After two trials, the former Spandau Ballet singer was remanded in custody, with Judge John Dodd KC ordering a report in February to assess the danger Davidson would pose in the future, setting his sentencing date as Thursday, April 30.

This morning, the 37-year-old appeared at Wood Green Crown Court in London, where he received his sentence.

In a statement shared with Metro, Shikha Verma, senior Crown prosecutor in CPS London, said: “Ross Davidson is a predatory sex offender who targeted multiple victims over a number of years.

A former frontman of Spandau Ballet who carried out a string of rapes and sexual assaults has been jailed for 14 years. Ross Davidson from Aberdeen – who was part of the 80s group in 2018 and 2019 – attacked six women over several years.

— LBC News Scotland (@LBCNewsScot) April 30, 2026

“Several of these offences were committed against women while they were asleep.

“I want to pay tribute to the victims for their immense courage in supporting the prosecution, and Davidson has now been held accountable for his horrific crimes.

“We understand the courage it takes for victims to come forward and would like to reassure any victims that the CPS will continue to work tirelessly with partners across the criminal justice system to ensure sexual abusers face the full extent of the law.”

Davidston insisted that his contact with the women, whom he met on the Tinder dating app, was always consensual and described himself as ‘sex positive’.

He told the court earlier this year that this was about “open dialogue, open-mindedness about people’s predilections, just an openness to trying different sexual appetites”.

This could include bondage, restraint, and group sex, and he had “once or twice” attended a sex party.

In contrast, the court heard that he carried out the assaults because he felt he could get “sex on demand” if he wasn’t “given what he thought he deserved”.

Prosecutor Richard Hearnden said Davidson had been thought of as “a bit of a sex symbol”.

Two of the victims said he had a “much darker side”.

One woman told the jury that Davidson attacked her while she was asleep in his bed and recalled feeling “helpless” and “scared to react”.

Before assaulting her, Davidson “mentioned he liked the idea of having sex with a mannequin, a person in a helpless state, someone not moving”.

‘You should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity’

Police Scotland has issued a ‘be alert’ warning after the UK terror level raised to “severe”.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which makes independent assessments as part of the MI5, announced the decision on Thursday noting a terror attack on the UK is “highly likely”. However, Police Scotland have now said that there is nothing to suggest a specific threat to Scotland.

The force has warned Scots to be alert, not alarmed, remain vigilant and report anything suspicious. Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism, said: “Today the Home Secretary announced an increase in the UK’s Terrorism Threat Level to Severe, meaning an attack is now highly likely.

“This decision has been made in response to a series of recent attacks on Jewish communities and a terror attack declared in north London yesterday (29 April). I want to stress that there is no intelligence to suggest any specific threat to Scotland.

“However, I do want to take this opportunity to urge the public to remain alert but not alarmed. You should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Police Scotland.”

Police Scotland can be contacted on 101 or in an emergency you should always dial 999.

This comes after the day following two Jewish men were stabbed in north London and in the wake of a spate of attacks in Jewish neighbourhoods in recent weeks. Police confirmed the suspect in Wednesday’s attack had previously been reported to Prevent, the Government’s anti-extremism programme.

The 45-year-old British national was born in Somalia and came to the UK legally as a child in the 1990s, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the suspect was referred to Prevent in 2020 but the case was closed the same year.

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The Wimpole Estate is allowing visitors to get up close with its baby animals

A National Trust site on the Cambridgeshire border is offering visitors ther chance to meet its newest arrivals on the farm. Up until Sunday, May 10, if you are taking a trip to the Wimpole Estate, you will be able to see a range of baby animals at Home Farm.

Whilst walking around the farm, you will spot piglets, goat kids, calves, and chicks that were born throughout the spring. You might see a few of the animals taking their first steps, exploring their surroundings, and visitors can learn more about each animal and why it is important to preserve heritage livestock.

The activity might a great choice if you are looking for things to do to keep younger children occupied over the long bank holiday weekend. After taking a look at the cute animals, you could explore the rest of the Wimpole Estate, which has plenty of other family-friendly things to do.

Found close to Home Farm, children can let off some steam at the farm playground, which is surrounded by the countryside. The play area has a range of features including climbing frames and an adventure trail. There are also a few small farm play items as well as lots of picnic benches for parents to sit and watch their children. You could pick up a hot drink, snack or light lunch from the Farm Café to enjoy while relaxing.

