‘A song can be so powerful in connecting us with memories’

Sir Alex Ferguson has donated £100,000 to a leading music and dementia charity. The legendary former Manchester United manager, whose brother is living with dementia, became an ambassador for Playlist for Life last year.

The Glasgow-based charity, which has networks across the UK, was founded by Scottish writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson MBE after she discovered meaningful songs helped improve her connections with her mother, who lived with dementia.

It works in support of those affected by dementia and said scientific research has shown listening to personally meaningful songs can help reduce distressing symptoms and improve quality of life. The charity’s mission is to ensure everyone living with dementia has access to a personal playlist as a standard element of their care and support.

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Bosses said the donation from Sir Alex through The Elizabeth Hardie Ferguson Charitable Trust Fund, which he founded in memory of his mother, would be vital to its ongoing work.

The ex-United boss said: “We all know someone whose life has been touched by dementia. I have seen the impact it can have in my own family and I know the challenges it can bring. But I also know that music is one of the best things available that can help. That’s why I back Playlist for Life and its mission to have music in dementia care and support as standard.

“The charity is transforming the lives of people affected by dementia across the UK using personally meaningful music. The songs that matter to us make up the soundtrack of our lives and for people living with dementia, that soundtrack can bring back treasured memories, reduce symptoms and help people reconnect.

“It’s a simple thing to do, but for someone affected by dementia, it can make a world of difference.”

Playlist for Life’s annual awareness campaign, National Playlist Day, is on Friday, September 18. The charity and Sir Alex were today encouraging everyone to create a personal playlist for themselves or someone close to them.

Sir Alex’s playlist now features 20 of his favourite songs, including The Beatles, The Drifters, Kity Kallen, Elvis and Dusty Springfield. And he said he’s recently added ‘We are the Champions’ by Queen, which he said takes him back to a special Manchester United title win.

“Music is a big part of my life,” he said. “I’ve shared songs from my own personal playlist, from Sinatra to Nat King Cole, and I’m encouraging everyone to do the same. I’ve added ‘We are the Champions’ to my playlist because it reminds me of the lap of honour at Old Trafford when Manchester United won the Premier League for the first time in 1993.

“A song can be so powerful in connecting us with memories.”

Michael Timmons, Executive Director of Playlist for Life, said the donation would’ play a vital role in helping everyone affected by dementia have access to a personal playlist’. “Sir Alex has been an incredible ambassador for our charity, championing our work with great warmth and humility,” he said.

As the last of the 22-member gang were brought to justice by a York-based team and were sentenced, more details have emerged of their crimes.

The gang pressurised homeowners across the North East, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire to pay vastly inflated prices for unnecessary or poor-quality roofing and building work, then hid their ill-gotten gains in a web of bank accounts.

More than £1 million was taken from 43 victims by a network that carried out unnecessary building work.

The money was extracted between May 2021 and August 2024, following cold calls to homeowners across Northumberland, County Durham, Teesside, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Members of the national trading standards regional investigation team based in York  found that the network also used bank accounts to move and disguise money taken from victims.

The fraud usually began with an approach about a small job, such as clearing gutters or replacing a roof tile. Once work started, homeowners were told that further repairs were needed urgently.

Prices then rose to thousands, or tens of thousands, of pounds. Officers said people who were older, isolated or living with ill health were targeted.

One victim, a woman in her late 70s from New Marske, first agreed to repairs to her garage roof after being cold called by Frederick Finney.

She was later persuaded that her main roof needed replacing. During the following year, she paid £94,700.

A chartered building surveyor later found the work had been carried out very badly and valued it at £3,107.

Another woman in her late seventies from Sheffield, was approached repeatedly while her husband was terminally ill and after his death.

Finney later cold called her using the name “James”. He returned with flowers and chocolates, called her his “nicest customer” and told her he “wouldn’t take advantage of her or scam her”.

