The start of a new year at Christ’s College comprehensive and the arrival of a new chemistry teacher had caused quite a stir. 

Sally-Anne Bowen was bubbly, blonde and in her mid-20s – in other words nothing like her ‘fusty’ lab coat-wearing colleagues at the all-boys school in north London.

Favouring short skirts and tight tops she quickly came to exert a Pied Piper-like hold over her pupils, who immediately installed her at the top of their ‘fittest teacher’ list.

Of course, while unedifying, such behaviour among teenage boys is hardly unheard of.

But Bowen’s reaction to it was most unusual. Flattered by their attention, the 25-year-old doctor’s daughter started flirting with her admirers.

In lessons, she would share staff gossip, talk about performing sex acts and perch on the desk, giving the boys a glimpse up her skirt.

On one occasion she grabbed a confiscated pornographic magazine from one of them, paused at a photograph of a naked woman and made a lewd reference to herself. With others she discussed a copy of the Kama Sutra in class.

Soon after, Bowen’s interactions became physical. One boy, aged 15, was allowed to kiss her and fondle her breasts in a café close to the school in North Finchley. With another it went further still.

Favouring short skirts and tight tops, Bowen quickly came to exert a Pied Piper-like hold over her pupils, who installed her at the top of their ‘fittest teacher’ list

Bowden, pictured outside court this week

Advertisement

After inviting him back to her house, she took the 14-year-old’s virginity. Dozens of after-school sex sessions followed as Bowen encouraged the besotted teenager to indulge her increasingly perverted tastes both in the bedroom and in public places.

Inevitably, rumours about what was happening spread among pupils and staff until, it is claimed, Bowen was quietly asked to leave the school.

But what makes this shocking story so extraordinary is the fact that it would take almost four decades to truly bring her to justice, in which time she would go on to teach in a further 13 schools.

Meanwhile the life of her main teenage victim rapidly fell apart. Confused and broken-hearted, he started to self-harm and attempted suicide multiple times.

While fellow pupils joked about how ‘lucky’ he had been to have sex with Bowen, the reality of how she had groomed and abused him slowly dawned on him.

He first went to the police in 2014, only for the teacher to claim everything he said was a fantasy, dismissing him as a ‘nuisance’ who was ‘besotted’ with her.

When police decided to take no action, he complained to the Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA). In 2024, following a hearing, it found that Bowen had indeed indulged in sexual activity with a pupil in the 1980s – banning the teacher, who is now 65, from the profession for life.

Police re-opened their investigation and the following year she was charged with multiple counts of indecent assault against the former pupil and a second boy who had by then come forward.

During a two-week trial at Harrow Crown Court, Bowen steadfastly stuck to her story, branding her accusers liars.

She also claimed she had a low libido and that a congenital gynaecological condition meant she hated having sex.

Yesterday, after deliberating for six hours, the jury delivered their verdicts – finding Bowen guilty of seven counts of indecent assault by a majority of ten to two. She was granted bail and will be sentenced at a later date, but was warned by the judge that all options were open to him.

The question now being asked is why nothing was done about Bowen sooner. Understandably, there are fears more underage boys may have fallen victim to this female paedophile.

At least one other boy at Christ’s College has claimed to have slept with her – but was over 16 at the time and is understood to not have wanted to make a formal complaint. A former pupil from another school is also said to have come forward.

The Daily Mail can also reveal that Darren Scotchbrook, Bowen’s long-term partner who is eight years her junior and who she met when he was 20, is himself facing criminal charges.

He is accused of racially aggravated harassment, having allegedly sent the lead investigating officer in the case, Detective Sergeant Terry Mulcahy, numerous threatening emails at the end of July.

Bowen pictured with partner Darren Scatchbrook – who is himself facing criminal charges

Advertisement

The ex chemistry teacher claimed she had a congenital gynaecological condition that meant she hated having sex

In so doing he also is accused of showing ‘hostility’ towards Pakistanis. He is facing a separate trial involving allegations of harassment involving four victims, which is also linked to the case.

Mr Scotchbrook, with whom Bowen has a 24-year-old daughter, gave evidence for the defence in which he spoke about their sex life, saying that his partner was often ‘reluctant’ and that the sex was always ‘quick’.

