Connect with us
DAPA Banner

NewsBeat

Criminal Record: Death and destruction on Scotland’s mean streets

Published

on

Daily Record

Criminal Record has brought together a round-up of today’s biggest crime stories.

Advertisement

Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

Whether it’s a child killer making a bid for freedom or another attack in Scotland’s gangland war – this is the place where you’ll get the low-down.

If you love to read about crime – this is the place to be every day.

Child Killer to Remain Behind Bars

Following a desperate plea from the parents of the toddler he murdered, airgun killer Mark Bonini has been kept behind bars.

Andrew Morton was just two years old when he was shot in the head at random by Bonini as he was being carried by his big brother.

The minimum term set by Lord Brodie at the High Court in Glasgow was just 13 years, backdated to March 2005 when Andrew was killed and Bonini was remanded in custody. Bonini has now served almost 21 years, and, given his relatively short minimum term, he could have been freed by now.

The victim’s parents wrote an open letter to parole chiefs demanding they knock back Bonini’s bid to be released early from his life sentence.

Advertisement

Now mum Sharon McMillan, 55, and dad Andy Morton, 51, have received the news they were waiting for that Bonini, 48, will remain caged for his horrific crime.

Sharon said: “Good news. My son’s killer isn’t getting out. Thank the Lord.”

Glasgow shopkeeper behind bars after pensioner conned

William Thomson was scammed out of £333,000 in a bogus bank fraud after being conned into believing that there was suspicious activity on his account by a man pretending to work for TSB Bank in January 2024.

Advertisement

The unwitting 81 year-old was then persuaded to open two new accounts and send the relevant cards to a grocery shop ran by crook Mohammed Asif in Uddingston.

The stolen cash was then used to buy almost £200,000 of Apple products and more than £40,000 of gold.

Asif, 50, is now behind bars after he pled guilty to a charge of being involved in an arrangement for the use of criminal property.

He will be sentenced at a later date at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Advertisement

Three charged in Celtic v Utrecht disorder

Three men have been charged for alleged assault and knife-related offences after disorder broke out before the Celtic v Utrecht match.

Shocking scenes saw football fans clash with police in a street rammy. Police also said fireworks and other projectiles were thrown, injuring four officers.

Three men aged 17, 36 and 37 were arrested and charged with various offences including assault and carrying a bladed weapon.

Advertisement

One man, the 36-year-old, is due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court today while the other two will appear at a later date.

Enquiries into the disorder are ongoing.

Man charged after Nairn ‘stabbing’

A man has been charged in connection with an alleged stabbing on High Street in Nairn in the early hours of Thursday morning, January 29.

Advertisement

Police locked down the scene after the incident at around 12.15am and a 23-year-old man was taken to hospital by paramedics from the Scottish Ambulance Service.

His condition and the severity of his injuries are unknown.

A 24-year-old man, who was arrested yesterday, has now been charged in connection with the incident.

He is due to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court today.

Advertisement

Ex-cop who killed wife’s aunt in crash jailed

A former police officer who killed his wife’s aunt in a “catastrophic” car crash has been jailed for two years.

Andrew Hyams, 63, was imprisoned at the High Court in Livingston after earlier pleading guilty to causing the death of 88-year-old Annie Sinclair and serious injury to van driver Carl Egerton by driving dangerously.

The ex-Merseyside Police officer was driving Mrs Sinclair, his wife’s aunt, to his home in Saltcoats that day. The deceased pensioner had been due to be a guest at Hyams remarriage after three years of divorce from his ex-wife the following day .

Advertisement

Mrs Sinclair, a passenger in Hyams’ Mondeo, sustained “unsurvivable” chest injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

NewsBeat

‘This is my way of trying to breathe’: Epstein survivors speak out about abuse

Published

on

‘This is my way of trying to breathe’: Epstein survivors speak out about abuse

For years, Joanna Harrison lived with the shame of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein. But when her name was included in the millions of documents released as part of the Epstein files, she felt she had to speak up.

