Killian Smith was reaching near the double the speed limit when he crashed into Jawar Khan who was crossing Bradford Street,

The horrific crash happened on April 19, 2024 when Smith was behind the wheel of a BMW.

Smith, 34 of Newby Road, Breightment, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was further sentenced to another 27 months for a separate incident of coercive and controlling behaviour that occurred later, to be served concurrently.

This involved Smith’s then-partner.

Also appearing alongside him was Jamie Mallen, who the court heard was speeding on the same road, although he did crash into anything or anyone.

Bolton Crown Court heard both men were driving at around 56/57mph in a 30mph zone.

Mallen, 29, of Tulip Avenue, Kearsley, who drove the red Ford which did not hit Mr Khan, was sentenced to nine-months in prison for driving dangerously, suspended for 18 months.

Addressing Smith, Recorder Andrew Long said: “The three-year sentence which should be the starting point is subject to reductions due to your guilty plea and other personal aggravating matters.”

Recorder Long was referring to the death of Smith’s mother, which the defendant had been out commemorating at the time of the collision, as well as an earlier incident in which his brother died by suicide.

Recorder Long then turned to Mallen: “You performed the same manoeuvre at the same time, and it is only by the grace of God that that you did not injure anybody else.”

Barrister Adam Brown, who prosecuted the case, explained that the cars were first seen by another driver on Bradford Street on the date in question.

The driver said that he saw the blue BMW pull up next to him while he was in traffic then speed off, followed by the red Ford, which did the same thing.

He then heard a loud bang, which he soon found out was the blue BMW – driven by Smith – hitting Mr Khan.

Bolton Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

Smith came to a complete standstill upon colliding with Mr Khan, and remained at the scene, making no attempt to flee, which Recorder Long said indicated genuine remorse.

The red Ford driven by Mallen continued on – he was later found to have a small amount of cannabis in his system, and was driving on a provisional licence.

Paramedics were called to the scene, and another witness saw a young woman shouting ‘it’s my dad, it’s my dad!’

This young woman was Mr Khan’s daughter Sophia, who witnessed her father being hit by Smith’s BMW.

Mr Brown read out a statement by Ms Khan: “My father was departing from mosque with his brother-in-law when he was hit by the car while crossing Bradford Street.

“Even though I had seen him after his stroke, I immediately knew this time was it was more serious.

“He was treated in hospital by medical professionals until December 4.

“He was found to have a traumatic brain injury due to the collision caused by his brain rotating in his head. We were told it is not likely to heal.

“From leaving the hospital to now his condition has only deteriorated.

“He was initially able to take his medication orally, but now it has to go in through a drip – he used to respond to us speaking to him, he now doesn’t.

“He used to have very healthy teeth, but his teeth are now black and crumbling due to the medication.

“He used to be very independent, now he relies on his wife and children and needs 24-hour care.

“My mother provides 90 per cent of the care, which is impacting her health – she is now confined to the house as much as my father is.”

Recorder Long also described the abuse that Smith subjected his then partner to, which led to her getting a restraining order against him for 10 years.

On one incident, he pushed her against a wall, injuring her head in the process, causing her to ring the police against him.

Smith’s defence barrister Richard Brigden explained that, at the time of the collision, Smith had been out for an event commemorating the death of his mother.

Mr Brigden brought up other mitigating circumstances which were affecting him at the time of the domestic violence, including finding the body of his brother.

His character since the arrest was also brought up as indicative of positive change.

The court heard how Smith acts as a mentor for young prisoners, and how he is undergoing therapy which has helped him understand his previous criminal actions.

Ms Tanya Elahi, the defence barrister for Mallen, spoke about the defendant’s issues with cannabis, for which she requested he undergo a cannabis awareness course.

Recorder Long gave Mallen a nine-month suspended sentence, less than ‘most judges’ would have given in a similar situation, he said.

He instructed Mallen to use his freedom ‘wisely’.

Mulgrave has finished building four energy-efficient homes in Appleton Wiske, near Northallerton.

The site, named Apletona, is located off Hornby Road on a 1.26-acre plot at the western edge of the village.

