In a 2026 study I conducted with colleagues on people with peripheral arterial disease, one participant described how leg pain had disrupted his golf for years. It forced him to stop mid-round, shake his leg and apologise to his playing partners while he waited for the pain to pass. He found it mortifying. Then he tried a small electrical device that delivered gentle pulses through pads stuck to his skin. He still had pain. But he could get round the course.

When we measured his walking on a treadmill, we found no improvement. He had not noticed. That was not the outcome that mattered to him. Before the study ended, he had already gone out and ordered his own device.

A different participant reached the opposite conclusion. The pain was still there when he used the device, he said. It had not done him any good. And he was right, in a narrow sense. The device had not eliminated his pain. What it had done was reduce its intensity and delay its onset, allowing him to walk measurably further. His expectation of complete relief meant that genuine, partial relief felt like failure. He concluded the treatment did not work.

The study did not tell a simple story of success or failure. For some participants, standard treadmill measures did not capture what had changed in daily life. For others, measurable improvements still failed to feel meaningful because they fell short of what the person had hoped for. The difference was not only the treatment, or the severity of their condition. It was what each person had been led to expect.

Recognising relief

Both men were living with peripheral arterial disease, a condition caused by a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries that supply the legs. It affects an estimated 236 million people worldwide. Its hallmark symptom is a cramping pain in the calf during walking that eases with rest. Over time, it can shrink a person’s world, limiting independence and increasing the risk of serious cardiovascular problems.

The recommended first-line treatment is supervised exercise therapy: structured exercise sessions led by trained professionals. But in many countries, access to supervised exercise therapy remains patchy and under-resourced. That gap is fertile territory for the wellness market.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or Tens, delivers small electrical impulses through electrode pads on the skin to interfere with pain signals travelling to the brain. There is evidence that it can help with some kinds of pain, and it is used in hospital pain management settings. It is not a wellness product. In our study, we explored what happened when people with peripheral arterial disease used TENS independently at home, outside the controlled conditions of a clinical trial.

The findings point to something standard clinical tests rarely capture. Expectation can shape whether useful relief is recognised as useful.

That finding matters well beyond this particular device or condition. The global wellness industry is worth over a trillion dollars and operates with minimal regulatory oversight. People living with painful long-term conditions are among its most heavily targeted consumers. Companies sell electrical stimulation devices, supplements and wearable gadgets to people in chronic pain, using influencer testimonials in place of evidence and social media algorithms to reach people who are frightened, frustrated or in pain.

When a product fails to deliver the transformation it promised, patients rarely conclude they were misled. They conclude that nothing can help them. In conditions where reduced physical activity carries real health consequences, that conclusion is not merely disappointing. It is dangerous.

Poor communication can hinder treatment results

This is where the study speaks to a much wider problem. Whether a person is using a clinical device, a wearable gadget or a supplement sold online, they are often asked to judge it against expectations they did not set for themselves. Even legitimate, clinically tested treatments can be undermined by poor communication about what to expect.

The golfer’s experience illustrates this clearly. He valued an outcome that no clinical trial had thought to measure: the ability to play a round of golf without humiliation. Once he understood the device could offer that, it worked for him. His fellow participant was never given the chance to find his equivalent.

A market built around selling hope is poorly equipped for that kind of honesty. But the same danger can appear even when the person giving advice has medical credentials. Research shows that even medically qualified doctors who become prominent wellness influencers on social media are subject to many of the same pressures as their unqualified counterparts: to build a personal brand, produce content constantly, stand out from competitors and make advice sound more certain than it really is. Having a medical degree does not make someone’s Instagram post better at managing a patient’s expectations. It just makes it more convincing.

What actually helps requires something platforms cannot provide: time, a genuine clinical relationship and communication that is not contingent on making a sale. It requires asking a patient not just whether their pain has reduced, but what they were hoping to do that pain had been stopping them from doing. It requires explaining that partial relief is still relief and that the outcome worth measuring might not be the one on the form.