“It gets to a point where you’re being suffocated, and you need to breathe, and I feel this is my way of trying to breathe,” she told BBC Newsnight.

Ms Harrison and four other Epstein survivors were brought together to share their stories of grief and anger and memories of his private island, Little St James.

‘This is my way of trying to breathe’: Joanna Harrison has been speaking about her experience with Epstein
‘This is my way of trying to breathe’: Joanna Harrison has been speaking about her experience with Epstein (BBC Newsnight)

She met Epstein in Florida, aged 18, and recounted how he raped her on his birthday.

Speaking publicly for the first time, she expressed her concerns that she and other survivors would not get justice now that Epstein is dead.

Advertisement

Another survivor, Chauntae Davies, who is a trained massage therapist, shared images with the BBC from her time travelling with Epstein on his private plane to Africa. They included photographs of actor Kevin Spacey and former president Bill Clinton, who were travelling on a humanitarian trip to promote Aids prevention.

She recalled travelling on a “once-in-a-lifetime trip” to five different countries in five days, but she said the experience was “tainted by what was happening behind closed doors”.

She said she was raped by Epstein on his private island after being hired to give him massages. But she said she never considered telling Clinton, who, while giving testimony in front of the US House Oversight Committee in February, said he wished Ms Davies had told him about Epstein’s wrongdoing.

Chauntae Davies shares images of her time travelling with Epstein on his private plane to Africa
Chauntae Davies shares images of her time travelling with Epstein on his private plane to Africa (BBC Newsnight)

Being included in the Epstein files is not an indication of wrongdoing, and the former US president has repeatedly said he did not witness Epstein’s abuse. Spacey has called for the release of all the Epstein files, saying: “For those of us with nothing to fear, the truth can’t come soon enough.”

The release of files by the US Justice Department brought to light allegations that prompted the US state of New Mexico to reopen a criminal probe into Epstein’s Zorro Ranch, after an investigation in 2019.

Advertisement

Ms Davies said the ranch was where “most of the assaults happened”, calling it “dark” and “eerie”. Another survivor, Lisa Phillips, also said the range was “creepy”.

Jena Lisa Jones met Epstein when she was just 14-years-old
Jena Lisa Jones met Epstein when she was just 14-years-old (BBC Newsnight)

Ms Phillips, who was a fashion model when she met Epstein, spoke about his connections to the King Charles’ brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. She said her friend, who wanted to remain anonymous, was allegedly instructed to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor in a New York apartment in 2003.

The former prince, who was stripped of the last of his royal titles last year over his links to the convicted paedophile, has consistently denied all wrongdoing.

Lisa Phillips, who was a fashion model when she met Epstein, spoke about the financier’s connections to Mountbatten-Windsor
Lisa Phillips, who was a fashion model when she met Epstein, spoke about the financier’s connections to Mountbatten-Windsor (BBC Newsnight)

The former Duke of York was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over accusations he had shared confidential information with Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy. He remains under police investigation by Thames Valley Police, whose officers are assessing the claims that emerged in the Epstein files.

Ms Philips told the BBC she asked Epstein why he had made her friend have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor. She claimed Epstein replied: “I like to have things on people.”

Survivors Jena Lisa Jones and Wendy Pesante both met Epstein when they were aged 14. Ms Pestante said that a 14-year-old should not have “the mindset of a sex worker”.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Teenager Tristan Roberts jailed for life after killing his mother with a hammer and boasting about it online

Published

on

Boy, 15, arrested for attempted murder after armed attack on school teacher

An 18-year-old who murdered his mother in a hammer attack at a nature reserve – which he recorded on a dictaphone and boasted about online – has been jailed for life.

