A Reform UK victory in a former “red wall” seat like Makerfield seemed pretty nailed on a month ago.
With a strong body of support for Brexit in the region, Nigel Farage continued to lead in the polls and Reform’s huge success in the May elections – particularly in England’s local councils, where it picked up more than 1,450 seats – the right-wing party would have been pretty confident about securing their ninth MP.
The famous “King of the North” is popular across the political spectrum and better known than Reform’s Wigan councillor and “plucky plumber”, Robert Kenyon.
The first opinion poll of the by-election, from Survation survey of 369 people, put Burnham on top with 43% and Reform just behind on 40%.
Reform may have still felt confident about their chances of victory – until, perhaps, they glanced at who was in third place.
Restore Britain, a far-right splinter group founded earlier this year by Great Yarmouth MP, multimillionaire and former football chairman, Rupert Lowe, somehow clinched 7% with its candidate Rebecca Shepherd.
Vowing to deliver on mass deportations, “net-negative” migration and completely rejecting the alleged “Islamification of Britain”, Lowe is making waves on the right-wing online circuit even appearing on a filmed podcast with famous American conservative, Tucker Carlson.
Tucker Carlson and Rupert Lowe
The Tucker Carlson Show/YouTube
By avoiding much of the mainstream media, Lowe also seems to be speaking to the same base that Reform previously focused on: the anti-establishment crowd.
The far-right party has transformed from being an “online annoyance” – which allowed Farage to paint himself as “more mainstream political force” in comparison – to a “more of an electoral threat” to Reform.
That’s less than half the 278,000 members Reform claims to have, but Restore’s numbers are still significant as it proves it has more support than the British National Party or the National Front ever secured.
As UK director of More in Common, Luke Tryl, told HuffPost UK: “Makerfield could be the first real test of the threat level that Restore Britain presents to Reform UK.
“In this new political landscape of electoral fragmentation, even a small share of the vote could be decisive.”
– Luke Tryl, More in Common
“Our polling and focus group research indicates that voters’ awareness of Restore is largely limited to those who are highly engaged online, on social media platforms such as Facebook.
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“Awareness among this group, however, is significant and if it continues to grow and translates into a meaningful number of votes, that could prove a problem for Reform.
“In this new political landscape of electoral fragmentation, even a small share of the vote could be decisive. If Restore can turn online noise into action at the ballot box, Reform could discover there’s a real threat emerging to their right.”
Reform seem rather self-conscious about this threat, too, judging by their bizarre interactions with the media and online this week.
The Reform leader claimed the tech tycoon was trying to “split the right of British politics as best he can”, adding: “Quite what he’s trying to achieve, I have no idea.”
Then Reform MP Sarah Pochin accidentally called her own party by their rivals’ name during a live interview with TALK, before adding in pure panic: “Oh god! I’ll be sacked for saying that!”
He told Sky News Reform will not deport foreign nationals who live in social housing, unlike Lowe’s party.
But he was swiftly undermined by Reform’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, who wrote on X: “Robert’s answer is not Reform policy.”
He insisted: “If a foreign national lives in social housing at taxpayer expense, they automatically fail our economic test and will be deported.”
Reform insiders have suggested that they are rather uneasy about their chances in Makerfield now.
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HuffPost UK understands that Reform believes Restore’s vote is negligible, but a party insider warned the race “is going to be really tight so every vote counts”.
They predict the difference between first and second place could be one or two percentage points, but have completely ruled out the idea of a deal with their rivals.
They’re also hoping Labour will lose some support to the Green Party, which could split the left-wing vote and bolster their efforts.
View at flats decorated with the St George’s Cross flag in Ashton-in-Makerfield where Andy Burnham will stand as Labour’s candidate for the by-election in Makerfield, England, Friday, May 22, 2026.
Meanwhile, Restore is basking in its first major moment in the spotlight and enjoying its role as potential kingmaker.
Lowe’s team did not reply when approached for comment by HuffPost UK, but the party leader was very dismissive towards his rivals in an interview with the Spectator.
