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NewsBeat

Anger top doctor may return after sex with vulnerable patient at Cardiff hospital

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Wales Online

A troubled health board has refused to say whether it will welcome back a surgeon who had a sexual relationship with a patient while repeatedly prescribing her morphine under the counter. Dr Chirag Patel, a consultant neurosurgeon at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales, avoided being struck off over the misconduct – to the disbelief of some in the medical community.

The doctor was recently handed an eight-month suspension by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) after he was found to have given the patient highly addictive painkillers without noting this in her medical records. He claimed he did so because he was “blackmailed” with threats she would expose their relationship.

Explaining why it had opted for suspension, the misconduct panel said the hospital would face “considerable hardship” should Dr Patel be permanently barred from practising medicine.

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Striking him off would have been “nothing short of a disaster for the people of Wales”, according to the hospital’s clinical director for neurosurgery, who had told the panel that Dr Patel was the only surgeon in NHS Wales able to carry out certain surgeries for neuropathic pain.

But after we reported on the case, several doctors posted on social media questioning why Dr Patel had not been barred. “This is horrendous,” wrote Dr Deiniol Jones, deputy chair of the British Medical Association’s Welsh resident doctors committee. “The proportionality with MPTS still needs improvement.”

He added: “Sexual misconduct cases that should get erasure don’t (this isn’t the first) and yet so many innocuous things (for example saying you need a laptop) get slammed.”

This was in reference to a much-derided case from 2022 in which a Manchester GP, Dr Manjula Arora, was suspended for a month after telling an NHS IT department she had been “promised” a laptop. This was deemed by a misconduct panel to be “dishonest” because, rather than being promised, she had been told: “We don’t have any laptops at present, but I will note your interest when the next roll-out happens.” The General Medical Council later said the findings against Dr Arora would not stand.

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Some felt the case of Dr Patel to be a cautionary tale of what can happen when a region relies on one doctor for certain key responsibilities.

Neurosurgery doctor Ollie Burton wrote on X: “I guess it’s a consequence of superspecialisation and centralisation of particular services, which neurosurgery probably does more so than other surgical specialties.

“If you have only one surgeon who does a thing well in the unit (or country) then big problems if [they are] suspended or sacked.”

Dr Patel qualified from an Indian university in 1994 and moved to the UK eight years later. He has worked at the hospital in Cardiff since 2015, his tribunal heard.

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The panel was told Dr Patel first operated on the woman at the centre of the case (Patient A) in February 2019, removing the damaged part of a disc in her spine, and then performed further surgery on her in August that year. The following month they began a sexual relationship.

He would go on to operate on the patient a third time, inserting a spinal chord stimulator in December 2021.

Tribunal chair Remi Alabi said: “By February 2023 the relationship had deteriorated. Patient A made accusations against Dr Patel to the police in February 2023.”

Police did not pursue the allegations but did notify Cardiff and Vale health board, which runs the hospital. A disciplinary investigation then began.

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Up to January 2023, Dr Patel had prescribed the woman an opioid painkiller known as MST (morphine sulphate tablets) as well as an addictive muscle relaxant, diazepam.

He did this without informing her GP or making a note in her records, and he continued with the prescriptions even after she had missed appointments.

A barrister for the General Medical Council (GMC) argued the woman was vulnerable due to a previous drug addiction, although the doctor claimed he was not aware of any “ongoing dependency”.

Dr Patel admitted the sexual relationship and sending the patient “explicit images”. He was “going through some marital difficulties” at the time his relationship with the patient began, said Mrs Alabi.

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The doctor said: “When I persisted in telling her that the relationship had to end, Patient A threatened to reveal our relationship to others, such as my employer and colleagues.

“I was afraid if she did so I could lose the job I so loved and had worked so hard to obtain. Given my speciality this would have a knock-on effect on other patients if I was unable to work.

“With the benefit of hindsight I know I should nonetheless have ended the relationship and been honest with my employer. However, at the time I felt panicked and unable to break it off – a decision I now bitterly regret.”

The panel concluded the patient was “vulnerable” and that her repeated requests for painkillers may have been the result of addiction – a risk the doctor should have recognised, said Ms Alabi, who added that he had shown “a reckless disregard for patient safety”.

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“Dr Patel had put his personal interests – namely securing his career, reputation and family relationships – above Patient A’s proper care,” she said.

The panel heard a voicemail left for the surgeon by the patient, demanding she “have that prescription” and threatening to report him to police.

She went on: “Chirag, you had one chance, two chances, three chances and more chances. You’re in the country doing your job, I don’t want to f*** you over but my spine is f***ed, right?