This is a breaking story – more follows…

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Review: Eric and Ern at Lowry, Salford, is remarkable show

Published

on

Review: Eric and Ern at Lowry, Salford, is remarkable show

Morecambe and Wise are sadly no longer with us, but Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel in Eric and Ern are as close to the real thing as you are ever likely to get.

It’s quite a surreal experience sitting in the audience watching all the classic routines of your childhood being brought to life in front of your eyes.

This show is the antidote to much of today’s comedy which appears to be driven by certain agendas or anger.

Morecambe and Wise served their apprenticeship in variety theatres across the country; their comedy was gentle, at time silly, occasionally surreal but guaranteed to make you laugh.

Advertisement

More than 50 years on those routines – in the hands of Messrs Stephens and Ashpitel – still have the power to leave you laughing out loud.

Eric and Ern is effectively a two-hour greatest hits show. It is gloriously old fashioned in one sense but it works with a modern audience. The success of this show is in the first place due to the quality of the original material but also in the way it has been lovingly crafted.

Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel in Eric & Ern (Picture: Paul Coltas)

Jonty Stephens as Eric Morecambe is captivating; you cannot take your eyes off him. Goodness knows how many hours have gone into studying every mannerism, every glance but all that effort pays off in abundance. On that stage, he is Eric.

Through the live show you also come to fully appreciate the role Ernie Wise played in the partnership and Ian Ashpitel has him off to a tee. He’s the prefect foil for his on-stage partner.

Advertisement

The speed of the dialogue will surprise you, it rattles back and forth. Carefully scripted ad libs are dropped in with casual ease – alongside some genuine unscripted moments which threaten to derail proceedings but never quite do.

Read also ‘We’re not comedians, we’re actors’ Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel on bringing Eric and Ern to the stage

Presented in the style of Morecambe and Wise’s TV shows, the audience is treated to a series of routines ranging from Eric’s interpretation of Shakespeare to him playing Greig’s piano concerto by Grieg the Andre Prévin sketch albeit without Andre Prévin and an orchestra).

You can sense the audience’s anticipation as certain catchlines or phrases approach. A fire engine siren sounding outside prompts the ‘he won’t sell many ice creams going that fast’ response which leads to a veritable roar from the audience, the majority of whom clearly grew up watching Morecambe and Wise.

Advertisement

But even if you have never heard or Eric and Ern, if you don’t laugh at what is being served up then you don’t have a sense of humour. The paper bag trick remains one of the great comedy moments of any era.

This is not some tribute show with the two stars doing a decent impression of Morecambe and Wise. It is much more subtle, much more nuanced and much more sophisticated than that.

Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens in Eric and Ern (Picture: Paul Coltas)

You can tell it has been assembled with love. Stephens and Ashpitel respect Eric and Ern, they embody Eric and Ern. As with the original partnership, one would not be the same without the other.

Eric and Ern is a richly rewarding celebration of a comedy duo who were unique. In the hands of Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel their legacy is in good hands.

Advertisement

Eric and Ern is at the Lowry until Saturday. Details from www.thelowry.com

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Could this be Samsung’s best-value model yet?

Published

on

Could this be Samsung's best-value model yet?

The Galaxy A57 has a 6.7-inch screen, which is larger than what you get on Apple’s mid-range smartphone, the iPhone 17e.

Aside from the skinnier bezels, the biggest change this year is the increase in screen brightness. The A57’s screen is 58 per cent brighter, with Samsung bumping it up to 1,900 nits (the unit of brightness) versus last year’s 1,200 nits. This made a big difference in my demo session, with no impact on visibility underneath the bright overhead lights.

I wasn’t able to fully test the screen quality, but at first glance, it seems there’s a lot to like here. It’s a large screen that’s colourful and vibrant, and I can’t say I noticed much of a difference compared to the display on the much more expensive Galaxy S26.


There’s plenty of power

The important thing about buying a mid-range smartphone (apart from saving money) is that you hit the key specifications. That’s one thing the Galaxy A series has always been good at: it’s a cheaper Samsung handset, but it does much the same as the flagship model.

