This year’s Crufts Best in Show winner Lee Cox was convicted of animal cruelty over 20 years ago, with angry dog owners speaking out following his win

This year’s Crufts Best in Show winner Lee Cox was convicted of animal cruelty for keeping a cocker spaniel in terrible conditions. Lee triumphed at the annual event but it has now been revealed he was convicted over 20 years ago.

Back in 2001, Cox and Roger Stone were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a retired stud dog. They were given a three year discharge with conditions and also told to pay £5,000 costs towards the prosecution.

In court, it was heard how an inspector had arrived at Kaston Kennels at Mark, Somerset, where they said lots of dogs appeared to be bald and scabby and some dogs were filthy.

Cox told how he had not taken the spaniel to the vet and instead used medication prescribed for another animal to treat the dog’s ear problem. Stone said he had not seen the pet for five years because “his poor health had kept him indoors”.

After the case, Stone said: “We have nothing to say about the verdict, but we will continue keeping dogs.”

Inspector Jo Daniel, who visited the property, said: “To find a dog in Adam’s condition in a normal house would have been bad enough, but to find one in the care of two internationally renowned dog breeders was shocking. The RSPCA prosecutes without fear or favour. Animal cruelty will not be tolerated, whoever commits it.”

Cox won Best In Show this year with his four year old Clumber spaniel called Bruin. Speaking about his win, he said: “I can’t believe it. It’s just wonderful for this breed. He’s the dog of a lifetime. He’s really, really special.”

A Royal Kennel Club spokesperson told The Sun they were aware of the convinction, and added it was an “isolated incident”. They added in a statement: “Mr Cox has had an unblemished record in the 25 years since this incident, making a significant positive contribution to the world of dogs. In this case an appropriate sanction was imposed by the disciplinary committee reflecting the court decision and did not warrant a disqualification.”

Angry fans of the dog show have fumed over his inclusion, with one writing: “Anyone convicted of cruelty to animals should be nowhere near animals again. Let alone given a prize for one.”

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Two drones heading towards Jordan and Bahrain have been shot down by RAF Typhoon jets during defensive air sorties in the Gulf, the defence secretary said.

John Healey has been updating MPs with new details on UK operations in the Middle East, including deployments to the region and evacuations of British nationals.

Iran war latest: Tehran mocks US over oil prices

He said on Monday: “The UK is now conducting defensive air sorties in support of the UAE. Typhoons successfully took out two drones, one over Jordan, the second heading to Bahrain.

“The third Wildcat [helicopter] has now arrived in Cyprus, and we’ve now deployed additional RAF operations experts in more than five countries in the region, helping coordinate regional military and civilian airspace.”

He added that the destroyer HMS Dragon would set sail for the eastern Mediterranean “in the next couple of days”, where it will join US air defence vessels.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has posted a short video on X showing a drone being blown up by RAF jets.

The defence secretary also confirmed that 37,000 British nationals have been evacuated since the start of the war in Iran and three chartered flights to the UK have now taken off from Oman’s capital, Muscat, “with more to come this week”.

Mr Healey said “fragments” of the Iranian drone that hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus last week “are being analysed for foreign military hardware by our experts at DSTL [Defence Science and Technology Laboratory]”.

The cabinet minister also said that after the UK gave the US permission to use British bases for defensive operations, the first US bomber aircraft landed at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, on Friday.

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Day 10 Iran war: Videos from on the ground

Earlier in the Commons, the chancellor admitted the conflict in the Middle East is likely to put “upward pressure on inflation“, although the UK is ready to support the release of oil reserves as supply issues continue.

Rachel Reeves said additional funding had been approved for the MoD to deploy “additional capabilities” in the region.

Read more from Sky News:
Watch: Day 10 – Iran war briefing
Iran football players ‘seek refuge in Australia’
Who is Iran’s new leader?

👉 Listen to This Is Why on your podcast app 👈

Meanwhile, Downing Street has steered away from suggestions that the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is preparing to deploy to the Mediterranean.

No decision about deployments had been made, and the Prince of Wales has always been at a high level of readiness, Number 10 said today.

