EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) — The bishop of a small Chaldean Catholic community in the San Diego area has resigned amid charges that he embezzled $270,000 from his parish, Pope Leo XIV announced Tuesday.

Bishop Emanuel Shaleta pleaded not guilty on Monday to 16 felony charges, including money laundering, during a hearing attended by many of his supporters. The hearing followed his arrest Thursday at San Diego International Airport as he was trying to leave the country, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

Shaleta, 69, is accused of embezzling from the St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon, east of San Diego.

Last August, someone from Shaleta’s church provided a statement and documentation “showing potential embezzlement from the church,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

The Vatican said in its daily bulletin Tuesday that Leo had accepted Shaleta’s resignation under the code of canon law for Eastern Rite churches, which allows for the pope to agree if a bishop asks to step down. It also said Iraqi Cardinal Louis Sako retired as patriarch of the global Chaldean Catholic Church, saying he wishes to pursue “prayer, writing and simple service.” It’s unclear if his retirement is connected to Shaleta’s case.

Leo actually accepted Shaleta’s resignation in February, but it wasn’t announced until this week, according to the Vatican embassy in Washington. The Holy See appears to have waited to announce the decision to avoid interfering with the police investigation.

Prosecutor Joel Madero said the allegations against Shaleta are connected to monthly rental payments of more than $30,000 from a tenant of the church’s social hall that allegedly were missing. He said there were discrepancies in church accounts and that Shaleta “provided completely unreasonable tales of where that money was going.”

The judge set bail at $125,000 and seized Shaleta’s passport. Madero said Shaleta was a flight risk, but the bishop’s attorney said Thursday’s flight had been planned for a while. Authorities didn’t say where he was headed.

During a Feb. 22 Mass, Shaleta addressed allegations against him, saying he has never “abused any penny of the church money.”

“On the contrary, I have done my best to preserve and manage the donations of the church properly,” he said at the time.

Shaleta’s attorney, Sharon Appelbaum, said she planned to show that the allegations were false. The priests of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle released a statement expressing solidarity with Shaleta.

Shaleta could face 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges, the district attorney’s office said. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 27.

On Tuesday, the El Cajon parish church’s doors were closed and its parking lot was empty. Leo named Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as a temporary administrator.

Shaleta was ordained a priest of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Detroit in 1984. He was named to the San Diego branch of the Eastern Rite Catholic Church in the U.S. in 2017.

The Chaldean Catholic Church represents more than a million Aramaic-speaking Christians who are primarily from Iraq. While its beliefs align with Roman Catholic doctrine, including the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, the church maintains its own distinct, ancient Eastern traditions and identity.

Sako, 76, said in a statement that he freely offered his resignation to Pope Leo XIV, who granted it, and that he was leaving “of my own will.” As the head of the global Chaldean Catholic Church, he occasionally clashed with Iraq’s political leaders.

The Chaldean Community Foundation estimates there are about 500,000 members in the U.S. with the largest concentration — about 187,000 — in the Detroit area, and the rest concentrated in California and Arizona.

Sako’s retirement “will give a chance for new leadership to emerge, hopefully, a younger leader who brings new life into the community,” said the Rev. Mark Morozowich, who heads the Center for Ukrainian Church Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington.

The bishop, meanwhile, is the “spiritual father” of the diocese, and Shaleta’s resignation is likely to cause turmoil beyond his Southern California parish.

“A bishop facing such serious allegations is a sad moment in the history of these wonderful Christians who are a small community that has historically suffered a lot under Iraqi occupation,” he said.

___

This story was corrected to reflect that Shaleta faces 16 felony charges, not 17, which the sheriff’s office reported.

___

Weber and Bharath reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press reporters Nicole Winfield in Rome and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Only one place in the UK was cheaper than renting in Northern Ireland with letting in the city slightly more expensive

Competition for rental homes has fallen to its lowest level for the month of February in six years, according to a property website.

Zoopla said the average number of inquiries per property was 4.8 in February, down from 6.5 last year, meaning fewer renters typically competing for each home.