Advertisement

It’s powered by a less powerful chip than the Galaxy S26, but there’s a sizeable upgrade over the 2025 model, with a boost to gaming performance. It’s going to be better at playing mobile games, and it should be able to handle more power-hungry tasks, thanks to a better vapour chamber to keep the phone cool.

There’s a 5,000mAh battery, which is a fairly average capacity these days, although the charging speeds have been increased, with Samsung saying that it can charge to 60 per cent in just 30 minutes.

There’s a triple camera on the back, which promises smoother transitions between lenses, but I didn’t get to test them to any great degree.


Is it really ‘Galaxy Awesome’?

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Riley Cameron Fund backs childhood leukaemia research

Published

on

Riley Cameron Fund backs childhood leukaemia research

Riley Cameron was just eight years old when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) after a week of feeling unwell and several healthcare visits.

He died less than a week later in Leeds St James Hospital in July 2008.

Riley Cameron who died of acute myeloid leukaemia when he was just eight. Photo: Family

His mum, Rachel, described him as “a very loving and caring boy”, who loved cuddles, cars, and being a big brother to his sister Rianna.

After years of fundraising for Blood Cancer UK, raising almost £50,000, Rachel wanted to begin fundraising for childhood cancer-specific research.

Advertisement

In 2020, she set up The Riley Cameron Forget Me Not Fund at CCLG: The Children & Young People’s Cancer Association, to raise money for research into childhood AML.


Recommended reads:

York set to become giant art gallery for two weekends – all the details

Vets in York forced to publish prices and cap prescription fees in big shake‑up

What inspectors said about the culture at this York secondary school

Advertisement

Rachel said: “I just want to help other families that are going through what is the scariest time of their lives. If I can help just a little bit, then that means the world to me.

“I know this is what Riley would do if he were still with us.”

Riley’s fund has now raised more than £30,000 and has been able to support CCLG in funding two new leukaemia research projects.

The projects will use cancer samples from VIVO biobank, which stores childhood cancer tumours and blood samples for use in research.

Advertisement

Riley with his dad Neil. Photo: Family

Rachel said: “These projects mean so much to me and my family – they are a huge step in the right direction to finding better treatments for AML.

“I feel very proud of the work that the researchers are doing, and it is an honour to be part of such an amazing charity.”

She hopes the research will give families going through a leukaemia diagnosis a more positive outlook for their child’s future.

The two new projects hope to support the development of better and safer treatments for AML and are being led by Dr Katrina Lappin, at Queen’s University Belfast, and Dr Sophie Kellaway, at the University of Nottingham.

Advertisement

Dr Kellaway’s research is exploring whether an asthma medicine, which is already used for children, could be repurposed into the first relapse specific treatment for AML.

She said: “At the moment, there are no specific treatments to stop AML growing back and treatment after a relapse is often incredibly difficult.

“We know that the asthma drug we are testing can stop the relapse-causing AML cells from growing – but we think it might also be able to get rid of them completely.”

Dr Kellaway said the drug has minimal side effects, which could be game-changing for children, as existing treatments often cause serious life-long health problems.

Advertisement

Dr Lappin’s research aims to develop a better way to test treatments for AML, with a focus on combinations of immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

She said: “By creating a more accurate and cost-effective way to test treatments, this research could help bring safer, more effective treatments to children faster.”

Dr Sarah Evans, CCLG’s head of research, said: “We are delighted to fund these two projects, made possible by our brilliant Special Named Fund families. Developing kinder, more effective treatments for cancers such as AML is one of our top priorities. Every child deserves not only a cure, but the chance to live a long, healthy and happy life after cancer.”

Professor Deborah Tweddle, director of VIVO Biobank, said: “We are once again delighted to work alongside CCLG in supporting these pilot studies and providing samples for these exciting research projects.”

Advertisement

Rachel thanked the fund’s ‘amazing’ and said she hopes to continue her fundraising to enable further innovative research.

