Martin Jackson, now 46, abused the then school-aged girls in Sunderland, and threatened one of them with a knife after raping her.

The victims went on to tell a family member about what had happened, and Northumbria Police were informed.

Jackson was questioned shortly after the report was made over allegations of non-recent abuse and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

But, following what was described as, “a complex investigation” by Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, the defendant was charged with a string of child sexual offences, in September 2024.

Martin Jackson starting a 24-year prison sentence for historic abuse of two child victims (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Jackson, of Seymour Street, North Shields, was found guilty on 17 counts of child sexual abuse, after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, in December last year.

The offences comprised of five counts of sexual assault on a child, four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and eight counts of rape.                                    

Jackson appeared back before the same court on Monday (February 2) when a judge sentenced him to 24 years in prison, with a further one-year to spend on licence.

Apart from his long term of imprisonment, Jackson will also spend the rest of his life subject of registration as a sex offender.

Martin Jackson starting a 24-year prison sentence for historic sexual abuse of two girls (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Statements from the victim were read out at the hearing, in which they both spoke of a lasting impact on their mental health, including suffering from anxiety and panic attacks through to this day.

One of them said she had PTSD arising from the abuse which “haunts” her daily, saying when she leaves the house or goes to work,  “it comes back like a train plummeting at me”.

 The victim added: “When I’m at home, I am alone with the flashbacks of the abuse.

“It is constantly repeating in my head, as if it were still happening.

 “You would think my escape would be sleep, however, every single night I jolt awake from those nightmares that was my life for several years.”

The officer who led the police investigation, Detective Constable Gavin James, of Northumbria Police, said: “Martin Jackson is a sexual predator and a paedophile who preyed upon his young victims for his own sexual gratification.

“It is clear to me that he wanted to have control over the girls, even making threats if they were ever to speak out against him.

“While no outcome at court will ever take away from what has happened, I do hope this significant jail term will bring a sense of comfort to both survivors that their abuser is now behind bars.”

Det Con James added: “Above all else, I would especially like to commend the bravery of both victims involved.

“They have both shown immense courage in coming forward about the non-recent abuse they suffered at the hands of Jackson, and I wish them well in their journey forward.

“My advice to anyone out there who has read this and can sadly relate to our survivors’ stories of abuse, is to open up to whoever you can if possible and remember that your local police force is here for you.”

Read next … more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

Men jailed for historic sex abuse in Peterlee, County Durham

South Shields paedophile jailed for historic sex abuse

Support can be accessed for victims of such abuse by visiting: Rape and sexual assault : Northumbria Police, on the force’s website.

To report any other type of recent or non-recent abuse, a direct message should be sent to the force on social media, using the ‘live chat’ function or by going to the ‘report’ pages, both on the force website.

 For those unable to contact police via those ways, then they should call 101.

​The Boundary Guest House, at 124–126 North Marine Road, Scarborough, has submitted an application for a new premises licence to North Yorkshire Council.

​Mrs K Grace’s application seeks permission for the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises.

​If the application is approved, the sale of alcohol would be permitted from 10am to 11pm.

​The Guest House’s current licence is set to expire in August, according to North Yorkshire Council’s premises register.

​The current licence permits the sale of alcohol from 10am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, and midday to 10.30pm on Sunday.

​Members of the public can make representations regarding the proposal until Monday, February 23.

​“Anyone who wishes to make representations regarding an application must give notice in writing to: North Yorkshire Council, Licensing Services, Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, YO11 2HG or by email to licensing.east@northyorks.gov.uk,” the council’s website states.

​It adds: “It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application punishable on summary conviction by an unlimited fine.”

A maximum field of 34 horses will line up at Aintree for the Grand National on April 11, but the initial list of entries features 78 potential horses.

The initial entries are listed below in alphabetical order. These will be whittled down over the course of the jump-racing season.