It marks the lowest level in the month of February since February 2020, when there were around 4.2 inquiries per rental home.

Zoopla said this was “clear evidence” of the rental market becoming more balanced after a peak in competition seen in 2022 and 2023, with improved mortgage conditions having helped more renters to buy their first home.

UK rents for new lets increased by 1.9% over the year to January, reaching £1,319 on average across the UK the website said. In Northern Ireland average rent was £831, up by 8.4%. In Belfast rent averaged at £847, up by 7.6% making it the most cheapest place to rent in the UK regions surveyed – apart from the North East of England at £770, a rise of 4.2%.

The report said: “Rental growth remains stronger in more affordable northern markets where rents are lower. Cities such as Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow are still recording stronger increases of 3% to 4.6%.”

Zoopla said it expected rents to increase by around 2% to 3% on average across the UK during 2026.

Its rental market index is based on asking rents and adjusted to reflect achieved rents.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “Market conditions for renters are the best they have been for six years.

“The rental market is moving back towards balance as demand cools and more homes become available to rent.

“Renters are facing less competition for homes and slower rent increases than in recent years. Localised changes in demand and supply are resulting in rents falling in some cities but this will be only a short-lived trend.

“However, supply remains well below pre-pandemic levels, which means increasing the number of rental homes remains key to improving affordability for the UK renters over the long-term.”

Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, said: “More balance has returned across the UK but in the capital, where renting is twice as common, there is still a notable lack of supply in many areas that is pushing rents higher.”

Meanwhile, calculations from property firm Savills indicated that the value of the UK’s private rented sector fell by £48 billion in 2025, while the value of owner-occupied housing stock increased by £185billion.

The value of the private rented sector has shrunk for three years in a row, according to Savills’ calculations, with the value of homes falling by a total of £79 billion since 2022, as increased house prices have failed to offset the loss of stock.

Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, said: “Over the past 25 years, we’ve grown accustomed to a story of the private rented sector expanding at the expense of people’s ability to get onto the housing ladder.

“But while deep-seated housing challenges remain, lighter regulation in the mortgage market and tighter oversight of the private rented sector are gradually beginning to shift that narrative.

“Changes in tenancy legislation, higher operating costs and increased mortgage rates have prompted many private landlords to reassess their portfolios.

“Larger landlords, better equipped to absorb added costs and requirements, have taken on some of this stock, contributing to a more professionalised PRS (private rented sector). But others have been sold to owner-occupiers, reducing the sector’s overall size.”

Nathan Emerson, chief executive of property professionals’ body Propertymark, said: “We currently have a rental landscape where demand for properties continues to outstrip available stock.

“When looking at the latest data available, Propertymark members report a near 7% increase in the number of landlords who have chosen to sell their properties year-on-year.”

Here are average monthly rents in regions, nations and a selection of major cities in January and the annual change, according to Zoopla:

• East Midlands, £925, 1.4%
• East of England, £1,251, 1.9%
• London, £2,187, 1.7%
• North East, £770, 4.2%
• North West, £958, 3.0%
• Northern Ireland, £831, 8.4%
• Scotland, £878, 1.8%
• South East, £1,397, 1.9%
• South West, £1,147, 2.6%
• Wales, £941, 2.3%
• West Midlands, £972, 0.3%
• Yorkshire and the Humber, £866, 1.5%
• Belfast, £847, 7.6%
• Birmingham, £998, minus 0.7%
• Bristol, £1,431, 0.8%
• Cardiff, £1,193, 2.6%
• Edinburgh, £1,323, 2.0%
• Glasgow, £1,030, 3.7%
• Leeds, £1,024, 0.8%
• Liverpool, £915, 4.6%
• Manchester, £1,167, 1.6%
• Nottingham, £992, minus 0.8%
• Sheffield, £861, 0.9%
• Southampton, £1,194, 2.1%

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

The Sing Thing started last month as a pop-up event around pubs in Westhoughton, aiming to encourage people to sing as a group.