To support The Riley Cameron Forget Me Not Fund, visit specialnamedfunds.cclg.org.uk/the-riley-cameron-forget-me-not-fund

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Homes Under the Hammer’s Martin Roberts lists warning signs buyers should know

Published

on

Wales Online

The presenter shared helpful property buying advice including warning signs about electrical problems and damp issues

A Homes Under the Hammer presenter has offered valuable advice for prospective property purchasers.

Martin Roberts featured on BBC‘s Morning Live on Wednesday (March 25) to discuss the forthcoming celebrity special of the beloved BBC programme, scheduled for Easter.

Advertisement

Hosts Helen Skelton and Rav Wilding were eager to extract any guidance the specialist could provide for viewers at home.

Martin revealed: “One of the big things is when people try and cover up stuff.

“So a simple one is sometimes you look at the electrical light switches and the sockets and they look relatively new but then you look at the fuse board and it’s a really ancient.”, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE: The Repair Shop drops plans to fix comedy’s icon’s ‘not appropriate’ joke bookREAD MORE: ‘Huge’ Welsh bungalow leaves Martin Roberts floored as it almost doubles in value

“Sometimes they have old cartridge fuses and you think somebody’s trying to cover up the fact the electrics are really old.”

He added: “Sometimes you notice there’s a fresh smell of paint and you might think that’s a good thing but sometimes people try to cover up damp by covering up the mould with a fresh coat of emulsion.

“For a few days, or weeks perhaps, it will look okay but actually the point is the paint will never dry out because it’s still damp.

Advertisement

“If you just get that feeling that people are trying to just pull the wool over your eyes then that should set alarm bells ringing.”

Martin has been a fixture of the Homes Under the Hammer team since its debut in 2003, assisting countless homeowners throughout his tenure.

Discussing the secret to the programme’s 23-year longevity, the former I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! contestant explained: “Well, it’s a combination. It’s aspirational, it’s inspirational and it’s also achievable.

Advertisement

“There are other shows which show incredible houses built on cliff tops but we look at two up, two down terraces and that’s one of the appeals.

“And of course, there’s all the other things, like the music and the silliness and fun we have.”

Morning Live airs weekdays at 9.30am and Home Under The Hammer airs weekdays at 11.15am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

How to watch The Pitt in UK and episode release schedule for hit medical drama

Published

on

Wales Online

The Pitt season 2 is a must-watch for fans of medical dramas like ER

Lovers of medical dramas are in for a delight as a successful US show is set to make its UK debut, coinciding with the launch of a new streaming giant.

The second series of The Pitt began airing in the US in January 2026, and it’s now set to premiere in the UK, along with the complete first series, as HBO Max launches on 26 March.

Advertisement

This procedural drama stars ER icon Noah Wyle as Dr Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, a senior attending physician at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Centre.

The series has garnered critical acclaim and has been lauded by the medical community for its accuracy.

Having won numerous awards, including five at the 77th Primetime Emmys, the show is anticipated to be a massive hit in the UK. Here’s everything you need to know about series two.

READ MORE: Netflix makes exciting announcement and Stranger Things fans will be thrilledREAD MORE: The classic Neighbours stars of the 1980s and 1990s: Where are they now?

Advertisement

How many episodes does The Pitt have?

The first series comprises 15 episodes, with each episode title reflecting the hour of the day, starting with ‘7am’.

Upon its US release, the first two episodes were broadcast simultaneously, with the remaining episodes aired weekly.

Series two also consists of 15 episodes, with the first 11 already aired in the US.

Advertisement

This time, the premiere included only one episode, with subsequent episodes released weekly.

When the series arrives in the UK, fans will have access to the entire first series all at once, with episodes from series two being released weekly from 26 March.

When are new episodes of The Pitt released?

For enthusiasts in the UK, new episodes will continue to be broadcast weekly on Thursdays, aligning with the US schedule.

