Anthony Brennan was hauled into court for defrauding old soldier Bill Mackie, 72 – and this was his message to his victim even after admitting his guilt

Unrepentant serial fantasist and fraudster Anthony Brennan yesterday gave a defiant one finger salute to a blind ex-serviceman he’d duped into undertaking a bizarre “diplomatic mission” to Tanzania.

The notorious Walter Mitty made his getaway from his latest court shame – with his mum in the driving seat.

Brennan had been politely approached outside Kilmarnock Sheriff Court by blind veteran Bill Mackie, a victim whose only plea was for the return of the cherished Army medals Brennan had taken from him.

But even after admitting in court to fraudulently obtaining the pensioner’s service medals as part of the bogus mission to Africa in 2023, the only salute Brennan, 31, could offer the proud old soldier was the one-fingered one.

Bill , 72, said: “I went up to speak to him outside court and he came out with some rubbish about having sent the medals. Of course, everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie.

“I was quite polite with him and really just wanted to know if I’d get them back.

“But the next thing I knew he’d jumped into the car with his getaway driver – his mum – and drove away. He rolled down the window and gave me the one finger salute, so it doesn’t exactly paint him as being full of remorse.”

The Daily Record has told of the many crazy deceptions the deluded Walter Mitty- formerly known as Tony Adams – has concocted in recent years, which have ended up in people being scammed, humiliated and out of pocket.

Bill, from Linburn, East Lothian, unwittingly became the key figure in the centre of the latest fantasy, finding himself sent on a “wild goose chase” diplomatic mission for talks that had never been arranged with the Tanzanian foreign minister.

The pensioner had been duped in to believing Brennan was a world leading human rights advocate and a high ranking Interpol officer.

By the time Bill realised the “mission” was a pipe dream, he’d sent his medals, including one marking tours of duty in Northern Ireland, to the con artist, never to be seen again.

The fraud led to another conviction from the fraudster from Ardrossan, Ayrshire, leading to him being ordered yesterday to pay Bill £397 compensation and face a community payback order plus supervision for 12 months.

Brennan won the trust of Bill after the pair both signed up to join the obscure International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) charity.

The smooth talker had boasted of fabulous wealth and owning a private jet. The IHRC duly made him their UK Commissioner. He quickly appointed Bill as his deputy.

A bizarre plot the unfolded, which led to Bill and wife Heather, 67, buying plane tickets and turning up for a non-existent meeting with the Tanzanian foreign minister in 2023.

Bill was stunned and humiliated when the politician was not available – and had never heard of any meeting.

He was so furious at the wasted 9,000 mile round trip that he reported Brennan to the police. He told officers that it was only after reading stories about Brennan in the Daily Record that he knew he’d been deceived.

Prior to sentencing yesterday Brennan admitted a charge that, whilst volunteering for the International Human Rights Commission, he pretended to Bill that he had bought him gifts and diplomatic identification.

Brennan persuaded Bill to send him £326.49 and medals valued at €912 – by fraud.

During the trip to Tanzania, Bill and wife Heather were also emailed fake invitations for the Coronation of King Charles, as the fantasist’s manipulative imagination ran out of control.

After the sentencing Bill said: “I am happy that this case has concluded because it dragged on for ages.

“I’m angry that I was taken in but I had no idea of who this man was until I was in Tanzania awaiting a meeting with the country’s foreign minister and was told that no meeting had been arranged.

“When that lie was exposed all the others fell into place and I realised that Tony was just a wild fantasist.

“He’s caused me a lot of distress and he stole my medals, which I will never get back.

He added: “I’d like to think that he will learn from this latest court appearance but fear he won’t be able to stop himself from doing similar stuff to other unsuspecting victims.”

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The court heard that Brennan is a full time student and with income from benefits of £1100 a month.

His lawyer, Scott Agnew, said Brennan has suffered from for anxiety, depression and dissociative personality disorder.

He said: “This is an unusual set of circumstances, I think that Mr Brennan has acknowledged the motivations of being purely financial in his conduct.

“Previous assessments of Mr Brennan have confirmed a level of psychological disturbance, as the author of the report has put it, which presents as grandiose and is suggestive of narcissistic characteristics.”

