The 40-year-old sent sexual messages to someone he thought was a teenage girl

A convicted sex offender who sent explicit messages to someone he thought was a teenage girl has been sent to prison. Daniel Coleman, 40, contacted the account in May 2025, not knowing it was a decoy run by an online child abuse activist group.

Despite the “child” telling him she was only 13 years old several times, he proceeded to strike up conversations of a sexual nature before arranging to meet her. Despite not using his real name, officers traced the IP address of the profile back to Coleman and he was arrested.

Coleman, of Bishops Road, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, breach of a sexual harm prevention order, inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, and failing to comply with Sex Offenders Register Requirements.

He was sentenced to four-and-half-years in prison at Cambridge Crown Court on July 31. PC Alex Neill, who investigated, said: “Coleman is clearly a risk to children. Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities and we will do all we can to bring offenders to justice.”

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Senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, said: “As part of the ongoing investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East into the murder of Ann Widdecombe, officers have reopened an investigation into an incident reported to police last year.

A reader looks back at how nuclear war has been portrayed in video games, from Missile Command in 1980 to the modern Fallout titles.

On the list of things that might ruin your day, nuclear war is probably right up there. I doubt anyone could argue that nuclear weapons aren’t mankind’s worst invention and it defies all logic that any country would keep a nuclear arsenal, let alone use it. However, I am drawn to the subject of nuclear weapons and nuclear war in fictional scenarios. Whenever nukes are involved in a story, tension and drama can be ratcheted up to unparallelled levels because the risk to humanity’s continued existence is understandably severe.

As demonstrated in the 1983 movie War Games, nuclear weapons and the pastime of computer gaming can sometimes overlap to generate an entertaining form of fusion. If asked specifically about the most effective use of nukes in games, almost certainly I’d mention the Fallout franchise. In my opinion Fallout 3 was a way better game, but with respect to a single unsettling moment that’s lodged itself in my memory, Fallout 4 certainly deserves a prize.

After a brief history lesson and a slick montage, Fallout 4 places you in front of a bathroom mirror with your wife/husband standing by your side. The year is 2077 and we’re in retro futuristic America and life seems fairly idyllic. You are one of the parents of a newborn baby. You live in a nice house that’s situated in what appears to be a nice suburb. It’s a bright and sunny day outside. There’s a knock on the front door, and so you go and answer it. A representative from Vault-Tec has an offer for you. In the event of a crisis, you and your family can enjoy shelter and residency in Vault 111.

The ensuing conversation gives you a chance to define your game character’s attributes via a registration form. The Vault Tec rep leaves and what follows is a precious family moment, with you and your spouse in your baby son’s bedroom. Plans to visit the park are made. Today could be a great day, if fate doesn’t have other plans. The mood distinctly changes when you’re called back into the living room by your multi-armed hovering robot, Codsworth.

There’s a troubling newsflash on the TV. Portentous music starts in the background. Confirmed reports come in of nuclear detonations in New York and Pennsylvania. An early warning siren begins to wail outside, and the next moment the three of you are on the move. You run through chaos and mass distress playing out on the street outside. Guided by soldiers, your tight family unit flees down a path and up to a gate through which only a privileged few are allowed. Quick, quick, onwards and onto that large circular platform. ‘We’re going to be okay’, says your partner. Famous last words.

There’s a brilliant flash, and then you see it. A dreadful mushroom cloud, huge and all powerful and terrifying. The platform that you cower on lowers you and your small family into the ground just as the blast wave hits. You look up as the lift shaft above you closes. Pray for all of those poor souls who are left behind on the surface, because surely everyone who isn’t lucky enough to be a vault dweller is now dead.

Another game that’s strongly associated with nuclear war is Missile Command. This eighties arcade cabinet was fairly iconic. The game asked you to protect cities by shooting down incoming missiles. For me one of the defining characteristics of Missile Command was the trackball that you used to move your crosshair around the screen. The other memorable aspect of the game were the bright flashes that appeared whenever impacts happened.

Missile Command was designed by Dave Theurer for Atari, at the height of the Cold War between America and Russia, and as such was undoubtedly influenced by the tensions of that time. The game’s iconic status was further guaranteed when John Connor was seen playing it in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Incidentally, director James Cameron’s classic 1991 film has what is almost certainly one of the most effective cinematic depictions of what a nuclear blast might do to a city and its residents. In Missile Command, once all of your cities suffer the same fate, a rather gloomy final message appears on screen: THE END.