That kind of honesty does not feature in any influencer’s discount code, medical degree or otherwise. But for the person who just wants to get round the golf course, it might be the most important part of the treatment.

The Council Chambers site on Front Street in Stanley is Grade II listed and was first built in 1911. 

The building, which previously housed Stanley Urban District Council, has been included in Historic England’s Heritage Investment Prospectus in the hope that it can be sold. 

Inside, the building remains largely intact with an elegant staircase and hall, and an ornate council chamber. 

The former Stanley Council Chambers on Front Street. (Image: Historic England)

The property is considered suitable for a wide range of uses, including residential, commercial, retail, leisure, community or mixed-use development (subject to planning). 

The site has also been the subject of pre-application discussions and feasibility work, which indicate it is suitable for a range of potential uses, including residential, retail or commercial, food and beverage, or community-based functions.

Stanley is currently benefiting from substantial regeneration activity, including £20 million of Pride in Place funding from the Government and major investment by housing provider Karbon Homes on the former Board School site. 

Initial options for the site proposed by the developer in 2023 included creating a youth hub, housing, a business and community hub, or a community cafe. A mixed-use venue hosting pop-up events and traders was also proposed.  

The former Stanley Council Chambers on Front Street. (Image: Historic England)

Historic England said: “This is strengthening the location’s appeal and reinforcing long-term confidence in the town centre. The building is part of a community that has demonstrated strong involvement in shaping local priorities through the Stanley Strategic Place Plan, with heritage emerging as a key theme.

“With excellent access, strong local amenities and a supportive policy and investment context, the property offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing regeneration of Stanley.”

The Heritage Investment Prospectus showcases historic sites and buildings across England, where owners are actively seeking investment partners or buyers.

Only Freiburg stand in his way. The German side finished seventh in this year’s Bundesliga and have impressed throughout this campaign, beating the likes of Braga, Celta Vigo, Lille and Nice en route to the final. They were playing second-tier football in Germany just a decade ago but have hardly looked back since winning the 2. Bundesliga in 2016, and today face their first-ever European final.

Bayliss lied to the victim’s workplace and said she had stolen drugs and was involved in money laundering.

A man who said he would ensure his victim “doesn’t have another relationship” has been jailed. Christopher Bayliss, 44, of Caroline Hart Walk, Cambridge, threatened to kill himself after finding out his former partner had started dating again.

He hacked into her dating and social media accounts with his behaviour getting worse when she started a new relationship. On November 15, he showed up at the victim’s home and demanded money.

The victim initially refused but later sent £25 to make him leave. At around 4am the following day, he returned and banged on the door threatening to kill himself.

In two days, Bayliss sent 92 WhatsApp messages, left 71 voicemails, and made 32 unanswered calls. He also contacted the victim’s daughter and told her it was her mother’s fault that he turned to drugs and said he would “make sure she doesn’t have another relationship to destroy another man”.

In another call, Bayliss asked the daughter to pass the phone to her mum. He then told her “you need to get the dog; I am going to kill myself” and threatened to destroy her job “so she doesn’t have her friends”.

He went on to blackmail the victim and demanded £50, threatening to contact her employer with false allegations that she had been stealing cash and drugs. He later emailed her workplace and claimed she had stolen drugs and was involved in money laundering.

In four days at the end of November, Bayliss sent over 200 messages and made more than 60 calls and voice messages to the victim. On December 2, he sent a message that he was monitoring her movements and said he assumed she had been suspended as he could see she was not at work.

The victim had left her home and had been staying elsewhere, in fear for her own safety, and parked her car out of sight so he couldn’t find her. Bayliss was arrested later that day.

Bayliss was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress, harassment without violence, and blackmail at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday, May 14. A charge of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship, along with a further stalking offence, was ordered to lie on file.

He was also made subject to a ten-year restraining order.

Detective Constable Abbie Ellis, who investigated, said: “Bayliss’ behaviour was relentless, manipulative and deeply distressing for the victim and her family. He used threats, intimidation and harassment in an attempt to control her life even after their relationship had ended.

