Josh Widdicombe is waltzing into the Strictly spotlight as one of three new hosts – but he almost decided to turn down the opportunity.

The comedian will present the show alongside Emma Willis and former professional Johannes Radebe, two years after appearing as a contestant on the Christmas special.

However, he wasn’t initially sure he wanted to step into Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s shoes after being offered a chance to audition for the role due to the high-profile nature of the gig.

“When the call came initially just for the meeting, I thought, ‘I really like my life, would I want to throw it into flux?’ Because it’s a big thing, it’s a defining thing that you’re suddenly doing it. But I just thought, ‘What an incredible thing to experience’.”

Widdicombe said he was more shocked than anyone to get the job, stating on his Parenting Hell podcast: “When I started out in stand-up, no one foresaw this. It’s wild. It’s one of the biggest shows in the 21st century, alongside I’m a Celeb.

He said he’s glad the news is out there as he’s been having to lie to people, including his kids as he couldn’t trust them.

“I’m incredibly excited — there is a real fun vibe to the three of us, there is something for everyone, it’s the ultimate modern family. It feels weird now, as it’s four months away.”

Rumours had been swirling ever since Daly and Winkleman announced they were stepping away from the BBC competition, and Willis emerged as a frontrunner in recent weeks.

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However tough the task, producers are hoping to recapture Daly and Winkleman’s dynamic styles, with the former’s sleek professionalism in the main studio and Traitors presenter Winkleman’s mastery of controlled chaos in the “Clauditorium”.

Willis and Widdicombe are expected to be the main hosts, with Radebe rumoured to be taking on a “roving reporter” role.

He said of his promotion to host: “This show has always stood for joy, heart, and togetherness, and I feel deeply honoured to now help carry that magic forward. To do it alongside the formidable Emma Willis and the utterly brilliant Josh Widdicombe makes it even more special. I’m ready – sequins, nerves, and all, please bear with me.”

Meanwhile, former Big Brother host Willis said that she’s a “huge fan” of Strictly and “can’t quite comprehend” becoming a presenter on the show. “It’s impossible to fill the shoes that Tess and Claudia have left behind – two wonderful, iconic women who have been the beating heart of Strictly for so long.

“I can only hope that we are able to help to steer the ship as beautifully as they have, into this new chapter. I can’t wait to spend my weekends with Josh and Jojo, the incredible dancers and the judges. Fingers crossed for a 10 from them!”

The father of Katie Price’s “missing” husband, Lee Andrews, has claimed his son has been imprisoned in Dubai.

The reality star made headlines last weekend when she revealed that she hadn’t heard from her husband of four months in days – and feared that he may have been “kidnapped”.

But according to Andrews’s dad Peter, his son has been detained by UAE authorities on an unknown charge, and is expected to contact him later today.

“Lee is OK. He has not been kidnapped, but he is under arrest. I don’t know on what charge,” he told DailyMail.co.uk.

“I’m not sure where he is being held. But he will call me later today.”

Price, 47, married Dubai-based businessman Lee Andrews in January just days after meeting him for the first time. It has not been a drama-free honeymoon period for the pair who are navigating a long-distance relationship, with the University of Cambridge disputing Andrews’s claims that he earned a PhD from the institution.

Price claimed that Andrews had disappeared after he was due to fly from Dubai to the UK for an appearance on Good Morning Britain.

According to Price, the Criminal Investigation Department in Dubai is looking for Andrews, but “no one can find anywhere in the country that Lee has been detained”.

“We are now wondering, as far-fetched as it is, that he’s a missing person now, I don’t know if he’s been kidnapped,” she added. “No one can find him in any prison, any police station; the police can’t find any record of him.” The Independent has contacted the Dubai police for comment.

Price raised the alarm over Andrews’ whereabouts for the first time publicly on 16 May in a YouTube video. “I don’t really know where to begin but I know there’s all this speculation about Lee from when I met him,” she said. “Something really, really serious has happened.”

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She added that while she had posted to Instagram that Andrews was “taking time out of socials” due to recent trolling, the truth was that he had been missing “for three days”.

“The last time I heard from Lee was Wednesday night at 10pm, he was trying to go through the border in Dubai to get on a flight to me,” she said. “We are wondering if he’s been kidnapped; he’s definitely a missing person now.”

