Another Bank Holiday ‘land grab’ has left residents devastated after diggers bulldozed a wildlife haven for a suspected traveller site.

Sawbridgeworth, East Hertfordshire was the latest area to be targeted by developers who arrived on Friday morning with huge lorries, fences going up and roads being blocked. 

In videos posted on social media, birds can be heard chirping as work involving heavy machinery is carried out on greenbelt land. It has devastated residents who fear travellers have taken over and destroyed the precious wetland habitat and floodplain.

The council has issued a Temporary Stop Notice which requires builders to halt further work on the site, but residents claim unauthorised work has carried on regardless.

One neighbour, in her 50s who wishes to be anonymous, has lived in the area all her life and told the Daily Mail she feels ‘powerless’ and ‘devastated’.

She said: ‘I believe they are travellers building a traveller site. Some people don’t want them anywhere and I think they should go through all the steps that everyone else has to when it comes to planning and building. 

‘They definitely don’t have permission – the order was ignored and they’ve continued to bring in diggers and all sorts of machines.’ 

The resident added that she and her neighbours are mostly saddened by the destroyed habitats of the protected wildlife, including bats, newts and nesting birds.

Another Bank Holiday ‘land grab’ has left residents devastated after diggers bulldozed a wildlife haven for a suspected travellers site

Left: Last month a muntjac was pictured enjoying the land. Right: The current state of the site 

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She said: ‘The reserve has been around for as long as life and within a day it was destroyed. It’s a total destruction of nature, it’s absolutely disgusting. 

‘There’s a lady who lives right across the road from it and she’s in tears. We’re completely appalled by the destruction; it’s devastating to be so powerless in the situation.

‘It’s the bank holiday and no one has the chance to stop it before it’s too late, so they’ve got four days to destroy habitats’. 

It follows a trend that has seen travellers purchase land, often in leafy parts of the Home Counties, before unauthorised sites are set up.

They fear it could be the latest example of a ‘land grab’ – a trend that has seen travellers swoop in to lay pitches over Bank Holiday weekends, when council offices are closed. 

Planning permission is then sought retrospectively, with travellers often granted the permanent right to stay because there is an ‘unmet need for pitches’. 

One concerned neighbour expressed dismay over the irreversible damage to the wildlife and the inaction from authorities over the long weekend.

She said: ‘Heavy machinery and diggers began bulldozing a beautiful wetland beside our village lock. The area is an important habitat for birds and other wildlife, and it is now being rapidly churned up and covered with large quantities of hardcore.

‘East Herts Council has issued a Temporary Stop Notice. However, despite that notice, machinery and vehicles are continuing to operate on the site and further material is being brought in.

The council has issued a Temporary Stop Notice which requires builders to halt further work on the site, but residents claim unauthorised work has carried on regardless

One resident said that she and her neighbours are mostly saddened by the destroyed habitats of the protected wildlife, including bats, newts and nesting birds

Neighbours have organised a peaceful protest to be held at the lot on Sunday morning to convey their frustration which they hope will remove the workers quicker

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‘The police are currently in attendance, but there appear to be only two officers dealing with the situation. Meanwhile, the destruction is continuing in real time.

‘We are extremely concerned that by the time the relevant authorities are able to take effective action, this precious wetland and its wildlife habitat will have been irreversibly damaged.

‘This is not simply a planning dispute. It is an environmental emergency happening right now, with heavy machinery actively destroying a wildlife habitat.’

Neighbours have organised a peaceful protest to be held at the lot on Sunday morning to convey their frustration which they hope will remove the workers quicker.

Another resident also told the Mail: ‘Many many residents are distraught, dismayed and feel very let down by the laws relating to this kind of destruction of wildlife habitats beside a lovely picturesque lock in a pretty historic small town.’

East Herts council said in a statement on Saturday morning: ‘Council officers have attended the site and we have issued a temporary stop notice, requiring any further unauthorised activity covered by the notice to cease immediately. 

‘Our planning enforcement team will continue to closely monitor the site and investigate the works that have taken place. We will also work with Herts police to monitor the situation. 

‘We will consider what further enforcement action may be necessary and appropriate, and will provide a further update when we are able to do so.’ 

Sheering Mill Lane, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire: Map view of the suspected travellers site

Last week, travellers who held an entire village to ransom for £600,000 in a land grab scam have applied to officially house caravans the site after their ‘blackmail attempt’ backfired

Cllr Angus Parsad-Wyatt, the mayor of Sawbridgeworth said: ‘East Herts issued the temporary stop notice this morning. This has been ignored, so the council is working on an emergency application for an injunction to prevent occupation of the site. 

