A woman employed by billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed at his ‘castle of horrors’ Scottish estate has spoken for the first time about how she was sexually assaulted by the former Harrods tycoon.

The middle-aged mother, who we have named Katie, broke her silence about the ordeal she suffered at his hands – and said that she believed she was targeted because of her vulnerable background.

Katie – the first woman who worked at Balnagown Castle in Ross-shire to come forward – said her horrific experiences have haunted her for the past three decades.

Her testimony comes just weeks after The Scottish Mail on Sunday revealed that Police Scotland has reopened a probe into assault allegations first reported in 2021.

Katie now hopes her experience will help other women, particularly those in Scotland, to have the courage to speak out. She has also backed calls for a public inquiry into the scandal.

Mother-of-one Katie grew up in a Highlands village half an hour from Balnagown. Her upbringing was far from idyllic. She had spent time in care and had to support herself from a young age.

At 18 she was working in a local pub where members of Mr Al Fayed’s security team would socialise while off duty.

Katie said: ‘I was speaking to one of the security guards and he told me there was a housekeeping job going, which was double the money I was earning. I thought “Why not?”. The interview went well and I was offered a job.’

Balnagown castle and estate in Ross-shire has been owned by Al Fayed’s family since 1972

After a month as a housekeeper, Katie said Mr Al Fayed personally asked her to become the family’s nanny and travel with them around the world, looking after his daughters Jasmine and Camilla.

She now believes she was ‘selected’ by Mr Al Fayed as he knew she came from a vulnerable background and believed she would be easy to manipulate.

Katie said: ‘He asked if I’d be his nanny, he would help get my teeth fixed, he’d help with whatever I needed and take care of me. He told me to think of him as a father figure, as he knew I was someone with not much family around.’

Katie had no passport, having never left Scotland before, and Mr Al Fayed swiftly organised one. He also demanded that she have a medical exam.

She was sent to the local NHS hospital in Invergordon, where she said Mr Al Fayed had arranged privately for tests to be done.

Katie said she had a smear test, and blood tests, although she didn’t know what they were for, and she had to send stool samples to a private clinic in London.

She added: ‘It was only afterwards that my GP asked me why I’d had two Aids tests done when I was 18. I was in shock.

‘I didn’t know that they were testing for these things.’

As soon as Katie set off with the Fayed family, she said her passport was taken from her by security guards. She was also forbidden from telling her family or friends where she was.

Katie travelled first to Espoo, Finland, home of Mr Al Fayed’s wife Heini Wathen. From there the family went to Saint Tropez, France, and took a week-long cruise.

She said: ‘He would give me cuddles, touch your bottom, or there were the slight misplacements of hands, but I just thought accidents happen, or it’s just his culture. It was always when nobody else was around.’

But it was when the group returned to the UK that the mogul launched an attack on Katie at his Barrow Green Court mansion in Oxted, Surrey.

She said: ‘He called me around half 10, 11 o’clock at night and said “I’ve had a shower. My shower needs to be clean. Come and clean it, please”.’

Despite not normally having to clean up after him, and being in her pyjamas, Katie said she felt obliged to do as he asked and went to his bedroom in the grade I listed 17th century estate.

She said: ‘I cleaned the shower and he asked me to sit on his bed.

‘He was talking about my family, and how he could help get them a bungalow, talking about what he could do for me and how he would look after me, and how I wouldn’t have to go through any hardship like in the past.

‘Then he made me put my hands inside his dressing gown.’

Katie said she was forced to perform a sex act on Mr Al Fayed, before he tried to make an advance towards her. ‘I said “Sorry sir, I’ve got my period” and ran out of the room,’ she recalls, tearfully.

Katie told how she confided in a security guard about what had happened. The next day she received a phone call from Mr Al Fayed warning her not to ‘tell lies’.

She said: ‘Al Fayed said I was making up lies and that what I said didn’t happen. He said “You’re a liar. Your family’s not going to believe you.” He was saying he could destroy me, destroy my family, he could take everything away.’

When Katie started working at Balnagown she had signed a confidentiality agreement. It was this document, she said, that the billionaire used to silence her following his sickening attack.

She added: ‘He said that I wasn’t allowed to talk about it, he could take me to court. The threats were all there and I believed them. I believed that I couldn’t say anything – for 30 years.’

In the end, she escaped Mr Al Fayed’s clutches by telling him that a relative was sick and she needed to go home.