Why Bowen, a young woman with no shortage of admirers of her own age, chose to exploit her position of authority for her own twisted sexual gratification can only be guessed at. There are few obvious clues in her very middle-class upbringing.

Raised in a small village near Winchester, Hampshire, her father was a respected hospital consultant. When he recently died he left an estate worth £1million to his three children.

Bowen is a twin, and she and her brother are both understood to have been privately educated.

While he went on to Oxford and a successful career in the law, she excelled at hockey, playing for the junior Hampshire county side.

Having studied chemistry at university she briefly worked for a London borough council before moving to Exeter to undertake teacher training. This involved spending time at a boys’ boarding school in Tiverton and a boys’ school in Exmouth. Having qualified, she responded to a job advert for a chemistry teacher at Christ’s College and in September 1986 started work there.

A former grammar school, its alumni include the likes of Charles Saatchi, the advertising executive and art collector, and Jon Sopel, the former BBC journalist.

As Michael Gray, a former teacher, recalled in court, Bowen’s arrival at the school was initially seen as a ‘breath of fresh air’ in the mostly male staff room.

But by trying to be ‘too friendly’ she quickly lost the respect of the pupils. ‘She was a young, pretty teacher in the school and I think the boys responded to that – not in a good way.’

Giving evidence, former pupil Tobias Oliver painted an extraordinary picture of the classes she oversaw.

‘Bowen dressed and behaved more like my female friends than other teachers,’ he told the court. ‘She would wear short, very tight skirts, and tights. A tight T-shirt, vest top, and loose cardigan. There were teenage boys and a very attractive young woman with a good figure in tight clothing showing it off.’

Unlike other teachers, Bowen was quick to engage in sexualised banter with pupils.

Giving an example of her conversations, he said that Sally-Anne Bowen talked about performing a sex act on her boyfriend. Another time, he remembered Bowen showing the boys the Kama Sutra.

‘She was discussing the merits of different sexual positions, telling us what she tried and asking us what we had tried,’ he said.

‘She was very flirtatious in class. She would often chew on the end of her hair, her cardigans. She would brush her hands over her breasts. She would lower her eyes and look at boys in her class. It was more like what you would see in a Sabrina Carpenter video than in a classroom.’

Such behaviour was not confined to the school premises. There were regular get-togethers with a group of boys, including her two eventual victims, in a nearby café. Neither boy, now in their 50s, can be identified for legal reasons.

‘She was nice,’ the older of the two would later recall. ‘She would chat… I started to fancy her a little bit.’

The boys egged each other on.

‘The guys would then start saying things like “kiss her” so I would give her a kiss, or she would give me a kiss,’ he said. ‘Then there were other times where I placed my hands on her lap, in the general vagina area, just rest your hands there and she would sit there as calm as you like.

‘There were times I held her breasts but only outside the T-shirt. . . It used to turn me on. I’m a 15-year-old kid thinking about being in the presence of a fairly hot teacher who everyone wants.’

At the end of the school day the boy would get on Bowen’s bus and then walk her to her home in Golders Green.

‘My heart would be racing because I was excited,’ he said. ‘It’s fair to say I developed a massive crush on her. I would run home like a sort of besotted teenager,’ he said.

Others found themselves similarly drawn into her orbit. The second boy, whose parents had recently split up, also started to accompany her home.

Having been invited inside, he was given tea and cigarettes before losing his virginity to Bowen on her single bed.

Describing himself as feeling like the ‘cat that has got the cream’, while his fellow pupils went home to do their homework, he would indulge in hours-long sex sessions. Over five months in the summer of 1988 this happened dozens of times.

He told jurors he felt compelled to ‘protect’ the teacher, who had ‘drummed it’ into him that he was not allowed to tell anyone about their relationship.

‘My introduction to the world was completely governed by Sally-Anne Bowen,’ he told police in a video interview. ‘I had no experiences, so it was her experiences that laid the groundwork for the sexual interactions that we had.’

While he said he had enjoyed the sex with Bowen and the feeling of having ‘one-up’ on other teachers, he later realised that it had ‘destroyed’ his education and changed him for ever, isolating him from family and friends.

The complainant told police: ‘All those aspects of me at that young age – I had no respect for authority, no self-respect. My mother never forgave me.’

