A teacher accused of having sex with a 10-year-old pupil ‘countless’ times was found under the covers with him by his sister, a court heard.

Deborah Franklin, 65, allegedly blindfolded and strapped the boy to her marital bed for hours so she could sexually tickle him with a feather during a years-long campaign of abuse.

She faces eight allegations of gross indecency against a boy under 14, between 1991 and 1995 – when she was a teacher at a preparatory school in Hertfordshire.

Franklin is said to have met the alleged victim, now in his 40s, when he was nine and joined her class.

He claims they had ‘countless’ sexual encounters, and said he was led to believe that he was in a relationship with Franklin – who was around 30 when the alleged abuse began.

The man said in a recorded interview: ‘I remember her clothes were off and she was teaching me how to touch a woman, and I remember saying: “It smells funny”… I remember her just telling me what to do and I would just do it.’

The complainant’s siblings gave evidence to St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday, and recalled the teacher spending a lot of time at their house.

His older sister told jurors that on one occasion she found Franklin ‘under the covers reading a book to [the complainant]’.

Describing her impression of Franklin back then, she said: ‘She was fun, she was charismatic. I thought she was cool, I liked her. She was very likeable.

‘She was in the house often. She became a family friend. She came on Saturday afternoons. I saw her quite a lot.’

Asked if she had suspicions of anything untoward, she said: ‘I knew something had happened, he told my dad.’

She said that her brother had reported Franklin to the police after finding out she was still working at the same school in 2024.

A former school friend remembers Franklin and the complainant having a ‘very close’ and ‘flirtatious’ relationship, such that they would hold hands on school trips.

Another friend said the pair would sit ‘very close’ to each other when watching television.

They said: ‘He would sit very much in Mrs Franklin’s arms, as you would see a boyfriend and a girlfriend sitting together, and at moments tickling his arm.

‘There was a lot of laughing, talking, whispering. I felt very much outside of it. I felt left out, that was my best friend.’

Describing their gradual realisation of Franklin’s alleged abuse, the friend said: ‘The first detail I got is that Mrs Franklin got naked in front of him.

Franklin denies all of the charges brought against her

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‘He said that they had kissed, that he had touched her, that she had performed some sexual activity on him but not saying what. I would say that that was the extent of the detail.’

The complainant’s older brother giving evidence in court also remembered Franklin as ‘always pleasant, with energy, very cool’, and ‘someone you would be happy to hang out with’.

He recalled that Franklin used to watch TV with his brother, and spend time in his bedroom, and that his brother went to the teacher’s house on at least one occasion.

The brother said Franklin once invited him to accompany her to a heavy metal gig, and that she made a comment about anal sex.

He told the court: ‘She turned back to look at me. She made a comment about anal sex. I asked if her husband likes it.

‘She told me pillows are very important, because it allows you to go deeper if you have sex with pillows.’ 

Gavin Pottinger, prosecuting, asked him: ‘Did [your brother] ever tell you that anything had happened between him and Debbie?’

He replied: ‘It came up a lot that something had happened. He never told me the details, and I never asked for them. It came up over a lifetime. It came up consistently in different contexts.’

Describing the first alleged incident in his garage, the complainant said: ‘She kissed me on the lips and we started to touch.’ 

On the progression of the alleged incidents, he continued: ‘There was a ton of manipulation obviously, but at the time it did not present like that. At the time it was like: I am in a relationship. I’m your girlfriend. We have to be cautious.

‘I remember her clothes were off and she was teaching me how to touch a woman and I remember saying ‘It smells funny’ and she was getting all defensive saying ‘That’s how women smell’. I remember her just telling me what to do and I would just do it.

‘I remember her distinctly calling out her husband’s name. It took me by surprise. I never saw their relationship. I thought I had the relationship. I remember thinking I had a competitor.’

He described ‘countless’ sexual encounters in which married Franklin would tie him to her marital bed, blindfold him, tickle him with a feather and have sex with him.

He said: ‘At the time, I don’t think I was terrified. I wasn’t. I don’t remember being scared. 

‘But it began to bother me when I was around 14… I was tied to the posts, blindfolded and she was tickling me naked and I remember her being surprised I didn’t enjoy it. Her kind of quizzing me why I didn’t enjoy it, what I didn’t like.

‘I was there for some hours,’ he said.

‘I remember us coming back to it later and having sex on her bed.’ 