The shadow defence secretary responded to Mr Healey’s statement in the Commons by criticising the government for the delay in sending HMS Dragon to the Mediterranean.

James Cartlidge said it had “completely undermined Britain’s international standing” while Mr Healey defended the government’s response and called Mr Cartlidge an “armchair general”.

The Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC have confirmed new benefit payment rates from April 2026 including State Pension, PIP, Universal Credit, Child Benefit and Attendance Allowance

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed proposed new payment rates from April for the State Pension and benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Universal Credit, and Carer’s Allowance. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has also confirmed the annual uprating for Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance.

Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance payments will rise in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the year to September 2025, which stands at 3.8 per cent. This means that, from April 2026, the Child Benefit rate for the eldest child will climb from £26.05 to £27.05 per week, while the rate for additional children will increase from £17.25 to £17.90 per week. Guardian’s Allowance will rise from £22.10 to £22.95 per week, reports the Mirror.

As the payments are typically paid every four weeks, this amounts to:

• Child Benefit, eldest child – £108.20
• Child Benefit, additional children – £71.60
• Guardian’s Allowance – £91.80

Tax-Free Childcare

Working families are also being urged to register for Tax-Free Childcare to assist with the approaching school holidays. Paying childcare bills through a Tax-Free Childcare account can save working families up to £2,000 annually for each child up to the age of 11, or £4,000 per year up to the age of 16 if the child has a disability.

Parents can use the scheme to help cover approved childcare expenses, whether that’s nursery fees for younger children, or for older ones – wraparound or after-school care clubs during term time, or holiday clubs for the lengthy summer break ahead.

In June, the UK Government paid out a total of £57.7 million in top-ups to Tax-Free Childcare accounts, meaning each family received, on average, more than £100 to put towards their childcare bills.

Tax-Free Childcare explained

For every £8 deposited into a Tax-Free Childcare account, the UK Government contributes £2, which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child has a disability) every three months to help with their childcare expenses.

Once families have established a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can pay in money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to access whenever needed. Any unused money in the account can be taken out at any time.

HMRC stated it takes just 20 minutes to apply online for a Tax-Free Childcare account. After an account is set up, parents can pay in money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to access whenever needed. Any unused money in the account can be taken out at any time.

Eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare Families could qualify for Tax-Free Childcare if they:

• Have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until September 1 after their 16th birthday
• Earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
• Each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
• Do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers

A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK.

Reviewed by Silvana Franco

This is the easiest way to make traditional cold brew coffee. Admittedly, it’s slow going, taking somewhere between eight and 24 hours to fully extract, but the result is a smooth brew with lower acidity that’s easy on your digestion and a great base for cocktails and mocktails.

While it’s a long process, it isn’t labour-intensive. All you need to do is fill the bottle with cold water and spoon some coffee grounds into a stainless steel filter basket, which lowers into the water and begins to infuse. It only took me a few minutes each morning and it became part of my summer routine.

Grind says you only need 50g of coffee grounds per litre of water, which could easily make you three or four cups of nice strong coffee. Between uses, you can throw the bottle in the dishwasher, but wash the integrated filter and silicone stopper by hand.

Key specifications

• Dimensions: H 34cm, W 19cm, D 25cm
• Weight: 1.7kg
• Capacity: 1,000ml
• Range of programmes: N/A
• Special features: Dishwasher-safe, silicone stopper, integrated filter
• Warranty: None

If you don’t want another appliance in your kitchen, you need one of the following coffee makers:

Cafetieres

If you’re keen to explore different ways of making coffee, and you don’t mind putting the work in, you could try a cafetiere, also known as a French press. You scoop ground coffee into a pod, add hot water and stir with a spoon. A few minutes later, you push the plunger down to the bottom of the pot to filter out the grounds and pour. You should be left with a cup of smooth, intense coffee, though it might take a few goes to work out the right ratio of coffee and water.

AeroPress

Or you might like the AeroPress coffee maker. Also incorporating a pot and a plunger, it’s a similar concept to a cafetiere, but it’s far lighter and more portable. Most suitable for single servings, it’s small enough to fit in a handbag or a suitcase so you could bring it to the office or on holiday. Our expert Sarah Finley can make a great espresso in her AeroPress, though her Americanos are still a little weak compared to a cafetiere version.

