Ashley Crowder, 36, is accused or murdering Graham Cox, 37, by beating him and strangling him to death at Crowder’s flat in Farnworth after repeatedly taking his money.

But the closing stage of a trial at Bolton Crown Court this week heard that there were no other eye witnesses who had directly seen what happened in the flat that day.

Richard Pratt KC, defending, said: “Of course this is not a case where somebody claimed to have witnessed the violent death of Mr Cox.”

Mr Cox had been found dead at Crowder’s flat on Barton Walk, Farnworth by police on March 5, 2024.

The trial has been heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Phil Taylor)

But the trial at Bolton Crown Court more than two years on heard from Mr Pratt how the prosecution relied on “hearsay” evidence claiming Crowder had been the killer.

Crowder, who wore a black top, dark green trousers and appeared to take off his shoes during proceedings listened on from the dock as Mr Pratt made his case.

He had not given evidence himself during the trial.

Mr Pratt said contrary to claims Mr Cox had made before his death that Crowder had locked him in the flat and “held him hostage”, he could, actually was unaware he did not need a key to leave.

He said there was also no way of knowing that claims Mr Cox had made that Crowder had assaulted him in the period leading up to his death where true.

Mr Pratt said: “Why he came to accuse Mr Crowder is not known, perhaps he was an easy target.”

He added: “He was the only person to put a roof over his head.”

Police at the scene on Barton Walk, Farnworth (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Pratt told the jury of seven men and five women that the prosecution had failed to “shut down” the chance that someone else could have killed Mr Cox.

He reminded the jury of Mr Crowder’s police interview where he claimed that around 50 people had made use of his flat.

Mr Pratt said: “Could some person unknown or unidentified have caused the death of Graham Cox?”

He added that there was evidence from Crowder’s interview that someone was “closing in on a debt”

Turning to the alleged thefts, Mr Pratt said that Crowder legitimately believed that Mr Cox owed both he and his mother money.

He reminded the jury that rather than “clearing him out” Crowder had left Mr Cox enough money to be able to buy items for himself.

Mr Pratt said: “There are many gaps in the case, there are many unanswered questions.”

Beginning the summing up process, the Honorary Recorder for Bolton Judge Nicholas Clarke KC told the jury they had been presented with “two strikingly contrasting versions of the relationship between these two men.”

Crowder, of Barton Walk, Farnworth, denies murder, the alternative count of manslaughter, assault and four counts of theft.

A verdict is expected over the coming days.

The incident was reported just after 3pm on Friday June 12 around Wood Street in Brierfield, with members of the public reporting a heavy police presence into the afternoon.

Later that evening officers confirmed that a 17-year-old girl had been taken to hospital, while a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “We were called at 3.06pm today to Wood Street, Brierfield, to a report of stabbing.

“It was reported that a 17-year-old girl had been assaulted and suffered a stab injury to her neck.

The incident was reported in Brierfield (Image: Public)

“Officers, some of them armed, attended and a 30-year-old man was arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of attempted murder.

“The girl was taken to hospital for treatment to a stab wound in the back of her neck.

“We know that this will cause alarm in the local community and extra patrols will be in the area this evening to provide reassurance.

Officers have appealed for anyone with any information or who has CCTV or ring doorbell footage to contact them by calling 101, quoting log 0836 of June 12.

Members of the public can also call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Train services were disrupted after the bridge strike

A lorry struck a railway bridge in a Cambridgeshire city causing disruption to train services on Friday, June 12. Greater Anglia said that due to a vehicle striking a bridge at Ely, trains had to run at reduced speeds on all lines.

Train services running through Ely station experienced delays. Trains travelling between Norwich and Stansted Airport via Cambridge were affected. Services running between Ipswich and Peterborough via Ely were also affected.

A previous Freedom of Information (FOI) submitted by CambridgeshireLive to Network Rail revealed the bridge had been struck 80 times over the last five years. In October 2025, the bridge was hit three times within one week.

At the time of the incident, a spokesperson for Greater Anglia said: “Due to a vehicle striking a bridge at Ely trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines. Train services running through this station may be delayed. Disruption is expected until further notice.”

