It is alleged that the Cleveland Police officer breached bail conditions by attending the home address of Witness B.

The conditions prohibited the officer from contacting Witness B and from attending any address they believed Witness B may be at.

The officer is also accused of intentionally breaching restrictions imposed under a Regulation 17 notice by both contacting Witness B and attending the home address of Witness B.

According to the allegations, as a result of their own admitted actions, the officer, who is serving with Cleveland Police, finds themselves remanded to prison.

The allegations amount to breaches of the standards of professional behaviour relating to discreditable conduct, orders and instructions, and honesty and integrity.

If proved, the allegations are assessed as gross misconduct.

The Cleveland Police accelerated misconduct hearing will take place at Scotswood House, Thornaby Place, Stockton, tomorrow (Friday, February 6), starting at 10.30am.

Brad Karp, chairman of one of the country’s most prestigious law firms, has resigned from his position after the release of emails revealing his exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein, a high-profile departure in the fallout among those with ties to the late convicted sex offender.

A statement Wednesday from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton did not explicitly mention any connection Karp had with Epstein, whom the firm has said it never represented. But Karp, who will remain at the firm where he has practiced for 40 years and served as chairman since 2008, said “recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests” of Paul Weiss.

The Department of Justice last week released the largest batch of documents so far from its Epstein investigative files in compliance with a new law intended to reveal what the government knew about the millionaire financier’s sexual abuse of young girls, as well as his interactions with rich and powerful people.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before a House committee investigating Epstein after Republicans pressed for criminal contempt of Congress charges against them. Bill Clinton, like a number of other high-powered men including President Donald Trump, had a well-documented relationship with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Neither Trump nor Clinton has been credibly accused of wrongdoing in their interactions with the late financier.

The fallout has spread beyond the United States. A top official in Slovakia resigned after photos and emails revealed he had met with Epstein in the years after Epstein was released from jail, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued an apology for appointing an ambassador to Washington who had ties to Epstein.

Among the newly released documents was a July 22, 2015, email in which Karp thanked Epstein for hosting an evening that the lawyer said was “once in a lifetime” and one he would “never forget.” Epstein responded that Karp was “always welcome,” adding, “there are many many nights of unique talents. you will be invited often.”

Later that day, Epstein told Karp he wanted to connect him with Larry Summers, whom he described as “funny and warm.” Summers is a former treasury secretary and Harvard University president who has been ostracized from a number of organizations after Epstein files made public earlier showed his close relationship with Epstein.

In 2016, Karp was trying to help his son, who was interested in a film career, and reached out to Epstein in hopes of making a connection with Woody Allen. Karp’s son sent several follow-up messages to Epstein, but it was not clear whether they connected further. In 2018, Karp was invited for dinner with Epstein. Karp said he could arrange to have a car outside to take him back to his office for a video call, before rejoining the dinner.

“Im easy,” Epstein, in suggesting arrangements. “I know you are,” Karp replied.

The messages between the two continued through the years.

In February 2019, Karp emailed with Epstein seeking advice on behalf of John Havens, the former Citigroup president who, according to Karp’s message, needed “immediate help” before Haven’s name came out in what turned out to be a Florida massage parlor investigation. Epstein also offered help finding a local lawyer for New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft in the matter, with Karp suggesting Kraft needed “the best there is.”

Both Kraft and Havens were among 300 men accused of being patrons of massage parlors engaging in prostitution.

A month later, Karp was apparently reviewing a draft court filing in which Epstein’s lawyers argued that his plea deal in a decade-old federal sex abuse investigation in Florida should not be reopened.

“The draft motion is in great shape. It’s overwhelmingly persuasive. Truly,” Karp wrote in a March 3, 2019, email to Epstein, according to documents published online by the Justice Department. “I particularly liked the argument that the ‘victims’ lied in wait and sat on their rights for their strategic advantage, knowing you were in prison, before they came forward.”

Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in that case, spent 13 months in jail, paid settlements to victims and became a registered sex offender.

Paul Weiss was founded in 1875. The storied New York firm has advanced the cause of civil rights, handled the legal affairs of corporate power brokers and grown into a multibillion-dollar global enterprise.

In his return to the White House, Trump has sought to exercise retribution against firms whose lawyers have performed legal work with which he disagrees. Paul Weiss was among the targets. In March 2025, the Republican president issued an executive order threatening the suspension of security clearances for its attorneys as well as the termination of any federal contracts involving the firm.

That order noted that a former Paul Weiss attorney, Mark Pomerantz, had been a central player in an investigation by the Manhattan district attorney’s office into Trump’s finances before Trump became president.

Karp was initially prepared to sue over the order, saying his firm “would not be able to survive a protracted dispute with the Administration.” Karp later cut a deal with Trump, saying that he did so to save the firm. The move was ridiculed by lawyers outside Paul Weiss, and more than 140 alums of the firm signed a letter assailing it as well.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

There are four proposals that could shape the future of local government in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

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The future of Cambridgeshire’s councils hangs in the balance as the latest proposals for local government reorganisation have highlighted divisions between councils. Authorities in the final areas invited to submit their preferences for new structures have been confirmed, with a consultation launched on 52 proposals across 14 geographical footprints.

The Government has pledged to end the two-tier local government system in areas which incorporate both district councils and larger authorities with responsibilities for services such as social care. A consultation allowing people to have their say on the proposals will run for seven weeks until March 25, 2026.

Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape what works best for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. LGR is emotive and views differ – this really matters – so we need as many people and organisations as possible to respond.”

The Government argues that the two-tier system “slows down local decisions, sees local economies fragmented with different councils responsible for different priorities, and means outdated boundaries stop our towns and cities from growing”.

But councils are split on how areas should be organised to improve efficiency and promote growth. Across the 14 areas which submitted proposals on November 28, five areas submitted five different proposals. These areas are Derby and Derbyshire; Devon, Plymouth and Torbay; Kent and Medway; Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool; and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough joined those in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire in submitting four proposals. There were three separate proposals in five of the areas, and two proposals in two other areas.

The proposals from councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are as follows:

• Cambridgeshire County Council submitted a proposal for two unitary councils.
• Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council submitted a proposal for two unitary councils.
• Fenland District Council and Peterborough City Council submitted a proposal for three unitary councils.
• Huntingdonshire District Council submitted a proposal for three unitary councils.

Launching the consultation, local government minister Alison McGovern said: “As set out in the invitation, these proposals include the areas of existing neighbouring small unitary councils. Some proposals were accompanied by requests for boundary change; whereby existing districts would be split. These will require careful consideration.”

Responding to the latest proposals, chair of the County Councils Network Matthew Hicks described the announcement as “an important milestone” and urged residents and stakeholders to engage with the consultation. “County councils have worked hard to put forward ambitious, evidence-based proposals that will improve services and deliver fewer, leaner councils: fully in line with the Government’s stated criteria,” Mr Hicks said.

“Conversely, some of the competing proposals put out to consultation risk splitting high-performing care services into smaller councils – well below the stated criteria. At the same time, they promise hundreds of millions in savings to adult and children’s services with little supporting evidence.”

Mr Hicks added that it was vital for the Government to “closely scrutinise and rigorously evaluate all proposals against their own statutory criteria”. Decisions on the proposals for areas in the devolution priority programme, which includes Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cheshire, are due next month.

“The decisions will shape local areas for years to come, so it is vital they ensure any new councils are able deliver savings to reinvest in frontline services, safeguard care to the most vulnerable and foster the economic growth this country desperately needs,” Mr Hicks said.

Armed police responded to reports of a man with a possible handgun outside a UK school as the children and parents were placed in lockdown

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Armed police descended on a street outside a primary school after reports of a ‘gunman’ caused children and staff to go into lockdown.