The jury heard evidence from his elderly mother, who told how she had complained to teachers at the school and even called Bowen, who had denied everything.

After the summer holidays, his mum called the school and was told Bowen was no longer working there with ‘no reason or explanation given’.

Bowen later told the boy she was leaving the UK to stay at a kibbutz in Israel, leaving him ‘abandoned and confused’, the court heard.

The boy first made a police report in November 2014 following encouragement from his partner. The second boy came forward after reading how Bowen had been banned from teaching by the TRA in 2024.

Prior to charges being brought against Bowen, both men contributed to a four-part podcast in early 2025 called ‘Lucky Boy’ by Tortoise Media, which now owns The Observer.

Giving evidence in court, Bowen said her only regret about her time at Christ’s College was that she ‘wanted to be liked’.

‘I didn’t flirt with students, I was just friendly,’ Bowen said, adding that while the clothes she wore were figure-hugging they were not inappropriate and that she ‘wasn’t going to dress like Margaret Thatcher’ in her mid-20s.

While she remembered the main victim, she said nothing sexual happened between them and that she felt harassed as he became ‘a pest’ and ‘a nuisance’.

Bowen claimed she had a low libido and described how she had no desire for sex during her late teens and early 20s due to a gynaecological problem that made it painful.

When she does have sex with her current partner Darren Scotchbrook she said it only lasts ‘seconds’ and tales of hour-long romps were ‘ridiculous’.

‘I had no desire to have sex,’ she said. ‘I don’t like being touched intimately, I never have.’ In cross-examination, her victim expressed amazement when it was put to him that this ‘anatomical abnormality’ would have made sex difficult.

‘Was it impossible to insert a penis in her vagina?’ the victim asked. ‘It was not impossible. Did you never think that’s why she had sex with young boys because they are smaller?

‘A 14-year-old boy is not as big as a fully grown man because they are smaller. Did you never think why?’

Accused of being ‘a fantasist’ the complainant thundered: ‘A fantasist is a paedophile who cannot admit they are a paedophile, and a dangerous fantasist at that.’

In its ruling, the TRA had found that Bowen had demonstrated no insight into her behaviour and was motivated by a ‘desire to seek her own sexual gratification’.

It added that despite changing standards, ‘at no point in the history of the teaching profession has it been appropriate for teachers to engage in sexual activity with pupils’.

A lesson that, after decades of denial, Sally-Anne Bowen has finally been taught.

If you aren’t a Netflix subscriber, the GTA 6 Extended Look is now available to stream on YouTube and Rockstar’s website. 

After a turbulent week of video leaks, Rockstar has finally pulled back the curtain on GTA 6’s gameplay in an official capacity. 

The highly-anticipated sequel looks incredibly impressive, with a vast open world set in the Florida-inspired state of Leonidas, including a reworked Vice City. 

Rockstar debuted the Extended Look on Netflix on Thursday evening, with the footage being exclusive to the streaming service for six hours. Thankfully, if you’re not a fan of Stranger Things or Squid Game, you can now stream it on YouTube or Rockstar’s website. 

It’s exactly the same video and, despite what you might expect, it’s just raw gameplay footage. There’s no voiceover or narration at all, so who knows what random non-gamers must’ve thought of it, if they stumbled upon it on Netflix.

If you’re sold by the footage, GTA 6 is available to pre-order now across the PlayStation and Xbox stores. The standard edition costs £69.99 and the Ultimate Edition – complete with Vice City-inspired cosmetics and exclusive in-game shops – is priced at £89.99. 

Alternatively, you can buy a boxed copy (with a download code instead of a disc) from the likes of Argos and Amazon, at the slightly cheaper price of £67.99. The Ultimate Edition is only available digitally.

Earlier this week, Rockstar released a statement to address the gameplay leaks, describing them as ‘heartbreaking’ for the team. The developer also apologised for the game’s long development and for not sharing gameplay sooner. 

‘We are very sorry that everything has taken as long as it has – from getting the game finished (nearly there!) to sharing more details and official gameplay, and providing the community with everything you want to know,’ the statement read. 

