Our two England fans fly out of Heathrow on Monday, 15 June with return flights to JFK in New York costing just over £500 each – which is good value.

With the Three Lions’ final group game taking place in New Jersey, it is the most cost-effective way to travel to the US and back, with the first stop being Dallas.

After landing in the States, they pick up a flight to Dallas the same night – this costs £283 per person.

Four nights at the Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas Market Center cost £624 (£156 a night) for a twin.

Double rooms, which are more available in all cities, come in cheaper at the Hilton Dallas Medical District at £560 (£140 a night).

Both properties have breakfast included, meaning Dallas – which also has free shuttle buses from stations to the stadium in Arlington – is an affordable start to the trip.

The England supporters fly to Boston on Friday, 19 June with the fare £378 each.

Boston is at the other end of the scale as one of the more expensive host cities for accommodation.

Our couple stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Boston Crosstown Center, costing £1,650 (£330 a night), including breakfast, for five nights.

The cheapest twin-bed option in the city itself is £2,041 (£408 a night) without breakfast at the Courtyard Boston Downtown/North Station.

It is possible to book a hotel near the airport £500 cheaper but with five days in the city, it may not be worth the saving.

With England’s third game being in New Jersey, there is no need to take a flight. The supporters can hop on the Amtrak train to New York on Wednesday, 24 June with tickets £42 each.

Unlike in Boston, there are still lots of hotel options in New York with a five-night stay before the flight home on 29 June.

A double at the Truss Hotel Times Square costs £1,184 (£237 a night) while a twin at the AMTD Idea Tribeca Hotel is £1,275 (£255 a night).

This time, however, you will need to head out for breakfast.

But the last two games come with a sting – train tickets to the stadiums cost £59 per person from Boston and £114 from New York.

Just to get to the States and travel around, the estimated costs for two friends are £6,273 and for a couple £5,855.

And what of the family? It is going to cost £9,008 to get to the States, get around and put your heads down.

Costs are helped by some hotels offering free stays for children.

In Dallas, the Comfort Inn Dallas Medical-Market Center costs £627 (£156 a night).

The same Hampton Inn is used in Boston with a higher cost of £1,763 (£353 a night).

Over in New York, the Holiday Inn in Times Square costs £1,589 (£318 a night).

Great Barugh – a few miles north-west of Malton on the road to Kirkbymoorside and about 25 miles north of York – is home to a handful of streets and a scattering of farms.

Small as it is, it has been on the map for centuries: it appears in the Domesday Book and has links to both Roman Britain and the great age of coaching roads.

Roland Coates, landlord of the Golden Lion in 1978, promoting a ‘Guess the number of seeds in a pomegranate’ competition to raise funds for a senior citizens Christmas party. Photo: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Today it’s the kind of place most people flash through on the way to the A170, without realising the layers of history in the surrounding fields.

Yet for all its quiet, one thing continues to trip visitors up: how on earth do you pronounce it?

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So how do you say Great Barugh?

At first glance, “Barugh” looks like it should rhyme with “Bar-oo” or “Barg”, and many first‑timers have a go at something like “Bar-uff”, “Bar-oo” or even “Bar-rogue”.

Locals, however, tend to settle on something simpler: “Great BAR-uh” or “Great BAR-uff” – or ‘BAR-f’ to the untrained ear – with the “gh” effectively disappearing and the final vowel almost swallowed.

As with many Yorkshire place‑names, there is room for variation from family to family as records over the centuries show several forms of the name – often closer to “Barug” or “Baruch” – all pointing back to an older word – ‘berg’ – for a hill or mound.

A van negotiating the flooded road near Great Barugh after a water main burst in January 1983. Photo: Newsquest

What is Great Barugh known for?

Great Barugh’s story stretches back at least to Domesday, when it and nearby Little Barugh were recorded as small but valuable farming settlements on the higher ground above the River Derwent.

Their position gave good views across the valley and relatively dry land compared with the wetter low ground towards Malton and the river.