There’s a rather good licensed version of Missile Command that you can play via your browser.

Missile Command: Recharged is also available from the usual digital game outlets. Recharged is an updated version of the game with flashy visuals and catchy music. Missile Command: Recharged is fun, if fun is the right word to use when you’re trying to save cities and their residents from being vapourised by incoming ballistic missiles. On the downside, I do think that the visual makeover of Recharged has taken away an important aspect of Missile Command.

The explosions in the reinvented game are now black voids, and so they don’t resemble nuclear flashes at all. I don’t know why this decision was made. Maybe nuclear war and atomic explosions were considered too upsetting or unpalatable for a modern audience. But the game does play well, even without a trackball. There are various modifiers that you can apply that quite effectively tweak the core experience of arcade mode, and there’s a missions mode to try out also.

Incidentally, I watched the film War Games again before writing this feature. Despite a rather corny score, the 1983 hacker thriller still holds up well. The wall screen representations of nuclear threats and strikes that feature in War Games are effectively realised and timeless, and the film’s story is worryingly prescient today, given the rise and mass adoption of artificial intelligence. Still, you’ve got to focus on the positives. Putting AI in charge of nuclear weapons might save some cash-strapped government a fair chunk of money. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

By reader Michael Veal (@msv858)

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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BEIJING (AP) — Authorities in eastern China shut schools and tourist sites as Typhoon Dolphin made its way towards land on Saturday.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were estimated at about 162 kilometers per hour (101 mph).

It will bring heavy rains, creating a risk of severe flooding as well as landslides. It’s expected to hit Zhejiang province and northern parts of neighboring Fujian province late Sunday. Shanghai is also in the path of the storm.

National authorities declared a level III emergency response, the second lowest level.

Many tourist destinations in Zhejiang are shut Saturday and Sunday, as well as all water-based activities, including ferries and cruises. Authorities in the city of Ningbo, one of province’s largest, ordered schools and other educational facilities shut this weekend.

Ruby Rae’s Country Bar opened in the former Jalou nightclub on Bridge Street.

It adds to the recently opened Silver Spur a few doors away in Bridge Street, which form part of a thriving UK country and western scene.

Ruby Rae’s began in Newcastle and York is the company’s second venue.

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Co-founder Dean Saunders chose the city as he has always loved it, he was a regular at Jalou, and when the former church became available, he could not refuse.

Business partners Dean Saunders and Dan Cooke (Image: Pic supplied)

Dean says he has been working on developing the York site since February, which will be inspired by the world-famous Ryman stage in Nashville.

The venue will open Thursday to Sunday.

More of the interior (Image: Pic supplied)

In the renovations of the former church, all the floors have been changed. Much LVT flooring has been used, which Dean says is great for line dancing.

A new bar has been created, there is a revamped stage and DJ booth.

The theme is Nashville (Image: Pic supplied)

Furthermore, to add character there are plates reflecting the region, ‘dollar walls’, flags, lots of vinyls and ‘lots of neon signs everywhere’ to create a Nashville look.

Dean said of the first night: “We were blown away by the support from everyone on the opening night in York.

“It was great to see hundreds of people come through the doors on a Thursday to enjoy some amazing country music!

A most impressive interior. (Image: Pic supplied)

“Chuck Walton, Bryan Watson and Tom Humphrey performed all night with a special guest appearance from Twinnie, who is coming back tonight.”

Business partner Dan Cooke said: “After such a long month getting it ready, it was amazing to see the venue finally open with everyone enjoying themselves inside and we are already excited for the rest of the weekend.”

The pair reflected: “But it was a huge success and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. There were some amazing people who really loved their country music.”

Plenty of neon on display at Ruby Rae’s (Image: Pic supplied)

Already the venue is receiving rave reviews online, with 28 five stars reviews received by 4pm Friday.

One said: “Opening night! What a venue, great music and atmosphere!”

Another said: “If you like country music then this is the place for you.”

Plenty of dollar bills! (Image: Pic supplied)

And another said: “Beer and live country music. What else do you want? Get down now!”

And one added: “Absolutely amazing! Fantastic atmosphere, great authentic singers & huge venue. Can’t WAIT to be back.”

Have you been to Ruby Rae’s? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

The August 12 solar eclipse will coincide with the peak of one of the year’s most spectacular meteor showers – here’s everything you need to know about the Perseids

The solar eclipse won’t be the only spectacular celestial event next Wednesday as it falls just hours before the peak of one of the year’s most spectacular meteor showers – the Perseids.

