A school first aider has told the third day of a trial of a teenage boy accused of trying to murder his teacher at a school in Pembrokeshire earlier this year that the knife in the incident was “unusually large”, and said she’d been left so upset about what she had seen that she couldn’t speak to emergency services after calling 999.

Laura Jones, first aider at Milford Haven School, has told the jury on Wednesday morning how the knife was more like a knife you’d find in a restaurant than a home.

Asked if she saw the knife, Mrs Jones said she saw it on the desk in the classroom after the incident and she described it as “unusually large for a knife at home… like a restaurant knife”.

Vicki Williams, a history teacher at Milford Haven School, suffered injuries to her head, hands and back in the incident in February after the teenager – who isn’t being named for legal reasons – brought the knife into her classroom.

The boy is accused of entering the empty classroom, locking the door behind him, taking the kitchen knife from his bag and deliberately lunging towards Mrs Williams with the knife.

The court has heard a “violent struggle” ensued in which Mrs Williams, who said she was forced back into her chair, eventually succeeded in taking the knife from the teen, although she had suffered a “penetrating” wound to her head as well as cuts and grazes to her hands and back in the incident on February 5.

The boy – now 16 – denies attempted murder, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, and unlawful wounding and is on trial at Swansea Crown Court. The teenager has admitted possessing a knife on school premises.

It is the prosecution case that the student launched a deliberate and planned “murderous attack” on the teacher with a kitchen knife which he had taken into the school in his bag.

It is the defence case that the injuries sustained by Mrs Williams were caused accidentally when the defendant refused to hand over the knife to the teacher when told to do so.

On Wednesday morning Mrs Jones told the court of the scene she found on February 5. In response to questions from prosecution barrister Christopher Rees KC Mrs Jones said she went to provide first aid to Mrs Williams following the incident.

Asked about Mrs Williams’ demeanor, Mrs Jones said: “She was obviously distressed, traumatised, upset, crying. She was shaking. Just her whole body in shock.”

The witness said Mrs Williams told her what had happened in the classroom. She told the jury: “She said [defendant’s name] came into the classroom and attacked her with a knife.”

Mrs Jones said she called 999 but she had to hand the phone over to a colleague to speak to the call handler because she was so upset she “couldn’t get the words out”.

Asked if she saw the knife, Mrs Jones said she did see it on the desk in the classroom and she described it as “unusually large for a knife at home… like a restaurant knife”.

The knife in question – inside a plastic tube – was shown to the witness who confirmed it was the one she saw that day. The knife was then shown to the judge and to the members of the jury.

On day two of the trial the jury heard from Mrs Williams, who described how her alleged assailant had a look of “pure hatred” in his eyes when he attacked her, and how she thought she was going to die at his hands.

The trial, before judge Paul Thomas KC, is expected to last three weeks. You can follow the evidence as it is heard today on our blog below, and you can stay up to date with all the latest from Wales’ courts via our crime newsletter.

Baeli, who works for 10 Design, and Prewett, who runs Prewett Bizley Architects, bought the rundown property in Sydenham in July 2014. “In a way, for us, it was absolutely perfect because the condition justified the magnitude of work that we wanted to do,” says Baeli. “I think we would have felt less happy to have a heavy intervention in a house that was in a good state.” There was a sitting tenant, ideal to give the couple time to get planning approved, a contractor lined up and decide what they wanted to do first in a staged renovation, which they planned to continue as budget allowed.

The Middlesbrough campus of The Northern School of Art will officially become The Northern College of Art on August 1, subject to parliamentary approval.

This change marks a significant step in the evolution of one of the region’s longest-established creative education providers.

The Northern School of Art’s Middlesbrough campus Summer Show visitors (Image: Northern School of Art)

Dr Martin Raby OBE, principal and chief executive of The Northern School of Art, said: “The launch of The Northern College of Art marks an important new chapter in the institution’s long history of specialist creative education.

“Establishing separate Further and Higher Education institutions will provide clearer identities for students, parents and partners, while enabling both areas of provision to continue to grow and thrive within their respective sectors.

