The move follows an investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which found many people who should have been offered a basic bank account were instead being turned away, directed to unsuitable online applications or not told the accounts existed at all.

Basic bank accounts are designed for people who cannot qualify for a standard current account, including those with poor credit histories, financial difficulties or no fixed address.

The FCA said they are vital for receiving wages, benefits and paying household bills, yet its investigation uncovered widespread poor practice across the industry.

One in three banking experiences rated poor

The regulator carried out 298 mystery shopping exercises at bank branches and over the phone.

It found:

• 20% of experiences were rated poor
• 14% were rated very poor
• Just 28% were rated good or very good
• 38% were rated fair

Investigators found bank staff often failed to mention basic bank accounts early enough, overlooked signs of customer vulnerability and frequently pushed people towards online applications that were unsuitable for their circumstances.

People without standard identification or a fixed address were among those most likely to face barriers.

Around 4.3 million UK adults currently have a basic bank account, but the FCA estimates around 900,000 people remain completely unbanked.

Which banks are changing?

Following the FCA’s findings, the UK’s largest banks and building societies have agreed to improve how they offer basic bank accounts.

They include:

• Barclays
• The Co-operative Bank
• HSBC
• Lloyds Bank
• Halifax
• Bank of Scotland
• Nationwide Building Society
• NatWest
• Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)
• Ulster Bank
• Santander
• TSB
• Virgin Money

The firms have committed to:

• Offer customers the right account first time
• Make opening an account easier for people without standard ID or a fixed address
• Better identify vulnerable customers
• Provide alternatives for people who cannot complete online applications

FCA issues warning to major banks

Emad Aladhal, director of retail banking at the FCA, said: “Progress has been made with over 97% of UK adults having a current account, but our latest work shows that all too often banking firms’ engagement with customers still needs improvement.

“Bank accounts are important for financial inclusion, and this is about making sure the very people who could benefit from basic bank accounts are not missing out.

“That’s why the biggest banks have now committed to improving how they are offered – and we’ll be holding them to account to make sure change happens.”

Peter Tyler, director of personal banking at UK Finance, said: “A basic bank account can be an important first step towards financial independence, and while most customers who hold one have positive experiences, we recognise that more can be done to ensure consistently good outcomes for everyone.

“That is why UK Finance and our members are committed to raising industry standards and expanding access.

“The recently expanded ‘breaking the cycle’ initiative is a key part of this work, providing practical support to those facing barriers to accessing essential banking services, such as individuals without a fixed address.”

Recommended reading:

Who can get a basic bank account?

A basic bank account is intended for people who:

• Have been refused a standard current account
• Have a poor credit history
• Have been declared bankrupt
• Do not have a fixed address
• Do not have standard forms of identification
• Need an account to receive wages or benefits and pay bills

Unlike standard current accounts, basic bank accounts do not offer an overdraft, helping customers avoid borrowing while still giving access to everyday banking services.

There were more than five hours on the clock and yet Novak Djokovic was still not done. As Centre Court shook, Djokovic’s 11-year-old son, Stefan, watched on with his head in his hands, up way past his bedtime but gripped by what his 39-year-old father was producing. Felix Auger-Aliassime stood over a forehand and sensed his moment to strike but Djokovic, in a flash, sprung to his right deep behind the baseline, extending the point and the Canadian third seed’s torment. Auger-Aliassime netted and it broke him; the decisive point in the match tiebreak that settled the longest Wimbledon quarter-final ever, a victory that Djokovic ranked as one of his finest ever on Centre Court.

“These are the moments I still play for,” said Djokovic. If the scoreline – 7-6 (10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (10-4) – is scarcely believable in itself, the sight of Djokovic stretching his limbs and denying the 25-year-old Auger-Aliassime in five hours and 15 minutes, was sheer madness. It equalled the longest match of Djokovic’s Wimbledon career, eight years on from the 2018 semi-final with Rafael Nadal that was held overnight. Djokovic managed this in one epic, gruelling sitting just five minutes before the 11pm curfew. When the moment required it, he once again raised his level, booking a semi-final with defending champion Jannik Sinner on Friday.

The celebrations were memorable, the victory too – a battle Djokovic prevailed from in front of his children on Centre Court adding to the sweetness. And yet the message afterwards from Djokovic was that he is not done yet. The records – an eighth consecutive Wimbledon semi-final, the 15th of his career – did not matter. “Right now, it’s all business,” Djokovic confirmed. The pursuit of the grand slam record and a 25th title is what fuelled his extraordinary fight and refusal to submit, and yet it is still two rounds away. ”I wish it was finals so I don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow,” Djokovic said.