V60

Another alternative is the V60 coffee maker, which is a variant on filter coffee making. According to Hario, the makers of the V60, you wet the inside of a filter paper with hot water and place it inside the V60 dripper. Then you pour your ground coffee onto the filter and gradually add boiling water. Try to pour in the middle and draw an outward spiral onto the paper to extract all the coffee. We haven’t tested this yet, but they are popular among coffee fanatics.

Moka pot

You might also like a moka pot. Traditionally, they sit on the stovetop, but these days you can get electric versions, which heat water to produce steam and brew coffee. The Bialetti Moka Express is the most iconic, made from aluminium, but you also see stainless steel ones.

The Winter Olympics just showcased alpine sport at its most spectacular and universal. But in the mountains themselves, access to winter sports is becoming increasingly unequal.

The cost of keeping slopes open in a warming climate is climbing – and so are prices for visitors. Investment will be concentrated in higher altitude resorts that are able to adapt, while smaller and lower areas fall behind. The key question for the future of skiing may not be whether it survives at all, but who it survives for.

Unlike the UK, where skiing is associated with expensive foreign holidays, in Alpine regions it has become a mainstream hobby without the same class connotations. Born as a means of transport, more affordable equipment made it increasingly accessible to people beyond the mountains. In Italy, for instance, it is not unusual for state schools to take their pupils into the mountains for a traditional “settimana bianca” – white week – skiing holiday.

Each winter, locals and tourists together support a sector that accounts for roughly €12 billion (about £10 billion) – that’s 0.5% of Italy’s national GDP, and a far higher percentage of the economy in mountain regions. Winter sports have become a major employer, as communities that once depended on seasonal farming and agriculture have progressively shifted to tourism.

Yet the climate conditions that made this possible are changing.

Peak prices

With snow falling less and melting faster, resorts invest heavily in artificial snowmaking to maintain reliable winter seasons. These investments have worked – most ski runs in the Alps are now lined by modern snowmaking machines – but they also reshape the economics of skiing.

That’s because the cost is being passed on to skiers themselves.

For instance in the Dolomiti Superski network, Italy’s largest, a high-season daily pass has surged from €67 (£59) in 2021 to around €86 (£75) this year, a rise of 28% in three years. The cost of skiing in Europe has risen by 34.8% above inflation since 2015, with Swiss, Austrian, and Italian resorts mostly responsible for the price increase.

In the US, prices are increasing even faster and American skiers are increasingly heading to relatively cheaper resorts in the Alps. Together with skiers from Russia and Eastern Europe who are wealthy enough to ignore the prices, they’ve helped keep Alpine tourism fully booked.

But skiing is less and less accessible for many less-affluent families, including many locals. Former Italian World Cup skier and TV commentator Paolo De Chiesa recently warned that skiing in Italy is becoming a sport for the elite.

As climate adaptation demands more and more investment, skiing will be increasingly concentrated in fewer higher altitude resorts. These resorts tend to be further into the mountains and already attract most of the wealthy tourists, which means they can also afford more snow-making.

Smaller and lower-altitude resorts with mostly local visitors are far more likely to struggle – many are already seeing their winter seasons shorten, and some have already closed entirely.

When adaptation reshapes communities

These changes are felt most strongly in mountain communities themselves. One of us (Paolo) grew up a short drive from where the recent Winter Olympics were held. During his childhood most of his friends knew how to ski, but today only a handful of them can afford to take their children.

This is one side of a growing divide within ski tourism between places that can afford to adapt and those that cannot. Artificial snowmaking increases dependence on capital investment, energy and water. This favours large resorts which, over time, pass costs on to deep-pocketed visitors and local communities.

Meanwhile, seasonal workers now often struggle to find accommodation as housing is prioritised for visitors. Narrow mountain roads are congested, parking is difficult, and public services are under pressure.

Beyond winter-only tourism

If climate change is concentrating skiing in fewer, higher-altitude resorts, the change needs to be gradual and managed rather than sudden and brutal. Much of the industry still profits from the status quo and won’t be keen to transition to other arrangements. That’s why policymakers have a responsibility to guide the transition, starting with lower-altitude resorts.