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He said: “I would have helped Nigel become prime minister but I don’t think he is fit to become prime minister. My personal opinion is that he is managed opposition.
“I think that if you look at the mainstream media, it is now pushing Nigel… so I’m not really interested in Reform.”
Even as Lowe plays it cool, his success could end up pulling Reform further right, Mulhall said.
He told HuffPost UK that Restore itself is “quite an unstable coalition” and a “ragbag collection of very extreme individuals” who are pretty far removed from most of the British public.
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He pointed out that it currently attracts both those slightly to the right of Reform all the way to “racial nationalists”.
“Where it ends up, and how long it lasts, and how long those individuals kind of put their differences aside in the interest of Restore – rather than breaking out into civil wars – is an unknown question,” he said.
But, even if the party itself does not have a long shelf-life, it has already managed to seep into Reform’s policy-making.
“Reform’s policy on mass deportation isn’t actually that far away now from where Lowe’s position was when he was booted out,” Mulhall said. “Especially on the issue of immigration, deportation and demographics, I think you’re starting to see Reform feeling they have to shift right, trying to hold onto that rightward flank.”
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He insisted that it was “wishful thinking” that the two parties might end up taking one another down.
However he added: “Restore has the ability to take a chunk out of Farage’s vote share but it has a very clear ceiling in a way Reform does not.”
There’s no doubt that Reform has been rattled by the rise of its rival, but it will be hard to fully assess Restore Britain’s impact until Makerfield voters flock to the ballot box on June 18.
Will Farage be able to hold his nerve until then, or will he find himself adopting further right-wing strategies in a bid to stop the Restore bleed?
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The message comes from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) ahead of the school summer holidays, a time when there is often a rise in arson incidents.
Wayne Thompson, station manager at Bishop Auckland, said: “We want to highlight the dangers of deliberate fire setting and the serious consequences that burn on long after the flames have gone out.
“During the school holidays and when the weather is nice, we typically see a spike in the number of deliberate incidents we attend.
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“Kids might think that setting fire to a bin or bit of grass is just a bit of fun.
“But we want to stress that not only are they putting themselves and others at risk of injury, but they could also be preventing crews from being available to attend critical incidents like house fires, road traffic collisions, water-related incidents.”
Mr Thompson said 92 per cent of the fires attended by his station in April, May and June last year were deliberate, totalling 126 incidents across West Auckland, Bishop Auckland Town, and Dene Valley.
There were 371 deliberate fires recorded in Bishop Auckland last year, and 40 so far this year.
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The fire service has reminded the public that arson is a criminal offence that can result in prosecution and affect future education and employment opportunities.
CDDFRS is urging parents to speak with their children about the dangers of starting fires and the potential consequences.
Working with Durham Constabulary, the service conducts regular patrols in hotspot areas in Bishop Auckland to deter arson and reassure the community.
Anyone with information about deliberate fires can report it anonymously to FireStoppers by calling 0800 169 5558 or visiting firestoppersreport.co.uk.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center and blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations — the latest legal setback for Trump’s efforts to leave his personal mark on the landscape of the nation’s capital.
Trump said in response that he’s backing away from his proposed renovation and returning control of the arts institution to Congress.
“Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into ‘NEVER NEVER LAND,’” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, D.C., ruled that the Kennedy Center board’s March 16 vote to close the facility was “ill-informed and seemingly preordained” with no regard for its legal obligations. The administration had announced the work would begin in July and last approximately two years, but Cooper’s ruling halts those plans for now.
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AP AUDIO: Judge says Kennedy Center board broke law putting Trump’s name on building, blocks closure
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AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports a federal judge says adding President Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center was illegal.
“The trustees might have assessed the propriety of closure in a number of prudent ways. This was not one,” he wrote.
Cooper also concluded that the board “overstepped its statutory bounds” by unilaterally adding Trump’s name to the center. Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it, he said.
