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London paedophile who groomed children as young as 12 online given 10-year jail sentence

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London paedophile who groomed children as young as 12 online given 10-year jail sentence

In February, Chellapah pleaded guilty to 21 offences from August to October 2025, including sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child following grooming, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and offences relating to the production and possession of indecent images of children.

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Darlington burger bar Sliceburg teases plans for fourth site

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Darlington burger bar Sliceburg teases plans for fourth site

Sliceburg, which has existing sites in Darlington and Middlesbrough, recently announced it is set to open its third venue in Hartlepool in June.

Just days later, the business revealed it has secured the keys to a fourth store, but has not disclosed where it will be.

Sliceburg, Darlington (Image: Sliceburg)

In a post on social media yesterday (May 21), the owners said: “After the success of our Darlington and Middlesbrough stores, we are opening up Hartlepool in June, but we’ve just secured the keys to our FOURTH store, can you guess where?”

The post featured a picture of a map, with many customers suggesting possible locations including Sunderland, Newcastle, Bishop Auckland and Durham.

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The post added: “We also wanted to give you guys a big shout-out. Without you, none of this could be possible. We can’t wait to serve more of you our delicious food soon.”

Sliceburg, Darlington (Image: Sliceburg)

The Hartlepool venue is expected to open early next month following refurbishment work, but the exact location and opening date have yet to be announced.

The Darlington restaurant, which opened in 2023, is known for its smash burgers, fries and tenders, available to eat in or takeaway.

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It was previously listed as one of ten exceptional restaurants as part of the Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year Awards 2024, which spotlight small independent businesses across the UK.

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Uncertainty over future of ward at Royal Bolton amid closure fears

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Huge bang heard across Bolton after lightning hits hospital

One resident who uses the hospital said they had been told that B2 ward could close, following changes to another ward last year.

It has raised concerns that it would cause bed shortages and less space for people accessing the hospital, with the ward usually used for adult medicine and the elderly.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has not confirmed that B2 ward will permanently close, but said wards and bed numbers are regularly reviewed depending on demand and patient need.

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The trust said it was also developing a new intermediate care unit at the hospital site for patients needing extra support before being discharged home.

Rae Wheatcroft, chief operating officer for Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We regularly review and adjust our bed numbers across Bolton to respond to changing demand, making sure resources are in the right place and meeting the areas of greatest need.

“This includes developing a new intermediate care unit here on the hospital site, which will provide beds in an appropriate setting for patients requiring a little more support before they are discharged to the place they call home.

“We are also working hard to move more care out of hospital and into the community, in line with the NHS Long Term Plan.”

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A spokesperson for the trust later said wards can open and close “on a rotating basis depending on where need is”.

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Climber wrote online she ‘felt uncertain’ before falling 2,000 ft down volcano | News World

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Climber wrote online she 'felt uncertain' before falling 2,000 ft down volcano | News World
Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa was climbing with a group of friends when she died on Sunday (Picture: JamPress)

A climber has died after plunging 2,000ft to her death down a volcano on her 42nd birthday.

Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa was climbing with a group of friends when the accident occurred at around 3pm on Sunday.

The mum-of-two posted a birthday message on social media just hours before her death.

Ahead of her climb up Llaima Volcano, one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Chile, she said: ‘It’s three in the morning and we’re finishing packing our backpacks to ascend Llaima.

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‘I hope God accompanies me on this wonderful day, on which I’m turning 42 and am super happy.

‘Yes, I have a little uncertainty about what’s going to happen.’