It was suggested that Brennan’s “fantastic stories” arose from those key issues.

Trusting Bill had been fed lies that his new pal had a St George’s Cross and an OBE. Brennan has also made up fake degrees and claimed to be a fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts.

Bill earlier told the Record: “I was amazed at all his achievements as he was still in his 20s. He appointed me as the IHRC deputy UK commissioner. He also produced an Interpol badge and told me he was empowered to make me an honorary officer .”

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The Daily Record has repeatedly exposed other outlandish situations that Brennan has constructed, usually with victims left shell-shocked. out of pocket or angry.

In 2018 we exposed him for running a fake ambulance service that literally chased genuine NHS ambulances around. He then failed to pay wages to young recruits.

In 2022 Adams received a community payback order and 18 months supervision after impersonating a Celtic scout and telling coaches of young boys he could sign them for the club. Adams fabricated his own club ID.

And we also exposed him for stealing the identity of a world famous scientist after realising they shared the same name.

Most shockingly, in 2022 was jailed for impersonating a surgeon at Crosshouse Hospital and distressing the dead man’s family with his lies.

He callously said he’d heard the last words of a motorbike accident victim and was even asked to tale on an important role at the funeral.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

Watch retailer Swatch was forced to close stores across the UK over the weekend amid safety concerns after huge crowds descended on shopping centres.

Officers were sent to the Trafford Centre in Manchester and “dispersed a large number of people”, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

Swatch announced it was closing a store in Greater Manchester on Sunday (May 17) for a second day after scores of people queued for the launch of a new pocket watch.

GMP was called shortly before 6am on Saturday “following reports of a disturbance at the Trafford centre”, a spokesperson said.

The force said: “Officers attended and alongside security staff dispersed a large number of people who were inside the centre.

“No arrests have been made.”

Videos posted online appeared to show huge crowds at multiple shopping centres across the UK with police near a number of stores.

Police were called to St David’s 2 shopping centre in Cardiff after reports of about 300 people trying to get in to a Swatch store at 6.20am on Saturday, South Wales Police said.

A 25-year-old man from Pengam was arrested and issued with a Section 35 dispersal notice, the force added.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “South Wales Police was called at 6.20am on Saturday May 16 to a group of approximately 300 people trying to enter the St David’s 2 shopping centre.

“A 25-year-old man from Pengam was arrested and issued with a Section 35 dispersal notice with the conditions that they are not to enter Cardiff City Centre again during Saturday May 16.”

Swatch posted on Facebook on Saturday saying “in light of safety considerations for both our customers and our staff” stores in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow and Cardiff would be closed for the day, along with all of the London stores.

It posted later on Saturday saying: “To all our dear fans worldwide of our AP x Swatch collab, launched on May 16.

“To ensure the safety of both our customers and our staff in Swatch stores, we kindly ask you not to rush to our stores in large numbers to acquire this product.

“The Royal Pop Collection will remain available for several months. In some countries, queues of more than 50 people cannot be accepted, and sales may need to be paused.”

The company posted again on Sunday saying the Manchester store would be closed for the day “in light of safety considerations”.

Swatch launched the Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop Collection on Saturday at selected stores worldwide, according to the company’s website.

Purchases are limited to one watch per person, per day, and per store.

Donald Trump’s appraisal of his recent state visit to China was, typically, positive and self-regarding. At the end of the trip, the US president told reporters that it had achieved “a lot of good” and “fantastic trade deals” had been signed. He concluded that a lot of different problems were settled “that other people wouldn’t have been able to solve”.

As usual, the US president appeared to enjoy the pageantry of a state visit. He likes meeting other “great” leaders – strongmen who lead powerful countries.

At face value, the trip appeared largely successful. The Trump-Xi relationship appeared cordial. There were no undiplomatic comments by Trump. Xi described it as “a milestone visit” of “historic” proportions. Trump said that his relationship with Xi is “a very strong one”. China pledged to buy 200 Boeing aircraft and also committed to buying billions of dollars of soybeans and other agricultural goods. These are all things Trump can present as wins, even if their significance is disputed.