Mike and Sarnia Stanyon, left, with Bill and Sue Monkman, in July 1989, after taking over the Golden Lion. Photo: Newsquest

Long before that, the Romans were here. Archaeologists have found evidence of a Roman villa and a camp in the area, and a Roman road is believed to have passed close by, linking Malton’s fort with sites on the Moors.

In the centuries that followed, agriculture shaped Great Barugh. Fields were enclosed and farmsteads expanded. Unlike some villages that have become commuter hubs, Great Barugh has retained its farming feel through the patterns of fields and lanes.

Chief among the village buildings is its 17th-century coaching-style pub, The Golden Lion, that dates back to 1632. Low‑beamed and traditional, it stands close to the main road and has long provided a stopping‑off point between Malton and the western fringe of the Moors. For many visitors it was their only direct contact with the place: a Sunday lunch or an evening pint, coupled with that sense of being “out in the country”.

A field opposite the pub is classed as an ancient monument with some grounds for belief that it was a Roman cemetery or settlement.

In 1998, The Golden Lion, Great Barugh, raised £500 for St Catherine’s Hospice in Scarborough. Pictured, L-R, Landlord Martin Hawkins, St Catherine’s Fundraiser Jackie Hutchinson and Landlady Jane Hawkins.

Written records show it belonged to the Swales family from the 1840s to the 1870s, with a John Skelton, who was also a butcher, taking over as landlord from 1890 to 1900. His ancestors included Mrs Martha Skelton who, according to 1903 records, applied for an hour’s extension of opening times one day a year for the benefit of the village club feast which involved a march to the church and back to the inn, with band and banners, for speeches, toasts and a meal provided by Martha.

In more recent times, the pub was well placed for custom from nearby villages and racing stables, with Press archives from the 1980s and 1990s showing that it was also a base for clubs such as The Derwent Beagles and Ryedale Hare Coursing Club.

A Victorian parish church, built in the 19th century, adds to the village skyline.

All of this sits at a crossroads of routes: minor roads that lead towards Kirkbymoorside, Pickering and Malton, and lanes that thread out into Ryedale’s farms.

In recent years even the peloton has found its way here, with world‑class riders passing through the village that once hosted Roman traffic – stage one of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire came through Malton and then out via Amotherby to Great Barugh, before swinging towards the Dalby/Pickering section.

Why you might visit Great Barugh?

People tend to know – or stumble across – Great Barugh for a few reasons.

Some come for the drive itself. The road out of Malton towards Kirkbymoorside runs through lovely countryside, with Great Barugh as one of the natural places to break a journey.

Others arrive for the walking and cycling. From Great Barugh you can fan out on footpaths and minor roads towards the Derwent, up towards the Moors or across to villages nearer Malton.

There is also the historical draw for anyone interested in Roman Yorkshire; for those who enjoy old pubs and village churches, it offers a stop on a slow tour of Ryedale. And for near-locals, it is simply one of those names that pops up on weather forecasts and road‑closure notices, prompting the occasional “How do you say that again?”

Small it may be, but Great Barugh’s name, layered landscape and unhurried crossroads give it a quiet appeal – however you choose to pronounce it.

WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: Chris Watts killed his pregnant wife Shanann and their two daughters, Bella and Cece, in a brutal murder that shocked the world – and he detailed his crimes in chilling prison letters

Family killer Chris Watts outlined murdering his family in chilling letters from prison and disclosed he needed two attempts to kill his own daughters.

Writing to author Cheryln Cadle from the Dodge Correctional Institution, Wisconsin, in the US, Watts described how he had been “thinking about killing” his wife for weeks, as reported by the Mail.

Infamously, Watts murdered his wife Shannan, 34, and suffocated his two daughters Bella, four, and Cece, three.

He later buried Shannan at a workplace approximately 40 miles away, before dumping his daughters’ bodies in crude oil tanks.

The offences horrified locals and people globally as they became notorious, particularly when the Netflix documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door was released.

Watts suffocated his daughters unsuccessfully before turning to his wife, saying “her eyes filled with blood”.

He recounted how he remembers her face “getting all black with streaks of mascara”.