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Story from Jam Press (Climber Volcano Plunge) Pictured: Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa. A climber has died after plunging 2,000ft to her death down a volcano on her 42nd birthday. Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa was climbing with a group of friends when the accident occurred at around 3pm on Sunday (17 May). The mother of two posted a birthday message on social media just hours before her death. Ahead of her climb up Llaima Volcano, one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Chile, she said: ?It?s three in the morning and we?re finishing packing our backpacks to ascend Llaima. ?I hope God accompanies me on this wonderful day, on which I?m turning 42 and am super happy.? She added, ominously: ?Yes, I have a little uncertainty about what?s going to happen.? Ingrid, who worked as school governor at Alexander Graham Bell School in Villarrica City, plunged to her death from a height of around 2,000ft (600m) while taking photos on the descent. She reportedly released her ice pick, lost her balance, possibly exacerbated by strong winds, and slipped and fell down a steep ravine. Rescue efforts were hampered by severe weather, with strong winds preventing a rescue helicopter from reaching the site, as reported by NeedToKnow. Ingrid?s death was confirmed that evening, but her body could not be recovered until Monday morning at around 6:30am due to continuing poor conditions. A joint operation involving police, firefighters, volunteers, and representatives from the National Forest Corporation (Conaf) successfully retrieved her remains. Conaf director H?ctor Tiller?a said the hiking group did not register with the park authorities or Carabineros beforehand, contrary to protocol. He warned of adverse weather this week, with sub-zero temperatures and demanding high-mountain conditions, and urged all climbers to register properly for safety. A school spokesperson, where Ingrid served as governor, called her a ?responsible, kind, committed? mother. The community offered condolences to her husband, two children, family and friends. Volc?n Llaima, one of Chile?s most active volcanoes at over 3,000 metres, is a popular but challenging destination for experienced hikers. Authorities continue to investigate the precise circumstances of the fall. ENDS EDITOR?S NOTES Usage Licence: (SOCIAL MEDIA) We have obtained this material from a verified account on social media platforms and have reached out to the owner. Usage Restrictions: Jam Press accepts all responsibility for use on news media portals only, usage on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube is not guaranteed.
The mum-of-two posted a birthday message on social media just hours before her death (Picture: JamPress)

Ingrid, who worked as school governor at Alexander Graham Bell School in Villarrica City, plunged to her death from a height of around 2,000ft (600m) while taking photos on the descent.

She reportedly released her ice pick, lost her balance, possibly exacerbated by strong winds, and slipped and fell down a steep ravine.

Rescue efforts were hampered by severe weather, with strong winds preventing a rescue helicopter from reaching the site.

Ingrid’s death was confirmed that evening, but her body could not be recovered until Monday morning at around 6:30am due to continuing poor conditions.

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Story from Jam Press (Climber Volcano Plunge) Pictured: Rescuers retrieving Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa's body. A climber has died after plunging 2,000ft to her death down a volcano on her 42nd birthday. Ingrid Daniela Vera Figueroa was climbing with a group of friends when the accident occurred at around 3pm on Sunday (17 May). The mother of two posted a birthday message on social media just hours before her death. Ahead of her climb up Llaima Volcano, one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Chile, she said: ?It?s three in the morning and we?re finishing packing our backpacks to ascend Llaima. ?I hope God accompanies me on this wonderful day, on which I?m turning 42 and am super happy.? She added, ominously: ?Yes, I have a little uncertainty about what?s going to happen.? Ingrid, who worked as school governor at Alexander Graham Bell School in Villarrica City, plunged to her death from a height of around 2,000ft (600m) while taking photos on the descent. She reportedly released her ice pick, lost her balance, possibly exacerbated by strong winds, and slipped and fell down a steep ravine. Rescue efforts were hampered by severe weather, with strong winds preventing a rescue helicopter from reaching the site, as reported by NeedToKnow. Ingrid?s death was confirmed that evening, but her body could not be recovered until Monday morning at around 6:30am due to continuing poor conditions. A joint operation involving police, firefighters, volunteers, and representatives from the National Forest Corporation (Conaf) successfully retrieved her remains. Conaf director H?ctor Tiller?a said the hiking group did not register with the park authorities or Carabineros beforehand, contrary to protocol. He warned of adverse weather this week, with sub-zero temperatures and demanding high-mountain conditions, and urged all climbers to register properly for safety. A school spokesperson, where Ingrid served as governor, called her a ?responsible, kind, committed? mother. The community offered condolences to her husband, two children, family and friends. Volc?n Llaima, one of Chile?s most active volcanoes at over 3,000 metres, is a popular but challenging destination for experienced hikers. Authorities continue to investigate the precise circumstances of the fall. ENDS EDITOR?S NOTES Usage Licence: (SOCIAL MEDIA) We have obtained this material from a verified account on social media platforms and have reached out to the owner. Usage Restrictions: Jam Press accepts all responsibility for use on news media portals only, usage on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube is not guaranteed.
Rescuers at the site where Ingrid fell to her death (Picture: JamPress)

A joint operation involving police, firefighters, volunteers, and representatives from the National Forest Corporation successfully retrieved her remains.

