Bhekisani Matabiswana launched the attack on Luke Harden at a working men’s club in Lancaster

Advertisement

A man has been sentenced to life after he was found guilty of savagely beating a male model to death. The incident happened in Stacksteads, Lancashire, where Bhekisani Matabiswana, 27, attacked Luke Harden, 37, at a working men’s club last year.

On October 31, Luke, represented by Nemesis Model Agency in Manchester, and others were booked to DJ at a Halloween fancy dress party. Matabiswana, who attended the same event with his friends, launched a ‘frenzied and cowardly attack’ on Luke as he lay defenceless on the ground shortly after both men had left the venue.

His killer then attempted to portray himself as a Good Samaritan who had simply tried to help after ‘coming across an injured stranger on the ground’, Manchester Evening News reports. Luke died as a result of blunt force trauma to head and neck following an assault.

Matabiswana, of St James Street, Bacup, was found guilty of murder after the judge accepted a majority verdict. He was sentenced at the same court today to a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years and six months in jail.

Luke’s girlfriend said: “You have ruined not only Luke’s life but mine too. He was the light in this world taken far too soon and I will forever miss him.

Advertisement

“He will always be my boy and I’ll love him forever.”

As Matabiswana was jailed for life for murder, he was told the minimum term he must serve before he can apply for release is 16 years and six months. Due to time spent on remand in custody, this will be reduced to 15 years and 353 days.

Judge Robert Altham told Matabiswana that Luke’s life was ‘full of promise and hope and you brought that life to an end’ during sentencing

He adds: “His sister was told what had occurred by the very person who killed him.”

During the trial, the jury had been shown footage at the working men’s club which showed Matabiswana shaking hands with Luke. Matabiswana had taken ketamine and cannabinoids.

The judge says: “I cannot be sure, having seen Luke’s conduct and him tripping over that sign, that he didn’t try to engage in some unwanted conversation with you or Miss Chadwick. I can’t rule out the possibility of him reaching for one or either of you.

“However I am sure that your account is wholly untrue. I do not accept that he repeatedly punched you.

“I am satisfied that in anger at his unwanted approach you lost your temper. You took him to the ground, he was defenceless, you stamped hard on his face, causing injuries to the back of his head as you stamped him into the pavement.

“You broke his nose and fractured his upper jaw in two places.”

The Judge added: “I cannot be sure that you intended to kill however you intended to cause serious bodily harm. Natalie Chadwick screamed in terror at what you had done.

“You had left Luke. A hurried plan was then formed. You returned and falsely said you had found him on the ground. That was a wicked lie.

“You weren’t concerned about Luke; only yourselves. You rifled through Luke’s pockets and found his phone and called the last dialled number. There is no good explanation for your failure to call the emergency services save that you feared detection.

“When paramedics arrived you lied. You were arrested at the scene and later released. You attempted to flee and made arrangements to get a flight to South Africa.

“You gave a wholly untrue account to your mother and girlfriend. You were arrested at the departure gate. I reject your account that you intended to return.”

Ensure our latest stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Strikes planned for tomorrow and Thursday by London Underground drivers have been called off, the RMT union has confirmed.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union had announced its members will walk out for 24 hours from midday on Tuesday 19 May, and again on Thursday 21 May.

A union spokesperson said: “At the 11th hour the employer has shifted its position allowing us to further explore our members concerns around the imposition of new rosters, fatigue and safety issues.

“The dispute is not over and more strike action will follow if we fail to make sufficient progress.”

More to follow…

The students’ union said the application was submitted in March and recommended for approval last week.

The University of York’s Restore Britain society said it is “thrilled” to have been recommended for ratification, adding that it has “big plans” for the future.

It follows around 70 students protesting on the university’s campus after Restore Britain applied for the society.

Restore Britain was first launched as a political pressure group in June 2025 by Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe who was previously a member of Reform UK.

Its website lists policies including reversing mass immigration and abolishing the asylum system, banning the burqa and niqab, promoting Christian heritage in schools and launching an inquiry into Covid vaccines.

Anti-extremist group Hope Not Hate has raised concerns about the party’s rhetoric, including Mr Lowe referring to migrants at the party’s launch event and saying millions would have to go.