There, diversification into year-round tourism, gastronomy, wellness, or other nature experiences is one way to build a more resilient future. Protecting the local community and more fairly distributing the revenues of the tourism is becoming as important as maintaining visitor numbers.

Investment and opportunity – and even snow itself – is being further concentrated in fewer spots. Technology may save skiing, but the question is for whom. A global affluent elite may be able to handle the price rises, while local people are increasingly excluded from the system they helped to build.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — How long will the Iran war last? What do all sides want to achieve? And how high will oil prices go? Big questions remain as fighting enters week two.

Israel and the United States keep pounding Iran. And Iran keeps carrying out retaliatory attacks against Israel, U.S. military assets in the Middle East and its Arab neighbors.

Here’s what we know about the war, and don’t.

How long will the war last?

The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, and there is no sign of the fighting ending soon. Iran’s president has said mediation was underway, although he didn’t give details.

Iran’s new supreme leader is the son of the previous one and seen as more hard-line, with close ties to the Revolutionary Guard, the nation’s most powerful armed force. Mojtaba Khamenei worked closely with his father, who was killed in the war’s opening strikes along with the younger Khamenei’s wife. He has not been seen or heard publicly in his new role, making it difficult to know whether he has interest in talks or in defiance.

Iran’s war strategy of causing regional chaos shows no change. Persian Gulf countries still report areas being attacked, including oil facilities and airports, that are well away from U.S. military assets.

The war’s length depends in part on Iran’s stockpile of missiles and drones and countries’ capability to deflect them. Israel’s military on Monday said Iran was firing barrages with dozens of missiles in the early days, but now there are less than 10 or 20 at a time.

Israeli army spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said Iran still has “a significant amount” of missiles. Experts say Iran could be holding missiles in reserve, perhaps hoping that interceptors run low.

Iran has not provided information about military losses. Israel says it is focused on destroying long-range missiles while the U.S. focuses on short-range ones threatening the Gulf. Israel estimates that 60% of both types of launchers have been destroyed.

Israel’s military is bulking up. It said about 50 cargo aircraft carrying over 1,000 tons of weaponry, military equipment and munitions have landed in the past 10 days, and cited the U.S. and Germany as partners in an effort that is “expected to scale up.”

Ahead of the attacks, the U.S. military built up its largest force of warships and aircraft in the Middle East in decades. The Central Command on Monday said “there is no shortage of American military will.”

The Trump administration and Israel have said the war will go as long as needed, but public frustration over oil prices and other economic pain could intensify pressure to wind down the conflict.

What do all sides want from the war?

Iran has said it wants an end to the war, not a ceasefire.

An official with knowledge of the war’s operations said Israel is not in charge of the postwar plan, but the goal is to remove the regime and let Iranians “grasp their fate.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Israel is also attacking Iranian-backed proxies like Hezbollah.

U.S. President Donald Trump has made conflicting statements. The war has been about Iran’s nuclear program and concerns that it could take a short technical step to enrich uranium to weapons grade. But it also has been about eradicating the threat from the country’s ballistic missiles, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. is “well on our way” to achieving.

Trump has also said he doesn’t seek regime change, but prioritized taking out several layers of Iran’s top leadership and has encouraged Iranians to “take over” their government.

There is no sign of that happening in Iran, with no strong organized opposition, evidence of high-level defections or street protests. Internet restrictions are complicating views of what’s happening.

Will other countries join the fight?

Saudi Arabia has issued a sharp statement saying Tehran would be the “biggest loser” if it continues to attack Arab states. Azerbaijan threatened “retaliatory measures” after it said Iranian drones hit its territory.

There is big risk in joining the U.S. and Israel’s attacks, and no country has announced taking that step. Already, they have been targeted by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones.

Iran has exposed the fragility of the global economy by targeting key energy and other infrastructure. A drone strike on a desalination plant in Bahrain underscored the vulnerability of Gulf nations, which rely heavily on such facilities for drinking water.