Sandra Scattergood, a freelance music teacher for over 20 years, said she started it after being inspired to bring to adults what she teaches kids in school.

She said: “I always wanted to give adults the opportunity to sing, but without the formality of making it a choir, which can put people off.

“Having it in a pub or bar was crucial just to make it a bit more relaxed and a no pressure environment.

“There’s no charge to encourage people to give it a try, but people can donate if they like it.”

Sandra Scattergood (Image: Alex Critchley)

The 56-year-old said the group currently meets twice a month – once at Bytes and once at Brewery Tap – but she hopes to eventually expand to even more venues.

When she held it in Bytes, she wasn’t sure how many would come because it’s usually closed on a Tuesday – but 25 people showed up.

Sandra said: “So many people are looking for something different, maybe those who wouldn’t normally go to a pub to socialise.

The Sing Thing launched last month to encourage people to sign their hearts out in a relaxed environment (Image: Alex Critchley)

“It’s something to do rather than just going for a drink.

“Particularly in Westhoughton where there’s a vibrant music scene.”

She said many of the pubs and bars host live music in the town and it was through open mic nights at the two bars that she got in touch to talk to them about hosting.

The Sing Thing was first held at Bytes on Tuesday, February 10, and then at Brewery Tap the next Wednesday, February 18.

Sandra said the group will meet on the second Tuesday of every month and then Wednesday the following week.

They sing contemporary pop, rock and indie songs before Sandra will challenge them with a two, or three, part harmony – and she said the group has already smashed it.

The group sings contemporary pop, rock and indie songs (Image: Alex Critchley)

She said: “Even the ones who said, ‘I’ll come but I’m not going to sing, I’ll have a pint and listen’ – every single one ended up joining in.

“The quality of the singing is absolutely amazing as well – absolutely brilliant – it’s amazing that with a little bit of musical direction can give people the confidence to sing.”

Sandra is hoping the group can eventually get big enough to perform at a bigger venue, where the audience will be “providing the entertainment”.

Sandra Scattergood (Image: Alex Critchley)

She said: “There’s so many people who love music and who love singing, but have nowhere to do it.”

More details about The Sing Thing can be found by following their Facebook and Instagram pages at @TheSingThing.

Both venues are dog friendly and you can join in tonight (March 10) from 7pm until 8.30pm at Bytes and next Wednesday, March 18, at Brewery Tap.

There’s nothing better than getting your hands in the soil. It contains a bacterium (mycobacterium vaccae) which can stimulate the production of serotonin, a ‘natural antidepressant’ that improves mood. But gardening can put our hands at risk, so it’s important to find the best gardening gloves to protect them.

“There are so many good reasons to wear gardening gloves,” says Alan Down, lifelong avid gardener and nurseryman with more than 35 years of retailing experience. “A good pair of thorn-proof gloves protect your hands from soil borne diseases, cuts and abrasions, and even from damp, cold, nettles and thorns,” he says.

Over the years, gardening gloves have become much more sophisticated, available in a range of materials, styles and sizes, with some offering specialised features. I’ve tested 16 gloves from the most trusted brands below, as well as answered some frequently asked questions. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:

The best gardening gloves: At a glance

JUMP TO REVIEWS

How to choose the best gardening gloves

“It’s not one-size fits all,” Alan Down says. “Ideally you need a choice of gardening gloves to enable you to carry out specific garden tasks. You might choose a leather pair for extra protection, or a lighter pair for more dexterous jobs like sowing seeds. In fact, I use hard wearing and heavier weight gloves in autumn and winter but thinner ones in spring and summer, when I’m doing gardening tasks that need more sensitivity.”

Choosing the right gardening gloves could make a tangible difference to your gardening activities, allowing you to carry out specific gardening tasks more safely, comfortably and easily. They can also help with gripping machinery like leaf blowers and pressure washers, especially during the cooler months.

