Emma Barnett was found clutching 14-month-old Oakley in the loft of her home after a court order determined he would be taken into care

A mother who was found to have killed her infant son with a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs in his milk has been sentenced.

Today (June 5), Emma Barnett has been sentenced to life behind bars after she was found guilty of murder following an 18-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court on May 28.

Barnett must serve a minimum of 22-years in jail.

The court heard how the mum had been due to attend a family court hearing on November 8, 2024, the outcome of which determined little Oakley, just 14 months old, was subject to an interim care order.

The pair were reported missing that same day. Officers carried out searches for the pair and found Barnett’s vehicle parked near to Epping Forest. Officers believed the 36-year-old had entered the grounds, however, police found she had walked to on foot to her home on Chester Road, Debden in Essex, and forced their way into the property.

There, they found Barnett hidden in the loft, clutching the 14-month-old. After ongoing discussions, the pair were both rushed to hospital for treatment. Tragically, despite the best efforts of doctors, Oakley died on New Year’s Eve in December 2024.

Barnett also received hospital treatment before she was arrested on suspicion of murder in January last year.

She initially denied murdering the child. However, after six hours of deliberations after the 18-day trial at Cambridge Crown Court, jurors found her guilty on May 28.

The court heard during the trial Barnett had stated in her interview that she “wanted the police to think I was in the forest so I could stay indoors with Oakley” when she left her vehicle parked there.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that evidence presented during the trial showed Barnett had prepared a bottle containing a mixture of milk and medication, which she administered to Oakley, ultimately causing his death.

The court also heard how the woman communicated with officers through the telephone behind the loft hatch, initially claiming Oakley was asleep before declaring, “I have killed him”.

Police say they carried out a “detailed investigation” which resulted in Barnett being interviewed in June 2025. She declined to respond to any questions, police say, but was charged with a single count of murder.

Judge Mr Justice Derek Sweeting explained that the prosecution case was that Barnett “intentionally administered to him (Oakley) medication prescribed to her intending to kill him and this was the planned outcome”. He noted that the defendant’s case was that Oakley’s death was accidental. Summarising the defendant’s case to jurors, the judge added that her case was that “she didn’t intentionally administer medication or intend serious harm or to kill him”.

“Her intention was to take her own life but only at the point Oakley would be removed from her by police,” the judge said, summing up Barnett’s defence case.

Barnett said that hiding in the loft “was to extend the time she had left with Oakley”, the judge said. He revealed that investigators discovered two baby bottles in the loft containing liquids that tested positive for the antihistamine promethazine, which can cause sedation, and the antidepressant mirtazapine.

The judge noted that expert evidence suggested “taken together their effects may be greater than either alone” and that they could cause “respiratory compromise”.

Oakley’s family have spoken out about their heartbreak. Paying tribute to him, they said in a statement, they said: “Oakley filled every room with light, laughter, and love. With his beautiful curly hair and huge blue eyes, he captured the hearts of everyone who met him. His smile could brighten even the darkest day, and his gentle spirit brought so much happiness to our family.

“Oakley loved watching Trolls, and there was something magical about seeing his face light up with excitement whenever his favourite characters appeared on the screen. Those simple moments, full of wonder and joy, are memories we will treasure forever.

“Though he was only with us for a short time, Oakley filled our hearts. He will forever miss his cuddles, his laughter, and the happiness he brought into our lives.

“While our hearts ache with the loss of him, we are grateful for every second we were blessed to spend with him. Our beautiful boy will always be loved, always be remembered, and always remain a part of us.

“Though we cannot hold him in our arms, we carry him in our hearts every day. We will forever grieve the memories we won’t get to make, the milestones we won’t get to witness, and the future that should have been his.

“But while Oakley was taken from our lives, he will never be taken from our hearts. His memory lives on in every story we share, every tear we cry, and every smile that comes from remembering that beautiful little boy.

“Forever 14 months old. Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our Oakley. Sleep peacefully, sweet Oakley. You were deeply loved, and you always will be.”

Oakley’s dad also paid a special tribute to his beloved son. He said: “While I never got given the opportunity to get to know Oakley and experience the joy he bought to everyone else’s lives.

