“They had to pay for the bullet that killed their son,” Nasrin says with a mix of anger and disbelief.

She’s telling me the painful details of the day her nephew, Hooman, was killed during recent protests in Iran.

The 37-year-old had joined demonstrations against the regime in Lahijan, in the north of the country, when his family says he was fatally shot by government forces in early January.

“Hooman took to the streets without a weapon. He didn’t even have a small rock in his pockets to defend himself, but he was shot with a military bullet,” his aunt says.

Her distress is palpable.

Throughout the interview she oscillates between heartbreak and utter exhaustion at her powerlessness.

Now living in Germany, Nasrin explains it isn’t safe for her to return to Iran so she cannot hold her family as they grieve.

All she has left of Hooman is a framed photo which she kisses as she cries.

Following her nephew’s death, she explains his relatives went to collect his body but were told it had been moved to the city of Rasht, a place where authorities are also accused of a violent crackdown on protesters.

Nasrin says a friend in the city told her that the bazaar was set on fire and when protesters ran from the flames, security forces opened fire.

After the blaze, government-backed Iranian state TV aired drone footage of the aftermath which it said showed the scene “three days after the terrorist incident of the Rasht bazaar fire”.

Nasrin says when her family finally arrived at the place where Hooman’s body was being stored many other grieving families were already there.

“They saw so many people crying, all screaming, suffering in every way possible,” she explains.

“There were several containers. They said the body was in the containers. When they opened the doors, there were several corpses stacked on top of each other. They had to look for their son.”

She claims her relatives were told to bury Hooman immediately and had to sign a document when they left saying that they couldn’t talk about what had happened.

“They had to pay money for the bullet that killed their son,” she adds.

Hooman had been married for three years when he died.

His young wife is now a widow.

In a post on social media his friend said an hour before Hooman was shot, he’d said if he didn’t return, he’d died so others could be free.

“Who do you think is responsible for his death?” I ask Nasrin.

“The Iranian government, the Mullahs. They’re all murderers, they all have the blood of the Iranian people on their hands,” she quickly replies.

“They shoot the young people and then they demand money for the bullet. Are these the people in power or are they murderers?” she adds.

Read more:
Trump says Iran regime change the ‘best thing that could happen’
200,000 people protest against Iran regime as world leaders met

The exact death toll following the mass protests which began in late December is difficult to verify.

Iran’s government has released the names of around 3,000 people it says were killed, including civilians and security forces.

It blames rioters and foreign interference for fuelling the violence.

‘I have no hope about Donald Trump’

Following the crackdown, US President Donald Trump has sent warships towards Iran and repeatedly threatened to use force to make them reach a deal on their nuclear programme, but Nasrin says it’s not enough.

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Protests in London against Iranian regime

“I have no hope about Donald Trump. They could already help many other Iranian people. They could do sanctions,” she says.

“The people of Iran can get rid of this government, but we need to help them. They don’t need war.“

I ask whether she would support foreign powers going into the country to overturn the regime, or if she believes lasting change can only happen from within.

“From within,” she replies, “From outside, they just want war, they want to destroy our country. We don’t want that.”

Powerless to push for change inside Iran – Nasrin has joined thousands of other Iranians at protests in Germany demanding democracy and justice for the dead; both demands may fail.

Sky News put the allegations made against the Iranian regime in this interview to the Iranian Embassy in London.

At the time of publication, we had not received a reply.

Notions Vintage is moving from the first floor of 22 Colliergate to a larger standalone site 300 metres away in Aldwark Mews, and is set to open on Wednesday, February 18.

Owner Cath Dickinson spoke to The Press at the new premises ahead of the move about plans for expansion of the vintage clothing company and introducing other pre-loved ranges to the shop.

Recommended reading:

She said: “There are three separate rooms here and hopefully, we’ll be adding to the range of vintage designer gowns, affordable jewellery, rare sportswear and original band t-shirts.

“We’re starting out with a small interiors range and are developing a line of gifts with a sustainable theme where possible.

“I think we’re also the only shop in York to have a distribution deal with Donegal Socks – the family are in their third generation staying true to the traditional manufacturing skills of their forefathers.

“If I can prise my husband’s hands off some of our duplicate vinyl albums we’ll have an expanded record range as well as CDs and cassettes.

“It’s great to see people wanting music they can touch as well as listen to again.

“We’re also planning to have artwork and prints in the shop.”