How we test gardening gloves

For this guide, I tested a wide range of gardening gloves from the main players in the garden industry including Ansell, Stonebreaker and Briers. I reviewed some basic styles, some all-purpose designs and some gardening gloves with specific features that could improve your gardening experience (such as the ability to use your phone without taking them off). I wore each pair while carrying out a wide range of gardening tasks over the course of two or three days.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly been moved to secure housing on a Washington, D.C. area military base after she received threats from drug cartels and those angry over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to a new report.

Sometime in the past month, Bondi was moved out of an apartment in Washington, D.C. after federal law enforcement officials flagged the threats against her, The New York Times reports, citing “people familiar with the situation.”

Bondi reportedly began receiving threats in the wake of the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, a senior official with direct knowledge told The NYT.

The report did not include specific details of any of the threats made against Bondi.

She isn’t the only Trump administration official who has been moved onto military bases to protect them from blowback.

open image in gallery

President Donald Trump‘s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller — widely seen as the architect of Trump’s heavy-handed anti-immigration agenda — has also been moved into protective housing.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Department of Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have also been placed in secured housing.

All of the officials are the public faces of Trump’s most controversial undertakings — his foreign policy, his anti-immigration agenda, and his military adventurism — and now Bondi, the face of the Justice Department that handled the Epstein case, will join them. The report did not disclose the exact location of the base where the AG has been moved.

It’s unclear if Bondi and the rest of Trump’s front-liners are paying to stay on the bases. Last year, before she was ousted, Noem told The NYT that she was paying “fair-market rent” for her on-base housing.

U.S. officials who are at risk of being targeted by domestic or foreign threats taking up residence on military bases is not an unprecedented practice. During Trump’s first term, Mike Pompeo similarly stayed on a base, as did Trump’s then-Defense Secretary James Mattis.

During former President George W. Bush’s administration, his Defense Secretary Robert Gates, stayed in naval housing near Washington, D.C. In 1974, Congress approved the use of the U.S. Naval Observatory for use as the vice president’s residence.

open image in gallery

Bondi’s move to base housing reportedly occurred around or just after the Super Bowl, based on the report. During this year’s Super Bowl, the survivors of Epstein’s crimes ran a televised public service announcement pleading with Bondi to adhere to the terms of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and release all of the documents the government has regarding the investigation.

“Stand With Us, Tell Attorney General Pam Bondi It’s Time For The Truth,” the PSA said.

Bondi and the Department of Justice released more than 3.5 million documents relating to Epstein in late January, some 42 days after it was legally required to do so. But the public later learned there were documents pertaining to Epstein that, for reasons unknown, the Justice Department did not make public. That revelation gave rise to renewed suspicions of a cover-up by the Trump administration.

Bondi has faced criticism not only for failing to release all of the Epstein files, but also for failing to properly redact the files that were released. She was forced to remove thousands of published Epstein documents because they contained names and other identifying information about victims.

open image in gallery

“This latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files is being sold as transparency, but what it actually does is expose survivors,” Epstein victims wrote in a statement following the release. “Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected. That is outrageous,”

They continued, saying that “as survivors, we should never be the ones named, scrutinized, and re-traumatized while Epstein’s enablers continue to benefit from secrecy.”

“This is a betrayal of the very people this process is supposed to serve,” the letter said.

The Independent has requested comment from the Department of Justice.

Pedro Porro has sent a message of support to Antonin Kinsky after his nightmare performance in Tottenham’s 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

In another nightmare performance for Spurs, Atletico were three ahead after just 15 minutes in the first leg of their last-16 tie with Kinsky responsible for two of the goals.

Kinsky, who was making only his third appearance of the season, was then substituted by Igor Tudor in the 17th minute with Guglielmo Vicario replacing him goal for the remainder of the game.

The 22-year-old, who joined Spurs in a £12.5 million deal from Slavia Prague 14 months ago, was blanked by Tudor on the touchline before he headed straight down the tunnel.

‘I want to send him a message of support,’ Porro told Movistar Plus after Spurs defeat when asked about Kinsky’s substitution.

‘It’s a tough time for him right now. The lad has been working really hard. He also had Vicario ahead of him who was doing well, and when you get a chance, these things happen… sometimes that’s football.