“The new structure also supports our long-term ambition to achieve university title, while maintaining the close relationship and progression opportunities that have always been central to our specialist creative offer.”

The Northern School of Art staff 2022 (Image: Northern School of Art)

Under the new structure, The Northern School of Art will become a dedicated Higher Education Corporation delivering undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes from its Hartlepool campus.

The Middlesbrough campus will operate as The Northern College of Art, focusing on specialist Further Education courses for 16-19-year-olds, adult learners, and outreach activities such as Saturday Clubs for younger students.

The changes support the institution’s strategic ambition to achieve university title and build on recent milestones, including being granted Degree Awarding Powers in 2024.

Sculpture Class at CCAD Green Lane (Image: Northern School of Art)

They also reflect the institution’s growth and the maturity of its Higher Education provision.

Students who enrol in September 2026 will continue to study at the same campuses, with no changes to staff, facilities or courses.

The two institutions will retain their close working relationship, supporting students throughout their creative journeys.

Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, said: “The Northern School of Art is a genuine success story for the Tees Valley and shows what world-class creative education looks like.

Archive photo of fine arts students at CCAD (Image: Northern School of Art)

“Paving the way for a specialist arts university locally accessible in Hartlepool will open up new learning pathways which will help build the creative skills the regional and national economy needs.

“This is exactly the kind of locally-rooted, high-quality provision needed to boost opportunities for local people and power growth across the country.”

The institution said that the new structure creates clearer identities for learners, parents/carers, schools and stakeholders, while providing a stronger platform for future growth, investment and innovation across both institutions.

Student at The Northern College of Art Middlesbrough (Image: Northern School of Art)

Rob Kane, vice principal (Further Education), said: “The launch of The Northern College of Art provides a clear and distinctive identity for our Further Education provision, while retaining the specialist ethos, opportunities and creative culture that students, families and partners value so highly.

“We look forward to continuing to support young people and adult learners from across the region as they begin their creative journeys.”

Student at The Northern College of Art Middlesbrough (Image: Northern School of Art)

The institution has a long history of adapting to the needs of the creative sector and education landscape.

Previously known as Cleveland College of Art & Design (CCAD), the school became The Northern School of Art in 2018.

Existing partnerships with schools, employers, cultural organisations and creative industry partners will remain unaffected.

These relationships will continue to support live briefs, community engagement, placements, guest lectures, collaborative projects and progression into creative careers.

The Middlesbrough campus will also continue its outreach work, including Saturday Clubs for young people aged 6–15, aimed at nurturing creativity, confidence and aspiration from an early age.

As Britain faces one of the longest heatwaves since 1976 and  temperatures of 35C this week, many will be eagerly reaching for a sunhat for some protection.

But while the accessory may be practical, some types are certainly more stylish than others – and have the damning ability to either make or break an outfit. 

If styled correctly, they can add a sophisticated finishing touch to your overall look – helping to enhance your sense of sophistication and class.

However, the wrong hat can run the risk of your entire outfit being tarnished by cheap and unattractive headwear.

Fortunately, celebrity stylists Lisa Talbot and Rochelle White are on hand to share the ultimate do’s and dont’s when selecting your go-to sunhat as Britain basks in the sweltering heat.

Rochelle told the Daily Mail: ‘Sunhats have gone from being a holiday extra to in some cases an everyday wardrobe essential.

‘There is a misconception that “I just don’t suit hats,” but I feel that most people simply haven’t found the right shape for their face or the right style for their wardrobe. 

‘A good hat should frame your face in exactly the same way a flattering haircut does.’

Read on to discover which sunhats look effortlessly elegant and elevated, and which A-listers have made a fashion faux pas with their ‘awkward’ and ‘disproportionate’ choices…

WHAT TO AVOID 

Sun hats that are too small or impractical  

According to Lisa, one of the ‘biggest mistakes’ you can make when selecting a sunhat is ‘squeezing into a hat that is too tight’. 

She added: ‘Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can leave marks across your forehead and look disproportionate. 