Meanwhile, France is sending military vessels to the Middle East to help deter Iran’s attacks. Britain and Germany also have said they would help reduce Iran’s ability to launch them. And Ukraine is sending experts to help in countering drones.

How will it end?

This is especially complicated, as both Israel and the United States have threatened whoever Iran puts in charge. Trump called the younger Khamenei “unacceptable” even before his elevation to supreme leader.

It is not clear who would be acceptable, and negotiating the war’s end seems out of reach for now.

Trust will be difficult, since this war and last year’s were launched during indirect talks between Iran and the United States.

How high will oil prices go?

As Iran announced its new supreme leader, crude oil prices were soaring above $100 a barrel. They spiked near $120 before falling Monday.

The Strait of Hormuz off Iran is a choke point, with about 20% of the world’s oil supply normally transiting daily. Cargo ships are now backed up there.

Saudi Arabia has intercepted attacks aimed at its vast Shaybah oil field. Bahrain’s national oil company has declared force majeure for shipments, unable to meet obligations because of extraordinary circumstances after an attack on its refinery complex. Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have cut oil production as storage tanks fill.

Iran’s oil facilities are also targets. Israel struck depots over the weekend.

Countries are scrambling. France, currently leading the Group of Seven nations, says they could dip into emergency stockpiles. South Korea says it will cap oil prices. China says everyone has a responsibility “to ensure stable and smooth energy supplies.”

Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at FxPro, said it “would not be surprising” if oil prices briefly push above $150 as early as next week.

___

Anna reported from Lowville, New York. Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem contributed.

Paul Scholes says an Instagram story post about Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick was “in no way intended to be offensive” towards his former team-mate.

Following United’s 2-1 Premier League defeat by Newcastle United last Wednesday – their first loss under Carrick – Scholes wrote: “Michael has definitely got something special about him…cos Utd have been [expletive] last four games.”

Scholes, who played alongside Carrick in United’s midfield for seven years, was criticised for his comments, with former team-mate Patrice Evra saying “I hope he was hacked”.

The 51-year-old explained his post on the The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast on Monday alongside former Reds players Wes Brown and Nicky Butt, saying he has spoken to Carrick about the issue.

“It was in no way intended to be offensive towards Michael,” the former England international said.

“Michael is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in football, he’d be the last person that I would want to offend.

“I messaged Michael anyway. I went straight to Michael and said, ‘Look, I was never intending to upset you’. And I don’t think I needed to say that anyway and he told me himself he wasn’t upset by it.”

Carrick took over after the sacking of Ruben Amorim and was unbeaten in his first seven games, but United’s most recent performances have not matched those that beat Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham at the start of his time at the helm.

They are currently third in the league and in a good position to qualify for the Champions League.

“I think people have just taken it differently from what was meant,” Scholes added.

“The only thing I was saying was that I don’t think they played that well the last four games and he’s still managing to get results.

“We had the greatest manager in the world and he always said sometimes you need a bit of luck. So with sending-offs and different things that happen through games, sometimes you do need a bit of luck, that’s all I was saying.”

Brown added: “I can see it both ways. When Scholesy explained it to me, it completely made sense. But how I read it was as if he’s having a go at him.”

Scholes replied: “What Wes said, and I hadn’t heard that before, was that I was saying he’s just a lucky manager. I wasn’t saying that, I was saying he’s a very talented manager because he’s getting results with a team that, for the last four games since the West Ham game, I didn’t think were playing very well, that’s all.”

Earlier this year, United defender Lisandro Martinez hit back at comments from Butt and Scholes.

Just a couple of days are left to take advantage of a pre-order deal from Sky

Just a few days after Apple announced its latest iPad Air, Sky is offering a pre-order deal that could equate to just 53p a day for some customers. Those looking to upgrade to a powerful yet affordable iPad could find their new daily driver in the iPad Air M4.

Despite this, the new device is being offered at an asking price of £599, which may be cheaper than some iPads that can cost upwards of £1,000, is still significantly higher than many budget tablets on the market. However, Sky is currently holding a pre-order offer ahead of the device’s official launch on March 11.