In a letter, Watts writes: “August 13, morning of, I went to the girls’ room first, before Shanann and I had our argument.

“I went to Bella’s room, then Cece’s room and used a pillow from their bed (to kill them).”

“That’s why the cause of death was smothering. After I left Cece’s room, then I climbed back in bed with Shanann and our argument ensued.”

Shockingly, his two daughters awoke and trailed him around the house while he handled Shannan’s body.

She was pregnant at the time of her murder.

They were eventually killed at the site of their temporary burial, where “Bella is the only one that put up a fight” as “she knew I was killing her”.

The jailed killer disclosed: “After Shannan had passed, Bella and Cece woke back up. I’m not sure how they woke back up, but they did.”

“Bella’s eyes were bruised and both girls looked like they had been through trauma.”

While disposing of Shannan’s remains, Chris, who craved a fresh start with his clandestine girlfriend Nicole Kessinger, confessed he remained furious with Shannan following her death and saw she had delivered their baby post-mortem.

He said: “When I dug the hole, it seemed a lot deeper than it was. As I pulled on the sheet she rolled out and into the hole.

“I think she had given birth. She landed face down, I remember being so angry with her that I was not going to change how she landed.”

Previously regarded as a respectable family man, killer Watts tried to mask his appalling crimes – but managed to sustain the charade for merely days before police caught up with him.

He first insisted the killings were spontaneous, before subsequently admitting that he had planned them in advance, including remembering the moment he was tucking his two daughters into bed for the last time.

Watts revealed: “August 12 when I finished putting the girls to bed, I walked away and said ”That’s the last time I’m going to be tucking my babies in.””.

“I knew what was going to happen the day before and I did nothing to stop it.”

ITV gardener Alan Titchmarsh revealed what inspired him to take on a new career venture, following a recent change to his working schedule

Alan Titchmarsh has embarked on a fresh chapter in his extensive career – though it comes with a touch of apprehension. Best recognised for his horticultural knowledge, the 76-year-old is also a seasoned writer with multiple books under his belt. For his 13th fiction work, the gardener is venturing into a different genre – murder mystery.

Inspired by a transatlantic voyage on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, the novel is scheduled for publication next year.

Describing how the concept emerged, he said: “There were about 30 of us, writers and journalists, on board for a literature festival and one of the authors said to me, ‘Alan, you’ve never written crime, come on, it’s time you did’. The seed was sown then.”

Despite his excitement, Alan confessed he does harbour some worries about how the book will be received. Speaking to Yours Magazine, he said: “I have no doubt holes will be picked in my plot, but I have thoroughly enjoyed writing it. The characters are interesting and there’s a bit of humour. I never write things terribly, terribly serious.”

The fresh project follows his announcement of plans to reduce his working commitments in order to achieve a better balance between professional duties and family time.

According to Woman’s Weekly, he now avoids working on Fridays and occasionally Mondays, allowing for a more flexible schedule on his own terms.

As part of this transition, he has set up a YouTube channel, where he offers gardening guidance, advice and demonstrations from his own home. “It’s had millions of views,” he told Yours.

“It’s amazing. I think YouTube’s great strength is that it’s an intimate medium. One person has got you in their hand rather than a screen with a room and a country full of people watching it.”

Welcoming viewers to his channel, he said: “I’ve been a gardener for over 60 years and I can safely say that gardening is one of life’s greatest joys, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

“Whether you have green fingers or just starting out with your very first window box, join me in my garden for practical tips, step-by-step guides, and plenty of friendly advice to help you make the most of your garden – large or small.

“So pop the kettle on, pull up a chair (or a trowel!), and join me each week as we celebrate the wonderful world of gardening together,” he added.

In a recent episode, Alan offered timely guidance on spring gardening tasks, emphasising it as the perfect opportunity to address lawns that have been damaged by winter moss.

He further noted that gardeners ought to turn their attention to pricking out seedlings, sowing vegetable seeds, planting hardy perennials, and introducing cherry trees into their outdoor spaces.

Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh airs Sundays at 9.30am on ITV and ITVX

Cody Gakpo’s stunning girlfriend Noa van der Bij has her own huge following on social media where she posts about her life of luxury

Liverpool star Cody Gakpo will have the backing of his stunning girlfriend Noa van der Bij when the Reds face Manchester United on Sunday. Arne Slot’s side head to Old Trafford with the winger expected to feature in the starting line-up as Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike remain unavailable through injury.

While it has been a difficult campaign for the 26-year-old, who has managed just eight goals this term, Noa’s potential attendance could provide a boost in a fixture where he’s found the net four times.

The Dutch pair are believed to have been an item since at least December 2020, during Gakpo’s spell at PSV Eindhoven, with their relationship seeing them relocate to Merseyside following his £45million transfer in 2022.

Understood to be employed by Cachet Models as a booker, the blonde beauty also boasts a considerable social media presence with more than 50,000 followers on Instagram, where she regularly shares glimpses of her luxurious holidays.

She has soaked up the sun in destinations including Saint Tropez, Monaco, Ibiza and Curacao, with numerous posts featuring her son, Samuël Seth Gakpo, whom the couple welcomed in May 2024.

READ MORE: Mohamed Salah injury update as Liverpool confirm if he’ll play for club againREAD MORE: Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez makes extraordinary Andy Robertson claim ahead of Anfield exit

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In Noa’s most recent picture-perfect carousel from last month, she documented a private jet journey with Gakpo and their son, as well as a pilates class with several friends.

Among those showering her posts with heart emojis are the likes of Saffie Khan, partner of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, and Marina Reijnders, wife of Manchester City star Tijani Reijnders.

Ahead of Sunday’s mouth-watering encounter, Gakpo’s finest moment in a fixture against Manchester United arrived during Liverpool’s stunning 7-0 demolition at Anfield in 2023, when he netted twice.

He achieved this with Noa watching from the stands, revelling in his breath-taking display. Gakpo’s double against the Red Devils came just over a year after joining Liverpool, who edged out United to land his signature in the January transfer window of 2022.

The 13-time Premier League champions – who were managed at the time by Erik ten Hag – reportedly held talks with Gakpo’s representatives during that winter window in a bid to secure the Dutchman’s services.

Yet it was Jurgen Klopp who ultimately triumphed in his pursuit of Gakpo, who has since gone on to claim every domestic honour at Liverpool with Noa at his side. He will be desperate for history to repeat itself on Sunday – only this time at Old Trafford.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

For the second year in a row, Manchester City have frozen season ticket prices. They have also frozen matchday prices, having reduced them last year. And, as important, the club have made significant moves to improve the ticket transfer policy that has been one of the main frustrations turning off supporters since August.

To say the fans are seeing some of the best football of their lives in a Pep Guardiola era filled with trophies, last season saw a deterioration in the relationship with the club. There were visible protests inside the stadium where thousands took part before official fan board City Matters vehemently rejected a proposed rise to force a club U-turn.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said afterwards that what had happened was ‘not okay’ and there was the same feeling from supporters. Lee Broadstock was one of the City Matters reps last year that went on strike in protest at the club not engaging on ticket prices, and as he took up chair of the group for this season he was determined for nobody to go down the same route this time.

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Ticket prices are generally the yardstick by which City Matters are judged by the majority of fans, who are not in on the minutes of the meetings held throughout the season on various issues. For the first big meeting with the club over tickets in January, the ten members of the group came prepared.

A document detailing the cost of living in Manchester, demographic detail and other factors in support of a price freeze was sent to club executives a week before the meeting, printed out for everyone in the room, and then discussed line by line over two hours.

There was a positive and confident mood from the group leaving that meeting, but it began to waver as silence followed. Fan group 1894 sent a visible message on a number of matchdays for the club not to price out the next generation of fans and The Citizens Trust launched as an independent body to protest the interest of Blues, but announcements from rival Premier League clubs did little to inspire confidence.

“We started conversations with the club back in January about season ticket prices for next season. And whilst that’s good from the point of view of the club are thinking early to start that process, so many things can happen after January,” explained Kevin Parker, one of the reps and head of the official supporters’ club.