Cath Dickinson has also curated an exhibition of works in York Cityscreen from two late artists from York including JP Warriner (Image: Supplied)

Cath is currently juggling the shop move with her curation of a free exhibition of the works of two late York artists – Penny Marrows and JP Warriner in the bar and upstairs gallery of Cityscreen York in Coney Street, which runs until March 6.

She said she’s been collecting works of John Warriner for five years and some of his works will be available for sale at Notions Vintage.

Cath said she’s excited about showing everybody the new space and expanded range (Image: Kevin Glenton)

Returning to the shop in Aldwark Mews – the former Touch Tuina treatment centre – Cath was going over the finishing touches to the new shop ahead of the new opening.

She said: “I know I’m leaving a busy street, but the large proportion of people who visited 22 Colliergate did not come up to the first floor – we were hidden in plain sight to some extent and there was confusion over whether it was one shop.

“I wanted to be completely independent and create a space for Notions in its own right.

“This building gives me a great template with the wonderful curved windows, the aspect, the light and even the parquet flooring.

“The business model works and it needs more people coming through the door.

“It’s really nice people coming in the shop in pairs and seeing something vintage and remembering when they owned a similar piece, and I smile when I overhear them saying ‘I remember that Fila tracksuit’, or ‘I wish I’d kept that sheepskin’.

“I’ve made so many friends from being here and they always come in and say hi, so I’m so excited about showing them, and everybody, the new space and the expanded range.”

Notions Vintage is moving from 22 Colliergate to 6 Aldwark Mews and opens on Wednesday, February 18.

It removes excess moisture from the air, which can help eliminate mould and reduce musty smells in the rooms where you’re drying your laundry.

The cost of buying a dehumidifier upfront may not be especially cheap, but what are the long-term costs of running it?

Additionally, many people might be curious to know if it’s cheaper to run than a heated airer and what the costs are compared to a tumble dryer.

How much does it cost to run a dehumidifier?

Data from Uswitch.com suggests an 185W dehumidifier costs 10p per load of laundry it helps to dry (taking approximately two hours).

Depending on the size of your device, this could run even cheaper if you have a small one.

In comparison to a 3kWh per cycle tumble dryer, this sees an enormous saving, with it being 73p cheaper than the 83p cost.

You will make a yearly saving of £75.46 using a dehumidifier in comparison to a tumble dryer in these circumstances.

However, what is the cost compared to a heated airer?

Uswitch.com suggests the dehumidifier still comes out on top here, with a 300W heated airer costing 17p per load of laundry dried.

This is still a massive yearly saving in comparison to using a tumble dryer, with it being £68.89 cheaper in these circumstances.

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “To save energy and money, many of us dry wet clothes on radiators or airers during the cold months, instead of using a tumble dryer. But this results in lots of moisture being released into your home. 

“The moisture can make rooms damp and create condensation on the windows and sometimes walls. 

Recommended reading:

“Using a dehumidifier can remove excess water from the air, which helps combat condensation and prevent mould growth. 

“The average dehumidifier uses 185W, which will cost you around 5p an hour in electricity, or 40p for eight hours. 

“Tumble dryers use a lot more energy, with a typical machine consuming 3kWh of energy per load of washing. This would cost you 83p at the current standard tariff rates.”

Matt Weston wrote his name in the British Olympic record books as he teamed up with Tabby Stoecker to win a second gold medal at the Milan and Cortina games in the mixed team skeleton competition.

Weston had already claimed top spot in the men’s competition on Friday evening with a dominant performance and he showed why he is the best in world as he turned around a 0.3second deficit after Stoecker’s run to deliver victory by 0.17s.

That gold means he is the first British athlete to win two medals at the same Winter Olympics and joins dual women’s skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold as the nation’s most successful athlete at the Winter Games.

He said: “There’s some great names in the British Winter Olympian history. I think to even consider putting my name next to those is a massive honour.

“I don’t want to be the one to say what position I am in there, but to have my name next to those is absolutely amazing. A lot of those guys have been a massive inspiration, especially within the sliding sports as well.”

Weston was unaware of the ground he had to make up on eventual silver medallists Susanne Kreher and Axel Jungk, instead focusing on his own start.

He explained: “When I’m at the top of the track I kind of put my helmet just low enough that I can’t see what the splits are. All I was doing was listening to my coach telling me the timings and all I could think was don’t false start.

“I was just staying very calm and trying to be collected, just tick the boxes, get the job done and hopefully that would have been enough and it turns out it was.”