“I wish I could have had the chance to experience that bond with him and get to learn of all of his favourite things and see the infectious smile those that got to spend that short time with him did.

“I will forever have that ache in my heart of never being able to have that father son bond with him or be able to kick a ball together. I will forever love my little boy and miss him deeply.”

Detective Inspector James Holmes, who led the investigation into Oakley’s death, said: “This time should be all about Oakley. I know how missed he is by all who loved him and the thoughts of my team and everyone at Essex Police remain with them.”

Detective Inspector James Holmes of Essex Police said: “This was an extremely upsetting and difficult investigation for everybody involved. Our thoughts remain with Oakley and everyone who loved him.”

The Project Servator deployment took place today in the lead-up to the IRONMAN 70.3 event, with Greater Manchester Police conducting patrols and proactive stop searches.

Project Servator is a policing approach designed to deter a range of criminal activity, including terrorism, through highly visible, unpredictable patrols.

The tactic is also used to provide a reassuring presence for the public.

The public can expect to see both uniformed and plain-clothed officers as part of these deployments, as well as officers talking to the public, local businesses, and private security staff.

The approach is not related to any specific threat to the area, but aims to make it more difficult for criminals to operate undetected.

Additional police resources may include dog units, armed officers, and other specialist teams.

The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to officers on patrol, or by calling 101.

In an emergency, people should always call 999.

Police remind the community that working together is key to keeping the streets safe and disrupting potential criminal activity before it happens.

The two officers were left with minor neck, shoulder, and back injuries.

A man who deliberately drove at a police car and left two officers injured has been jailed. Bilal Dawlatzai, 25, drove a blue Vauxhall Astra into a marked police car to get away on the evening of April 20.

Traffic officers had signalled for him to stop at the Herlington Centre, in Orton Malborne, Peterborough. This was because information suggested he was disqualified from driving and had a history of dangerous driving.

The collision left two police officers with minor neck, shoulder, and back injuries. At Huntingdon Law Courts on Wednesday, June 3, Dawlatzai, of no fixed address admitted to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, disqualified driving, criminal damage, two counts of assault of emergency worker, and failing to provide comply with a roadside drink/drug test.

He was handed a 20-month prison sentence. He was also banned from driving for 52 months.

Detective Constable Joshua Crown, who investigated, said: “This was a great example of teamwork between officers and CCTV operators to locate and coordinate the stop on Dawlatzai.

“I would like to commend the officers who put themselves at risk to stop Dawlatzai – it may be seen as just doing their job, but no one should have to suffer injury in the workplace.”

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He added: “And the hope and the idea being is, that if you can identify these, that the operation becomes safer, you have this kind of extra helping arm with artificial intelligence running at the same time as your surgery, preventing errors and making everything a lot more safe.

The U.S. military reported shooting down four Iranian drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, then striking some of the Islamic Republic’s coastal surveillance radar sites in retaliation.

U.S. Central Command stated on social media that “The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic.”

The military is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s restrictions on the vital shipping route for global oil and natural gas exports, a move that has driven up energy prices.

It marks the latest in back-and-forth attacks straining a tenuous ceasefire and efforts to extend that truce.

Earlier this week, Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s main airport, killing one, wounding dozens, and briefly closing the airfield

Despite the attacks raising new concerns that the ceasefire could collapse, President Donald Trump told reporters Friday that “the situation with Iran seems to be going quite well.”

“We’re going to come out of Iran very quickly and it’s going to be very strong one way or the other, whether it’s a piece of paper or the very tough way,” Trump said at an event with farmers in Wisconsin. “The very tough way is maybe the easier way, but we’re going to come out, and your fertilizer prices are going to go way down, just like they were four months ago.”

His administration also has touted the latest ceasefire agreed to this week by the Lebanese government and Israel after U.S.-brokered talks in Washington. That’s despite the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group rejecting the agreement and new attacks launched by both sides.

The fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of the south, also threatens efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extend to Lebanon.

The Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) will require banks to share limited information with the DWP, but a petition has been launched arguing the proposed measures set a ‘concerning precedent’ for Universal Credit and benefit claimants

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A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to rethink proposed Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plans to ‘monitor’ the bank accounts of those receiving means-tested benefits. Under the Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM), banks could be asked to review accounts in receipt of certain DWP benefits and flag cases where accounts display particular ‘eligibility indicators’ related to benefit criteria.