“Are the team doing well or are they not doing well? How many games have we played? Does that impact on the revenues stream for the club? So starting early is good but then we’re also probably thinking from a City Matters point of view that everybody else in football is announcing a price increase. We’re part of the Football Supporters Federation and all the clubs are coming in with 3 per cent, 4 per cent, 5 per cent – whatever it is.”

Then came the next meeting with City Matters in March, and to the confusion of everyone in the group ticket prices were not one of the talking points. All the work that had gone into the paper that had been presented in January was not mentioned, and when the response finally came in an extraordinary meeting the proposals hadn’t been recognised.

“We had a full group meeting and it wasn’t discussed. And It’s like, well, what are you doing? By that point in March, it was like, if I had this for two months as a club, what would it be?” said Broadstock. “And that’s when we went and said we need an extraordinary meeting. We need this moving along. One of the final points on the ticketing paper was we want a clear timeline going forward.

“But when we did end up meeting with the club, they did put a proposal that we weren’t happy with, and a number of issues that we put to them that they were not going to change. We really laid it on the line. I think the club were a bit taken back with how heavy we were in terms of, this is not what we asked for, not what we wanted. Why is it eight weeks to get to this point?”

It was a feisty meeting, where City Matters made clear the choices that the club had: ignore the recommendations and be called out publicly for that, or show that they could commit to something that Premier League rivals were not. The fact that the rise would only have brought the club around £300,000 in additional revenue was also pointed out, with personal stories given of people who may walk away just so City could raise what would amount to the tiniest of fractions of their official revenue.

The mood after that was far less positive, but at least the group felt they had said everything they wanted to. And on the club’s side was outgoing COO Roel De Vries, who had listened to reason last year and is regarded as a pragmatic negotiator even if he can say things that sound out of touch with matchgoing fans.

In the end, it was not just De Vries but the City chairman himself who also got involved in ultimately deciding that the trust of fans and goodwill they would earn from freezing tickets was more important than the revenue they would make. Not that City Matters had any sense of that when they sat down for the initial meeting.

“Danny Wilson, [head of supporter experience at City], started with a list of reasons of what the club consider when they think what they do about ticket prices or season tickets or matchday,” said Parker. “And I think a few of us are probably thinking ‘you’ve gone the wrong way haven’t you?’

“And then Dan came out with a list of no season ticket prices, no match day increases, a reduced category D price for midweek games. Then we went into the ticket transfer policy where they’ve increased the number of people you can have on your friends and family. And you can transfer it to another season ticket holder which you couldn’t do before. I think we were all a little bit gobsmacked to be honest with you how far the club had gone.

“The only thing that we had to talk about after that to be fair was certain processes in terms of ticketing and season tickets and seat moves and renewals. The hard debate had been done and it was quite a relaxed meeting.

“I remember right at the start of this I was saying to City, don’t increase the prices and get out there and be the first to not. Obviously the club have a process that they have to follow, but I’m thinking that we can lead. In a strange way, the way that it’s happened, it’s been a bigger impact because other clubs probably still would have done what they’re going to do. They’ve done it and we could have been influenced.

“It’s probably fair to say that we at City Matters probably thought, because there are so many clubs who have announced that City are just going to go for an increase. And we will have our say, but they’ll still do it. The fact that they haven’t, I think it’s an even bigger plus.”

City Matters took the acclaim for their hard word, the club basked in a positive light, and lines were drawn for the next battles that are coming. What happens with the extended North Stand and the 115 verdict – if it ever drops – are the big items on the horizon but already there have been concerns on away ticket allocation and the 10-game personal attendance policy have been flagged.

“There’s improvements that can always be made,” said Broadstock. “But I think City Matters has been around eight years now. And it just feels like now we’re starting to really find our feet and find our teeth.”

Manchester United are set to take on fellow top four contenders and bitter rivals Liverpool

The biggest Premier League fixture of the weekend is undoubtedly Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

Having been defeated 2-1 in October’s Anfield fixture, when Ruben Amorim was still in charge, Arne Slot will hope to fare better against Michael Carrick in the opposition dugout this time around. Both clubs have experienced their fair share of pain and misery at points this season, yet they are on course to secure vital Champions League qualification spots.