Finney was also reported to have told her that she was his nicest customer. In total, she paid £133,400 for work later valued at £3,350.

On the final day of the lengthy sentencing hearing, eight defendants were sentenced.

As The Press reported yesterday, 14 were sentenced earlier this week.

They included Finney 48. previously of Bickerton, between York and Wetherby, who was given six years and nine months immediate imprisonment  after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property..

In total over the whole hearing Judge Joanne Kidd  jailed 12 members for a combined  63 years and 3 months. The rest received suspended prison sentences.

The last to be sentenced were:

Shane Farrow, 33, of Birch Close, Stokesley, was jailed for six years and three months after admitting conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Thomas Winter, 34, previously of Guisborough, was jailed for 42 months after admitting conspiracy to convert criminal property.

The following all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convert criminal property.

Gang members and money launderers Chelsea Bayliss and Serena Robertson (Image: National Trading Standards)

Ryan Watson, 27, of Darnton Drive, Middlesbrough, received a two-year sentence suspended for two years, as did Serena Robertson, 25, of Hebron Road, Stokesley and Chelsea Bayliss, 24, of Allen Court, Stokesley, Nicole O’Brien, 36, of South Parkway, Seacroft, Leeds, and Ben Ware, 34, of York Road, Tadcaster,

James Hope, 37, of Gainford, Gateshead, received a 12-month sentence suspended for two years.

The victim had been out celebrating

A man dragged a “vulnerable” woman into bushes and stopped her from screaming before raping her. Darius Andrulionis, 46, was out drinking in Wisbech earlier this year, when he set his eyes on his victim who was also out that night.

The woman was drinking throughout the night, and was clearly “vulnerable” as she had fallen over several times. At Cambridge Crown Court on Tuesday (September 15), it was heard that Andrulionis had “followed” his victim through the night. At one point he tried to dance with her, but she refused.

Prosecution told the court that the woman later went to a garage, alongside the people she was out with, in the early hours of the following morning and Andrulionis once again followed her. While at the garage, Andrulionis “dragged” the woman away from the area. CCTV showed she was “clearly struggling” and she was “kicking” at Andrulionis to let her go, the court heard.

Prosecution then told the court Andrulionis “dragged her away, took her into an alleyway and into some bushes”. The woman screamed, but Andrulionis “covered her mouth and nose”.

The court heard that it was a “prolonged” attack but the victim managed to get away and run back to the garage. The victim suffered minor injuries including to her arms, legs, back and finger. The attack was reported to the police and Andrulionis was arrested later that day.

A victim’s personal statement was read out on behalf of the victim. The court heard how the incident had affected her “more mentally than physically”. The statement said she now gets “nervous when people, especially men, walk behind me in everyday life”. The court also heard how the woman no longer “trusts people” and she has “stopped going out and socialising”.

“I have just locked everything inside and I have tried to bury it down,” the statement read.

During police interview, Andrulionis denied he had committed the rape. He told police he had been at the same place as the woman and also the garage, but he left when a fight broke out at the garage. When shown CCTV footage during an interview, Andrulionis accepted he had interacted with the woman, but still denied the attack.

He initially pleaded not guilty to one count of rape of a woman aged 16 years or over, but pleaded guilty at a later date. In mitigation, Andrulionis’s defence said he had no previous convictions relating to sexual offences. However, he had two previous convictions related to drink driving in 2020 and 2022. The defence told the court that Andrulionis had been an “exemplary worker” in the UK, where he has been living for the last 10 years.

In passing his sentence, his Honour Judge Andrew Hirst described Andrulionis as a “predatory” man who didn’t “express remorse” for his victim. The judge said the woman was “extremely vulnerable” and that Andrulionis “must have seen and known that”.

The way Andrulionis dragged the woman away, was described by the judge as “abduction”. The judge added that Andrulionis “targeted her for her vulnerability” and he was “able to do what you wanted because she was drunk”.

“You simply dragged her away in the dark to satisfy your lust,” the judge said.