“Stalking is a serious offence that can have a devastating impact on victims. I would encourage anyone experiencing similar behaviour to report it to police – you will be taken seriously and supported.”

Several people pointed out that they had seen Dubai-based Lee was logged into the Messenger service yesterday – despite going missing days earlier.

Katie Price has responded to claims that her missing husband Lee Andrews has been online using Facebook. Several people pointed out that they had seen Dubai-based Lee was logged into the Messenger service yesterday, despite having disappeared nearly a week earlier after sending a series of chilling messages to his wife Katie.

Former Apprentice star Luisa Zissman was among those posting about him being online even though Katie is desperately trying to find him and fears that she has been kidnapped. Luisa said: “He was seen as active on Facebook Messenger six hours ago which does indicate that his kidnappers are definitely letting him have access to social media.”

However, Katie tonight insisted that it was her causing his Facebook account to appear as active to people around the world. She shared a screenshot of his page writing: “I have Lee’s Facebook it’s not him on this it’s me.” The profile showed Lee’s 13,000 followers, location as Dubai and bio describing himself as an “Investor CEO” and “Married to the beautiful Katie Price.”

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The players’ campaign, which began in late 2025, is being spearheaded by former WTA chairman and chief executive Larry Scott.

The American will be in Paris on Friday for a meeting with French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo and FFT president Gilles Moretton.

Meetings are also planned with representatives of the All England Club (AELTC) and the US Tennis Association later in the fortnight.

The players’ action is designed to put pressure on the AELTC, with prize money for Wimbledon not due to be announced for another three weeks.

Last year, the Wimbledon prize fund rose by 7% to £53.5m – double the amount on offer a decade earlier.

Players look enviously, however, at the revenues generated by the Grand Slams and feel entitled to a larger slice of the cake.

The AELTC’s financial statement for the year to July 2025 showed revenue of £427m and profit after tax of £39.7m.

Players have asked the Slams to pay 22% of their revenue in prize money by 2030.

They are also asking that tens of millions of dollars are paid towards pension, healthcare and maternity benefits, and that they are consulted more widely on scheduling and other key decisions.

At this month’s Italian Open, world number one Aryna Sabalenka said she believes players will “at some point” boycott one of the majors.

World number three Iga Swiatek felt that would be a “bit extreme”, but defending French Open champion Coco Gauff said she would support strike action “if everyone were to move as one and collaborate”.

Men’s world number one Jannik Sinner also claimed players are not getting the respect they deserve when it comes to prize money at the majors.

An FFT statement on Wednesday read: “We regret the players’ decision, which impacts all of the tournament’s stakeholders: the media, broadcasters, the FFT and the entire tennis community, all of whom follow each edition of Roland Garros with great enthusiasm.

“The French Tennis Federation recognises the importance of the players’ contribution to the tournament’s success, and wishes to maintain close ties with them.”

The French Open takes place from 24 May to 7 June.

Additionally, an inspection of a white van parked outside, which males were seen unloading into the shop, contained 820 illicit cigarettes and two 50g pouches of roll-your-own tobacco hidden in the glove box and a shopping bag. The family says this was not to be sold, rather they were “just holding onto it for someone else, but we took the blame”.

A decision to apply and leave restraints on the prisoner overnight while he was in hospital was found to be “not justified”

A sex offender serving a sentence at a Cambridgeshire prison died in his cell. Peter Williams died aged 67 on August 3, 2025 while serving his sentence at HMP Littlehey in Perry, according to a recent report.

Williams was sentenced to Imprisonment for Public Protection with a minimum of three years for a sexual offence in August 2010. In June 2019, Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In March 2022, was transferred to HMP Littlehey. Despite undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, Williams’ cancer progressed and in May 2025, it was deemed that chemotherapy was no longer effective.

On May 12, Williams was escorted to hospital by two officers who applied an escort chain. According to the report, Williams complained about the cuffs being too tight. No evidence was found to show that anyone adjusted the handcuffs.

