorm than the x-rated performances of the late great Sticky Vicky and her daughter Maria.

So hearts were shattered in the seaside town a few weeks ago when rumour spread that Maria Aragüés Gadea, who also performs as Sticky Vicky, had left the resort.

But British tourists are now in for a treat, as Metro can reveal that Sticky Vicky is making a return to Benidorm tonight.

The legend’s daughter is performing at Rockerfellas cabaret bar at midnight Spanish time (11pm in the UK).

Speaking exclusively to Metro, Maria revealed her new show will be more shocking than ever.

The new Sticky Vicky said: ‘I hope you’re surprised by everything about the show.

‘My intention is for people to leave the show feeling satisfied. There are new features, choreography, music.

‘The most special thing is that before the show, there’s a tribute to my mother.’

The original Sticky Vicky died in 2023 and spent decades in the Spanish city wowing tourists with her X-rated shows.

These shows involved pulling a variety of items from her private parts, including ping pong balls and razor blades.

Vicky finally retired in 2016, after a 30-year career as a performer, and her daughter soon took over and continued the performances.

Maria has also revealed a little-known fact about her famous mother.

She told Metro: ‘People don’t know that my mother didn’t speak English, she didn’t understand when a fan spoke to her, she just answered “yes”.’

She said she is creating the ‘best’ memories in Benidorm as her mother’s legacy means she ‘remembers everything in a special way’.

While the young star is back in Benidorm for the long haul, she has not shut down the possibility of showing off her skills in other countries.

Maria added: ‘I can perform anywhere I’m invited, I don’t set limits for myself.

‘I have the opportunity to perform in many countries around the world.

‘It would be nice if tourists would calm down, but I don’t think they’ll stop visiting Benidorm. It’s unique in the world.’

Benidorm locals and British tourists are overjoyed at Sticky Vicky’s return after speculation she had left for good.

Tracy Blevins, who runs tourism website Benidorm Seriously, told Metro: ‘Sticky Vicky is a real Benidorm legend.

‘It is confirmed she is back. I presume she is back for good.

‘Rockerfellas will be her regular venue.’

Sticky Vicky herself first started performing in Benidorm in the 1980s and even trademarked her name after a legal battle in 2009.

In 2023, Benidorm received 2,766,366 visits, with 832,000 of them coming from the UK.

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Electric bikes, which have been labelled a ‘ticking timebomb’, are now banned on the London Underground and Overground due to fire risk.

E-bike fires have caused concern among Londoners after incidents across the capital’s stations.

On average, there is an e-bike fire every other day in London, the fire brigade said.

Last month, an e-bike went up in flames moments before boarding a Tube carriage at Rayners Lane station, while an e-bike explosion caused a fire at Sutton station in April.

Transport for London (TfL) has now announced a safety ban on non-folding e-bikes on the Tube and rail services for the ‘safety of customers and staff.’ However, cycling campaigners have warned a blanket ban could reduce the use of legitimate e-bikes.

Here is a roundup of what the ban means and where on London transport e-bikes are still allowed.

When will e-bikes be banned on the Tube?

The ban will come into effect today, March 31, 2025.

Non-folded e-bikes are no longer accepted on most TfL services, including the Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR, buses, trams and the IFS Cloud Cable Car.

It also includes standard bikes, which have been converted to e-bikes using conversion kits.

However, folding e-bikes will still be permitted after TfL didn’t identify any recorded incidents involving foldable e-bikes in London.

How will the ban be enforced?

Enforcement officers will be deployed across the network to ‘monitor and enforce compliance.’

‘Anybody who does not comply may be refused entry, directed to leave the network, or face a fine of up to £1,000, if prosecuted under the bylaws,’ TfL told Metro.

Why are e-bikes banned on the Tube?

Converted illegal e-bikes have been labelled ‘death traps’ after a monster e-bike capable of going at up to 70mph was seized in London last year.

Converted e-bikes adapted using electronic conversion kits are thought to pose a bigger fire risk than purpose-built e-bikes, although it can be ‘hard to differentiate between modified and un-modified e-bikes,’ TfL said.

It said that until ‘improved product safety measures are in place for converted cycles, batteries and charges, a ban is necessary for all non-holded e-bikes.’

Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, said: ‘Our priority is always the safety of our customers and colleagues.

‘We have been working closely with the London Fire Brigade on a review of the safety risks associated with e-bikes on our network and following this review, we will be putting this safety ban in place from 31 March 2025.

‘Customers with non-foldable e-bikes will not be permitted to use our tube and rail services.’

Scott Peden sounded the alarm on e-bikes after he lost his entire family and home in a blaze. He told Metro previously that modified and old bikes are ‘a ticking timebomb.’

Reaction to the e-bike ban

Charlie Pugsley, a London Fire Brigade’s deputy commissioner, said they welcome the ban as it ‘acknowledges the risks that we know e-bike batteries can pose.’

He said that while e-bikes can have ‘sustainable benefits,’ the reality ‘is that ‘across London we have been seeing an e-bike or e-scooter fire every other day, on average, and we have particular concern about the risk posed by conversion kits or modified e-bikes.’

