A man aged in his 30s has died following a single vehicle tractor crash on Sunday afternoon

A young man has died following a single vehicle tractor crash in Co Cavan this afternoon.

Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene on a local road in Ardkill Beg in Carrickaboy shortly before 12.40pm.

The driver, a man aged in his 30s, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

His body has been removed to Cavan Monaghan General Hospital where a post mortem will take place.

The area was sealed off for a time for a forensic collision examination and has since reopened.

Gardai are now appealing for witnesses, as well as anyone who may have dashcam footage from the area between 9am and 12.40pm, to come forward.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on a local road in Ardkill Beg, Carrickaboy, Co. Cavan on Sunday 3rd May 2026.

“Shortly before 12:40pm, Gardaí and emergency services responded to a single vehicle collision involving a tractor on a local road in Ardkill Beg, Carrickaboy, Co. Cavan.

“A male driver (aged in his 30s) was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body has since been removed to Cavan Monaghan General Hospital and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

“Garda Forensic Collision investigators attended the scene and an examination took place.

“Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward. Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage and were travelling in the area between 9:00am and 12:40pm are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cavan Garda Station on (049) 436 8800, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

“Investigations are ongoing.”

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

A number of people have been impacted by Megan Walsh’s (Beth Nixon) abuse in Coronation Street, and one of them is Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard).

Daniel began a relationship with Megan shortly after she arrived in Weatherfield. The beloved character doesn’t have a lot of luck when it comes to the world of romance, but eventually came to wonder if that was about to change after spending more time with Megan.

Unfortunately, the relationship was a cover up for the sports teacher. Megan was only with Daniel to prevent people from discovering that she was sexually abusing teenager Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale).

When the truth was exposed, Daniel was horrified that he had not only developed feelings for someone who takes advantage of children, but also that he failed to realise what Megan was doing.

Producer of the show Kate Brooks has revealed this is going to impact Daniel for quite some time. As he spirals, Daniel starts to wonder just who he can really trust.

‘He met somebody who’s on the same page as a teacher, apparently respectable, and he’s been completely duped by it, and it completely makes him unravel’, Kate said.

‘Rob who plays Daniel is such a phenomenal actor and we’ll see him slowly start to lose it, because of wondering who to trust. He’s been bitten so badly by this relationship, and by the fact that he was the one who defended her as well, he feels like he’s let Will down. He feels like he’s let Bertie down.

‘We’re really going to chart the impact she’s had on him and his life and his attitude to relationships going forward.’

The Corrie boss also revealed a surprise friendship will form between Daniel and Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown) of all people soon.

She explained: ‘Her story will dovetail off into Daniel’s story as well. An unlikely little friendship will be formed, which I don’t think many people see coming, but it’s a really different insight into what makes them both tick. For the first time, Daniel’s able to be truthful about how he feels.

‘And similarly, Jodie’s able to be quite truthful with Daniel, because he’s in a quite a dark place. There’s some interesting dynamics between them.’

Daniel’s new story kicks off next week, as he ends up clashing with teenager Hope Stape (Isabella Flanagan).

Don’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Advertisement

Add us as a Preferred Source

At school, when Daniel tells Hope that he suspects that she cheated on her poem and used AI, Hope retaliates with a snide remark about Megan.

Still struggling with the fact that he was in a relationship with an abuser, Daniel tries to take control and orders Hope to write another poem. He’s further wound up though, as Hope makes one up about Daniel and Megan.

As Daniel tries to grab the paper out of her hand, Hope accuses him of assault, just as Mrs Crawshaw arrives and demands to know what’s going on.

It would appear the future of his career is hanging in the balance later in the week, as Daniel tells Ken Barlow (William Roache) about the disciplinary action Crawshaw took against him.

He later rants to Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) about the situation but he ends up scaring young Bertie. Daniel tells Ken and Adam that he’s heading to the Lakes to clear his head, and they agree to look after Bertie.

However, when he’s alone, Daniel blocks his thoughts out with a bottle of whisky beside him…

MORE: Coronation Street boss confirms end of Megan with huge ‘retribution’

MORE: Major exit ‘confirmed’ for traumatised Coronation Street character after less than a year

MORE: Coronation Street finally confirms who is dead in murder story

Footage of a wildfire blazing in Buckeye, Arizona was captured on 3 May.

