Prosecutors claimed the abusive control was so severe that she left Northern Ireland in fear of him and is now “a shell of a woman”

A man allegedly struck his partner in the face with a laughing gas cylinder and ripped off her toenails as part of a campaign of extreme domestic violence, the High Court heard today.

Suleyman Erdogan, 24, is also accused of threatening her with a kettle of boiling water amid repeated outbursts which inflicted permanent injuries.

Prosecutors claimed the abusive control was so severe that she left Northern Ireland in fear of him and is now “a shell of a woman”.

Details emerged as Erdogan, of Mourne View Terrace in Bessbrook, Co Armagh, was refused bail.

He denies charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, domestic abuse, multiple counts of common assault, possessing Class B and C drugs, and criminal damage.

Police were alerted after the woman went to a station in a distraught state last month, claiming he had subjected her to a series of attacks since they moved in together two years ago.

Crown counsel Sarah Minford said the allegations against Erdogan include:

• Throwing a nitrous oxide cylinder at the woman’s face, leaving her with a swollen jaw, blurred vision and requiring four stitches to her eyebrow and cheek.
• Pulling out hair extensions and causing her to lose a promotion at work because of absence.
• Dragging the woman about during a separate attack where her elbow was split open and had to be glued back together in hospital.
• Wielding a baseball bat to smash her work laptop, a mirror and walls in the house.
• Pushing the woman against a wardrobe and cutting her leg open and leaving a scar.
• Throwing a bottle in the woman’s face and splitting her eyebrow in an alcohol-fuelled outburst.
• Isolating her from family and friends and demanding that she switches on mobile ohone location services to track her movements.

The court heard Erdogan also scraped the side of the complainant’s face with his nails and accused her of being unfaithful.

“He stood on her toe until her nail ripped off, and she said he had done it before.” Ms Minford disclosed.

“The injured party no longer has a nail on either of her big toes.”

During another alleged assault, Erdogan chased the woman about the living room with a kettle full of boiling water, threatening to throw it over her.

On Valentine’s Day this year violence flared again while the couple were staying at a hotel on the outskirts of Belfast, according to the woman’s account.

Counsel said: “He was drinking and inhaling gas, and he slapped the injured party on a number of occasions.

In the most recent incident she woke up in the early hours of March 17 after Erdogan allegedly kicked her in the back of the head and tried to pull her out of bed by the hair.

The woman stated that she contemplated jumping out of an upstairs window to escape, but instead quietly left by the front door and drove to a police station.

“She says she has endured extreme physical and mental abuse and controlling behaviour, suffering several injuries, some of them with permanent effects,” Ms Minford submitted.

“She could not maintain any kind of social life, go to gym or socialise with friends, he told her what she has to wear and eat, and that she has lost between two and three stone (in weight) owing to the stress.”

During the relationship the complainant feared making any noises or dropping anything in the house, it was claimed, and endured being called vulgar names and told she must have slept with someone to progress at work.

The court heard she missed her grandmother’s funeral and a number of family funerals, with Erdogan said to have checked her bins and smelt her clothes while making accusations of infidelity.

“The injured party by her own admission is a shell of a woman, she was in constant fear of upsetting Mr Erdogan,” counsel added.

“She has left Northern Ireland and relocated her family for fear of reprisals.”

Police arrested the defendant at his home, locating four four containers of nitrous oxide along with 26 empty containers in the living room beside him.

Bail was opposed on grounds of protecting a vulnerable alleged victim and amid claims that Erdogan could flee.

The judge, His Honour Neil Rafferty KC, was told he is currently wanted in the Republic of Ireland on three separate bench warrants.

Defence counsel confirmed Erdogan intends to contest the charges.

She argued that he has lived in Northern Ireland for over two years without committing any previous offences..

“By his own admission he has issues with substance misuse and alcohol consumption,” the barrister acknowledged.

But refusing bail amid concerns the defendant could re-offend or attempt to track down the alleged victim of his coercive control, Judge Rafferty ruled: “It is a hopeless application.”

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At around 5.05pm, one fire engine from Bolton Central Community Fire Station attended the incident on Snydale Way.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Crews arrived quickly and extinguished the blaze using a hose reel, breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera.