And there could lie the problem. At this stage of his career, and since the gold medal match against Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 Olympics, Djokovic’s finest victories have arrived before the final. Last season, the quarter-finals of grand slams fell in the the sweet spot where Djokovic was fresh enough to compete against younger opponents, but late enough in the tournament where he knew he needed to step it up. He did, in defeating Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open, Alexander Zverev at the French Open, Flavio Cobolli at Wimbledon and Taylor Fritz at the US Open. Outlasting Auger-Aliassime at Wimbledon is another added to the list.

Djokovic, though, arrived at those semi-finals and found that he was physically cooked, unable to recover for the next challenge. The exception came at the Australian Open in January, and was memorable in itself with Djokovic ending Sinner’s reign in Melbourne by beating the world No 1 in five sets. But that followed a different sort of tournament for Djokovic, after his fourth-round opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew and Lorenzo Musetti retired from their quarter-final due to injury while leading by two sets. Djokovic arrived into his semi-final with Sinner fresher, but after he prevailed he still ran into Alcaraz in final, where he eventually ran out of gas.

Djokovic will have an extra day to recover before he plays Sinner on Centre Court on Friday in a rematch of last year’s semi-final. It may prove to be invaluable. “Let’s see. Let’s see,” Djokovic said. “I have an extra day, which is good.” Sinner, by comparison, has won his last four matches in straight-sets and has not been pushed past the three-hour mark since his opening-round scare against Miomir Kecmanovic last week. Djokovic, meanwhile, has only played one match in under three hours. Djokovic may be matching the heroics of fellow 39-year-old Lionel Messi, yet he wished he could play 90-minute matches like him, too.

And it is the brutal reality of sport that there is no trophy for Djokovic for reaching another semi-final, or for Auger-Aliassime for falling just a few points short in one of the greatest matches in Wimbledon history after five hours and 15 minutes. But in another sense, tonight felt as if the recognition for Djokovic and his latest victory against the younger generation actually could have been enough, with Centre Court rising to its feet for the match tiebreak and this marathon quarter-final. “I still want to go at least one more step further,” he said. “But this was as good as a final for me.”

There was no doubt, however, that Djokovic, the man who has nothing to prove, once again left behind something special on Centre Court. “Another great, historic run for me at the grand slams,” he said. “This is what counts the most, honestly. I still try to prove to myself and others that I’m able to compete with the best players in the world and beat them on the biggest stage. That’s what I’ve done in Australia. It’s what I’ve done here. Hopefully I can do it in a few more matches here.”

Amelia Faith Rose Sebright, 30, worked as a special needs teacher

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This article was first published for subscribers of Yorkshire Live

A grieving husband has paid tribute to his “quietly extraordinary” wife following her sudden and tragic death at home.

Amelia Faith Rose Sebright, 30, worked as a teacher of special needs children in Sowerby Bridge and was known for her kind and patient personality and her determination to assist her pupils. She was born in Sheffield and was a Nottingham University graduate.

Sadly, Amelia was found at home at Heptonstall near Hebden Bridge by husband James on March 4 this year, Bradford coroner’s court heard on Monday.

In a statement, James described his wife as kind and patient in the way she cared for other people. In the days after her death, people had described Amelia as a person who “brought warmth into every room she entered.”

She had dedicated her life to helping young people, most recently as a maths teacher at a school in Sowerby Bridge where her pupils had reported that maths was their favourite lesson.

James said his wife’s altruism extended outside her professional life where she would hand food and drink to rough sleepers in Bradford, buying things from her own pocket.

James told the court that, two years before his wife’s death, she had been diagnosed with autism which had helped her make sense of the feeling of “not quite fitting in” and explained why she had struggled with her emotions.

“Despite everything, she continued to give so much of herself to others.”

Her death had left an “enormous hole” in the lives of all those close to her, he said.

James said his wife had been finding life difficult and, on the day of her death, had a particularly bad day at work due to understaffing. She had come home and followed her usual routine which involved going upstairs and spending time alone for between 45 minutes and an hour.

The inquest was told that a short time later James had found his wife upstairs. Police and paramedics attended and CPR was carried out but Amelia’s life could not be saved. Her cause of death was hanging. She had a previously self harmed and, in 2020, had attempted suicide, the hearing was told. She had been prescribed medication for anxiety and depression.