‘It reminds me of my slip in Scotland with Spain. You have to pick yourself up. I haven’t been able to talk to him yet, but I’ll give him a big hug now.’

Tudor, meanwhile, revealed after his fourth defeat in charge of Spurs that he had spoken to Kinsky in the dressing room.

‘We need to apologise to the fans, incredibly difficult to explain, these 20 minutes I’ve never seen in my life in the Champions League at this level, very strange to explain,’ Tudor said.

‘I’m sorry for the guy also, I needed to take him [off] to preserve him, to help him, to help the team, it was not a nice thing.

‘But Toni understands, he’s a very good goalkeeper, a really good guy, we need to stay together now, try to help each other in a difficult moment.’

Asked if he had spoken to Kinsky, Tudor replied: ‘Of course, of we speak.

‘He understands everything, it’s a big lesson, unfortunately it happened in this big game.

‘Sport is like this, it’s not even about him it’s about us. We need to keep working.’

Atletico head coach Diego Simeone was also asked about Tudor’s decision to substitute Kinsky.

‘No, I hadn’t seen that at a professional level,’ Simeone said.

‘It’s not my problem, it’s theirs, their coach’s and the goalkeeper’s, and we’re focused on ourselves, not on someone else’s decision-making.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Jamie Carragher makes Liverpool Champions League prediction after Galatasaray defeat

MORE: Thierry Henry makes Arsenal Champions League claim after Bayern smash Atalanta

MORE: Wayne Rooney ‘disagrees’ with Alan Shearer over Newcastle claim after Barcelona draw

Peter Schmeichel has accused Igor Tudor of ‘killing’ Antonin Kinsky’s career after Tottenham’s 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Atletico were three ahead after just 15 minutes in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Madrid with Kinsky responsible for two of the goals.

Kinsky, who had not made an appearance for Spurs since October, was then substituted by Igor Tudor in the 17th minute with Guglielmo Vicario replacing him goal for the remainder of the match.

The 22-year-old, who joined Spurs in a £12.5 million deal from Slavia Prague 14 months ago, was also blanked by Tudor on the touchline before he headed straight down the tunnel.

‘I feel really, really sorry for him,’ Schmeichel told CBS Sports when asked about the decision to substitute Kinsky.

‘You make mistakes, you know, he’s put him in goal. Obviously, he’s costing the team the opportunity to win. Not that Tottenham have any opportunity to win. I mean, it was a terrible performance.

‘But when this happened, when you look at the clock there, 14:55, what does Igor Tudor then? Well, he substitutes him.

‘That’s going to have ramifications for the rest of his career. This will be a moment that everybody in football will always remember every time they see and hear his name.

‘You make your choice as a coach and yes, it wasn’t going your way and you’re 3-0 down, there’s no way that this team would ever come back from that. You’ve got to stick with him and at least stick until half-time.

‘What he’s done there, for me, he’s absolutely killed his career. That’s going to take something to get over that.’

Meanwhile, Tudor insists Kinsky ‘understands’ the decision to substitute him so early in the game.

‘What happened is very rare. I’ve been coaching for 15 years, I’ve never done this. It was necessary to preserve the guy, preserve the team. Incredible situation, nothing to comment,’ Tudor said.

‘It was, before the game, the right choice to do in the moment like we are, with the pressure on Vicario, another competition. Toni is a very good goalkeeper. It was for me the right decision. After this, of course, it’s easy to say that it was not the right decision. So I explained to Toni also, speaking after: he’s the right guy and a good goalkeeper.

‘Unfortunately, it happened in this big game, these mistakes. He was sorry. The team is with him, me too. I was speaking with him. He understands the moment, he understands why he goes out. As I said, he’s a very good goalkeeper. We are with him, we are all together. It’s never about one player. It’s happened. It’s the Champions League again. We paid [for] this start of the game.