Stoecker had finished fifth in the women’s competition on Saturday evening and had plenty of faith in Weston’s ability to find the time.

She said: “What an honour – it’s incredible. The medal is really heavy, it’s gold and I get to share it with Matt. It’s more than I could have ever hoped for.

“I think I crossed the line and then all I was really focused on was getting to the TV screen to watch Matt come down.

“He’s the individual Olympic champion and his standard of sliding is insane. So I had a lot of faith that he was going to lay down another exceptional run.

“But also it’s always nerve wracking when you have to watch the clock and the splits and you’re not sure how it’s going to go. But the flow that he has on the sled, it’s just unmatched, so from about halfway down I could feel that the gold was coming.”

Stoecker’s boyfriend Pat Atkin, who will be best man at Weston’s wedding in the summer, was among those waiting to celebrate at the Cortina Sliding Centre finish.

She added: “My boyfriend is there, but all my friends and family who have come out to watch, that’s just made it so special.

“I got to put my gold medal on my niece and nephew, they were saying how heavy it was and that’s just a moment that is going to last forever.

“All our families are really close and I consider Matt one of my best friends.”

Weston and Stoecker were winning the second gold of the day for Britain, following Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale in the mixed team snowboard cross, to make it a landmark occasion for Team GB.

“It’s pretty special to be a part of that to be honest,” said Weston.

“I’m extremely proud of what I’ve been able to achieve in the past couple of days. Especially to win the first ever team event is absolutely amazing. To win it with such a great team mate is just the icing on the cake.

“I’m buzzing and I don’t know what’s next to be honest – probably the pub!”

The Monday letters page realises that the next gen Xbox will be able to play PS5 games, as one reader hopes Bluepoint Games isn’t working on God Of War.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Nintendo logic
So, Sony has had a successful State of Play, their best in years I’d say, and Xbox’s was good too (I’ll be honest, I can’t remember anything about it, but I remember the buzz was decent). That means that Nintendo is the next one to have a showcase, but we still don’t have a date for it.

I’ve seen some rumours that it’ll be March, but I feel that’s just the obvious guess anyway. But my question is what will they be talking about? All we know about from them at the moment is Fire Emblem and Splatoon Raiders and while I don’t think many people here would consider them a particularly big deal you just don’t know with Nintendo.

But surely they must be preparing to announce at least one new triple-A game (or whatever you’d call them with Nintendo). It’s probably not Animal Crossing or Zelda, because the timings don’t work out, so to me the two obvious options are Super Mario or Smash Bros.

You might say Mario is the most obvious, but Nintendo has been so weird about it so far I don’t think there’s any guarantee they’ll suddenly become predictable. My bet would be on Smash Bros., with some new characters and other minor new content. Not the most thrilling choice, in my opinion, but the logical choice. I would expect it to be the big game for Christmas.
Ishi

Perfect prelude
There was a lot of good stuff at the State of Play but it didn’t shake my opinion that Resident Evil Requiem is the most exciting game at the moment and the one I’m most looking forward to. The new footage looked great and so has everything else before it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game not make a single mistake before release and always look like a must have.

If it turns out to be a dud after all this I will actually be really impressed that Capcom has been able to hide it so well. I don’t expect that will be the case though and while I’ll still wait for the reviews I’m predicting this will be one of the best game of this year and probably the whole generation. Don’t let me down now!
Purple Ranger

Stuck in Sparta
I tend to agree with the Reader’s Feature about God Of War. Sons Of Sparta looks bad and a remake trilogy does sound like a big wasted effort, given those earlier games were nothing like the new ones in terms of gameplay or story. It’d be tragic if Santa Monica Studio were wasting their time on it, but it’d be just as bad if it were Bluepoint Games, doing it – which is something I’ve heard fans talking about.

It’s not that remaking the game itself is a terrible idea, it’s just that by doing that you’re locking out talented developers for five years or more. Developers that could be busy moving the franchise forward or just generally not redoing something that already exists and you can play as remasters. I just don’t see any good outcome, because if they get a no-name dev, like with Sons Of Sparta, then that drastically decreases the odds that it will be any good.
Focus

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Two Keanus
I didn’t think much of the state of play. The hair on the back of my neck when the John Wick trailer started playing. It would have been obvious to anyone that has watched at least one of the films it was a John Wick game.