“Firefighters worked alongside Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe before leaving after approximately 45 minutes at the scene.

Eyewitnesses said diversions were put in place to redirect traffic while crews dealt with the incident.

According to AA Traffic, the road has since cleared and traffic is now moving freely with no delays.

Brew York, in Walmgate, marked its tenth anniversary with its annual Birthday Bash – a now firm fixture on beer-lovers’ calendars.

Visitors – some of whom travelled from northern Scotland to attend the event – were treated to a selection of over 130 beers.

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Among the highlights were a series of special drinks created in collaboration with ten European breweries.

More than 2,000 people attended the event (Image: Brew York)

These included Velvet Starfall, a Pastéis de Nata Imperial Stout brewed in collaboration with Frontaal Brewery from the Netherlands, and Tropic Touch, a guava, mango and apricot pastry sour produced alongside Prizm Brewing of France.

They were complimented by three additional exclusive beers – Rum & Bourbon BA Imperial Stout, Satuernes BA Golden Sour and Brandy & Bourbon Barley Wine.

Lee Grabham, Brew York’s co-founder and production director, said the weekend was a proud moment for the team.

A selection of more than 130 beers were on offer (Image: Brew York)

He added: “From the moment we welcomed our guests into this wonderful city we call home we’ve been non-stop.

“Full credit goes to not only the Brew York team, but also the volunteers who really enable us to put the event on.

“A mammoth task by anyone’s standards – and we all did it! Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The event is now an annual one, with plans already in place for the 11th birthday celebrations (Image: Brew York)

Brew York transformed its space in its Osbaldwick brewery site to accommodate the crowds at the event.

All available space was converted to make room for eight additional bars, a beer van, two marquees hosting special tastings and live music, and four food vendors.

The company said: “Demand was high throughout the weekend, with visitors queuing hours before the doors opened at 5pm on Friday, and again ahead of both Saturday sessions.”

Organisers have already pencilled in a date for the 11th birthday celebrations, which will take place on Friday (April 16) and Saturday (April 17).

More than 2,000 extra seats have been added for LNER services between Leeds and London King’s Cross in both directions on Sunday, with a limited amount remaining.

Leeds United fans are preparing for their first FA Cup Semi Final in close to 40 years.

To help as many Whites fans as possible get to Wembley to watch Leeds United play Chelsea for a place in the FA Cup Final, LNER has added extra trains and seats throughout the day.

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As the fixture coincides with the London Marathon on Sunday, the train operator has also issued some key travel tips to help keep travelling supporters smoothly on the move.

Colette Casey, customer experience director at LNER, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming thousands of Leeds United fans onboard LNER services this coming weekend as they travel to Wembley.

“A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes at LNER to allow us to safely transport thousands of Whites fans to and from London for this exciting fixture.

“As trains are expected to be very busy, these travel tips will help all our customers to enjoy a comfortable journey. Everyone at LNER sends their best wishes to Leeds United and we hope that they all have a great journey with us.”

With trains expected to be very busy, fans are encouraged to:

Check before you travel: Be sure to regularly check the Travel Alerts page on the LNER website for the latest information on train services.

Arrive in plenty of time: With many thousands of fans expected to travel, please arrive at your departure station in good time to get to the correct platform.

Travel on your booked service: Services are expected to be very busy, so please travel on your booked train and only occupy your reserved seat. If you haven’t got a seat reservation, you may have to stand for some, or all, of your journey.

Be aware of those around you: While many customers will be travelling to Wembley, there will also be customers who are travelling for other reasons, including the London Marathon which is taking place on Sunday. Please be aware of and considerate to all customers while onboard and at stations and give up seats for those who have reservations.

Be kind: LNER and other rail industry colleagues will be working hard throughout the day to keep fans safely on the move. Please be kind and respectful to all colleagues.

NCL’s Open Days offer the chance to explore a wide range of courses, meet staff, and find a path that fits around real life.

New College Lanarkshire is inviting anyone that is considering a fresh start to attend it’s May Open Days with events taking place in Coatbridge, Cumbernauld and Motherwell.