Questioned in her police interview Franklin said: ‘It’s a lot of rubbish, I’m sorry, but it’s not true, and I don’t understand why someone would say such dreadful things. I’m stunned, shocked.’

She said of the complainant: ‘I don’t remember much about him. He moved onto the next school like any other child.’

Franklin, of Radlett, Herts denies eight counts of gross indecency with a boy under 14

The trial continues.

By RAVEN SAUNT, US LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Updated: 21:35 BST, 22 July 2026

Beauty influencer Adriana Garcia has died aged 30.

The content creator, from Culiacan, Mexico, had reportedly been undergoing cosmetic surgery on Tuesday morning when she suffered complications.

She is survived by a six-year-old daughter.

Garcia had built up a legion of loyal fans across both TikTok and Instagram but also worked closely with Drop Shop – a store selling limited-edition sneakers, caps and luxury watches.

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The company confirmed her death in a statement that read: ‘Today we say goodbye to a member of the Drop Shop family, remembering with affection her human quality, her dedication and the moments we shared by her side.

‘Her memory will always remain with us.

‘We express our most sincere condolences to her family, daughter and friends, wishing them strength and peace in these difficult moments.

‘Rest in peace, Adriana, you will always be part of the Drop Shop family.’

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Beauty influencer Adriana Garcia, from Culiacan, Mexico, has died aged 30

The exact cause of death remains unconfirmed by officials. The case is still under review by local health and justice bodies.

Her followers have since flooded the comments of her last social media posts to share their condolences.

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‘Rest in peace, beautiful,’ one wrote.

‘Fly high Adriana, you’re already with your dad that you missed so much,’ added another.

And a third simply said: ‘I’m in shock.’  

In April, Adriana celebrated her 30th birthday amid losing both her father and grandfather. 

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She wrote on social media: ‘I always looked forward to April with great excitement.

‘It was a month that meant joy to me: my birthday, vacations, and happy moments. 

The content creator had reportedly been undergoing cosmetic surgery on Tuesday morning

‘But this year, April was completely different. 

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‘In that same month, I experienced one of the greatest sorrows of my life: saying goodbye to my father and my grandfather. 

‘Two people who profoundly marked my life and my heart.’

Further information about her death is expected in the coming days. 

The Beach Boys have canceled a slew of summer concerts, including multiple planned state fair appearances, according to local reports.

The band is in the midst of the “Endless Summer Gold” tour, with shows scheduled through November. However, performances between July 23 and September 3 have now reportedly been canceled.

“We’ve been having a blast out there, and to keep the good vibrations going strong, we’ll be taking a short break,” the band said in a statement, as reported by Wisconsin’s ABC affiliate WISN.

Multiple state fairs have been impacted by the cancelations, including Wisconsin, Indiana, Oregon, Alaska and Colorado.

The Independent has contacted representatives for the band for comment.

Some of the canceled dates have already been rescheduled; others remain listed as TBA on ticket sites.

More follows on this breaking news story. Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The Independent

The bar will be open for the duration of the Fleadh

Work is well underway on a new bar which is set to open in the heart of Belfast City Centre.

The bar on Donegall Street will be open for the duration of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann at the beginning of August. The new venue will be aptly named The Donegal Belfast.

The bar will have live music all day and feature three fully stocked bars throughout.

One of the main features will be the “huge” beer garden, which will rival many others across the city. There will also be a food truck to keep the punters well fed.

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According to a TikTok page for the bar, “whether you’re here for the music, the pints or the craic, The Donegal is the place to be this Fleadh.”

They added, “whether you’re here for the trad sessions or just soaking up the festival vibes, we’ve got you covered.”

In addition to other entertainment, such as live music, they plan to have Irish dancers at the venue throughout the Fleadh.

We got a look at the progress so far and have all the details in the TikTok below:

A seven-day annual outdoor entertainments licence was granted for “The Donegal” at 11-17 Donegall Street, a prominent, long-term vacant former warehouse building in Belfast city centre. The site was previously associated with Eason and Son, the historic book and stationery retailer, and is currently being developed to include outdoor entertainment spaces.

The venue will continue as an entertainment space after the Fleadh. The day and hours that outdoor musical entertainment is proposed to be provided are Monday to Saturday 12noon to 11pm and Sunday 12.30 pm to 10:30pm.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here

The 26-year-old attracted interest from across the globe after scoring three goals at this summer’s World Cup

Swansea City have announced the signing of New Zealand winger Elijah Just from Scottish Premiership side Motherwell.