She then spent months worrying that she was being followed and monitored by the mogul’s team.

For the next three decades, she kept what had happened to her secret, despite the enduring trauma she lived with.

It wasn’t until a BBC documentary, broadcast in 2024, that she found the courage to share her story. The documentary was based on years of work by Keaton Stone, husband of former Harrods employee Sophia Stone, who had confided in him about the abuse she suffered at Mr Al Fayed’s hands.

Katie said: ‘My partner knew I had worked for Al Fayed and he told me there was a documentary on about him abusing women. I just broke down and told him the whole story.

‘I still haven’t watched the programme, but it was the first time I realised that I wasn’t the only one, and that this had happened to other women.

‘I want other girls to be believed, that’s why I’ve come forward.’

Katie contacted law firm Leigh Day, which is representing dozens of victims of Mr Al Fayed.

The firm is fighting to obtain compensation and campaigning for their cases to be investigated. It has also backed calls for an Epstein-style inquiry in the UK.

Leigh Day partner Emma Jones said: ‘We have seen time and again the kind of open secret surrounding predators such as Al Fayed. It is only when things are brought to light publicly and investigated properly that real change can be made.’

A rare event will take place in the skies next week, but there’s one way to guarantee the best view

Advertisement

Millions of people will be glued to the skies next week, as a rare solar eclipse sweeps across Europe.

The Sun will be passed by the Moon, casting Earth into shadow in the middle of the day.

And for those unable to see the spectacular event for themselves, there is another way to experience it as it happens.

On Wednesday, August 12, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of its light and casting its shadow across parts of Europe.

The eclipse’s narrow path of totality, where the Sun will be completely obscured by the Moon, will cross Greenland, Iceland and parts of Portugal and Spain.

Other parts of Europe, including the UK, will experience a partial eclipse, with the Moon appearing to take a bite out of the Sun and temporarily dimming daylight.

To mark the rare event, the European Space Agency (ESA) will be hosting a live broadcast, meaning space fans won’t need to gamble on the British weather to see the spectacle as it happens.

The ESA livestream will run from the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre in Teruel, Spain, starting at 5.30pm BST (7.30pm CEST).

It will be hosted by British space scientist and science communicator Dame Dr Maggie Aderin, and will be broadcast in English.

Featuring live interviews, explainers and spectacular imagery, viewers can learn about the mysteries of the Sun and its corona, how one famous eclipse changed our understanding of gravity, and how the ESA is now creating artificial solar eclipses in space.

At 6.31pm BST (8.31pm CEST), the Moon will plunge Javalambre into complete darkness for one minute and 21 seconds.

Anyone with questions about the eclipse can ask them using #AskESA on Bluesky or X, with a selection answered live during the broadcast

The Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre is a world-class astronomical observatory located within the path of totality. It mainly consists of two professional telescopes designed to carry out large-sky astronomical surveys that help astronomers study galaxies, dark energy and the structure of the cosmos.

Importantly, viewing conditions at the observatory are excellent, with cloud cover rare and light pollution low. The location offers a very clear view to the western horizon, where the Sun will be beginning to set as it is eclipsed by the Moon.

Additional small telescopes will be taken up to the observatory to observe the eclipse. A live feed from these telescopes at the observatory will provide continuous views as the Moon passes in front of the Sun, offering close-up observations of the different phases of the eclipse.

READ MORE: Co Tyrone man hoping new AI-powered app will offer something “genuinely different” to dating scene

READ MORE: Motorcyclist in critical condition after serious crash

When is the solar eclipse?

The solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

Those in the UK will see a partial eclipse, while locations within the path of totality will experience a far more dramatic event as the Moon completely covers the Sun.

Anyone watching the eclipse must use properly certified solar viewing glasses and should never look directly at the Sun, even when it appears dimmed by the Moon.

Several videos about the eclipse have been posted on ESA’s YouTube, Instagram and TikTok channels.

See here for more information, or click here to watch the stream live.

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives… To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

Data released by the government on Thursday, July 9, revealed that the North East saw the largest increase in suspension rates between the 2014/2015 and 2024/2025 academic years.

The sharp increase in suspensions over the past decade has prompted questions from educators and parents alike about why more children are being removed from classrooms.

New government research shows that 51 per cent of suspensions across England between 2023/24 and 2024/25 were handed out to pupils for repeatedly misbehaving in the classroom.