‘It was too much for us in this moment when we are fragile, when we are weak. I recognise what we are and which problems we have. I recognise that every game something happens. Sometimes it’s very difficult to explain. When these things happen, in the moment where we are now, unfortunately, it’s like that. Even these slippery things happen, it explains the moment [we are in].’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Pedro Porro sends message to Antonin Kinsky after Spurs humiliation vs Atletico Madrid

MORE: Jamie Carragher makes Liverpool Champions League prediction after Galatasaray defeat

MORE: Thierry Henry makes Arsenal Champions League claim after Bayern smash Atalanta

A new study found the key protein has ‘meaningful’ benefits for your skin, bones and muscles

A recent study revealed the wide-reaching effects of a single supplement which could help your skin, bones and muscle health. However, experts at Boots warned people may need to be taking this supplement for a long time before reaping the benefits.

Collagen is a key protein found in many bodily functions. While we do naturally produce our own collagen stores, production levels tend to slow down as we get older causing a range of potential aesthetic and functional issues. Vicky Pennington, nutritionist at Boots, explained: “Collagen is one of the human body’s most abundant proteins and it’s essential for building muscle and cell repair.”

Popularity of collagen supplements is growing on social media but the nutritionist urged people to look elsewhere first: “Before you think about taking collagen supplements, it’s important to ensure that you’re doing as much as you can naturally to maintain collagen levels.

“This means eating a healthy diet including a mixture of nuts and seeds, a variety of colourful fruits and veggies, fish and grass-fed protein. Marine collagen, from wild-caught fish such as salmon is absorbed up to 1.5x more efficiently than cow or pig sources, so opt for fish when you can.”

Advertisement

Collagen has been lauded by some on social media for its effect on the skin, and this may be worth the hype, as Vicky explained: “Collagen is essential for so much more than skin elasticity and hydration. It plays a key role in support for holistic skin maintenance, healthy bones and joints, muscle repair and protecting organs, including the gut.”

Another common misconception about collagen is when people should start taking it. Vicky continued: “Taking collagen won’t have an instant impact, but taking it consistently over a long period of time is shown to have the best effect.

“There is no perfect time to begin taking collagen. When you reach 40+, collagen production declines quicker so many choose to start taking collagen supplements in their 20s and 30s.”

Advertisement

Kirstie Thorley-Mitchell, head of wellness at Boots, revealed that people in their 20s seem to be on top of the trends: “Collagen supplements are more popular with younger generations, a recent survey by Boots revealed that half of Gen Z and millennials have tried collagen, compared to just 20% of people in their 60s.

“If you do want to supercharge your collagen intake to replace lost collagen or encourage your body to produce more of it, then collagen supplements might be for you.

“Collagen supplements come in multiple forms including tablets, powders, capsules, gummies and drinks, so there’s a way for everyone to incorporate it in their everyday routine.

“For anyone feeling overwhelmed with the choice of options available, Boots has introduced new wellness training to over 500 Health & Wellness Specialists in 140 stores nationwide.”

Some of Kirstie’s top collagen picks include Free Soul Collagen Gummies for £14.99, Absolute Collagen’s Liquid Marine Collagen sachets for £30 and Boots Marine Collagen tablets for £33.

NHS consultant’s perspective on collagen

One senior doctor spoke to the BBC about collagen supplements in 2025 but was more sceptical. Professor Faisal Ali, a consultant dermatologist at Mid Cheshire NHS Trust, said: “The best thing you can do for your skin is using decent sunblock. We know the sun has a huge impact on ageing our skin.

“Sun cream, healthy diet, and if you smoke, stop. These will have a far greater impact than collagen supplements.”

The key to a well-cut lawn is neat edges – but they’re hard to achieve. Often, a lawn mower is too bulky and if there’s a flowerbed or rockery, you risk damaging your flowers, your lawn mower or both. The best strimmers, whether petrol, electric or cordless, make it easy.

In fact, if your garden needs serious landscaping, turn to a strimmer first. “If the grass is longer than your lawn mower can handle, the strimmer can take that down ready for you to go over it with the mower,” explains James Broadhouse, a professional groundskeeper of 12 years (known online as Jimmy The Mower). For something tougher, like a bramble patch, a powerful strimmer or brushcutter will also help.