The 26-year-old recently returned from the World Cup, where he scored three goals in as many games to become his country’s all-time leading goalscorer in the tournament. His impressive performances attracted the attention of clubs around the world, with Celtic amongst those interested, but he has now committed his future to Vitor Matos’ side.

He becomes the Swans’ third signing of the summer after Stephen Welsh – who played alongside Just at Motherwell last season – and Moussa Yeo.

Putting pen to paper on a three-year deal, with the option of another year, the attacker also joins international team-mate Marko Stamenić at the Swansea.com Stadium.

The fee for Just has not been disclosed by the Championship club. However, our colleagues at the Daily Record report that Motherwell agreed a club-record fee with Swansea for Just.

They report the “multi-million deal” said to eclipse the sale of Scotland international Lennon Miller to Udinese last summer, which was said to eventually be worth £5 million.

After putting pen to paper on his Swans deal, Just said: “I’m over the moon, to be here now is pretty cool.

“I’m lucky to have Marko [Stamenic] here, we’ve obviously spoken on the phone a lot and he’s told me a lot about the club, and the playing style.

“Welshy [Stephen Welsh] is here too. As soon as Swansea showed interest, I researched as much as I could and it’s an incredible club. I spoke to him, and he is enjoying his time here very much.”

On his recent showing at the World Cup, he added: “It was a long journey, to make it to a World Cup with all the boys was so special.

“The stadiums and the fans were incredible. We were a little disappointed not to make it out of the group, but we had a great time.

“Scoring was an unbelievable feeling. In a World Cup, you know games are going to be tough. I never thought I would score, let alone three goals. New Zealand doesn’t have that much history at the World Cup, so hopefully there’s many to come.”

With the new Championship season getting under way next month, Just continued: “I can’t wait, it’s something I’ve wanted to do in my whole career. I’ve watched a lot of Championship games, and it’s a tough league.

“I’m looking forward to playing many games, I think it’ll suit me well. I’m looking forward to being out there with the boys, contributing and hopefully, we can do something special.”

*Follow all of our social channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Swans news. Sign up to our daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here. Our Swansea City correspondent Tom Coleman is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here, on Instagram, on TikTok and on Facebook.

Fire crews were called to the scene of the fire at a Welsh primary school early on Wednesday morning

Children had to be evacuated from a playgroup after a fire broke out at a Welsh school during the summer holidays. Huge flames and billows of thick smoke were seen coming from windows of Awel Y Mor Primary School in Port Talbot on Wednesday morning.

Multiple fire crews rushed to the scene shortly after 10am. Before they arrived, staff at a Flying Start group being held at the school jumped into action to evacuate children who were at the Lots of Tots holiday club, which was being held in a separate part of the school.

The group will be cancelled for the rest of the week as a result of the fire.

A post from the group said thanked staff “for their calm and professional evacuation of the children”.

A video shows flames billowing from a window of the primary school, where scaffolding is currently erected. Stay informed on everything Neath Port Talbot by signing up to our newsletter here

Firefighters from Port Talbot, Neath Swansea Central, Morriston and Swansea West Fire Stations worked to bring the blaze under control, before leaving the scene at around 12.45pm.

A spokeswoman for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 10.10am on Wednesday, July 22, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Port Talbot, Neath Swansea Central, Morriston and Swansea West Fire Stations were called to an incident at Awel Y Mor Primary School, Port Talbot.

“Crews responded to a fire within Sandwich Panels of the school. Crews utilised four breathing apparatus sets and two hose reel jets, turntable ladder and water bowser to extinguish the fire.

“Crews left the scene at 12.43pm.”

A post from the Lots of Tots group read: “Following the fire in the main school building, we’ll remain closed for the rest of this week. We’ll assess the damage and plan for the safe return of children and staff to the undamaged playgroup. A reopening date or decision can’t be made until a full assessment is complete.

“Finally, a massive thank you to the staff for their calm and professional evacuation of the children and ensuring everyone’s safety.”

Neath Port Talbot Council has been approached for comment.

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The cause and manner of 18-year-old Nolan Wells’ death was ruled “undetermined” pending further investigation in an independent autopsy commissioned by his family.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Wells family, announced the preliminary findings Wednesday at the annual NAACP National Convention in Chicago.