Andrulionis, of Balding Close, Wisbech, was sentenced to seven years in prison, with six years on extended licence. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order, placed on the sex offenders register for life and ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.

The probe into years of failings at the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Trust will be chaired by a retired judge, the government announced on today, and begin on Monday (September 21).

Chair Judge John Potter said his first priority was “to meet and listen to those affected” and promised the long-awaited inquiry would be independent, thorough and fair.

The date of the inquiry’s first public hearing has not been announced.

TEWV has been dogged by calls for a full statutory inquiry after being convicted and fined over the deaths of two patients and blamed at inquests for contributing to the deaths of others, slammed by watchdogs, and branded as ‘requiring improvement’.

Families who have spent years campaigning, backed by the Northern Echo, finally had their calls answered in December when former Health Secretary Wes Streeting ordered the investigation during a meeting with them in Darlington.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Mr Streeting said they had made a “strong case” and thanked them for “sharing their harrowing experiences, not only of losing loved ones but also encountering significant failings of care.”

Wes Streeting meeting the families in Darlington where he called a public inquiry into TEWV

The new chair, His Honour Judge John Potter, is a retired circuit judge and former deputy judge in the Court of Appeal’s criminal division, with more than 40 years’ experience.

He said: “I am honoured to have been appointed to chair the TEWV inquiry. I am conscious of the responsibility that comes with this role and of the experiences of the patients, families and others affected by the matters the inquiry will examine.

“My first priority will be to meet and listen to those affected. Their voices and experiences will be central to the inquiry’s work and will help inform the development of its terms of reference.

“The inquiry will approach its task independently, thoroughly and fairly, and with respect for everyone who takes part. I will work with the inquiry team to put the necessary arrangements in place so that our work can begin as promptly as proper preparation allows.”

Judge John Potter. (Image: DHSC)

While families have welcomed progress, many had expressed frustration at the delay in appointing a chair.

In July this paper called on new PM Andy Burnham to progress the stalled inquiry, as families feared a lack of progress.

Alistair Smith, a solicitor at Ison Harrison, which represents more than 200 families affected by TEWV, said: “The appointment of a chair is important and we welcome this step forward for the many families who have campaigned tirelessly for answers about the care provided by TEWV.

“For years, bereaved families and individuals have raised serious concerns about patient safety, avoidable deaths and the culture within the trust. They have shown remarkable determination in pursuing accountability and meaningful change. 

Lawyer Alistair Smith who is representing families affected by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV)

“While the appointment of a chair marks progress, families will be looking for reassurance that the inquiry will move forward without unnecessary delay and will be given the scope and resources needed to fully examine what went wrong.

“They want the inquiry to establish the truth, ensure lessons are learned and provide confidence that improvements are made to protect patients in the future. 

“Many families and individuals have waited a long time for this moment. There remains a strong desire to see the inquiry begin its substantive work as soon as possible so that those affected can finally have their experiences heard and properly investigated.”

As chair of a full statutory inquiry, Judge Potter will have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The families who were let down by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust have suffered immeasurable pain.”

Yvette Cooper in Durham this week

“Judge Potter has been asked to deliver a report explaining why things went so wrong across the trust’s mental health services and what must change.”

TEWV has long said it will cooperate with the inquiry.

Duran Arnet was trying to escape police when he raced through the streets

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A man has been jailed after he was seen driving into oncoming traffic while trying to escape police.

Duran Arnet even had a child in his car, who was sat in the passenger seat, without a seat belt on at the time he sped through the streets on Thursday (September 10).

The 36-year-old caught officers’ attention after the force spotted a red Ford Focus and tried to stop it due to intelligence on the vehicle. Yet Arnet sped off from behind the wheel.

Arnet, of Berwick Road, Easton, made off on the A4174 near Wick Wick Roundabout in a bid to evade officers.