Grand National 2026: Full list of entries

Ain’t That A Shame (IRE)
Owner: Eventmasters Racing, Trainer: Tom Ellis
Odds: 100/1

Amirite (IRE)
Owner: Patrick Hale, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Odds: 66/1

Answer To Kayf
Owner: Mr Denis A. O’Connor, Trainer: Terence O’Brien
Odds: 66/1

Anyway (GER)
Owner: K. Haughey/Kieran T. Byrne David, Trainer: Kenneth Budds
Odds: 66/1

Appreciate It (IRE)
Owner: Miss M. A. Masterson, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 50/1

Banbridge (IRE)
Owner: Mr R. A. Bartlett Joseph, Trainer: Patrick O’Brien
Odds: 50/1

Beaufort Scale (IRE)
Owner: Mr Ed Mulligan, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 250/1

Beauport (IRE) 
Owner: Bryan & Philippa Burrough, Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Odds: 100/1

Better Days Ahead (IRE)
Owner: Bective Stud, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 50/1

Blaze The Way (IRE)
Owner: M.Willis/P.Willis/B.Groarke/T.Groarke, Trainer: Ms Margaret Mullins
Odds: 100/1

Blizzard of Oz (IRE)
Owner: Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 100/1

Buddy One (IRE) 
Owner: E. Lynch/T.C.Quinn/John J. McGrath, Trainer: Paul John Gilligan
Odds: 100/1

Captain Cody (IRE)
Owner: V Caldwell/A Shamoon/Mrs A Shamoon Ibgi, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 25/1

Champ Kiely (IRE)
Owner: Miss M. A. Masterson, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 66/1

Croke Park (IRE)
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 80/1

Deafening Silence (IRE)
Owner: My Racing Manager Friends, Trainer: Dan Skelton
Odds: 50/1

Deep Cave (IRE)
Owner: Sue Howell, Trainer: Christian Williams
Odds: 50/1

Favori de Champdou (FR)
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 50/1

Final Orders 
Owner: C. M. D. Syndicate, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Odds: 66/1

Firefox (IRE)
Owner: Bective Stud, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 50/1

Flooring Porter (IRE)
Owner: Flooring Porter Syndicate, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Odds: 66/1

French Dynamite (FR)
Owner: Mr Shane Carmody, Trainer: Eric McNamara
Odds: 100/1

Gentlemansgame
Owner: Robcour, Trainer: M. F. Morris
Odds: 50/1

Gerri Colombe (FR)
Owner: Robcour, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 100/1

Gorgeous Tom (IRE)
Owner: Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Odds: 66/1

Grangeclare West (IRE)
Owner: Cheveley Park Stud, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 25/1

Grey Dawning (IRE)
Owner: Mr Robert Kirkland, Trainer: Dan Skelton
Odds: 50/1

Haiti Couleurs (FR)
Owner: Conyers, McDermott and Prowting, Trainer: Rebecca Curtis
Odds: 14/1

Handstands (IRE)
Owner: Mr T. P. Radford, Trainer: Ben Pauling
Odds: 66/1

Harry des Ongrais (FR) 
Owner: K Haughey/Laura Haughey/Kieran T Byrne, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Odds: 100/1

High Class Hero
Owner: Sullivan Group Ltd/P. Crowley/N. Hughes, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 50/1

Hyland (FR)
Owner: The Ten From Seven, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Odds: 66/1

I Am Maximus (FR)
Owner: Mr John P. McManus, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 12/1

Ile Atlantique (FR)
Owner: Tony Bloom, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 100/1

Impaire Et Passe (FR)
Owner: Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 50/1

Imperial Saint (FR)
Owner: Richard Johnson Racing Imperial Saint, Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
Odds: 66/1

In d’Or (FR)
Owner: Mrs J. May, Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
Odds: 150/1

Intense Raffles (FR)
Owner: Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede, Trainer: T. Gibney
Odds: 100/1

Iroko (FR)
Owner: Mr John P. McManus, Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Odds: 7/1 (Fav)

Jagwar (FR)
Owner: Mr John P. McManus, Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Odds: 40/1

Johnnywho (IRE)
Owner: Mr John P. McManus, Trainer: Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill
Odds: 50/1

Jordans (FR)
Owner: Cheeky Pups Syndicate, Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Odds: 33/1

L’homme Presse (FR)
Owner: Dfa Racing (Pink,Edwards & Sharman), Trainer: Venetia Williams
Odds: 50/1