The following day the restraints were removed and Williams later returned to prison on May 17. His health continued to deteriorate and on August 3, Williams died in his cell.

A family member was contacted by a family liaison officer. A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman stated that Williams died of advanced bladder cancer.

A clinical review identified that a decision to apply and leave restraints on Williams until the following day was “not justified”. The report said managers responsible for authorising restraints should consider the healthcare and base their decision on the actual risk the prisoner poses at the time.

Authorising Managers have also received training to assess the correct level of restraint for all escorts. A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Following the recommendations made by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, HMP Littlehey has improved restraint procedures by increasing training and oversight”.

A clinical reviewer found no evidence that Williams was discussed in a Palliative Care Team multi-disciplinary meeting, in line with the Littlehey Palliative Care Protocol. Due to this, it was recommended that the Head of Healthcare ensures patients with “complex health needs” are discussed in a meeting.

The Ministry of Justice said it is continuing to work closely with healthcare providers to ensure all relevant information is shared and properly recorded. The clinical reviewer concluded that the care Williams received at the prison was of a “reasonable standard” and “equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community”.

An inquest into his death was held on March 23, 2026. The coroner concluded that Williams died from natural causes.

A parent of one of the victims of a man jailed over sex offences broke their silence with a harrowing statement on the impact the offender’s actions had on their child

The parent of a young boy targeted by a sick online sexual predator has told how the child has been “stripped entirely of his innocence whilst the perpetrator preyed on him and tortured him – both mentally and psychologically”.

The harrowing testimony emerged after Cameron Mullen, 22, was sentenced to two years and four months for seven counts of online child sexual offences. He will also subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for ten years.

Following the sentencing at Dungannon Crown Court, the parent said: “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare to experience what I did.

“It hurt me immensely to see my child stripped entirely of his innocence whilst the perpetrator preyed on him and tortured him, both mentally and psychologically.

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“He was continually coerced to show indecent images and be shown explicit content. Please be vigilant if your child has a smartphone as we often believe they are safe. The internet is not a safe place and it can have detrimental consequences if your own child is subjected to what my child seen and was asked to do online. “It could prove to have fatal consequences given the nature of these conversations and images that they are subjected to while communicating with others. Safeguarding our children is paramount from these predators attacking another innocent child and possibly leaving devastating consequences.”

The charges Mullen, from Kilrea in Co Derry, faced included sexual communication with a child, adult causing or inciting child between 13 and 16 to engage in sexual activity, incitement to distribute indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child and adult causing a child to watch a sexual act.

Detective Chief Inspector David McBurney said: “This case demonstrates how offenders can use online platforms to gain a child’s trust before quickly steering conversations to a sexual nature to satisfy their own sexual perversions.

“It is sickening that we are seeing younger and younger offenders in this space. Mullen deliberately built a rapport with these young boys before rapidly turning the conversation and this is a common tactic that we are seeing by those who seek to exploit young people in our communities. “This behaviour is manipulative and predatory, and it will not be tolerated. Protecting children and young people from sexual exploitation remains a top priority for us and we will continue to robustly pursue those who seek to harm children online. “We continue to urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant about their children’s online activity and to encourage open conversations about staying safe online. Anyone who believes a child may be at risk should report their concerns to police so we can take action as we did in this case. “Let this serve as another warning to those perpetrating child sexual abuse in our communities, we are working every day to break down reporting barriers and encourage victims to come forward. You will be caught, your lies uncovered and you will face the full force of the law.”

PSNI revealed that in early January 2025, officers received a report from a parent in the Mid Ulster region about an individual who they believed was making sexual communications with their child via the internet.

Police quickly made enquiries which led to a suspect being identified and Mullen was just arrested days later on suspicion of carrying out a number of offences.

He was interviewed then charged to court after an investigation discovered mobile phone triage identified that he had contacted a number of young teenage boys via Instagram.

A file was submitted to the Public Prosecution Service and prosecution directed in respect of three victims, who were under the age of 16 at the time of the offending.

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