A court heard allegations that on one occasion the accused grabbed the woman by the throat and lifted her off the floor, choking her until she lost consciousness

A Co Down man allegedly subjected his heavily-pregnant former partner to months of assaults and coercive control, a court has heard.

Newtownards Magistrates Court also heard a claim that in one attack, Frazer Pike grabbed the woman by the throat and lifted her off the floor, choking her until she lost consciousness.

“The injured party was six months pregnant when she was strangled,” a detective constable told the court.

Standing handcuffed in the dock on Friday, Pike, with an address at a caravan in Kilmore Village, Crossgar, confirmed his identity and that he understood the 11 charges against him, all alleged to be aggravated by reason of domestic abuse.

On a charge sheet covering the period from December 5 last year to 2 May this year, the 31-year-old faces charges of domestic abuse, non-fatal strangulation, making threats to kill, making threats to damage property, false imprisonment, possessing a weapon, namely a golf club and causing actual bodily harm.

Giving evidence during a contested application for bail, the detective told the court she believed she could connect Pike to each of the offences.

Adding that police were objecting to Pike being released due to concerns about further offending and witness interference, the officer outlined how the complainant reported to police on June 3 that she had allegedly been subjected to domestic abuse by her ex-partner.

The detective said that according to the complainant, the alleged abuse began late last year after she told Pike she was pregnant and he threatened to spray-paint her name around her home town.

The court heard allegations that in January, Pike damaged her window when he punched it and that he “tripped her up, causing an injury to her ankle.”

In February following a hospital visit, Pike is alleged to have spat in her car but later that month, he is alleged to have assaulted her in his caravan.

During that alleged incident, the detective told the court Pike “trailed her about the caravan by the hair” and when she tried to leave, he is alleged to have blocked the door and “pinned her to the bathroom door and bit her hand… shouting that ‘I’m going to kill you’.”

The court heard that in an incident in March, Pike allegedly “threatened to slice her throat and bite the face off her.”

It was during that assault, the officer claimed, that Pike is alleged to have “grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the floor, causing her to lose consciousness and faint.”

“It was witnessed by a neighbour,” the court heard, and further that at the time, “the injured party was six months pregnant when she was strangled.”

Turning to her objections to bail, the officer told the court that Pike has “a domestic violence history, albeit with a different person,” adding that the latest complainant has been deemed as “high risk.”

The detective told District Judge Amanda Brady although it is not a recent complaint, the woman had not alerted police sooner because Pike allegedly “threatened to kill himself or report her to Social Services” if she did.

Defence counsel Conan Rea emphasised that “these are not contemporaneous complaints” and that when Pike was interviewed by police, he denied the allegations.

“He strenuously denies these incidents and there is no domestic violence between them,” the barrister contended.

Mr Rea argued that as Pike’s address is a 45-minute drive away from the complainant’s address, with additional strict conditions, bail could be granted.

Judge Brady said however, despite the barrister “making all of the points that he possibly could,” she was concerned about further offending and Pike not adhering to bail conditions.

She revealed that the 31-year-old has five previous convictions for breaching bail, “so in all the circumstance, I cannot have any confidence that he would not reoffend or breach the conditions.”

Pike was remanded in custody and will appear again on July 1.

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United States gymnast Simone Biles has revealed she suffered a serious health scare, describing the experience as “almost dying”.

The 29-year-old American did not reveal any details about what happened but said it was one of the “scariest experiences” of her life as she updated supporters in a series of Instagram posts.

The seven-time Olympic gold medallist posted pictures on her story which included her wrist covered in hospital bands, flowers and a screenshot of a heart rate monitor, adding she will explain what has happened later.

Biles also replied to a fan on X to say it had been a “health” scare.

In her post on Saturday, she said: “I’m not one to normally share things like this because I value privacy in today’s age.

“But almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card earlier this week.

“This was one of, if not the scariest experience of my life, especially since Jonathan (Owens, her husband and Indianapolis Colts NFL player) was in Indy for his practices.

“I’ve been in bed resting this week. I’ll explain sooner or later, but s/o (shoutout) to my close circle who reached out, checked in, visited & or sent flowers.”

At Paris 2024, Biles won a total of four medals including three golds which took her overall tally to 11 Olympics medals since making her debut at just 19 years of age in Rio in 2016.

She has also previously stated that she is unsure whether she will compete at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Press Association has contacted Biles’ representatives for comment.

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The case involving the former DUP Leader has now entered its second week at Newry Crown Court

The trial of Jeffrey Donaldson has now entered its second week where the court heard from the alleged victims of the former DUP leader.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson faces 18 historical sexual offences, including one count of rape, alongside allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges which involve two alleged victims and span a 23-year period between 1985 and 2008.