NCL’s Open Days offer the chance to explore a wide range of courses, meet staff, and find a path that fits around real life.

Iain McMillan, 50, from Wishaw, enrolled into NCL’s NQ Sound Production course last year.

Iain had spent years working in HMV, doing what he loved – surrounded by music. Learning the back catalogues of every artist on the shelves, knowing who produced what and why, but then everything changed.

What he had put down to tiredness and a chest infection turned out to be something far more serious. After struggling through Christmas shifts at HMV, barely able to breathe, his GP took one look at him and knew something was wrong.

Within weeks, Iain had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and was facing six months of intensive chemotherapy.

Thankfully as recovery began and the fog of recovery began to lift, something else took over a restlessness need for purpose. Sitting at home on sick pay, Iain knew he needed something to aim for.

He always had a small home studio. Samplers, hardware equipment, the lot and it had kept him company through the thick of it.

He had always been curious about what went into making music, not just listening to it.

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So, he Googled sound production courses and saw NCL did one.

Iain said: “The course lecturer James [Savage] has been great – really supportive, he understands my circumstances. It’s creative but professional at the same time.”

What surprised Iain most was how much the course changed the way he thinks about music, not just makes it.

He said: “I’d worked in a record shop, and I liked what I liked. But the course gets you critically thinking.

“What went into that music, the politics, the ideologies behind it, who was in the studio, who influenced it.

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“What instrumentation was used, what recording techniques. You learn about how drums were recorded in Stairway to Heaven. It’s very nerdy but it’s good.”

Now 50, ‘getting into the golden years,’ as he puts it, Iain is planning to continue into the HNC/D.

He has gone from a man who could barely walk through a door to someone who can professionally present his work, build beats, and network with labels and artists.

He added: “I can now present myself professionally and send examples of my work. The course got me to that stage.”

“If you’ve got a genuine interest in music and want to learn it, the pieces will fall into place.

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“Everything on the course is there for a reason. They’ve thought it out very well. And it’s what I feel I’ve always wanted. The stars aligned for me.”

The open days will take place at the Motherwell campus on Monday, May 12; at the Cumbernauld campus on Wednesday, May 14, and in Coatbridge on Tuesday, March 20. All events run from 2pm to 5pm.

Attendance is free and open to all. Prospective students can register their interest at: https://www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk/pr26-open-day/

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Klaudia’s mum told followers ‘she is my angel, my world, my everything’

A mother has spoken publicly for the first time after her influencer daughter was left in a critical condition following a collision outside a Soho nightclub.

Klaudia Zakrzewska, known to her online followers as Klaudiaglam , was among three pedestrians injured in central London in the early hours of Sunday morning (April 19).

Gabrielle Carrington, 29, a former X Factor contestant who performs under the name RIELLEUK, has since been charged with attempted murder. She appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

For the first time since the incident, Klaudia’s mother has provided a heartbreaking update, calling for the 30-year-old influencer’s followers to pray for her daughter after false rumours claimed she had died.

“There is hope still, we pray. My dear family and friends. I’m asking from the deepest place in my heart — please keep my beautiful daughter Klaudia in your prayers right now,” she said, writing on Klaudiaglam’s Instragram story.

“She is my angel, my world, my everything, and she needs all the love, strength, and healing we can send her.

“Please lift her in your prayers—for comfort, protection, and strength during this difficult time. Your love and support mean more to me than words can express. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Polish-born Klaudia, who boasts more than 258,000 followers on Instagram, had been at the Inca nightclub with friends on the night of the crash. She remained in hospital today in a critical condition. A security guard stood close to Klaudia at the time has been left with “life-changing injuries” after the incident.

Anoosh Chaichy, 56, from Edgware, in north London, was injured as tried to move his e-scooter from the scene. Carrington appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, raising questions online as she made a heart gesture from the dock.

Dressed in grey, she stood with her hands on her hips as District Judge Nina Tempia remanded her in custody, where she will be kept until the next court hearing at the Old Bailey on May 19.

“A woman has been charged with attempted murder following a serious collision in Westminster,” a statement made by the Met Police confirmed on Tuesday.