The cordiality of the visit was a contrast to the Biden years, when “extreme competition” with China – in Biden’s words – was the central organising principle of US foreign policy. The Biden administration viewed China as a once-in-a-generation challenger to US power: politically, economically, militarily and ideologically. It believed Beijing was aggressively trying to displace the US as the world’s dominant power and actively sought to prevent this.

Over the past year, the second Trump administration has shifted attention away from great power conflict with China and focused on other things. These have included regime change in Venezuela (and, all the signs suggest, Cuba is now in his sights). He has changed America’s relationship with Europe, introduced an at-times erratic regime of tariffs in an attempt to address US trade deficits. And, above all, he has started a war with Iran.

Ely Ratner, a China hawk from the Biden administration has accused Trump of “strategic deference” towards Beijing. And there can be little doubt that the Trump administration has dialled down the Cold War-style ideological rhetoric about China.

Its 2025 national security strategy stresses that: “We seek good relations and peaceful commercial relations with the nations of the world without imposing on them democratic or other social change that differs widely from their traditions or histories.” This much was evident from Trump’s visit. Unlike Biden, Trump did not publicly raises human rights issues on his trip to China. This removed a persistent irritant in the relationship.

That said, the US Congress – and many of those around the president – still see the relationship with China as fundamentally competitive and adversarial. They want the US to remain the world’s primary power, militarily, economically and technologically. The desire to out-compete China is likely to drive policy in the longer-term.

The 2026 national defense strategy, published in January, states that Washington will be “clear-eyed and realistic about the speed, scale, and quality of China’s historic military buildup” and will “prevent anyone, including China, from being able to dominate us or our allies”. The strategy commits the US to deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan by keeping “a strong denial defense along the First Island Chain” north and south of Taiwan. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who accompanied Trump to Beijing, confirmed that US policy on Taiwan has not changed as a result of the leaders’ meeting.

The Trump administration’s approach is driven primarily by economic interests. This is because it believes that “the Indo-Pacific will soon make up more than half of the global economy” and, according to the defense strategy: “Were China… to dominate this broad and crucial region, it would be able to effectively veto Americans’ access to the world’s economic center of gravity.”

This means the Trump administration will try to preserve the giant US military presence in Asia Pacific that the Chinese see as encirclement.

‘Conscious de-coupling’

The US president remains a mercurial character who can make unpredictable decisions. He likes to tout his prowess as a dealmaker and it is always possible that he could undermine the consensus view within his own government. But the US Congress is also firmly behind the drive to out-compete China and to “decouple” in advanced technology.

In July 2025, the bipartisan “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) included US$58 billion (£43.5 billion) of federal investments in, and tax incentives for, AI production inside the US. These measures barred “prohibited foreign entities” from US supply chains. In 2018, Congress passed strict new export controls and investment restrictions into law to try to decouple from China in emerging new technologies. The House Select Committee on China is pushing for more of this.

Over the past year, the Trump administration launched a new strategy for rare earth metals. China’s dominance of the mining and processing of these metals is a huge advantage – they are critical to modern weapons systems and widely used in electronics, from smartphones to EVs.

In April 2025, Beijing began to impose export controls on rare earths in response to US tariffs. Since then, the US has launched a US$7.3 billion global effort to secure supplies of rare earths outside China and invest in domestic mining and processing capabilities. While this will take years to come to fruition, the goal is to speed up decoupling from China in rare earths – hardly a sign of trust.

Finally, Trump reportedly refused to extend the trade truce signed in October 2025 until the end of his administration as he believed he would lose leverage over China in future. It’s a clear sign that even he expects tension in future.

The Trump administration says that, unlike its predecessors, it is not looking for conflict with China. But its insistence on US dominance of Asia Pacific is likely to drive competition with China in the long-term.

The soldier who died after falling from her horse during the show at Windsor has been identified

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Tributes have been pouring in for the ‘incredibly talented’ soldier described as the ‘pinnacle of equestrianism’ after her sudden death on Friday. The servicewoman died after falling from her horse during the Royal Windsor Show, which was attended by King Charles.