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If you are looking for something more active, you can take a walk around the acres of parkland surrounding the Wimpole Estate. The walled garden has high brick walls and gates making it feel hidden away from the rest of the world with a glasshouse for children to peak into.

You could also follow the many pathways around the countryside and visit the Gothic Tower or take a look around the lake to see if you can find any swans and ducks. You might prefer to cross over the Chinese Bridge and walk to the top of the hill to enjoy the views of the area.

After taking a walk around the countryside and watching the farm animals, you might want to grab a bite to eat. The Old Rectory could be the ideal spot for some lunch with its terrace that overlooks the garden.

The Old Rectory offers both hot and cold drinks as well as hot meals, lunches, homemade cakes, and cream teas. Many of the dishes available are made using “seasonal produce from Wimpole’s own gardens”.

Entry to Wimpole’s gardens and estate costs £21 for adults and £10.50 for children aged between five and 17. If you just want to visit the gardens and parkland, entry costs £11 for adults and £5.50 for children.

The Wimpole Estate can be found on the A603 just outside of Arrington, which is a 21-minute drive away from Cambridge. There is a free car park onsite for guests to use.

Here are the five roads closed in and around the town that you should know about this Friday:

Bull Wynd

The road is closed from from April 27 until July 3.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for carriageway works.

Royal Oak Yard

Royal Oak Yard is shut from April 13 to May 17.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for carriageway works.

Auckland Oval

A road closure is expected from April 29 to May 1 for utility asset works.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for lining works to the sewer.

Harrowgate Village

A road closure is scheduled from March 31, 2025, to July 31 for highway improvement works.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for footway, carriageway, and verge works.

Beaumont Hill

A road closure is also scheduled from March 31, 2025, to July 31 for highway improvement works.

Restrictions are set to remain in place for footway, carriageway, and verge works.

This is Moroccan-inspired and very good with roast lamb or spicy barbecued mackerel. If you want to have it on its own, yogurt or labneh are good alongside and, of course, flatbread or couscous. It might seem like a hassle to roast the fennel and tomatoes separately but it does make things easier when you assemble the salad. Each element stays intact.

You can use coriander or mint instead of parsley in the dressing, and extend the salad by adding fresh leaves (rocket, watercress or baby spinach). Just note that if you add leaves you’ll need to make more dressing.

A note allegedly written by Jeffrey Epstein in prison, said to contain the chilling words “time to say goodbye”, has reportedly been locked in a New York courthouse vault since 2019 as the New York Times petitions a judge to unseal it

A suicide note penned by Jeffrey Epstein while in custody has reportedly remained under wraps for almost seven years.

The disgraced financier’s letter is understood to have been locked away in a vault at a New York courthouse.

A cellmate claimed he came across the note in July 2019, following an incident in which Epstein was discovered unresponsive with a strip of cloth tied round his neck. Epstein survived that episode, but weeks later was found dead in his cell.

On Thursday, The New York Times petitioned the judge to unseal the note, which said it was “time to say goodbye”, cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione claimed. The note had been sealed by a federal judge as part of the cellmate’s own criminal case, according to documents and interviews.

This meant that investigators looking into Epstein’s high-profile death were denied access to what might have been a crucial piece of evidence. A two-page document within the records reportedly outlines how the scrawled message became embroiled in Tartaglione’s legal proceedings, reports the Mirror.

It was said that Tartaglione’s lawyers authenticated the note, though there is no explanation of how this was done.

Tartaglione did mention the note on a podcast last year, yet the contents of the message were never disclosed, despite widespread demands for openness surrounding the investigation. Since December, the Justice Department has released millions of pages of documents related to Epstein.

Tartaglione, a former police officer, is currently imprisoned serving four consecutive life sentences for the murder of four individuals. Prison records reveal that a week after Epstein accused his cellmate of assaulting him in July 2019, he subsequently changed his account and claimed they “never had any issues”.

A Justice Department spokeswoman informed the New York Times that the agency hadn’t received it and that the department “underwent an exhaustive effort to collect all records in its possession,” including those from the Bureau of Prisons and the Office of the Inspector General.