Currently, Sky is allowing customers to pre-order the 11-ich iPad Air M4 for £16.50 a month, which equates to around 53p per day in a 31-day month. Otherwise, customers can grab the larger 13-inch version for £21 a month – both devices on offer contain 128GB storage, which should be plenty for small files and photos, especially if you pair it with an iCloud subscription.

READ MORE: Marks and Spencer homeware sale: 16 of the best reduced bedding sets, lamps and curtains

READ MORE: M&S £10 dine in deal is back and you won’t believe what you get for your money

Bare in mind that those who pre-order the device will need to pay an upfront fee of £12 for both versions of the tablet. The iPad Air M4 is being offered in a variety of bright colours, including white, black, purple, and blue.

The iPad Air M4 is the latest updated tablet from Apple and offers a variety of upgrades from previous generations. Chief among these is the M4 chip, which Apple claims is 30% faster than the previous iPad Air with an M3 chip and 2.3 times faster than an iPad Air with an M1 chip.

This extra performance is also boosted by the faster CPU and GPU, which can help make a variety of common tasks feel faster, such as processing digital art made on the tablet and editing videos for social media or projects.

This is also supported by a new N1 a C1X chip, which allows the iPad Air to deliver fast wireless and cellular conections while also being compatible with Wi-Fi 7, which can make the device browse the internet and download things much quicker when paired with a Wi-Fi router on a compatible broadband router.

Sky is not the only provider offering pre-order deals on the iPad Air M4, with O2 also offering the device for £33 a month in a 48-month contract. This plan, which includes a £20 upfront cost, also includes 1GB of data, allowing you to use the device with mobile data internet connection.

If you would rather purchase the device outright, you can currently grab the 11-inch iPad Air for £699 from Argos. While having a higher initial investment cost, this offer means that you won’t be locked into any contracts.

When announcing the iPad Air M4, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, Bob Borchers, said: “iPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality. With its blazing performance thanks to M4, incredible AI capabilities, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, there’s never been a better time to choose or upgrade to iPad Air.”

Creators may opt to invest in an iPad due to it being compatible with Apple Creator Studio. This allows you to use premium apps such as Mixelmator Pro for editing photos in a professional environment or Final Cut Pro, a video editing software often used by content creators and even professional film editors.

The court heard the accused had consumed most of the five small bottles of wine served and at one point declared ‘I’m horny’

A man has been convicted of multiple offences committed on a flight from Paris – including the attempted sexual assault of a girl under 13.

While Ramiz Idrizi was acquitted of one charge of assaulting a woman, the 38-year-old was convicted of trying to sexually assault her daughter as well as the apprehension assault of a male passenger who had remonstrated with the defendant.

Before the contested hearing began at Ballymena Magistrates Court, Idrizi, with an address at Woodvale Avenue in Dublin, entered guilty pleas to being drunk on an aircraft and to using abusive words towards cabin crew.

During the four-hour contest, the court heard how the incident unfolded on an EasyJet flight from Paris to Belfast International on 14 November last year.

Idrizi had consumed most of the five small bottles of wine he had bought during the flight, but when the plane was around half an hour from landing, the little girl’s mum said the defendant “was kicking my seat.”

At one point, Idrizi declared “I’m horny” and reached between the fuselage and the seat, trying to touch the little girl’s leg, causing her to jump up.

A man sitting in the same row as the mum, gave evidence that he saw “a flash of a hand” beside the child’s seat so noticing that both were uncomfortable with the situation, he offered to swap seats.

He remonstrated with Idrizi about his behaviour but the defendant told him, “your mother’s a slut.”

The court heard that just before that incident, Idrizi had been heard “hacking up phlegm” and the woman who was in the aisle seat in the same row, said that he had been “spitting and talking to himself.”

Cabin crew were made aware of the situation and having made an announcement that alcohol was no longer being served, Idrizi was spoken to.

He refused requests to hand over the last of his wine and to move seats. Instead, the passengers around him were moved but the court heard that as the plane was coming in to land, Idrizi was seen “punching the wall of the fuselage.”

Giving evidence on his own behalf, Idrizi admitted that he called the passenger’s mother a slut and further, that he was intoxicated.

He denied trying to touch the girl, suggesting that as a man who is six feet tall, the only time he touched her seat was to grab it when he was getting up.