The afternoon encounter at Old Trafford is expected to bring fireworks, as is often the case when the two biggest clubs in England face off. But several pundits appeared to agree on one particular outcome when predicting the match result.

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Jamie Carragher – 1-1 Draw

Despite his affiliation with Liverpool, Jamie Carragher isn’t backing his former club to come away from Old Trafford with more than a point. He was brutally honest about how disappointing Arne Slot’s men have been recently.

He said: “Man United versus Liverpool – I’m not confident. I’m not. I don’t think United are playing well, to be fair. I think Liverpool are getting results without playing well. I’m not convinced by them at all, to be honest, at the minute. I can’t see Liverpool winning it.

“I’m going to go for a 1-1 draw. I think these teams will probably finish third and fourth in the Premier League but I don’t think either of them are a really good team, to be honest.”

Alan Shearer – Draw

Alan Shearer believes there will be nothing to separate the two rivals at Old Trafford on Sunday, believing their relatively safe positions in the top five suggests they will both be happy to walk away with a draw.

The Newcastle legend wrote in his column for The Metro: “It’s not the Liverpool or Man United we know at all from how they have played this season. I don’t think it’ll be a classic.

“I think because of where both teams are mentally and physically, and also in terms of where they are in the league. I don’t think a draw would be a bad result for both of them.”

Harry Redknapp – 3-2 United win

Speaking to BetVictor, Harry Redknapp has predicted a five-goal thriller. The former Tottenham manager thinks United will come away with a narrow win due to the talent of their in-form captain, Bruno Fernandes, who could make history on the big occasion by breaking the assists record.

Redknapp said: “The big one. United weren’t at their best against Brentford but they got the job done and that’s all that matters at this stage. Michael Carrick’s done a terrific job here, you couldn’t have asked for much from him.

“That’s now three wins in a row for Liverpool as they end the season in some decent form. I still wouldn’t say they’ve been unbelievable but a Champions League finish is essential for them, and it looks like they’ll get it.

“I don’t really trust either of these sides at the back right now, so I think we’ll see goals. I’m picking United, 3-2! All eyes are on Bruno Fernandes as he hunts down that Premier League assist record. It would be typical of him to do something special in this game.”

Paul Merson – 2-2 Draw

Paul Merson is another pundit who has opted to sit on the fence on this occasion. Unlike Shearer, however, the Sky Sports pundit thinks both teams will try to go for the win, resulting in a gripping affair.

Merson told Sportskeeda: “Unlike previous years, this isn’t the biggest game in English football anymore! It’s still massive for both teams though. If Liverpool lose and Brighton beat Newcastle, there will only be five points separating the Reds and the Seagulls in sixth.

“When you look at Liverpool’s fixtures after this game as well, they are not absolute give-me contests. Chelsea at Anfield, Aston Villa away and Brentford again at home is a tricky run.

“Manchester United were poor against Leeds and I don’t think they were great in the wins over Chelsea and Brentford either. Liverpool can cause them problems and I expect there will be goals in this game.

“Alexander Isak scoring for Liverpool last weekend will be a huge boost for his confidence. It has been a long hard season for him, starting with him refusing to play and then the injury after the move to Liverpool. That goal would have meant a lot to him.

“Bruno Fernandes has also played extremely well this season. But when it comes to the Player of the Year award, we must not ignore the fact that he only plays once a week.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Ian Isherwood appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday via video link from HMP Liverpool.

The court heard that the 43-year-old was investigated by police back in 2023, when officers uncovered hundreds of indecent images of children on his mobile phone.

This included 52 category A images – the most severe form of abuse involving child rape – as well as 72 category B and 323 in category C.

It was also found that Isherwood had made bank transfers to an account associated with distributing indecent images of children, although these images were not recovered.

Prosecting, Mark Roberts told the court that while examining his device officers found a file saved on his phone which contained an indecent image of a child.