Despite the Extended Look, however, the leaks have continued. The group or individual known as Cyberleek appears to have a playable build, and has been releasing clips daily, supposedly in protest of Rockstar not releasing GTA 6 on a disc. However, they’ve also been asking for funding via cryptocurrency to keep the videos coming.

It’s unclear whether the leaks will stop now that the official reveal has happened, but unless the perpetrator is caught the chances are they won’t.

However, many fans have pointed out how much bad the leaked videos make the game look, compared to the official footage. Not only are they considerably less cinematic but the person playing it doesn’t seem to be very good at controlling the game.

GTA 6 is set to launch worldwide across PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19, 2026. 

Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

MORE: Games Inbox: Was the GTA 6 Netflix show a disappointment?

MORE: New GTA 6 previews confirm affinity mechanic, Red Dead honour system and more

MORE: GTA 6 will be ‘game of life’ say fans as reaction to Netflix video is ecstatic

KISANGANI, Congo (AP) — Congo on Thursday began vaccinating people against Ebola as health authorities work to slow the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history.

Health workers and other frontline workers in the Ebola response are being prioritized to receive the Ervebo vaccine that was effective in past Ebola outbreaks caused by a different, more common type. Clinical trials are going on to find a licensed vaccine for the current outbreak.

“We have decided to use the Ervebo vaccine to protect first those who are on the front line,” Health Minister Roger Kamba said at the launch of the vaccination campaign in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo, which is one of the six provinces affected by Ebola in the east.

As of Tuesday, the country had recorded 5,713 confirmed cases, including 2,744 deaths, according to government figures. It is concentrated in Ituri province and is known to be the deadliest of all past 17 Ebola outbreaks in the country.

The outbreak is spreading under extremely difficult conditions, fueled by insecurity, displacement, a health workers’ strike and intense population movements. The World Health Organization has said it remains out of control and is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the deadliest on record, which killed more than 11,000 people, primarily in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

More than 50,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine have been received, according to Congo’s state news agency.

The World Health Organization said last week that 70,000 doses of Ervebo had been approved for use in Congo.

About 50,000 doses are intended for frontline and health workers, while 20,000 doses will be used in a clinical trial to study whether the vaccine protects against Bundibugyo virus, which is causing the current outbreak and has no licensed vaccine nor treatment.

The vaccine is being used under a compassionate-use program, which allows a medical product to be used in a serious disease situation even though it has not been specifically approved for that particular use.

Health authorities said Ervebo could offer some protection against the Bundibugyo virus because the two viruses are related. But whether the vaccine can actually prevent illness in people infected with Bundibugyo Ebola is still being studied.

Placide Mbala Kingebeni, Africa CDC’s director for research, clinical trials and innovation, said data will be collected during the vaccination campaign to measure how well the vaccine works.

A benefits claimant has said people can struggle to find work because they cannot find jobs they consider ‘meaningful’. 

Gigi El-Halaby made the comments during a discussion about why unemployment persists, particularly among people receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP). 

Speaking to Simon Marks on LBC, Ms El-Halaby said one of the issues she had encountered was the availability of jobs that were suitable for her circumstances. 

She said: ‘A really big one is that jobs need to be meaningful, and it can’t just be put into any work.

‘I think work can be good for your mental health and bad work can be really terrible for it.’

Mr Marks responded, saying many people work in jobs they do not consider meaningful.

He said: ‘I can hear listeners saying I go to work every day. I don’t find my job particularly meaningful,’ adding that society could not create only jobs that every employee considered meaningful.

Ms El-Halaby agreed that not every job could be meaningful to every worker, but said the issue was different when trying to help people who were mentally unwell. 

Simon Marks (pictured) challenged the idea that work needs to be meaningful, pointing out that many people work simply to earn a wage and pay their bills

She added: ‘If we’re talking about getting people who are mentally unwell to a better place, ultimately finding meaning and purpose in their life is going to be a really important part to get them out of that hole.’

She also said employers needed to consider whether workplaces were accessible to individual workers.

She said: ‘I’ve been in many workplace environments where it has not been accessible for me.

‘Ultimately, for example, working in Boots is not an accessible job for me. And for some people, it will be.’

The comments come as the Government increases its focus on moving people receiving benefits towards employment.

The Government’s Jobs Guarantee began placing eligible young people into paid work this year. 

