Oblivious staff visited the Perthshire home of cruel Jennifer Robertson to provide personal care for her now dead husband Alan – who sexually abused a vulnerable child alongside their son Steven.

Young care workers were sent to the home of an evil foster family who beat and raped kids to tend to a child abuser for years without being told of a probe.

Oblivious staff visited the Perthshire home of cruel Jennifer Robertson to provide personal care for her now dead husband Alan – who sexually abused a vulnerable child alongside their son Steven.

Horrified staff only learned of the harrowing crimes committed by the Robertsons when they read of their convictions in the news this month – saying they were drafted in to provide intimate care for the pensioner after a police probe was first launched.

Jennifer Robertson, 79, abused children as young as 10 months old, physically assaulted young girls and forced food down their throats at a property in Perthshire between 1980 and 1995.

Her son Steven Robertson, 52, sexually abused a number of the girls between 1986 and 1995, sometimes acting with his late father Alan Robertson. He also sexually assaulted another girl in the Dundee area between 2015 and 2017.

He was given 11 years in jail for his crimes, while his mother was given 250 hours of unpaid work at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Both were convicted of a total of nine charges last month and sentenced last Friday.

A source blasted council social work chiefs for failing to alert care workers – who were kept in the dark for four years and often visited the property solo.

A source close to the case told the Record: “For Perth and Kinross Council to send anyone into that environment without giving them prior knowledge of the kind of allegations involved is horrific.

“In 2018, the council handed Alan Robertson’s care over and didn’t make the company aware that allegations had been made.

“It was full personal care, including bathing and showering, going to the toilet.

“One girl on the team was just 18 at the time.

“They have failed in their duty of care to those staff members – the females on the team especially.

“The first carers knew was when they saw an article in the paper.”

Jurors heard how evil Jennifer Robertson carried out physical assaults on children in her care, while her son, Steven Robertson sexually assaulted and raped young girls in the same household – targeting one girl alongside dad Alan – who died before the case came to court.

The court heard that on various occasions throughout the 1980s, Jennifer called children derogatory names. She also physically assaulted the children – one little boy had his head struck against a wall.

During the same time period, Steven sexually assaulted a young girl.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Steven, while acting with his now-dead father Alan, sexually assaulted another child and forced her to perform sex acts.

He raped another child throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.

The court heard that police became aware of the Robertsons’ activities in 2018, and a lengthy police investigation was launched.

The Robertsons sought private care for Alan through a care company in 2018, one of a number of service providers approved by the council.

The local authority fully funded his care, which was provided by a team of self employed workers.

The source said: “It turns out the police were investigating since 2018. Carers started attending Alan Robertson in August or September 2018.

“The carers in that team were predominantly female. Originally care would have been provided solo. For the first couple of years there was only one going in.

“Carers went to them for four years, from 2018 until 2022.

“Jennifer Robertson was there and the son Steven would go and stay from time to time as well.

“There was no reason to believe there was anything untoward because they were a well thought of family.

“If staff had known, there’s no way many would have put themselves in that position.”

Last week, a brother and sister abused by Jennifer Robertson said they are planning legal action against the council over alleged failures that allowed the abuse to continue.

The brother and sister, who wish to remain anonymous, were among those who gave evidence and say they still live with the trauma of what happened under Robertson’s care.

Perth and Kinross Council were asked to comment for this story.

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“You’ve sold the team – now sell the club,” chanted fans at Molineux in October as frustrations reached boiling point.

Shi’s interview with BBC WM in December, when he appeared to brush off relegation, did not land well with supporters, and the under-fire executive chairman left barely six weeks after Pereira was fired in November following two points from their opening 10 games.

Shi’s departure after almost a decade removed a toxic focal point for the fans, but angst against Fosun remains.

Fosun remains committed to the club despite looking for investment into Fosun Sports Group, having held talks with former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor in October.

There is an expectation the ownership will provide funds to give Wolves the best chance to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, but supporters will struggle to forgive their mis-steps.