The proposed system is part of the UK Government’s broader campaign to tackle fraud and error within the welfare system and will initially affect those claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Petition creator Fionnuala Donnelly says that the measures establish a worrying precedent by permitting financial details to be examined without proof of misconduct. It is crucial to note that the DWP does not have direct access to any claimants’ bank account or financial details.

The ‘Stop DWP powers to receive Universal Credit claimants bank account information’ petition also highlights concerns regarding privacy and data protection, questioning how personal data will be protected and whether the powers are reasonable.

The petition maintains that bank account details are typically regarded as private and contends that routine inspections should not take place without clear justification. Once the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the UK Government will be obliged to provide a written response. Should it reach 100,000 signatures, the Petitions Committee would consider putting it forward for a full parliamentary debate, reports the Daily Record.

The DWP has previously stated that the new measures are intended to help detect incorrect payments arising from fraud, claimant error or official error, while also preventing claimants from accumulating large overpayments that would subsequently need to be repaid.

Under the new Code of Practice on Eligibility Verification Notices, banks could be required to flag accounts where savings surpass benefit thresholds. For Universal Credit, this could include accounts holding more than £16,000, which is the upper capital limit for the benefit.

The guidance further states that the DWP may request information relating to signs that a claimant has spent more time abroad than benefit rules ordinarily permit. Nevertheless, the DWP has confirmed that strict legal restrictions govern what banks are permitted to share.

The Code states financial institutions are prohibited from sharing transaction information, meaning the DWP cannot see what people are buying, where they shop or individual spending habits.

Banks are also banned from sharing “special category data”, including information relating to political opinions, religious beliefs, ethnicity or health information. The guidance states: “DWP is prohibited by law from sharing personal data with financial institutions under this power, and from requesting transaction information and special category data.”

The document also makes clear the DWP cannot ask banks to search for named benefit claimants. The code also repeatedly stresses strict limits apply to the information banks can provide.

DWP said financial institutions are prohibited by law from sharing transaction histories, spending information, financial statements, or special category data such as political opinions, religion or ethnicity.

Rather than sharing such data directly, financial institutions would apply eligibility criteria across their own systems, returning only restricted information where accounts match the indicators outlined in an Eligibility Verification Notice (EVN).

The information that may be passed on to the DWP includes account details, names and dates of birth linked to accounts, and details showing how an account met the eligibility indicator.

Such examples might include confirmation that savings exceeded a specified threshold, or evidence that an account had been regularly used outside the UK. The DWP emphasised that information returned by banks does not automatically indicate that an individual has acted improperly.

The Code states: “No decisions about benefit entitlement will be made automatically on this information alone.”

The DWP must instead assess the information alongside other evidence already held on a claim before determining whether further investigation is warranted. The guidance also confirms that a “Test and Learn” rollout phase will take place, initially involving a limited number of financial institutions before any wider expansion.

During this period, the DWP stated it will evaluate the effectiveness of the system, the accuracy of the data provided, and whether the safeguards in place are functioning as intended prior to a broader rollout.

The DWP estimates benefit fraud and error resulted in £9.6 billion of overpayments during the 2025/26 financial year.

Top Gun: Maverick actor James Handy was pronounced dead on Thursday, June 4

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Wendy Gledhill has broken her silence following the alleged fatal stabbing of her boyfriend, James Handy, by her son, Michael Gledhill.

The 81 year old actor was widely recognised for his roles in films including Arachnophobia, Jumanji, Unbreakable, Logan, and Top Gun: Maverick, in which he played Jimmy.

He was pronounced dead on Thursday, 4th June, after sustaining a stab wound to the chest. Michael, the son of James’s girlfriend Wendy, was arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of the killing and remains in police custody, reports the Mirror US..

Wendy’s first public statement comes in the wake of the Jumanji actor’s final public appearance before he was fatally stabbed by her son.

Speaking to The California Post on 5th June, the 76 year old said, “I’m just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time,” before adding, “I loved James and my son.”