But that’s tempered by the fact that I’m an old gamer that remembers when movie tie-in was just another way of saying a game was a poor quality, rushed cash-in. Remember The Matrix game?

GoldenEye 007 was the first game I remember that was based on a film that turned out to actually be good.
TomTom

For the love of the game
Interesting comparison of Sony and Valve’s attitude in the Reader’s Feature at the weekend. I would not have thought of the comparison myself, but it does work. I think the problem for both companies is that ordinary games – basically anything but a mega hit – have become too small for them to bother with.

This seems a mistake to me though, as in Sony’s case they lose out on a key incentive in buying their console. But for both companies it’s a waste of talent and knowledge that has taken years to build up and is no longer being used properly. As long as a profit is made why not make them anyway, for the kudos alone?

That worked for Astro Bot, which wasn’t a big hit but made people think better of Sony for a while. Soras will probably be similar, but I feel we need a lot more of that, multiple times a year.
Tenna

Only on PlayStation
Perhaps I’m just being slow here, but I realised that if the next gen Xbox is just a PC in console’s clothing, as it were, then that means that all PlayStation 5 games will, eventually, be on Xbox. I guess it doesn’t really mean much, since Microsoft doesn’t get a cut of the sales or anything, but we may finally have our all-in-one single format (except for Nintendo, but that was never going to happen).

For years that seemed like something to really wish for but now that it’s actually close to happening it feels like nobody will actually care. In the end, the PC has been the single format all along (especially for those using emulators) and Microsoft putting the Xbox logo on a different machine isn’t going to change that.

I think we’ll soon begin to realise that, in terms of consoles, single format domination is a bad thing. People are upset about Sony not releasing more first party games but now that the Xbox has slipped into irrelevance they have no incentive to change.

Why spend all that money when you’ve already proved it doesn’t matter to whether your game Is a success or not? Sony won by doing nothing so there’s no incentive to do more next time.
Tom Meadows

Last gen
I’ve been watching Nioh 3 a bit on Twitch and wondered whether or not it should have been a dual console release. I can’t see any reason it couldn’t work on the PlayStation 4. Surely they could lower the resolution or whatever it was that stopped a version on PlayStation 4. It seems like Sony left money on the table with this decision. To me at least it still looks the same as Nioh 1 and 2.

Pretty sure there’s still millions of PlayStation 4 users out there.
Bobwallett

GC: It’s not Sony’s game.

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Positive recap
I’m still thinking about Thursday’s State Of Play, because it was more than a few steps ahead of the usual disappointments that we are usually served by Sony. It absolutely began with a bang. Death Stranding 2 on PC; Ghost Of Yōtei: Legends in March; Kena 2; the reveal of a John Wick game, with Keanu Reeves returning in the role of the Baba Yaga. Silent Hill Townfall was revealed and it’s first person; that was quite the surprise. It’s also set in an island inspired by Scotland, so that’s a nice change of pace to see locations from Japan to the UK being used. It’s a very fresh take on the series.

Metal Gear Solid 4 is free from PlayStation 3 jail. I’ve wanted for this for many years and to see it finally happen is just unbelievable. Saros continues to look stunning and I can’t wait for it, personally. Pragmata looks charming and I actually have played the demo; very enjoyable and a fun hacking romp – Diana is a charmer as well. Project Windless is quite interesting. A chicken with a bone to pick and dual swords. Yep, I’m sold.

The anime titles and Marathon were my low points. I’m not particularly interested in either title. Control: Resonant and 007 First Light continue to impress. Crimson Moon sounds like a lot of fun and I look forward to seeing more. The final reveal was the remake of the God Of War trilogy, which was a win for me personally. It’s obviously years away, and it did just begin development, but spoken as a massive fan of the franchise I’m absolutely pumped for this.

However, it was disappointing to see no Phantom Blade 0 at the event. At least pre-orders could have been revealed. Since it does have a release date, after all. We didn’t see Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 or Kingdom Hearts 4. That was a let down on Square Enix’s part. Maybe we’ll see those at the Tokyo Game Show.