‘Legal and enforcement officers at the council are gathering the necessary information and hope that a temporary injunction can be issued today.’ 

A police spokesman told the Indie: ‘Hertfordshire Constabulary is aware of a dispute over the use of land in Sheering Mill Lane, Sawbridgeworth. We are liaising with our partners at East Herts District Council.’ 

East Herts council and Hertfordshire Constabulary Police have been contacted by the Daily Mail

It’s the latest ‘bank holiday land grab’ to occur after construction works suddenly got underway on a greenbelt plot of land in Irby, Merseyside.

Three caravans, two diggers, two cars and a van have been seen on the land, which is located just yards from residents’ homes.

No planning application has been submitted for works to be completed on the site, according to the Wirral Council planning portal.

A number of locals believe it is travellers who have bought the land and are conducting the illegal works.

Last week, travellers who held an entire village to ransom for £600,000 in a land grab scam have applied to officially house caravans on the site after their ‘blackmail attempt’ backfired.

The family bought the greenfield site, which is the size of a tennis court, just outside the Buckinghamshire village of Dinton in February – and immediately drove three caravans and a mobile home onto the plot.

In a carefully orchestrated operation, diggers and lorries moved onto a quarter-of-an-acre plot off to lay hardstanding rubble and position caravans in the designated conservation area.

Horrified villagers, who protested against what they call an illegal land grab, say they were approached by two men who said that if they wanted them to leave the area, they could buy back the land for more than £600,000 – forty times the £15,000 they are believed to have paid for it.

Now, after the 800 people living in Dinton refused to bend to the travellers’ demands, the family’s patriarch Jimmy Doran has officially applied to the council to turn it into a permanent residence.

Dramatic new footage has revealed the moment hikers witnessed a giant glacier collapse in the Himalayas, triggering the catastrophic flash floods and mudslides that devastated parts of Nepal and Tibet. 

The video, filmed by a Chinese tour guide in Tibet, shows huge chunks of ice breaking away from a ridge on Langtang Lirung peak, on the Nepali side of the border.

Hikers reported hearing a huge crack before ice, rock and debris plunged into the valley below, sending an enormous cloud of dust billowing into the air.

The glacier collapse triggered a landslide which formed a lake in the valley below, before a torrent of water and debris surged through the mountain river system towards the Gyirong border crossing. 

A second video shows debris racing down the mountainside immediately in the aftermath of the collapse, marking the beginning of the disaster that would devastate communities downstream.

The footage, obtained and verified by The New York Times, provides one of the clearest views yet of the August 26 glacier collapse.

The video, filmed by a Chinese tour guide in Tibet, shows huge chunks of ice breaking away from a ridge on Langtang Lirung peak, on the Nepali side of the border

Hikers reported hearing a huge crack before ice, rock and debris plunged into the valley below, sending an enormous cloud of dust billowing into the air

The death toll from the disaster has now risen to 676, with nearly 3,000 people still missing across Nepal and Tibet.

This includes more than 500 foreign tourists, 33 of whom are known to be British. Many foreign nationals are feared to have been in the vicinity of Rasuwagadhi, taking holy pilgrimages or embarking on trekking expeditions.

Search and rescue operations resumed on Saturday after being temporarily suspended because of rain and fog, with helicopters returning to the worst-hit areas as weather conditions improved.

A UK rapid deployment team arrived in Nepal on Saturday to support British nationals and their families.

Authorities are also monitoring two lakes upstream of the flood zone, with officials warning that the risk of further flooding will remain until both have fully drained.

Satellite images taken since the ‘tsunami from the sky’ swept through remote areas of the country and neighbouring Tibet depict entire settlements simply disappearing. 

Rasuwagadhi border crossing, located at one end of Friendship Bridge on the border between Nepal and Tibet, was finally reached by a team of rescuers on Friday and was found to have been annihilated. 

Last night, fresh satellite images brought home the scale of the damage, showing entire settlements have completely vanished, washed away by the raging torrent of mud and water which descended along the Trishuli River on Wednesday.

The Gyirong region crossing, a crucial landmark for pilgrims seeking access to the Langtang valley and tourists out trekking, saw some of the first, and most distressing, footage of the flood to be captured.

CCTV footage saw people fleeing before the water and mud completely engulfed the large building.