As of 10.35am on Friday, Greater Anglia confirmed the disruption caused by the bridge strike had been cleared and services were no longer affected.

Two of West Ham’s major shareholders have spoken out against David Sullivan after striking a deal that will see Daniel Kretinsky become the club’s biggest shareholder.

Kretinsky and Vanessa Gold said they were “deeply concerned” after allegations of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour were levelled against Sullivan by a joint BBC Panorama and Times investigation.

Kretinsky’s stake in the club will rise from 27% to 43%, exceeding Sullivan’s 38.8%.

“Our thoughts go out to those women who have fought so hard to make their voices heard,” said Kretinsky and Gold in a statement.

“Any abuse of power is abhorrent, and it takes great courage and determination to speak up against it.”

Sullivan, 77, said he “categorically” denies the claims, which span the period when he made a fortune from pornography, newspapers and football.

Kretinsky and Gold said the “full West Ham United Board was not notified about these allegations against Sullivan until approximately a month ago”, but did not know the full details of the allegations until they were made public on Monday.

Sullivan has been banned from having contact with the club’s women’s and youth teams for the last three years because of safeguarding concerns.

Kretinsky and Gold said: “As communicated by West Ham, the Board representatives of shareholders other than David Sullivan were only made aware this week of the safeguarding measures that have been in place since 2023.”

West Ham are dealing with the fall-out from the investigation at the same time as they are attempting to make an immediate return to the Premier League after being relegated for the first time since 2012.

“As shareholders and directors of West Ham, our focus is now firmly on protecting the future of this football club,” said Kretinsky and Gold.

“As such, we have reached agreement on the key terms of a share purchase transaction between the Gold family and 1890 Holdings, which, subject to other shareholders’ pre-emption rights and necessary approvals, would make 1890 Holdings (part of the broader group EP) the largest shareholder in West Ham with an approximately 43% stake.

“As the largest shareholder, group EP will be able to provide the additional financing the club needs.”

More to follow

Over the course of the week-long event, Appleby and surrounding areas saw an influx of horse traders, families and spectators, with the River Eden at the centre of activity. As in previous years, scenes of horses being washed and paraded through the town attracted crowds and photographers alike.

The Appleby Horse Fair Multi-Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group said preparations had focused on public safety, animal welfare and minimising disruption to residents. Temporary road closures, traffic management measures and additional policing were in place throughout the fair.

The fair, which dates back more than 300 years, remains a significant cultural event, continuing to balance tradition with modern regulation.

Billy Welch during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Friday June 5, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People in horse drawn carriages during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Thursday June 4, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People in horse drawn carriages during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Thursday June 4, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Travellers arrive in Appleby, Cumbria, ahead of the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and travellers, which begins on Thursday. Picture date: Wednesday June 3, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Travellers arrive in Appleby, Cumbria, ahead of the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and travellers, which begins on Thursday. Picture date: Wednesday June 3, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People in horse drawn carriages pass a police officer putting up a sign about live facial recognition during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Thursday June 4, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Travellers arrive in Appleby, Cumbria, ahead of the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and travellers, which begins on Thursday. Picture date: Wednesday June 3, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Police cars heading up the road as travellers arrive in Appleby, Cumbria, ahead of the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and travellers, which begins on Thursday. Picture date: Wednesday June 3, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Travellers arrive in Appleby, Cumbria, ahead of the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of gypsies and travellers, which begins on Thursday. Picture date: Wednesday June 3, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

A family poses for a photo at the campsite during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People in horse drawn carriages during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Friday June 5, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Friday June 5, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People in horse drawn carriages during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Friday June 5, 2026 (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

A child poses for a photo beneath a horse-drawn carriage during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Friday June 5, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People attending the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Friday June 5, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People attending the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Thursday June 4, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People attending the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Friday June 5, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People at the campsite during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby, Cumbria. Picture date: Friday June 5, 2026. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

People in horse drawn carriages during the Appleby Horse Fair, the annual gathering of the travelling community in Appleby. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

A movie based on the powerful true story of a mathematical genius in the early 20th century has just landed on Netflix.

If you love moving stories about game-changing academics from The Theory of Everything about the life of Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) to Hidden Figures about the Black women crucial to the first moon landing, then we have your next watch.