Leave of Absence (FR)
Owner: Mr Richard & Mrs Carol Cheshire, Trainer: Anthony Honeyball
Odds: 66/1

Lecky Watson (IRE)
Owner: Slaneyville Syndicate, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 50/1

Marble Sands (FR)
Owner: DL Adams, JA Adams & G McPherson, Trainer: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson
Odds: 66/1

Mister Coffey (FR) 
Owner: Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Odds: 100/1

Monbeg Genius (IRE)
Owner: Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd., Trainer: Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill
Odds: 80/1

Monty’s Star (IRE)
Owner: Mr Barry Maloney, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Odds: 25/1

Mr Vango (IRE)
Owner: Cracker and Smodge Partnership, Trainer: Sara Bradstock
Odds: 66/1

Myretown (IRE)
Owner: Wymer & Russell, Trainer: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
Odds: 33/1

Nick Rockett (IRE)
Owner: Stewart & Sadie Andrew, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 25/1

Now Is The Hour (IRE)
Owner: BDS Syndicate, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Odds: 33/1

O’Moore Park (IRE)
Owner: Mrs S. Ricci, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 150/1

Oscars Brother (IRE)
Owner: Mr John P. McManus, Trainer: Connor King
Odds: 33/1

Paggane
Owner: R Bartlett, J Carthy & Mrs P Shanahan, Trainer: Faye Bramley
Odds: 100/1

Panic Attack (IRE)
Owner: Bryan Drew, Trainer: Dan Skelton
Odds: 20/1

Perceval Legallois (FR) 
Owner: Mr John P. McManus, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Odds: 50/1

Pic Roc (IRE)
Owner: Mrs Emma Kendall, Trainer: Ben Pauling
Odds: 50/1

Pied Piper
Owner: Mrs M. Roden & Mrs R. Nolan, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 100/1

Quai de Bourbon (FR)
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 50/1

Resplendent Grey (IRE) 
Owner: Mrs R. J. Skan, Trainer: Olly Murphy

Search For Glory (IRE) 
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 66/1

Shanbally Kid (IRE)
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 66/1

Soul Icon 
Owner: Pugs, and Mayhem, Trainer: Keiran Burke
Odds: 150/1

Spanish Harlem (FR)
Owner: Dr S. P. Fitzgerald, Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Odds: 50/1

Spillane’s Tower (IRE)
Owner: Mr John P. McManus, Trainer: James Joseph Mangan
Odds: 33/1

Stellar Story (IRE)
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 50/1

Stolen Silver (FR)
Owner: Ms Georgina Nicholls, Trainer: Georgina Nicholls
Odds: 250/1

The Real Whacker (IRE)
Owner: Neville, Mann, Duffus & Dennis-Price, Trainer: Patrick Neville
Odds: 100/1

The Short Go (IRE)
Owner: Mr N. Byrne, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Odds: 100/1

Three Card Brag (IRE)
Owner: McNeill Family/Patrick & Scott Bryceland, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 50/1

Top of The Bill (IRE)
Owner: Mr Charlie Walker, Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Odds: 100/1

Twig
Owner: Mrs G. Morgan, Trainer: Ben Pauling
Odds: 50/1

Western Fold 
Owner: Weld-Spec (Glasgow) Ltd/Dee L’Estrange, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 50/1

Weveallbeencaught (IRE)
Owner: Tadhg Moynihan, Trainer: Eric McNamara
Odds: 150/1

Will Do (IRE)
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Odds: 100/1

Yeah Man (IRE) 
Owner: Mr J. J. Brennan, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Odds: 66/1

At least 15 people have been killed in a collision between a speedboat carrying migrants and a coastguard vessel off the coast of Greece, authorities have said.

The bodies of 11 men and three women were recovered from the sea near the eastern Aegean island of Chios, while a woman later died in hospital, according to coastguard officials.

A search and rescue operation is under way in the area, involving patrol boats, divers and a helicopter.

The coastguard said 25 migrants, including 11 children, had been rescued and taken to a hospital on Chios, along with two coastguard officers injured in the incident on Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear how many people had been on the speedboat, the coastguard said.