She also claimed that Andrews’ hands were tied when she last spoke to him. “He had ties around his hand, not handcuffs, and a hood, and he said, ‘Look, they’re coming back for me,’ that is the last FaceTime call I had,” she said.

“He was in a van, but the windows were white with a mesh. It looked like an old, dirty van.”

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told The Independent: “We are supporting the family of a British man and are in contact with the local authorities.”

A judge’s decision not to jail two teenage boys who raped two girls has been described by one of the victims as a “rock straight in my face”.

The trial at Southampton Crown Court heard the girls were raped in two separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, the first attack on November 26, 2024 and the second on January 17, 2025.

The boys, both aged 15, were given youth rehabilitation orders (YRO) and made subject to intensive supervision and surveillance (ISS).

In an interview with the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, one of the victims – who was 15 at the time of the incident – asked: “What was the point in putting me through that?”

Speaking anonymously alongside her family, the now-16-year-old said the judge’s decision “almost made it seem as if what the boys did was not OK, but it was OK in the eyes of the law because they were still children”.

Jodie Mittel KC, prosecuting, told the trial the girl had visited one of the defendants in November 2024 after meeting him on Snapchat.

The prosecutor said that after performing sex acts on the boy, who was then 14, she became “scared and anxious” when the second defendant arrived, and the pair raped her while the incident was filmed.

Ms Mittel said that afterwards, videos of the incident had been sent around and other people made jokes about her, and she received messages calling her a “slag”.

The complainant in the January incident, who was 14 at the time, was raped in a field near to Fordingbridge recreation ground while the incident was also filmed.

In the sentencing hearing on Thursday, a 15-year-old boy was handed a three-year YRO with 180 days of ISS for the rape of each of the two girls and two indecent images charges.

The court heard he had been diagnosed with ADHD as well as “long-standing anxiety”.

A second 15-year-old was given the same sentence for three charges of rape against each of the two victims and four counts of taking indecent images in relation to filming of the incidents.

The court was told he had an IQ of the “bottom 1 per cent of his contemporaries” and had been diagnosed with ADHD.

A third boy, 14, was given a YRO for 18 months for two charges of rape in the January incident by encouraging the second defendant and an offence of indecent images.

He was described as having “mild cognitive impairment”.

Judge Nicholas Rowland told the defendants: “I have to remember that you are not small adults. I have to think how likely you are to do serious things again and I need to make sure you do not do serious things again in the future.”

Explaining his sentence, he said: “I should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily and understand the effects of their behaviour and support their reintegration into society.”

He added that “peer pressure played a large part in what went on”.

During the BBC interview, the girl’s mother issued an appeal to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, asking: “If it was your daughter, your niece, your son, your nephew, your family member, would you be happy?

“Because we’re not happy and I don’t think any other member of the public will be happy too. So you’re in a position of power to help, so please help.”

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Sunday, Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said: “What is really alarming is the judge’s comments praising these three young males for their good conduct from the charge up to the point of their sentence.

“But let’s not forget, these were not guilty pleas that were entered. This is three males who put their victims through the trial and the ordeal of having to re-live all of that. That has really added to the burden for those two survivors.”

Ms Jones said she agrees that rehabilitation is “important”, but added: “These are not low-level offences. They are some of the worst offences you can do to another human being.

“The police often refer to rape as the worst offence you can survive… and the victims will have to live with the consequences of this for the rest of their lives.

“That’s why (a custodial sentence) is appropriate, for the protection of others and so (the culprits) can get that support in prison. They should be sent to youth offending.”

A Government spokesman said the attorney general’s office had received “multiple” requests for the sentences to be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.

He said: “We share the public’s shock at the details of this horrific case, and our thoughts are with the young victims during this distressing time.

“The law officers are urgently reviewing the case with the utmost care and attention.”

President Donald Trump – in the White House at the time – thanked the US Secret Service for “swift and professional action” and said the suspect had a “violent history”.

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A person who approached a White House security checkpoint and began firing at officers has died after being shot, according to federal officials. The US Secret Service said in a statement late on Saturday that, according to a preliminary investigation, the person approached a checkpoint shortly after 6pm local time “pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers”.