However, cycling campaigners have criticised the blanket ban on all e-bikes on public transport.

Tom Fyans, the London Cycling Campaign’s chief executive, told Metro: ‘Safety must always come first, but the risk is that measures like this could confuse people about the safety of genuine ebikes and reduce usage, which would be a big concern.

‘The real issue is a total lack of control on the sale of dodgy conversion kits, batteries and the illegal modification of ebikes into mini motorbikes. Government, TfL and delivery companies need to get a grip on this issue and fast.

‘No one wants to compromise the safety of passengers, but once again the easy answer appears to be removing cycle access rather than dealing with the bigger issue of meaningful regulation.

‘As a result, battery fires are likely to keep happening and we will keep seeing dangerous, illegally modified bikes on our streets.’

James Metcalfe, the co-founder of Volt Bikes, told Metro that a blanket ban of all non-folded e-bikes on the TfL network is ‘a huge setback for active and sustainable transport.’

He argued that ‘ordinary commuters’ will be hit and that the focus should be on ‘education and enforcement, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.’

Shaf Hussain, a delivery rider in London, claimed that low pay is ‘reducing workers to making illegal upgrades to their bikes.’ ‘When you have to make more deliveries for less money, this is the inevitable result,’ he said.

Aslef, the train drivers’ union, welcomed the announcement today after suggesting previously they would consider industrial action unless a ban was introduced.

Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on the Underground, said the ban will ‘reduce the risk of a serious accident, and the dangers caused by large numbers of unfolded e-bikes blocking exits in emergencies.

‘We are pleased that TfL have listened to our concerns and has now acted on them,’ he added.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the ‘small number’ of incidents involving full-sized e-bikes catching fire on transport have caused him ‘great concern.’

‘This is why, following a comprehensive review of the safety of e-bikes, TfL is banning all non-folding e-bikes on tube and rail services. I have asked TfL to continue to work with Government and partners to improve e-bike safety as we build a safer London for everyone,’ he said.

This story was first published on March 26, 2025.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Residents have blasted plans to build three new padel courts, claiming living next to just one is ‘unbearable’.

They say the sound of people playing the trendy sport at Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club in Sutton Coldfield is similar to gunshots and has no place in a suburban setting.

The residents also claim players, who can use the court between 9am and 9pm, are constantly shouting and swearing, making the situation even worse.

With the existing court usually fully booked, the club has submitted plans to build another three, which would be floodlit.

Locals say the extra courts will make living in the area an absolute nightmare, affecting both regular residents but also those living in nearby care homes.

They could also bring down house prices, they add.

Media consultant Jason Kerrigan, 52, who lives just metres away from the private members club, which was founded in 1922, said: ‘They stuck the first court next to a couple of OAPS – just metres from their gardens and homes’ and added that the new courts will be 17 metres from his property.

He acknowledged padel tennis was a fun sport to play but not to listen to, saying: ‘Everyone talks about them sounding like gunshots. When those rackets bash against the plexiglass it’s an incredible noise.’

‘They start at 9am in the morning, they finish at 9pm at night. There will be 16 people hitting the ball at the same time on all the different courts.

‘There will be more shots fired than at the O.K. Corral.’

Jason said the constant shouting and swearing made it even worse.

He added: ‘The court shouldn’t be there. We’re not complaining about one random party one evening, it’s like a party all day, everyday, forever.’

Great-grandmother-of-four Brenda Catterall, or also lives next to the club, said: ‘It’s like gunshots, bang bang constantly. Then the lights, if they put more lights up it’ll be horrific. They’re bright now and the lights can shine into all of our bungalows.’

Padel tennis started in Mexico in the late 1960s and is a hybrid between squash and tennis, that is best suited to four players.

The court has four rebound walls made of glass and wired mesh or another hard surface.

It’s said to be one of the fastest growing racket sports in the world.

Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club secretary Peter Whatson said the plans were an exciting development for the club and would bring great benefits to the wider community.

He said the extra courts were needed to offset the ’22 per cent decline in squash and tennis membership over the last ten years’.

‘You will appreciate that as a sports club we have to work hard and continually look forward to ensure our future viability and it is vital that we remain relevant.

‘We currently have one uncovered padel court which was installed seven years ago in 2017 with members and the wider public often unable to get a slot.’

Peter said the club, which recently celebrated its centenary, has made ‘many improvements to the facilities including additional courts, indoor courts and the clubhouse.

‘All the courts are now floodlit with many of these lights dating back 40 years – somewhat longer than most of our neighbours have lived here,’ he said.

A spokesperson for the Lawn Tennis Association said: ‘Whilst we are unable to comment on specific planning applications, padel is a rapidly growing sport that offers people the opportunity to get active in a social setting.

‘We would always encourage venues to work an acoustic consultant to locate and design courts that mitigate noise for neighbouring properties.

‘As part of this process the LTA recommends engaging the local community throughout the development/planning process to enable the construction of courts that benefit the local community.’

Birmingham City Council will consider the proposals in the coming weeks.

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