Firearm officers were called to Carron Street in Fenton in Staffordshire following concerns that a man was armed with a handgun this afternoon (February 5).

Co-op Academy Clarice Cliff, located nearby, was advised to keep students indoors while the situation was being handled from around 3.10pm.

Staffordshire Police have now confirmed the arrest of a 26 year old man from Stoke-on-Trent on suspicion of weapons offences. Stoke on Trent Live reported an air pistol, knife and hatchet have been confiscated.

Officers are maintaining a presence in the Fenton area this evening to provide reassurance to residents. A call has also been made for any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage.

A spokesperson for the force said: “A man has been arrested on suspicion of weapons offences following reports of suspicious activity in Stoke-on-Trent. We were called at 3.20pm today to Carron Street in Fenton after reports of a man acting suspiciously in the area with a possible handgun.”

“Firearms officers attended the scene. An air pistol, a knife and a hatchet were recovered. A 26-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, was detained at the scene. He has since been taken into custody while inquiries continue.

“Officers continue to monitor the area and carry out patrols to reassure the local community. Anyone with relevant information, CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage should call us.”

The school was placed under lockdown from approximately 3.10pm until 3.50pm.

In a message sent to parents during the busy pick-up time, the school stated: “We are keeping the children inside as a precaution as a member of the public has informed us of a possible danger in the locality. This is a precaution and all children are safe. We will update you as soon as we have the all clear. Thank you for your patience.”

Roughly 40 minutes afterwards, the school notified parents: “We have been given the all clear. You may collect your child/children as usual. Thank you for your patience and support.”

One father informed StokeonTrentLive: “There was an incident in Fenton at the Co-op Academy Clarice Cliffe. The school was put on lockdown. Kids were locked in the school and parents were locked on the school grounds due to reports of a man with a firearm on Carron Street.”

Anyone with information should contact Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 494 of February 5. To report anonymously, ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Jesy Nelson launched her Prime Video series but also announced a new one-off special focused on her campaigning work on behalf of babies Ocean Jade and Story Monroe

Jesy Nelson is making an extra documentary on top of her new TV series – all about her campaign for newborns to be tested for Spinal Muscular Atrophy at birth. The former Little Mix star and mum-of-two finished officially filming her Prime Video series some time ago about her career and becoming a mum.

But she decided to allow the cameras to keep rolling after her twin daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster were diagnosed with SMA Type 1, a rare condition which causes muscle wastage. Jesy is calling for UK babies to be checked for SMA at birth via a heel prick test and The Mirror has joined her on this campaign, which will now be boosted by a Prime video programme, going out late in the year following the twins journey and Jesy’s call for action.

At the launch of her series Life After Little Mix which is released on February 13, Jesy discussed the new extra show and her hopes for change. She explained: “I just hope people continue to watch the next part of the journey. When the girls got their diagnosis, we decided that we wanted to continue filming. As hard as it was, we were like, ‘You know what? There’s a reason you guys are here, and we’ve got to make the best out of this situation’.

“I’m sure you guys are aware, like, I’m trying to get it[SMA] made part of the heel prick test. That’s like my main goal right now, as well as looking after my beautiful girls.

“I mean, I haven’t even seen it back yet, but I already know it’s gonna be tough. But I’m just so happy that we’ve been able to document everything, because I really believe that we’re going to make change. Like, I feel it.

“I love how dedicated people are to spreading awareness about everything that I’ve been through and this(new programme) is going to shed even more.”

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Last month Jesy appeared on This Morning last month and vowed to “shout from the rooftops” to campaign for change. She wants SMA to be part of an NHS blood test that is normally carried out at five days old, and currently tests for 10 other conditions.

At her London screening today Jesy also gave a brief update on the health of the twins, who she has previously said may never walk due to SMA. She said: “They’re so good. They’re like, the best, you know, they’re doing the best that they can, and they’re happy and they’re smiling, and that’s, all I can ask for. I just can’t wait to show it to them(TV series) when they’re older and just be like ‘Look what you did, look how amazing you are’.”