Local officials estimate it to stretch across 558 acres (22.3 sq km).

As of 14:20 local time (22:20 BST), the wildfire was 0% contained, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said in a post on X.

So Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon) survived the Grim Reaper’s big, swinging scythe in Coronation Street’s murder week, but according to Corrie boss, Kate Brooks, that doesn’t mean she’ll get away with her heinous crimes.

Megan’s grooming and sexual abuse of Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) has been going on for a long while, with her utilising her position as his teacher and sports coach to keep it under wraps, which she’s done to conceal affairs with previous students.

When the perfectly precocious Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) discovered what was going on, Megan launched a campaign of psychological torture against him so brutal that the youngster turned to drugs as she attempted to destroy his much-prized academic record.

Though Sam eventually told all about Megan’s abuse, leading to Will’s family learning of her true nature, she’s managed to remain at arm’s length of the law.

With a deeply brainwashed Will refusing to admit the truth to the police, and Megan terminating her pregnancy, the only piece of physical evidence that would prove her guilt was lost.

Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley), Leanne and Toyah Battersby’s (Jane Danson and Georgia Taylor) vigilante missions to force a confession all failed and Megan even managed to turned the tide against the equally manipulative Maggie Driscoll (Pauline McLynn). It’s seemed, at times, that she’s truly untouchable. But will it remain that way? Apparently not!

‘Megan and Will, there’s a bit of a journey to go on with that story. So obviously she’s been exposed, but Will at this point, he believed it was love. He believed it was all genuine,’ Kate said.

‘Scales fall from his eyes and Tim Metcalfe’s (Joe Duttine) going to be so instrumental in kind of making him realise what’s gone on and how unacceptable and how wrong it was.

‘Obviously, there are soap Gods, and as in soap God’s law, there’ll be some kind of retribution for Megan. She cannot get off of this scot-free. We will go down the proper channels. Whether it goes on to plan or not, I cannot say, but it goes down quite a very big path.’

So that’s it then, Megan will pay for what she’s done. Surely that can’t fix the carnage she’s left in her wake though, right?

‘It’s showcasing that, Megan’s actions have not just directly impacted Will and the Driscolls, Sam’s also collateral damage. People’s trust has been absolutely dismantled because of this woman’s perpetual lie,’ Kate said about the lingering effects of Megan’s reign of terror.

Speaking on the future of the Driscoll clan, Kate said: ‘It’s about the family falling apart, but then kind of building themselves back up again as they try desperately to kind of repair the damage that Megan’s done. Will will be quite badly affected by what he’s been through with Megan. It does go a bit dark.’

Don’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Advertisement

Add us as a Preferred Source

As for Sam?

‘Getting him across the Megan story and having him be another victim of her manipulation felt like a really interesting way of telling the story. But as a result of that, his mental health has been really, really damaged by everything that’s happened – by the manipulation, by the fact that he wasn’t believed, by the fear that he felt every time he was with Megan.’

So while Megan will face the music eventually, the scars she’s inflicted on Weatherfield will remain for a long while after she does.

MORE: Seriously dark story revealed for Daniel in Coronation Street as things spiral

MORE: Ben drops a bombshell in Coronation Street as the family implodes

MORE: Major exit ‘confirmed’ for traumatised Coronation Street character after less than a year

The murders of four women involved in prostitution can still be solved according to Police Scotland’s head of major crime

Scotland’s most senior detective has vowed to bring the killers of four women to justice and urged people with information on their murders to finally come forward and “lift that burden.”

Seven women involved in prostitution were murdered between 1991 and 2025 but in only three cases has there been a conviction including that of Iain Packer two years ago for the death of Emma Caldwell.

However the murders of Diane McInally in 1991, Karen McGregor in 1993, Leona McGovern in 1995 and Jackie Gallagher in 1996, remain unsolved and unresolved.

DCS Paul Livingstone Head of Major Crime at Police Scotland says unsolved cases are constantly being reviewed and any new information on the four murders will be acted on

He also appealed for anyone holding back on the killings to finally come forward and break their silence.