Ciara Sullivan, of the Royal Horse Artillery, fell at around 7pm as she left the arena in Windsor, Berkshire. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, the soldier suffered serious injuries from the fall and was sadly declared dead at the scene, Thames Valley Police said.

The King, who was in attendance at the event, only learned about the severity of Ciara’s injuries and said he was “saddened” to hear of her death.

King Charles has said he is keen to pass on his personal condolences to Ciara’s family in a statement, adding he was “greatly shocked” by the horrific ordeal, reports The Mirror.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “While His Majesty and other Members of The Royal Family were present at the arena at the time the incident took place, they were not made aware of the severity of the situation until later.

“The King was greatly shocked and saddened to have learned subsequently of the Troop member’s death, and will be in touch with the family to share his personal condolences. The thoughts and most heartfelt sympathies of the whole Royal Family are with the victim’s loved ones and military colleagues at this time of grief.”

Ciara’s father Pat shared a photo of Ciara on social media alongside a message, which read: “The honour. The service. They will never be forgotten.”

Tributes have now poured in for Ciara, with one friend Eleanor Lucas Bell speaking of her “incredible talent, horsemanship and dedication”.

She wrote on Facebook : “Today our sport lost one of its very best. The soldier who tragically lost her life at Royal Windsor Horse Show was someone known to us personally. She had ridden my boys, and I saw first hand the incredible talent, horsemanship and dedication she possessed.

“She was the very pinnacle of equestrianism — someone I looked up to enormously as both a rider and a role model. In truth, watching her do what she did with such skill, confidence and professionalism was part of what inspired me to consider joining myself. I was completely in awe of her.

“To lose her life simply doing the job she did every single day is a heartbreaking reminder of just how dangerous and unforgiving equestrian sport can be. No matter the experience, talent or preparation, we work alongside powerful animals and accept risks every time we sit in the saddle. Those within the horse world understand that reality all too well, but moments like this bring it into painfully sharp focus.

“In a strange twist of fate, we are at Windsor ourselves today. We will be taking a quiet moment to remember her and to think of all those who loved her — both her family by blood and her Military family. Her loss will be felt deeply by so many, which says everything about the beautiful soul she was. Stand down Gunner.”

Another friend Josephine Coates wrote: “Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I’ll miss you until we meet again. Goodbye my friend, rest easy.”

“Right across NI, we are finding these fine old buildings being destroyed, we need to be protecting them.”

A plea to save Lisburn’s world-famous linen mill could see its Titanic links explored.

An appeal decision against the demolition of Hilden Mill was recently provided to the planning committee in Lagan Valley Island, with indications of future development being discussed behind closed doors.

Councillors urged for more to be done to protect the deteriorating buildings but were cautious of lobbying Stormont to buy the site over fears of getting into a “bucket load of trouble.”

READ MORE: NI council to combat ‘horrendous’ online abuse of councillors.

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Lisburn North SDLP councillor Pat Catney said: “I want to thank the officers for fighting any decision to knock those beautiful old buildings down.

“They are the very fabric of where we are in Lisburn, the links we have with the Titanic and the local Church of Ireland.

“I have a question, are we seeing any sort of movement to commercially develop this site in order to reach its potential?

“Is there any interest in the site outside of the current owners?”

Hilden Mill, located close to the River Lagan, is considered a site of national and historic interest due to its connection with the Barbour family in the 19th century.

William Barbour & Sons went on to become the world’s leading linen manufacturers, employing thousands of people and exporting products all over the globe.

Embroidery from the mill also featured on the tragic Titanic ship, which sank in 1912 on its maiden voyage and remains a global interest story to this day.

Councillor Catney added: “Right across NI, we are finding these fine old buildings being destroyed, we need to be protecting them.

“Do we have any contact with Stormont over a compulsory purchase, because it is just deteriorating on a daily basis?”

Since the Hilden Mill site was abandoned in 2006, the 24-acre former factory has been subjected to numerous arson and vandalism incidents, causing its listed buildings to deteriorate further.

The council had initially refused a planning application for current owners PJK Developments to tear down some of the buildings, with CEO David Burns (Aug 2025) telling the chamber he will not accept developers “bulldozing” the site with a need to “retain the rich heritage.”