“At around 04:30hrs on Sunday, 19 April, officers were called to Argyll Street following reports that a car had been involved in a collision with pedestrians. Police attended with the London Ambulance Service, a woman in her 30’s remains in a life-threatening condition.

“In the same collision, a man in his 50s sustained life-changing injuries and was taken to hospital. A third woman, aged in her 30s, was treated for minor injuries.

“Gabrielle Carrington, 29 (06.11.96), of Manchester, has been charged with attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent, actual bodily harm, dangerous driving and drink driving. She has been remanded in custody ahead of her first appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 21 April. The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related.”

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City of York Council’s executive has approved a new strategy to move forward with plans to build 315 affordable homes across five sites, but highly energy-efficient Passivhaus standards have been ditched.

Cllr Michael Pavlovic, the council’s Labour housing spokesperson, said they were taking a prudent approach which recognised the current realities of the construction sector.

But Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said the stubborn insistence on only building affordable homes on council sites meant none would be built during the administration’s current term.

The new strategy approved on Tuesday, April 14 is set to see affordable homes planned for council-owned sites built to Homes England’s Healthy Homes Standards going forward.

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It comes after a council report on the plans stated current requirements to build them to Passivhaus standards had struggled to attract interest from construction firms.

The report added the lack of interest was due to current market conditions in the industry and the complexity of building homes to Passivhaus standards.

Homes built in line with Passivhaus codes consume up to 90 per cent less energy than typical houses.

Recent procurement efforts to build 101 affordable homes in Ordnance Lane, Fulford failed to award a contract almost two years after plans for the site were approved in August 2024.

Ordnance Lane is among the sites where 315 affordable homes are planned, with the other four at Castle Mills, Lowfield, Manor School and Willow House.

An impression showing how homes planned at Ordnance Lane, off Fulford Road in York, could look. (Image: City of York Council)

Plans approved at the executive meeting are set to see the council appoint a commercial Strategic Delivery Partner to get homes on the sites built.

The meeting heard the model, which would see the council keep control of over the schemes on each site, aimed to reduce risk and provide more certainty to developers.

Estimated timescales for work on council-owned sites would see preparatory work at the Ordnance Lane and Willow House sites start in spring next year, with local elections set for May.

Cllr Pavlovic said the administration recognised that previous procurement efforts had failed and that a new approach was needed.

The executive member said: “This isn’t just paying lip service to social housing, this is the biggest council house building programme for a generation.

“The best way of doing that is to have a strategic partner that works alongside us to deliver genuinely affordable, warm and healthy homes that meet the needs of York’s growing population and hard-pressed residents.”

Cllr Ayre said the council was further away from building homes than it had been when Labour took office in 2023.

He said: “This executive’s reverse Midas touch has brought delivery to a crushing halt.

“The shift away from Passivhaus to the weaker Healthy Homes standards is a direct result of the insistence on 100 per cent of homes of council-owned sites being affordable.”

Call the Midwife star Jessica Raine leads the cast of BBC’s new eight-part drama Two Weeks in August

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The BBC has released a first glimpse at a Call the Midwife actress’ thrilling new eight-part series.

Written and created by Sally4Ever’s Catherine Shepherd, the new ‘witty and painfully relatable’ series Two Weeks in August boasts an all-star cast and follows a group of friends who reunite for a summer getaway.

Headlining the cast is Call the Midwife’s Jessica Raine, who portrayed Nurse Jennifer Lee in the beloved BBC medical drama, as she steps into the role of Zoe. The 43 year old actress has previously appeared in Patrick Melrose and The Devil’s Hour.

Joining Jessica is Brassic and Bergerac star Damien Molony, who takes on the role of Dan. Further cast members include The Good Doctor and Misfits actress Antonia Thomas as Jess, Marcella’s Nicholas Pinnock as Solomon, I Hate Suzie’s Leila Farzad as Nat and Fleabag’s Hugh Skinner as Jacob.

Rounding out the impressive ensemble are Dracula’s Dolly Wells, Baby Reindeer’s Tom Goodman-Hill, Mary and George’s Dylan Brady, Gangs of London’s Maria Almeida, The Lost Boys’ Khalil Gharbia, The New Look’s Florence Banks, Industry’s Sonny Poon Tip and Doctor Who’s Cassius Hackforth, reports the Mirror.