Idrizi also denied that he had been spitting or hacking up phlegm.

Delivering his ruling however, District Judge Nigel Broderick said he was satisfied the various witnesses, both civilian and cabin crew, had given “credible and reliable evidence.”

Having entered the guilty verdicts, Judge Broderick said that “I think in fairness to the defendant, I’m going to get a report.”

Freeing Idrizi on bail, the judge said he would deal with the case on April 28.

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

When the Cheltenham Festival begins, the bookmakers are terrified of a Willie Mullins first-day treble of Mighty Park, Kopek Des Bordes and Lossiemouth in the Unibet Champion Hurdle. While I believe Mullins will win the big one, it may be with his second string, Poniros, the shock 100-1 winner of last year’s Triumph Hurdle on his first ever start over hurdles.

The grey mare Lossiemouth is seeking her fourth straight Festival win having started by taking the Triumph and then a brace of 2½-mile mares’ hurdles. Whether two miles is still her optimum will become clear on Tuesday but it is worth the shot.

The best of our tips are below. For more, read Charlie Brooks’ report from a pub in nearby Oddington, where trainers including Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson gave their tips.

Cheltenham Festival day 1 tips and results

1.20: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1 )

• Marlborough’s tip: Old Park Star
  Three from three over hurdles and has looked a top-class prospect. Has the attributes to take plenty of beating here.
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Sober Glory
  Front runner who won last time in race two seconds quicker than a horse on the same card, Tutti Quanti, which has been supplemented for the Champion. May take some passing.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: El Cairos
  The vibes coming out of Gordon Elliott’s yard about the quality of this horse are too strong to ignore. They are already talking about the Champion Hurdle next year.

2.00: Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

• Marlborough’s tip: Lulamba
  Has a negative stat against five-year-olds in this race to overcome, otherwise has looked top-class from day one and can prove well up to this task.
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Steel Ally
  Fantastic jumper who is unbeaten in three starts over fences this season, might pay to look beyond the so-called match between the top two.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Kopek Des Bordes
  Might be Willie Mullins’s banker of the week and Lulamba probably wants two-and-a-half miles.

2.40: McCoys Contractors Juvenile Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

• Marlborough’s tip: Mustang Du Breuil 
  Beaten favourite in the Adonis Hurdle and comes forward here off a good-looking mark. Most unexposed still and can feature in a wide-open race.
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Manlaga
  Got some good match practice winning with a degree of comfort at Haydock last time.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Manlaga
  Bought after winning a hurdle race at Auteuil last March. Looks to have real quality and would probably have run in the Triumph Hurdle if owned by a smaller owner.

3.20: Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

• Marlborough’s tip: Jagwar
  Ready winner at the Festival last year and campaign this season looks to have revolved around this year’s meeting. Can relish the step up in trip and take all the beating.
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Iroko
  Solid stayer who has been campaigned over shorter this season, his form looks very strong and has form at meeting have won the Martin Pipe.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Iroko
  Class horse in the race – would have had a squeak in the Gold Cup.

4.00: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

• Marlborough’s tip: Poniros
  Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner and remains most unexposed over hurdles. This test could see him come to the fore at the Festival once again.
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Poniros
  Shock Triumph Hurdle winner last year, comes in fresh and an outing at Leopardstown should have put him right for this.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Lossiemouth
  I’ve been waiting two years for her to run in this, and she acts well round Cheltenham.

4.40: The Sun Racing Plate (Premier Handicap)

• Marlborough’s tip: Mandara
  Very light campaign so far this season and remains on a very dangerous mark, especially with the cheekpieces being reapplied here.
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Down Memory Lane
  Cosy winner of a two and a half mile Listed chase last time, this should be right up his street.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Mandara
  Loved the way he stayed on at Kempton last time; stiffer track will help him.

5.20: National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase

• Marlborough’s tip: Backmersackme
  Good win over an inferior distance at Leopardstown last month. Comes forward on a handicap mark that still looks lenient and should see him take plenty of beating here.
• Marcus Armytage’s tip: Grand Geste
  Already a winner over three and a ahlf miles, Joel Parkinson’s first Festival runner could hit the target against more fashionably trained horses unproven at the trip.
• Charlie Brooks’ tip: Backmersackme
  Very shrewd trainer must think the step up in trip will make a difference.