Wolverine will be shared in the spring, so I wasn’t expecting that. All in all, it was a fantastic event and the games look very stellar. There’s much to be excited for and I can’t wait to see more. I’ll also say that I would have liked to see more from Judas and Tides Of Annihilation and Lego Batman, but I can wait longer. To a wonderful 2026 and the release of Resident Evil Requiem in two weeks!
Shahzaib Sadiq

Inbox also-rans
I’ve got a lot of sympathy for the Highguard dev complaining about ‘gamer culture’. It’s not my type of game, so I wouldn’t be interested in it whatever happened. But I never saw any explanation for why everyone turned on it except that they were hoping for something else to be revealed at The Game Awards – which is hardly the developer’s fault.
Kakem

Am I the only one that thought the latest trailer for Marathon made it look like Splatoon? Not necessarily a bad thing but why do they have blue blood?
Gonk

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Games Inbox: Was the latest PS5 State of Play a good one?

MORE: Games Inbox: Would PS5 exclusives on Switch 2 be a mistake?

MORE: Games Inbox: What will the new The Witcher 3 DLC be about?

The rain and cold spells are bound to have their effects on wooden garden furniture that isn’t covered over in the coldest months of the year, but there’s a cheap way you can restore it to its former glory.

In fact, a 35p household staple can “breathe new life” into wooden garden furniture that has seen better days, according to an expert.

Bradley Spencer at garden furniture specialists Royal Finesse, said white vinegar can come in handy for this garden chore.

Can you use white vinegar to clean garden furniture?

He explained: “Spring is just around the corner and many of us will look to spend more time enjoying our gardens. 

“However, harsh winter weather may have left some garden furniture looking less than perfect and in need of a deep clean. 

“White vinegar is a natural and effective weapon against the dirt and grime that can accumulate on wooden outdoor items, and it can breathe new life into your garden furniture.

“It is also a natural disinfectant to kill germs and bacteria so it can make a real difference without harming the wood.” 

Bradley said white vinegar is a mild acid that is popular with homeowners for a range of household cleaning tasks.

It can cost as little as 35p for a 568ml bottle in supermarkets, including Aldi.

To use it on wooden garden furniture, it’s important to dilute it with equal parts water and test it on a small area to ensure it’s suitable for the wood. 

Mr Spencer added: “When it comes to cleaning outdoor garden furniture, a deep clean with warm, soapy water can make a world of difference.

When did you last clean your garden furniture? (Image: Getty)

“A mixture of white vinegar and water can help with more stubborn stains if needed. 

“However, be careful not to use abrasive chemicals or pressure washers on wood or older items, as there may be a risk of damage.

“Vinegar is also best avoided for unsealed wood or if it’s waxed or oiled, in which case there are cleaning products specifically designed for these types of wood.” 

Chris Taylor at Chris Taylor Gardening said white vinegar “should always be diluted with water and used as a gentle wash rather than a heavy soak.”

He added: “On sealed or painted timber, it’s generally safe for occasional use, but on bare or weathered wood it can slightly raise the grain or dull the surface if overused.

“It’s best applied with a soft brush or cloth, followed by a thorough rinse and proper drying.

“For valuable hardwood pieces, a dedicated wood cleaner is often a safer long-term option.”

When is the best time to clean garden furniture?

Chris advised: “In the UK, the ideal time to clean wooden garden furniture is in early spring, just before it comes back into regular use.

“This allows you to remove winter grime, algae and any mould buildup before warmer temperatures encourage further growth.

“A secondary clean in early autumn can also be worthwhile before storing furniture or covering it for winter.

“Choosing a dry, mild day is important – cleaning timber in damp or cold conditions can slow drying time and encourage moisture retention, which in turn increases the risk of staining or fungal issues.”

Expert shares how to use soapy water to clean wooden garden furniture

If you haven’t got white vinegar at home, you can use a few key essentials that you’ll probably have already.

Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol, said you can clean your garden furniture with the following supplies:

• A clean bucket of warm water
• Mild soap or plant-based detergent
• Soft-bristled brush
• Sponge or microfibre cloth
• Hose with a spray nozzle (optional)

She warned that you should always check “for any manufacturer instructions or care labels on the furniture” before you get started.

Catherine added: “This is especially important if your sofa or chairs are made of a material like rattan, wood, metal or treated fabric.

“Some surfaces will also have coatings that need gentler care.”

The next steps include removing and washing cushions and fabric covers, brushing off any dirt and debris and mixing your solution.

Catherine said: “In a bucket of warm water, add a few drops of mild soap. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners as they can fade or damage outdoor furniture finishes, especially wood or coated metal!

“Soak a sponge or cloth in the soapy mix and wipe down all hard surfaces like arms, legs, backs and slats – I’d recommend rinsing your cloth regularly to avoid spreading dirt around.