Assistant coroner Angela Brocklehurst concluded that Amelia died from suicide. She noted that there had been a “small argument” on her way home from work with a family member.

She expressed her sympathy and condolences to James and family, who attended court, telling them: “From what I have read and been told, Amelia was an exceptional lady.

“Her pupils she cared for deeply and did everything she could to give them a good education and help them with their special needs.”

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

Alarm is growing over the presence of a marine menace that could throw holiday plans into chaos for those heading to the Mediterranean.

The silver-cheeked pufferfish has been spotted off the coasts of Greece, Spain, Italy, Turkey and even as far as Israel. 

The toe-chomping creature appeared in the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, adding to the woes of holidaymakers already dealing with jellyfish and sea urchins in the region.

The fish, also known as the silver-cheeked toadfish, has incredibly sharp teeth and a bite so powerful that it can sever a finger in one chomp.

It also has a powerful neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, a poison that can cause heart and lung failure – making the silver-cheeked pufferfish unsuitable for human consumption.

The fish was first seen in the eastern Mediterranean in 2003 and in Greek waters in 2005.

But recent years have seen an explosion in their population size and range, spreading towards Italy, Spain and the rest of the western Mediterranean.

Scientists believe this spread has been caused by climate change, which has resulted in warmer waters and rising salinity in the sea.

Fishermen have complained of the pufferfish decimating their catch and their nets, while reports of attacks on humans are becoming more common

The silver-cheeked toadfish has been spotted across Greece, where panicked officials are rushing to erect extensive sea barriers to keep them away from swimmers.

With fang-like teeth that can tear through bone, wood and metal, the Greek Red Cross issued an urgent alert over the aggressive invasive species.

Their brutal bite has been felt by humans, with increasing reports of attacks on swimmers. 

Just last week, an elderly Greek woman was left needing stitches after one of the fishes unexpectedly lunged at her in Varkiza, near Athens. 

‘If one of them bites you, it will simply cut off your finger. They destroy the sea. They don’t leave anything behind,’ a Greek fisherman, Alexis Charalampakis, reportedly said.

‘It’s an omnivorous fish that eats everything it encounters,’ added 65-year-old fisherman Giannis Giankakis.

‘Nothing seems to bother it, because it has no natural predators among other fish,’ he added.

Videos have surfaced online showing how strong the animal’s bite is, with its teeth tearing through coca cola and beer cans. 

Their beak-like mouth has also left many fisherman’s nets in tatters, with one saying: ‘If this wasn’t my boat, I’d quit this profession for good.  ‘The situation is dire…we cannot survive.’

 ‘It took me two days to fix these nets. I took them out this morning, another 20 holes.’

‘The job gets worse every year,’ said 53-year-old fisherman Kostis Zevelekakis. 

The Greek Red Cross have said that victims should seek emergency care if they are bitten as they can cause severe wounds.

Clean water and soap should be used to clean the wound and to apply heavy pressure with a piece of gauze or clean cloth, before seeking professional medical help.

Already, 2.5km of a floating barrier has been installed in some bays along Evia, Greece’s second largest island.

While the nets – the first floating barrier to be installed in Greece – were initially implemented to deal with the thick swarms of jellyfish that blighted the beaches last summer, the nets ‘killed two birds with one stone’, Chalkida’s vice mayor Antonis Spanis reportedly said. 

Videos have surfaced online showing how strong the animal’s bite is, with its teeth tearing through coca cola and beer cans

Their brutal bite has been felt by humans, with increasing reports of attacks on swimmers

Their beak-like mouth has also left many fisherman’s nets in tatters

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‘Our duty and primary concern has to be the safety of our citizens,’ he was reported to have said, but added that they promised a ‘carefree summer’.

A further seven kilometres of floating barriers with thickly woven netting are set to be delivered from Athens and experts are hoping that this should be strong enough to deter the creatures.

Cypriot authorities first introduced financial incentives in 2024 to encourage fishermen to help support a government-backed eradication scheme by removing them from the waters.

Since its introduction, more than 100 tonnes of the pufferfish – which has no natural predators – has been destroyed.

Athens announced a similar scheme last week where £4.56 (€5.33) was up for grabs for every kilogram of the fish surrendered to authorities, who would later incinerate it.

Fishermen want the state to subsidise them to hunt pufferfish, with one saying: ‘The state isn’t doing enough to help us deal with these fish (…) We can control their numbers if we’re given the right framework to hunt them.’