The Planning Appeals Commission has now published its rejection of the demolition plans for the historic linen mill.

Landowners, PJK Developments, have labelled the legal rules behind the decision as “bonkers” and claimed a restoration bill for the site is estimated at £100m.

Lisburn North DUP councillor Jonathan Craig said: “I could think of no other site of such historical significance in the whole of Lagan Valley.

“It has a unique history and was one of the key employers in this locality.

“It had a huge impact on the history of Northern Ireland as a whole.

“A lot of the embroidery that was on the Titanic came from Hilden Mill and it is only right that is upheld.”

He added: “In regards to writing off to Stormont departments, we could get ourselves into a whole bucket load of trouble.

“The fact that the site is falling into disrepute regarding how it looks and the security around it can we confirm if that is the responsibility of the owner?

“Because you can have some people who try to fob it off to the public purse.”

“A council officer responded:”We all want to see Hilden Mill regenerated and the existing buildings incorporated into that proposal.

“Further engagement is required with the owners of the site to understand what project might come forward in the future.

“I can say that the applicant has approached the council for pre-application discussions, but they are confidential so I can’t say anymore than that.

“We do understand that a proposal will come forward, but we don’t have a timescale.

“As more emerges, we will bring the members up to date with the development of the site.”

The officer added: “We have ongoing engagement with the Department for Communities Historic Environment Division.

“We understand that there are no grants available for the refurbishment of listed buildings and that does present some challenges in terms of making these significant developments more affordable.

“If funding does become available, we can explore that.

“I can confirm it is the duty of the landowner to secure the site and to make every effort that the buildings don’t fall into further disrepair.”

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

It seemed fitting that Arsenal have one hand on the Premier League trophy thanks to a 1-0 win – of their past four league matches, all victories, three have ended with that score – with the Gunners conceding just once in their past six.

They have conceded the fewest goals in the league (26), while the last time they conceded in open play came in their defeat by Manchester City on 19 April, which was seven games ago.

The clean sheet against Burnley was Arsenal‘s 32nd in all competitions this season.

“I thought that the amount of hair that I have is never going to go away but in this job it is going to test it to the limit,” said Arteta.

“The desire that every single player shows in their defensive duties, their behaviours and the way that they work for each other is phenomenal.

“It’s a lot of work put in by all the coaches as well. And we all know the importance of that and how many results and wins we have because of that.”

It was their 13th 1-0 win of the season. Their playing style, their threat from and reliance on set-pieces, and the relative lack of bigger wins has brought criticism and anxious finishes in equal measure.

Manchester City will have a better goal difference if they win their final two matches, which does mean Arsenal will have to beat Crystal Palace. A draw, in that scenario, would not be enough.

“In a funny way, Man City might actually have taken that,” ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports. “Seeing how they played that second half, I think the nerves will really kick in if Man City beat Bournemouth. Crystal Palace are a better team than Burnley even with a few players out.

“Arsenal are going to do it in the fashion of George Graham rather than Arsene Wenger – ‘1-0 to the Arsenal‘ probably sums them up.”

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville added: “Arsenal are right on the brink but by goodness they don’t half make it difficult for themselves.

“You have to admire their ability to concentrate and focus and keep to the defensive shape and principles. They keep clean sheets and that’s a rare commodity in the modern game, for a team to see out 1-0 victories like this team can.

“I think it’s going to be enough to see them home.”

No experience is needed to apply for the position

A dream job opportunity has come up at one of Scotland’s most famous and beautiful botanical gardens, and accommodation is available to the successful applicant. The position would allow you to live and work in one of the most northerly and beautiful corners of the country.

Inverewe Garden in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands is renowned for its large and varied collection of plants and flowers, as it benefits from the warming effects of the Gulf Stream. The botanical garden is currently looking to hire a Visitor Services Assistant for the summer season.

The job is available on a full-time and fixed-term basis until the end of September 2026, with the successful applicant working 40 hours per week and reporting to the Visitor Services Manager. The salary for the position is listed as £27,976 pro-rata per annum, or £13.45 per hour.