Conaf director Héctor Tillería said the hiking group did not register with the park authorities or Carabineros beforehand, contrary to protocol.

He warned of adverse weather this week, with sub-zero temperatures and demanding high-mountain conditions, and urged all climbers to register properly for safety.

A school spokesperson, where Ingrid served as governor, called her a ‘responsible, kind, committed’ mother.

The community offered condolences to her husband, two children, family and friends.

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Volcán Llaima, one of Chile’s most active volcanoes at over 3,000 metres, is a popular but challenging destination for experienced hikers.

Authorities continue to investigate the precise circumstances of the fall.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Emily Atack’s famous family and link to Beatles icon as she hosts Nobody’s Fool

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Daily Mirror

As Emily Atack prepares to co-host ITV’s brand new quiz show Nobody’s Fool alongside Danny Dyer, we take a look at her remarkable famous family

ITV viewers on the hunt for their next favourite game show need look no further, as brand new quiz show Nobody’s Fool kicks off tonight (Saturday 23 May).

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Hosted by Danny Dyer and Emily Atack, Nobody’s Fool features ten contestants battling it out in a strategic quiz show with a remarkable twist.

Rather than rewarding the cleverest players, the show’s outcome hinges on how intelligent each contestant’s rivals believe them to be.

Throughout the competition, players must identify who they consider the weakest link amongst them and ruthlessly vote them out, reports the Daily Star.

Host Danny said of the new series: “This is a blinder of a game show and unlike anything I’ve seen before. Emily and I had a brilliant time making it and much like the audience at home will be, we were kept guessing right until the very end.”

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Co-host Emily added: “It’s so exciting to be part of something this new and fresh. The chance to work with Danny again was a no brainer for me. We had such a laugh. Can’t wait for everyone to watch, it’s an absolute must see.”

While Emily fronts the new programme alongside her role in hit series Rivals as Sarah Stratton – where Danny also stars as Freddie Jones – she isn’t the only well-known face in her family.

Emily’s mother is accomplished actress Kate Robbins. Kate, 67, is not only a celebrated performer but also reached number two in the UK charts during the 80s with her smash hit ‘More Than in Love’, and has appeared in iconic productions including Spitting Image, After Life, and EastEnders.

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Emily’s aunty happens to be none other than Amy Robbins, who portrays Christina Boyd in Coronation Street. Christina made her debut on the ITV soap in 2023 as Daisy Midgeley’s mum and has been embroiled in numerous dramatic storylines since.

While Christina’s appearances were initially sporadic, she’s become a more prominent fixture on the cobbles lately, particularly through her relationship with George Shuttleworth.

Amy, 54, has an impressive CV including Dr. Jill Weatherill in The Royal, Stephanie Morelle in World’s End, Caren in EastEnders and Defence Barrister Milligan in Emmerdale.

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Talent clearly runs in the family, with Amy’s sister Emma also working as an actress, while another sibling, Jane, has made her mark as an artist, actress and musician, notably performing with the UK’s Eurovision act Prima Donna in 1980. These are Emily’s aunties.

Emily’s uncle Ted has also graced the Corrie set in three small parts, though he’s perhaps better recognised for his appearances in Calendar Girls, The Slammer, Diddy Movies and Benidorm, amongst other productions.

However, the family’s most famous connection is undoubtedly Emily’s mother Kate and her aunty Amy’s first cousin once removed – The Beatles legend Paul McCartney. Paul is Amy and Kate’s mum’s cousin, and she’s spoken fondly of him, saying: “He’s everything you would hope him to be, genuinely lovely.”