The judge, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Barack Obama, ordered the defendants to remove Trump’s name from the institution’s façade and any “official materials,” such as digital or physical signs, within two weeks.
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“May the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts be renamed absent Congressional authorization? The answer, plain from the face of the statute, is no. Nor can any other individual be memorialized on the front portico of the building,” Cooper wrote.
Trump said the judge “should be ashamed of himself” in a social media post hours after the decision was issued.
The Republican president said he instructed his administration to “make all necessary arrangements” to have the center transferred to Congress.
Trump determined to leave his mark on DC
Trump has made it a priority of his second term to leave his personal stamp on some of the most historic spots in Washington. He demolished the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom. His name or image has been added to government buildings, including the U.S. Institute of Peace and Justice Department headquarters. He is pushing for a triumphal arch overlooking the Potomac River.
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Opponents have challenged other Trump construction projects in court — and won favorable rulings. But the district court judges likely won’t have the final say as the administration pursues appeals.
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, said Friday the institution is “confident that on appeal the court will uphold the Board’s will to recognize President Trump’s historic contributions to our nation’s cultural center.” She said the decision would be reviewed “carefully.”
“Though the reality remains — the Center requires an urgent and significant restoration – a truth that even the plaintiff acknowledges,” Daravi said. “With $257 million secured by President Trump and approved by Congress, the resources are in place and we remain committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy.”
Cooper held hearings in late April for parallel lawsuits challenging the project. One was filed by a group of cultural and historic preservation organizations. The other was brought by Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who serves as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center’s board. He ruled in favor of Beatty’s request but rejected the other challenge.
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Beatty called the decision a win for the Kennedy Center and the performing arts. “Now hopefully people can come back to work, we can continue to be the Kennedy Center that we were intended to be,” she told The Associated Press.
Justice Department attorneys said renovation plans for the building are limited in scope and well within the board’s authority to make without needing outside approvals.
How much of an overhaul is needed?
The plaintiffs worry the president and his board allies will flout preservation rules designed to maintain the building’s historic fabric. In earlier statements in court hearings, attorneys for Beatty and the preservation groups raised doubts about the limited scope of the project, pointing to Trump’s statements that he would “fully expose” the building’s steel skeleton.
Beatty has said she was “very fearful that we’ll see what happened with the East Wing and what happened with the Rose Garden” if the center is closed and the renovations allowed unsupervised, referring to major changes the president has made at the White House.
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Mike Floca, the Kennedy Center’s executive director and chief operating officer, spent several weeks during the spring walking a bipartisan group of lawmakers and their staffs, along with journalists and Washington city officials, through the expansive building that sprawls across 1.5 million square feet.
The tours were intended to show that the Kennedy Center, which began construction in 1965, was in genuine need of an overhaul. The walkthroughs showed severe water damage, apparent in some places through discoloration and pooling. Some pieces of equipment, including several 800-ton chillers that help cool the building, are decades old and in need of replacement.
Floca told reporters in April that he considered doing the repairs individually but insisted it was his recommendation to Trump to close the building and move forward with the renovation all at once.
Trump has taken a keen interest in the Kennedy Center’s operations since he returned to the White House last year. He installed a handpicked board that named him chairman. His name was added to the façade of a building that is considered a living monument to Kennedy.
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The Kennedy Center has kept up performances ahead of the closure, though at a much slower pace than in previous years. Trump attended the premiere of the musical “Chicago” in March and other shows, including “Moulin Rouge,” are slated for June.
Bill Maher, the comedian who has had an up and down relationship with Trump, is expected to be awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on June 28, an event that was anticipated to be one of the final big moments at the Kennedy Center before the closure.
___
Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, Collin Binkley and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Instead, he must now reset and recharge to go again at Wimbledon next month.
Given he is a seven-time champion on a grass surface which younger players have struggled to master, Djokovic will always fancy his chances at the All England Club.
Djokovic can never be ruled out of becoming the oldest major men’s singles champion in the Open Era, but Father Time has been sat waiting on Djokovic’s shoulder for a good while.