Runners guide for the Unibet Champion Hurdle

This year’s Champion Hurdle may not be a stellar renewal on paper, but it is a wide-open contest and a fascinating one to boot. Plenty of the horses below come forward with good claims and, in a race that has thrown up a surprise or two in recent times, we could be set for another via the lightly-raced PONIROS, who has been thrown in at the deep end in his three starts over hurdles (all at Grade 1 level), and has emerged with a great deal of credit. Golden Ace and The New Lion are fancied to round out the frame in a race where tactics look sure to play their part.

Alexei – Made excellent progress through the ranks this season and surely has more to offer, for all that this is a big rise in class and will need a clear career-best; place claims.

Anzadam – Young, talented hurdler who has been a keen goer. Should be suited by a good tempo here and fancied to outrun his odds in an open heat.

Poniros – Sprung a surprise in the Triumph last year and just had the one run over hurdles this season. Tough task here but his form suggests he could spring a surprise here; player.

The New Lion – Faller in the Fighting Fifth but back on track last time, for all that the form is short of what is required here. Set to run a career-best, puts him firmly in the mix.

Tutti Quanti – Really stepped his game up last 2 starts, but both were in testing ground and faces very different ground here. Can lead them a fair way here but likely to come up short.

Workahead – Represents another likely pace angle in the race but will do well to be fighting out the finish, with his form falling short in this context; best watched.

Brighterdaysahead – Has the beating of several of these protagonists courtesy of her last start win, but faces quicker ground here and hasn’t saved her best for Cheltenham previously; place chance.

Golden Ace – Ultra-consistent mare who has won at the last 2 Festivals, including this race last year. Hard not to envisage another big run here; major player.

Lossiemouth – Top-class mare who has won at the last 3 Festivals. Arguably has a stronger record over further and could be vulnerable if taken out of her comfort zone, for all that she is the one they all have to beat.

Big-race trends

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
The opening race of the meeting and one that often sets the tone for the week to come. Eleven winners of this race in the last 12 years have been five or six years of age and 11 out of 12 winners were in the top three in the betting. Importantly, 10 of the last 12 winners won their last run before this one. Eleven out of the last 12 winners rated at 147 or higher.

Arkle Novices’ Chase
A race in which it has paid to note the top of the market in recent seasons. Eight of the last 12 winners were favourites and 10 out of 12 winners were in the top three in the betting. Seven of the last 12 winners were trained in Ireland. If there is one race at the Cheltenham where the trends offer up a compelling case for a winner time and again, this is it.

Champion Hurdle
Check the top of the market. Eight of the last 12 winners of the Champion Hurdle have been sent off favourite or joint-favourite, and nine out of 12 winners were in the top three in the betting. As you would expect with the above stat in mind, 11 of the past 12 winners won on their last run prior to the Festival, with the same number having had at least one run at Cheltenham before. Age is also a consideration, with 11 of the last 12 being between six and eight.

Cheltenham Festival day one ground and weather

On Monday the watering system at Cheltenham was in action, showing that after such a wet winter the course still needs a drop of water to prevent it becoming too lively. Certainly the ground will be much quicker than it has been all winter.

As of Monday morning, the going on the Old Course is good to soft. The forecast for the opening day of the festival is dry, with a possibility of showers later in the afternoon.

Betting on Cheltenham?

There’s a lot of competition between bookmakers for customers during the festival and they will often run their best promotions of the year, especially earlier in the week. Take a look at these Cheltenham betting offers to find free bets to use throughout the week.

How to watch Cheltenham Festival day 1

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the first five races of the day on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 12.45pm GMT every day until 5pm GMT. The races can also be streamed via ITVX. There is a preview show each morning from 9am GMT to 10am GMT which is shown on ITV4 and ITVX.

The final two races of each day will not be shown on ITV but will be live on Racing TV. Subscriptions for the channel, which shows every race from the Festival, are available through Sky and Virgin Media and online through its website and app.