Tartaglione claimed he discovered the note hidden inside a graphic novel after Epstein was transferred to a separate section of the facility. The note allegedly stated that investigators “found nothing” from their inquiries into the sex offender, Tartaglione recounted.

He maintained the message stated: “What do you want me to do, bust out crying? Time to say goodbye.”

Epstein was discovered dead in his cell at a federal detention centre in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was determined to be suicide.

The US president cited the Scotch industry’s relationship with the American bourbon industry and the impact of the royals’ visit to the White House

Donald Trump has said he will remove tariffs on Scottish whisky following a visit from the King and Queen.

The US president cited the Scotch industry’s relationship with the American bourbon industry and the impact of the royals’ visit to the White House. Most Scotch producers source their casks from the US.

President Trump said that while “people have wanted to do this for a long time” the King and Queen “got me to do something that nobody else was able to do”.

The Scottish and UK governments had been lobbying the Republican to end the 10% tariffs on the industry, as the US is the single biggest market for Scotland’s whisky.

Confirming the news, Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “In honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky.

“People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used. The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!

“A wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Without the intervention, the industry could have seen another 25% in the spring as Mr Trump continues his tariff agenda.

Mr Trump’s previous 25% Scotch tariff between 2019 and 2021 resulted in the sector losing more than £600 million, or £1 million a day, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) previously said.

The trade body estimates the current 10% tariffs are costing whisky firms £3m in lost exports each week.

In 2025, First Minister John Swinney went to the White House to press the president following discussions during his visit to Scotland.

Mr Swinney hailed the decision as “tremendous news for Scotland”.

He said: “As First Minister, I have made it my mission to do everything possible to lift US tariffs on our whisky.

“People’s jobs were at stake. Millions of pounds were being lost every month from the Scottish economy.

“Yet despite this, and despite months of trade talks, it was obvious to me that the UK Government had done little to raise the issue of Scotch whisky, and the US president was not aware that there was an issue until he came here to Scotland.

“By meeting the president during his visit to Scotland and by going to Washington, to the Oval Office, we made Scotland’s case. We worked directly with the Scotch Whisky Association to get Scotland’s voice heard.

“And, we used every chance to drive our point home, not least the State Banquet hosted by His Majesty The King in London last September.”

Mr Swinney said that “hard work” had “paid off” and expressed his thanks to the president “for listening and acting to lift the tariffs”.

He also said that Scotland was “grateful” to the King for the “key role he played in this tremendous success”.

“Scotland needs a government that is always on Scotland’s side,” he added.

“It needs experienced leadership that is focused on delivering and knows how to get things done at the very highest level.

“That is what we offer and today shows how important it is.”

Russell Findlay, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, accused Mr Swinney’s party of being dishonest.

He said: “The King has secured an agreement from the US president to remove tariffs on Scotch whisky. John Swinney is trying to claim credit. Why are the SNP so dishonest?”

The SWA, the industry’s trade body, welcomed the news.

Chief executive Mark Kent said: “This deal is a significant boost for the Scotch Whisky industry in our most valuable export market. Distillers can breathe a little easier during a period of significant pressure on the sector.

“We are hugely grateful for the sustained efforts on both sides of the Atlantic. For months, many have worked tirelessly to return zero-for-zero tariff trade for whisky and bourbon. The special relationship that the Scotch Whisky and American Whiskey industries share will be reinvigorated by this announcement.

“While challenges in our sector remain, we can now redouble our efforts to boost the benefits our two great industries bring to communities across Scotland and the US.”

Business and trade secretary Peter Kyle said: “This is great news for our Scotch whisky industry, which is worth almost £1 billion in exports and supports thousands of jobs across the UK.

“I have been advocating for lower tariffs on key exports like whisky to protect vital jobs and iconic British brands while strengthening our relationship with the US.”

It is unclear what the future holds for NIE’s meter readers following the announcement from the Economy Minister

Unite the Union, which represents staff at NIE have called for clarity on the future employment for meter readers following the announcement that smart readers are to be rolled out across Northern Ireland.

On Wednesday, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald announced that smart readers will be installed in homes across NI from 2028.

There are currently 932,000 electricity connections across Northern Ireland. It is estimated that the cost of rolling the meters out across Northern Ireland will be in the region of £500 million.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Instead of financial support or price caps on surging electricity bills, the economy minister is bringing forward the installation of smart meters as a way to reduce household electricity bills.