By rights, he should probably be basking in a post-retirement glow by now.
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Coaching a young compatriot away from the public glare like Andy Murray, perhaps. Doing a promotional tour for a new Netflix documentary like Rafael Nadal, maybe.
While his long-time rivals move into the next phase of their lives, Djokovic was retching at the side of a court in an attempt to summon the energy to beat a teenager.
It is a testament to his superpower that he still wants to push himself to such limits against much younger opponents.
As we have seen time and time again, Djokovic’s insatiable appetite for the sport’s biggest prizes will never diminish.
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But, having reached at least the semi-finals at the past five Grand Slams, this was the clearest sign yet that the ageing process was finally catching up with him.
Djokovic looked in complete control as he moved two sets ahead, but could not maintain his level as Fonseca proved he is the real deal.
“It would be nice if it was best-of-three,” Djokovic smiled.
“I just ran out of gas, to be honest. I didn’t feel good at all on the court in the next couple of sets.”
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Djokovic has always thrived in the best-of-five format of the majors, beating almost anybody who has stood in his way for almost two years.
The only exceptions have been Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and the knee injury which forced him to quit against Alexander Zverev at last year’s Australian Open.
Everyone else has not been good enough, or not had the mentality, to see veteran Djokovic off.
The Pentagon is reportedly recruiting service members to sit in the crowd for President Donald Trump’s birthday UFC fight on the White House lawn, requiring that the troops pay their way at the event — and meet exacting physical fitness requirements.
Air Force troops considering taking up the offer were told they must meet the “CURRENT WAIST-HEIGHT RATIO and current physical fitness standard,” according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post.
The effort has reportedly focused on getting service members from across the different branches of the military, pulled from the junior enlisted and officer corps.
Troops will be required to wear their short-sleeve dress uniforms, sources told the paper.
The Pentagon is reportedly recruiting soldiers to attend the UFC event at the White House, so long as they meet certain physical appearance requirements (Getty)
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Visible construction at the White House kicked into high gear this week for the June 14 bout, which is part of the American 250th anniversary celebrations in Washington.
A massive temporary arena, complete with a superstructure that towers above the White House, is being erected on the South Lawn.
The president has attended numerous UFC events, and UFC boss Dana White is a close ally of the Republican.
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Outside of being in the military, being a friend of Trump — or high-dollar sponsor of the fight — is reportedly one of the few ways to guarantee a ticket to the event, which will feature a crowd of about 4,000 people.
Outside of being in the military, high-dollar sponsors and Trump allies are reportedly some of the few people guaranteed a ticket to the fight (AFP/Getty)
Since taking office, the Trump administration has made a point of emphasizing the physical fitness of US troops.
During a highly unusual 2025 event, in which Defense Secretary Hegseth called hundreds of top US military leaders to Virginia on short notice, Hegseth railed against “fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon” and announced a set of new fitness requirements across the armed forces.
Later that year, Hegseth, who is often photographed doing fitness training with the troops, complained that many Americans are “too dumb” or “too fat” to serve in the military.
“I know it’s not easy on the basic ingredients on recruiting,” Hegsethtold a gathering of top recruiters. “Too many of our young people are too fat or too dumb — not dumb, that’s wrong. You know, we’re just not educating them properly or they’ve got criminal records, or ADHD, or all these other things.”
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A federal judge has said that New Hampshire must make voter registration easier by allowing applicants to attest to their U.S. citizenship if they don’t have the documents to prove it.
The case was seen as the first major legal test of an election reform that has been pushed nationally by President Donald Trump and has gained favor among many Republicans, though U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliot said she was not deciding whether requiring proof of citizenship itself is constitutional. Her ruling late Thursday night on a narrower question of New Hampshire law was significant, however, because it underscored the potential perils of implementing strict requirements for voters to document their U.S. citizenship so they can cast a ballot.
Elliot found that changes in 2024 to the state voter registration law unconstitutionally removed one method of proof — namely, a voter’s sworn affidavit attesting to citizenship.