Below we’ve reviewed this year’s best strimmers from brands including Stihl, Ryobi and Bosch. You’ll also find answers to popular questions about them. But first, here’s our top five:

The best strimmers: At a glance

JUMP TO REVIEWS

How to choose the best strimmer

According to Broadhouse, the key things to look for in a strimmer are a robust build, comfortable handling and, if it’s cordless, a decent battery life.

“Most homeowners probably shouldn’t be looking at a petrol strimmer,” says Broadhouse. “A can of petrol is only really fresh for a couple of months, after which, if you haven’t used it all, it just goes to waste.” That said, heavy-duty or commercial users, will benefit from the extra power and range petrol models provide.

Broadhouse also recommends choosing a cordless strimmer over a corded one, because of the potential safety risk a trailing power cord poses.

Look for interchangeable heads for different kinds of mowing. Most strimmers will display their noise and vibration output, which can help narrow down your options. They are heavier than they look, so it’s worth visiting your local garden centre to try a few and see what feels manageable.

How we test strimmers

The mum’s secret behind bars romance was rumbled when the convict became ‘overprotective’ of her and began attacking other prisoners

Advertisement

A prison officer sent naked pictures and videos of sex acts to a serving inmate after the two formed an “intimate relationship” behind bars. Zoe Oldham also received bank transfers from a family member of the criminal in question, Lewis Smith.

But their secret romance was rumbled when he became “overprotective” of her and began attacking other prisoners whom he believed had stepped out of line with the mum. The authorities then discovered a mobile phone hidden within a sock in his cell, with more than 1,000 messages which were uncovered as a result having laid bare the true nature of their relationship.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Tuesday, that Oldham had been a guard at HMP Risley in Warrington for five years by 2023, when she engaged in an “intimate relationship” with Smith over the course of several months. This “included her sending images of her genitals” and money being transferred into the 29-year-old officer’s account.

Simon Christie, prosecuting, described how there was also a “strong inference that there was a sexual relationship”, although no specific acts were ultimately identified. Concerns were first raised over the two in March of that year after Smith “became overprotective over Ms Oldham and carried out assaults on prisoners who he believed had disrespected her”.

This led to a search of the 32-year-old inmate’s cell, which revealed a mobile phone hidden inside a sock. When analysed, the device was found to contain a total of 1,184 messages which had been exchanged between the couple.

Mr Christie added: “Amongst the other images found were full face images of the defendant, images of her in her underwear, images of a female masturbating with a sexual aid and images of female genitals sent to the defendant Smith. He, in return, sent topless pictures of himself. The two of them say on many occasions how much they love each other.”

Oldham, of Marlborough Road in Accrington, Lancashire, was also said to have given Smith her bank details, leading to funds of “at least” £350 being transferred into her account via his sister. She has no previous convictions.

Damian Nolan, defending, told the court: “I am probably going to concede that the gravamen in this case is the public interest in ensuring that the prison system operates in a carefully ordered way. If it does not, the ramifications can be significant.

“But this offence can be committed in a number of different ways. We would submit that, ordinarily, the courts will be particularly concerned if items were being taken in, either weapons, phones, drugs or other associated paraphernalia. Thankfully, this is not one of those cases. But what she has done is allow her office to be corrupted by, essentially, a combination of Smith’s actions and her actions.

“This is not someone who has been reckless throughout while she was a prison officer. It is asserted that, on a previous occasion, she had, in fact, reported inappropriate contact from a serving prisoner. She was commended for doing that and indicated that she would not go back on the wing until that had been dealt with.

“This all arose at a particularly vulnerable time for her personally. She is the mother of a young child. She was at a vulnerable time in her relationship with the father of her child. I am informed that, for some time, they have been back together as a couple and live together as a family. She had to move out of her own accommodation because she lost her job.

“This has been the most salutary of lessons for her. She lost this employment. She tried other employment, but that fell away when this was reported. This has, in effect, haunted her since she was first arrested.