This was a picture Isherwood had taken himself of a young girl, who was under the age of 13 when the photograph was taken.

Officers managed to locate the child in Warrington, who then informed them that Isherwood had sexually abused her.

The Isherwood had engaged in sexual activity with the young girl by touching her genitals orally, masturbating in front of her and encouraging her to perform a sex act on him.

Isherwood, of Shipton Street in Bolton but formerly of Warrington, was interviewed by police where he either made no comment or responded with a prepared statement denying the offences.

Isherwood was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

His denials continued to court, where he continued to plead not guilty to the sexual offences against the young child and forced her to endure a trial.

Isherwood’s brave victim gave evidence in court, and Isherwood was later found guilty by a jury.

At his sentencing, the court heard an impact statement written by the victim which was read on her behalf by Mr Roberts.

This statement noted how the abuse and the trial had led the young girl to suffer with severe anxiety and stress.

Defending, Martyn Walsh told the court that Isherwood had become ‘desensitised to pornography’ after being introduced to it at a young age.

Mr Walsh also noted that the 43-year-old ‘needs help’ and that his risk can be managed upon his eventual release from prison.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Gary Woodhall noted how Isherwood has an ‘entrenched attraction to children’ and that he poses a high risk of sexual offending in the future.

Isherwood was sentenced to a total of 12 years immediate imprisonment, where he will have to face a parole board to assess his level of risk before he is released, and must then serve an extra three years on licence.

He must abide by a sexual harm prevention order and remain on the sex offenders register ‘until further order’.

A restraining order was also put in place to protect his victim for the next 18 years.

Rock, folk and roots, blues, jazz and country are among the diverse music on offer at the Milton Rooms in Malton in the next few weeks.

The Steelers bring the music of Steely Dan, Honey & The Bear are on their 2026 Album Tour, The Lightning Threads are at Ryedale Blues Club and Country Bound are, well, bringing all the country music hits.

Add to that, in June, Alchemy Live recreate great live performances from Dire Straits, and Zoe Gilby brings her unique jazz vocal talent.

Away from music, a gripping and chilling Evening with Jack The Ripper attempts to unmask the real identity of the Victorian London murderer who preyed on the most vulnerable members of society.

And don’t forget the summer edition of Daytime on the Dancefloor, back by popular demand after the February show sold out. Tickets are selling fast!

New events are being added to the Milton Rooms programme all the time, so head over to www.themiltonrooms.com to see what’s coming up and to book tickets.

May

Saturday, May 9: The Steelers – A tribute to Steely Dan. A rare chance to hear the music of the US band Steely Dan played live. The Steelers, a nine-piece band comprising musicians from around the UK, will perform a selection of timeless classics from such iconic albums as Pretzel Logic, The Royal Scam, AJA and Goucho. Co-founded by Walter Becker and Donald Fagan in 1972, Steely Dan produced some of the greatest music of the 21st century. 8pm. Tickets £18.

Thursday, May 14: An Evening with Jack the Ripper. Whitechapel 1888. Between August and November a series of women are brutally murdered. The identity of the killer remains a mystery. It’s the greatest unsolved case in criminal history. Generating argument, debate and a host of different theories. ‘An Evening with Jack the Ripper’ will delve into the sordid realms of Victorian London in an attempt to finally unmask the man who preyed upon the most vulnerable members of society. 7.30pm. Tickets £15.

Saturday, May 16: Honey & The Bear – 2026 Album Tour. Honey & The Bear have been a tour de force on the UK festival circuit in recent years. The British folk and roots duo bring folklore to life with delicately interweaving vocal harmonies inside a dynamic world of songwriting. With a diverse range of sounds and textures, and rhythms that flow from the fast and furious to gentle ballads, their live performances are spirited and enthralling. 8pm. Tickets £15.