The group has also pointed to comments from the party’s Campaign Director Charlie Downes who said Britain was made up of people defined by an indigenous ancestry and Christian heritage.

Explaining its reasoning for approving the Restore Britain society, a spokesperson for the University of York students’ union said it has a “duty to uphold legislation on freedom of speech”.

“We are legally required to consider all society applications on the same basis, regardless of their politics,” they said in a statement.

“Refusing to ratify a society purely because of its lawful views would expose York SU to serious legal risk.”

The students’ union spokesperson said ratifying the society is “not an endorsement” of Restore Britain, adding: “It does not mean the SU supports Restore Britain’s views. It does not mean your offices support them.

“It means we are legally bound to apply the same process to every group that meets our requirements.”

The University of York’s Green society said it was “disappointed but unsurprised” by the decision.

“Students deserve to feel safe on campus and this should take priority,” a Green society spokesperson said.

 A University of York Restore Britain society spokesperson said: “We at UOY Restore Britain Society are absolutely thrilled to announce our official ratification.

 “We’ve got big plans for the future. We’d like to thank the SU for having the strength of will and professional integrity in making this decision in the midst of a hostile campus.”

Three cars were torched on the driveway of a home on Kenwood Crescent, in Ingleby Barwick, at around 12.15am on Sunday (May 17).

Footage of the incident posted online shows the moment several figures surround the driveway before a flash of white light can be seen as a car erupts into flames. 

Now, new pictures have revealed the devastating aftermath outside of the home, where the remains of the burnt-out three vehicles lay. 

The aftermath of a ‘petrol bomb’ attack on an Ingleby Barwick home (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

One of the cars is missing all of its windows, and front bumper, while the fire has stripped the paintwork off all three. 

The aftermath of a ‘petrol bomb’ attack on an Ingleby Barwick home (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Cleveland Police has launched an investigation into the incident, saying enquiries are continuing in a statement issued earlier today. 

Cleveland Fire Brigade confirmed that it was called to the scene at 12.17am.

A spokesperson said: “Two fire appliances attended from Thornaby.

The aftermath of a ‘petrol bomb’ attack on an Ingleby Barwick home (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“Three cars were on fire. Two cars had 100% of the passenger compartment and engine compartment destroyed by the fire.

“One car had 50% of the passenger compartment and engine compartment destroyed by the fire. Two hose reel jets, two breathing apparatus and thermal imaging camera were used.

 “The stop call was received at 12.46am.”

A spokesperson said: “At 12.15am on Sunday, May 17, police were called to Kenwood Crescent in Ingleby Barwick following reports of criminal damage. 

“It involved a house believed to have been petrol bombed and three cars well alight. 

“A scene was put in place and enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information or footage is asked to call Cleveland Police on 101 quoting reference number 093259.”

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The Congolese health minister announced the opening of three treatment centers in the eastern Ituri region as the country grapples with an outbreak of a rare variant of Ebola virus that has no approved therapeutics or vaccines.

“We know that the hospitals are already under stress because of the patients,” Samuel Roger Kamba said during a visit to Bunia, the capital and largest city in Ituri, on Sunday. “But we are preparing to have treatment centers at all three sites in order to be able to expand our capabilities.”

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola disease outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths in Congo and two in neighboring Uganda. Although the outbreak is centered in Ituri, cases have been reported in the capital, Kinshasa, and in Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa said on X that a team of 35 experts from the WHO and the Congolese Ministry of Health had arrived in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, along with 7 tons of emergency medical supplies and equipment.

An unusual strain

Ebola is highly contagious and can be contracted via bodily fluids such as vomit, blood, or semen. The disease it causes is rare, but severe and often fatal.

Health authorities say the current outbreak, first confirmed on Friday, is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of the Ebola disease that has no approved therapeutics or vaccines. Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have taken place in Congo and Uganda, this is only the third time that the Bundibugyo virus has been detected.

Dr. Gabriel Nsakala, a professor of public health who has been involved in past Ebola outbreak responses in Congo, said treatments for viral infections like Ebola are often directed at symptoms.

He said Congo has extensive experience managing Ebola outbreaks, but response efforts could be complicated by the unusual strain.