“I’ve given you chance after chance after chance. Do you know what? I could just write a book on you, okay? You going to man up and meet me, or are you going to be a cowardly c***, like I think you are? You’re no God, love.”

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In his evidence, Dr Patel claimed: “I would only see her under the threat of blackmail and to appease her. Any romantic or friendly relationship had completely ended at this point, and our ongoing relationship was based purely on hostility and blackmail by her towards me.”

He went on: “Patient A had asked for £11,000 previously, which I did not have, so I instead offered to give her £5,000 from my savings.”

Dr Patel claimed to be “deeply remorseful” for prescribing the medication while in the “personal relationship”, adding: “It is no excuse that I did this under the threat of blackmail and exposure.”

The tribunal was told the complaint against Dr Patel arose when the patient was in “a period of psychosis”.

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GMC barrister Robin Kitching argued the doctor should be struck off, pointing to the panel’s own findings that there was a risk of him repeating his behaviour as he had not shown “sufficient understanding” of why he behaved as he did.

The panel took into account that the hospital would encounter “considerable hardship” should he be struck off and concluded an eight-month suspension would be sufficient to “protect the public from the risks posed by Dr Patel’s misconduct”.

A Cardiff and Vale health board spokeswoman refused to comment on “individual employment matters” when we asked if Dr Patel would return to the hospital after his suspension. She added: “We are committed to upholding professional standards and have arrangements in place to continue providing safe and high-quality care for patients.”

The health board has been hit by a near-constant stream of scandals over the last year or so. You can read our exclusive reporting on drug abuse, violence and chaotic management at the University Hospital of Wales here.

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If you would like to let us know about a story we should be investigating, email us at conor.gogarty@walesonline.co.uk

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Coronation Street star up for a return in a ‘terrific’ storyline | Soaps

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Coronation Street star up for a return in a 'terrific' storyline | Soaps
Paula Wilcox played Elaine Jones for three years (Picture: ITV)

Coronation Street’s Paula Wilcox has made it clear she’d be up for returning to the ITV soap.

The actress, who is 76, joined the cast in 2020 as Tim Metcalfe’s (Joe Duttine) mum Elaine Jones.

Shortly after Tim was born, Elaine left the family home because of the abuse Geoff Metcalfe (Ian Bartholomew) was inflicting on her.

Previously called Phillipa, Elaine was prevented from leaving and taking Tim with her. She divorced Geoff, changed her name, and eventually settled in Bolton.

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Elaine made her way to Weatherfield after reading the article about Yasmeen Nazir (Shelley King) attacking Geoff and being imprisoned afterwards.

With time, Elaine connected with Yasmeen, who was also being abused by Geoff. Elaine gave evidence against their abuser in court, helping to exonerate Yasmeen.

Elaine in a ginnel in Corrie
Elaine was also abused by Tim’s dad Geoff (Picture: ITV)
Elaine speaks to Stephen in Corrie
Elaine left the cobbles after a relationship with Stephen Reid (Picture: ITV)

After Geoff’s death, Elaine spent a great deal of time rebuilding her relationship with Tim. She chose to leave the cobbles in 2023 for Scarborough, after discovering partner Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) had taken out a life insurance policy in her name.

Due to the fact Elaine hasn’t been killed off, it gives her the opportunity to pop back to Weatherfield to see Tim and Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor) at any time.

And it’s something star Paula Wilcox would definitely be up for doing!

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‘If there’s a terrific storyline, I’d love to go back. I loved working with Joe and Sally’, the actress told the Mirror.

‘They were so good, so much fun and so clever. There’s no reason why Elaine couldn’t come back. She’s still Tim’s mother after all. He can’t get rid of her!’.

Tim and Sally may need all the support they can get soon, as a new storyline will begin for them.

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Producer of the show Kate Brooks recently teased the drama that lies ahead for the beloved characters.

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Sally and Tim in their home in Corrie
A new storyline lies ahead for Sally and Tim (Picture: ITV)

‘There’s a massive story for Sally and Tim that comes to the to the fore, and it’s a story that tests them as people, test them as a couple, but tests them as foster parents as well’, she explained.

‘It’s a bit of a curveball, and it comes from slightly left field, but absolutely upends their lives. It’s how they navigate that situation going forward. Sally and Tim are so beloved, and I just adore them. And it’s seeing them in a slightly different position than what we’ve seen them in before. 

Kate also revealed: ‘That story will also dovetail further down the line with a Christina story. Christina and George are a really great, strong couple in the show. It’s those friendships alive. There’s a connection there as well.’