The brave twins have already survived against the odds. They developed twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in the womb which could have been fatal and doctors tell Jesy in the Prime Video Series there is “90-95%” chance both of the babies won’t survive if they don’t take urgent action.

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Poignantly during complications whilst pregnant she tells the cameras: “I can’t imagine not having these babies.

“It just progressively keeps getting worse, I can’t, I’m getting upset. Literally my brain can’t compute not having these babies because they’re my children now, and I felt them kick. They’re properly formed little humans.”

* The series Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix is available on Prime Video from February 13. It will be followed by a one-off special later in the year. For further information on Spinal Muscular Atrophy please visit: https://smauk.org.uk/

Daniel Turner appeared at Durham Crown Court for a scheduled sentence on Wednesday (February 4) by video link from Holme House Prison, Stockton.

He previously admitted offences of possessing cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs, cocaine and cannabis, plus possessing criminal property, relating to a watch and cash proceeds of the sales.

But Judge Richard Bennett addressed the defendant’s counsel, Robert Mochrie, at the outset of the hearing having read a background pre-sentence report on the 21-year-old defendant.

“He has been spoken to by the Probation Service.

“He claimed he was in debt to those above him and was paying off that debt due to an addiction.

“Given the quantity of drugs and criminal property involved, I will have considerable difficulty accepting that account as a credible one.”

Mr Mochrie said he had not had the chance to speak to the defendant prior to the hearing.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said: “The police are saying he played a ‘leading role’ in the supply.

“Looking at the ‘tick list’, evidence now suggests it was into the tens of thousands of pounds.”

Mr Abrahams added: “The Crown is now considering a serious crime prevention order in this case.”

Judge Bennett said he would allow the Crown lawyers and the defendant’s counsel chance to assess the new evidence prior to a rearranged sentencing hearing.

Adjourning the case for seven weeks, Judge Bennett told Turner: “I had hoped to have been able to sentence you today.

“But, because new material has been uploaded onto the system relating to this case, both the prosecution and defence will have to consider that evidence.

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

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“The police will provide an updated statement in four weeks and your counsel will have to consider that evidence.”

He remanded the defendant, of Cradoc Grove, Ingleby Barwick, to remain in custody pending sentence, at Teesside Crown Court, on Thursday March 26.

But he told Turner the time he has spent on remand in custody prior to being sentenced would be deducted from his eventual sentence.

Prosecutors said the children, aged five, six and seven, were playing on the footpath when a car reversed out of a neighbouring house and over the top of them

A motorist drank up to 12 tins of beer before he allegedly drove over three children in a west Belfast neighbourhood, the High Court has heard.

Thomas Maughan, 37, fled the scene after the two girls and a boy were trapped under his car at Black Ridge View, prosecutors claimed.

Details emerged as he was granted bail on charges related to the hit and run collision where one of the young victims suffered a fractured pelvis.

Maughan, of Black Ridge Gardens in Belfast, faces counts of driving with excess alcohol and causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving.

He is also accused of failing to stop, report or remain at the scene of the accident on August 24 last year.

Prosecutors said the children, aged five, six and seven, were playing on the footpath when a car reversed out of a neighbouring house and over the top of them.

The driver then got out and fled on foot without checking on their condition, it was claimed.

Maughan was arrested after being spotted at the end of the street in a taxi blocked off by emergency service vehicles.

During interviews he admitted driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop following the collision, the court heard.

Maughan told police he began drinking at an engagement party the previous night and continued on into the day of the accident.

“He stated that he had approximately 12 beers before the incident,” Crown counsel disclosed.

Maughan said he drove to visit a family member in the area before getting back into his car.

He saw no-one nearby as he was leaving, but then heard children screaming and reversed amid concerns they could be trapped.

The three young victims were taken to hospital to be treated for potentially serious injuries.