Nobody’s Fool launches on Saturday 23 May at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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Assailants open fire in separate attacks on the Honduran coast, killing at least 25 people

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Assailants open fire in separate attacks on the Honduran coast, killing at least 25 people

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Gunmen opened fire in two separate attacks Thursday on the Honduran coast, killing at least 25 people, including six police officers, authorities said.

The first incident took place at a plantation in the municipality of Trujillo in northern Honduras, where at least 19 workers were shot and killed, according to Public Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Yuri Mora.

The resource-rich region has been the site of a decades-long agrarian conflict.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has previously issued precautionary measures to some activists in the region who have been threatened, surveilled and intimidated for their work defending the environment and land rights.

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The 2024 killing of environmental leader Juan López highlighted the dangers of defending natural resources in this highly militarized area of Honduras. The Central American nation regularly ranks as one of the most dangerous for environmentalists, with five killed in 2024 and 18 the year before, according to nongovernmental organization Global Witness.

Three people were recently arrested for masterminding López’s killing, providing a rare glimpse of justice in a country with high rates of impunity.

In the second attack, assailants opened fire on police in the municipality of Omoa in the Cortes department near the Guatemalan border, killing six officers, including a senior officer, police said.

The officers were assigned to an anti-gang mission and were attacked while traveling to Omoa from the capital, Tegucigalpa, police said.

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National Police spokesperson Edgardo Barahona said earlier Thursday that determining the death toll in Trujillo was complicated partly because relatives of the victims have removed bodies of their loved ones. Investigators have been sent to the scene, he said.

The National Police and armed forces will respond to both of the areas where attacks took place, and teams including forensic specialists and prosecutors will be formed to investigate, the Security Ministry said.

Honduras has struggled with high rates of crime linked to gangs and the transnational drug trade, although its homicide rate has decreased significantly in recent years since a 2011 peak of 83 murders per 100,000 residents, according to the World Bank.

International human rights organizations have criticized Honduras for its militarized approach to fighting crime, which they say has led to human rights abuses including torture, forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

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This includes a three-year state of exception to suspend some constitutional rights and grant more power to security forces that ended in January 2026.

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Follow AP’s Latin America coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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Donald Trump shares weird AI video of throwing comedian in bin in latest unhinged move

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An AI Donald Trump was seen dumping late night TV show host Stephen Colbert into a bin in a bizarre spoof video posted to social media by the US president himself

Donald Trump has shared a bizarre AI video of him dumping a TV host he doesn’t like into a bin.

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The US president, who has a massive nuclear arsenal at his fingertips, appeared to spend time posting a video showing him stepping up behind revered TV talk show host Stephen Colbert, picking him up and throwing him. The AI Trump could then be seen dancing to YMCA, the Village People song often played during his rallies.

There was no comment on the post, but it was also shared by the official White House account, which added the caption “bye-bye”. It marked the end of Colbert’s ‘The Late Show’, after US TV network CBS announced last summer that the show would be scrapped, citing economic reasons after 11 seasons.

Unimpressed with the final episode, which aired last night on CBS, Trump called Colbert a “total jerk” who had “no talent, no ratings, no life”.

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“Colbert is finally finished at CBS,” he said on Truth Social. “Amazing that he lasted so long. No talent, no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person. You could take any person off the street and they would be better than this total jerk. Thank goodness he’s finally gone!”

Colbert was the ratings leader in late-night TV, however, and many including the TV presenter, 62, have expressed scepticism that President Donald Trump’s repeated criticism of the show wasn’t a factor. Trump’s name on Thursday never came up.

Trump has made his irritation at late night hosts clear following repeated jibes by the comedians. He rejoiced over the cancellation in a Truth Social post, writing “I absolutely love” that the host “got fired”. He followed it with: “I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.”

Just two months later, ABC, pressured by Trump’s Federal Communications Commission chair and affiliate networks, temporarily suspended Kimmel, the host of its own late-night show, following his remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

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In October last year, Colbert and fellow TV host Jimmy Kimmel appeared on each other’s shows, with Kimmel saying that they thought it would be a “fun way to drive the president nuts”.

In his opening monologue, he said: “My fellow late-night host, Stephen Colbert, is here with us. It’s the show the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) doesn’t want you to see.