“Then use a brush for textured or woven areas, and for the final rinse, use a bucket of clean water or a hose on a gentle spray setting.”

Don’t forget to dry off your furniture when you’re done, as Catherine says: “Use a towel to remove as much moisture as you can, especially in any gaps or joins where water could pool.

“Let everything air dry fully in the sun before you sit down or store the furniture, damp cushions and corners can quickly become mouldy if left, so this is really important!”

Experts at Vonhaus suggest sanding down stubborn stains: “For any stubborn dirt marks remaining, try sanding down your furniture with 80-grit/120-grit sandpaper.

“This will also prep your table, bench, or chair for oil treatments.

Recommended reading:

“To be on the safe side, we recommend wearing goggles to protect your eyes from any wood chips or dust.”

After this, you could add an oil treatment to future-proof your furniture, if suitable: “As well as offering year-round protection, teak oil maintains the wood’s rich golden sheen.

“Liberally apply the oil with a cloth following the grain, working into the wood.

“Once dry (in approx. 4-6 hours), apply a second coat.

“Repeat this process twice a year and clean your teak garden furniture with the soapy water mixture in between applications!”

How do you clean your garden furniture? Let us know your favourite techniques in the comments.

The woman feared she would die as Christian Philip Mercer, 39,  twice got her in a choke hold and applied pressure so that she could not breathe, Recorder Taryn Turner said.

As he did so, he told the woman: “You are going to sleep now.”

Then he punched and smacked her. She saw a knife had been moved from the kitchen into her living room and was near some duct tape and a chair that had been moved from the dining area.

“You told her you were going to tie her up,” the judge told Mercer. “How terrifying and frightening that must have been for her.”

The woman was continuing to suffer psychologically from the whole experience, the court heard.

The woman had been for a night out with friends and returned home between 3am and 4am on May 4.

“She let herself into the house and there you were, lurking in the pitch blackness, only making yourself known to her when she closed the door and flicked on the lights,” the judge told Mercer.

He throttled her until she couldn’t breathe, briefly released her and then reapplied the choke hold, the court heard.

“He was applying so much pressure I thought I was gone,” the woman had told a jury, York Crown Court heard.

The judge told Mercer that after leaving the woman’s home he had sent the victim messages that “amply demonstrated your jealous and obsessive nature” and how he had felt humiliated by her telling others their four-year relationship was over.

In a personal statement, the woman told the court Mercer had “changed completely” and “left her in a very dark place”.

Following the attack, he had tried to make her out to be a liar and to destroy her character in an attempt to protect his own image, she said.

The court heard she suffered bruising to her neck and arm and tenderness to her abdomen.

A probation officer warned the judge that there was a risk Mercer would be violent towards any future partner.

Mercer, of Harrogate, who set up an app to help people with HIV, denied intentional strangulation and actual bodily harm, but was convicted by a jury in October.

He was jailed for three years and two months and given a restraining order banning him from contacting the woman or going near her home for 15 years, among other conditions.

The couple had broken up a week before the attack. He had moved out of the home where they lived together and was staying at his office, York Crown Court heard.

Mercer’s barrister Eleanor Mitten said he gave his time to charity generously and was advancing in his career.

He had had anxiety and panic attacks since being remanded in custody following his arrest and was being assessed to see if he had attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. He had also had traumas in his childhood.

She handed in character references that the judge said showed a different side to Mercer.

According to official guidance from GOV.UK: “This is a new digital border system that will change requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area.”

The ESTIAS are expected to come into operation from autumn 2026.

What is changing under the new travel rules?

The new Entry/Exit System applies to UK passport holders travelling for short stays to countries in the Schengen area from October 2025, including popular holiday destinations such as France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece.

The Schengen area also includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not part of Schengen, so EES will not apply when travelling there.

Under EES, travellers will be required to register biometric details — including fingerprints and a facial photograph — at the border. There is no fee and no action required before travel.

The UK government states: “EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.”

It also warns: “EES may take each passenger a few extra minutes to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border once the system starts.”

Your digital EES record will be valid for three years. On future trips within that period, you will usually only need to provide either a fingerprint or photo on entry and exit.

What happens at airports, ports and Eurostar?

If flying to a Schengen country, biometric checks will take place on arrival.

However, passengers travelling via Port of Dover, Eurotunnel or St Pancras International will complete checks before leaving the UK using self-service kiosks or registration areas.