Debbie Foster, sales director at Mulgrave, said: “We began work at Apletona in October 2024 and the site team has successfully delivered an exclusive collection of high-quality, low-carbon homes within a sensitively designed extension to the village.

“These spacious, energy-efficient homes will help to meet the recognised local demand for bungalows, enabling retired households to downsize and free up housing for families seeking to live in the area.

“There is a particular need for two-bedroom bungalows and these are the first two-bedroom properties to be built in Appleton Wiske for more than 20 years.”

The development includes two- and three-bedroom bungalows, ranging from 1,300 to 1,700 square feet.

Homes are fitted with air source heat pumps and high-quality glazing to improve energy efficiency.

A contribution of £50,700 has also been made to North Yorkshire Council through the Community Infrastructure Levy to support local services and facilities.

The bungalows have been designed to complement the character of Appleton Wiske, using red multi-brick and grey roof tiles.

The overall landscaping provides a gentle transition from the village to the surrounding countryside.

Native hedgerow and species-rich grassland have been planted, with swift and bat boxes integrated into each property to boost biodiversity.

Ms Foster said: “Apletona has been created in a sustainable location with the local pub, post office, and village hall all within a short walk of the new homes, giving residents easy access to local amenities without having to use a car.”

One of the three-bedroom bungalows and both two-bedroom homes are currently available for reservation, with prices starting at £500,000.

More information can be found by visiting the Mulgrave Properties website.

BBC’s new six-part drama Half Man stars Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd and Billy Elliot legend Jamie Bell.

Half Man has landed, delivering an “explosion of violence” to television screens following lots of anticipation.

The BBC‘s newest hard-hitting drama chronicles the lives of mild-mannered Niall (portrayed by Jamie Bell) and volatile Ruben (Richard Gadd) across their complex three-decade relationship.

The opening episode begins at Niall’s wedding with a charged exchange between the pair who regard themselves as brothers, united not by blood but by shared experience.

The series subsequently transports BBC audiences back to their teenage years, examining how their friendship formed and where it fractured along the way.

When is BBC Half Man next on?

Half Man’s opening episode initially launched at 6am on Friday, April 24, before its BBC One debut this evening, Tuesday, April 28, at 10.40pm.

Half Man will maintain this broadcast pattern throughout the remaining six-part series, with episode two becoming available on Friday, May 1, via BBC iPlayer and Tuesday, May 5, on BBC One, at the identical time.

Below is a complete guide to Half Man’s anticipated episode transmission schedule, assuming no unforeseen programming changes.

BBC iPlayer:

Episode One: Friday, April 24

Episode Two: Friday, May 1

Episode Three: Friday, May 8

Episode Four: Friday, May 15

Episode Five: Friday, May 22

Episode Six: Friday, May 29

BBC One:

Episode One: Tuesday, April 28

Episode Two: Tuesday, May 5

Episode Three: Tuesday, May 12

Episode Four: Tuesday, May 19

Episode Five: Tuesday, May 26

Episode Six: Tuesday, June 6

Richard Gadd’s Half Man comes after his worldwide sensation Baby Reindeer, which launched on Netflix two years ago.

Before both programmes, Gadd had contributed briefly to series including The Last Leg, Netflix’s Sex Education and Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier.

As for his acting work, the 36-year-old has appeared in Humans, Code 404, Clique and Outlander, portraying a character named Duff in series five.

Half Man is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

There has been just one ‘illegal wastewater’ conviction in Northern Ireland over five years

Concerns over Northern Ireland sewage pollution have revealed a “shocking” lack of prosecutions despite an estimate of thousands of illegal connections in the UK.

Only one conviction in NI has been made of an unauthorised link up to the wastewater system in the last five years.

The enforcement statistics have been revealed through a Freedom of Information request to Northern Ireland Water by a Mournes elected member.

READ MORE: Newry river bank fears of more collapses prompts inspection call.

READ MORE: Campaign for Carryduff pool gains support amid new council spend statistics.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service Alliance councillor Jill Truesdale said:”Only one prosecution in five years is a shocking figure.

“It clearly shows a need for more enforcement and funding around this particular area with NIW, which has such far reaching consequences for housing, construction and jobs.