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson was declared medically unfit to stand a standard criminal trial and will instead undergo a “trial of the facts”.

Day 5 – Monday, June 1

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A woman who says she was sexually abused as a child by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, known as Complainant A, took to the witness stand for a third day as she was cross examined by Ian Turkington KC, barrister for Eleanor Donaldson.

He questioned her about why she did not mention all of the counselling sessions she had received following the alleged abuse in police interviews in 2024. The witness said she had “nothing to hide” and had forgotten to mention some of the counselling.

The witness was also questioned about her memory following the alleged abuse with her responding “Many people know with childhood abuse there is an issue with memory.”

“I have tried to remember these events and convey them to the best of my ability.”

Complainant A was also asked about how she had told Eleanor Donaldson about an alleged incident of abuse and that this was “laughed off”.

She was accused by the barrister of “making this up as you go along?” which she refuted.

He said: “You are making this up as you go along.”

She said: “That is your assumption… I am here to tell the truth.”

Complainant A concluded giving her evidence to the trial on Monday afternoon.

READ MORE HERE: Woman who alleges Jeffrey Donaldson abused her denies she is ‘making up’ claims

Day 6 – Tuesday, June 2

The second alleged victim, Complainant B, was not in the courtroom on Tuesday but appeared via a video link. Her ABE (achieving best evidence) interview with police was played to the jury of seven men and five women.

Jeffrey Donaldson sat in the dock at the rear of the courtroom, while the interview, which was recorded in March 2024, was played. In the interview, Complainant B said that growing up, she was “sexually abused by an adult” and she particularly remembered two incidents. The woman frequently became emotional during the interview.

In the first, she claimed, Donaldson had put his hands down her underwear, pulled her legs apart and then sexually assaulted her. She said the second incident occurred when she was slightly older when, she said, Donaldson “lifted up my top” and touched her breasts.

When asked by a police officer if there were other incidents, she said she remembered “his hands down my pants a lot”.

When she was asked about the first incident, she said it occurred when she was of primary school age, saying: “I remember being really still and all I could hear was his breath.”

Complainant B said the second incident occurred when she was of secondary school age. She said: “He lifted up my top and started playing with my breasts.”

The complainant said that Eleanor Donaldson had witnessed part of the alleged incident and “walked away”.

Complainant B later said Donaldson had apologised to her at a meeting arranged at a Christian centre years later.

The witness was then cross-examined by Kieran Vaughan KC, barrister for Jeffrey Donaldson. He accused her of making up allegations pointing to an inconsistency in the age she told a counsellor the abuse had happened and what she later told police, claiming “none of it happened”.

Complainant B responded to this saying “It is quite naive for you to say that. Everything I am saying is the truth … no matter how many questions people ask me it will never change that.”

The barrister pointed out that she could not remember what age she was at the time of the alleged rape incident.

She said: “The actions that night I will never forget, what happened that night will live with me forever.”

Mr Vaughan suggested the incident “did not happen” and asked her why she did not tell anyone about it at the time.

She said: “It was my biggest mistake not telling anybody back then … I regret that every day.

READ MORE HERE: Woman tells Donaldson trial details of alleged rape will stay with her ‘forever’

Day 7 – Wednesday, June 3

Complainant B continued to give evidence in Newry Crown Court where she said she should have brought the alleged abuse to police years earlier, but had “tried not to be a victim”.

Barrister for Jeffrey Donaldson, Kieran Vaughan KC, resumed his cross-examination of the alleged victim in the morning and said she had been sent to the Christian Family Centre in Armoy after she had started to take drugs in her teenage years.

She told the court that she had taken ecstasy and marijuana, but denied that she was addicted to the substances. Complainant B added that she originally thought her issues could have been “dealt with at home”, but said going there “turned out probably one of the best things that ever happened to me”.

The barrister said while at the centre, complainant B had spoken to a woman at the facility. The witness confirmed she had told her about alleged abuse by Donaldson, but did not go into details.

The barrister said she told the woman this in an effort to leave Armoy.

The barrister said she had then spoken to a pastor at the centre about the allegations and asked why the conversation with the pastor was not in her statement to police.

The barrister asked her if she had told the pastor not to go to police, and that if he did, she would say it was “all a lie”.

She said: “I don’t remember that … if I did it would have been the stupidest thing I ever said.”

In the afternoon, Complainant B was cross-examined by Ian Turkington KC, who represents Eleanor Donaldson in the proceedings.