‘They should give us an incentive to round them up,’ said 25-year-old Babis Doriakis.

‘I have taken on my father’s fishing boat, but I won’t be able to continue without assistance,’ he said.

Areas in the southern Aegean Sea and around Crete are also being offered fuel-subsidies as part of the EU-funded scheme.

Nota Peristeraki of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research said that these pufferfish can contribute to £7,270 (€8,500) worth of damage and lost income, per France24.

However, the Initiative to Save Pufferfish has been reported criticising the eradication efforts, instead arguing that the fish require ‘protection and respect’, according to The Guardian.

Ioannis Batjakas, a marine biologist based in Lesbos, said the reports of attacks are exaggerated and that, like most fish, they would only lash out if provoked, per the newspaper.

Greece is not the only place affected, with pufferfish being spotted on beaches across the Mediterranean.

Turkey’s southern coastline has also seen a series of particularly serious incidents, including attacks on children and swimmers.

Meanwhile, scientific monitoring has gradually expanded westwards, confirming that the species has now spread to the waters off Spain and Italy. 

Historical records also show the silver-cheeked pufferfish has long maintained a stable presence along the coasts of countries including Libya and Syria.

Fishermen in the Mediterranean have already warned that the pufferfish have been heavily damaging their nets

The silver-cheeked pufferfish (pictured) has appeared in the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal

One dog became violently sick after licking the invasive species on a beach in Netanya, Israel. 

‘She could barely walk, was disoriented and began showing symptoms of neurological damage,’ the owner recalled in an interview to Ynet News.

The dog was brought to the vet and sedated and placed on a ventilator. According to veterinarians, she arrived in time and survived the poisoning.

The owner said she had spotted ‘many dead pufferfish along the shore during our walk.’

According to medical professionals, at the beginning of poisoning  vomiting, weakness and muscle tremors can occur, but in severe cases, the toxin progresses quickly and can cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles and immediate life-threatening danger.

The silver-cheeked fish is spreading rapidly along Israel’s coastline and is being caught in fishing nets, after which fisherman just dispose of them on the sand.

‘There is a phenomenon where fishermen come to the beach, catch rabbitfish or pufferfish,’ the Nature and Parks Authority said. 

‘These fish are not prohibited to catch but they are not attractive for consumption so fishermen simply leave them on the sand. It often happens that a child or a dog touches them and gets hurt.’

Israeli authorities are asking fishermen to ensure they do not leave fish on the shoreline where dogs or children may come across them. 

‘If you caught a fish that is prohibited for fishing or you do not want it for any reason, it should be thrown back into the water if still alive or into a trash bin if dead,’ they warned.

VANCOUVER, British Colombia (AP) — Ruben Vargas converted his penalty and Switzerland advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals with a 4-3 shootout win over Colombia after a scoreless draw on Tuesday.

Switzerland will next face defending champion Argentina on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 earlier in the day.

Switzerland had not reached the quarterfinals of a World Cup since hosting the tournament in 1954. And the Swiss were shorthanded Tuesday without young midfielder Johan Manzambi, who was injured in training on Monday.

Vargas, who has scored two goals in the World Cup, also left Monday’s training early but was available off the bench and came on in stoppage time at the end of regulation.

Colombia defender Davinson Sanchez’s penalty attempt hit the crossbar and Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saved an attempt by Cucho Hernandez.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was among those at BC Place, where the sellout crowd was overwhelmingly clad in yellow in support of Colombia.

Colombia failed to qualify for the last World Cup in 2022. The team made the quarterfinals at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, defeating Uruguay in the round of 16 before losing to the host country 2-1.

The Swiss reached the round of 16 at the past three World Cups but failed to advance with a smaller field of 32 teams.

The match was tightly contested by two teams with contrasting styles, the Swiss with a more organized approach and Colombia more attack oriented. Switzerland had a slight edge in possession.

Manzambi, a 20-year-old midfielder who plays for German club Freiburg, had three goals in the World Cup and was one of the tournament’s breakout stars. The Swiss were also without Luca Jaquez and midfielder Michel Aebischer.

Gustavo Puerta had the first good chance for Colombia with a shot from distance in the 21st minute that was pushed away by Kobel.

The Swiss got one of their best opportunities in the 30th with Fabian Reider’s blast at Camilo Vargas, who punched the ball down. Minutes later, Vargas smothered another attempt from Dan Ndoye.