According to the National Trust for Scotland, accommodation for the Visitor Services Assistant is available at Inverewe. The nearest village is Poolewe, which is described by the organisation as “a great base for all sorts of outdoor pursuits and days off can be spent exploring this wonderful part of Scotland”.

The Visitor Services Assistant will be based in the garden’s Welcome Centre, Retail, Catering, or House Hub, and will be responsible for interacting and chatting with guests and making them feel welcomed. This role is described as vital in ensuring visitors have a positive experience at the botanical garden.

The position will also involve helping the National Trust for Scotland maximise all charity income opportunities through strong customer service and product knowledge. Additionally, you will work with property staff to make sure stock inventories are continually maintained.

Other responsibilities of the role include handling cash accurately and processing sales, working with the Visitor Services Managers and property staff to deliver financial targets, and helping manage car park arrivals. The successful candidate will also be expected to work across departments when necessary and support the wider teams at Inverewe.

Those applying for the position will be expected to have a flexible approach to working hours and days, including working weekends and bank holidays as appropriate. They will also be expected to be able to take responsibility for their own development and learning, and to develop a working knowledge of the history of the site.

All applicants must possess the ability to work within a team or independently, with minimal supervision and to a high and safe standard, and the ability to adjust pace to match customer flow without compromising quality of service. Other essential attributes include an excellent front of house persona and demonstrable time management skills.

Meanwhile, desirable qualities include previous experience in the hospitality, tourism, sales, or catering industries. The ability to speak additional languages would also be advantageous, as would a general interest in nature and the outdoors—especially Scotland’s landscapes.

The job listing states: “Here at National Trust for Scotland’s Inverewe Garden in the idyllic North West Scottish Highlands we are looking for energetic, cheerful, and talkative individuals to join our amazing welcome team this summer.

“No previous experience is needed; we would just love to hear from people who can interact and chat with our guests and make them feel welcomed and valued from the minute they arrive until we wish them farewell. This role is vital in providing an amazing welcome in all areas of these two stunning locations, helping our visitors have a fantastic experience and creating wonderful memories for our guests.

“Based in the Welcome Centre, Retail, Catering or House Hub, your role is to make a great day out truly exceptional for our guests. You’ll help us maximise all charity income opportunities through excellent customer service, product knowledge and taking pride in everything we do at Inverewe.”

Those interested in applying should send a CV or application form to the People Services Department by email before May 20. More information can be found on the National Trust for Scotland website.

The firm said there wouldn’t be any material stockpiles if not for the ‘significant’ time taken to approve the rebuild application

A crisp factory which burnt down has won an appeal against a council after being accused of importing and processing waste materials. Corkers Crisp factory between Pymoor and Little Downham burnt down in May 2020.

Plans to rebuild were submitted in 2021 but were not approved until July 2025.

Cambridgeshire County Council accused owners Ross and Gail Taylor of importing, depositing, processing, and exporting inert waste materials. The authority handed them an enforcement notice in 2023, demanding they stop.

This was appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and inspector M Savage visited the site on February 2, 2026. Mr Taylor argued that the materials are to be used in rebuilding the factory and a “significant amount” came from the site itself.

He pointed to the “significant period” between the planning application being submitted and approved. He said that, “if it were not for that project, there would be no stockpiles”.

Inspector Savage said they found the site was “in a mixed use” with logistics company Buffaload also using it for haulage. The council said it didn’t address this use as when the notice was served this wasn’t “considered to be the primary use of the site”.

The council gave the inspector photographs and site visit notes to prove their case. Photos dated November 9, 2021, show “what appear to be various stockpiles of material” which “may or may not be derived from waste”.

The inspector said “it is not clear” where the material has come from or whether it was exported or used on site. A witness said in a statement that they had followed an FDS truck on April 5, 2023, to the site and “saw it (and others) being loaded up from a pile which was partly covered in grass”.

Inspector Savage said this would “do little to assist in understanding how the site has actually been used” as materials would need to be removed from the site to prepare to rebuild. Another note dated March 27, 2023, said an officer had seen a HGV enter the site and “deposit what appeared to be inert construction waste onto a pre-existing pile on the site”.