“I requested this information because, illegal connections, be they through changes of use or an existing building or new projects without the necessary permissions, are a contributing factor to the overloading of the existing NIW infrastructure.”

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs estimates up to 500,000 UK homes are suspected to be illegally mis-connected.

Pressures on the wastewater network have been publicly announced by NIW with major housing developments in multiple council areas now impacted.

In the last five years, the FoI also shows 12 continuing NIW investigations of unauthorised connections and one ongoing prosecution.

The water authority also listed five cases with insufficient evidence to proceed and three warning letters handed out as well as one formal caution.

The Department for Infrastructure is due to bring forward legislation under the Water Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill to address unlawful connections.

In some instances foul water pipes can be connected to the wrong drainage system ultimately leading to the pollution and contamination of streams, rivers, and coastlines.

Councillor Truesdale added:”While the Bill is very welcome it lacks detail on funding and enforcement of illegal connections.

“Foul drainage connected to surface water is discharged at its final destination be this a river or the sea, without treatment, and surface water drainage connected to foul drainage would overload the system and require treatment so in effect money is being spent on treating rainwater.

“Illegal connections may cause pollution of watercourses as well as hinder development by overloading the system.”

The FoI statement from NIW reads: “NI Water’s approach to enforcement is in line with the principles of better regulation.

“This will help consumers, both domestic and commercial, to understand the nature and extent of their responsibilities and comply with the law voluntarily.

“However, there are times when conformity with the law needs to be sought by formal enforcement action.

“The effective use of enforcement powers is important to secure compliance with the legislation and, where necessary, to ensure that consumers are held to account.

“NI Water’s Enforcement and Prosecution Policy sets out the options available to the company.

“The options available to NI Water range from advisory letters and warning letters to formal cautions and prosecution.”

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

King Charles III and Queen Camilla continued their state visit in Washington DC on Tuesday, by meeting members of President Trump’s cabinet, before the King gave a speech to both houses of US Congress to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

They ended the day with a state dinner at the White House, where Trump praised the United Kingdom for the ‘richest inheritance one nation could give to another’, while Charles gifted the president a bell from his WW2 submarine namesake, ‘HMS Trump’.

It is the first such visit by the reigning monarch to the US since Queen Elizabeth II met President George W Bush in 2007.

The King and Queen will journey to New York City tomorrow, to participate in a memorial service for victims of the 11 September 2001 attacks.

Read the BBC’s analysis of Charles’ speech to Congress here

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, and the US President has now hit back with a stark warning over Iran’s nuclear capabilities

Donald Trump has issued a stark warning over Iran’s nuclear capabilities to Friedrich Merz after the German Chancellor took aim at the US President.

Germany’s leader claimed on Monday that Iran was “humiliating” the United States following fruitless peace talks that saw American envoys hauled out to Pakistan.

Speaking to students in Marsberg, Merz said the Iranians were “obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilled at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result”.

“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible,” he said. Merz and Trump met at the White House in March.

The US President has now hit back on social media, insisting Merz “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” while issuing a pointed warning about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, reports the Mirror.

Trump said on Truth Social: “The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage.

“I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago. No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise! President DONALD J. TRUMP.” Merz has permitted the US to utilise the Ramstein air base for coordinating strikes on Iran, but expressed doubt over how Trump would extricate himself from the conflict.

“If I had known that it would continue like this for five or six weeks and get progressively worse, I would have told him even more emphatically,” Merz said. This follows the emergence of a leaked memo suggesting the US was exploring methods of penalising NATO allies who have failed to fully back the war.

The Top 100 stores will be celebrated as part of the Better Retailing Festival & Awards in September

Seven shops from across Northern Ireland have been recognised in the UK and Ireland’s ‘Top 100 independent convenience stores‘ list for 2026.

The ‘Better Retailing Top 100 Stores‘ have all demonstrated exceptional standards across two or more of the eight Better Retailing Awards categories, which are based on the core competencies of running a successful store.

Identified through independent assessments, the Top 100 forms part of the Better Retailing Awards, which recognises and celebrates retailers across the country who are doing great things for their customers and their communities.