This awe-inspiring tale, The Man Who Knew Infinity, follows the short but remarkable life of Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (Oscar nominee Dev Patel), a man who pursued his mathematical curiosity while growing up in poverty.

After making a name for himself in the mathematical world as he started developing his own theorems, he grew a friendship with mathematician Godfrey H. Hardy (Oscar winner Jeremy Irons), which led him to the doors of Trinity College, Cambridge.

The film delves into the personal challenges that faced this maths prodigy, including his ill health as well as navigating racial prejudice and the tough world of academia.

Ramanujan died at the young age of 32, 15 years after he first contracted tuberculosis.

First coming out in 2015, the movie also stars British screen stars such as Toby Jones, Stephen Fry, Kevin McNally, a posthumous appearance from Richard Johnson and US actor Devika Bhise.

The movie received mixed reviews at the time, especially from critics.

Total Film called it ‘an intriguing story told in generic fashion’ while the Daily Star noted ‘the story unfolds pretty much as expected’.

But fans were more generous in their viewing, especially lavishing praise on the lead stars, Dev, Jeremy and Toby.

Nigel Coates, from Northumbria University, has been awarded an MBE for services to higher education and business.

He is the founder of the university’s Business Clinic, which has since become one of the UK’s leading experiential learning models.

Mr Coates said: “I am genuinely overwhelmed – and utterly surprised – to receive this MBE.

“It is an honour I hold with enormous pride. But this award does not belong to me alone.

“Everything we achieved at the Business Clinic was down to a truly wonderful team whom I had the great privilege of leading.

“I am also deeply grateful for the unwavering support of the University, without which none of this would have been possible.

“I accept this with a very full heart.”

Since its launch in 2013, more than 3,000 final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students from Newcastle Business School have taken part in nearly 800 live consultancy projects.

Through the Business Clinic, students gain hands-on experience while helping businesses, charities, and social enterprises address real-life challenges.

Clients valued the consultancy reports produced during Mr Coates’ time as director at around £5,500 each.

This means Northumbria’s Business Clinic delivered more than £4.3 million in pro bono support.

The scheme has been widely praised across the sector.

Professor Andy Long, vice-chancellor and chief executive of Northumbria University, said: “We are so pleased to see this outstanding recognition of Nigel’s work, which has had such a significant impact on thousands of students and on hundreds of businesses over more than a decade.

“The Business Clinic is one of Northumbria University’s most innovative schemes, ensuring students are supported to gain real-world skills and connections they need for their future careers during their studies.

“The model developed by Nigel has been recognised within and beyond higher education as an exemplar of best practice, setting not only a standard for others to follow, but also setting thousands of Northumbria graduates out into the workplace with experiences few others would have.”

Mr Coates retired in 2024 after 36 years at the university but continues to contribute as a visiting fellow.

In addition to his work at Northumbria, he is chair of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Charitable Trust, and supports the advancement of marketing education and research.

He has also served as a national judge for the Young Enterprise Start Up Programme and the RSA Student Design Awards.

In 2025, he was awarded honorary life membership by the Academy of Marketing for his extraordinary service to the discipline.

Mr Coates has been a trustee and director of Smile for Life Children’s Charity since 2011, and a governor at Sir Charles Parsons Special School since 2009, where he has recently been appointed chair.

He is a former chairman of the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s North East Branch and region, and received the CIM National President’s Award for outstanding service to the Institute.

The impact of his work extends well beyond Northumbria.

He has advised more than a dozen universities in the UK and overseas on how to adopt similar business clinic models, helping to shape the future of enterprise education more widely.

The Northumbria Business Clinic has earned national honours, including Exemplar Status from the Small Business Charter and the SBC award for Outstanding Support for Student Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

These accolades have positioned the clinic as a benchmark for best practice in the sector.

The Northumbria clinic continues to provide students with valuable opportunities to apply their learning in professional environments.

It also gives organisations access to fresh talent and ideas.

Its success has helped cement Northumbria University’s reputation for innovation and impact in business education.

Further details about the Business Clinic and its projects are available at www.northumbria.ac.uk.

The Emmerdale actress, who celebrates her half century on July 13, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to drama and to charity.