With fans speculating that the plot may involve Tim discovering that he’s the father of a child his abuser Trisha gave birth to, could Elaine make a return in an attempt to support her son?

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Teenage boy hit over head with ‘hammer’ during fight

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Cambridgeshire Live

A teenage boy was arrested but has been bailed pending further enquiries

A teenage boy suffered a head injury during a fight in a town on the Cambridgeshire border. Hertfordshire Police were called to High Street in Royston at around 9.40pm on Sunday, May 24, following reports that a teenager had been hit with an object described as a hammer during an altercation.

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A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of GBH and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He has now been released on bail pending further enquiries.

The police are now investigating the incident and are asking for anyone with information to come forward. You can report anything through the force website by quoting 41/48085/26.

You can also call 101 if you do not have access to the internet. You can report anything anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 0800555111.

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007 First Light review – the ultimate James Bond video game

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007 First Light review - the ultimate James Bond video game
007 First Light – you know his name (IO Interactive)

The creators of Hitman bring James Bond back to the world of video games, with a wholly original story starring a younger version of the world’s most famous superspy.

At time of writing there’s still no real clue as to who is going to be the new cinematic James Bond. Dune director Denis Villeneuve will helm the next film but we’re worried that he’s not the right man for the job. He’s an exceptionally skilled director but there are many facets to Bond and we’re not sure there’s a single joke in any of Villeneuve’s films – unless you count unironically paraphrasing Life of Brian in Dune: Part Two.

There have been so many clones and parodies over the years it’s easy to lose track of what makes the Bond film series work, with Hollywood increasingly pushing it into being a straight action franchise. But developer IO Interactive, best known for the Hitman series, clearly know exactly what makes Bond tick, with 007 First Light proving to be considerably more entertaining and authentic than many of the recent movies.

It’s pointless to say that Patrick Gibson, who portrays Bond in the game, should also be the new movie version of the character, because he’s too young, but his performance, and that of the rest of the cast, is superb and the centrepiece of what is one of the best licensed video games of all time.

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The premise of First Light is that it’s not in continuity with the movie series, but it does take considerable influence from it, and to a lesser degree the original novels, including the music, the traditional intro sequence, and the relationship between Bond, M, Q, and Moneypenny. Although the latter is actually Bond’s superior, since he starts the game as a twentysomething naval recruit, before fate brings him to the attention of MI6.

As has been clear since the game was first unveiled, this has nothing whatsoever in common with the classic GoldenEye 007, but shares quite a bit of DNA with Hitman. It’s a third person action game where the majority of levels take place in small open world areas, where you have an objective but are rarely given any specific instructions on how to achieve it. Although there’re also shorter, linear action sequences and some that are a mixture of the two, where you’re spoon-fed instructions in a more Red Dead Redemption 2 style fashion or engage in some Uncharted style platforming.

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As an example of a more open-ended section, at one point you’re trying to get into the VIP room at a club, which has several solutions, including sneaking around in the vents, picking up an unattended tray of drinks and pretending you’re a waiter, or eavesdropping on a conversation that gives you a clue as to how to bluff your way in. Sometimes you can just punch or shoot your way through but not usually, and certainly not in this case.

There are no side quests as such but you can find and do other things not directly connected to your mission, which can open up new dialogue options or, for example, an extra way to sneak up on enemies when a fight breaks out.

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The game makes a clear distinction between areas where you’re free to do whatever you want and those that are restricted, and you’ll get thrown out if you’re discovered or attacked if it’s somewhere you really shouldn’t be. In most cases you don’t have authority to use your gun unless the enemy opens fire first, so while there are plenty of more linear action sequences a lot of the time you’re relying on your wits and not your Walther PPK (which is never referred to as such, despite a lot of licensing for other products, including a pleasing variety of classic British cars).

Surprisingly, you can’t move bodies, but otherwise the stealth is slick and enjoyable, as you use a Q-watch to hack machinery and CCTV cameras, as well as temporarily disorientate people or laser open padlocks. There’re a few other gadgets too, but you can only bring a set number with you at a time, and there’s generally less reliance on them than you might think.

Despite being a relatively minor part of the game, the melee combat and gunplay are very good, with the former based on a simple colour-coded system of dodging and countering incoming attacks. It feels very physical and all the levels are impressively destructible, as you electrocute goons by slamming them into servers or smash them into mirrors and see the picture frame next to it sway in sympathy.

007 First Light screenshot
First Light is surprisingly sexy (IO Interactive)

One shoot-out in a museum gallery, dominated by blood red lighting and the shadows of ancient statues, is so visually impressive it’d be a shame if they didn’t copy it for a future movie. While a later boss fight, where you’re trapped in a shed filled with fireworks, is also visually clever in a very cinematic way.