He added: “What I do believe is that taking a life must bear a significant burden on an individual. And I can only imagine that knowing about someone taking a life who hasn’t yet faced justice must also put a similar sort of burden on those people.

“If there’s anybody out there that suspects or knows or believe that someone’s responsible, tell us, let’s help you lift that burden and we’ll take action on the information that you give us.

“Please don’t sit on it. Don’t let it eat away at you. I would urge them to come forward.

“It could be that final piece in a jigsaw that gives families much needed answers, gives them justice that they and victims deserve.”

All seven victims worked Glasgow’s notorious city-centre red light district known as the Drag to feed their drug habits.

DCS Livingstone was speaking out in the latest episode of the Clyde 1 podcast Beware Book about the seven murders.

The title refers to a diary at a drop-in centre in Glasgow where women logged dangerous clients’ names.

Three men stood trial separately for the murders of Karen, Leona and Jackie but were cleared.

In Diane’s case two suspects, now dead, were arrested but the charges later dropped. The men acquitted of Karen and Jackie’s murders are also now dead.

However DCS Livingstone says that doesn’t mean the cases are closed and further investigations can still be carried out for other potential suspects

He also acknowledged the “pain and the distress” suffered by the families of the four women over the years.

The police chief added: “I’d like to actually reassure those victims and their families, we haven’t forgotten about you, or their loved ones. The obvious common factor is that unresolved status, and therefore there’s a feeling of disappointment around someone not being held accountable for their loved one’s death and ultimately brought to justice.”

DCS Livingstone also wants to improve relationships and contact with the families of the four women.

He added:”I understand that they’ll feel let down because ultimately no one has ever been convicted or held accountable for the death of their loved ones.”

DCS Livingstone highlighted the “cold case” conviction in 2019 of restaurant worker Zhi Men Chen for the 1997 murder of Tracey Wylde as an example of what can be achieved.

The young mum who was involved in prostitution was found dead in her flat in the Barmulloch area of Glasgow Chen, 44, was identified as a suspect when a DNA sample he gave to police after his arrest for another crime matched a sample found in Tracy’s flat.

Yesterday two of the four families welcomed the possibility of finally getting justice.

Alice Wilson, mother of Jackie Gallagher, said:”I just wish that this person was caught. I know it’s been a long time but somebody must know something and end this misery for me.”

Meanwhile Dolly Glover, aunt of Diane McInally, added: “I think it would put everybody at ease if they could just find somebody. You just never know. Somebody might remember something that will come to them.”

Margo Lafferty was also one of the seven murdered women.

The 27 year old’s body was found in a Glasgow city-centre lane in 1998 and a 21 year old man was convicted of her murder in 2001 following a retrial.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “If anyone has any new information that could assist in the investigation of any unresolved homicide, please contact Police via the non-emergency number 101, alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.”

The latest episode of Beware Book is available on the Rayo app, Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.

Langley Castle, a 14th-century fortress in Langley-on-Tyne built in 1350, opened its doors to guests in the spring of 1986 following its purchase by American MIT professor Dr Stuart Madnick.

A friend of Dr Madnick’s had spotted an advert for the property in Country Life magazine, and while in the UK on business, he decided to visit, immediately falling in love with the castle.

Dr Stuart Madnick (centre), owner of Langley Castle and Baron of Langley since 2007, when he reunited the castle with a title stripped away by the Crown in the mid-18th Century as punishment for its owners’ Jacobite sympathies (Image: Langley Castle)

Dr Madnick said: “He had no idea what to do with it, at that point, but decided several months later.”

To celebrate its ruby anniversary, 40 community ‘knights’—individuals recognised for their dedication to charity, youth work, parish service, or the promotion of tourism in Northumberland—will be honoured at a special event at Langley Castle.

Each of the ‘knights’ has been invited to the official celebration and will be asked to ring a bell to represent each year of the castle’s 40-year journey as a hotel.

The bell toll will be announced by Hexham Town Crier, and all 40 knights will then ring their bells together in unison.

13 members of staff will be presented with long service awards during the anniversary event, with the longest-serving employee having worked at Langley Castle for 32 years.

Langley Castle has a history as a family home, army barracks, girls’ school, and a site for medieval banquets.