She is best known for playing Mandy Dingle in the long-running ITV soap between 1995 and 2001, and from 2019 onwards.

The soap star, who went to Holly Mount RC Primary School in Greenmount and later St Gabriel’s High School, said of the honour: “Wow if this is not my best 50th birthday present being awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list, I don’t know what is.

“I am being awarded an MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire, for my services to drama and to charity.

(Image: Ian West/PA)

“To say I am humbled is an absolute understatement.

“To have been able to do my job as an actor for 36 years now, never having a day out of work in our industry, is an honour in itself.”

Riley, whose mother Cath died in her arms from pancreatic cancer, said she felt strongly about using her public profile to advocate for charities.

She said: “My platform has enabled me to be an ambassador for my chosen charities: Breast Cancer Now, Maggie’s Yorkshire, Sane and Sue Ryder.

“These charities, since losing my beloved mum Cath to cancer, have helped me at times of grief, when I personally needed them the most.

“So, giving back was the least I could do.

“I made that promise to my mum before she died: I told her I would help as many families as possible, as we are all in this together, and we understand.”

Riley said she wanted to thank her bosses at ITV for their “love and loyalty” over the years, adding: “I receive this today as the first ever cast member of Emmerdale to have been awarded an MBE.

“For me playing the role of Mandy Dingle is the gift that keeps on giving.

“Not only that, being a woman in our industry, sisterhood means everything to me.

“The finest feeling today is that I can truly feel my mum’s smile and her electric energy on my shoulders, the pride that her little girl ‘DID IT’!”

She continued: “Thank you so much, my heart is the warmest it could ever be.

“Finally to my partner Al and my gorgeous family, I love you.”

(Image: ITV)

Iain Macleod, creative director of continuing drama at ITV, offered his “hearty congratulations” on behalf of ITV and the soap, for the “well-deserved” honour.

He said: “As Mandy Dingle, she is a much-beloved presence on the nation’s screens and she is no less loved by her friends and colleagues at Emmerdale for her compassion and indefatigable positivity.

“This warmth and big-heartedness is in evidence in the amazing work she does for the many charities she so passionately supports.

“Lisa is a genuine force for good in the world and we’re all delighted for her.”

Riley appeared as a contestant on the 10th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2012, when she was paired with Robin Windsor.

She also appeared in I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2025, coming in fifth place.

Her other screen credits include Fat Friends, Age Before Beauty, and as the presenter of You’ve Been Framed between 1998 and 2002.

She has also appeared on the Loose Women panel.

Fox news’ overage of the World Cup was brought to a standstill when pundit Alexi Lalas lashed out at James Corden live on air

James Corden found himself under fire in America’s World Cup coverage, where he was branded a ‘w***er’ live on TV. The Gavin and Stacey star has been given his own football-themed late-night TV show After Hours during the tournament.

A preview of his limited-run series, set to air nightly on Fox during the World Cup, was aired during coverage of the group games on Friday night. During the build-up to a match between Canada and Bosnia, main Fox host Rebecca Lowe spoke to football heroes Alexi Lalas, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to promote Corden’s show.

‘Can we talk about James Corden for a second?” she asked the panel.

Lalas, who played 96 times for the US national football team and is now one of the station’s leading panelists for the tournament said: “What do you guys call him? Full kit w**ker, right?”

Corden was seen wearing a full USA training kit in the After Hours clip for a visit to the team’s training base ahead of the World Cup. By definition, a “full kit w***ker” is an adult wearing head to toe football attire when they’re not actually playing in a match.

Thierry Henry’s jaw swung open while Zlatan Ibrahimović could only say “whoa” after hearing the sweary remarks.

“Did he just say that?” Henry asked.

“Luckily we’re on American television,” Lowe noted. “Because the W word on British TV…” is a big no-no.

It’s not the first time Lalas has courted controversy, with the analyst dividing fans with his opinions.

During the last World Cup in Qatar, he donned a ‘thobe’ – the traditional loose-fitting robe worn by men in the Arab world – during a live TV segment. He has also been a regular critic of the US men’s national team, both in and out of major tournaments.

While James Corden has returned to the States after ending his Late, Late Show in 2003. He has returned this summer to front his new late-night Fox show.