He referred to two alleged incidents of abuse, the first where Complainant B said she was raped by Jeffrey Donaldson and the second where she claimed that he had touched her breasts. She alleges that Eleanor Donaldson witnessed part of the second incident.

Concerning the first incident, Mr Turkington suggested it was a “figment of your imagination”. She responded: “You are suggesting that, but that is not true. My account is the truth.”

Turning to the second incident, the barrister suggested “at no stage” did Eleanor Donaldson “ever see anybody touching your breasts”.

The woman said: “She looked directly at me.”

Complainant B said Eleanor Donaldson should have “stood up and defended me”.

The barrister then questioned her about how her memory of the alleged incidents had “evolved” since counselling sessions in 2008. She said: “I locked them [memories] away, there is a reason why I did drugs and all those stupid things when I was a teenager.”

The court had previously been told that Complainant B had received a text message from a third party in 2023 suggesting Eleanor Donaldson wanted to apologise.

Mr Turkington suggested it was only when the witness received the message that she believed Eleanor Donaldson had seen the incident where Jeffrey Donaldson is alleged to have touched her breasts.

READ MORE HERE: Eleanor Donaldson should have ‘stood up and defended me’ says alleged victim

Day 8, Thursday, June 4

The husband of of Complainant A took to the witness stand and gave evidence and became emotional when he described the moment that his wife told him about the alleged abuse.

He told the court: “She said that when she was younger, Jeffrey had abused her on a number of occasions.”

The witness said his partner had “gone into detail”, stating that Donaldson had inappropriately touched her “on a number of occasions” and that he kissed her and “put his tongue down her mouth”.

He said she also told him about an alleged incident where she was “woken by a light” and Donaldson was looking at her “private parts”.

The witness was cross-examined by Jeffrey Donaldson’s barrister Kieran Vaughan and Eleanor Donaldson’s barrister, Ian Turkington KC.

Later the court heard evidence from a Presbyterian minister and his wife who had provided “pastoral support” to Complainant A and her husband after they had disclosed an allegation of abuse.

He said he had contacted the church’s head of safeguarding as he “wanted to know what the boundaries were regarding our responsibilities”.

He said the first meeting took place in 2022.

The witness said when he was on holiday in the summer of 2023 he received a message from Jeffrey Donaldson.

The court heard that Donaldson asked for the message to be kept “in confidence” and said he did not know “where else to turn and would truly appreciate the opportunity for a private conversation”.

The minister said he responded the following day that it would be “inappropriate” to have the meeting.

The court heard that Donaldson then sent a reply which said: “I do understand entirely. I don’t want to cause them further upset.

“I just want to find a way to say how sorry I am and repent before them as I have before the Lord.”

READ MORE HERE: Man recalls moment his wife revealed alleged sexual abuse by Jeffrey Donaldson

Day 9, Friday, June 9

On Friday, the trial heard evidence from Laura Claire Selfridge, who is the daughter of David and Linda Hoy, who founded the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, Co Antrim.

Ms Selfridge told the court she had a conversation with Complainant B in her bedroom in Armoy. She told the court: “She literally just said she had been abused.”

Asked about the atmosphere, Ms Selfridge said: “Very shocking, almost like a bomb went off, that is what it felt like for me.”

The witness said they had never spoken again about the alleged abuse.

Asked if she had spoken to anyone else about the alleged abuse, she said: “Never, not to this day.”

Jeffrey Donaldson’s barrister Kieran Vaughan KC asked the witness if Complainant B had used the word “sexual” in relation to the alleged abuse. She replied “No”.

The court was then played a police video interview from Pastor Stephen Matthews, who had met Complainant B at the Christian Family Centre in Co Antrim. He is not well enough to give evidence to the trial.

He said: “I listened to her and she made very, very serious allegations.”

The pastor said she told him she had been abused when “very young”. He said he had asked her why she did not “come out with this and get help”. He added: “She said she can’t because it would destroy their political reputation, I don’t want that.”

Mr Matthews said he could not remember if B had named her alleged abuser but said it “became obvious” who it was.

Mr Hoy gave evidence at the trial and spoke of meetings between himself, his wife, complainant B and Jeffrey Donaldson.

Mr Hoy said Complainant B was looking to meet Donaldson and “wanted a safe place to do that”.

The court was then told about a meeting between Donaldson, Complainant B and the Hoys in their home in Armoy the following day.

Mr Hoy said: “Mr Donaldson spoke first, he said I know what this is about, he said I am sorry and can you please forgive me.”

The witness said that Complainant B was upset but she “did say she forgave him”.

Mr Hoy said he asked B if she wanted to “take this any further and she said no”.