It spent nearly 500 years roofless and unoccupied after a fire.

Dr Madnick eventually secured the title of Baron of Langley in 2007, restoring the historical connection to the property.

In 2022, he also acquired a medieval seal belonging to either the first or second Baron of Langley, found by a metal detectorist.

The seal is now on display in the castle’s reception area.

We’re not even half way through the year, but one of 2026’s most controversial films – unlikely to be dethroned – has arrived on streaming.

Released in time for Valentine’s Day and becoming one of the highest grossing films this year so far with $242million (£178.1m) at the box office, Emmerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights caused a big stir, fiercely dividing audiences.

It did away with a large chunk of the narrative from Emily Brontë’s original 1847 novel – to many readers’ outrage – and focused more on the tragedy and yearning between central characters Cathy Earnshaw (Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi).

The movie’s bold provocation, including songs on its soundtrack by Charli XCX as well as explicitly sexual imagery and scenes of BDSM, saw it labelled ‘less Wuthering Heights, more Fifty Shades of Grimm’ and ‘lurid and wildly over-sexed’, as well as ‘luminously feral’.

Others were also unhappy with the casting of the lead roles, deeming both Elordi and Robbie unsuitable due to age and also the long-held theory over Hathcliff’s background.

The film’s official synopsis describes it as ‘a passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw’.

Now fans can make their own minds up (or start the first of those ‘100,000%’ guaranteed rewatches) from the comfort of their own sofas, after Wuthering Heights was added to HBO Max on Friday – and NOW in the UK as well.

Adopted as an orphan sibling but treated poorly by Cathy’s father (a grotesque Martin Clunes), Heathcliff runs away when he thinks he has been rejected by Cathy after she sets her cap at wealthy new neighbour Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif) in a bid to save the family from poverty.

But his return years later sets a string of devastating events in motion.

The film’s cast also includes Adolescence’s award-winning star Owen Cooper as the young Heathcliff, Alison Oliver, Oscar nominee Hong Chau, Charlotte Mellington and House of the Dragon actor Ewan Mitchell.

‘Best movie ever. 100,000% would watch so may more times,’ insisted Evany on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, while Joanna agreed, adding: ‘The story is powerful, emotional, and unforgettable. It really pulls you in with its intense characters and deep love story, making it a film that stays with you long after watching.’

Celcilia said that the film ‘transported me to a different time, social class, and a tug and pull love story. I enjoy the classic Emily Brontë love story and this adaptation is cinematic and raw if nothing else’, giving it a full five -star review.

Other fans appreciated the tear-jerking nature of this adaptation, with Charley saying their girlfriend was ‘bawling her eyes out’ and Kimmie writing, ‘Loved it, so emotional!’ as another fan admitted to tears and said they were ‘blown away by their acting and the chemistry between Jacob and Margot’.

Lilia also shared that, having not read the book, she was ‘devastated’ by the film’s ending – although it does diverge somewhat from the original’s – while Abra’s review warned that it was ‘very sex heavy and not true to the book’, but felt if you could get past that the movie was ‘enjoyable’.

Others had no time for it at all though, with Joe seething: ‘Worse [sic.] movie I have seen in a long time. Didn’t even come close to the book!!’

Critics were similarly divided, with The Daily Beast describing Fennell’s adaptation as ‘a fleetingly recognisable tale of love, desire, obsession, regret, bitterness, and ire that, at every turn, plays as florid, horny, juvenile fanfiction’.

‘With a chemistry-free central romance between the bizarrely uninteresting Heathcliff and Cathy, this film self-deflates,’ complained Kevin Maher of The Times, while Little White Lies’ Hannah Stong called it ‘a half-remembered story dressed in a beautiful gown that seems destined for TikTok fan edits and Pinterest mood boards rather than soul-stirring emotional catharsis’.

However, the BBC’s Caryn James argued: ‘If you embrace the film’s audacious style and think of it as a reinvention not an adaptation, this bold, artful Wuthering Heights is utterly absorbing.’

And in a five-star review, The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin called the movie ‘a bosom-heaving, gasp-inducing thrill ride’, adding: ‘Style over substance? Not at all – it’s more that Fennell understands that style can be substance when you do it right.’