“We’re doing something fun tonight. We’re doing something unprecedented tonight. I think it’s unprecedented. I did not bother to check.

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“Tonight, Stephen is a guest on our show. I will simultaneously be a guest on his show. We thought it might be a fun way to drive the president nuts.”

In 2015 and during his first appearance on The Late Show, Colbert mocked Trump while gorging on Oreos, likening his inability to resist the cookies to his inability to resist going after the then-presidential candidate.

“Look, you don’t own me. I don’t need to play tape of you to have a successful TV show,” he warned an image of Trump. “Someone on television should have a modicum of dignity and it could be me.”

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Over the next 11 years, Colbert couldn’t curb his appetite for making Trump barbs, often turning his show into a full-throated rebuke of MAGA policies. Trump would call him a “dead man walking.”

“The legacy of this show needs to be that we remember it as the show that was cancelled because a presidential administration wanted it off the air,” says Heather Hendershot, a professor of communication studies and journalism at Northwestern University in the US.

“We haven’t connected every single dot on that, but it’s very clear that this was a political decision. And I think 20, 30, 40 years later, that is going to be strongly remembered about this show, that this was a moment of authoritarian triumph.”

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Criminal Record: Man charged after fatal South Queensferry ‘stabbing’ as hammer attacker back in court

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Daily Record

Criminal Record brings together a round-up of today’s biggest crime stories.

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Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

If you love to read about crime in Scotland – this is the place to be every day.

Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Saturday.

Man charged after fatal ‘stabbing’ in South Queensferry

Police have arrested and charged a 58-year-old man following the death of a 54-year-old man in South Queensferry. Emergency services were called to Morison Gardens at around 6.10am on Friday after reports that a man had been assaulted.

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Paramedics attended the scene but the 54-year-old victim was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. Police Scotland confirmed the death is being treated as suspicious, and a post-mortem examination will take place to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

The 58-year-old suspect was arrested on Friday and has since been charged in connection with the death. He is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 25 May.

FULL STORY: Man charged over South Queensferry ‘stabbing’ as fatal police probe continues

Hammer attacker back in court weeks after avoiding jail

A man who narrowly avoided a prison sentence for a brutal hammer attack has admitted abusing his partner less than a month later.

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Finnley McIntyre, 24, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to acting aggressively towards the new mother of his child on 6 May.

The court heard McIntyre caused fear and alarm by slamming a door, kicking household items, and throwing a pram and a toy during the incident.

Despite the new offence, he was granted bail and will return to court for sentencing next month.

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FULL STORY: Hammer thug who avoided jail admits abusing girlfriend 26 days after walking free

Brian Vernel vows victims’ families will be respected in Peter Manuel play

Gangs of London actor Brian Vernel has said the families of serial killer Peter Manuel’s victims will be treated with “100 per cent” respect as he prepares to portray the infamous murderer in a new stage production.

The Long Drop, based on Denise Mina’s novel, opens next month at Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre and explores the crimes of the so-called Beast of Birkenshaw, who murdered seven people across Scotland in the 1950s.

Vernel acknowledged the emotional impact Manuel’s crimes still have on families and communities, noting that many people in Glasgow and Lanarkshire remain closely connected to the victims or the case itself.

His comments come after previous dramatisations of Manuel’s crimes sparked controversy, including ITV’s In Plain Sight starring Martin Compston, which faced criticism from relatives of victims who feared it would reopen old wounds.

FULL STORY: ‘Victims’ loved ones will be respected if they come to watch me play Peter Manuel’

Mystery still surrounds gangland-style execution of Billy Weatherall 30 years on

The body of 32-year-old Billy Weatherall was discovered by a dog walker near Erskine in Renfrewshire in February 1996, in what police quickly recognised as a gangland-style execution.

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Weatherall had been shot in the head and left near the River Clyde, close to the M8 junction at Bishopton, suggesting the killers had local knowledge of the area.

At the time of his death, Weatherall was on trial at the High Court in Stirling over a violent prison riot at Glenochil Prison involving seven other men.