‘A hat should sit comfortably and securely without feeling restrictive. Many quality brands now offer adjustable sizing, so it’s worth taking the time to find the right fit.’

Meanwhile, Rochelle noted that while it can be tempting to change your fashion habits in keeping with the trends, ‘fashion should never come at the expense of function’. 

‘With temperatures reaching record highs this summer, hats have become one of the easiest ways to protect your face, scalp and neck from prolonged sun exposure,’ she said. 

‘Look at wider brimmed styles naturally provide more protection than caps, making them ideal for long lunches outdoors, sporting events, festivals and holidays.’

‘Floppy’ hats that don’t fit your frame 

Petite women such as Anya Taylor-Joy can sometimes disappear beneath oversized floppy hats, Lisa warns

Hats can either make or break your summer outfit, and it is key that you take into consideration your frame when opting for a stylish piece of headwear this summer. 

‘Petite women can sometimes disappear beneath oversized floppy hats, while taller women often carry wider brims beautifully,’ Lisa warned. 

‘It’s all about proportion, the right hat should enhance your outfit rather than overwhelm it.’

Likewise, Rochelle stressed the importance of a hat ‘never overwhelming your outfit’ as this can be a grave ‘mistake’.  

‘If the brim extends far beyond your shoulders or hides your face completely, people notice the hat before they notice you, not always a good look, unless you want that look. 

‘Likewise, hats that are too small can make your head appear larger and throw off your proportions, I would say the most flattering hats always create balance.’

Wearing a hat that has been pushed too far back

Not only is the type of hat you purchase key, but it essential you consider whereabouts the hat is placed on your head to avoid an ‘awkward’ and unflattering look such as this one modelled by Diane Kruger

Not only is the type of hat you purchase key, but it is essential you consider whereabouts the hat is placed on your head to avoid an ‘awkward’ and unflattering look, Lisa warned.

‘Wearing a baseball cap perched on the back of your head can throw off your proportions and often looks awkward,’ she said.

‘It should sit comfortably just above your eyebrows, framing your face naturally while still providing protection from the sun.’

Falling victim to the trends  

Many people tend to buy what’s popular online without considering whether it suits them or their lifestyle 

While tempting to lean into the trends, both Lisa and Rochelle advised against going too far against your fashion boundaries this summer. 

‘A styling mistake that people do is buy what’s popular online without considering whether it suits them or their lifestyle,’ warned Rochelle. 

‘Just because an oversized floppy hat might look beautiful on a luxury holiday shoot, doesn’t mean it’s always practical for everyday British life. 

‘The most stylish women tend to repeat pieces that genuinely work for them rather than constantly chasing trends. This is where I think style always lasts longer than fashion.’

However, Lisa noted that ultimately ‘confidence is the finishing touch’, and the key to feeling comfortable this summer is selecting the hat that is right for you.

‘Many women say they “can’t wear hats,” but more often than not they’ve simply never found the right one,’ she said.

‘Try different shapes, wear it around the house first if you’re unsure, and remember that when a hat fits well and suits your proportions, it becomes part of your style rather than the centre of attention.’

Accidentally leaving labels or stickers on

While it may seem like an easily avoidable fashion faux pas, sadly this is a ‘common mistake’ that many are guilty of when making a last-minute hat purchase amid the heatwave. Pictured: Naomi Watts 

While it may seem like an easily avoidable fashion faux pas, sadly this is a ‘common mistake’ that many are guilty of when making a last-minute hat purchase amid the heatwave.

Lisa explained: ‘Leaving the brand stickers on the peak doesn’t make the cap look more expensive, it simply looks unfinished. 

‘Remove any labels before wearing and keep the cap clean and well maintained.’

SUNHATS THAT ALWAYS FEEL ELEGANT 

Those which successfully frame your face  

Making sure a hat frames your face is key, which is clearly a rule understood by restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump 

Making sure a hat frames your face is key, according to Lisa, just as a ‘great haircut or a pair of glasses does’. 