The scheme is available to 18 to 24-year-olds who have been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months, with the Government funding up to 25 hours of paid work a week for six months.

The Government says more than 90,000 jobs are expected to be created by 2029.

PIP, or Personal Independence Payment, is a benefit for people aged 16 or over with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that makes it difficult to carry out certain everyday activities or get around.

Her comments come as the Government seeks to move more people receiving benefits towards employment, including through its Jobs Guarantee for young people

The interim Timms Review, published in July, received more than 38,000 responses, with 90% reporting negative experiences. It examined concerns about the benefit and its assessment process. Pictured is Sir Stephen Timms 

It is designed to help with the extra living costs associated with a disability or long-term health condition. 

It has separate daily living and mobility components, and eligibility is based on how a person’s condition affects them rather than simply whether they are employed. People can receive PIP while working or having savings.  

In an interview with LBC last month, Ms El-Halaby said: ‘I have been receiving PIP for a year and a half. I have struggled with ill mental and physical health since I was nine years old.

‘It came to a head after I got a COVID infection, and I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, and I also have IBS and a bunch of other psychiatric disorders.’

The government published the interim report of the Timms review on July 9 last month, the first full review of PIP since 2013.

It heard from over 38,000 people, 90 per cent of whom described negative experiences, and concluded the benefit is not fit for purpose and the assessments ‘dehumanising’, ‘degrading’ and ‘stressful’.

The number of young people classed as NEET (not in education, employment or training) has risen to 981,000, according to the latest official figures.

The total for the three months to June was 30,000 higher than a year earlier, although it fell from just over one million at the start of 2026. 

The figure represents 13 per cent, or around one in eight, of all 16 to 24-year-olds.

The number of NEETs has risen by 61,000 from 920,000 in the second quarter of 2024, shortly before Labour came to power. 

The figures come as concerns grow over Britain’s youth jobs market, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham describing youth unemployment as a ‘top priority’ and saying it had been ‘ignored for too long’. 

In the full clip posted by LBC, Ms El-Halaby said: ‘Issues I think have come up for me. And a really big one is that jobs need to be meaningful, and it can’t just be put into any work. I think work can be good for your mental health and bad work can be really terrible for it.

Marks responded: I can hear lots of listeners out there saying, I go to work every day. I don’t find my job particularly meaningful.

‘And I’m sure they’re sorry about the fact that they don’t find their job particularly meaningful, but they go to work, they earn a wage, they come home, they pay their bills, they pay their tax. 

‘I mean, unfortunately, it is not possible for a society to create only jobs that every employee finds to be meaningful.

El-Halaby replied: ‘Sure, okay, so I do agree with that, but if we’re talking about getting people who are mentally unwell to a better place, ultimately finding meaning and purpose in their life is going to be a really important part to get them out of that hole. 

‘And not only that, we need to think about the workplace environment. I’ve been in many workplace environments where it has not been accessible for me. Ultimately, for example, working in boots is not an accessible job for me. And for some people, it will be.

The Tywi Valley Path in Carmarthenshire opened earlier this year and now you can explore it in a whole new way

People are being invited to discover the beauty and history of a stunning Welsh valley from next month as Carmarthenshire Council launches the Tywi Valley Path Festival of Walks.

The path opened fully earlier this year having been in the offing for a decade. It now connects Abergwili on the edge of Carmarthen with the town of Llandeilo, weaving its way through miles of beautiful countryside and offering views of landmarks including Paxton Tower and Dryslwyn Castle.

Starting on September 16, the council’s tourism development team will launch its latest initiative to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the £18m path. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here.

The two-week programme of guided walks intends to showcase the route’s stunning landscapes, rich heritage and diverse wildlife while promoting the path as a key recreational and tourism asset for Carmarthenshire.

Supported by Walters Group, who were contracted to install the landmark bridges across the Tywi and Cothi rivers, the festival offers a unique opportunity to explore the path.

Designed for walkers of all abilities and interests, the programme includes wildlife experiences, creative walking workshops, heritage tours and Nordic walking sessions, led by expert guides and local organisations.