Officers returned fire and hit the suspect – named as Nasire Best, 21, by a law enforcement official – who was transported to an area hospital where he later died, according to the Secret Service. A bystander was struck and was in a critical condition, but a law enforcement official said it was not clear whether that person was struck by the suspects initial bullets or those fired subsequently by officers.

Secret Service said none of its officers were injured and President Donald Trump – who was at the White House at the time – was not “impacted”. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement officers for their “swift and professional action” and said the suspect had a “violent history”.

Journalists working at the White House on Saturday reported hearing a series of gun shots and were told to seek shelter inside the press briefing room. In a post shared on X, the senior White House correspondent for ABC News Selina Wang shared dramatic video of the moment she said she heard what “sounded like dozens of gunshots” and ducked for cover.

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Writing that she had been performing a task that reporters at the White House do day in and day out – filming themselves on a cellphone, for a social media post – the video shows her speaking for a few seconds about Mr Trump’s statements earlier on Saturday about a potential Iran deal. As the sounds of gunfire are heard in the background, her eyes grow wider, and she ducks down in the media tent, which is among those situated in a line along the White House driveway where broadcasters film their reports.

The Metropolitan Police Department said on X the Secret Service was working the scene and cautioned people to avoid the area. The scene is near where a gunman ambushed two members of the West Virginia National Guard last November.

US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her wounds. Andrew Wolfe, then 24, was critically wounded. Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged in that incident. The gunfire on Saturday comes nearly a month after what law enforcement authorities said was an attempted assassination of the president on April 25 as he attended the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at a Washington hotel.

Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, pleaded not guilty to charges that he attempted to kill Mr Trump and remains in federal custody. Following that scare, Secret Service officers shot a suspect they said had fired at officers near the Washington Monument, also near the White House.

Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was charged in a complaint filed in US District Court in connection with the May 4 shooting. A teenage bystander was wounded in that incident.

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Sir Chris Hoy has opened up on how he dealt with being diagnosed with incurable cancer

Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy has revealed how he would think about living with stage four cancer every morning in the aftermath of being diagnosed with the disease in 2023. The cycling legend’s cancer has since metastasised to his bones, and in 2024, he was warned by doctors that he had between two and four years to live.

The 50-year-old won 37 medals across a stunning career as a track cyclist, including six Olympic gold medals. Speaking on the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Sir Chris touched upon how he dealt with the news that he had incurable cancer but how he refused to let it define him.

“No one knows what’s coming tomorrow, so enjoy today and make the most of it,” he said. “In terms of the terminology and what stage four means. Stage four, metastatic, is spread from a primary source. It’s spread around the body and it’s not something you can truly get rid of.

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“You can get to a stage where the scans are clear, which is amazing if you can get to that point, but it doesn’t mean it won’t come back.

“It will come back at some stage. But it’s about controlling that and finding ways to live with your cancer and try and not let it dictate who you are and not let it be the first thing you think about in the morning when you wake up, or the last thing you think about before you go to sleep at night. I feel that took me, probably about six months, maybe more?”

Elaborating on how little he knew about his condition upon his diagnosis, he said: “I was one of those people that didn’t know [about incurable cancer] it was explained to me in one sentence, ‘You have incurable cancer, it’s treatable, but it’s incurable,’ so in the space of one sentence my whole world had been turned upside down and all hope had been taken away.

“I guess it’s then up to you to rebuild, find that hope and that way forward. There’s no easy way of hearing that information and getting your head around it. It takes time as a kind of grieving process.

“You’re grieving the life that you thought you had ahead of you and how it was going to pan out, but none of us knows what’s coming tomorrow. And that’s not a morbid thing. It should be a positive thing to remind us to enjoy today and to free ourselves from a lot of the things we worry about.”

Sir Chris, who is planning another Tour de 4 charity cycle race in September, after the inaugural event raised more than £3.1million last year, maintains a stunning resilience, adding that he prefers to stay in control in an ultimately uncontrollable situation.

He added: “It’s not a sudden day where it stops happening. Scan times, blood tests, and medical meetings, it comes back to the surface. When you walk into the oncologist’s office, it’s not a nice feeling waiting to get news about whatever the latest state of play is. Stage four, to me, is something that you will live with for the rest of your life.