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She went on to say, “I can’t believe my son did it. I’m just trying to… ” before retreating back into her home in Tarzana, California. She had previously told TMZ that her son had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but had stopped taking his prescribed medication prior to the alleged incident.

On Thursday, 4th June, Los Angeles police confirmed they had launched a murder investigation following a chilling 911 call. According to reports, the suspected killer rang the emergency services and stated, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” Officers arrived at the property to find the actor unconscious in the front garden, having apparently sustained a stab wound to the chest. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where the 81 year old was pronounced dead.

“The suspect was identified as 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, a resident of Tarzana,” investigators stated in a press release. “He was arrested and transported to Van Nuys Jail where he was booked for one count of murder.”

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Wendy also shared a heartfelt message for James’s nearest and dearest. “They know I loved him so much. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry this happened. I’m still in shock. I still can’t comprehend it,” she said.

James enjoyed a career spanning 45 years, amassing dozens of film and television credits, including well-loved titles such as Jumanji, The X-Files, Law and Order, and NCIS: Los Angeles, amongst many others.

Michael remains in custody on $2 million bail. Investigators have yet to disclose a motive for the senseless killing, nor have they confirmed whether Wendy’s claims that her son had been diagnosed with mental health issues prior to the stabbing are accurate.

​Coastal councillors have said that changes to food waste collection are vital to establishing an environment where humans and gulls can thrive alongside each other.

North Yorkshire Council is not set to start separate household food waste collections until 2043.

​It comes as plans for a £119,000 urban gull strategy – which includes investment in education campaigns, gull-proof rubbish bags, new and retrofitted litter bins – were backed by members of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee.

​“While gulls, in particular Herring Gulls and Kittiwakes are a valued part of coastal biodiversity, their increasing presence in urban areas has led to significant issues including noise, fouling, aggressive behaviour (human/gull contact), and overall public health concerns,” the strategy states.

​Councillors welcomed the “outlawing of some of the barbarous practises that have been used in the past” and a “move into the 21st century”.

​Officers said the strategy was “very much a theoretical document” that would become a “proper action plan”.

​Tim Croot, an officer in the environmental protection team, told councillors that North Yorkshire Council had moved on from “quite draconian interventions such as removing eggs and shooting [gulls]”.

​He added that methods used by the now-defunct Scarborough Borough Council, which included netting and spikes “wasn’t terribly successful”.

​“The strategy from the very outset aimed to try and create some cohesion where we could have co-existence and acceptance of the birds,” he said at the meeting on Friday, June 5.

​“It is their coast as much as it is the humans’ coast, and we need to get to the point of having a strategy in which the actions take account of the needs of the birds as much as the needs of people.”

​The key ‘pillars’ of the new strategy are focused on waste and rubbish, cleaning and jet washing, targeted proofing, and monitoring and planning.

​Cllr Janet Jefferson welcomed the proposal, stating: “This is such a good way forward. I think education is one of the biggest things, because I see people feeding them publicly, and also just dumping their rubbish bags in the street.”

​Councillors said they were concerned that the introduction of weekly food waste collections is not set to start in North Yorkshire until 2043 – while other councils are already required to implement kerbside recycling services – because of an extension granted to NYC due to its existing waste management arrangement.

​Cllr Neil Swannick said: “If you could take the food waste out of the waste stream and stop it being mixed up with other materials, then potentially you could at least deal with a major part of the problem.

“If there was a culture of everyone putting food waste into a separate collection bin, then that removes food waste from the waste site.”

Scarborough Seagull. Courtesy Anttoni Numminen,Ldrs

​Cllr Derek Bastiman agreed that changes to food waste recycling “should form part of this strategy” and seconded Cllr Swannick’s amendment welcoming the gull strategy as well as “suggesting that further work is done to explore the possibility of bringing forward food waste reduction before 2043, including a potential pilot for the coastal area”.

​The costs associated with the strategy include £30,000 on seagull-proof rubbish sacks, £50,000 for jetting, which is based upon the £40,000 spent last year plus inflation and an increase in activity based upon customer feedback.

​The £19,000 for new and retrofitted litter bins relates to the cost of trialling a mix of both new bins and retrofitting additional measures to existing bins, the report states.

​​Meanwhile, £15,000 would go towards education and communication and £5,000 for signage.