“Northern Ireland already has the highest levels of fuel poverty – rather than encourage energy rationing we need to see real action to lower or cap costs.”

Unite regional officer, Joanne McWilliams said: “Unite is demanding that NI Electricity management provides protections for the future employment of meter readers.

“We have also sought assurances that all installations will be completed by professional, directly employed NIE staff, not outsourced to contractors. We will continue to work with the company’s management to secure the best interests of our members – the frontline NIE workforce.”

An NIE spokesperson said: “NIE Networks welcome the publication of the Smart Electricity Meters Design Plan. There remains a lot to be decided, and we look forward to working with partners to develop the detailed programme plan, which will provide more confirmation on how the programme will operate and the skills required.”

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Neville, 73, was last seen Holland Street, Radcliffe, at 4.47pm today, Thursday, April 30.

He is described as a white male, approx. 5ft 2in tall with a medium build. He has short grey balding hair and is clean shaven.

He was last seen wearing a black jacket with a hood, a dark green shirt with a black collar, black trousers and black shoes.

Sharing on social media, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: “Can you help us find Neville (73) from Radcliffe?

“He was last seen on Holland Street, Radcliffe on Thursday 30 April at around 4:47pm.

“Officers want to make sure he is found safe and well.

“Anyone with information about Neville’s whereabouts is asked to contact us on 0161 856 2476.

“Always call 999 in an emergency.”

When a man stabbed Jewish people in Golders Green, London, in what police declared a terrorist incident, the story spread fast – through news alerts, social media and the whispered conversations of anxious adults. When this happens, children notice.

Whether they catch a fragment of a TV bulletin, overhear a parent on the phone, or simply sense that something has shifted in the atmosphere at home, the news has a way of reaching them before they are ready. The question isn’t really whether to talk to children about violence and fear; it’s how.

First, it’s important to know that children have the resilience and capacity to process difficult topics, but bear in mind that this needs to happen in a supportive environment.

Start with safety. Ensure your child feels relaxed and secure. Safety comes from routines, keeping daily rhythms and practising rituals that remind everyone you are together and safe – for example, a nighttime story or song, a special time on the couch after dinner.

Your capacity to deal with issues like violence and fear is the most important factor in contributing to your child feeling safe during these conversations. If you feel overwhelmed or anxious, wait until you feel calmer and more grounded, or have someone to support you with the conversation.

Some families – particularly those who face racism or other forms of discrimination – will already be familiar with these conversations. But if this is new to you, the main thing to do is to be honest and clear. Be direct and specific. Avoid metaphors and euphemisms and vague ideas like “bad people”.

Adjust your language to the child’s age, but don’t overthink it. Simply pause often, ask questions, and watch their face for confusion.

Children don’t stay afraid for long. They move in and out of difficult feelings quickly, which is why short, repeated conversations work better than one big, serious talk.

Come back to them to check understanding and listen for misunderstandings. Ask them if they have any questions. And don’t be surprised if the child looks particularly bored or disinterested. Children prefer delight and joy and play rather than serious adult conversations. It doesn’t mean they are not listening or appreciating the explanation, it just means their priorities are elsewhere – and that’s a good thing.

Keeping children grounded amid fear

Limit media exposure and try to avoid talking about scary events around them – they are always listening and there’s huge room for misunderstanding when they hear rather than take part in conversations.

Research shows that if children are exposed to media and talk about fearful events, that it’s important what they hear is mediated through a supportive adult who can explain the content appropriately. They can pick up on the signs of fear and anxiety from adults, particularly in times of uncertainty, even if they can’t fully understand the words in the conversation.

Follow your child’s lead. Your job is to open the door. They decide whether to walk through it and when to leave. Don’t mistake silence for shutdown. Children often process fear through movement, play, singing, dancing, making and even breaking things.

It’s OK to say “I don’t know” to questions you can’t answer. And it’s OK to say: “I know the answer, but it’s too much information for you at your age, I’ll tell you a little bit now and explain more when I think you are old enough.”

Most important of all, for you and your child, look at your circle of safety. Remind your child they are safe here and now with you, that there is a community that you live in and link with who are there to support you and keep you safe. Focus on hope and efficacy and on what can we do right now for the future we want.