The Swiss had a free kick in the 52nd minute, but Reider’s attempt curled around the wall and went into the side netting.

In the first extra time period, Jhon Lucumi’s header hit the cross bar and caromed away as Colombia put pressure on Kobel.

Colombia and Switzerland also met in the group stage at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, with South American team winning 2-0.

___

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Faye Condon, 12, wrongly underwent six rounds of chemotherapy after she was misdiagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

A young girl saw her ‘childhood ruined’ after she was wrongly given chemotherapy following a misdiagnosis. Faye Condon, 12, was told that she had the rare autoimmune disease Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) seven years ago only to find out she never had the condition.

Mum Christina was not convinced by the diagnosis and pushed doctors to test for other diseases. She has been proven right as Faye has now been diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy for which there is no treatment.

Faye was first taken to hospital aged five when Christina noticed that she was not running and jumping as well as other children her age. She was referred to the Bristol Children’s Hospital (BCH) where doctors ran initial tests and in November 2019 the family were told Faye had JDM.

Speaking to our sister title the Mirror, Christina, from Plymouth, Devon, said: “We have spent her entire childhood in and out of hospital, we haven’t been on holidays and we don’t have a house or car that is wheelchair accessible as we were told she was going to get better.

“If we had the correct diagnosis seven years ago when Faye was able to walk, we could have gone on holiday and had more fun with her before she was wheelchair bound. We put our lives on hold because we were always told she was going to get better.

“I first took her for hip pain and inability to bear weight, and we knew something was wrong but the doctors couldn’t see what I could see as a parent. She couldn’t walk 200 yards to school, she would randomly fall, I had to take videos and pictures to prove it.

“The doctor was very flippant about it, they just threw medicine at her but nothing would make a difference. In October 2019 we were categorically told it was not muscular dystrophy, but I’m sure that the doctor was looking for her to fit into a rheumatology disease, it was almost like he was tainted before he had even seen Faye.

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“Everyone could see there was something wrong, but no one wanted to take responsibility for her and do more tests as tests cost money. The staff at the hospital were very vocal about a financial fight about which department would pay for testing.”

Chemotherapy started for Faye, then aged seven, in January 2021 and the six rounds of the gruelling procedure she underwent took its toll on her. Christina said: “She was about seven for her first round of chemo and was so sick, it was awful.

“We couldn’t be near anybody and she became really poorly, it was horrific to watch. She then contracted viral meningitis as a side effect of a blood product a doctor gave her and she was forced to stay in a dark room.

“There is no treatment for muscular dystrophy so she wouldn’t have had to have any of this if they diagnosed her properly the first time.

“Every test for the autoimmune disease was negative, not a single test they did pointed towards JDM. She even had a muscle biopsy which pointed to a congenital muscle disease, not an autoimmune disease, but that was overlooked.”

Frustrated with constantly asking BCH for other tests to find out what condition Faye really had, Christina turned to doctors at Derriford Hospital, her local clinic, and begged for a second opinion.

One of the first doctors who saw Faye at the hospital in Plymouth agreed with Christina that the JDM diagnosis was not correct and pushed to get her referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London.

Christina said: “Without the support of doctors at Derriford Hospital, we would never have got the correct diagnosis. They have been amazing from day one, they listened to and believed us as parents and really pushed for someone to listen.”

In August last year, nearly six years after her JDM diagnosis, doctors at GOSH told Faye she had de novo Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) type 2 – a rare, progressive disorder which has no treatment.

Christina said: “The specialist at GOSH took one look at her and named this type of muscular dystrophy. All it took to diagnose her was a blood test with specific genetic testing, but the doctors at BCH were so adamant that it was JDM they never sent for this test.

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“Those doctors ruined my little girl’s whole childhood. She is losing the use of her legs very quickly, she was refused entry into a school because her needs changed too much.

“She is currently a ticking time bomb, her heart could stop at any minute and she is on a ventilator at night, so cannot have a sleepover like other girls in her class.

“Had we known from five years old, and they had diagnosed her correctly, we would have everything in place… every appointment we go to is more bad news.”

Professor Steve Hams, Chief Nursing and Improvement Officer at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are very sorry to hear of the concerns raised by Faye’s family and our thoughts are with them.

“We are reaching out to her mother to listen to and understand her family’s experience. We want to approach this with care and compassion and will take the time needed to fully understand what has happened.”