“The evidence shows that this is the only method of proof available to a significant number of New Hampshire voters,” she wrote.
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The changes took effect last year, after former Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, signed the bill two years ago. The attorney general’s office said it plans to appeal the judge’s ruling, calling the citizenship requirements a “common-sense approach to voter registration and election administration designed to protect the integrity of our elections.”
The ruling was a win for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire and other plaintiffs who argued that the changes that took effect last year were burdensome and unnecessary.
“New Hampshire’s elections have always been safe, secure, and accurate — and this law could have unconstitutionally and needlessly prevented thousands of eligible voters from casting a ballot,” said Henry Klementowicz, deputy legal director of the ACLU of New Hampshire.
In her ruling, Elliott said eliminating the affidavit option created a significant burden for voters and did little, if anything, to further the state’s interests. She noted that an expert on voter fraud found only 47 instances of wrongful voting out of roughly 8.3 million votes between 1998 and 2024. During that time, only eight noncitizens may have cast ballots, she said.
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“If wrongful voting is rare in New Hampshire, wrongful voting by noncitizens is essentially non-existent,” she wrote.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Coalition for Open Democracy, the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire, the Forward Foundation and five voters, called the state’s voter registration law one of the most restrictive in the nation. During town elections last fall, some voters had trouble gathering passports, birth certificates or other proof of citizenship.
New Hampshire is not the only state with a proof-of-citizenship law for voters. Arizona, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming have similar laws already in effect, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Florida passed a law this year requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote, but it won’t take effect until next year.
A similar law in Kansas, which required proof of citizenship for state and federal elections, was found in 2018 to violate both the U.S. Constitution and the National Voter Registration Act after it prevented more than 31,000 citizens from registering to vote.
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Arizona established a two-tiered system after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that the state could not require citizenship documentation for federal elections. In August 2024, the court allowed some parts of the state’s proof-of-citizenship law to be enforced as the legal fight continued in lower courts.
The ruling comes as Trump is trying to push a proof-of-citizenship bill, the SAVE America Act, through Congress. Voting rights advocates say such a federal requirement could disenfranchise millions of people. A 2025 University of Maryland study estimated that 21.3 million Americans who are eligible to vote do not have or have easy access to documents to prove their citizenship, including nearly 10% of Democrats, 7% of Republicans and 14% of people unaffiliated with either major party.
New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan said he will reimplement the use of voter affidavits for registrants to prove citizenship, but noted the ruling doesn’t affect other 2024 changes to the law, including a requirement that those registering to vote provide documentary proof of identity, age and address. Voters also will continue to be required to show proof of identity on Election Day.
Gavin & Stacey fans can stay in Uncle Bryn’s house as it is set to be transformed into an Airbnb. The humble terraced house became a slice of British TV history when it was featured in the hit comedy.
It was home to Rob Brydon’s fan favourite character Uncle Bryn – and was the spot where he “surfed the world wide web”. The property also set the scene for Bryn hosting Gavin’s Essex mates before they headed out for a boozy night in Cardiff.
The house at Trinity Street in Barry was put up for sale for £210,000 and has now been snapped up by Jaxx Nelson and Tom Bodfish.
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The pair are transforming the spot into the ultimate Gavin & Stacey Airbnb – and have named it “Gone Fishin’” in reference to Bryn’s famous fishing trip.
Jaxx said: “We’re now on a mission to Gavin & Stacey-ify it properly. Think cosy Welsh nostalgia, niche references only real fans will clock, a few Uncle Bryn moments sprinkled about, and probably too many omelettes.”
Jaxx said she plans to share the transformation as it happens before it finally opens its doors to fans. She said: “The dream? A place that feels like you’ve stepped straight into the world of the show while still being a genuinely lovely place to stay by the sea.”
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Thousands of Gavin & Stacey fans visit Trinity Street to see the homes featured in the iconic sitcom.