He had been attending court daily while on bail, but failed to appear after being last seen near Maryhill Shopping Centre in Glasgow the night before his body was found.

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Investigators explored theories that he may have been planning to give evidence against his co-accused or had become involved in disputes linked to Glasgow’s criminal underworld.

FULL STORY: Bloodstained body found by dog walker revealed chilling underworld execution

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE

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Solar farm approved in Cambs village despite concerns of ‘blot on landscape’

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The solar farm would operate to ‘meet local power demand’

Plans for a new solar farm in a Cambridgeshire village have been approved – despite concerns from residents calling it a “blot on the landscape”. FRV Powertek Ltd proposed to build the solar farm on land at Malice Farm, South Of French Drove and east and west of Scolding Drove in Thorney.

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These plans have been approved by Peterborough City Council, with the site set to export 49.9 megawatts of power.. The applicant said the solar farm would “operate to meet local power demand”.

They also said it would also act as a “fall back energy source at times when sources of renewable energy and the grid are reduced or do not generate sufficient electricity to meet demand”.

It will be made up of 100,000 photovoltaic panels set out in rows, and the panels will have a maximum height of 3m above ground level. As part of the plans, a new bridge will also be constructed across New South Eau Drain.

This will provide vehicle access during construction and operation of the solar farm. The applicant plans to retain existing vegetation, including 436 trees and 33,680 sqm of shrubs in order to hide the development.

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The solar farm is proposed to be “temporary” and remain in place for 40 years. After this time, it will be decommissioned and the land will be restored.

Despite the approval, there were some residents that shared objections to the plans. One objector at Willow Tree Cottage in Spalding was concerned about the loss of open countryside.

They said: “To build a solar farm there would not only be a blot on the landscape, ruining the beautiful scenery and views across the fields, but it would also be taking high quality fertile farmland out [and] food production for the next 40 years. There would also be massive disruption for people who live and work around that area.”

Another resident in Gedney Hill, Spalding, said it would result in “further significant loss of countryside land to a man-made problem”. They added: “Too much is being taken from wildlife for a huge time and not being given back in this area.

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“The area is being targeted and would result in a huge loss for a vast period of time. 40 years is not a perceived temporary solution considering what it will do for the area.”

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Victorian Psycho is a delicious little freak of a horror film

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Victorian Psycho is a delicious little freak of a horror film
Maika Monroe leads the all-star cast of this new horror (Picture: Cannes Film Festival)

Victorian Psycho is a murderous tale adapted by author Virginia Feito from her own novel, complete with cannibalism, axe-murdering and infanticide.

It’s also the film I saw at Cannes Film Festival that was probably having the most fun.

Directed by Zachary Wigon, it’s gleeful in both its blood-letting and pitch-black humour.

Although it won’t terrify you, it’s gruesomely gothic, amusing and builds tension around the unpredictability of its titular psycho, eccentric young governess Winifred (Maika Monroe).

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She is also our (unreliable) narrator, announcing at the start of the film: ‘My name is Winnifred Knotty and I’m the sanest person I’ve ever met’, all the while demonstrating an unnervingly vacant facial expression when not practising her fixed grin.

Monroe is a renowned scream queen, switching over from the horror genre’s usual ‘final girl’ part in films such as It Follows and Longlegs, to play the baddie here with a largely decent period RP accent.

While she might be the psycho, once we’re introduced to the Pound family of the grand Ensor House (led by Jason Isaacs and Ruth Wilson, both deliciously creepy and severe), it becomes clear that Winifred is not really the villain of the piece.

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This is quite something to realise when she’s questioned about her past, and it transpires that she comes from a village notorious for a string of dead babies, and her most recent charges are still missing, while a previous one drowned.

There’s something about her upbeat matter-of-factness around her horrifying crimes that’s oddly endearing, and further empathy is built with passing references to her bleak childhood.

But the instructions are clear here for what Winifred must do with her young students, Andrew (Hamnet’s Jacobi Jupe) and Drusilla (Evie Templeton): ‘Make them smart but not too smart.’

Metro at the Cannes Film Festival

Keep up with Metro’s Tori Brazier at the Cannes Film Festival here.