Rasuwagadhi border crossing, located at one end of Friendship Bridge on the border between Nepal and Tibet, is pictured in April 2024

A man takes pictures in front of damaged buildings after flash floods and a mudslide, in Trishuli

Scores of men in orange hi-vis jackets and hard hats fled in terror as they watched the mass of water rush at them

Nepalese Army personnel rescue a survivor from a hydropower tunnel in Rasuwa district on Friday

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The crossing has now gone, along with its large rear car park, Friendship Bridge and all associated buildings – just the river and surrounding greenery remain, as if it was never there.

A Chinese rescue team was the first to reach the obliterated landscape at the crossing yesterday, and said they found ‘nothing but ruins’.

State media reported that the Chinese team of 21 rescuers and a search-and-rescue dog arrived at Rasuwagadhi yesterday.

‘There was no road … it was all virgin forest and sheer cliffs,’ rescue worker Zou Mingqi said. At the complex, ‘as far as the eye could ⁠see, there was nothing but ruins’.

The team had to use ropes to cross forests and valleys to reach the area, thought to be among the worst affected.

The crossing is one site where many of the missing tourists are feared to have been. British care agency boss Leena Bector, 53, from Slough, Berkshire, was last heard from just an hour away from the site.

Other images show bridges crossing the Trishuli river wiped out, along with the small settlements and industries on either side.

Some depict the village of Syapru Besi, with prior photos suggesting a vibrant, sprawling community nestled around a fork in the river.

Images taken after the flood had rampaged through the area show much of the village washed away.

Just a fraction of the houses were spared, mostly those nestled further away from the river along a narrow road rising into the mountains.

A bed of mud and silt can be seen left behind, showing how far beyond its usual banks the torrent flowed.

A bridge, which appears to be located just to the south of the village, has also completely been destroyed.

And construction sites, camping areas and footbridges have all similarly been affected. Some of those set back from the river have survived, but the landscape around them has not, with huge areas of trees and forest disappearing compared to images taken previously.

Just two hours from Cambridge, along the Norfolk coast, is one of the world’s best beaches, offering miles of pristine golden sand, backed by rolling dunes and an enchanting forest

One Norfolk beach has frequently been hailed as the best in the world, so I visited to see what it was all about – and I have two words.

In a bid to savour the last of the summer days and make the most of the August bank holiday, a trip to the beach might just be the perfect remedy. There are ample beaches within easy reach of Cambridgeshire, with Norfolk providing some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline, so it couldn’t be easier to spend a day out at the beach.

And it’s no surprise that Holkham is one of the most popular beaches to visit in Norfolk, thanks to its pristine golden-sand shore backed by rolling sand dunes and an enchanting forest. It’s even been globally acknowledged as The Times previously named it as one of the best beaches in the world, noting it’s “wide-open, jaw-dropping, windswept romance of this five-kilometre-long blonde hits you square on.”

And it certainly does that. From the moment I stepped onto the soft golden sand, after walking through the majestic sand dunes, it felt as though I had been transported to the other side of the world. The beach stretches for endless miles, out towards the sea and all the way along to Wells-next-the-Sea beach on the east, and Burnham Overy Staithe Beach to the west, for sensational coastal vistas.

I’ve never seen such a sprawling sand beach that remains beautifully untouched, with its scenes completely mesmerising. As I wandered along the sand, following the footprints of fellow beachgoers, I passed by families paddling in the shallows of the waters, dogs running freely off the leads, and horse riders cantering along the dedicated Bridleway – there’s that much space along the shore!

There’s nothing quite like it, and on certain days, you can see the leftover sand ripples from where the tide crept up, which only adds to its striking landscapes, in addition to the undulating dunes and perfectly imprinted footprints. If I could, I’d visit Holkham every day of the year, purely to soak up the serene setting that’s unlike any other beach; it really is breathtakingly beautiful.

I took my time strolling along the sun-kissed shore, passing dramatic sand dunes before reaching the Burnham Overy Staithe salt marsh and venturing further into its pretty harbour village for a stop off at The Hero pub for a refreshing pint and a bowl of chips. On the way back to Holkham, I found myself in other captivating scenes as I ambled over rolling hills before reaching the ancient woodland, with towering trees and an easy-to-follow footpath that’s adjacent to the stunning shore.

Holkham beach is even loved by members of the Royal Family, with the Prince and Princess of Wales, frequently visiting the unspoilt shore with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, during the school holidays. Holkham beach is perfectly positioned just over 30 minutes from the family’s country home, Anmer Hall, which sits within the Sandringham Estate – the private residency of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who are also reported to have visited Holkham many times.