The sale comes just months after show fan Lisa Molloy, 42, snapped up the home of fruity pensioner character Doris O’Neill across the street.
Lisa and husband Chris were the first people to view the property after travelling 130 miles from Tamworth to buy it within 48 hours.
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They paid just over the asking price of £220,000 for the two-bedroom terrace – and even paid extra to keep the furniture from the show.
Raheem Sterling has been arrested on suspicion suspicion of driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs, driving dangerously, possession of a Class C drug and failing to provide a specimen
22:23, 29 May 2026Updated 22:35, 29 May 2026
Ex-Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal forward Raheem Sterling has been arrested for driving whilst unfit through drugs after crashing his Lamborghini. Sterling, a 82-time England international, was stopped by police after crashing his car into the motorway barriers on the M3.
A statement from Hampshire Police said on Thursday: “Just before 9am on Thursday, we received reports that a Lamborghini was in collision with barriers on the M3 southbound, close to the Minley Interchange. No other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported.
“The driver, a 31-year-old man, from Berkshire, has been arrested on suspicion of driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs, driving dangerously, possession of a Class C drug and failing to provide a specimen. He has been bailed while our enquiries continue.”
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Sterling was eventually released on bail pending further investigation.
Sterling has endured a very difficult few years when it comes to his footballing career. The winger enjoyed a successful period with Liverpool ahead of a move to Manchester City.
He won four Premier League titles during his time at the Etihad Stadium but was sold to Chelsea in 2022. Sterling spent just two seasons at Stamford Bridge before being loaned out to Arsenal where he scored just one goal in 28 appearances.
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His remaining contract with Chelsea was ripped up in January, with the wideman then moving to Dutch side Feyenoord.
But he made just eight appearances and did not score a goal. Speaking about Sterling after his final appearance for the club, Feyenoord boss Robin van Persie said: “Personally, I struggle with the cynicism surrounding him. think respect is more appropriate. In any case, I don’t like cynicism. I can’t stand the whole atmosphere around him.
“Everyone has to know their place in that. And I think we sometimes go a bit overboard in the Netherlands regarding that.”
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“He has scored 200 goals in England and played 82 international matches,” Van Persie added. “And that is regardless of whether you think he plays well or not. But I think the way we handle this as a footballing nation is really very bad.”
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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.
Uways Hussain, 20, was driving a VW Golf GTI belonging to friend Usmon Mahmood, 23, when he ran a red light and crashed into another car, killing 50-year-old Sylvester Abayomi, Manchester Crown Court heard today.
The court was shown footage of the collision, which happened at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway in Manchester at 4.30am on March 9.
Mr Abayomi’s partner Denise Doyle told the court: “Sylvester was simply on his way to work. An ordinary hard-working man. He should have returned home to me safely that day. Because of your actions he never did.”
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Screen shot (Image: GMP)
Addressing the defendants, she added: “You left Sylv to die alone. You did not show him even a shred of compassion or humanity.”
Hussain, who had indicated a guilty plea at magistrates’ court, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months’ detention after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving whilst uninsured, and failing to provide a specimen.
Sylvester Abayomi (Image: GMP handout)
Mahmood, who initially told police he tried to warn Hussain about his driving, was jailed for 12 years and nine months after he admitted aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and aiding and abetting causing death by driving whilst uninsured.
Greater Manchester Police said the sentence was believed to be one of the highest for a death by dangerous driving offence involving a single fatality.
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Judge Nicholas Dean KC said: “It was a sustained, deliberate and escalating course of highly dangerous conduct over a prolonged period.
Two men have been sentenced following their involvement in a fatal road traffic collision on Kingsway, Manchester, in March 2026, which resulted in the death of Sylvester Abayomi. (Image: GMP/PA Wire)
“I have seen CCTV images and video recordings on phones and they are terrifying.
“You drove at extreme speeds, seemingly up to very nearly 140mph, on roads which were by and large subject to 30mph speed limits, far, far in excess of any safe or lawful limit.”
He said during the course of driving both men handled mobile phones, recorded videos and inhaled nitrous oxide.