We didn’t expect much from the car sections, since that’s one thing IO has no experience in at all, but they’re actually good fun – especially when you commandeer a bin lorry and smash it through the heart of Kensington, Blues Brothers style. There’s a wide variety of different vehicles too, including an escalation of the bin lorry concept later in the game that comes with a wonderful musical moment.

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It’s relatively uncommon, but you’ll also get into full-blown gun battles and over-the-top Bond set pieces, filled with explosions and implausible plans, like chasing a cargo plane in an airport ladder truck. That’s a chase that ends up with you climbing aboard and fighting on the wings… before you use your watch to hack the aircraft controls, allowing you to bank it left and right – crushing enemies beneath boxes – while you’re still fighting.

Despite how well everything works this is not a pure action title. Instead, it’s a game that takes its time with everything, leaving you plenty of opportunity to experiment with level solutions, but also to talk to other characters and soak in the ambience. Gibson’s performance is praiseworthy on several levels, not least because his Bond walks around with a permanent smirk on his face. He’s a cocky, overconfident smartass (just as Bond always is) and yet you still like him and actually feel sympathy for him.

The game keeps the background lore of him being an orphan but it’s vague when it comes to exactly how posh he’s meant to be – although his irresistibility to women is as strong as ever and while the game isn’t sexually explicit it doesn’t shy away from Bond’s womanising. He goes through a lot in the story and it’s impressive that IO takes the time to show his reaction to things like his first kill and how he’s affected by the deaths of his allies (including a line about preferring to repress his emotions rather than cry, which clearly isn’t just a joke).

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Bond feels more like a real person than he does in most films and it’s encouraging that the game understands that it’s the dialogue and character interactions that are the most important element in a movie, even an action orientated one. However, at times it does feel like it’s going a bit too far and the pacing can be very languid. Video game Bond already does a lot more actual spy work than his movie counterpart but there’s a surprising amount of casually wandering around and solving puzzles, even at very late points in the story.

First Light is absolutely not a reskinned Hitman and one of its many qualities is how unpredictable and varied it is. One level involves almost Zelda-esque puzzle-solving, while one-off set pieces and action scenes can come out of nowhere at any moment. It’s all done so impressively cinematically too, with a fantastically well-coordinated training sequence that may count as the best training level ever seen in a video game, as it builds up the characters as well as your understanding of the game mechanics.

The game in general is very good at slowly building up the tension, as missions segue from banter and observation to increasingly tense exploration and infiltration, before inevitably ending in violence. Although it is surprising that there’s no sort of score or rating after completing a level, as there would be in Hitman, so while there are achievements for things like not being spotted, the game doesn’t judge you for cheesing it through a level or being a terrible spy.

007 First Light screenshot
The main bad guy is enjoyable unpleasant (IO Interactive)

On a technical level the facial animation is very good and while we did experience two crashes there were no graphical bugs at all, just a few questionable actions from patrolling enemies. Instead, the only real technical problem is the mammoth load times after you die, which feels like you’re back in the PS1 era, reading the data off a CD.

We don’t want to spoil too much of the story, but while you perhaps don’t see quite enough of the main villain he is good. The game is also agreeably unflinching in its criticism of AI, which becomes a major plot point. On a pedantic note, we were also pleased to see the game avoided too many Americanisms, although we’re not quite sure how IO (who are Danish) managed to use the word trainers instead of sneakers but couldn’t stop themselves from labelling a toilet as a ‘restroom’ – in a building purposefully filled with jingoistic British iconography.

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Overall, the script is good, although trying to give Bond a one-liner for almost every situation means the hit rate is predictably low. There are some good one though, such as when he’s asked over his earpiece for his status and he replies ‘Happily single.’ There’s also some clever playing around with the classic ‘Bond. James Bond’ quote. The music throughout is excellent too, keenly aware of the expectations of the franchise but sensibly holding back on both the theme tune and the title song by Lana Del Rey, until just the right moment.

If you’re a Bond fan then this is a dream come true, with endless subtle references to the movies and lore, but it’s significant for more than just being a good licensed game. It’s one of the most ambitious and cinematic action adventures of the generation; one that manages to combine dialogue, exploration, and action seamlessly and with only minimal cut scenes (which is a purposeful dig at Metal Gear, because in some ways First Light is reminiscent of a less pretentious Hideo Kojima production).