The different walks on offer are listed below:

• September 16 – West Wales Wild Watch Session (Nantgaredig)
• September 17 – Weave and Walk with Quiet Walks (Llandeilo)
• September 20 – Castles and Gardens Walk with Karsten Minter
• September 21 and 27 – Nordic Walking with Nordic Cymru
• September 26 – A Tale of Two Rivers
• October 4 – Guided Walk of Golden Grove Parkland

“The Tywi Valley Path Festival of Walks is a wonderful opportunity to discover one of Carmarthenshire’s most scenic walking routes and the heritage, wildlife and stories that make it so special,” said councillor Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture and tourism.

“We’re delighted to offer a varied programme for all abilities and are grateful to Walters Group for supporting the festival and helping improve access along the route through the construction of the landmark bridges.”

For more information and for bookings, contact Carmarthenshire Council.

Peter and Helen Doyle were ordered to carry out a combined 200 hours of unpaid work for their neglect of Cockapoos Poppy and Henry.

A couple have been banned from keeping animals after causing “prolonged suffering” for two dogs as a result of “extreme matting”.

Inspectors from the Scottish SPCA were called to Peter and Helen Doyle’s home in Shetland in November 2025 after the condition of their two Cockapoos was reported to the charity’s Animal Helpline.

The dogs, Poppy and Henry, had become so badly matted that their mobility and vision were left impaired. A vet concluded that their welfare had been “seriously compromised” and that it had taken “a number of months” for their coats to become so bad.

Both dogs were taken into the care of the SSPCA and shaved to relieve their suffering. Poppy’s fur was the worse of the two and her whole body was described as “in a terrible state”.

When inspectors visited the Doyle’s home, Poppy kept rubbing herself on the floor and against the Inspector as if she was uncomfortable. One mat was found to be completely covering her left eye and it took more than an hour to remove all 1.5kgs of her matted fur.

Once the mat was removed from her eye, the vet noted that the surrounding skin was wet and stained brown with filth. She was also prescribed a steroid and antibiotic cream for her infected and inflamed skin.

Had the SSPCA not intervened, Henry’s coat would have also ended up considerably worse like Poppy’s. He was also shaved.

Both dogs were taken into the care of the SSPCA for their welfare and transported to the charity’s Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Inverness for further care and treatment. Both have since gone on to find their forever homes.

The Doyles were handed a two-year ban on owning and keeping animals at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, August 26 after neglecting to deal with their dogs extreme matting, causing prolonged suffering.

Peter Doyle was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, while Helen Doyle was ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work.

The SSPCA inspector said: “Peter and Helen Doyle could see how poor a condition both Poppy and Henry were in and still did not seek help. It would have taken a considerable amount of time for them to get to this state and it is evident by how matted their coats both were that no effort was made to prevent or resolve their suffering.

“Any responsible owner should research the breed they are considering taking on and consider whether they can meet its needs. Cockapoos require to be brushed several times a week and receive regular grooming approximately every six to eight weeks.

“In Poppy and Henry’s case, they did not even receive the bare minimum of care. I am glad that we have sought justice for them.”

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

Sir Kevin will stop in York during his final ‘7 in 7’ challenge in September, in which he will try to complete an ultra-marathon every day for seven days.

It will be Sir Kevin’s seventh endurance challenges, having been inspired by former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow who died in 2024 after living with MND for four-and-a-half years.

Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow who died last year aged 41 (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

Sir Kevin, 45, who was knighted in June, will finish in York on the second day of the challenge on Monday, September 28.

He will run to York from Shiptonthorpe, near Market Weighton, after arriving in the East Yorkshire village from Hull.

Sir Kevin and his team will depart Shiptonthorpe for Bishopthorpe Palace on September 28, calling at the University of York, LNER Community Stadium for a visit to newly-promoted York Knights, then passing York Minster and York Racecourse on their way to the finish line at the palace.

Kevin Sinfield and his team passing Skelton as they entered York in November 2022 (Image: Kris Brown, The Press Camera Club)

In a letter to supporters ahead of the challenge, Sir Kevin said: “Every card, message, hug and handshake has fuelled us to do more and go even further in our fight against MND.

“To everyone who has turned out to support us, anyone who has donated, shared a message, told us their story, or given their time to volunteer – thank you.”