“We don’t get to choose what happens to us, nobody does, but we can choose how we respond to those situations and that’s something I repeat to myself when it’s difficult. You have to understand what you control. If you’re fighting against the things that are out of your control, then you’re never going to be happy, or you’re never going to be settled or make the most of whatever situation you’re in.

“You can still fight for yourself and fight for your situation. There are things you can’t change and you have to accept that and this has really brought that into focus.”

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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.

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Donald Macleod MBE, the owner of Glasgow’s legendary Garage and Cathouse night clubs, warned firms are being ‘pushed towards extinction’.

One of Scotland’s most successful hospitality bosses has warned thousands of jobs are being lost because firms being “pushed towards extinction” by government policy.

Donald Macleod MBE, the owner of Glasgow’s legendary Garage and Cathouse night clubs, has spoken out as new figures show UK unemployment rising to 5per cent.

He accused Labour of “hammering” the high street with extra taxes resulting in young people being thrown on the dole queue.

He said: “Starmer and Reeves promised stability, competence, and a pro-growth agenda that would restore confidence in business and public services.

“Instead, they delivered betrayal, hammering the High Street with one of the most anti-hospitality budgets this country has ever seen.

“The High Street and hospitality industry are not just dying—they’re being pushed towards extinction.

“Rising operating and supply costs, higher taxation, and persistent uncertainty over policy direction have left many firms teetering on the edge of the abyss, while pushing countless others over it.

“Footfall has declined, margins have eroded, employer National Insurance increases and minimum wage rises have tightened hiring conditions, opening hours and shifts are being reduced, and investment has flatlined.

“In Scotland alone, an estimated 8,000 hospitality jobs have been lost, with more than 130,000 across the UK disappearing altogether.

“This week, we learned unemployment has risen to 5per cent, while unemployment among 16–24-year-olds has soared above 240,000.

“More than 100,000 of those jobs were lost in April alone, which is shocking. This is no short-term downturn, the figures are depressingly moving in only one direction.”

Writing on his Substack column The Glasgow Splash, the businessman called Labour’s leadership battle “amateur dramatics” rather than a psychodrama, and called for a general election.

He said: “Sir Keir Starmer has undoubtedly become a liability to the Labour movement. Whole swathes of the working-class electorate—including many within his own party—have railed against what they see as an autocratic automaton – a man devoid of personality, conviction, and, more importantly, vision.

“It is not just Keir who should go. Senior figures such as Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner, David Lammy, Ed Miliband, and Yvette Cooper must also shoulder responsibility for Labour’s catastrophic fall from grace.

“They call it a psychodrama, but it feels more like an amateur dramatics society.

“That problem is trust. Once political trust begins to erode on a national scale, it becomes exceptionally difficult to restore.

“Which is why the country now requires something beyond Westminster manoeuvring and internal party games. It requires a democratic reset. A General Election must be called.

“We have already had four unelected Prime Ministers in the past 10 years; let there not be a fifth.”

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Aldi in Fulford Road is closed with shoppers directed to the supermarket’s store in Water Lane during the closure.

The works, as reported by The Press, will see the store’s shopping area increase from 854sqm to 1,146sqm, with the overall footprint of the site expanding from 1,265sqm to 1,557sqm.

It will see the number of parking spaces falling from 107 to 92, but the supermarket said the expansion should bring the shop into line with typical Aldi stores – ranging from 1,200sqm to 1,400sqm.

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An Aldi spokesperson said: “Work to extend our Fulford Road store has been ongoing since January and is progressing well, with the store remaining open to customers as normal throughout the majority of the build.”

The supermarket’s Fulford Road store was last closed for a full renovation in 2021 which aimed to modernize the shopping experience.

Peking Garden in Stockton delivered an experience that felt as much about celebration as it did about food — and it struck exactly the right balance.

After months of her dropping hints, we finally visited as a group of seven to celebrate my sister’s birthday, going for the all-you-can-eat buffet, a choice that quickly proved to be the right one. 

From the moment we arrived, there was a sense that this wouldn’t be your standard sit-down meal. Instead, it felt curated, personal, and quietly indulgent.

One of the standout touches came immediately when we were shown into our own private dining room. For a family, including a very chatty four-year-old,  this made a huge difference. 