READ MORE HERE: Abuse claim not reported as it would ‘destroy reputation’, Donaldson trial told

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Pennington Flash in Leigh saw thousands of people in wetsuits and red swimming hats congregate on its shores at 6am before taking the brave plunge into the freezing waters to carry out a 1.9km swim.

Spirits were high as thumping music and an MC got the energy levels high before the competitors began their swim, with the first person exiting the water in under 25 minutes.

(Image: Jack Schofield/Ironman)

From there, it was on to the bikes, with the athletes taking on a 56-mile bike ride through Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Horwich, and Bolton.

Despite it still being early in the morning, many people lined the streets to cheer on those taking part, with creative signs, bells, and screams of support to push on the athletes.

(Image: Henry Lisowski)

After the gruelling bike ride came the half-marathon run in Bolton, with the Ironmen and Ironwomen running through the town centre, Queen’s Park, and Chorley New Road.

Levin Veale, who was the first competitor to cross the finish line, said he found the run tough, saying: “Running in the park is pretty horrible.

(Image: Henry Lisowski)

“Running up some of them ridiculously steep hils, that blew me.”

Nonetheless, Levin was able to speed through the course, recording a sub-four-hour time as he was cheered on by the ever-supportive spectators.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

While the town centre was quiet as the first runners made their way through the streets, the crowds grew and so did the noise, with friends, families, and locals coming out in large numbers to create a fantastic atmosphere.

Katie Walker, who was the first female to cross the line for the second consecutive year, was full of praise for the Bolton crowds, saying: “The support here is always incredible, there’s nothing like it, not in any other race.”

(Image: Phil Taylor)

This was showcased outside Bolton Town Hall, as runners crossed the finish line to loud cheers from all sides as they completed their stunning feats.

The thrilling race closed the curtain on a remarkable weekend, which saw a record-breaking 10,000 people compete in the Night Run, IRONKIDS and IRONMAN 70.3 events.

With the record-setting number of competitors and the brilliant crowds lining the streets, it’s clear that IRONMAN 70.3 Bolton is one of the best dates in the competition’s calendar as well as the town’s.

Mohamed Salah’s relationship with Arne Slot had deteriorated prior to them both leaving Liverpool with a former Red making some major accusations about the pair

Dejan Lovren has doubled down on Mohamed Salah having no relationship with Arne Slot and maintains things would’ve been very different had Jurgen Klopp still been Liverpool boss.

The Egyptian waved goodbye to Anfield on the final day of the season, bringing to an end his nine-year spell with Liverpool. It ended in underwhelming fashion with the team and the player falling well short of expectations.

Salah posted his worst numbers as a Red this term, which eventually saw him benched by Slot as he sought to get the team back on track. That didn’t sit well with the Egyptian, a three-time PFA Player of the Year, who claimed that the Dutchman had “thrown him under the bus”.

His public show of frustration was less than ideal for the Reds boss, who would receive his marching orders once the campaign ended, and Lovren admits it was obvious to see Salah and his manager didn’t get on.

He told WinWin: “They didn’t have a good relationship. Let’s put it simply. With Klopp, he had a really good relationship. It wasn’t always perfect, but they knew each other very well, let’s say that too, and they trusted each other, they liked each other, and Mo gave everything on the pitch for Klopp, and Klopp gave him that trust. But (with Slot) it was the opposite. It’s that simple.”

Lovren and Salah have retained a strong relationship and the Croatian insists that Klopp knew how to manage the Egyptian and the situation when he was struggling for form. Klopp was able to deflect or protect his player, but Slot didn’t give him the same treatment.

“As I said, when Mo wasn’t performing well sometimes, Klopp knew what he had to do with him,” he added. “How to protect him, how to keep him even if he wasn’t performing well, he needed to keep him for the next game. But as Mo said, they threw him.”

Lovren also claimed: “Maybe if Klopp had stayed another year, or two, he might have left in a much better way. But, you know… this is how it happened.”

The former Liverpool defender also took aim at the media, insisting their treatment of Salah was “disgusting” given he had just one bad season across his time at Anfield.

“It’s not harsh. It’s disgusting,” he said. “Why didn’t they talk about him like this for the past eight or nine years? Tell me… Okay, one season, and then he’s the target again.”

After Salah’s penultimate game, a 4-1 hammering at Aston Villa, he put out a social media post and claimed Liverpool needed to return to the “heavy metal football” which they played under Klopp. Slot was dismissed shortly after the season ended following a fifth place finish with Andoni Iraola hired as his replacement.