Verbal abuse or threatening behaviour towards adults accounted for another 15 per cent of suspensions, while physical assaults against other pupils or adults amounted to 18 per cent of exclusions. 

Other reasons included bullying, vandalism, racist abuse, drug and alcohol incidents, theft, and sexual misconduct.

However, many are divided over whether rising suspension rates reflect worsening behaviour or a failure to understand the factors driving it.

People across the North East have been sharing their views on social media following the recent findings.

Some believe suspensions often punish pupils for behaviours linked to underlying issues – many of which they cannot help. 

One Facebook commenter said: “Too many schools punish children for neurodivergent behaviour and trauma-related behaviour that children can’t control.

“Detention and corrections do not correct behaviour when there is no discussion around the unwanted behaviour and no empathy for what a child may have experienced that led to the behaviour in the first place.”

Others argued that schools focus too heavily on punishment rather than prevention.

One user wrote: “Because schools keep giving out detentions for stupid things and not guiding pupils by example. Lend them a pen, then they have it all day and other teachers don’t have to give detention for not having one.”

There are concerns that children are missing out on valuable learning time due to being excluded from lessons. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

Some believe the root causes of poor behaviour start at home, with teachers expected to pick up the responsibility of discipline.

One user said: “The problems start in the home. Parents need to teach their children to follow rules instead of complaining when teachers try to control them.”

Another wrote: “Nowadays this very soft gloves approach to parenting and teaching has backfired and collectively an irresponsible and defiant generation is being raised all over the world.”

Education leaders in the North East have been raising concerns over suspension and exclusion rates over the last two years.

In a statement released by The North East Association of Directors of Children’s Services in May 2024, leaders said factors such as child poverty, increasing numbers of children with complex special educational needs and disabilities, and worsening mental health have increased the pressure on schools.

They also warned that some additional needs are only being recognised after a child has already been suspended or excluded – meaning opportunities for early intervention can be missed.

Schools and local councils have highlighted stretched budgets, limited pastoral resources, and long waits for specialist mental health services as ongoing challenges.

Whether the causes are rooted in home life, school discipline policies, unmet special educational needs or wider social pressures, the figures point to a growing challenge facing classrooms – particularly in the North East.

By ALYSSA GUZMAN, US NEWS REPORTER and AP

Published: 19:53 BST, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 20:09 BST, 8 August 2026

 

Former US President Joe Biden‘s prostate cancer has spread to other parts of his body and is causing him pain, his son Hunter Biden revealed. 

Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father’s deteriorating condition, describing it to BBC as very sad to watch.

‘The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further,’ he said. ‘It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects.’

Advertisement

The former president revealed his cancer diagnosis in May of last year, less than four months after he left the White House.

Hunter Biden said the diagnosis had been tough on the family.

‘It’s really sad to watch,’ Hunter said. ‘The only thing that I’d say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it’s not good.

‘He is the center of our family…He is our rock.’  

Advertisement

The update comes after former First Lady Jill Biden told Today her husband would ‘live with cancer the rest of his life.’ 

Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread to other parts of his body and is causing him pain, his son Hunter Biden revealed

Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father’s deteriorating condition

Advertisement

‘I think if he had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer, that’s one thing because that can be cured, but the fact that it metastasized to his bones, that makes it a whole different story,’ she said in June. 

‘So I think Joe will live with cancer till the rest of his life.’ 

Joe has previously undergone radiation and hormone treatment for his ailment. He also had surgery to remove cancerous skin cells in September. 

Hunter said his father remains ‘out there,’ speaking publicly about the issues that are important to him.

Advertisement

‘He’s still doing his thing,’ he said. ‘He so believes in this country.’

Joe, 83, was the oldest man to serve as US president and his age was a source of concern for much of his four years in office. 

He and his White House advisers have faced intense criticism for allegedly concealing the extent of his problems, especially after he was forced to abandon his bid for re-election after a disastrous debate with his eventual successor, President Donald Trump.

However, the former president has been open about his politics since leaving office, and will publish a memoir, Promise Me, America, after the midterm elections. 

Advertisement

‘It’s really sad to watch,’ Hunter (pictured behind Joe) said. ‘The only thing that I’d say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it’s not good.’

Earlier this year, Joe’s inner circle were concerned that the 83-year-old Democrat was showing the strain of cancer treatment while still appearing publicly.