The celestial double whammy will kick off in the early evening of Wednesday, August 12, and continue overnight into Thursday, August 13.

People in the UK will witness the most dramatic solar eclipse since 1999, with the Moon covering up to 95 per cent of the Sun in Cornwall and 94 per cent in Pembrokeshire. Skygazers in many other locations, including London, will see around 90 per cent coverage.

As darkness falls, attention will turn from the Sun to the stars, where the already active Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak overnight.

The Perseids – active between July 17 and August 24 this year – are widely regarded as one of the year’s best meteor showers because of their high number of meteors and bright, fast-moving streaks of light.

What is the Perseid meteor shower?

As the Earth orbits the Sun, it passes several times a year through trails of debris left by passing comets and sometimes asteroids.

The Perseids are caused by debris from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, the debris encounters resistance from the air, causing it to become extremely hot and eventually burn up. Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail – the end of a “shooting star”.

According to NASA, the Perseids can produce between 50 and 100 meteors per hour during the peak, provided viewing conditions are favourable.

Timings for solar eclipse and peak of Perseid meteor shower

While the best time to see the Perseid meteor shower is between midnight and 5.30am on Thursday, Royal Museums Greenwich says the radiant of the Perseids is always above the horizon as seen from the UK, meaning observers should be able to spot some meteors as soon as the Sun sets on Wednesday.

The exact timings of the solar eclipse on Wednesday evening will vary depending on your location.

In Edinburgh and Glasgow, the eclipse will begin at around 6.08pm, reach its maximum – when the largest part of the Sun is covered – at around 7.05pm and end at about 8pm, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.

In London, Bristol and Cardiff, the eclipse will begin at around 6.17pm, reach its maximum at around 7.12pm and finish at around 8.06pm.

Timings for other locations in the UK are listed in the table below:

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How can I watch the meteor shower?

Unlike a solar eclipse, you do not need any special equipment to watch a meteor shower.

Simply find a dark location away from city lights as competing sources of light – such as a bright Moon or artificial glow – are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloud-free nights, particularly when the Moon is at its least bright, offer the best viewing conditions.

Royal Museums Greenwich notes: “In 2026 the peak of the Perseid meteor shower fortunately occurs during new Moon, so conditions are ideal for seeing the peak.”

To view the eclipse, health officials have warned that people should use specially designed eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers to protect their eyes from harmful solar radiation.

For those without eclipse glasses, there are other ways to watch the eclipse safely using items you may already have at home, such as creating a pinhole viewer.

Key meteor shower dates for the rest of 2026

According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the following meteor showers are currently active or will take place later this year:

Date of activity: July 3 – August 15. Date of maximum: July 30.

Date of activity: July 12 – August 23. Date of maximum: July 30.

Date of activity: July 17 – August 24. Date of maximum: August 12-13.

Date of activity: October 6 – October 10. Date of maximum: October 9.

Date of activity: October 2 – November 7. Date of maximum: October 21.

Date of activity: September 10 – November 20. Date of maximum: October 10.

Date of activity: October 20 – December 10. Date of maximum: November 12.

Date of activity: November 6 – November 30. Date of maximum: November 18.

Date of activity: December 4 – December 20. Date of maximum: December 14.

Date of activity: December 17 – December 26. Date of maximum: December 22.

Following a sudden? influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, the discussion on unauthorised migration to Europe is again heightened. In the UK this means a focus on small boat crossings and the policy surrounding them, particularly following 752 arrivals on July 29 – the highest number for one day so far this year, with four deaths recorded. The UK prime minster, Andy Burnham, has announced he will be “relentless” in addressing the issue, but is this the right approach? Our experts explain the statistics and language around small boat crossings into the UK, as well as what needs to change for immigration policies to succeed.

Why small boat arrivals have declined

Mihnea Cuibus, Senior Researcher, The Migration Observatory at The University of Oxford

Small boat arrivals have declined in 2026. Around 14,000 people crossed the Channel between January and July, 43% fewer than in 2025. Approximately 30,000 people arrived by small boat in the year ending July 31 2026, one-third below the levels seen last autumn, and slightly less than when Labour took office.

The government has made several policy changes since 2024, including scrapping the previous government’s Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda scheme. It then shifted to a model of temporary protection for refugees, restricted refugee family reunion. It has scaled up existing enforcement efforts and reached a deal to return some people who arrive by small boat to France.