During the incident, which saw police pursue Arnet, he was seen driving into the path of oncoming traffic, mounted the pavement, and travelled at excessive speeds. He also drove the wrong way around a roundabout while carrying a minor passenger who was not wearing a seatbelt, Bristol Live reports.

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Police said the dangerous driving continued through Longwell Green before the vehicle entered the Emerald Park area, where Arnet abandoned the car and ran off.

He tried to evade officers by running into the A4174 dual carriageway but was arrested after a short foot chase.

You can watch the dramatic police chase at the top of this article.

Amet was charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop for police and using a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate.

He was remanded into custody and attended Bristol Magistrates Court on Friday, September 11, where he received an immediate custodial sentence of 28 weeks.

PC Jack Fare said: “Amet’s driving showed a complete disregard for the safety of other road users and pedestrians. Throughout the incident, his actions created significant risk to members of the public.

“It is particularly concerning that he carried out these dangerous manoeuvres while a passenger, who was a minor and not wearing a seatbelt, was in the vehicle.”

“We welcome the custodial sentence, which reflects the seriousness of his offending.”

The driver was speeding and allegedly under the influence of drugs when she drove the wrong way down a street before ploughing into a city bus on Tuesday

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The driver of an SUV that slammed into the side of a Los Angeles city bus before a TV news helicopter, that had been covering the collision, went down has been charged with murder by police. Bailee Lynn Rios was speeding and allegedly under the influence of drugs when she drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue and struck a vehicle before ploughing into a city bus on Tuesday (September 15), Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told a news conference, according to the Associated Press. Rios, 36, faces two charges of murder in the deaths of the two people on the bus, identified as Daniel Castillo, 46, and Gage Weida, 31.

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Rios is now being held on $4.1 million (£3 million) bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday (September 18). Rios’ mother, Cindy Rios said she was shocked and saddened by what had happened, adding she had not spoken to her daughter since her arrest. As for the news helicopter crash, both people on board – pilot George Marciniw and reporter Eliana Moreno – were killed, as well as and a man on the ground, Edy Gutierrez Mejia. At least four cars and two storage containers burned after the helicopter caught fire.

There were no immediate details on what caused the helicopter to go down, but investigators said significant clues could come from the last seconds of video the crew broadcast. In it, an alarm could be heard inside the helicopter’s cockpit as it lost altitude. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Fabian Salazar said Wednesday that the video is “probably the most important evidence that we have discovered so far.” Just after the beeping starts, a woman’s voice says “uh oh.” The helicopter moves quickly away from the bus crash site and starts losing altitude. The woman says “You can’t pull up?” before the video stops as the chopper nears the ground.

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Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said the alarm suggests a potential loss of engine power and a dangerous decrease in the main rotor speed. He said the pilot appeared to be trying to perform an emergency manoeuvre to use the wind to force the rotor to spin again. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the bus collision. There have been at least eight fatal crashes involving news helicopters in the US since 2000, killing 16 people, according to a review of federal accident records and news accounts.

A vigil was planned for Thursday evening local time to remember those killed in both crashes.

Heidi Klum celebrated HeidiFest in her German homeland with her family right by her side.

The 53-year-old model donned traditional Bavarian attire as she arrived at the event in Munich with her younger husband Tom Kaulitz, 37, daughter Leni, 22, son Henry Samuel, 21, and mother Erna Klum.

She looked stunning in a vibrant, low-cut yellow floral dirndl – a traditional dress that features a lace-up bodice and wide apron skirt. Klum styled the look with a matching flower wreath and yellow heels. 

Her husband also opted for a traditional look, wearing distressed olive-brown lederhosen with a light blue shirt and vest over it. The Tokio Hotel guitarist completed the look with knee-high grey wool socks.

The pair, who married in 2019, were seen sharing a passionate smooch at the event.  

HeidiFest, which kicks off the traditional annual Oktoberfest celebrations, is a star-studded party held at the iconic Hofbrauhaus beer hall. 