Two former Biden officials and an elected Democrat told The Washington Post in February that the former president at times appeared more fatigued in private interactions since announcing his health issues. 

Another source at the time told The Post that Biden remains ‘encouraged and positive about his prognosis given his positive response to treatment.’ 

Advertisement

 

The operation to bring alleged mob boss Daniel Kinahan back to Ireland finally got underway this morning.

Daniel Kinahan broke his silence as the operation to bring the alleged mob boss back to Ireland got underway. The country’s most wanted fugitive said he was “looking forward to getting back home”.

The 49-year-old is due to be flown back to Ireland on a Government jet. The Irish Air Corps €53 million Dassault Falcon 6X took off from Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel on the outskirts of Dublin at 10.30am on Saturday.

It will land in the United Arab Emirates city in the evening before Kinahan boards before the aircraft flies back to Ireland, landing at the Casement Aerodrome on Sunday afternoon.

Gardai – Irish police – are on board the direct flight to the United Arab Emirates as part of a complex operation that has been in the works and carefully planned for weeks, reports the Irish Mirror.

Scots podcaster James English, who runs the Anything Goes podcast, has shared a clip of an interview with Kinahan, who claims he is “looking forward” to getting back on Irish soil.

The 42-year-old Glaswegian, who interviewed Kinahan in 2022 before he and key allies were sanctioned by the United States, shared the portion of his interview with him on Saturday.

“I reckon the security is going to be crazy,” Kinahan told James English. “And I’m sitting here reflecting in the little phone box, s***hole box, and I’m thinking of what happened, how I got here, all the stuff that’s happened in my life, the whole lot just reflecting.”

Kinahan said he wanted to do “good things and big things” but life “didn’t go that way” for him.

“And when you look at things, you know everything’s in God’s hand. If anything happens, it’s the way it’s supposed to happen.

“And I’ve just been sitting, reflecting, and this place I’m after staying in is an absolute really bad s***hole. So I’m looking forward to getting home.”

He added: “And it’s crazy when you think of it. Think of the life of where I come from, where I’m born, everything that I’ve been through, and then going back to Ireland now, 25 years later.

“And I’m still the same as I was, still the same friends from when I grew up with, still the same people that I know.

“I was always proud to be Irish, and I wanted to do good things and big things. Obviously, life didn’t go that way for me. All the stuff from all the media, what people think of me, and the perceptions they have of me.”

He continued: “But I’m still so proud to be from Ireland. Proud to be from Oliver Bond flats and bred there.

“And the mentality, the humor, the food. I guess I’m gonna have a lot of that when I come back in anyway. So I’m looking forward to getting back home.”

The Director of Public Prosecutions has already ruled that Kinahan is to be charged with serious gangland offences in Ireland.

It is understood he is to face charges of directing a crime gang – an offence that can see anyone convicted of it jailed for life.

Khadeen Parris, 16, old died as a result of a stab wound.

A second man has appeared in court on suspicion of murdering a teenager who was stabbed in Northamptonshire last month.

Samwari Solomon, aged 20, of Motherwell, has been charged with the murder of Khadeem Parris. The 16-year-old died as a result of a stab wound following an incident at an address in Abington, on Tuesday, July 7.

Solomon appeared before Northampton Magistrates’ Court today. He was remanded into custody and will appear at Northampton Crown Court on Monday, August 10.

It comes after another man, Fuad Mohamud, appeared before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on July 14, charged with Khadeem’s murder.

The 21-year-old, of no fixed address, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on July 15 where he was further remanded in custody until his next hearing on Monday, August 17.

A 19-year-old man, a 56-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender remain on police bail, pending further inquiries.

Police and paramedics were called to the property after the alarm was raised. A post-mortem examination later confirmed the teen had suffered a fatal stab wound, prompting Northamptonshire Police to launch a murder probe.

Khadeem’s devastated family paid tribute to their “funny, smiling boy” in a moving tribute. They described the tragic youngster, who was due to start college this month, as a resilient young man who was excited about the future.

They said: “Khadeem was such a funny, smiling boy. He was always singing, he loved a joke, and he was such a kind son – he had a kindness inside of him.

“He had such strength too. He had coped with such a lot in his young life and he was making plans and so looking forward to the future. He was ready and excited to be starting college in August to study to be a plumber and electrician, and really wanted to make the most of the opportunities open to him.”