Some government policies may have contributed to the decline. Restrictive family reunion policies are generally associated with fewer asylum claims, and physically preventing boat departures appear to have reduced crossings elsewhere. The deal with France may deter migrants if a high share of arrivals were to be swiftly returned, though this number remains relatively low, with 4% returned between September 2025 and June 2026. Smugglers have also changed how and where they operate in response to more enforcement in France, with more departures from Belgium this year.

However, external factors may have also played a role. Unauthorised arrivals into the EU have fallen since 2025, which may ultimately lead to fewer crossings to the UK. And changes to conflict situations in origin countries, such as Syria, can also affect migrant numbers.

Britain’s relationship with the EU

Simon Usherwood, Professor of Politics & International Studies, The Open University

In his comments about the influx of migrants in Ceuta at the end of July, Andy Burnham spoke of the need for “regular dialogue with the EU”. This was interesting for several reasons.

Despite Ceuta’s distance from the UK and its very particular relationship to the rest of the Schengen area of free movement, Burnham recognised that this has taken on a Europe-wide dimension. In a letter following the border crossing incident, 22 European leaders sharply criticised the Spanish government, and prompted broader discussion about “illegal border movements”. This will bring Channel crossings back up the European agenda, which might offer opportunities for Burnham to gather more support for action from the EU.

Simultaneously, Burnham’s stance is a reflection of the very limited role that the EU currently plays in managing small boat crossings in the Channel. Competence for border controls and policing of people smuggling remains very much a matter for national governments, as seen in the recent ramping up of UK-French cooperation.

Since the UK left the EU, it no longer has access to the Dublin regulation arrangements that allowed it to return asylum seekers to other EU member states without considering their claims. Talking with the EU might sound good, but in practice it will be work with those countries on the edge of the Channel that delivers most results.

Finally, this is one of Burnham’s very first mentions of work with the EU since starting his path to Number 10. Yet, it’s an issue that isn’t an obvious priority for either side, and since the UK has little to offer the EU, we are likely to see limited progress. How this feeds into the more pressing elements of UK-EU relations – negotiations on food standards, youth mobility and the rest – will only become clear in the coming months.

Behind Burnham’s language

Erica Consterdine, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Lancaster University

Small boat crossings have come to dominate the immigration debate, despite accounting for only a small share of overall migration. Now, they serve as a visible symbol of a government’s perceived control over the border.

Many believe these crossings are a new phenomenon and evidence of a system in crisis. In reality, irregular movement across the Channel has existed for decades. What’s changed is that tighter border controls have made other clandestine forms of irregular entry harder. Successive governments have also restricted safe and legal routes for people to seek asylum in the UK, pushing more desperate people towards dangerous sea crossings.

Conservative prime ministers politicised small boats – Boris Johnson described Channel crossings as “criminal”, while Rishi Sunak elevated “stop the boats” into a defining slogan of his government. Labour’s rhetoric under Keir Starmer differed in tone but less so in substance. Rather than stopping the boats, Starmer promised to “smash the gangs”. The target changed, but the underlying emphasis on toughness remained.

That is why Andy Burnham’s comments are notable. In his 2015 leadership bid, he followed a protectionist line, setting out plans to ban EU citizens from claiming welfare benefits until they have worked for two years, while echoing a longstanding political narrative that frames anti-immigration sentiment as a “legitimate concern”.

His re-appointment of Shabana Mahmood as home secretary follows the Blue Labour tradition that has increasingly shaped Labour’s thinking on borders, belonging and immigration.

Burnham’s rhetoric of being “relentless” in reducing crossings follows the Labour playbook. But his recognition of needing to “build a system that offers safe routes for people as well” hints at an overdue shift that is grounded in reality, rather than the fantasy of borders being simply willed shut.

The ‘taking back control’ narrative

Alex Balch, Professor of Politics, University of Liverpool

The framing of policy towards small boat crossings as “taking back control” might be seductive to politicians, but it illustrates how little the debate reflects the complexities around managing migration.

The government should be urgently responding to how many people are dying trying to cross the channel through dangerous means, and working hard to provide alternative routes and processes for people to seek protection or entry to the UK.

Governments can never fully dictate who wants to visit or live in a country. Complete and total control over national borders is not possible – or even desirable – if we want to continue to live in an open and free society. It would mean spending much more, and allowing the government to deploy high levels of somewhat indiscriminate violence, including on its own population, as seen in the US recently.