Video footage from a local news outlet showed at least one person being carried in a blanket from a coastguard boat into a waiting coastguard vehicle, as others appear to lead two children toward the car.

It remains unclear how the collision occurred.

The head of Greece‘s public hospital workers’ union, Michalis Giannakos, said staff at the hospital in Chios were preparing for a sudden influx of injured people.

Speaking on Greek television, Mr Giannakos said several of those injured required surgery.

Read more from Sky News:
‘Aggressive’ Iranian drone downed by US
Teenage boy swims for four hours to save family

It comes less than three years after hundreds of people are believed to have died when a fishing boat carrying migrants from Africa and the Middle East sank off the coast of Greece in 2023.

Greek officials said the vessel capsized about 50 miles from the southern coastal town of Pylos after the boat got into difficulties when its engine stopped and it began veering from side to side.

According to the UN’s migration agency, more than 33,000 migrants died or went missing in the Mediterranean Sea between 2014 and the end of 2025 – making it the deadliest migration corridor in the world.

With thousands of children across the UK living with long-term health challenges, the charity is calling on West Lothian locals to ensure their local “superstars” receive the national recognition they deserve.

The hunt is on for inspirational children and young people in West Lothian – as well as those dedicated to caring for them – as nominations open for the 2026 WellChild Awards, which seek to recognise those with complex care needs alongside the people who support them.

National charity, WellChild, has officially launched its awards this week in association with GSK, which look to celebrate the resilience of children living with serious complex health needs, as well as the selfless dedication of the individuals who go above and beyond to support them.

With thousands of children across the UK living with long-term health challenges, the charity is calling on West Lothian locals to ensure their local “superstars” receive the national recognition they deserve.

READ MORE: Work set to start on new West Lothian primary school this Spring

Commenting on the awards, Matt James, WellChild’s CEO, said: “The WellChild Awards are our chance to shine a light on the incredible spirit of children and young people living with serious illnesses, as well as the professionals and families who support them.

“We know there are many unsung heroes in West Lothian and we want to hear their stories. We encourage anyone who knows an inspirational child or young person living with complex health needs, or the professionals who care for them, to take a few minutes to nominate them.

“The recognition is incredibly rewarding and can make a world of difference to those individuals who are put forward.”

Alongside the Duke of Sussex’s patronage, WellChild enjoys a wealth of celebrity support, with Molly-Mae, Jaime Laing, Ronnie Wood and Gaby Roslin just some of the personalities to champion the charity last year.

READ MORE: Livingston Designer Outlet unveils plans for spectacular Valentine’s Day events

The awards culminate in a star-studded ceremony in London where winners from across the UK can meet celebrity guests and share their stories.

Nominations are quick and easy to complete online, so for anyone who knows a child, young person or professional in West Lothian who they believe deserves to be celebrated, please visit: www.wellchild.org.uk/awards

READ MORE: West Lothian club raided by thieves as ‘irreplaceable’ items stolen

Don’t miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here.

The visit will commence with a meeting with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle

President Catherine Connolly is to begin a three-day official visit to Northern Ireland.

It will be the first visit to the region during Ms Connolly’s presidency.

In her inaugural speech, she said she looked forward to her “first official visit to the north” and referenced Article 3 of the Irish constitution, which sets out the firm wish of the Irish people for a united Ireland under consent.

The visit will commence with a meeting with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle.

The President will later deliver an address at the Ulster University Campus in North Belfast at 1.30pm.

Over the course of the day, Ms Connolly will also visit a number of community initiatives in Belfast.

The President’s official visit to Northern Ireland will continue on Thursday and Friday with engagements in County Derry.

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

Patrick Noone, 58, pled guilty to two counts of sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl on board a transatlantic flight.

An Aer Lingus flight bound for Boston was forced to turn around over the Atlantic after a man sexually assaulted a teenage girl. Patrick Noone, 58, today pled guilty to two counts of sexual assault following the incident on November 15, 2023.

Noone, a farmer from County Galway, was sat beside the girl on flight E1 135 to Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts when he inappropriately touched the then 16-year-old.