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Days after security guard Gavin Plumb was arrested at his modest Essex flat in 2023, TV presenter Holly Willoughby quit her 14-year role on ITV’s flagship show This Morning, telling fans: ‘I have to make this decision for me and my family.’

The significance of her shock decision and its timing only emerged later – namely that police had just uncovered a plot by Plumb to break into the mother of three’s house to kidnap, rape and kill her.

‘Getting her has been my ultimate fantasy for way too long,’ Plumb confessed in an internet chat room. ‘I’m now at the point that fantasy isn’t enough any more. I want the real thing.’

It’s now almost two years to the day that Plumb was sentenced to life imprisonment for his vile scheme after he was found guilty of offences including soliciting murder.

Of course, it’s unlikely that anniversary has anything to do with Ms Willoughby’s imminent return to the daytime sofa after a three-year hiatus.

As disclosed by this paper at the end of June, the 45-year-old is relaunching her career on a This Morning-style show that is already filming for a four-week run on YouTube. But in a chilling coincidence, the Daily Mail can reveal her comeback may happen as Plumb is allowed to leave HMP Long Lartin, the category A jail where he is being held, for the first time. Because the 39-year-old has suffered a recent bereavement, that of his beloved mother Carol, and may be given permission to say his goodbyes.

The significance and timing of Holly’s shock decision to step down from hosting This Morning only emerged later – namely that police had just uncovered and informed her of Plumb’s plot

Carol had stuck by her son through thick and thin. But having been diagnosed with cancer, the former hospital healthcare assistant suddenly died during treatment earlier this year – with ‘mummy’s boy’ Plumb only learning what had happened when he phoned home to talk to her.

News of her death is said to have left Plumb devastated and having to seek support from staff at the jail. A family friend told the Daily Mail: ‘His stepdad told him by phone after he rang home to speak with Carol. He went to pieces. But they’ve got a really good team at Long Lartin who are looking after him.

‘Of course he loved his mum. He phoned her up every week.’

A prison source added: ‘He has taken the death very badly. He hasn’t thrown any strops or smashed up his cell – but there has been lots of sobbing.’

While Mrs Plumb died aged 64 in March, because an inquest may need to be held into her death no cremation or funeral has yet taken place. But discussions have been held over whether Plumb might be allowed to leave prison to mark her death in some capacity.

‘The prison authorities have said they’ll let Gavin out to see her one last time in the chapel of rest,’ a family friend told the Daily Mail.

But he has been told he will not be able to attend a ‘celebration of her life’ with other relatives.

‘That’s a prison decision,’ the friend added – although the Daily Mail understands that no final ruling, which would be based on assessments of the risks Plumb poses, has in fact been made on whether to allow him to leave the prison at all.

Lest anyone forget, Plumb’s plot, which he masterminded over the internet, was particularly depraved.

Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin, 50, were to be incapacitated by a gang at their London home using chloroform, then she was to be taken to a ‘dungeon-style room’ and repeatedly raped before her throat was slit and her body dumped in a lake.

When Plumb was arrested in 2023 he had more than 10,000 images of Ms Willoughby and other celebrities, as well as deep-fake pornography featuring her.

As disclosed by this paper, Holly is relaunching her career with a This Morning-style show on YouTube. But, eerily, her comeback may coincide with Plumb’s release

A family friend told the Daily Mail that Plumb is being ‘looked after’ by ‘a really good team’ at HMP Long Lartin, following his mother’s passing

Earlier this month, Plumb found himself back in the headlines after a tabloid newspaper reported that a search of his cell had unearthed a stash of pictures of Ms Willoughby that he had somehow managed to tear out of magazines and hide beneath his mattress.

Obese Plumb has since told family members that the claim is ‘rubbish’ and that he intends to instruct a solicitor to seek legal redress for what was alleged.

Nevertheless, a prison source said: ‘I think most of the people who’ve had any sort of interaction with Plumb are convinced that he will remain a danger to women for a long time.

‘He is completely unrepentant about what he put Holly Willoughby through. I think he’s very much still living the fantasy – it’s like he’s living two lives.’

Given the nature of his crime, he is also unlikely to find much sympathy from either fellow inmates or staff. The prison source added: ‘Plumb is a pretty repulsive character. He has serious weight problems. Staff have warned him about it but he doesn’t take any notice. He goes through packets of biscuits and crisps without even thinking – and then he has his meals on top of that. I think it’s all tied in with his mental state and self-loathing.’