Thursday, May 28: Ryedale Blues Club – The Lightning Threads. The Lightning Threads are a blues-rock power trio hailing from Sheffield, influenced by the great rock musicians of another time. They are often compared to The Black Keys, Gary Clark Jr, Cream and The Doors. Since forming 2019, they have headlined legendary venues such as The Leadmill and The Greystones, Sheffield, as well as unforgettable festival appearances in front of thousands at Witney Music Festival (supporting Bez, Happy Mondays) Bunkerfest (supporting Beans on Toast) and DN One Live (supporting Sandi Thom). 8pm. Tickets £10.

Saturday, May 30: Country Bound. Country Bound perform fun, upbeat country hits that are sure to have everybody up on their feet dancing the night away. Their set is made up of modern and classic country songs as well as some classic floor fillers reimagined in a country music style, so there is something for everyone. Over two hours of live music and dancing. Fronted by singer Micki Consiglio, Country Bound comprises fantastic musicians who have been performing in the industry for many years and have now come together to create an incredible line-up. 8pm. Tickets £25.

June

Friday, June 5: Alchemy Live. Alchemy Live were formed in 2020 by lifelong Dire Straits fans Martin Ledger and Neil Scott. Their first show was scheduled in York for Friday, May 13 2022 (what could possibly go wrong)? Much to the band’s surprise, their inaugural show quickly sold out, further sell out shows followed around Yorkshire during the year and in January 2023 the band made their move into theatre shows. Every song choice is taken from a specific, classic live performance in Dire Straits’ history, for example the show’s opening song Money For Nothing is taken from their legendary performance at Live Aid in 1985 and played note for note. 8pm. Tickets £25.

Saturday, June 6: Daytime on the Dancefloor – Summer Edition. Back by popular demand after a sell-out February show. Experience the Daytime on the Dancefloor event days that are sweeping the nation. Live dancers, DJs and headline act International Electric Disco DJ Danny Dizco. All the hits back-to-back from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, hands-in-the-air-classics, singalong anthems, feelgood vibes and not-stop party sounds. 4pm. Tickets £15.

Sunday, June 7: The Zoe Gilby Quartet. Zoe Gilby is a UK-based jazz vocalist and songwriter who tours internationally and throughout the UK, performing her original compositions, written with double bassist husband Andy Champion. Zoe is a creative, compelling songwriter and performer, establishing critical acclaim with her adventurous approach and influences from jazz and contemporary composers from Kate Bush to Thelonious Monk. 7.30pm. Tickets £16.

Friday, June 19: Rust For Glory – Neil Young Tribute. Rust For Glory, the UK’s premier Neil Young tribute band, have been faithfully capturing his spirit and sound since 2011. With a dynamic range that spans haunting acoustic ballads to full-throttle electric rockers, Rust For Glory deliver powerful and authentic performances that celebrate every era of Young’s storied career. Frontman Alex has also kept the Neil Young flame burning online with Streamin’ Out, a weekly YouTube show where he plays an hour of Neil Young classics live on guitar, piano and banjo. The channel boasts more than 5,500 subscribers and nearly 750,000 total views. 8pm. Tickets £15.

Monday, June 22: Kemps Presents – An Evening with Olly Smith ‘Wine, Mystery & Conversation’. A lively and entertaining evening with the UK’s best loved wine expert Olly Smith (BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen) in conversation with Alex from Derventio Wines. Olly will be discussing his sparkling debut novel, Death by Noir – a warm, witty, cosy crime set in the Sussex wine world. Blending storytelling, humour and a passion for wine, this special event invites you into Olly’s world for an evening of conversation, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. 7.30pm. Ticket & complimentary drink £15; with book £32.

Thursday, June 25: Ryedale Blues Club – Moorlands Blues Band. The Moorlands Blues Band is a powerhouse blues ensemble founded by seasoned musicians Giuseppe Vitale and Rod Mackay. The extraordinary Owen Houlston joins on voice and guitar. Together, they bring a wealth of experience from stages across the UK and Europe, delivering a blues experience that’s as authentic as it is electrifying. With soulful depth and high-energy performances, The Moorlands Blues Band lights up the stage with everything from raw Old Delta Blues to the swing of Jump Blues and the gritty soul of Chicago Blues. 8pm. Tickets £10.