After being alerted to the incident, cabin crew informed the captain of the flight that a male passenger had allegedly inappropriately touched a teenage girl sitting beside him. The captain then swiftly turned the plane around – costing Aer Lingus almost €30,000 – and returned to Shannon Airport, reports the Irish Mirror.

At Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday, February 3, Noone pleaded guilty to sexual assault of the girl by rubbing and grabbing her buttocks on board the flight within the jurisdiction of the Irish State.

Noone also pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of the girl by kissing her arm and rubbing her thigh on the flight.

Det Garda Ruth O’Sullivan told the court previously that the costs to Aer Lingus of returning the aircraft to Shannon was €28,213.

Counsel for Mr Noone, Antoinette Simon BL told the court that her client is a self-employed farmer and has no previous convictions.

Ms Simon (instructed by solicitor, Kieran O’Brien) asked for a Probation Report on her client for the sentencing hearing as it may provide insight into his offending.

Judge Francis Comerford granted the request and also directed that Gardai seek a victim impact statement from the complainant in the case.

Noone had not been named before in connection with the sexual assault. Judge Comerford said that he didn’t see any basis for reporting restrictions on the accused.

Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) told Judge Comerford that there is no connection between Noone and the injured party.

Ms Comerford said that a guilty plea had been offered by Noone’s side more than two weeks ago which was of some assistance as arrangements had been made for the US-based witnesses to provide their evidence via video link.

In December, Judge Comerford granted permission for four witnesses in the US to give evidence via video link. One of the four due to give evidence via video link was the complainant in the case.

The complainant – now aged 18 – is currently studying in a US college.

When the case was before the district court, Judge Alec Gabbett transferred the case to the circuit court where more serious penalties apply on conviction after hearing an outline of the case against the man.

Giving an outline of the alleged sexual assaults, Det Garda O’Sullivan said that an hour into the transatlantic flight at around 3.30pm, a young girl informed cabin crew that a male passenger sitting beside her had touched her inappropriately.

Det Garda O’Sullivan said: “They then informed the captain who took a decision to turn the flight back to Shannon.”

She said that the young girl and her family returned to Shannon airport where statements were obtained in the short turnaround before they took off again for the US.

Acclaimed novelist, journalist and long-serving Scotsman critic passed away peacefully at his home in the Borders surrounded by family.

Renowned Scottish novelist, journalist and literary critic Allan Massie has died aged 87, his family have confirmed.

The prolific writer, who authored 40 books during his career, passed away peacefully at his home in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday afternoon, surrounded by his children.

Massie was best known for his historical novels about Roman emperors Augustus and Caesar, as well as acclaimed wartime fiction including; A Question of Loyalties, The Sins of the Father and Shadows of Empire.

Alongside his fiction, he enjoyed a distinguished career in journalism, spending 50 years as chief literary critic at The Scotsman. He stepped back from the role in January after being diagnosed with serious illness.

His son, writer Alex Massie, said his father had “a good and gentle end to a good and gentle life,” adding that their family home was always filled with books and newspapers, and that Massie worked daily at his typewriter for most of his life.

Paying tribute on Substack, Alex said: “He was a good and kind man and there are many younger writers and others for whom he has been a source of encouragement and much else besides. He was also a great father. We shall miss him greatly.”

Born in Singapore in 1938 and raised in Aberdeenshire, Massie studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, before settling in the Scottish Borders, where he lived for more than 40 years.

He wrote for numerous publications including The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times, The Glasgow Herald, The Spectator and the Scottish Daily Mail, covering topics ranging from literature and politics to rugby.

In addition to his novels, he published biographies, books on Scottish history and culture, and studies of writers such as Muriel Spark and Eric Linklater. Massie continued writing until earlier this year, when he revealed he was battling what he described as his “wretched cancer”.

Whitney Ainscough went from 15st to 7st 12lbs but says she gets less attention from men now than when she was bigger

A mum who says she was tormented for being size 18 claims her love life has nosedived since halving her weight – with fellas more inrterested when she was bigger. Whitney Ainscough said she piled on the pounds due to thyroid issues and increasing the number of takeaways she had, tipping the scales at 15st at her heaviest.