‘If you have a round face, a fedora or a structured Panama with a higher crown can help create length. If your face is longer, a wider brim can add balance. 

‘Don’t simply buy the latest trend, find the style that works with your proportions and you’ll wear it with far more confidence.’

Rochelle noted that those with a round face should ‘look for structured hats with slightly wider brims that help elongate your features’. 

She added: ‘Longer face shapes often benefit from flatter crowns or bucket hats, while heart-shaped faces suit medium-width brims that balance the forehead. Oval faces are naturally versatile and can wear almost every style successfully. 

‘The reason celebrities always appear to “pull hats off” isn’t luck. Their stylists understand proportion and use the hat to enhance their features rather than competing with them.’

Hats that help elevate, rather than detract from your overall look 

Victoria Beckham created a cohesive look in Ibiza by wearing a sunhat that complimented her black dress 

‘Your hat should feel like part of your outfit, not an afterthought,’ said Lisa. 

‘Think about the textures, colours and occasion. A raffia hat pairs beautifully with linen and relaxed holiday dressing, while a structured Panama looks polished with tailored shorts, a shirt dress or wide-leg trousers. 

‘The aim is to create one cohesive look rather than competing elements.’

Meanwhile, Rochelle noted that as hats slowly become a part of ‘everyday dressing’, items such as a ‘woven hat with linen trousers and an oversized white shirt instantly feels elevated and chic’. 

‘A clean baseball cap paired with tailored shorts, a crisp shirt and leather sandals feels relaxed yet put together. We’ve seen celebrities including Hailey Bieber have helped redefine the baseball cap as an everyday fashion accessory rather than something purely sporty. 

‘It’s now just as likely to be worn with oversized tailoring as it is with leggings. That’s why hats feel more relevant than ever, in many cases they’ve become part of a complete outfit rather than an accessory you only pack for holiday.’

Invest in good quality pieces with natural fabrics 

The Princess of Wales clearly understood the mantra of ‘buy less, buy better’ with her sunhat at Wimbledon 2022

While some sunhats on the market may be cheap, it is key to consider the value of the item, especially if you are hoping it will span several heatwaves.

When considering which hat to splurge on, Lisa recommends ‘natural fibres such as straw, raffia and woven paper’ as these can look more refined than cheaper synthetic alternatives’.

Likewise, Rochelle suggested taking account of the materials of the hat to ensure you are being best protected from the heat.  

‘Natural materials such as straw, linen and breathable cotton allow air to circulate while keeping you cooler throughout the day,’ she said. 

‘I feel that they’re also visually softer, which helps create that effortless, expensive-looking summer aesthetic we’re seeing everywhere this season.’

Consider a baseball hat as a stylish option 

While they may have been typically associated with simply exercise baseball caps have vastly evolved to appear ‘incredibly chic’, especially when worn by Kendall Jenner 

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While they may have been typically associated with simply exercise, baseball caps have vastly evolved to appear ‘incredibly chic’.

Lisa explained: ‘Pair one with a crisp white shirt, tailored shorts, relaxed denim or a co-ord set for an effortless off-duty look. Neutral shades such as navy, beige, white or black tend to be the most versatile and timeless.’

Rochelle added: ‘The baseball cap has quietly become one of fashion’s most versatile accessories, but there are differences between stylish and sloppy and that often comes down to quality. 

‘If you choose a premium cotton, subtle branding and neutral colours like cream, navy, chocolate, olive and black, they all look timeless and expensive. 

‘I would try and avoid oversized logos or heavily distressed styles, which can instantly make an outfit feel dated.’

Hats paired with a good hairstyle  

Jelena Djokovic at Wimbledon last week wearing a hat that showed off her hairstyle

Both Lisa and Rochelle advise that one should be mindful of their hairstyle when wearing a hat this summer. 

Low ponytails, loose waves, soft buns or a side braid all work beautifully with summer hats and help create an effortless finish,’ said Lisa.

‘Planning your hairstyle before you leave the house means you’re less likely to feel the need to take your hat off halfway through the day.’