As well as stuffing his face with junk food, Plumb’s life in HMP Long Lartin – a prison criticised in an official inspection earlier this year for cells that lacked hot water, heating and basic sanitation – also includes moaning about the poor prison food and trying to keep on the right side of some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals. The same inspection found that the rate of assaults among inmates in the Worcestershire jail was the second highest in the country for a prison of its type.

Among those held alongside him are gunman Thomas Cashman, murderer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, and Stephen Wright, a serial killer known as the Suffolk Strangler who is serving life for the murders of six women.

While there were recent claims that he and Wright, 67, had struck up a friendship and were known as ‘the odd couple’, a family friend this week told the Daily Mail: ‘Gavin has only met him once, they’re not friends.’

A prison source said: ‘Plumb spends a lot of time in his cell playing video games or watching TV. It’s hardly surprising because there are some very scary cons in Long Lartin.

‘While he’s a big bloke and will occasionally try and act tough, he’s the sort of individual who will start crying if he’s threatened. ‘He’s got few friends and is seen as a bit of a joke.’

And he added: ‘He’s not exactly a difficult prisoner but he’s a complete fantasist.’

A former friend said: ‘Apparently, he’s depressed and wants to get out. He’s not doing very well. It’s all in the letters he writes. He is playing the victim. He’s really good at it.

‘He just feels like he’s been set up, despite the fact there’s so much evidence and he’s trying to say everyone has placed it on him. But no one believes him.’

Sources inside the prison are convinced that Plumb will remain a danger to women for a long time, adding that he is still unrepentant about what he put Holly through

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Plumb always insisted that, despite the evidence against him, he never actually posed a threat to Willoughby. He claimed that his discussions about what he wanted to do to her were just ‘online’ chat, saying: ‘There’s a massive difference between what’s online and real life.’

British police were only alerted to Plumb’s plans after he unknowingly shared them with an undercover US cop posing as another kidnap enthusiast in a dark web chatroom. The US officer printed a fake plane ticket to convince Plumb he was travelling to the UK. Having got his address, he alerted the FBI, which contacted Scotland Yard. Essex Police, fearing an imminent threat to Ms Willoughby, arrested Plumb on the day they were warned about him.

Plumb denied soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape between 2021 and 2023, but was found guilty following an eight-day trial. ‘I have no doubt this was all considerably more than a fantasy to you,’ the judge told him.

‘You always intended to carry out your plan to kidnap, rape and kill Willoughby if you could find “the right crew” to do it.’

During the hearing, the jury learned that Plumb had a string of previous convictions for sexually motivated crimes against women.

Aged 19 he targeted two uniformed Ryanair workers travelling from Bishop’s Stortford to nearby Stansted Airport. He handed one a note that read: ‘I have got a gun. Do what I say.’ Arrested soon after, he was found to have a black toy handgun and three pieces of rope on him.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted kidnap and received a 12-month suspended sentence.

In December 2008, Plumb was in trouble again, this time after targeting two 16-year-old girls working at Woolworths, where he was a shop assistant. Working in a stockroom, he pulled a knife on them and then taped the hands of one of them behind her back

As he prepared to gag her mouth, the second girl ran off. The alarm was raised and Plumb was arrested. In June 2009, he pleaded guilty to two charges of false imprisonment and one of battery and was jailed for 32 months.

Plumb’s problems with women began at an early age.

The hearing revealed Plumb had a string of previous convictions for sexually motivated crimes against women, which friends think stems from his sexual frustration after putting on weight 

Raised in Harlow, Essex, by the age of 13 he had started to put on so much weight that he noticed girls would ‘friendzone’ him rather than fancy him.

Those who know him believe his behaviour around women has its roots in the sexual frustration he experienced from then on.

His one serious relationship, with the mother of his two children, began at the age of 18 and was marred by allegations of emotional and physical abuse that saw police called on numerous occasions.

It ended when he was jailed for the first time – after which Plumb found himself banned from seeing his children and spending increasing amounts of time at home, behind his computer.

As he did so his weight ballooned further, heading towards an all-time high of 35-and-a-half stone.

Gastric band surgery in 2018 helped but he remained reliant on his mother and stepfather for day-to-day help.

They would come over to help clean his flat and his mother was so worried he might have a heart attack that she had a set of keys – ‘just in case’.

After he was jailed over the Willoughby plot, they continued to make weekly visits to see him in prison, although the family friend said his closest relations had no illusions about what he had done.