The best alternative to the ineffective (and costly) focus on trying to deter people from crossing is to commit to a more pragmatic and realistic approach to how irregular migration is better managed across Europe. This requires partnership with the non-European countries and regions that people are migrating from. Burnham’s promise to be “relentless” and “bring back that control” sounds familiar and risks the continued disregard for the needs and welfare of people moving across borders.

But the current situation does not work or adequately serve the interests of the country. Enforcement at the border and increasingly inside the country pushes people into ever more dangerous journeys and criminalises those seeking to contribute to Britain and make a better life for themselves and their families.

A different approach may not mean abandoning border controls, but having a more honest discussion about immigration. This includes the rights and dignity of those migrating, the costs of the current policies to the country, practice around detaining and deporting people, and recognising how the existing approach causes many of the harms we are witnessing.

Breaking the cycle: secure housing and the right to work

Jonathan Darling, Professor of Geography, University of Durham

Andy Burnham’s stated desire to avoid “playing politics” with asylum is a laudable one. Since 2019, successive governments have talked tough on asylum while doing little to improve the asylum system. Instead of tackling backlogs in decision-making and supporting integration, public resources have been wasted on attention-grabbing policies that punish asylum seekers.

Breaking this cycle is crucial if Britain is to have an asylum system that treats people with dignity. Burnham has reportedly considered ending the outsourcing of asylum accommodation, a system that is lucrative for private firms and costly to the taxpayer. This failed model of housing damages the lives of asylum seekers, placing them in unsafe and poor-quality accommodation, and creates community tensions through lack of engagement with residents.

Making local authorities responsible for asylum accommodation will not easily solve these issues. But empowering local authorities would mean that the asylum system benefits from the knowledge and expertise of local government on housing conditions, housing markets and social cohesion.

Where managed effectively and publicly, asylum housing can offer pathways to regeneration, the establishment of new communities and the growth of local economies. Working with devolved authorities to invest in accommodation would also align with the aims of Burnham’s wider devolution agenda.

A second positive step would be to give asylum seekers the right to work after six months in the asylum system. This would reduce costs of support on the state and would enable the economy to benefit from the skills and experience of new arrivals. The right to work would also have further benefits: tackling social isolation, improving mental health and facilitating integration.

A woman suffered minor injuries in the incident

A car was ‘set on fire’ and bricks were also thrown at a house in a Cambridgeshire city. Cambridgeshire Police were called to an incident at around 2.40am today (Friday, August 7).

Police received reports a car was on fire and there were “bricks thrown into a house” in Saxon Road, Eastfield, Peterborough.

One woman suffered minor injuries, but she didn’t receive hospital treatment. A police spokesperson said: “Police are treating the fire as arson and an investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made at this time.”

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue also attended. A fire spokesperson said: “At 2.43am on Friday, a crew from Dogsthorpe was called to a car fire on Saxon Road in Eastfield, Peterborough.

“Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters used a hose reel to extinguish the fire before returning to their station by 3.45am. The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate.”

Cambridgeshire Police is appealing for information. Anyone with information should contact police online or call 101 and quote incident 33 of August 7.

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Mehvish says nothing could have prepared her for what she was told after her full body scan. She left Birmingham’s Neko Health clinic with a life-changing diagnosis.

“I expected to feel relief,” the 33-year-old says. “Instead, I was told that I had a rare form of diabetes.”

After her long-term blood sugar levels came back very high, she had another blood test which confirmed she had suspected diabetes.

She was referred back to her GP, who sent her for an urgent hospital appointment the same day, and was diagnosed with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA), a type of diabetes which bridges both type 1 and type 2.

Like type 1, it is an autoimmune condition that attacks the body’s pancreatic cells, but it also shares traits with type 2 because it can progress slowly and, depending on the stage of the condition, it can initially be managed with diet and exercise.

“I didn’t have any of the symptoms,” Mehvish says, “It was difficult to get my head round it – how could I have this condition and not know about it?”

But she says the early, unexpected intervention “saved my life”.

Now she injects insulin twice a day, monitors what she eats, and despite missing the spontaneity of her old life, is learning to adapt to her new one.

“I feel so much better, more clarity, less brain fog and I feel so much more balanced.”

After my own scan, I’m feeling slightly out of balance. I’ve been told I have 3,311 skin markings – compared to the average Neko Health client’s 845. Three need extra review by the company’s dermatologist in Sweden.

“But I don’t have any big moles or markings,” I say during the post-scan consultation with a doctor. It’s my freckles, I’m told, and having freckles puts me at higher risk of skin cancer.