Advertisement

Given that most of the second season has already premiered in the US, it might prove challenging for UK fans to dodge spoilers.

How to watch The Pitt in the UK

Get HBO Max free with Sky

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image

Sky is giving away free subscriptions to HBO Max with its Ultimate TV bundle, which also includes Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, Hayu, and around 135 channels at no extra cost.

To view The Pitt, audiences will require an HBO Max subscription, with plans for the streaming service commencing at £4.99 per month.

Advertisement

Subscriptions will be available from 26 March, coinciding with the platform’s launch.

The standard HBO Max tier, which excludes advertisements, is priced at £9.99 per month and includes full HD streaming on two devices along with 30 downloads.

The premium tier is set at £14.99 per month and offers 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos and four concurrent streams.

The Pitt season 2 will air on a weekly basis on HBO Max

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Yorkshire racing stars announced for Middleham Open Day

Published

on

Yorkshire racing stars announced for Middleham Open Day

The Middleham Open Day takes place in one of Britain’s most celebrated racing towns, with nine leading training yards set to welcome guests from 9:30am on Good Friday, April 3.

Visitors will get the chance to meet unbeaten Classic contender Crown Relic and multiple Group 1 winner Fallen Angel, among other racing stars.

Dawn Goodfellow, chief executive of Racing Welfare, said: “Middleham Open Day is one of the most special days in our calendar.

Advertisement

“It gives people a genuine insight into life behind the stable doors, while celebrating the dedication, skill and community that define this town.

“The success of this year’s employee award winners shows just how strong that community is.”

Karl Burke’s Spigot Lodge will offer a close-up look at Crown Relic, Fallen Angel, and Royal Champion, who has earned nearly £2.4 million in prize money.

At Charlie Johnston Racing, visitors can watch horse swimming demonstrations from 9:45am, take part in a live Q&A, and meet horses such as Venetian Lace—entered in both the English and Irish Guineas—alongside Epsom Derby runner-up Lazy Griff.

Advertisement

The Middleham Marketplace opens at 9am with trade stands and a traditional hounds parade, before entertainment begins on Low Moor at 11:30am.

The afternoon activities include Retraining of Racehorses Showing classes, family-friendly events, and a parade from 1pm by Lady Buttons, the popular ‘Queen of the North’, in the main arena with owner Jennie.

The inter-yard Challenge starts at 2:15pm, followed by the Aiskew Equine and Pet Supplies Dog Show at 3pm.

The day also celebrates the people behind the sport, including recent winners of the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards from Middleham.

Advertisement

Among them are Kieran Kourdache of Karl Burke Racing, who was named Rider/Racing Groom Award winner and Overall Employee of the Year; Freddie Wilks of Charlie Johnston Racing, who took the Newcomer Award; and Hayley Clements of Micky Hammond Racing, who received the Community Award.

All proceeds from the day support Racing Welfare, the industry’s only charity that helps racing workers and their families.

The charity offers confidential assistance with health, housing, finances, careers, and more.

Ms Goodfellow said: “Every ticket sold helps us continue to support racing’s people when they need it most.”

Advertisement

Tickets are on sale now at www.middlehamopenday.co.uk.

Yards open from 9:30am, with events on Low Moor beginning at 11:30am.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

James Blake at Union Chapel review: gorgeous intimacy from the king of introspection

Published

on

James Blake at Union Chapel review: gorgeous intimacy from the king of introspection

It helped that this was very much an informal show. There was a pleasingly homespun feel to things, with Blake remixing his songs live on stage, getting the beat wrong on the kick drum (and pausing to laugh), and spinning out the intros to various tracks into experimental, fascinatingly varied segues — all that, in between idly chatting to the audience, putting down his own guitar-playing skills and telling himself to “do his job.”

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Lime and coconut squares recipe

Published

on

Lime and coconut squares recipe

Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.   

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025