‘His mum and his step-dad loved him but they were disgusted by what he did,’ he said. ‘Carol was fuming with him. She said to him: “You should not have done what you did. You’re in the right place.” Yes, she loved him as a son. But she never forgave him for this. She said he deserved what he got.

‘It wasn’t down to Carol or his stepdad or his brothers to tell Gavin how to run his life. If he got caught, he got his just deserts – if you break the law the law will catch up with you.’

Something he will have no shortage of time to ponder in the coming years.

The Angel Inn in Gilling West, near Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire closed in May as its owner decided to retire.

But just two months later it will reopen its doors on Wednesday (July 8), promising a cosy and friendly atmosphere.

Jess Powell, 25, who manages the pub alongside her dad Mike Pollard, said: “We’re giving the restaurant a refresh – the upholstery has been done, there are new tables, new furnishings and the roof has been repaired.

“We were working until 3am last week because we wanted to get the venue ready.

(Image: THE ANGEL INN)

“We’re excited to create a cosy, welcoming pub where you can enjoy great food, drinks, good times and a friendly atmosphere.”

Pictures give a sneak preview of how the venue will look after opening.

One user commented: “Looking forward to having a pub back in the village and popping in to say hello to everyone as all those little interactions were lost when the doors closed.

“I’m aware hospitality can be hard, but I hope the locals support the pub and it becomes a hive of village life again.”

The pub’s kitchen will be open 12pm-3pm and 5pm-8.30pm, with the management promising “pub classics”, including pies, burgers, and fish and chips.

The dog-friendly pub will be open Tuesday to Sunday with the bar open from 3pm on Tuesday and midday the rest of the week. Full closing times can be found on The New Angel Inn’s Facebook page.

Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue blew India away with pace at Trent Bridge as England condemned the world champions to a record 125-run T20 defeat.

The hosts posted 201-7 on the back of 70 from Phil Salt, with the entire India team only just besting the opener’s score as they were rounded up for 76.

Archer and Tongue were too hot to handle, both seamers pushing the speed gun past 90mph to scatter the power-packed Indian top order in a match-winning new-ball burst.

Tongue claimed career-best figures of 4-28 and Archer took 3-29, with the innings wrapped up 8.2 overs ahead of time.

It was an emphatic result in Nottingham – eclipsing India’s previous worst result in T20s by a massive 45-run margin – and handing the hosts a 2-0 lead with two to play in the Vitality Series.

India started a difficult day perfectly, winning the toss before Arshdeep Singh delivered a near-perfect maiden to Salt. It was a red herring, Jos Buttler picking up the pace with 36 of the first 43 runs.

Prince Yadav halted his charge with an inswinging yorker that crushed Buttler’s boot and parted his stumps, then added Harry Brook to keep England in check before Salt finally broke the shackles.

Entrenched on 17 from 19 balls at the start of the ninth over, he crashed 53 off the next 25 as a loose over from Varun Chakravarthy eased him into his work.

He launched a long-hop for six then hit three straight fours to catch up on his ponderous start. Harshit Rana struck back with consecutive wickets in the 12th over, Jacob Bethell unable to recreate his match-winning turn from Old Trafford as he hit a skier into the leg side and Tom Banton steering his first ball straight to deep third.

Salt did not let it disrupt his flow, passing 50 in 36 balls and adding two more sixes before slashing Axar Patel to backward point.

By then Curran (41no) had picked up the baton and Will Jacks kept the pressure on by flaying two of his first four deliveries into the stands. Two runs off the last ball guided England past the 200 mark.

It proved more than enough as the tourists wilted under a hostile examination. Archer set the tone with a rapid first over from the Stuart Broad End, hurrying 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with a 90mph bouncer and smiling when the next ball was sprayed for six over gully.

Two of Tongue’s first three balls also went the distance but from there it was all England. Abhishek Sharma slashed to deep point, Sooryavanshi gloved behind as he took on Archer’s next bouncer and Ishan Kishan picked out Bethell with a flat pull.

By the time Archer removed Shreyas Iyer and Axar, it was game over at 52 for five from five overs. India were sprawling, Tilak Varma stumped off Jacks before Tongue picked up his third courtesy of Shivam Dube’s thin nick.

Miscommunication between Buttler and Curran denied the Nottinghamshire man his fourth victim, but a sterling catch from Banton ensured he did not have to wait long as he added Harshit to his collection.

Adil Rashid finished things off with two late wickets as India only just beat their lowest T20 total of 74.