The driver said they were soils from Ely Hospital and “they had an agreement to bring soils to the site for recycling”. The officer said since they weren’t “incorporated into the land forthwith” they couldn’t be classed as permitted development.

But the inspector said this “does not mean that they comprise a waste activity” and would support the suggestion that the land is used for agriculture. They said there was evidence that material was imported to the site, but that this wasn’t disputed by the Taylors – what they dispute is that the materials are “inert waste”.

Inspector Savage said that it “seems likely that development has occurred within the site” but the allegation “in my view is wrong and does not reflect the works that have been carried out, or the uses which have occurred at the site”.

The inspector said they have “wide powers of correction” but don’t consider it possible to correct the notice “without causing injustice” to the Taylors.

The appeal was allowed and the enforcement notice quashed.

Economists fear that Donald Trump is pushing the world towards recession with no end to the Middle East conflict in sight.

World shares mostly retreated and oil prices jumped on Monday after Trump warned Tehran that the “clock is ticking” as US-Iran negotiations over a permanent end to the war stall. US futures fell and markets in Japan and South Korea pulled back from their records.

And around 80 countries have already imposed emergency fuel rationing with oil prices threatening to climb above $180 a barrel.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has blocked shipping and led to shortages with fears that a further spike in energy prices could take place in the next few weeks, reports the Financial Times.

While JPMorgan estimates oil inventories across developed economies could approach ‘operational stress levels’ by June.

“[If the Iran war] does not end in the coming weeks and we don’t have the reopening of the Hormuz strait, I’m afraid a world recession could be on the table,” said EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

The BBC investigation for Panorama called The Dark Side of Married at First Sight will air at 8pm

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Two women have alleged they were raped by their ‘husbands’ during the filming of the UK version of Married at First Sight. The women are speaking out as they claim they feel they should have had better protection provided by the production company CPL who make the show.

One woman alleged to the BBC her onscreen husband raped her and threatened her. A second woman claims she told she told both Channel 4 and CPL about being allegedly raped by her onscreen husband before her series was broadcast. Despite this she says her episodes were still aired.

In the BBC investigation for Panorama called The Dark Side of Married at First Sight, the women say they feel the programme did not do enough to protect them, the Mirror reports.

Channel 4 said all the allegations are “wholly uncorroborated and disputed”. The full details will be aired on the BBC tonight at 8pm.

Channel 4 have also now removed all the series from their streaming platform and announced an external review into contributor welfare on Married at First Sight UK.

In a statement sent to the Mirror, Priya Dogra, Chief Executive of Channel 4 said: “I want to express my sympathy to contributors who have clearly been distressed after taking part in Married at First Sight UK. The wellbeing of our contributors is always of paramount importance.

“It would be wholly inappropriate for me to comment on what are very serious allegations made against some MAFS UK contributors. Those allegations – which I understand are disputed by the contributors accused – are not something that Channel 4 is in a position to adjudicate on. We are also mindful of our ongoing duty of care to all contributors, and the need to preserve the anonymity and privacy of all involved

“On the claims that Channel 4 may have failed in its duty of care, I believe that when concerns about contributor welfare were raised, and based on the information available at the time, Channel 4 acted quickly, appropriately, sensitively and with wellbeing front and centre.

“Nevertheless, because we aspire to the highest standards of contributor welfare, I felt strongly as Channel 4’s new CEO that it was right that we look again at how we handled issues raised at the time and ask whether changes should be made to further strengthen contributor welfare.

“That’s why last month I commissioned an external review of contributor welfare on MAFS UK. That review will report to me in the coming months. We take these issues very seriously and are committed to ensuring that we continue to lead the industry in our duty of care for contributors.”

Lawyers for CPL, the independent production company which makes the UK version of the show, told the BBC its welfare system is “gold standard” and industry-leading, and that it acted appropriately in all these cases.

MAFS is one of the channel’s biggest and most successful series. It sees strangers matched together and they then walk down the aisle and hold a mock wedding before getting to know each other and living together in the hope of finding love.

Having started in Denmark in 2013, the format is so successful there are now 35 versions around the world. On Channel 4 it regularly attracts consolidated audiences of over two million viewers. There have been 10 series to date on Channel 4 of the British version.