Wolves have had six permanent managers since Nuno Espirito Santo left in 2021 – seven including Steve Davis’ eight-game interim spell in 2022.

Fosun will mark 10 years of ownership in the summer and early success has given way to a slow decline.

Nuno took Wolves to promotion in 2018 and two successive seventh-place finishes, the Europa League quarter-finals and an FA Cup semi-final.

He left after finishing 13th and, despite a 10th place under Bruno Lage in 2022, Wolves have slowly slipped to 13th, 14th and then 16th last season.

Julen Lopetegui, Gary O’Neil and Pereira felt they did not get the backing they wanted, but there is more synergy between the new hierarchy of Nathan Shi – appointed as executive chairman in December – Matt Jackson, promoted to technical director, and Edwards.

Nathan Shi is said to be more willing to understand what the club need – and try to provide it – while there is a sense predecessor Jeff Shi would have been more resistant to change.

Comparisons can be drawn with Leicester and Southampton last season, Wolves initially shared that toxic cloud earlier this season which has, in the Foxes’ case, failed to lift.

At times this season it has been difficult at Molineux – Pereira and Jorgen Strand Larsen arguing with fans after a last-gasp defeat by Burnley in October is one example – but Edwards restored some unity.

After joining from Middlesbrough in November, he lost his opening seven games but has slowly improved the squad, running stats are up, intensity improved and Edwards is popular among the squad.

He works well alongside assistant Harry Watling, the pair dovetailing well with a good blend of support and strong words to the squad.

The win over Aston Villa in February provided the moment where the bond with supporters could stick, Edwards sprinting down the touchline after Rodrigo Gomes’ stoppage-time clincher as fans went wild.

They had earlier chanted “1-0 to the Championship”, signalling an acceptance of their fate – something which had happened internally a month earlier.

January’s win over West Ham – after Wolves set a Premier League record with a 19-game winless start – gave a glimmer of hope, and draws against Everton and Newcastle aided that.

Yet it was acknowledged Wolves needed at least one win from those two games to maintain hopes of an improbable comeback, and defeat by Bournemouth at the end of January changed the tone.

It was the reason for the late business in the transfer window, with Strand Larsen leaving for Crystal Palace for £48m on deadline day and Angel Gomes and Adam Armstrong arriving with next season’s Championship campaign in mind.

Wolves needed to start the rebuilding process early.

Relegation has been a long time coming.

The development, by Almscliffe-Dhesi Group (ADG), sits on the outskirts of Peterlee in a transformation of a former Vauxhall dealership off Passfield Way.

The site now hosts a line-up of national chains including Sainsbury’s, Greggs, Dominos, CVS Vets, and EVC Electric Vehicle Chargers.

Neil Creeney, co-owner of ADG alongside Bal Singh, said: “It is tremendous news that our Peterlee retail centre, just 200 yards from the A19, is now open.

“This high-quality retail development has made shopping much more convenient for local residents and we are delighted, but not surprised, that there is just one remaining unit left to let.

“We now expect serious interest in our last remaining unit, given the quality of retailers trading successfully.”

The remaining unit is a 1,250 sq ft space next to Dominos, marketed by Lofthouse and Partners and @retail.

The scheme has created at least 100 full and part-time jobs and offers 70 parking spaces, including accessible bays and eight electric vehicle charging points.

ADG said the site is within walking distance for many residents.

Steph Hedger, director of property development at Domino’s, said: “We’re delighted to be part of this new development in Peterlee and to have received such a warm welcome from the local community.

“Peterlee Domino’s has created valuable local employment, and the new store provides a site that fully supports our operations and the service we deliver to customers.

“With excellent accessibility, we’re well positioned to provide the reliable, high-quality service our customers know and love.

“We’re also committed to being a good neighbour, and our team regularly takes part in local litter picks to help keep the area clean and tidy.”