It created a relaxed, intimate setting where conversation flowed easily, and there was no worry about excited chatter disturbing other diners. Removing that stress meant it felt special without being overly formal, exactly what you want for a birthday gathering.

At the centre of the table was a large spinning tray, a detail that delighted our youngest guest more than anything else. My niece quickly dubbed it “Mr Robot”, and from that point on, the evening took on an added layer of excitement.

Watching dishes rotate around the table became part of the experience itself, adding a playful, interactive element that kept everyone engaged.

The buffet format here is slightly different from the typical help-yourself style. Instead of queueing at a counter, you order from the menu, and dishes are freshly prepared and brought to the table. 

It’s a system that combines the variety of a buffet with the quality and presentation of a traditional restaurant meal, and it works well.

We began, quite optimistically, by ordering every appetiser on the menu. It might sound excessive, but with seven people at the table, it felt like the perfect way to sample the full range on offer. Plates arrived steadily, filling the table with a wide spread of starters.

Each dish was distinct and well-executed. Crispy spring rolls were light and golden, with a satisfying crunch that gave way to a flavourful filling. The salt and pepper dishes carried just the right amount of heat, balanced with aromatic spices that didn’t overpower. 

Prawn toast was rich without being greasy, while the spare ribs were tender and coated in a sticky, moreish glaze.

There wasn’t a single dish that felt like an afterthought. Even with such a large selection, everything arrived hot, fresh, and carefully prepared. 

For the main courses, each of us chose two dishes, allowing for even more variety across the table. 

Classic favourites were done particularly well. Honey-chilli dishes were perfectly balanced, with a subtle blend of spice and sweetness.

Black bean and Oyster sauce dishes were rich and savoury, with depth of umami flavour. The noodle and rice dishes were cooked perfectly, providing a comforting base to the more boldly flavoured mains.

Portion sizes were generous, especially considering the all-you-can-eat format, and there was never any sense of being rushed. 

Staff were attentive without being intrusive, checking in at just the right moments and ensuring that drinks were topped up and dishes arrived smoothly.

Service throughout the evening was, quite simply, impeccable. For a group of seven, including a young child,  it would have been easy for things to become disjointed, but everything ran seamlessly. 

Orders were taken efficiently, and dishes arrived in good time. And by good time, I mean before we were full from the previous dish!

The private room also meant that the evening could unfold at our own pace. There was no pressure to hurry through courses, and plenty of time to enjoy both the food and each other’s company. 

It’s a detail that elevates the overall experience and makes Peking Garden an especially strong choice for birthdays, family gatherings, or small celebrations.

By the end of the meal, there was a shared sense that we had experienced something a little different from the usual dining outing. The combination of freshly prepared buffet dishes, attentive service, and that added touch of privacy created a memorable evening from start to finish.

And while the food itself was consistently impressive, it was the smaller moments,  “Mr Robot”, shared plates circulating between laughter, and the ease of being in a space of our own, that made the visit stand out. 

When asked, my sister said it was worth the wait, although she conceded that her Chinese palate was a little boring and she probably wouldn’t be in a rush to deviate from her usual.

For seven people, the total cost came to just shy of £200, though this included several drinks and buffet prices of £25.90 each. Under 5s eat free. For a family meal, this seemed perfectly reasonable for the amount of food we ended up eating. 

For those looking for a Chinese restaurant in Stockton that offers both quality and atmosphere, Peking Garden is well worth considering. 

It combines the abundance of a buffet with the care and presentation of a more traditional dining experience.

Ratings:

Service: 9

Surroundings: 8

Food Quality: 8

Value for Money: 10 

The Details:

15 Bridge Road, Stockton, TS18 3AA 

Phone: 01642 612121

Website: pekinggardenstockton.co.uk

Margaret Haney styled herself as a defender of the community and became a familiar face on TV during the 1990s but behind the headlines she ruled over troubled housing estate.

Margaret “Big Mags” Haney cast a long shadow over Stirling’s troubled Raploch estate.

The chain-smoking grandmother-of-dozens first hit the headlines in the 1990s when she fronted a self-styled anti-paedophile campaign.

Appearing on daytime television and portraying herself as a protector of the community, Haney cultivated the image of a fearless local crusader.

But behind the public persona was a very different reality.

Residents of Raploch knew the Haney clan as a family linked to violence, intimidation and criminality which had blighted the estate for years.