Meanwhile, Rochelle advised that ‘soft waves, loose low buns, relaxed ponytails and tucked-behind-the-ear styles all allow the hat to sit naturally while still framing your face’. 

‘This is something that we consistently see on celebrities because the styling looks effortless, even though every detail has been considered,’ she added.

‘The whole aim is for the hat to look like part of the outfit and not something you’ve squeezed on at the last minute.’

Davies uses a combination of sport nutrition gels and powders, including electrolytes and carbohydrate powder, which is easier to digest and, crucially, contains zero fibre. G1M Sport is a favourite, but post-challenge, he’s been enjoying green vegetables, salads and other fibrous staples. As well as the physical issues, there were also mental challenges to overcome.

Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom, has been given a conditional pardon, David Lammy has confirmed.

Ellis shot Blakely dead outside The Magdala pub in Hampstead, London on 10 April 1955, following a tumultuous relationship involving infidelity on both sides, an aborted pregnancy, and physical abuse by Mr Blakely – including a punch in the stomach during an argument that led to a miscarriage.

Under cross-examination, Ellis admitted that she intended to kill Blakely, and the jury took just 20 minutes to convict her of murder – a charge that carried a mandatory death sentence. She was later executed on 13 July 1955.

Her family have been calling for a pardon, saying evidence that she was badly treated by her lover was never heard at her trial.

The King has accepted the government’s advice to grant Ms Ellis a conditional pardon, Mr Lammy told MPs.

Ellis’s legacy has been cemented in the world of film, television and theatre, with the most famous film being Mike Newell’s moving Dance with a Stranger (1985) with Miranda Richardson as Ruth Ellis.

Lucy Boynton recently played Ms Ellis in the ITV drama A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, which also starred Toby Jones, Toby Stephens, Juliet Stevenson, and Laurie Davidson as Ellis’s partner, David Blakely.

Ellis was trialled at the Number One Court at the Old Bailey on 20 June 1955. Prosecutor Christmas Humphreys asked her just one question: “When you fired the revolver at close range into the body of David Blakely, what did you intend to do?”

She replied: “It’s obvious when I shot him I intended to kill him.” This confession was enough for the jury, who only spent 20 minutes deliberating, to find Ellis guilty and sentenced her to execution, which was the mandatory punishment for murder at the time.

Ellis was executed at 9.01am on 13 July 1955 by the famed hangman Albert Pierrepoint. As was customary with British executions, Ellis was buried in an unmarked grave in Holloway Prison. She was 28.

Her execution caused public outrage and contributed to growing support for the abolition of the death penalty, which was eventually suspended in 1965.

A petition signed by 50,000 people called for Ellis’s pardon on the grounds she could have been tried for manslaughter, and was submitted to the Home Office. It was ultimately rejected.

Further calls for her pardon, taking into account the abuse she had suffered, were brought forward in 2003 and 2007, but both failed to pass.

Although it took a decade, the Ellis case did much to advance the abolition of the death penalty in Britain, which finally came to pass in 1965.

More follows on this breaking news story. Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The Independent

Nigel Farage is angry. We know this, because yesterday he went to great lengths to tell us so. ‘So yes, you can ask: am I angry? Well, I’ve never been angrier in my life’, he raged in a recorded address to the nation from his Reform bunker.

The reason for his anger? A national newspaper had published a photo of a house he owns which is lived in by a family member.

A house, incidentally, that Farage himself had happily posed in front of for photographs previously. And a broadcast journalist had knocked on the door of a family member whilst apparently trying to inquire about his whereabouts.

He is also furious at the fact that he was being asked questions about his personal finances. ‘Making money is not a crime,’ he insisted furiously. ‘The really big question that I want to pose is: Do we want leaders that know how to make money? Do we want leaders who have run businesses, employed people and understand how the world works?’

To which the answer from most reasonable people would be ‘yes’. But that’s not the issue Reform’s leader keeps dodging. He isn’t currently under investigation by parliament’s sleaze watchdog for making an honest living.