The centre sits just a mile west of Peterlee town centre, next to Shotton Hall Academy and Primary School, within easy access to Sunderland, Middlesbrough, and Newcastle.

He said: “It was tremendous news that a retailer of the quality and reputation of Sainsburys decided to move into our retail centre in Peterlee.

“What a resounding endorsement of our development.

“We now expect serious interest in our last remaining unit, given the quality of retailers trading successfully.”

Bal Singh, co-owner of ADG, said: “It is fantastic for Peterlee that other popular national retailers such as Greggs and Dominos have invested in the town, providing much-needed new facilities and jobs.

“This chimes in with the Government’s levelling up agenda for the north, which aims to invest in northern towns who have previously been left behind.”

Mario Jaconelli of property consultants Lofthouse and Partners, the joint marketing agents for this development with @retail, commented: “This remaining unit is a fabulous opportunity for a local or national retailer to join a stellar line-up of occupiers at Peterlee’s newest retail park. The quality of the retailers, who are now trading successfully, is a resounding endorsement of what this popular park has to offer.”

A long list of Welsh Labour demands for more powers, such as devolution of the Crown Estate – the body that is responsible for much of the seabed around Wales, and vital to the development of floating offshore wind-power – and policing, as well as reform of how Wales is funded, has not been granted by its UK Labour colleagues.

A planning application for North Skelton Club, in Holmbeck Road, Skelton, proposed a new use for fitness classes and community groups, along with a multi-sensory room for children.

The plans said internal alterations and repairs only were to be carried out, with no external changes to the detached building.

Representations from neighbours claimed work had already started, prior to permission.

But a Redcar and Cleveland Council officer, in a report, said planning permission was not required for internal works – even if paving the way for the change of use – and “therefore there hasn’t been any planning enforcement action in relation to the site”.

Other comments complained of a “short time frame” from the closure of the club last year and said there had been no community consultation.

One said: “This is the last remaining pub in the village, loss of [the] facility would have a substantial impact on local social cohesion and community life.”

The council said the building was not registered as an asset of community value and as such there did not need to be a process of consultation beyond the public consultation period of the planning application. 

A previous supporting statement accompanying the plans said the change of use would bring a vacant, unused building back to use and offer services for the local community.

It confirmed there were no planned alterations to the external building, other than repairs to its fabric, it being described as being in a “poor state of repair”.

The council’s environmental protection team noted how a function room was planned to be used as a fitness studio suggesting this could be of concern, for example due to music accompanying exercise classes.

It was agreed that the submission of a noise management plan, to be required from the applicant detailing controls to be implemented, was  justified, necessary and reasonable due to the closeness of the building and neighbouring residential properties.

The report noted a first floor flat, associated with the former club, that represented a residential use and said it would be acceptable to continue to maintain this use.

The council also addressed access, stating there would be no changes to parking provision, available to the front and rear of the property. 

It concluded the change of use would not have a material impact on the local highway network.

The idea that fruit and vegetables might cause cancer sounds bizarre. For decades, studies have shown that people who eat more plants tend to live longer, healthier lives, with lower rates of heart disease, stroke and several common cancers.

Lung cancer is no exception: in many large studies, higher intakes of fruits and vegetables are linked with lower risks, especially in smokers.

Against that backdrop, a new suggestion that fruit and veg might be driving lung cancer in young adults is surprising.

The story behind this latest wave of anxiety doesn’t come from a definitive, landmark trial. It comes from a brief presentation at a scientific conference, based on 187 people with early‑onset lung cancer.

Most had never smoked. When researchers asked about their diets, a lot of them reported eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains – the sort of pattern most of us would call “healthy”.

Instead of measuring pesticides in their food or blood, the team estimated probable pesticide exposure using average residue levels from other sources. From there, they speculated that pesticides on otherwise healthy foods might help explain why some young non‑smokers develop lung cancer.