And at the centre of it all was Big Mags herself — the matriarch of a heroin-dealing operation that spread misery through the streets of Stirling while raking in vast sums of cash.

Her eventual downfall came only after fed-up locals took a stand.

First, residents forced the Haneys out of Raploch following months of unrest and growing anger over the family’s behaviour.

Then members of the community began passing information to the Daily Record, helping undercover reporters expose the extent of Haney’s drug empire.

When police finally moved in, crowds gathered to watch the notorious crime boss being led away in handcuffs.

Dressed in a pink sweatshirt, leggings and slippers, Haney defiantly raised a clenched fist and shouted: “Get it up you!” as officers bundled her into a police van.

Born in 1942 into a poor crofting family near Stirling, Haney experienced hardship from an early age.

Her father worked as a miner and, after her parents separated, seven-year-old Margaret and two of her siblings were placed in an Edinburgh convent, where she spent six years.

She later settled in Raploch, an estate ravaged during the 1980s and 1990s by unemployment, poverty and drug abuse.

It was there the Haney family became infamous.

Margaret Haney’s criminal convictions dated back to 1975 and included assault, breach of the peace, contempt of court and fraud.

In 1995, Sheriff Norrie Stein famously branded the Haneys “the family from hell”, saying they had terrorised the local community.

Two years later, Haney openly admitted her children had amassed hundreds of court appearances between them.

“My kids have been brought up in the jungle,” she once said.

Despite the family’s reputation, Haney attempted to reinvent herself as a campaigner against child abusers.

She led angry demonstrations after a convicted paedophile was housed on the estate and appeared on the Kilroy television show to discuss protecting youngsters from sex offenders.

But while Haney enjoyed the spotlight, many locals were growing increasingly fearful of the clan’s influence.

Residents accused the family of violence, theft and intimidation, and tensions eventually exploded.

A crowd of around 400 people laid siege to the Haneys’ home, demanding they leave the estate.

When the family were eventually driven out of Raploch, neighbours celebrated in the streets and waved banners marking their departure.

Haney, however, insisted she was the victim of a vendetta.

Stirling Council later rehoused her in a flat on Lower Bridge Street, where several other properties in the block were occupied by members of her extended family.

Locals dubbed the building “Hotel Haney”, while police officers privately referred to it as “Fortress Haney”.

Behind closed doors, Haney was building what prosecutors would later describe as a major heroin supply operation.

In 2000, the Daily Record launched its Shop-A-Dealer hotline, asking readers to report suspected drug dealers in their communities.

Call after call identified Haney as Stirling’s most notorious heroin supplier.

Undercover reporters began investigating and uncovered evidence that the grandmother was selling hundreds of £10 wraps of heroin every week while claiming more than £1,200 a month in benefits.

Her council flat operated as the hub of the business, with drugs allegedly sold openly in front of young grandchildren.

Visitors described Haney sitting in a large chair inside the flat — a seat referred to as her “throne” — while relatives and runners carried out deliveries on her behalf.

Cash generated by the operation was hidden in bags and stashed beneath beds in homes linked to the family.

The Record’s investigation resulted in undercover purchases of heroin directly from Haney before a dossier of evidence was handed to police.

At the High Court in Glasgow in 2003, prosecutors outlined the scale of the operation.

Haney admitted running a heroin network worth around £250,000 a year over an 18-month period.

Prosecutor Drew Mackenzie described her as the undisputed controller of the business.

“Haney sat in her house like a queen and she was money-motivated,” he told the court.

At the time, Haney was 60 years old and walked with the aid of a stick.

Also in the dock were three relatives — daughter Diane, son Hugh and niece Rose-ann — all of whom pleaded guilty alongside her midway through the trial.

Haney was jailed for 12 years and served half of the sentence at Cornton Vale before being released in 2009.

She never returned to Stirling, instead being rehoused in Alva, Clackmannanshire.

In later life, Haney suffered a series of serious health problems and spent her final years in poor health.

She died from cancer in 2013 at the age of 70.

Even towards the end of her life, controversy continued to follow the Haney name.

While confined to a wheelchair, she was once asked about a relative who had been jailed for contempt of court during a murder trial.

Big Mags replied: “She’s brought total shame on the whole of the family.”

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