Wuthering Heights is streaming now on HBO Max and NOW (with a cinema membership) in the UK.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: Netflix is ‘making a prequel to The Crown’ – but I’m sceptical

MORE: The White Lotus confirms Oscar-winning actress replacing Helena Bonham Carter

MORE: Big Little Lies fans realise 12 years later that major clue gave away ending

Following Alex Scott’s corner from the left, Evanilson’s header appeared to be going wide, only for Colombia international Lerma – who spent five seasons as a Bournemouth player – to inadvertently nod the ball over his own goal-line, despite the best efforts of Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

John claims the NHS has refused to operate on the growing “watermelon-sized” hernia that leaves him unable to work

A man living with a “watermelon-sized” hernia says he has been left unable to live a normal life after finding a lump that has led to a draining health battle. John Burden says he now has to rely on PIP and Universal Credit to get by.

The 61 year old from Weymouth in Dorset, says his ordeal began in October 2022 when he woke up with a small golf ball-sized lump in his stomach. After being rushed to hospital, fluid was drained and he was initially told to return once he had lost weight.

However, John claims that despite losing nearly 20kg, he was repeatedly told by the NHS that he needed to lose more weight before surgery could be considered. Over time, the hernia continued to grow, eventually reaching the size of a watermelon and leaving him reliant on XXXXL clothing to cover it.

He says the condition has left him unable to work as a shop fitter or drive. He says this is forcing him to rely on Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to get by.

Advertisement

In recent months, John says the hernia has begun rupturing, causing severe bleeding and repeated A&E visits, including one incident that required a blood transfusion. He claims he is still being told further weight loss is needed before surgery could be considered.

“It causes me pain at night, I can’t drive any more, and I haven’t been able to work in three years,” he said. “All I want is to have the hernia removed so I can get my life back.”

John now believes his only option is to raise £4,500 for surgery in Lithuania. He says a specialist has agreed to treat him, including travel and accommodation costs.

He first noticed the lump around three and a half years ago, shortly after recovering from pneumonia. After being admitted to hospital and having fluid drained, he claims he was told to return once he had lost weight, but says he was repeatedly turned away on follow-up visits despite his weight loss. John has since dropped around 20kg to 114kg, but says the condition has continued to worsen.

In 2023, he became unable to work due to the condition and began claiming benefits. By late 2025, the hernia had grown significantly and began rupturing, leading to multiple emergency hospital admissions.

He said: “I was projecting blood 10 feet across the floor. The ambulance came and they couldn’t stop it. I had to have a blood transfusion.”

Despite this, he claims consultants have not offered surgery. He says he was later sent for a liver scan, which came back normal, but received no further update.

John has since contacted specialists in Lithuania, who he says are willing to operate. According to one local NHS foundation trust’s website, there are rules around surgery for people who are overweight – although John’s own trust says it is unable to comment on his case.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust’s website says: “People with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 have an increased risk of developing serious problems both during and after surgery. These problems include infection, delayed wound healing, increased pain, and increased risk of needing further surgery on the joint.

“The operation is often more difficult, and it may take longer to get back on your feet and return home. For people with a BMI of 40 or over, the risks increase further. Your surgery may need to be delayed until your BMI is below 40.”

A spokesperson for Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’re not able to talk about individual cases due to patient confidentiality, but we would encourage Mr Burden to get in touch with our patient experience team so they can look into this on his behalf.”

A gambling addict defrauded his friends in an elaborate con. Scott Clode abused the trust of fellow sports club members in Cardiff – some of whom he had known for many years – to steal tens of thousands of pounds.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the 33-year-old targeted people he knew from Radyr cricket club and Llandaff squash club. He defrauded eight victims of a total of £41,320 and there was another “victim” who chose not to support a prosecution, the court was told.

Clode bowed his head low in the dock as he heard how his crimes had caused panic attacks, financial struggles, and “massive humiliation” for people who had considered him a close friend.

Prosecutor Abdallah Barakat said the defendant told lies about a “mystery shopper” scheme offered by a market research agency called Retail Active. He claimed he was acting as a “platinum ambassador” but in reality the firm had no knowledge of his actions.