All of a sudden, it feels like IO Interactive may have been selling themselves short for only focusing on Hitman in the last few decades, because 007 First Light is an exceptional piece of interactive entertainment, that deserves to have a significant influence on the industry at large.

007 First Light review summary

In Short: Not only an extremely authentic Bond adaptation but a masterful action adventure in its own right, that manages an impressive balance of storytelling and cinematic spectacle.

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Pros: Excellent core mechanics, with solid combat, driving, and an impressively open-ended exploration system. Great storytelling that manages to balance the tropes of the franchise with proper character development.

Cons: The pacing is surprisingly languid at times, even when it feels like it should be the opposite. Peculiarly long load times when you die.

Score: 9/10

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Formats: PC (previewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
Price: £59.99
Publisher: IO Interactive
Developer: IO Interactive
Release Date: 26th May 2026 (Q3 2006 for Switch 2)
Age Rating: 16

007 First Light screenshot
Cars are not the only thing you drive (IO Interactive)

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Teenage rapists’ sentences to be reviewed by Court of Appeal after backlash, Starmer says

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Teenage rapists’ sentences to be reviewed by Court of Appeal after backlash, Starmer says

Two teenage boys spared jail for raping two girls will have their sentences reviewed by the Court of Appeal after the attorney general said they were too lenient, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

The two 15-year-olds were convicted of raping two girls in separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, but were given non-custodial sentences by a judge at Southampton Crown Court, who said he wanted to “avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily”.

The boys were instead given youth rehabilitation orders (YRO) and made subject to intensive supervision and surveillance (ISS) – a decision slammed by the victims, politicians from across the political spectrum and campaigners.

The prime minister, who said he found the case “distressing as a father”, said attorney general Richard Hermer had examined the case and was referring it to the Court of Appeal for review – a decision he said was “clearly the right outcome”.

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“There are questions about the sentence. The attorney general has power to refer a case to a court of appeal if the attorney general thinks that the sentence is too lenient. The attorney general has now exercised that power,” he said.

“So I can announce that the case will go to a Court of Appeal… and that is clearly the right outcome.”

Sir Keir said the case was “really distressing” and the courage of the girls who came forward to expose the teenagers’ crimes was “humbling”.

“I think it’s a really distressing case. I think it’s distressing for everybody to see, to hear about.

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“The courage, frankly, of the girls to come forward is humbling, but it is distressing. I find it distressing as a politician. I find it distressing as a father.”

His comments come after government minister Darren Jones teared up over the weekend as he argued the two girls “deserve justice”.

Starmer says the decision to refer the case to the Court of Appeal is ‘clearly the right outcome’
Starmer says the decision to refer the case to the Court of Appeal is ‘clearly the right outcome’ (Reuters)

The chief secretary to the prime minister became emotional as he heard testimony from one of the victims on Sunday, in which she said the judge’s decision not to hand down a prison sentence to her attackers was like a “rock straight in my face”.

Asked for his thoughts on the case, Mr Jones told the BBC: “As a minister, what I can’t do is get ahead of the attorney general’s decision, but look, as a parent and as a member of the public, you can imagine what my personal view is on the situation.”

Pushed on what his view was, a visibly emotional Mr Jones said: “Those girls deserve justice, as do their families, both for them but also for other girls that are put in that position.

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“And quite frankly, other boys need to know that they can’t behave in that way and get away with it.”

Meanwhile, rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot said she was “deeply shocked” that the teenage boys had avoided jail sentences.

The 73-year-old French woman testified against her husband, Dominique Pelicot, who repeatedly drugged her and invited dozens of men to rape her in a case that shocked the world.

Having waived her own right to anonymity, Ms Pelicot “saluted the strength” of one of the girls for speaking out after the attack.

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Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Pelicot said she was “deeply shocked that these individuals were in fact able to gain their freedom again when in fact the victims are suffering so hard they will never be able to heal”.

She added she hoped her own story “was useful for her to make that decision” to come forward.

Gisèle Pelicot’s husband was convicted in 2024 of drugging her and letting scores of men rape her while unconscious
Gisèle Pelicot’s husband was convicted in 2024 of drugging her and letting scores of men rape her while unconscious (AFP/Getty)

On Tuesday, Sarah Owen MP, chair of the women and equalities committee, told The Independent that the “harrowing case not only needs to be reviewed as soon as possible, but also the process that has allowed boys found guilty of rape, videoing and sharing that rape being allowed off with a non-custodial sentence”.

“To victims of rape and sexual assault, this is not what justice looks like. With so few reports of rape even making it to court, this leniency also sends a very dangerous message to perpetrators of sexual violence”, she added.