He said: “Seven years ago this December my friend and Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow CBE was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. In that moment, as anyone who has been affected by MND will tell you, life changed in an instant for him and his loved ones.

“While Rob and his incredible family; his adoring wife Lindsey, their three wonderful children and his parents Geoff, who we have since sadly lost, and Irene bravely came to terms with his diagnosis, his friends, teammates, colleagues and the wider Rugby League community were determined to make a difference.”

Recommended reading:

Sir Kevin, who has raised more than £11 million for the MND community, was at York Racecourse last week for the Ebor Festival, which saw 17 runners compete in the ‘Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Handicap’.

When asked how his training compared to 18-year rugby league career, Sir Kevin said: “It’s different, I don’t get hit any more!

Kevin Sinfield at York Racecourse on Thursday, August 20 (Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire)

“The rugby stuff, that I did for so long, is you’re coping with the contact. This is a different type of pain.”

He added: “We’ve got a wonderful team and I think when you’ve seen the impact, the awareness and the funds that have been raised for the families that are in such need, then we haven’t got time to be tired.

“We’ve got to keep going, we’ve got to keep fighting and keep trying to pull people together to help. I get enough rest, don’t worry.”

Jaime Lomas, 26, was gunned down in the US state of Washington last week, with his death now being treated as a homicide with major crimes detectives called in

Advertisement

A 26-year-old Briton has died in the US after being shot multiple times, local police confirmed, with a murder inquiry now launched in the wake of his untimely death.

Jamie Thomas Stephen Lomas was shot multiple times at a residential property in Lake Youngs, Washington State, last Saturday (August 22), the King County medical examiner has now confirmed.

The Manchester man’s death is now also being treated as a homicide, with officers from the King County Sheriff’s Office handing over its investigation to detectives from Seattle’s major crimes unit. Lake Youngs in located about 17 miles out of the city, which is the largest in the state.

No arrests have yet been made in connection to Lomas’ murder.

A King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said: “On August 22, at about 12:20pm, King County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a domestic disturbance that had occurred at a residence located on the 23000 block of 156 Ave SE.

“Deputies arrived and secured the scene. No arrests at this time and this remains an active investigation by our major crimes detectives,” the King County spokesperson added.

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing support to the man’s family during this distressing period, and remains in contact with local authorities as the investigation progresses.

Meanwhile, Lomas’ devastated family have paid tribute to their beloved son online and are working tirelessly to repatriate Jamie’s body, so that his loved ones can say a proper farewell. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we are asking for your help to bring our Jamie home from America to Manchester,” reads the statement, shared via an online fundraiser set up to cover the costs of repatriating his body.

“Jamie was only 26 years old. He was a loving family man, deeply loved by everyone who knew him. He had so much life ahead of him, and we just cannot believe that we are having to say goodbye to him,” the online statement reads.

“Jamie was tragically murdered in America, and our family has been left completely heartbroken, struggling to come to terms with such a devastating sudden loss.

“We never imagined we would be in a position where we would have to ask for help like this, especially so soon after [losing] grandad.”

Now, the Lomas family are focusing on getting Jamie home so he can be laid to rest for “the goodbye he deserves, surrounded by his family and loved ones”.

You can donate to the fundraiser to bring Jamie home here.

Kylie Jenner posed up for her sexiest shoot to date as she finally addressed the backlash received for being named a ‘self-made billionaire’ in 2018.

The 29-year-old cosmetics mogul, who recently addressed pregnancy rumors, scintillated in a sultry cover shoot for Who What Wear released on Thursday.

Back in 2019, Forbes dubbed the reality star the ‘youngest-ever self-made billionaire’ after she sold 51 percent of her Kylie Cosmetics brand to beauty brand Coty Inc for $600 million.

Jenner, who was 21 at the time, unseated Facebook‘s Mark Zuckerberg, now 42, as the youngest-ever self-made billionaire – he was 23 when he made his first billion 11 years ago in 2008.

And now, the mom of two finally addressed the firestorm directly in her WWW cover story as many took umbrage with the claims she was ‘self-made’ despite coming from a rich family with several multimillionaires.

Jenner said: ‘None of the money I’ve ever made is inherited, so it’s technically true but people just feel like the privilege I’ve had was a major stepping stone.’