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Mr Pounds reminds the governess that his daughter, in fact, ‘risks fertility with over-education’, while Mrs Pounds generously requests she doesn’t beat the children.

Maika Monroe in Victorian Psycho
This is the latest horror for ‘scream queen’ Maika (Picture: Cannes Film Festival)

Key Details: Victorian Psycho

Director
Zachary Wigon

Writer
Virginia Feito, based on her novel

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Cast
Maika Monroe, Jason Isaacs, Ruth Wilson, Thomasin McKenzie, Jacobi Jupe, Evie Templeton

Age rating
TBC

Run time
1hr 30m

Release date
Victorian Psycho is set for US release on September 25. A UK release date is planned for 2026.

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‘I shan’t even look at them!’ eager-to-please Winifred declares bizarrely, which encapsulates push and pull between the movie’s comedy and horror elements.

In Victorian Psycho, for every silly joke or dry remark made, there’s still a good amount of gore for horror heads – from misplaced body parts, including an ear (later eaten), to sprays of blood from bludgeoning. And yes, she does shockingly kill a baby.

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Ruth Wilson and Maika Monroe pose during an interview and portrait session for
The movie premiered at Cannes Film Festival (Picture: Getty)

Verdict

Victorian Psycho is absolutely marketed as one for the sickos, and while it’s disturbing enough, it ends up being more of a silly and twisted gothic romp than a truly haunting bloodbath.

But among all this is the dark humour of Winifred getting Andrew to quote: ‘Please, not my daughter’s fingers’, clearly a past plea that’s stuck with her, and Mr Pounds’ casual allusion to his father’s paedophilia as he was ‘married to the children’ following his wife’s death but ‘preferred the boys’ (a twisted joke that appeared to fly over the heads of others in my early morning screening).

He’s also a phrenology fan who’s keen to get his hands on Winifred’s head, among other things, for a thorough examination, while his sour wife eyes up her looks and wants to know her secrets. Well, beauty secrets that is.

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Winifred is also causing pesky whispers among the servants, which she’ll have to deal with in her own way, while befriending naïve nurse Ms Lamb (Thomasin McKenzie).

Complicating matters and stopping Winifred from being the true sociopathic serial killer from the novel is the introduction of ‘Fred’, the demon she believes is living inside her and controlling her killing impulses.

While Monroe manages to act the full gamut of Winifred’s confusing emotions and motives well, introducing some sort of immediate excuse for her behaviour does slightly dull the impact of the film’s final frenzy – as well as its commitment to being a truly shocking horror.

Victorian Psycho premiered at Cannes Film Festival on May 21. It will be released in the US on September 25. The UK release date is yet to be confirmed.

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England vs New Zealand: Sophie Devine’s 87 sets up series-levelling win

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England suffered a disappointing 14-run defeat as Sophie Devine’s brilliance levelled the T20 series for New Zealand at Canterbury.

England’s bowlers started magnificently in scorching conditions, restricting New Zealand to 11-4, but Sophie Devine and Maddy Green added a record-breaking 159 for the fifth wicket to take the White Ferns to a competitive 170-5.

All-rounder Devine blasted 87 from 57 balls before she was run out from the final ball of the innings, with Green finishing 56 not out in support.

Devine hit six sixes and five fours as England’s bowlers and fielders struggled under pressure in all-too-familiar scenes.

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Linsey Smith dominated the powerplay as she finished with 3-25, removing opener Georgia Plimmer and skipper Melie Kerr for first-ball ducks, but the stunning recovery gave New Zealand the momentum into the second innings.

Although England started their chase positively, Sophia Dunkley was the first to throw away her start and fell for 26 from 18 balls.

After Alice Capsey was out for 22, Heather Knight and Maia Bouchier added 43 for the third wicket but their cautious approach saw the run-rate climb and when the pair fell in consecutive balls in the 16th over, New Zealand were within touching distance of victory.

Explosive all-rounders Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp were tasked with scoring 30 from the final two overs, but they were dismissed for 12 and 14 respectively as England finished on 156-6.

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The series decider takes place at Hove on Monday, when even hotter conditions are expected.

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