She said it was “heartbreaking” that the girls have suffered only to have a judge “who appeared more concerned with the future of the rapists than they did the victims”.

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Meanwhile, Jess Phillips – the former victims’ minister – said she thinks it’s right the case is being reviewed, adding: “It’s important not just for justice in these cases but also for the message it sends to both boys and girls more broadly.

“I also think the case highlights how important early intervention with kids who go on to perpetrate these crimes and the need for regulation on social media and safety of the devices every parent gets their kid age 10.”

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Team of the Season 2025/26

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Team of the Season 2025/26

Telegraph Fantasy Football Team of the Season

To find the most up-to-date numbers you can see the full Telegraph Fantasy Football player list in the Stats Centre.

1. David Raya (182) – Arsenal

2. Marc Guehi (191) – Manchester City

3. Gabriel Magalhaes (185) – Arsenal

4. William Saliba (163) – Arsenal

5. Jurrien Timber (160) – Arsenal

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6. Antoine Semenyo (225) – Manchester City

7. Bruno Fernandes (206) – Manchester United

8. Jarrod Bowen (198) – West Ham United

9. Enzo Fernandez (172) – Chelsea

10. Erling Haaland (254) – Manchester City

11. Igor Thiago (196) – Brentford

You can follow the latest Telegraph Fantasy Football news and discussions throughout the year on Facebook, Twitter and Fantasy Football Content Hub.

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Staff at busy Cambridge hospital to rally for fairer pay

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Cambridgeshire Live

The staff want the NHS high cost area supplement to be introduced to Cambridge

Staff at a busy hospital in Cambridge will be holding a rally tomorrow (Wednesday, May 27) calling for fairer pay. Medical workers and striking Unite members at Addenbrooke’s Hospital are calling for an NHS high cost area supplement (HCAS) to combat the high cost of living in the city.

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Medical staff at the hospital receive no extra pay for working in Cambridge. A recent travel survey commissioned by the hospital trust revealed that over 50 percent of staff from Addenbrooke’s Hospital are having to travel over 10 miles from outside of the city to get to work.

Unite has said high costs are “driving” workers away from the city, which means they are further away from their patients that need their support. Unite is asking that the NHS HCAS payment, which is already given to NHS workers in Oxford and London, is given to workers in Cambridge so that they can afford to live in the city.

The petition launched by Unite about the issue has already reached over 1,600 signatures. Addenbrookes staff involved in the strikes including those who work as porters, clinical engineering technicians, and genomics scientists.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Cambridge is a very expensive city to live in but while the cost of living has risen, workers’ wages have stagnated.

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“Our hardworking members who do demanding, important jobs should not be struggling to afford the basics and should be able to live near where they work. Unite completely supports them in their campaign for fair pay.”

This is part of the wider campaign for fairer pay for Unite members in Cambridge. Workers at Cambridge University have also been involved in strikes and are calling for a “Cambridge weighting” supplement.

Over 500 members of the union from Cambridge University including workers from estates management, finance, and student services, are in dispute over another below-inflation pay increase. Staff will now strike until May 29 with picket lines across the university.

Unite regional officer Richard Gates said: “It is becoming increasingly more expensive to live and work in Cambridge and our members deserve better than the way they are being treated.”

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Officials lift evacuation orders for some California residents living near a damaged chemical tank

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Officials lift evacuation orders for some California residents living near a damaged chemical tank

Emergency officials lifted an evacuation order for some of the people who live near a damaged tank containing a hazardous chemical in Southern California after temperatures inside the tank fell enough to eliminate the risk of a catastrophic explosion.

While there’s no longer a risk of a major explosion at the GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems plant in Garden Grove, there’s still a chance for a smaller blast or a fire, Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey said during a news conference on Monday.

An overnight evaluation of the tank containing 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate, which is highly flammable, showed a reduction of pressure inside the tank thanks to a crack that was discovered Sunday. About two-thirds — roughly 34,000 — of the evacuated residents can go home as a result, Covey said.

“It’s not over yet. We still have work to do,” Covey said. “We still have to mitigate a fire and very small explosion concern, and also a spill potential.”

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Officials began ordering residents of Garden Grove, near Los Angeles, to evacuate their homes on Thursday after the tank overheated, and by the weekend about 50,000 residents had been told to leave.

Officials said they needed to cool the tank to prevent a toxic leak or explosion. The tank’s interior had cooled to 93 degrees F (33.9 degrees C), Covey said Monday, down from 100 degrees (37.7 degrees C) a day earlier.