He’s under investigation for accepting a staggering £5million gift from a mysterious British-Thai sugar daddy, not declaring it, then telling the voters legitimate questions about what he himself boasted was ‘a lottery win’, were ‘none of their business’. He’s also facing separate questions over accepting staff, security and a flat near Buckingham Palace from an acquaintance called George Cottrell (aka ‘Posh George’), who is a convicted fraudster, and recently published a book titled How To Launder Money. ‘I have not broken the law in any way at all’, Farage furiously declared. No, but some of his closest allies have.

We know too that Nigel Farage is scared. Scared for his own safety. ‘I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times’, he claimed. This was why he needed millions of pounds for his personal security. He used the example of an occasion when his car was surrounded and ‘written off’ by a hostile mob.

Though in the midst of his justifiable anger at this appalling incident, he seems to have forgotten that two of his parliamentary colleagues – Jo Cox and David Amess – were murdered during the course of their public duties.

And that, in a nutshell, was the problem with yesterday’s piece of political street theatre.

Nigel Farage claimed his decision to give up his Clacton seat and call a by-election, in which he will stand, was all about David fronting up to the establishment Goliath. A fresh mandate would leave him free to finish his populist revolution, he insisted.

But it wasn’t really about any of those things.

Nigel Farage’s statement was about one thing. Nigel Farage.

Or, to be more accurate, someone who currently calls himself Nigel Farage. Because the self-pitying, evasive and frankly boorish figure we saw yesterday was a pale shadow of the engaging, irreverent swashbuckler who has spent the past decade cutting a swathe through the British political elite.

His speech could have very simply been boiled down to two words. ‘Poor me.’ Everyone was out to get him. The parliamentary standards commissioner. Left-wing thugs. The editor of The Times. In Farage’s eyes, just about everyone in British politics is to blame for his political woes, other than him.

Yes, his tightly controlled and choreographed media appearance will inevitably garner rave reviews amongst his social media cheerleaders.

He will inevitably be re-elected in what is effectively the safest Reform seat in the entire country, especially given the major parties will not be standing and his only ‘serious’ competition will be from the intergalactic space warrior, Count Binface.

But his victory will be a meaningless one. Because it will not address any of his or Reform’s basic structural problems.

Through his infatuation with wealthy ex-lags and shadowy foreign crypto-billionaires, Farage now appears to be in politics primarily for himself, rather than any of the causes he used to so boldly champion.

His regurgitation of cliched anti-Press tropes to try to deflect from legitimate scrutiny simply reinforces the impression he has something to hide. And his increasingly tired rhetoric and demeanour is rapidly propelling Kemi Badenoch into pole position as the standard-bearer of the insurgent Right.

Which is why Farage’s attempt to deflect from all of this by using the voters of Clacton as his human shield is doomed to fail. The British people will look at the man taking his ego for a spin along the east coast, compare it to the one who fought so tirelessly and tenaciously to free his country from the tentacles of Brussels, and ask each other: ‘Who is this imposter?’

Nigel Farage is meant to be a populist warrior. The embittered, cry-baby who hid behind his podium and his advisers yesterday and raged at the world is anything but. To use a phrase he and his supporters are very keen on, he has turned into British politics’ biggest ‘snowflake’. And the heat generated by his sleazy dealings and relationships is seeing him melt under the pressure.

There was one way Reform’s leader could have sought to transform his political fortunes yesterday: Come clean. Is the £5million gift for security, as initially claimed? Or something else, as he and his allies implied in a series of car crash interviews last week? What is the true nature of his relationship with ‘Posh’ George Cottrell? What other undisclosed gifts from mystery benefactors are floating around?

But he didn’t come clean.

Instead, he’s running away. Running away from the scrutiny. Running away from parliament’s sleaze watchdog. And hoping that amidst the circus of the upcoming by-election he’ll be able to slip away into the crowd.

He won’t. Because the British people will be able to spot him a mile off. They know what the real Nigel Farage looks like.

They can easily see through the doppelganger that stood before them yesterday. And they won’t accept any cheap imitations.