The model donned traditional Bavarian attire as she arrived at the event in Munich with her husband Tom Kaulitz, 37, daughter Leni, 22, son Henry Samuel, 21, and mother Erna Klum

Klum’s mom Erna opted for a vivid red dress with a matching wreath and boots. 

Her son Henry matched Kaulitz in a similar traditional look but opted to keep his socks rolled down.

Meanwhile, Leni wowed in a baby blue dress paired with a blue apron and UGG slippers.

The Victoria’s Secret Angel shares Leni with Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, and Henry with ex-husband Seal. She also has son Johan, 19, and daughter Lou, 16, with Seal. The British musician officially adopted Leni in 2009.

Klum and Seal were married from 2005 until 2014.

The festival comes shortly after the family celebrated Henry’s 21st birthday on September 12.

Klum surprised her son with a flashy, red Ferrari F430 to mark the occasion.

She shared an Instagram video of the moment she presented the special gift to him and captured his surprised reaction. 

The pair, who married in 2019, were seen sharing a passionate smooch at the event 

Klum and Leni both matched in traditional looks  

She looked stunning in a vibrant, low-cut yellow floral dirndl – a traditional dress that features a lace-up bodice and wide apron skirt

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Klum styled the look with a matching flower wreath and yellow heels

She wore her blonde tresses cascading down her shoulders 

Her husband also opted for a traditional look, wearing distressed olive-brown lederhosen with a light blue shirt and vest over it

The Tokio Hotel guitarist completed the look with knee-high grey wool socks

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The Victoria’s Secret Angel shares Leni with Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, and Henry with ex-husband Seal

At one point Henry carried his older sister in his arms 

The siblings appeared to have a blast at the event 

Leni wowed in a baby blue dress paired with a blue apron and UGG slippers

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Henry matched his stepfather Kaulitz in a similar traditional look but opted to keep his socks rolled down

Klum’s mom Erna opted for a vivid red dress with a matching wreath and boots

Henry also posed with his grandmother 

In the clip, Klum was standing outside alongside the car, which costs upwards of six figures and averages around $200,000.

Kaulitz led Henry outside toward the surprise awaiting him.

‘I can’t believe it is that time. You’ve been waiting for so many years,’ Klum said to Henry in the video.

‘Oh my God! Jesus Christ. I don’t even know what to say,’ Henry could be heard saying after the luxury car was revealed to him.

Kaulitz was also heard in the birthday surprise video, explaining that he held up his end of the bargain after he and Henry made a video game bet many years earlier.

He said he purchased the Ferrari at a car show ‘last year’ and had been hiding the big purchase in their garage ‘the whole time’ leading up to Henry’s birthday.

Klum noted how her husband ‘kept his promise’ to Henry. ‘Literally, it’s what? Seven years ago when you guys said that?’

Klum then shared a follow-up post and revealed the gift was related to when Henry was a teenager and made a bet with his stepfather Kaulitz.

HeidiFest – which kicks off the traditional annual Oktoberfest celebrations – is a star-studded party held at the iconic Hofbrauhaus beer hall

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The festival comes shortly after the family celebrated Henry’s 21st birthday on September 12 

‘It’s happening on Christmas, and if I lose Mario Kart, then I can’t play video games for three months, and I have to do a painting of me driving,’ Henry said in the clip. ‘But if I win, then Tom has to give me a Ferrari when I’m 21.’

On the same day, Klum also shared an adorable throwback photo of her four children when they were young children.

In the black-and-white snapshot, her children were wearing birthday hats and smiling at each other during a special moment.

Klum wrote in her caption alongside the adorable picture of her kids and a slew of red heart emojis: ‘Henry WOW. Time flies. We love you sooooooo much. Happy 21 Birthday.’ 

By ED HOLT

Published: 01:37 BST, 18 September 2026 | Updated: 01:44 BST, 18 September 2026

By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 01:53 BST, 18 September 2026 | Updated: 01:55 BST, 18 September 2026