Orange County Health Director Regina Chinsio-Kwong said she wanted to reassure everyone who is returning home that they can feel safe. Exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological problems and irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

“There was no contamination. There were no fumes. There were not vapors that came from this incident,” she said at the news conference. “There was not a leak. So it should be, you should feel comfortable going home even if you’re across the street from that new zone line.”

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Environmental risks remain

The tank might eventually cool enough for crews to safely stabilize and drain the remaining material without triggering a spark or ignition, said Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor who has studied environmental contamination.

Whelton cautioned there is still some risk of an explosion while the chemical inside the tank remains hot and reactive. He said temperatures need to fall closer to ambient levels — roughly 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 21.1 degrees C) — before conditions are considered significantly safer.

As the interior temperature of the tank increased, methyl methacrylate — which is used to make plastics — converted from liquid to gas, ramping up the pressure and risk of explosion, Whelton said.

Some of the methyl methacrylate may already have hardened into a stable plastic similar to plexiglass, reducing the risk inside the tank, he said.

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Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen said the South Coast Air Quality Management District will be monitoring the air for several months and the EPA will be checking the sewer and storm drains.

County health officials have said the chemical is easy to smell and people may notice it over a large area without being harmed.

Relief among residents after hearing the latest update

Authorities have not defined what a catastrophic explosion might mean, but said Monday the worst-case scenario is off the table.

Kim Yen, a retiree who had to evacuate her Garden Grove home, said she has been closely following the news and is relieved to learn that the worst has passed.

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“I am happy and many of us are happy but, still, we are still on our evacuation,” she said.

Yen, who lives two blocks from the plant, said she’s ready to return home but first wants to be sure it’s safe. And, she said, she’s been worried about the emergency crews.

“They are really our heroes,” Yen said.

The parking lot was full Monday at a large park in Fountain Valley, just southwest of Garden Grove, as people sought refuge in an ad hoc shelter there or pitched tents outside. Other people gathered in the park to enjoy Memorial Day.

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GKN is a British company that supplies aircraft manufacturers

GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which owns the plant, is a British company that makes cockpit windows, canopies and windshields for military and commercial aircraft.

GKN Aerospace technical specialists and the Orange County Fire Authority removed external insulation material from the tank to help cool its contents, according to a GKN Aerospace statement released Monday.

“We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing and our priority remains its safe resolution, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible,” the statement said.

GKN Aerospace says on its website that it employs about 16,000 people across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries and supplies technologies and components used by major commercial and military aircraft manufacturers worldwide.

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It remained unknown when the operation would reopen.

GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.

Aircraft manufacturing vulnerable to supply chain disruptions

Disruptions at facilities producing specialized aircraft components can be difficult for the global aerospace industry to absorb because supply chains are highly concentrated and already strained, said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of the aerospace consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory.

Aboulafia said aerospace manufacturing differs from many other industries because aircraft production rates are relatively low, leaving only a small number of suppliers for many specialized parts and systems.

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“There’s just not a lot of margin in the system,” he said.

___

Willingham reported from Boston. Stengle reported from Dallas. Associated Press journalist Ethan Swope in Garden Grove, California, contributed to this report.

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What is Vinnie Jones’ net worth?

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Daily Mirror

Let’s take a closer look at the life of footballer, actor, and all-round hardman Vinnie Jones as his new documentary drops on Netflix

The Hollywood hardman reflects on his early football career on Netflix.

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Untold UK: Vinnie Jones has just dropped on Netflix and lifts the lid on the 61 year old’s rollercoaster life and career.

From his beginnings as a star defensive midfielder for the likes of Wimbledon FC and Leeds United to his iconic roles in TV and film, the famous Londoner has been a well-known hardman for decades.

The new Netflix documentary puts his career under the microscope and features exclusive interviews with Vinnie himself, as he looks back on his career including his key role in leading Wimbledon to victory at the 1988 FA Cup final and his controversially aggressive playstyle.

He has since become known for his roles in major British and Hollywood films and series, including his collaborations with Guy Ritchie in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Netflix’s The Gentlemen.

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However, there’s one question fans will be asking that the Netflix series doesn’t cover: just how much as Vinnie earned over the course of his five-decade career?

What is Vinnie Jones’ net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Vinnie is worth an impressive $10 million (£8 million) as of this year.

This is thanks to his combined earnings firstly as a midfielder for various football clubs, including Wimbledon, Leeds, Sheffield United, Chelsea, and Queens Park Rangers. He also played for and captained the Wales national team, before his stardom was catapulted with roles in several popular films and TV shows.

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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows.