In the newly released images from Two Weeks in August, Zoe and Dan are pictured on an afternoon stroll, while Zoe is also seen contemplating life from atop a rocky outcrop.

Elsewhere, Jess lounges poolside as Solomon takes a swim. Additional shots capture Nat and Jacob soaking up the villa’s views, while the group of friends head to a party “they’ll never forget”.

A synopsis for the new series reveals: “Set in Greece, Two Weeks in August tells the story of a woman who goes on holiday with her family and friends to rediscover joy in her life. But, here in paradise, what starts with an illicit kiss quickly turns the dream vacation into a nightmare.

“Zoe begins to act on her deepest desires and the holiday she hoped for becomes a reckoning for a group of adults who refuse to grow up.

“When they discover they are trapped on the island, and become faced with real life-or-death situations, the group soon turn on each other to find out who is to blame.

“Is Zoe responsible for the drama and destruction around her or, as heaven turns to hell, are bigger forces at play? We are in Greece after all, the land of the ancient Gods…”

Tom George, known for his work on This Country and Sherwood, serves as lead director for Two Weeks in August, helming episodes one through four. Matthew Moore from Colin from Accounts directed episodes five through eight. Production took place in Malta and Gozo last year.

All episodes of Two Weeks in August will be available on BBC iPlayer next month and will air at 9pm on BBC One.

Elsewhere, England are down to a near fourth-choice second row combination, with Lilli Ives Campion, who has suffered a knee injury, becoming the latest lock to be sidelined.

Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward and Rosie Galligan are all pregnant, while Morwenna Talling has been ruled out of the tournament with a leg injury sustained in the opening-weekend win over Ireland.

Abi Burton, a back row, and Delaney Burns, who won the most recent of her three previous caps back in 2023, will be paired in the engine room.

The fly-half shirt changes hands once more with Holly Aitchison back in at 10 in place of rival Zoe Harrison.

Props MacKenzie Carson and Sarah Bern are promoted off the bench and into the starting line-up along with 113-cap flanker Marlie Packer.

Despite the disruption and debuts, England’s strength in depth is likely to be enough to see off a Wales side who have finished bottom of the table in the past two Six Nations campaigns.

England: Kildunne; David, Jones (capt), Rowland, Moloney-MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Carson, Cokayne, Bern, Burton, Burns, Kabeya, M Packer, Feaunati.

Replacements: Powell, Clifford, Muir, Lutui, Short, Robinson, Harrison, Breach

Chelsea fans may opt for perspective for their own sanity. Unlike their north London rivals Tottenham, their club is not facing the real prospect of relegation – things could always be worse. But the reality is Tuesday night’s spineless display at Brighton took Chelsea to a low not suffered since the sinking of the Titanic. This is a club in crisis.

Anguish at the Amex was only the latest blow in a cataclysmic run of form, one that has occurred at the most important stage of the season. A run of five league losses on the bounce, all without scoring a goal, has all but ended the Blues’ hopes of finishing inside the top five.

The drop-off under Liam Rosenior, dismissed from his role on Wednesday, in recent weeks has coincided with the ramping up of fan protests against Chelsea’s ownership. “This is not about short-term results,” a Chelsea Supporters’ Trust spokesperson said. “It is about trust, and at this moment in time, that trust has not been earned.”

There are now more fractures than ever within a team that has had £1.87bn pumped into it since the arrival of BlueCo four years ago. A second manager this season has been moved on. Top players are opening the door to moves away as the club nears another dismal finish in this maligned era, which has only delivered Champions League qualification once. So who is to blame?

When assessing Chelsea’s failings of recent years, most will point the finger straight to the top.

BlueCo’s strategy has been nothing short of disastrous since taking over, as first evidenced solely by performance. A team that was once branded the “blue billion-pound bottle jobs” are close to becoming the two-billion-pound bottle jobs. For all their investment in players, Chelsea should now be fighting for the title – but after four years, they still can’t safely secure a place at Europe’s top table.