The tribute also spoke of Khadeem’s love of computer games and football, and the special bond he shared with his older brother and younger sister.

His family added: “Words can’t explain how we feel at this time. We cannot understand it and we are utterly heartbroken at his loss. Khadeem, we love you, we miss you and you will always be in our hearts.”

A touching message has also appeared on social media from a Dundee woman believed to have been close to Khadeem. In a Facebook post, Courtney Blaney shared a picture of the pair and wrote: “Forever me n you Khadeem Parris rest easy my boy,” alongside a dove and white heart emoji.

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

A riverside pub is one of the best stops in the Tyne Valley, customers say, describing it as a ‘charming pub in a lovely setting’.

Sunday lunch at The Boatside Inn, Warden (Image: The Boatside Inn)

The Boatside Inn, situated in the picturesque hamlet of Warden, is just a few miles west of Hexham and minutes from the A69.

It combines a traditional stone‑built pub, beer garden and B&B rooms beside the River South Tyne, making it a popular choice for motorists breaking their journey or exploring Hadrian’s Wall.

The Boatside Inn’s website said: “Whether you’re joining us for a relaxed lunch, an evening meal, a Sunday roast or a peaceful overnight stay, you’ll enjoy freshly prepared seasonal food, regularly changing specials, an excellent selection of beers, wines and spirits, and a warm Northumbrian welcome.

The Boatside Inn has ‘lovely and polite’ staff, reviews said (Image: The Boatside Inn)

“With comfortable guest accommodation, a peaceful riverside setting and award-winning food, The Boatside Inn is the perfect destination for visitors exploring Hexham, Hadrian’s Wall and Northumberland, as well as for locals looking to enjoy great food, quality drinks and genuine hospitality.”

Tripadvisor reviews praise the ‘lovely cosy’ atmosphere, ‘delicious’ food and ‘attentive’ staff.

One review said: “What a lovely place to eat. We happened on this place by chance on our visit to Hexham. We loved it so much we went for lunch two days in a row.”

Fish and chips (Image: Tripadvisor)

Another said: “Atmosphere is lovely. Food and drinks are so nice – we had soup of the day and some side dishes.

“It was delicious and just enough for us. After dinner we also ordered sticky toffee and raspberry crumble, which were amazing. Again, highly recommend this place with very friendly staff.”

One reviewer said it was the ‘best bar meal’ they’d eaten ‘in ages’.

“We were in the area for the races and a walk and booked online here. Lovely cosy pub, dog friendly, staff were attentive and very helpful re the menu choices. Service was quick, and food was amazing. Worth every penny. Well deserved after a long walk.”

Food at The Boatside (Image: Tripadvisor)

Another added: “Visited with friends for the first time and we all enjoyed the food and friendly service. The menu choices were nothing too fancy, with standard basic pub food on offer. The food was absolutely delicious and well presented. I have to say it was faultless and one of the best pub lunches I’ve had for a long time.”

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson said Saturday that his 14th season would “probably” be his last.

Johnson missed four days of training camp this week for personal reasons before he returned Friday.

The 36-year-old Johnson was a first-round pick in 2013 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and 2022. He earned second-team honors in 2021, 2023 and 2024.

Johnson took a leave of absence during the 2021 season as he battled anxiety and depression and has since shared his story at mental health clinics in the area.

He said his latest leave had more to do with family issues, specifically taking care of his parents, and that his priorities had shifted more toward life outside football.

“I’m looking potentially this is probably going to be my last year,” Johnson said after Saturday’s practice. “Just because I am getting to that point of, those priorities away from football are starting to merge. Not that I don’t enjoy (it), I love everything about this game, preparing for it, but it’s kind of where I’m at in my career.”

Johnson has been a pillar at right tackle and won a pair of Super Bowls with the Eagles.

“I still feel like I can be a premier tackle in this league,” Johnson said. “My movement and everything feels good.”

Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, said his potential retirement came into focus last season after conversations with his family and an injury-plagued season. He missed Philadelphia’s final seven regular-season games and the wild-card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Johnson was suspended for 10 games by the NFL in 2016 for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He was also suspended the first four games of the 2014 season for violating the policy.

He said his teammates already knew he was considering ending his career.

“I feel like planning on having a really good last year,” Johnson said. “I’m trying to soak in these last six months, seven months.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

By DAVID OLASEINDE

Published: 18:27 BST, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 19:33 BST, 8 August 2026