That is a very long way from proving that fruit and vegetables themselves are harmful. Studies like this are meant to raise questions – “could pesticides be part of the story in young lung cancer?” – not to rewrite dietary advice on their own.

Crucially, this particular study looks backwards from people who already have cancer, rather than following healthy people forwards over time, so it cannot tell us whether their diet played any role in causing the disease. Nor does it show that these patients had higher pesticide exposures than comparable people without cancer. It only shows that they ate foods that, on average, can carry residues.

The bigger picture

When you zoom out from this single, tiny study to the broader body of evidence, the picture changes from alarming to reassuringly familiar. Large studies have followed tens or hundreds of thousands of people over many years, asked them what they ate, then waited to see who develops lung cancer. Time and again, those eating more fruit and vegetables either do better or, at very worst, no differently from those eating less.

Meta‑analyses that combine data from multiple studies find reductions in lung cancer risk with higher fruit intake and benefits from vegetables, too. These are the studies that inform official guidelines. They are not perfect – no nutrition study is – but they are far more informative than a single unpublished study of 187 patients.

So why do small studies like this latest one sometimes seem to say something different? One reason is simple statistical noise.

With small numbers, chance plays a huge role. If, for whatever reason, the particular group of young adults who turned up to that clinic happened to be unusually health-conscious, then fruit and vegetable intake will look high among people with lung cancer, even if diet has nothing to do with their disease.

Another issue is what scientists call “confounding”. People who eat more plants often differ in many other ways. They may exercise more, drink less, have different jobs, live in different neighbourhoods, or be more on the ball about seeking medical help.

When you start from patients and look backwards, it is very hard to disentangle these overlapping factors. That is why we place more weight on large, prospective studies that follow people forward in time and can better account for these differences.

Pesticides

Then there is the question of pesticides – the part of the story that understandably unnerves people. It is true that many conventionally grown fruits and vegetables carry measurable pesticide residues, and that people who eat a lot of produce tend to have higher levels of some pesticide breakdown products in their urine.

It is also true that farm workers who handle pesticides regularly and at high doses have higher rates of certain cancers, including some lung cancers. That tells us pesticides are not benign. But what it does not tell us is that eating sprayed apples or lettuce at normal dietary levels causes lung cancer in the general population.

That doesn’t mean we should be complacent: there is an ongoing discussion about cocktails of many different chemicals, about vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women, and about longer‑term hormone or brain effects that might not show up in crude cancer rates. However, these are arguments for improving how we farm and regulate pesticides, not arguments for abandoning fruit and vegetables.

If you are still uneasy about pesticides, there are practical, proportionate things you can do that don’t involve swapping an orange for a packet of crisps. Washing produce under running water helps remove surface residues and soil, and varying the types of fruit and veg you eat means you are not relying heavily on any one item that tends to carry higher residues.

If your budget allows, choosing organic versions of a few “high‑residue” foods can make sense. But the key point is that these are tweaks at the margins. They don’t change the central message that a diet rich in plant foods is overwhelmingly associated with better health.

Perhaps the most important lesson from this episode is about how to read nutrition headlines. Whenever you see “X food causes cancer” or “Y ingredient is the next miracle cure”, it helps to ask a couple of simple questions. How big was the study? Was it in healthy people followed over time, or patients looked at after the fact? Did the researchers actually measure what they are claiming (like pesticide levels)? And how do the new findings sit alongside decades of existing research?

In the case of the early-onset lung cancer study, the answers are sobering: it was small, it was retrospective, it used indirect exposure estimates, and its suggestion that fruit and vegetables might be harmful sits awkwardly with a much larger body of work pointing the other way.

None of this means we should ignore the possibility that pesticides contribute in some way to cancers in non‑smokers, or that diet is irrelevant to lung health. But we should be wary of turning one provocative conference talk into a reason to fear the very foods that consistently show up as markers of better health.

Eden Camp, built on the site of a former Second World War prisoner-of-war camp, has announced an “action-packed” programme of special events for 2026.