Kylie put on quite the racy display

The 29-year-old cosmetics mogul scintillated in a sultry cover shoot for Who What Wear released on Thursday

Forbes has since reported that her actual net worth is around $670 million. 

In the new feature, Jenner also got very candid about being a young mother and why she made the decision to not have any more children in her twenties.  

The lip kit mogul shares two children with her amicable rapper ex Travis Scott, her daughter Stormi, eight, and son Aire, four. 

She said: ‘I made a promise to myself at 25 that I was not going to have any more children—right now—and really just enjoy the last half of my 20s because the first half was like, “You’re pregnant,” and then it’s the year of recovery, and, you know, my mental state, my postpartum depression, and all those things. 

‘It felt like I lost some of those young years of my life.’

She proudly put her cleavage on full display

Advertisement

Back in 2019, Forbes dubbed the reality star a ‘youngest-ever self-made billionaire’ which has been criticized for years (pictured on the 2018 cover)

And now, the mom of two finally addressed the firestorm directly in her WWW cover story as many took umbrage with the claims she was ‘self-made’ despite coming from a rich family with several multimillionaires

Jenner said: ‘None of the money I’ve ever made is inherited, so it’s technically true but people just feel like the privilege I’ve had was a major stepping stone’

The lip kit mogul shares two children with her amicable rapper ex Travis Scott, her daughter Stormi, eight, and son Aire, four 

Advertisement

She said: ‘I made a promise to myself at 25 that I was not going to have any more children—right now—and really just enjoy the last half of my 20s because the first half was like, “You’re pregnant,” and then it’s the year of recovery, and, you know, my mental state, my postpartum depression, and all those things’

As the girlfriend of Timothee Chalamet recently entered the last year of her twenties, she will be turning 30 in August of next year and seems to be looking forward to evolving more.

Jenner was asked if there was something that once seemed important to her that she is now ready to leave behind as she replied: ‘I think having an enormous life.

‘ I changed my mind about that. When I was younger, I got really excited, and I got the craziest house I could in Beverly Hills, and I just kind of went for it. I’ve realized that my life got too big, and I said, “Yeah, never mind.” I think I lost control of my life a little bit for a while there.’

The hugely popular BBC crime drama has returned for its second series, with David Mitchell reprising the title role

BBC viewers have been left ‘disappointed’ just two episodes into the latest season of hit crime drama Ludwig.

The murder mystery show received overwhelming praise when it launched back in 2024, bagging two BAFTA TV nominations. Now it has returned for its second outing, with David Mitchell playing the title character, John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor.

In the second episode of season two, the puzzle-designer-turned-detective is invited to solve a strange murder that was witnessed by an entire wedding party.

The victim, who was stabbed to death, had some enemies in attendance, which complicated the case. What’s more, the investigators suspected the killing took place during the wedding dance and everyone somehow missed it.

With this major case on his plate, Ludwig goes in circles trying to uncover exactly what happened. And after sitting through the episode, viewers at home have complained that the murder mystery wasn’t very convincing.

Writing on Reddit, one viewer explained: “The deduction in this one felt a bit unnecessary since based on what we saw of the murder there should be an enormous amount of forensic evidence.”

Someone else agreed, replying: “Seemingly, forensics doesn’t exist in this world. I’m finding this season more annoying than the first.”

It is revealed in the final minutes of the episode that the murder actually took place before the victim joined the rest of the wedding party.

The crime was completely unplanned and the suspect simply ran away after stabbing his victim, meaning there would have been forensic evidence on the deceased.

While the detectives uncover certain details based on forensics, viewers believe they would have been able to uncover the entire mystery because of how sloppy the original crime was.

Other fans joined in to agree that this episode’s mystery didn’t live up to other instalments.

“This episode wasn’t my favourite – purely because the murder of the week wasn’t as strong compared to others,” posted one.

Yet another viewer shared their verdict on the series thus far, stating: “So far somewhat disappointed in this series compared to series 1.”

But the show has also received some praise, with an X user raving: “Another fab episode of #Ludwig this week! The writers of this show are totally knocking it out of the park, I love immersing myself in this world weekly. More of these witty slick shows please.”

The first three episodes of Ludwig season 2 are streaming now on BBC iPlayer