“The first date placed on this indictment is now almost three years ago. She got subsequent employment, but social media did its best so that she had to resign from that company. She hopes that, because she did that, she can reobtain that employment. She is, at the moment, on state benefits, but she is very much keen to work and put this aberration on her otherwise exemplary character behind her.

“No one knows more than her just what a grave error of judgement she made with Smith. She has been haunted by that and will remain so. The court can mark the offence by saying, in effect, that this was worthy of a prison sentence but suspended, so that she can continue to rehabilitate.

“Obviously, there is a very stark choice. While she has had to make certain arrangements, the ideal would be that she is not separated from her young daughter. It is clear that she has learned a lesson. She will not work in the public sphere in that way again.

“The court can be satisfied that she will return to a law abiding life. She is a good mother, as all the references attest to. She wants to set good standards for her daughters. She has slipped, but that does not stop her from being a good mother.

“The ultimate sacrifice, namely going to prison immediately, in my submission, can be avoided in this case. The height of it is an intimate relationship, embarrassing to her. All of her family and everyone that she knows know what she did. Three years have passed since the commission of the offence. She has demonstrated humility about that.”

Oldham admitted one count of misconduct in a public office during an earlier hearing. Appearing in the dock wearing a brown fur coat and sporting long brown hair, she was jailed for eight months.

Sentencing, Judge David Swinnerton said: “You were, in March 2023, working as a prison officer at HMP Risley. You had been there for about five years by then. You were not a very junior officer. You had some experience.

“What was discovered upon seizing a phone found in the cell of Lewis Smith, hidden in a sock, was that you and he, he being a serving prisoner, spent some months conducting an intimate relationship. That is not to say that there was physical sexual activity between you, but the nature of your messaging was intimate and romantic. That went on for some months. This was not just a one off. You knew full well that it was wrong.

“It is a slightly double edged sword. You chose not to report the initial contact because you were not satisfied with the way that the prison service had dealt with contact from a previous prisoner. You had been trained what the right thing to do was.

“You must have known how undermining it is of prison discipline if officers have relationships like this with prisoners. You are not only letting down the public, who place trust in those that are employed as prison officers, but you also badly let down your colleagues. It makes their lives more difficult and risky when prisoners are able to manipulate officers.

“You did not take anything into the prison for him. If you had, your position would have been much, much worse. But you made yourself very, very vulnerable. You accepted money from him. Two separate sums of money were transferred to your account by his sister, you having provided a serving prisoner with your bank account details.

“If you had stopped for a moment to think, you would have realised just how foolish that was, just how vulnerable that made you and just how vulnerable that made the security and safety of the prison. With relationships like this, there might be a risk that you will be leant upon, even blackmailed. You knew full well, throughout the months that this went on, that this was wrong.

“The authorities make clear that punishment and deterrents are always very important elements in such cases. Really, the cases where suspension is justified are exceptional.

“You are of previous good character. This began at least three years ago and ended two-and-a-half years ago now. In that time, you lost your job as a prison officer. You sought other employment, which you lost after publicity about what you have done. But you have stayed out of trouble. You have tried to work and continued to look after your daughter.

“It is an important factor, of course, that you have a now five-year-old daughter that you are the primary carer for, albeit you are now living at your father’s house with him and her father. You do not present a high risk of reoffending

“Immediate custody will result in a significant harmful impact on others. You have a dependant child, albeit she can stay where she is and has her father and grandfather with her. But I have to weigh against that the seriousness of the offending.

“I have taken the view that appropriate punishment can only be met by immediate custody. Prison officers have to realise that they cannot form these inappropriate relationships. It carried on for months. You won’t be away for very long, but the punishment is going away at all. The message is that immediate imprisonment follows, almost always, in cases of this nature.”

Smith, of Abbey Hey Lane in Gorton, Manchester, was handed a further eight months imprisonment by the same court in December last year. He pleaded guilty possession of a mobile phone in a prison and possession of a class C drug in a prison, the latter count relating to anabolic steroids which he was found with while serving at HMP Wymott in Lancashire.