Events will include classic car gatherings, living history weekends, and themed activities for school holidays.

Living history at Eden Camp (Image: Charlotte Graham)

Nick Hill, museum manager at Eden Camp, said: “Our 2026 programme is looking fantastic – from our large scale Living History Weekends to hands-on activities for families during school holidays, there’s something new to discover each time you visit.”

The season begins with Drive it Day: Classic Cars on April 26, followed by May Half Term Tank Week from May 23 to 31, and a Modern Military Weekend on June 6 and 7.

Additional highlights include the WWI Living History Weekend on July 12 and 13, a ‘Women at War’ theme running throughout the summer holidays from July 18 to September 1, and Homefront Heroes on August 30 and 31.

Living history at Eden camp (Image: Charlotte Graham)

Later in the year, visitors can enjoy ‘Back to the 1940s’ on October 10 and 11, Spy Week during the October half term from October 24 to 29, and Halloween Street from October 30 to November 1.

Eden Camp offers visitors the chance to explore history through personal stories and authentic re-enactments, all set within the original buildings of a former World War II Prisoner of War camp.

The museum is also introducing new ticket pricing to improve value for visitors who pre-book online.

Admission will be £17 for adults and £15 for children aged five to 16 when booked in advance.

On-the-day prices are £20 for adults and £18 for children, with concessions and family tickets also available.

Mr Hill said: “We can’t wait to welcome you to Eden Camp this year, and our new pricing means there’s even more reason to plan ahead”

For more information or to book tickets, visit edencamp.co.uk.

A new TIP for Sherburn in Elmet is under way with the intention of channelling future investment towards local priorities as the town continues to expand.

The plan is being supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and funded through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Housing surge prompts investment plan for Sherburn in Elmet which is being supported by avid Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Image: Supplied

It is part of a regeneration programme across 32 towns in the county and will help guide future funding bids to target local priorities.

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A North Yorkshire Council spokesman said: “Sherburn in Elmet has recently seen a significant increase in housing development, leading to a rise in population. It is expected that this growth will continue.

“It is a major employment hub with strategic logistics and industrial sites, currently providing employment for more than 3,000 people.

“The town benefits from two railway stations, offering good links to Leeds, York, Selby, Sheffield and Hull; however, there is a need for improved bus services and connectivity to support access to jobs, services, education, and recreation, especially for those without access to a car.

“The town has a varied retail offer, including supermarkets and independent shops, but maintaining a vibrant high street is a continuing challenge. Social and community infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with recent development.”

Residents, business owners and visitors in the area are being invited to have their say on how Sherburn in Elmet could be improved.

As part of the Sherburn in Elmet town investment plan consultation, paper versions are available from Sherburn and Villages Community Library and Sherburn-in-Elmet Town Council.

The closing date of the consultation is Monday, May 4.

Public consultation events will be held on:

Tuesday, March 17, 1pm to 3pm at Sherburn Old Girls School Community Centre (alongside the Cuppa Connect session)

Monday, March 23, 2:30pm to 4:30pm at Sherburn and Villages Community Library

Saturday, April 25, 10am to 12:30pm at Eversley Park Centre, Low Street.

Once the consultation has closed, the feedback will be reviewed and analysed to inform the draft Town Investment Plan.

The news comes after house builder Bellway submitted an application to build 250 new homes on a 27-acre site west of Finkle Hill with up to half designated as affordable housing, along with more than six acres of public open space.

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EXCLUSIVE: Kop legend Owen has warned of the difficulties that come with returning from major injuries, and he should know

Conor Bradley has been backed to “slot back in” as Liverpool’s first-choice right-back when he comes back from injury – but only as long as he can rediscover his form.

Anfield legend Michael Owen has described the Northern Ireland star as a “big miss” for Arne Slot’s side during the second half of the season.

Bradley suffered a serious knee injury during the scoreless draw with Arsenal in January, and underwent an operation on the bone and ligament damage he sustained in the Premier League clash.