The Norfolk beach has also been used as a backdrop for photos for the Wales family, with Princess Kate capturing snaps of her beloved family, marking various occasions and milestones. And it’s easy to see why it’s got the royal stamp of approval and has been named as one of the best beaches in the world, with its unspoilt scenes offering a slice of paradise, less than two hours from Cambridge.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

The Sunday Telegraph, external says John Healey is mulling a windfall tax on banks and oil companies in the Budget. Treasury officials are said to be looking at ways of plugging a £4.7bn black hole without raising direct taxes on individuals.

The paper suggests banks and oil companies are seen as “low-hanging fruit”. BP is said to have more than doubled its profits between April and June because of higher oil prices driven by the Iran war. In its editorial, the paper warns against the windfall tax move, saying it will harm growth by denting investor confidence.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Russia is poised to target Britain with a cyber attack on a drone or missile factory. A key advisor to President Vladimir Putin, the former deputy foreign minister Andrei Fedorov, tells the paper the highest levels of the Russian government are considering such a strike. A drone factory owned by the British Ukrainian firm, Ukrspecsystems, is said to be a target. Its location, near RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, was made public in April.

The Sunday Times, external reports that Andy Burnham has given what it calls a lucrative pay rise to train drivers on the Avanti West Coast London to Manchester line. The deal with union leaders was said to have been made to avoid strikes on a flagship service, and one of the busiest lines in Europe. The paper suggests industrial action would have proved embarrassing for cabinet ministers travelling to the prime minister’s new political hub, Number 10 North, in Manchester.

According to both the Sunday Telegraph and the Sunday People, new studies suggest statins can reduce the risk of dementia, as well as lowering cholesterol and the risk of heart attacks. The Telegraph reports that the largest study by Denmark’s Copenhagen University Hospital found that the daily pills reduced the chances of dementia by up to 15%. The paper says the research means statins could benefit around six million of almost 10 million people aged 70 and over in the UK who are not currently taking them.

The Sunday Mirror, external reports that Peter Homa, the ex-boss of Nottingham NHS Trust, where a review found that 520 mothers or babies suffered potentially avoidable death or harm, is now CEO of a firm giving maternity training to the health service. Grieving families tell the paper they are “concerned” by the news. Homa was approached for comment.

The Sun on Sunday, external suggests the X Factor could return, seven years after it left our screens. ITV chiefs are said to be “in talks” about revamping the programme for a younger generation. The show’s creator and former head judge Simon Cowell is said to be likely to return in some capacity.

And several papers carry pictures of Sir David Beckham and his wife Victoria watching their son Cruz perform at the Reading Festival with his band the Breakers. “Beckstage at Reading” says the Sunday Mirror, external. “Band it Like Beckham” is the Sunday Times caption.

President Donald Trump on Saturday posted an apparently AI-generated video depicting an army of buff, bequiffed and heavily-armed “Donald Ducks” patrolling the shores of “Lake America.”

Hours later, while he was at his Virginia golf course, the president posted another AI-generated video, this time showing himself knocking over a “Welcome to Lake Ontario” sign and installing a “Welcome to Lake America” one in its place. He then dances to the Village People’s “YMCA.”

The posts followed Trump’s executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” amid a bitter tariff war with Canada, a longtime U.S. ally and trading partner.

Set to the theme song from Hawaii Five-O, a 34-second clip shows a squadron of Canada geese marching near the Great Lake. The birds have human arms, carry assault rifles and sport the president’s signature blond pouf of hair.

The geese then fire their weapons into the air as fireworks erupt over the skyline of a nearby city — which appears to resemble Toronto.

Earlier this week, Trump announced that the U.S. was giving “serious consideration” to rebranding Lake Ontario, which straddles the U.S.-Canada border. He also posted a TikTok video showing himself using a Sharpie to mark up a map of the lake.

“We’re gonna make a little change; we’re gonna call it something different than Lake Ontario,” the 80-year-old president said in the clip.

Any doubt that the effort was simply trolling evaporated Thursday, when Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America” in all official documents and records. The move echoed his similar effort last year to rebrand the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”

Although the president can direct how the federal government refers to geographic features, he cannot compel foreign nations, private entities or even U.S. states to follow his lead.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to the missive in a Thursday post on X.

“The name Lake Ontario comes from the Wendat word Ontari’io, which, appropriately, means ‘the lake is beautiful, the lake is big,’” he wrote. “The name is more than 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.”