​The amendment and recommendations were unanimously endorsed by the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee.

​A final decision will be made by NYC’s executive committee in August.

​

Cheesy pasta may seem very simple to make, but it can often be really plain and boring — unless you add a cheap ingredient most people have in their kitchen cupboard.

Cheesy pasta is testament to the fact that the most straightforward meals are the most satisfying. It’s an ideal dish for those cosy evenings when something hearty is in order. While it’s widely regarded as a simple recipe, the sauce can turn out rather bland without the correct components.

Milk and butter can form a creamy foundation, yet they risk diluting the natural taste of the cheese, meaning you can barely detect it. This can leave cheesy pasta tasting somewhat flat, prompting experimentation with ways to enhance it.

After trialling smoked paprika, chilli flakes, garlic and even jalapeños, it turns out that a few drops of Worcestershire sauce can produce the finest cheesy sauce imaginable.

Cheese sauce is renowned for being indulgent, yet it can also taste slightly one-dimensional and uninspiring due to its high dairy content.

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Worcestershire sauce, however, helps redress this balance by introducing acidity, which cuts through the richness of the butter, milk and cheese, preventing the sauce from becoming overly heavy.

It simply sharpens the overall taste, rendering the sauce more savoury, well-rounded and considerably cheesier.

Worcestershire sauce contains fermented ingredients that contribute a touch of saltiness and a subtle heat, meaning your cheesy pasta will be considerably more flavoursome using just everyday kitchen staples.

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Cheesy pasta is such a wonderfully simple dish, and incorporating a dash of Worcestershire sauce has transformed it into a firm favourite comfort dinner that takes fewer than 10 minutes to prepare.

How to make better cheese pasta

Ingredients

• 200g of pasta
• One tablespoon of flour
• 25g of butter
• Two cloves of garlic (chopped)
• 300ml of milk (room temperature)
• 100g of cheddar cheese
• 100g of Emmental cheese
• One tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
• One tablespoon of Dijon mustard
• Black pepper
• Any other seasonings you wish to use (such as smoked paprika, chives, parsley, etc)

Notes:

Should you prefer to skip any cooking preparation, simply substitute the garlic and butter for garlic butter instead.

I’d also recommend removing the milk and butter from the fridge in advance, as cold dairy is more likely to clump up when heated. For a silkier sauce, ensure your ingredients are at room temperature.

Cheddar is the go-to cheese for a pasta dish owing to its robust flavour and excellent melting properties, though used alone it can become overpoweringly rich if too much is added.

It’s preferable to combine cheddar with a milder variety for a more balanced flavour profile. Emmental works particularly well, though mozzarella or Parmesan are equally suitable alternatives.

No additional salt has been incorporated into this recipe, given that the Worcestershire sauce already provides sufficient seasoning.

Method:

1. To start, place your pasta into a pan of salted boiling water and cook following the packet instructions. Remember to reserve a small mugful of pasta water prior to draining.
2. While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the garlic and allow it to cook for approximately 60 seconds before it begins to colour.
3. Incorporate the flour and combine it thoroughly with the butter until you achieve a smooth paste, otherwise known as a roux.
4. Gradually introduce the milk in small amounts, stirring continuously until a sauce forms. Take great care here, as the most frequent error is adding excessive milk, resulting in a thin, watery consistency.
5. Lower the heat and incorporate the Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard. Should you wish to include any additional seasonings, introduce them at this point.
6. Take the pan off the heat and add the cheeses. Gradually add small amounts until they’ve completely melted and you’ve achieved a silky sauce.
7. Should your sauce appear overly thick, incorporate a touch of the reserved pasta water, but if it looks too runny, then add slightly more cheese.
8. Season the sauce generously with black pepper, but refrain from adding salt as the Worcestershire sauce is already rather salty.
9. Your cheese sauce should now be intensely cheesy and considerably more flavoursome than usual.

Drivers on the M62 could face disruption for another hour after a crash on the westbound carriageway between junctions 12 and 11.

Traffic England has described the incident as ‘severe’, with normal traffic conditions not expected until around 10.30pm-10.45pm tonight.

There’s also queues on the M62 westbound entry slip at junction 12, with delays of around 10 minutes.