Cruise passengers whose sailing both starts and ends outside the Schengen area, such as at a UK port, will generally be exempt unless they disembark and continue onward travel within Schengen.

The 90 day rule still applies.

Frequent travellers must continue to follow the 90 days in any 180 day limit within the Schengen zone. EES is designed to automate border control and monitor overstays more closely.

The EU says the system aims to strengthen border security and reduce illegal migration by replacing passport stamps with digital records.

New for 2026: ETIAS, or European Travel Information and Authorisation System

From later this year, UK passport holders will need to apply online for travel authorisation before visiting Schengen countries. Travellers will need to submit personal details, trip information and pay a 20 Euro fee. An approved ETIAS will be mandatory for boarding flights, ferries or trains.

Jane Bolton, Managing Director of tailor-made package ski holiday operator Erna Low, said many travellers are still unaware of what ETIAS means. “With big changes coming to how we travel to Europe, a lot of people are understandably confused about what ETIAS actually is.

“In simple terms, ETIAS is a new online travel authorisation that UK travellers will need before visiting most European countries in the Schengen area. It’s not a visa, but it will be mandatory once it comes into force.”

She advises applying as soon as bookings are confirmed once the system goes live.

“ETIAS becomes part of your travel checklist, just like travel insurance or airport transfers. Don’t leave it until the week before you travel.”

She also warned travellers to use official channels only to avoid scam websites charging inflated fees.

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Travellers should allow extra time at airports, ferry ports and rail terminals, particularly during busy seasons such as summer holidays and ski breaks.

Securing ETIAS approval will become as essential as packing your passport.

With two major systems rolling out within months of each other, preparation – and understanding the new rules – could make the difference between a smooth departure and being turned away at the gate.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s failed attempt to indict a group of Democratic lawmakers has been described as “stunning” by a former prosecutor in the D.C. office, according to a new report.

A grand jury recently rejected federal prosecutors’ attempt to secure an indictment against a group of Democratic lawmakers who made a video urging members of the military and intelligence communities to refuse illegal orders, according to several media outlets, including The New York Times and Politico.

The video, which was posted in November, enraged President Donald Trump and his allies. On Truth Social, Trump accused the lawmakers of “seditious behavior” and called for their arrests. At one point, he even wrote: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., which Pirro leads, reportedly pursued the indictment. Now, a former prosecutor who once worked in the Washington office tells Politico Magazine it’s “stunning” for a grand jury to reject an indictment completely.

“The rules are skewed so heavily in favor of the prosecutor that it’s almost comical. But the public is essentially saying, ‘We do not trust you. We are skeptical of you,’” they said.

The former prosecutor described the current Washington office as a “hollowed-out core of increasingly inexperienced and overworked D.C. [assistant U.S. attorneys] spending their time reviewing the [Jeffrey] Epstein files and wondering what their ‘red line’ for resignation is.”

“I think good cases aren’t being brought because people are either afraid or lack bandwidth. D.C. had one of the most prestigious U.S. Attorney’s offices in the country, and to see it become a shadow of itself in a year is sad,” the former prosecutor told Politico Magazine.

Pirro told Politico Magazine her responsibility is to “follow the law.”

“Our system of justice allows grand juries and trial juries to review evidence and make their own decisions, that’s their function, that’s the way the system works,” she said. “All victims matter to us. We are about the law, and we are singularly focused; the passions of others, political and otherwise are irrelevant.”

The Independent has contacted the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., for comment.

After the failed indictment attempt was revealed, Democratic lawmakers who appeared in the video spoke out against the Trump administration.

Senator Mark Kelly, a former NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain who participated in the video, said the “most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down.” Senator Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who was also in the video, said she hopes the grand jury’s rejection “ends this politicized investigation for good.”

This isn’t the first time Pirro’s office has failed to secure a high-profile indictment.

Last year, her office tried and failed to bring a felony charge against a man accused of throwing a sandwich at a federal agent. The case received nationwide attention, and the man was quickly dubbed “Sandwich Guy.”

The charge was downgraded, and a jury later found him not guilty of misdemeanor assault.

MANY York residents are not aware that there is a Roman bathhouse under the Roman Bath public house in St Sampson’s Square – and that it is open to the public as a museum.

That York was the location of a Roman fortress and a city has been known for over two centuries, and discoveries are still being made.

The fortress lies under the city centre and is huge, covering 20 hectares (50 acres).

It was so large because it was the base for a legion of heavy infantry over 5,000 strong. The fortress was built by the Ninth Legion Hispana, probably in the year AD71.