“We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms,” he added. “Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always.”

Relations between the U.S. and Canada have deteriorated since Trump took office, including as a result of his repeated suggestion that Canada should become the “51st state.” Tensions escalated further this week over trade.

On August 22, the U.S. imposed 50 percent tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian exports after last-minute talks between Ottawa and Washington broke down. The Trump administration has accused Canada of discriminating against U.S. businesses.

Carney, who has denied Trump’s accusations, likened the levies to an act of war. He retaliated with tariffs of up to 50 percent on a range of U.S. goods.

The trade war has also spilled into a war of words. This week, Trump singled out Ontario Premier Doug Ford in a Truth Social post, describing him as a blustering “flunky” who needs to “fall in line.”

At a news conference, Ford responded by calling Trump a “dictator,” a “bully” and the “king of bankruptcies.” He also told Trump to “kiss my a**.”

And so with this show, everything is very deliberate and performed with conviction. There is no “oh I need some stronger material there” or “haha I never know how that bit’s going to go”. That’s not to say every part of this show fully lands with the audience, by any means. But it’s the show as it was intended. To see a performer commit to the bit, to the extent she does in particular when playing out a funeral scene (and if you’re trying to guess how, you’re wrong) may be unrivalled at this year’s festival. It pays off with what may be its most brilliant extended joke. No spoilers.

Visitors can enjoy half-price entry to the children’s archaeological experience DIG and the historic Barley Hall during the final week of the summer holidays.

The offer is available to anyone with a valid JORVIK ticket and is designed to help families and visitors make the most of their summer outings.

Lisa Wood, head of communications and marketing, said: “It has been a great summer for us, with JORVIK’s new riverside interpretation proving incredibly popular, and the extension of our How To Train Your Dragon School exhibition at DIG, so we wanted to give an end-of-summer boost to those making last-minute trips before the school holidays become a distant memory.”

The discounted tickets can be used for visits between 31 August and 6 September.

Although the scheme is primarily aimed at families, it also provides an opportunity for adults to visit outside of the peak holiday period.

Ms Wood said: “September is a particularly popular time for adults without children to venture out, avoiding the busiest times of the summer but still taking advantage of decent weather for domestic holidays.”

Tickets can be booked at jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk using the code BH50 or DIG50.

Dent made the admission after appearing alongside McGuinness and fellow judge Giorgio Locatelli on the latest series of Celebrity MasterChef, where the trio were tasked with tasting dishes prepared by celebrity contestants including Emily Campbell, Jason Mohammad, Jay McGuiness, Joe Pasquale and Shakira Khan.

At the time of filming, McGuinness was in the middle of an intensive health and fitness plan. The TV presenter had recently completed the popular 75 Hard challenge and was following a strict diet as he prepared for a major magazine photoshoot.

Paddy McGuinness has opened up about his weight loss journey (Image: David Venni/Men’s Health UK/PA Wire)

However, his healthy eating routine was put to the test when contestants served up a selection of meat pies and dessert pies packed with pastry, chocolate and sugar.

Reflecting on the experience, Dent told Men’s Health magazine that she joked that she had almost undone weeks of hard work.

She said: “I nearly ruined Paddy McGuinness’ diet for the cover of Men’s Health.

“Paddy had been living on boiled chicken and broccoli for 42 days when we forced him to eat so much sugar, chocolate and pastry.

“He left winded, emotionally broken, and perilously high on nougat.

“Yes, I did make Paddy shout ‘no likey no lighty’ at me. It was strangely exhilarating.”

Paddy McGuinness will feature in the latest edition of Men’s Health (Image: David Venni/Men’s Health UK/PA Wire)

Dent has been a judge on MasterChef since joining the programme in 2024.

Despite the mountain of pies, pastries and sweet treats put in front of him during filming, McGuinness’ transformation remained firmly on track.

The presenter later appeared on the cover of Men’s Health after following a demanding training schedule involving regular full-body workouts and a tightly controlled diet.

Fortunately for McGuinness, it seems a day in the Celebrity MasterChef kitchen was not enough to knock him off course, despite Dent’s best efforts.

By CHRISTIAN CALGIE, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE

Published: 23:48 BST, 29 August 2026 | Updated: 02:06 BST, 30 August 2026

Reform UK wants the police to re-investigate an attempted robbery against an aide of Nigel Farage following Ann Widdecombe‘s murder.

Adviser George Cottrell was attacked outside his London home in April, days after Mr Farage revealed his house had been firebombed.