The Top 100 stores will be celebrated as part of the Better Retailing Festival & Awards, which takes place on Monday 14 September in Birmingham.

A spokesperson said: “We are absolutely thrilled to unveil the 2026 list of 100 outstanding independent news and convenience stores across the UK and Ireland.

“These exceptional retailers are going above and beyond for their customers and communities, proudly raising the bar and championing excellence across the entire channel.

“Identified through independent assessment, these stores will be celebrated at the Better Retailing Festival in September, and are now moving forward to the next stage of the Better Retailing Awards judging process.

“A HUGE congratulations to those stores that have made the list!”

Here are the Northern Irish stores to make the top 100 for 2026:

• Hamilton News, Belfast
• Milestone Rathfriland, Newry
• Moran’s Centra & Go Fuels, Derry
• Mulgrews Food Hall, Carryduff
• Mulkerns Eurospar, Cloughoge
• Mulkerns Spar, Newry
• Spar Malone Road, Belfast

See the full list of top stores across the UK and Ireland here

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

President Donald Trump is a well-known fan of gold — but he might find an old hunk of brass he received from King Charles III on Tuesday to be just as precious as that precious metal.

The King, who returned to the White House Tuesday evening for a state dinner to cap off his two-day visit to Washington, gifted the American president with a Second World War-era submarine’s bell, polished to a mirror shine, which had once been part of a British submarine that spent more than 20 years in Australia when the Royal Navy maintained a permanent presence there.

The boat’s name? H.M.S. Trump.

Charles presented Trump with the relic of his Royal Navy namesake as he delivered a toast in which he said he hoped it would “stand as a testimony to our nation’s shared history and shining future.”

“And should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring,” he said.

The King also thanked Trump for his “generous hospitality” during what he said was his 20th visit to the United States — his first as the British sovereign — as he delivered a lighthearted toast in which he noted the construction site on which Trump hopes to build his controversial $400 million ballroom after demolishing the historic East Wing of the White House last year.

Charles acknowledged that he could not “help but notice the readjustments to the East Wing” as he left Trump’s guests laughing with his wry observation that the British had “made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House” when troops under the command of Major-General Robert Ross set it ablaze in 1814.

The King’s visit to Washington has followed a period of tensions between his Labour Party-led government and the Trump administration over the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran after the British government declined to participate in the unprovoked war, leading Trump to attack Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as “no Winston Churchill” and slam the NATO alliance as a “paper tiger.”

In what appeared to be a backhanded acknowledgment of the transatlantic dispute, Charles noted that Trump had recently accused Europe of being insufficiently grateful for America’s role in defeating Nazism during the Second World War in remarks at the World Economic Forum when he said European leaders would “all be speaking German and a little Japanese” were it not for America.

But the King turned the tension into fodder for yet another laugh line when he pointed out that the British control of most of North America prior to the late 1700s had prevented Britain’s rival kingdom — France — from gaining purchase in what is now the U.S. and most of Canada.

“Indeed, you recently commented, Mr. President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French,” he said, drawing yet more laughs from guests in the jam-packed East Room.

“American leadership helped rebuild a shattered continent, playing a decisive role as a defender of freedom in Europe. We and I shall never forget that,” the King added.

The white-tie state dinner hosted by Trump came just hours after Charles used a historic address to the U.S. Congress to offer a subtle but stinging rebuke of Trump’s often-monarchical ambitions — hailing the “separation of powers” that ensured the new union would not wind up with another king lording over the unified colonies all those centuries ago.

Speaking before a rare joint meeting of Congress on the second day of his and Queen Camilla’s state visit to Washington, the king had both Democrats and Republicans leaping to their feet, clapping and loudly cheering in response to his thinly disguised critique of the current president veiled in a historical description of the American constitutional system, lauding the foundation of the republic as part of a “great inheritance” passed down from the United Kingdom to the United States.

“Our common ideals were not only crucial for liberty and equality, they are also the foundation of our shared prosperity. The Rule of Law: the certainty of stable and accessible rules, an independent judiciary resolving disputes and delivering impartial justice,” he said.

He added that the “bitter divisions of 250 years ago” had given way to “a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential Alliances in human history.”