“He would invite victims to send him money so they could get vouchers from businesses that worked with Retail Active,” said Mr Barakat. “He would do so on the false pretence that they would be reimbursed the money they’d paid.

“Mr Clode told them they would be reimbursed within weeks as long as they used the vouchers and they photographed and reviewed their experiences.

“They just had to send him the reviews and photos, which he would then send to Retail Active. Soon thereafter they would get a refund, he told them.

“He had fabricated the scheme to obtain money to fund his gambling addiction. Once the victims realised what had happened he apologised in a group chat and stated that he was suffering with a gambling addiction.”

One of the victims, Simon Walters, had known Clode for 15 years through the cricket club. In 2023 the defendant sold him the con that he could enjoy an expenses-paid holiday as long as he reviewed his experience.

Mr Walters parted with more than £15,000 and received £10,000 worth of Tui holiday vouchers from Clode. “The vouchers were genuine and some victims did benefit from the experience of those vouchers,” said the prosecutor. “But they would never have done it in the first place had they known they would not be reimbursed.”

In a victim impact statement Mr Walters said: “It was all very convincing at the time. My wife told me to trust her and not my mate. It caused me massive humiliation and I feel betrayed by Scott. It’s affected my confidence in people.

“If he’d told me he was in a couple of thousand pounds’ debt and needed help we would have got together and helped him. It’s the detail and planning and deceit that really annoy me.

“When my mum was on her deathbed he was asking how she was. In his next breath he was asking about Tui vouchers.”

Another Radyr cricket club member, Rhys Lloyd, had been friends with the defendant for 14 years. He sent Clode £11,000 and received around £7,000 worth of vouchers with no further reimbursement.

Karl Ford, a cricketer who was swindled into paying Clode for Tui vouchers, said: “I had sleepless nights and panic attacks. I had to go into my overdraft for the first time. Words such as ‘voucher’ now trigger me and take me back to the scam.”

The court heard some victims did not receive vouchers at all. One described losing savings for a house. Another said they had lost money meant to cover their wedding, adding: “I have not told my family out of embarrassment.”

“Falling for such a scam is something I had only heard about in the media,” said one victim. “I always questioned how people could fall for it. Now I understand anyone could be tricked by someone like Scott Clode.”

Clode, of Heol Seddon in Danescourt, pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud from between June 2023 and November 2024. He had no previous convictions.

His barrister Ieuan Callaghan pointed to six of Clode’s loved ones who were sitting in the public gallery to support him. “His family and friends paint a picture that, aside from this addiction, he is a really good person,” he told the court.

Mr Callaghan turned to the defendant, hunched low in the dock, and went on: “He is in a state of some distress. The victims’ statements have been difficult for him to listen to.

“He did not do this to live a lavish lifestyle. He really was driven by a gambling disorder which he had struggled with for years. In 2018 he was bailed out twice – first by his dad and then by his mum.

“In 2022, when he relapsed and these offences happened, he was treating the scheme as a payday loan without any interest to be paid by him.

“He thought that by sending vouchers and promising things to these people – and many did receive genuine vouchers – he could pay them back from gambling winnings. It sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud – and it was – but that was the addiction he was going through.”

The barrister said a psychiatric report showed his client would not have committed the fraud if he did not have a gambling disorder. Clode has a new “well-paying” job in robotic process automation and has been making efforts to gradually repay the victims, Mr Callaghan added.

Judge Gregory Bull KC told the defendant: “You abused your close friendships at the sports clubs. Some people didn’t get vouchers at all and in other cases there were no reimbursements.

“The fraud had a devastating effect on more than one of your victims. They will find it hard to forgive you knowing you abused them in the way you did. You struck at their sense of security and feelings of integrity. This was a serious crime.”

But the judge took into account the medical report and found Clode had a prospect of rehabilitation. “Prison would be damaging and set back the rehabilitation you have achieved so far,” he said.

Judge Bull imposed a two-year prison term suspended for 18 months. At this Clode exhaled deeply and became tearful while his loved ones in the gallery gasped and embraced each other.

Clode must complete 10 days of rehabilitation activity and 240 hours of unpaid work. A proceeds of crime hearing will be held in September to determine a financial penalty and compensation.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.