Central to their transfer shortcomings is the heavy emphasis on acquiring young talent. More than £1bn has been spent on players 24 and under, having splashed out more on teenagers than the rest of the Premier League’s “big six” combined. It’s a strategy harnessed by many a Fifa Career Mode player over the years – buying footballers with high potential under the assumption it will be reached – but in the real game, BlueCo has proved it as largely ineffective.

Of the 52 signings sanctioned by Todd Boehly since the summer of 2022, just four have gone on to become indispensable: Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer. Brazilian sensation Estevao looks set to become a fifth rare success story for the ownership once he’s fully unleashed – the 18-year-old is still currently having his minutes managed. This hit rate does not justify the five sporting directors – primarily Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, supported by Joe Shields, Sam Jewell and Dave Fallows – that formulate the club’s recruitment.

And from the wheat, there’s a whole lot of chaff. A raft of big-money signings have simply gone on to become fringe players; a trend that again shows issues with recruitment rather than the players themselves. The likes of Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia – signed for a combined £124m – almost instantly became glued to the treatment table, raising questions about how either of them passed their medicals. And when it comes to all that youth investment, the majority are shipped out without making a dent on the team; their only real impact being a collective one, as managers have wrapped their heads around an unbelievably bloated squad. It’s something that Enzo Maresca was vocal about, leading to the creation of a “bomb squad”.

Some of these youngsters are admittedly sold for a profit despite barely playing, which you could call good business. But when taking a glance at the books, you can’t really give BlueCo much credit in that regard.

A report by The Athletic highlights that Chelsea’s operating losses under BlueCo over the past three years total £689m – or £692,000 every single day. BlueCo has taken on £1.39bn in debt to fund its activities. Crucially, the return on investment just doesn’t seem to be there, either on or off the pitch – Chelsea’s commercial income of £200.9m trails their nearest “big six” rival by over £60m. Behdad Eghbali has previously made the point that the club were poorly managed from a commercial point of view under Roman Abramovich. Stones in glass houses.

The pitfalls of Chelsea’s operation warrant the protests that have intensified in recent weeks. It is undeniable that this is the root cause of their long-term problems. But for this particular crisis in performance, other individuals must be subject to accountability.

Some of the club’s top stars have not exactly helped the cause with their off-field antics. Fernandez wound up with a two-match internal ban for courting Real Madrid in an interview. The Argentinian, who cost Chelsea £106.8m and could very well leave for significantly less than that in the summer, is back with the squad but looked despondent with the club’s state of affairs after full-time against Brighton. He was shrugging his shoulders to the away fans, almost as if to ask: “What more can I do?” BlueCo may argue that toeing the line would have helped.

Cucurella, meanwhile, has publicly questioned the project, namely the club’s decision to fire Maresca mid-season, and is this week facing further scrutiny after reports that his barber leaked the team news for the Brighton trip. “[Cole] Palmer and Joao Pedro injured tonight. There’s your exclusive,” he posted on X, accompanied by an image of the left-back getting his hair cut.

Blame also must lie in the dugout. Rosenior is a young manager at 41 and feels a victim of being groomed for this role by BlueCo – from the outset, it seemed this step up had come way too soon. He was thrown into the deep end thanks to the petulance of his predecessor, with Maresca’s press conference rants putting his bosses in a very difficult position. For all his managerial prowess, the Italian left having created instability.

But despite a promising start in the hot seat, Rosenior’s inexperience has been shown by how his team have responded to adversity. Past weeks have been defined by muddled tactics and a lack of fight. There had been speculation, denied by the club, that he has lost the dressing room, something which may have coincided with him ditching his policy of defending his players no matter what. “To be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable,” he fumed after the fateful Brighton loss.

The decision of Chelsea’s hierarchy to part ways with Rosenior just four months after he was brought in as BlueCo’s own pet project was, in a way, understandable. But that’s inherently what it comes down to – Chelsea are in this mess because of the decisions of their owners.

This is their making, this is their fault – and the project has reached breaking point. BlueCo is already fighting a civil war against an enraged fanbase in Strasbourg, whose supporters loathe their perceived “pawn of Chelsea” status under multi-club ownership. A similar mutiny is brewing at Stamford Bridge.