Owen has warned of the difficulties that come with returning from major injuries.

But if Bradley can reproduce the kind of form he showed prior to getting hurt, then he can expect to settle straight back into the starting-11 once he returns to fitness.

Right-back has been a problem position for Liverpool in recent times, with Dominik Szoboszlai sometimes filling in, and Joe Gomez also being utilised there.

Jeremie Frimpong, a Netherlands international who can play right-back, right-wing-back or in right-midfield, has also played there, but he started on the bench in last Sunday’s win against Everton.

Owen believes it’s been an area that has caused Slot more problems than most since Bradley’s enforced absence.

“Conor has been a big miss for Liverpool,” said Owen, brand ambassador of Casino.org, for comparing the best Irish online casinos, to Belfast Live.

“You even look at the Everton game, Jeremie Frimpong is back available but the manager didn’t want to play him in a game like that at right-back, so Liverpool are starting to switch midfielders into that position.

“It’s not ideal, I think if everybody, the full squad are fit, then Conor Bradley is the first-choice right-back. By that very fact, he has been a big miss for a large part of the season.”

It has been a testing time for the 22-year-old Tyrone native, whose injury ruled him out of Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off defeat to Italy.

He won’t play again this season and was going to miss the World Cup if Michael O’Neill’s side qualified.

In the weeks after the injury, his international manager explained the complexity of the problem when he described it as a “kneecap injury”.

But there was good news earlier this month when Bradley’s recovery appeared to put him on course for a pre-season return. He has started to do weights on his injured left leg.

There is still a long way to go, however, and Owen warned that the hardest part was still to come.

Asked if he expected Bradley to slot back into the starting-11, Owen replied: “I do, yeah, he’s young enough to get over a serious injury.

“They are never good, though. People who say, ‘Ah, he’ll come back stronger’, you never do.

“If you come back the same, then that’s fantastic. But you never come back better from a big injury.

“So fingers crossed he comes back the same, and if he does, then he will slot back in. But fingers crossed.”

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The service, based in Grangetown, is part of WithYou in Redcar & Cleveland, a charity that operates from Redcar High Street and has now expanded to reach more people in need of confidential, non-judgemental help.

The centre is at Barbara Bowater House on Kingsley Road and is now fully operational.

Stacey Skilton, head of service delivery at WithYou in Redcar & Cleveland, said: “We’re excited to extend our support across the area.

“The additional centre in Grangetown will allow us to help more residents, at times and in places that suit them, and in a way that feels rooted in the community.

“By being visible in local areas, we’re making help support more approachable, and breaking down stigma.

“We want people to know that help is close by, free, and without judgement.”

The new site offers a wide range of support, including one-to-one sessions for adults and young people, naloxone distribution (which reverses opioid overdoses), group workshops, drop-ins, and space for partner organisations.

It is designed to be a warm and welcoming environment where people feel safe and respected.

WithYou is encouraging residents, professionals, and organisations to refer anyone who may need support, whether for advice, harm reduction, or to reduce or stop their use of drugs or alcohol.

Alongside therapeutic services, the centre also provides harm reduction equipment and information.

A free and confidential webchat service is also available through the charity’s website, staffed by trained advisors from 9am to 9pm on weekdays and from 10am to 4pm on weekends and bank holidays.

The service runs every day except Christmas Day and allows individuals to speak anonymously with a team member for advice and support.

WithYou works in partnership with THRIVE partners, Harbour, Intuitive Thinking Skills, and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.

THRIVE is the first integrated domestic abuse and substance use partnership in England.

It brings together specialist charities to address the complex, overlapping needs of individuals in the area.

A community launch event will take place at the centre on May 21 from 10am to 3pm.

Residents, professionals, and organisations are invited to attend to learn more about the service, meet the team, and discuss how the community can work together to support those in need.

The event is free to attend, but attendees are encouraged to register in advance via Eventbrite to help with planning.