‘Hispana’ was the Roman name for Spain and indicates that the legion was raised there.

Around the time that the Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and ordered the building of Hadrian’s Wall in AD122, the Ninth Legion was replaced by the Sixth Legion Victrix; ‘Victrix’ means victorious and is a battle honour.

Roman Bath pub York

The fortress, with its high stone walls, remained a stronghold in Anglo-Saxon and Viking times.

The medieval city walls alongside Gillygate and Lord Mayors Walk are the latest version of the defences and directly overlie the fortress walls.

If anyone dug deep enough in the city centre – to lay a sewer, for example – they would encounter the remains of the fortress. The question is, which part of the fortress would they find?

In 1929, the decision was made to demolish the old Mail Coach Inn in St Sampson’s Square and replace it with a modern pub.

St Sampson’s Square,York, in the 1930s, showing The Mail Coach Inn before its alteration and refurbishment. On the left is the Black Bull Hotel.

A photograph of that year shows that part of the stables was already being taken down. By the middle of 1930, the stable block had been removed but the ‘public house’ part of the establishment was still standing.

The part-demolished pub was photographed in August of that year when the adjacent property, the Walpamur wallpaper and paint store (now a Pizza Express) burnt to the ground in a spectacular fire. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and the pub suffered only water damage, from a successful attempt to prevent the fire spreading.

Walpamur fire in St Sampson’s Square on August 25 1930. Photo – Explroe York archive

But the Mail Coach Inn had already hit the headlines by the time of the fire. The new pub was to have a cellar, and in May of 1930 the excavations for the cellar had revealed a massive wall 4 metres (13 feet) below the ground.

Further newspaper reports speak of another, curved wall; and finally, two rooms with raised floors standing on brick pillars were found.

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These rooms clearly had underfloor heating and they could only be on thing – the bath house for the soldiers. Further discoveries were made in 1931, following the demolition of the remainder of the Mail Coach Inn.

The notable local historian, the Reverend Angelo Raine, was able to make a record of the discoveries and these were published in Volume 1 of the YAYAS Proceedings in 1933.

The legionary bath house would have been one of the first buildings in the fortress built of stone, as it had an important role in the hygiene and fitness of the soldiers.

The suite of heated rooms (and an unheated room) would have enabled the soldiers to sweat, bathe and relax. The baths were part of a leisure complex the size of a football field that would have included a vast exercise hall and an outdoor exercise area with swimming pool.

St Sampson’s Square in about 1890. Finkle Street is in in the middle of the picture. There are three public houses in view in this small area. From left to right: the Hand and Heart (landlord Benjamin Robson) which was absorbed into the Black Bull in

Although the discovery of the Roman baths was a complete surprise to the owners of the pub, John Smiths, the brewery commendably decided to leave the baths undisturbed in the cellar.

In 1971, the 1900th anniversary of York being founded by the Roman, the name of the pub was changed to the Roman Bath – so the Roman bath is not so hard to find!

The Roman Bath Museum is open 11am to 4pm Tuesdays to Sundays; there is an admission charge (find out more at:www.facebook.com/YorkRomanBathMuseum)

Can you help?

Other than the building found at the Roman Bath pub, the only other evidence for the Roman baths is in Church Street at the corner with Swinegate, where another building with underfloor heating was found in the 1970s.

The impressive Church Street sewer, found in the same excavations, would have taken waste water away from the baths. This is precious little to go on if we want to better understand the layout and history of the baths.

The Church Street sewer was discovered by contractors in 1972 while digging at the corner of Church Street and Swinegate and was investigated by York Archaeological Trust. [This sewer would have taken waste water away from the legionary baths.] Roman

If anyone in the Swinegate/Grape Lane area thinks there is a Roman wall or some other ancient structure in their cellar, let us know; it could be part of the legionary baths!

We would also like to hear from anyone who has information on, or photographs of, the discovery of the Roman bathhouse under the pub in 1930. Contact info@yayas.org.uk

Kurt Hunter-Mann is a local archaeologist and honorary secretary of the Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society (YAYAS).

YAYAS developed from its foundation in 1842. It publishes the York Historian and YAYAS Times, with articles and news items about York and its surrounds.

Its archives include photographic illustrations that can be used for research or reproduction with copyright acknowledgement.

Visit the website www.yayas.org.uk for more information about the organisation, its publications and how you can support it.