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Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’

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The fairground has plenty of activities suitable for children aged up to 14

A vintage fairground that has been designed to take families back in time might be worth a visit during the summer holidays. The Thursford Adventure Play Fair can be found in Norfolk making it easy to reach from Cambridgeshire and is based on “vintage fairgrounds” parents might remember from their childhood.

The Adventure Play Fair covers around 30,000 square feet meaning there are plenty of things for children to see and keep them entertained. The fairground features a range of classic rides including a Ferris Wheel, giant Helter Skelter and carousel.

The three main attractions are all connected with bridges, tunnels, and walkways. It is easy for children to spend hours on the swings, slides, and teacups dotted around the playground or having a go at one of the fairground stalls like hook-a-duck or the hall of mirrors.

If you are lucky enough to visit on a particularly hot day, your kids can spend some time at the Water Play Fountain. The area features a range of fountains and games including mazes and puzzles that children can get involved in while keeping cool.

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You can also find the Steam Engine Museum, which features the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs. Alongside taking a look at the collection, there are also a few other fairground rides to try out, which cost £3 per person, and the Mighty Wurlitzer show, where you can watch Robert Wolfe play the impressive organ.

If you want to learn more about the steam engines in the collection, you can also book a tour of the museum. There is a separate entry fee for the museum but you can get it for half price by showing your Adventure Play Fair ticket.

After spending a day exploring the playground, you might need something to eat. At the play fair, there is a catering unit where you can pick up a range of sandwiches, cakes, and other sweet treats as well as coffee and cold drinks.

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If you also take the time to visit the Steam Engine Museum, you can take a break in the Barn Café which serves hot meals including fish and chips as well as fresh sandwiches. You might also like to take a quick look around the shopping village where you can find a range of gifts such as mugs, jewellery, and children’s toys.

The price of entry to the Thursford Adventure Play Fair depends on the time you visit. Throughout the summer holidays, it costs £6 for adults and £12 for children aged three and over.

The playground is currently opened from Saturday to Wednesday. It is open every day during the summer holidays. The Thursford Adventure Play Fair can be found just off the A148 between Fakenham and Holt. The site is around an hour and 50-minute drive away from Cambridge via the A1065.

The play fair has free parking onsite for all guests to use.

West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen has been linked with a move to Manchester United

Michael Carrick has already explained how he managed to channel the pain of being relegated with West Ham United and earn a dream transfer amid reports linking told Jarrod Bowen to Manchester United. The new United boss suffered the same fate during his time with the Hammers but previously argued that the disappointment pushed him to take his game to new heights at Old Trafford.

Bowen has been linked with a move to United following West Ham’s drop down to the Championship. The Hammers captain was unable to steer the club to safety, despite scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists.

United are among several clubs touted with an interest in signing the England international. However, The Sun has reported that West Ham hope to keep Bowen in their bid to earn promotion back to the top-flight.

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United manager Carrick faced a similar choice after being relegated with the same club in 2003. The 44-year-old spent a season in the second tier before moving to Tottenham Hotspur and eventually joining United. The experience left a lasting impression on Carrick, who used those feelings to fuel his desire to succeed at Old Trafford.

“I was relegated with West Ham and you never forget that,” Carrick told The Guardian in 2014. “Going down, playing in the Championship, I constantly remind myself of that. I still remember the feeling, without doubt, I wouldn’t allow myself to forget it.

“Those are the things that drive you on, that end up making you stronger. We have enjoyed a lot of success at Manchester United but each season has had its ups and downs.

“There have been certain times here through the years when we have had, say, two bad results on the spin and the roof caves in. You think everything is wrong but we have still gone on to achieve things.”

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Based on Carrick’s verdict of his own career, Bowen would arrive at a new club even more determined to succeed after failing to beat the drop. And with Carrick having lived through a similar experience himself, a switch to United could be perfect for Bowen.

West Ham reportedly need to raise around £100million through player sales, which could improve United’s chances of getting a deal over the line. The 29-year-old has four years left on his Hammers contract and has admitted that transfer speculation will be inevitable as he spoke about his future on the final day of the season.

“I’m under contract here,” Bowen said. “I’ve been here six and a half years, I’ve had some really high moments, and this is a low moment that will outweigh everything.

“There’s going to be rumours, there’s going to be talk. Ultimately, what I see is getting this club back in the Premier League because that is where it deserves to be.”

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It remains to be seen whether Bowen will follow in Carrick’s footsteps and stick with West Ham this summer. Despite being part of a relegated team, Bowen would flourish for a side at the top end of the table.

The winger has proven himself across six-and-a-half years in the Premier League and could use the despair of relegation to help elevate his game. It is an approach that certainly worked well for Carrick during his 12-year stay at United.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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