The Bundibugyo virus was first detected in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district during a 2007-2008 outbreak that infected 149 people and killed 37. The second time was in 2012, in an outbreak in Isiro, Congo, where 57 cases and 29 deaths were reported.

The outbreak started in a remote locality already grappling with a humanitarian crisis

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said the first cases were reported in Mongwalu health zone, a high-traffic mining area in Ituri.

Ituri is in a remote eastern part of Congo, with poor road networks, and is more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the nation’s capital, Kinshasa. Eastern Congo has been grappling with a humanitarian crisis even before the new outbreak has been confirmed.

The agency said there’s also a risk of further spread due to intense population movement and attacks by armed groups that have killed dozens and displaced thousands in parts of Ituri in the past year.

“The outbreak is currently occurring in provinces marred by crisis including insecurity, presence of armed actors or de facto authorities with large displacement, weak health systems and insufficient availability of services,” the WHO said on Monday. It added that since January 2025, there have been 44 attacks on health care facilities in Congo and 742 incidents affecting humanitarian workers.

Health officials are in ‘panic mode’ due to lack of medicines and vaccines

The WHO’s emergency declaration is meant to spur donor agencies and countries into action. By the agency’s standards, it shows the event is serious, there is a risk of international spread and it requires a coordinated international response.

Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa CDC, told Sky News on Sunday that he is in “panic mode” due to a lack of medicines and vaccines as deaths rise, but there are some candidate treatments anticipated in the coming weeks.

Rwanda closed its land border with Congo on Sunday, the U.S. State Department said on social media. Associated Press reporters tried to cross the border on Sunday and Monday morning, but were informed it was closed except for holders of international flight tickets. Rwandan authorities have not replied to a request for comment.

The East African Community a regional bloc that includes Congo, said Monday that the new Ebola outbreak underscores the importance of regional solidarity and preparedness. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, the deputy secretary-general, said that given the high level of movement of people and goods across the region, coordinated preparedness and rapid information sharing are essential to preventing cross-border transmission.

He added in a statement that the bloc is committed to helping its members strengthen surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, infection prevention and control and other efforts, particularly in border areas.

Other celebrities spotted on Monday included Dame Joanna Lumley, X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, Rugby player Chris Robshaw, artist Grayson Perry, Lady Amelia Windsor, broadcaster Piers Morgan, reality TV stars Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams, and singer Will Young.

This is the moment a ‘hero’ jumps between three teenagers fighting with machetes in front of families in a south London park.

Dramatic footage shows one of the teens being pushed to the ground in Burgess Park as the other two close in with blades, before a man runs between them to break up the fight.

He can be heard shouting: ‘What are you doing? Stop it,’ as he puts his own safety at risk during the incident in Burgess Park, Southwark, on Sunday.

Families were picnicking nearby while children played football when the incident unfolded at about 12.30pm. 

A crowd could be seen gathering to watch the fight unfold. At that point, a man runs at the two attackers and forces them to flee while the man on the ground runs to make a getaway on an electric scooter. 

The footage, which is under 30 seconds long, has been posted on social media, and viewers have heaped praise on the man who stopped the fight.

A witness who saw the incident unfold said the man who intervened had ‘saved a life’. 

He wrote: ‘This happened in Burgess Park, southeast London, where I play football every Sunday. 

‘The knife crime in London is alarming. The man that separated those boys deserves a medal. He saved a life.’

Another told Metro: ‘What that bloke did is heroic. He came out of nowhere to ride his like to de-escalate a vicious fight. He was amazing.’

Four boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of offences including affray, causing grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

Three boys were arrested near the scene, while a fourth was arrested later on Sunday evening.

All four boys remain in police custody. Two suffered minor injuries. 

Following the incident a mum to social media to express their fears that the park was no longer safe for children. 

She said: ‘Burgess Park is somewhere children and teenagers should be able to safely enjoy.

‘But there seem to be constant incidents in and around this park lately. Our children walk through here, ride their bikes through here and meet friends here. It is becoming genuinely frightening. 

‘Parents, please stop assuming your children are safe just because they are going to the park. 

‘No child should have to witness people running around with knives. No child should have to worry if their child is coming home safely from the park.’

A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Police were called at around 12:30hrs on Sunday, 17 May to reports of an altercation in Burgess Park, Camberwell.