The 32-year-old, who claims she regularly had weight-shaming and cruel social media comments, says she tried diet and exercise to shift the pounds but struggled due to her health issues. The despairing 5ft 8in social media influencer opted for a type of gastric sleeve known as a bikini sleeve in Egypt in 2024 after seeing other success stories.

Whitney said she started losing weight quickly after the £3,200 procedure and felt more confident in herself. When the mum-of-three reached her 10st target, her weight continued to creep down to just 7st 12lbs, and she’s now a size 6 and classed as underweight.

Now, Whitney endures cruel skinny-shaming comments online branding her ‘anorexic’ and a ‘skeleton’ admitting she could have ‘tried harder’ when it came to diet and exercise. Despite feeling more confident in the clothes she wears, Whitney says it hasn’t been good for her love life as she gets less attention from men now than she did when she was bigger.

Whitney, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, said: “I was trying to actively lose weight and it wasn’t budging at all, which was due to my thyroid. “I did try to diet and exercise. I probably could have tried harder but I didn’t, I just gave up.

“I knew somebody else that went through a gastric sleeve and looked absolutely amazing and thought, ‘I want one of them’. I did research who I was going to but didn’t look into all the other sides of things like what happens when you get to target weight.

“I’ve gone from one extreme to the other extreme. I used to get called fat all the time, a pig, and now it’s the different end of the scale, I get called all the horrible skinny names, including a skeleton and a stick.

“I know I’m too underweight but I don’t let comments affect me. It doesn’t bother me, I’ve been on social media for a few years, it doesn’t affect me at all.

“I didn’t do it for anybody else, I did it for myself, but you can’t win online with social media. It’s social media, in real life no one tells me I look anorexic.

“When I had more weight on, I used to get more male attention when I went out. Now I’ve lost so much weight I feel like I don’t get as much attention. I feel I got more attention when I was a bigger lady. I feel more confident in myself, I can wear any outfit and look nice in it whereas beforehand everything I put on I didn’t like on myself.”

After surgery, Whitney said her weight rapidly dropped and, despite trying to eat more, continued to pass her goal weight of 10st. She said: “After surgery you don’t eat anything for about two weeks. You only have water, apple juice, protein shakes, and the weight was coming off quite quickly. My target weight was 10st and then kept going down, it crept down and down.

“The lowest is what I am now, I am classed as underweight. I feel a lot more tired and get more drained but I can walk a lot further, go up and down stairs. When I was bigger I ran out of breath, there’s pros and cons.

“It doesn’t matter what I eat, I just don’t put on any weight at all. I’m very lucky it’s not affecting my health currently but in the future it might.”

Now, Whitney is urging others to try diet and exercise before resorting to a gastric sleeve for weight loss. She said: “I always tell people to diet and exercise. I think having a gastric sleeve should be your last course of action, it’s not as easy as that. I show people the side nobody talks about and I wish I saw more videos like I do.

“I was 15 stone and thinking about it now, that’s too little to be having a gastric sleeve. I was overweight but on the lower end of the scale.

“I didn’t have that much to lose, which is maybe why I’m having all these problems now. I didn’t do it for health reasons because nothing was wrong with me.

“I can eat what I want, I can get a Chinese but will only have two mouthfuls, while before I would have two dishes to myself. With gastric sleeves they tell you not to eat ‘slider’ foods that go down very easily like crisps, biscuits, because you will gain weight.

“I’ve kind of been living on them to try and maintain my weight but it’s not helping with gaining weight. I’ve started to eat a bit more healthily like vegetables, sprouts, and carrots.

“I’m trying to eat bigger portions but it doesn’t really work because I end up being sick. I mentioned it to the doctor last year and he said there is nothing they can do and I was left on the phone crying.

“That’s the thing when you’re having surgeries abroad, you need to think of these things. “I do wish I would have tried to diet and exercise more than I did.”

Pre-weight loss food diary

• Breakfast – Nothing
• Lunch – Wrap, crisps and yoghurt
• Dinner – Takeaway including pizza and McDonalds

Post weight-loss food diary

• Breakfast – Cheese string
• Lunch – Sweets
• Dinner – Chicken strips, crisps