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This includes the brand new UK drama Unchosen, starring Asa Butterfield and Christopher Eccleston.

At one point, he was rumoured to have been paid £505,000 a week and was quoted by The Sun as blasting the backlash to footballers’ salaries as “nonsense”.

“You don’t say that Rod Stewart is getting paid too much at 75, 80, do you?” he said. “Madonna, is she being overpaid? She’s out there for an hour and gets X amount of millions.”

However, in his later football career playing for QPR he was reportedly earning around £10,000 per week.

His acting roles have been even more lucrative for the Watford-born hardman, as Vinnie’s sporting career took place in the 1980s and 90s before the huge boom in footballers’ wages.

For instance, for his supporting role in the John Travolta and Hugh Jackman-led gangster film Swordfish, he was paid £2 million for just 49 words of dialogue – a tidy £40,816 per word.

Vinnie was also reportedly paid £300,000 for sitting down with Netflix for his new Untold UK doc.

He currently resides on a 2,000-acre countryside estate in Petworth, West Sussex, half of which he leases. Fans can discover more about his impressive home in the Discovery+ series Vinnie Jones in the Country.

While details about the property’s worth is currently unknown, it’s estimated that the estate’s worth is also in the multi-millions.

Untold UK: Vinnie Jones is available to stream on Netflix.

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You Can Now Get A Simba Mattress At 25% Off For One Week Only

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You Can Now Get A Simba Mattress At 25% Off For One Week Only

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Once in a while, a sale swings around that we can’t help but scream from the rooftops about.

While, yes, Black Friday and Boxing Day sales are reliable, there’s nothing more exciting (for us) than a sale that crops up at random and lets us save a generous amount on our favourite products.

So naturally, when the latest Simba sale launched, we knew we were going to have to rave about it.

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From now until 1 June, Simba is offering big savings on most of its bestselling five-star bedding.

Yup, this includes up to 25% off its hybrid mattresses and pillows, as well as up to 20% off its duvets, beds, toppers, protectors, bedding, and slippers. Whew.

Never heard of Simba before? Here’s a quick list of everything we love about its products:

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your bed set up, this is your lucky day. To help you choose the right one for you, we’ve rounded up our top picks from the Simba range.

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Councillor quits UUP after ‘internal party politics’ takes toll on mental health

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Belfast Live

“In recent years, however, my experience within the party has become increasingly difficult,” she said

An Ulster Unionist Party councillor has confirmed that she has quit the party and will remain as an independent, after claiming that internal party politics was impacting her mental health.

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Kate Evans was first elected to represent the Craigavon DEA on Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in 2023 and was the party’s candidate in the 2024 General Election.

Ms Evans works as Doug Beattie’s constituency office manager and has confirmed that she will continue that work despite not being a party member.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Doug Beattie was facing deselection after the party’s constituency association favoured councillor Kyle Savage to be their candidate in next year’s Assembly election with it later being suggested that the party had intervened and asked the association to reconsider their decision with the expectation that Doug Beattie and Kyle Savage would both run in the constituency, where they had less than one quota at the last election.

Posting on social media, Kate Evans said: “It is with great sadness that I have tendered my resignation from the Ulster Unionist Party.

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“This has not been an easy decision. For more than a decade, I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to the party, fighting countless elections and working tirelessly on behalf of the people and principles I believed in.

“In recent years, however, my experience within the party has become increasingly difficult. The past number of months, in particular, have been profoundly challenging on a personal level following the loss of my mother, my greatest supporter, closest friend, and the rock of our family. During this time, the strain of internal party politics has taken a significant toll on my mental wellbeing, and I have come to the difficult conclusion that stepping away is necessary for my own health.

“Throughout my years in the party, I have had the privilege of forming many valued friendships. I will always cherish those relationships and remain deeply grateful for the kindness and support shown to me during this difficult period.”

“I will continue my work in the Upper Bann office in support of Doug Beattie MLA, as I have proudly done for more than ten years.

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“I will also continue to fulfil the remainder of my mandate as an independent councillor for Craigavon, serving the people who elected me with the same commitment and dedication I have always sought to provide.

“While my membership of the party may now come to an end, my loyalty remains firmly with the people who stood by me and placed their trust in me.”

Resharing Kate’s statement, Doug Beattie said he was “sorry” that she felt she had “no choice but to leave”.

“Over the last 10 years, you have served the party and me with unswerving loyalty, commitment and professionalism. Nobody will know what you have had to endure because of that loyalty, but in the end, you must look after your own well-being.

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“I look forward to continuing to work with you in my constituency office, knowing that much of what you do goes unnoticed.”

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