‘Officers attended and searched the area with the assistance of the police helicopter. Four boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of offences including affray, causing grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

‘Three boys were arrested near the scene, while a fourth was arrested later on Sunday evening. All four boys remain in police custody.

‘Two of the boys who were arrested were reported to have suffered injuries in the incident, which were not life-threatening or life-changing.

‘One, a 17-year-old boy, self-presented at hospital for treatment to wounds and was discharged later that afternoon, following which he was arrested at a property in Southwark.

‘The second boy, a 16-year-old, was taken to hospital by police and was later discharged.

‘Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CAD 3298/17MAY or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’

MORE: London Tube strikes go ahead this week after failed talks – here’s what you need to know

MORE: Dad of murdered football star ‘still feels heart sink watching news’ 20 years on

MORE: Woman arrested for bringing medieval-looking sword to Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march

Martin O’Neill has hit out at critics of Celtic’s pitch invasion after their title-clinching win against Hearts at Parkhead, branding the reaction ‘nonsense’ in a heated talkSPORT exchange with Jim White

Advertisement

Martin O’Neill has become embroiled in a heated on-air exchange with Jim White, dismissing criticism of the pitch invasion following Celtic’s title-clinching victory over Hearts at Parkhead as ‘nonsense’.

The interim Celtic manager also faced strong challenge from the talkSPORT presenter after downplaying reports of attacks on Hearts players amid the chaotic scenes.

Following substitute Callum Osmand’s strike to seal a 3-1 triumph at Parkhead on Saturday, hundreds of Celtic fans flooded onto the playing surface to begin premature celebrations, despite suggestions that stoppage time remained.

Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland required stewarding assistance to leave the field after reportedly being assaulted, while other Tynecastle players were also allegedly subjected to similar incidents.

The SPFL subsequently confirmed the fixture had not been called off, while both clubs have condemned the events that unfolded after Celtic’s third goal, with the Hoops issuing an official apology.

However, O’Neill adopted a defiant stance when questioned about the purported attacks on opposing players, escalating matters during a tense discussion with White on talkSPORT on Monday, after the broadcaster suggested the chaotic pitch scenes had overshadowed Celtic’s championship success.

This immediately triggered a passionate response from O’Neill. The exchange unfolded as follows…

White: “There is a suggestion that this shows a lack of class, that it’s tainted the image…” O’Neill: “I’m sorry, I totally disagree with that. I don’t know about the confrontations in terms of the Hearts players, and there’s a lot of hyperbole about that, let’s find out the real picture.

“The fact is that when we scored the third goal, the game was essentially over, there were about eight seconds left, or whatever the case may be. The referee has claimed that he had blown the final whistle at the end. And then there’s obvious excitement, we have scored to win the league…”

White: “Yeah, but they shouldn’t have come on the pitch, Martin, should they?”

O’Neill: Well, start telling that to every single football club…

White: “Well, hang on a second Martin, Hearts called it an embarrassment to Scottish football, do you agree this was?”

O’Neill: “As they might do. Well, I don’t believe that, I just don’t believe it, I think it’s nonsense.”

White: “How’s it nonsense though, Martin, when some fans are up confronting Hearts players?”

O’Neill: “I assumed that the final whistle had gone at exactly the same moment that we put the ball in the net for the third goal. It’s a home game and we’d just won the league, and the fans have come onto the field, alright? Okay, so they should stay put then?”

White: “Have you spoken to Derek McInnes since winning it?”

O’Neill: “No. We’ve shaken hands and I have given him praise, which he has deserved.” White: “At the end of the day though, Martin, again, I can’t let this go. It seems that in certain quarters within the stadium, all discipline was lost, and some fans just… it was a free for all.”

O’Neill: “What do you mean, a free for all?”

White: “If you fancied going on the pitch, you could go on the pitch. Those who fancied going on, went on.”

O’Neill: “Was there not a scene at Ibrox where both sets of fans came onto the pitch?”

White: “And we called that out as well, Martin.”

O’Neill: “Yeah, alright, well done. Well, I’ll tell you what I’ll do. Let me have a look at the picture, let me have a look as if I’m the judge and jury of these particular things. Let me see the scene at the end of the day, and then I’ll come back to you, okay?”