One of the children sustained fractures to their pelvis and tyre marks, while another of them suffered cuts and bruises.

Maughan had been out on bail but returned to custody last month for allegedly breaching an alcohol ban.

Opposing his bid to be released again, the prosecutor submitted: “Clear CCTV of the incident showed the defendant getting into his car and driving directly over the three children on the footpath.

“They were trapped under the vehicle, the defendant reversed back over them and parked up… without checking on their welfare.”

Maughan’s lawyers previously argued that he had failed to see the youngsters because they were lying on the ground playing with chalk.

When he heard the screams he reversed at that stage to lessen the impact and free them.

Mr Justice Simpson was told that last month’s breach involved no further offences.

Granting bail to Maughan once more, the judge warned: “If he is found having consumed alcohol again he will not have another chance.”

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

Sony’s long-rumoured Horizon multiplayer game gets its first proper trailer demonstrating its new art style and gameplay.

In late 2022, Guerrilla Games announced it was working on a multiplayer spin-off of its Horizon games, via job listings that described it as something akin to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series.

Aside from a leak that suggested the game would feature a cartoonier art style, compared to the main games, there haven’t been any updates on it. A completely separate Horizon multiplayer game was announced in Novembe – an MMO by South Korean studio NCSoft – but until nothing on Guerrilla’s game.

Rather than wait until the next rumoured State of Play, that’s supposed to air this month, Sony and Guerrilla Games have just gone ahead and announced Horizon Hunters Gathering via a lowkey blog post and video.

Unlike the PC-only Horizon Steel Frontiers, Hunters Gathering is billed as a co-op action game that will launch for PlayStation 5 and PC (complete with cross-play and cross-progression), where up to three players work together to battle Horizon’s many mechanical beasties.

Guerrilla already seems to know that the cartoony aesthetics will prove controversial, as studio director Jan-Bart Van Beek is quick to justify it after sharing a cinematic teaser.

‘Yes, we’re going with a very different look here and that’s very much by design,’ Van Beek explains, saying that since Hunters Gathering is a ‘very dynamic co-op game’ focused on teams, they wanted ‘an art style that really matches that energy.’

We imagine the goal is also to attract a broader audience and try to appeal to younger players (given how Fortnite-esque it looks in places), but Guerrilla already tried marketing Horizon to kids with Lego Horizon Adventures and that was a complete flop.

The gameplay at least looks to be in-line with the main games, like Horizon Forbidden West, but flashier and with multiple players combining their skills.

Unlike the MMO, you don’t get to build your own character and instead pick one of multiple pre-made characters, each with their own weapons and playstyles. Which seems to make it essentially a hero shooter.

Guerrilla has so far confirmed two gameplay modes: Machine Incursion, where you fend off waves of machines, culminating in a boss fight, and Cauldron Descent, which sounds like a roguelite in how you explore ever-changing rooms and complete different trials.

While there’s no release date yet, there will be a beta playtest that runs at the end of this month, so if you want to participate you’ll need to sign up for the PlayStation Beta Programme.

There will be a story campaign in the final release, one that can be enjoyed solo, with Guerrilla promising ‘new mysteries, characters, and threats,’ and that the narrative will continue after launch with subsequent updates.

Not to be cynical, but similar language was used to drum up excitement for Concord, and you all know how that turned out. Granted, Hunters Gathering has the advantage of being connected to an established franchise but there’s no mention of whether it’ll be free-to-play – although most Sony live service titles are not.

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On the bright side, this must be a game that Sony has some measure of faith in, as it’s one of the only live service projects the company hasn’t scrapped in recent months.

Guerrilla insists it’s still committed to single-player games, so you don’t need to worry about Horizon 3 being abandoned, but the studio has no updates to share on that front.

Perhaps the oddest thing about the Hunters Gathering unveil is that it happened at almost exactly the same time as today’s Nintendo Direct, which seems unnecessarily churlish, and overconfident, on Sony’s part.

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