The autopsy report showed no evidence of fractures or deep tissue injuries, Crump said. It described a “red discoloration” in the back of Wells’ skull as “inconclusive” and meriting further investigation.

Without further information, the forensic pathologist, Dr. Roger Mitchell, wrote that he could not rule out the possibility that “non-accidental factors contributed to or caused the death.”

Wells had traveled to an island off the coast of Mississippi on July 4 with a group of friends, who later returned to the mainland without him. His body was discovered two days later floating off the island’s coast.

In his report, the pathologist pointed to several challenges inherent to the independent autopsy, including the decomposition of the body and outstanding questions about whether Wells was conscious when he entered the water.

Because an initial autopsy was performed by the medical examiner in Mississippi, Wells’ body arrived without organs or neck structures — making it impossible to determine if he had suffered a neck injury or whether water had entered his lungs, according to the report, which notes that the practice is not unusual.

Still, the revelation, relayed by Crump, prompted gasps from the crowd of several hundred in Chicago. The attorney called on state officials to provide that evidence for the family to review as part of their own independent investigation.

The Mississippi medical examiner, which has not released the results of the state autopsy, did not return a message seeking comment.

The second autopsy was paid for by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, whose group Know Your Rights Camp has paid for other independent autopsies.

“This is only another part of the puzzle, and even though it tells us significant information, we still have more questions than we have answers at this time,” Crump said of the results.

The still-unknown circumstances around Wells’ death have touched off rampant online speculation and prompted calls from Black leaders for transparency from local authorities. Wells, who was Black, had traveled to the island with a group of high school friends, all of whom are white.

A reward of $125,000 — jointly funded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, actor and producer Tyler Perry and former NFL player Terrell Owens — is now being offered in exchange for information leading to an arrest and conviction in connection with the death.

The autopsy announcement comes two days after Wells was laid to rest in his hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

In his eulogy, Sharpton lamented the “inconsistencies and unanswered questions” that had placed a dark cloud over the grieving family.

He questioned why Wells’ friends had left him behind, taken his phone and keys and failed to report him missing. And he suggested local investigators had spoken prematurely in statements to the news media indicating no crime was suspected.

“The reason that a lot of people across the nation are looking at this Nolan situation is because we’re looking at the history in Mississippi,” Sharpton added. “We can’t have someone in law enforcement saying there was no foul play before there was an investigation.”

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said initial interviews suggested Wells chose to stay on the island and that his friends believed he would get a ride with someone else. He has said the friends were cooperating with the investigation, which remains ongoing.

“We are trying to be respectful and collaborative as much as we can,” Crump said. “But it’s always troublesome to all of us when these investigations just take forever.”

The captain decided to return to Spain about 30 minutes after departure “due to the danger” the fight “posed to the safety of the flight”, the air traffic controller said.

Police met flight EZY3352 when it touched down at Tenerife South airport on Tuesday evening, per the crew’s request.

The 186-passenger aircraft then continued to Liverpool.

The air traffic controller said in its statement, originally written in Spanish: “Our full support goes out to the crews and passengers who are increasingly having to endure these situations.”

EasyJet said the plane “returned to the airport and was met by police due to a group of passengers behaving disruptively.

“The flight then continued to Liverpool.”

The airline added: “Our cabin and ground crew are trained to assess all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time.

“We take these incidents very seriously and do not tolerate disruptive behaviour towards our staff.

“The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is always our highest priority.”

Air traffic control also said: “The crew of the flight from Tenerife South to Liverpool, after about 30 minutes of flight, informed us that they needed to return to the airport and requested police presence upon arrival.

“A group of about 10 passengers had started a fight on board, and the captain decided to return due to the danger it posed to the safety of the flight.

“We expedited their return as much as possible while coordinating with the airport for police presence.

“They landed and cleared runway 07 without incident.”

John Hallimond, of Weardale Street, Spennymoor, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on July 17.

He pleaded guilty to driving a Kia Sportage while disqualified and without insurance on Market Place, Wolsingham, on July 16.

The court heard Hallimond had shown “a flagrant disregard for court orders”, which led magistrates to impose a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He must also complete up to 15 days of rehabilitation activities as instructed by his supervising officer.

In addition, Hallimond was banned from driving for 16 months and ordered to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Hallimond’s early guilty plea was taken into account when imposing the sentence.