White: “That’s fair enough, Martin, that’s fair enough.”

Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the latest sports news, headlines and top stories

A striking UK destination used as a movie set, with 27,000 acres of ancient woodland and a meandering river passing through, has been named one of the ‘best places in the world’

Some of the world’s most spectacular places are right on our doorstep, and there’s one in the heart of an enchanting UK woodland.

Nestled between the Rivers Wye and Severn in Gloucestershire, straddling the Welsh border, lies the ancient Forest of Dean, with 27,000 acres of towering, majestic trees. It’s one of England’s largest ancient woodlands and stands as a celebrated haven of outstanding natural beauty.

It attracts visitors from far and wide to admire and explore its otherworldly woodland, rustic bridges, snowdrops, and spiralling rivers. But there’s one particular spot in the Forest of Dean that has been deemed the ‘best place in the world’.

READ MORE: UK’s ‘best day out’ for families revealed and it’s not Alton Towers or Thorpe ParkREAD MORE: Sun-soaked island 4 hours from UK with turquoise waters is ‘cheapest for Brits’

Advertisement

Speaking to the Mirror, forest ranger for Forest Holidays, Gerry O’Brien, said: “I love the Forest of Dean, it’s obviously an area very close to my heart, it’s rich in history, heritage and wildlife. I know it really well, inside out, I guess, now. There are a lot of hidden gems around the forest that I love to go and explore, but Symonds Yat Rock is one of my favourite places in the world. It’s an incredible place to go, and I love it.”

Symonds Yat Rock offers breathtaking views across the winding River Wye, which is towered over by limestone cliffs and sprawling acres of ancient woodland. It’s a haven for birdwatching, with goshawks, buzzards, and sparrowhawks sweeping over the viewpoint, and it has ample walking trails to soak up the picturesque vistas and explore the nearby forest.

Gerry further shared about Symonds Yat Rock: “It’s incredible, it’s an old Iron Age Hill Fort, it’s almost right on the Hertfordshire border, looking out over the countryside. You could imagine, like 2,500 years ago, people were living on that rock, which is hard to believe.

“There are peregrine falcons that nest in the cliff face along the edge, so you can often see them coming up. There’s also a woodland, and if you’re looking down from Symonds Yat Rock, with the River Wye below you, you can look out over Copper Hill and on the other side, it’s the woodland where Harry Potter was filmed.”

Sharing a closer insight into the area and its renowned connections, Gerry added: “If you go to Symonds Yat East, it’s a little hamlet by the river, it’s beautiful and really picturesque. But you walk right past the house that was used in the Netflix series, Sex Education.

“It’s the red house, so all of that was filmed in and along the Wye Valley. There are a lot of hidden gems around the Forest of Dean. They’ve done alot of movies and TV work around the forest.”

Another highlight in the Forest of Dean’s otherworldly scenes is the beautiful Puzzlewood with 14 acres of twisted, moss-draped trees, ancient wooden bridges and snowdrops scattered across the rugged terrain. Alongside Gerry’s favourite place in the world, Puzzlewood is frequently hailed as one of the region’s most picturesque locations.

It even secured a place on Big 7 Travel’s ’50 Most Beautiful Places in the UK’ list for 2025 and again this year. This fantastical atmosphere has also attracted Hollywood attention, serving as a backdrop for productions such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Secret Garden, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Doctor Who, Merlin, Netflix’s Our Planet and BBC’s Atlantis.

Elsewhere in the Forest of Dean, Gerry recommended King Arthur’s Cave and the nearby Little Doward Hill Fort, an Iron Age fort situated in the Wye Valley. But one lesser-known landmark he applauded is the Darkhill Ironworks.

“It’s an old industrial ruin, and it’s really atmospheric where nature has reclaimed around it”, Gerry shared. “You can do a little walk around the Ironworks, which is a nice nature walk, and you can see the ruins.”

To explore some of Gerry’s recommendations in the Forest of Dean, you can book a stay with Forest Holidays, which offers a collection of lodges, cabins and treehouses, some with outdoor hot tubs to soak under the towering trees. Meanwhile, the likes of Sykes Holiday Cottages and Holidaycottages.co.uk also offer a range of stays in the region.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com