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Undated handout photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of the crashed car driven by Uways Hussain with the passenger, Usmon Mahmood. (Image: GMP/PA Wire)
Videos filmed by the defendants in the hours leading up to the crash showed Hussain driving at speeds of over 100mph with one hand on the wheel.
Uways Hussain (Image: GMP)
Rachel Shenton, prosecuting, said: “The Golf was driven by the first defendant, Uways Hussain. His friend Usmon Mahmood, the front seat passenger, was heard at times earlier on to be shouting encouragement.”
The judge said: “It was deliberate risk-taking, seemingly for the thrill of it.”
Following the crash, an Apple watch, worn by Hussain, called 999 automatically after detecting he had been in a collision, the court heard.
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Usmon Mahmood (Image: Usmon Mahmood)
Unaware of the call, the pair were recorded talking about calling an Uber to leave the scene and reporting the car as stolen.
Judge Dean described the transcript of the call as “chilling”.
He said: “It doesn’t reveal shock or concern for the victim.”
Ms Shenton said the men left the scene and ran from officers when they were tracked down, before being arrested.
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Hussain, who had a previous conviction for drug-driving, was a law student who worked full-time at an airport, Neil Ronan, defending said.
Clare Ashcroft, defending Mahmood, said he had been about to start an apprenticeship with Network Rail.
She said: “He is starting to understand the impact of his behaviour. In my submission he is remorseful.”
Speaking outside court, Detective Sergeant Thomas Johnson said: “Their actions that night were reckless, deliberate and ultimately devastating, which has resulted in one of the highest UK sentences for a death by dangerous driving involving a single fatality.
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“Sylvester did nothing wrong. He entered a green light, expecting to safely continue on his journey and instead lost his life.”
A drink driver stole his friend’s partner’s car before leading police on a chase where he reached speeds of 80mph in a 20mph zone. A stinger was used to attempt to stop the car but he carried on driving regardless.
Corey Eaves, 28, had been staying at the address of Chloe Smith but in the early hours of April 26 he took the keys to her Nissan Juke and drove it away from the property while making a “vulgar gesture” towards her.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard the police were called and the stolen car was seen shortly before 1am. The vehicle was seen again at around 2.30am and was followed by police for a short distance until the Juke stopped.
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Two police vehicles attempted to box the defendant in but he reversed backwards, making contact with a police vehicle before driving off down an alleyway. A total of £7,000 worth of damage was caused to the police car.
Police vehicles illuminated their blue lights and a chase began. Don’t miss a court report by signing upto our crime newsletter here
Prosecutor James Evans said Eaves was driving at excessive speeds down narrow lanes before turning into Gilfach Road, Tonyrefail, without stopping.
He reached speeds of 80mph in a 20mph zone as officers attempted to use a stinger device to stop the vehicle but he carried on driving.
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The defendant eventually came to a stop and got out of the car and attempted to run away but was apprehended by officers.
He underwent a breathalyser test and gave a reading of 58 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35 micrograms. Eaves was also found to be a disqualified driver.
Just two days before the police chase the defendant attended Mill Street petrol station in Tonyrefail, which he’d been banned from, and took a 10 pack of Carlsberg cans worth £11.29p.
Eaves, of Heol Glyn Goch, Hendreforgan, Gilfach Goch, later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance, drink driving, driving whilst disqualified, and theft from a shop. The court heard he has a number of previous convictions.
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In mitigation Elin Morgan said her client had been a user of class A drugs but had carried out a number of courses while in prison and provided negative drug tests. The barrister said the defendant has two young children.
Sentencing, Judge Eugene Egan said: “The manner of your driving was utterly disgraceful.”
Eaves was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment and was disqualified from driving for four years upon his release from prison.
The National Allotment Society (NAS), the UK’s leading representative body for allotment holders, has launched a nationwide membership drive, inviting plot holders, gardeners, and community groups to help protect, promote and preserve allotments for future generations.
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