The timing of the incident, previously reported without naming Mr Cottrell, has raised suspicions in the party that it may be linked to the hate-fuelled attacks that culminated in Ms Widdecombe’s murder in July.

Mr Cottrell – ‘Posh’ George, as he is known – was ‘jumped’ outside his Chelsea property in the early hours and recalled being grabbed at by blue latex gloves as he fled on foot.

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While the incident was reported as a stand-alone crime, the heightened fears about security have led to calls for the case to be reopened.

Reform aides also pointed to a profile about Mr Cottrell in Tatler the previous August which revealed Mr Farage was ‘often’ at his west London house, which could have made it an easy target for those hoping to do harm to the party leader.

The Metropolitan Police said the case remains closed, and that it had ‘carried out extensive enquiries’ but could not identify the suspects.

The statement suggested the case could be reopened ‘subject to further information coming to light’.

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George Cottrell was ‘jumped’ outside his Chelsea property in the early hours and recalled being grabbed at by blue latex gloves as he fled on foot (Pictured: Mr Cottrell and Nigel Farage)

Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, on July 9

But last night a Reform source said the police may want to reconsider after announcing they are re-investigating Mr Farage’s firebombing.

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They said: ‘In the current climate, it would seem strange to dismiss the possibility of a link between the incident involving George, the firebombing of Nigel’s house and murder of Ann Widdecombe. 

‘The police must keep an open mind, even if means re-opening George’s case.’

Counter-terror police confirmed they are reopening their probe into Mr Farage’s firebombing last year.

Mr Farage said: ‘It was an outright arson attempt. I wasn’t home at the time, but when I came back I found the damage.’ 

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A spokesman for Counter-Terrorism Police yesterday said the investigation into Ms Widdecombe’s murder ‘remains ongoing’.

PHOENIX (AP) — A social media influencer known for posting viral videos of pranks has pleaded guilty to criminal impersonation in Arizona for posing as an employee of businesses in a Phoenix suburb and orchestrating brief but chaotic takeover attempts.

The outcome was welcomed by observers who said it could serve as a reminder to seekers of viral fame that stunts that cross the line legally can lead to serious ramifications.

Heston James Cobb, who posts as “Heston James,” was arrested in July 2025 after police in Tempe say he and others went into businesses posing as workers, entered employee-only areas and refused to leave when asked to do so. He entered his plea Friday.

In one video Cobb, wearing a Chipotle Mexican Grill shirt, told restaurant staff he was going to “clean house” before a group of men wearing dark shirts flooded into the eatery and ignored requests to leave. One man posing as an employee cleaned a tabletop with a mop.

Investigators said the videos had millions of views and potentially generated large amounts of income.

Vicki Lopez, an attorney representing Cobb, declined to comment Saturday. The Associated Press left a message with Cobb’s TikTok account seeking comment.

Steve Chucri, president of the Arizona Restaurant Association, said he hopes Cobb’s punishment is “severe” to deter copycats.

“There’s no place for it,” Chucri said. “That’s the last thing we need to put up with in the restaurant industry. The amount of money it takes to operate today is expensive.”

Chucri said the association does not offer any formal training or advice to restaurants on dealing with social media pranksters, and he hopes it does not come to that.

“We’re a society of civility,” Chucri said. “We shouldn’t have to.”

Matthew Pittman, a social media professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, hopes the arrest will be a warning to influencers about boundaries when creating prank or satirical content.

Pittman said he and others who teach aspiring content creators generally stress that “real world norms and laws” extend into the digital world.

“So doing something that is illegal in real life would also be illegal on social, even if you are doing it for content,” he said. “This is a clear case of going beyond what the law allows.”

Among the recent cases he cited was an influencer in Long Island, New York, who was arrested last year after a series of pranks. They included videos of him going to eateries; pouring food such as raw eggs or beans over his head; and then running off, leaving the mess to be cleaned by others.

“Every few years a YouTuber, influencer or prank content creator goes a little too far, gets in trouble, and reminds the rest of us creators that digital actions can have real world consequences,” Pittman said.

Cara Hawkins-Jedlicka, a communications professor at Washington State University who teaches about content creation, said it’s not enough for influencers to stay within the law. They also need to have basic empathy.

“When is it pulling a prank, and when it is being cruel?” Hawkins-Jedlicka said. “Before anything else, this is truly kind of unkind. This influencer was really only thinking about himself and how can I take advantage of this community.”

___

Marcelo reported from New York.