More than 6,000 people were killed in three days when a Sudanese paramilitary group took control of the key city of Al Fashir last October, the United Nations has said.

The offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) included widespread atrocities that amounted to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, the UN Human Rights Office said in a report.

Rights violations in the final push for the city in Sudan underscored how “persistent impunity fuels continued cycles of violence”, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.

The RSF and their allied Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, overran Al Fashir, the Sudanese army’s only remaining stronghold in Darfur, on 26 October 2025 and rampaged through the city and its surroundings.

It had previously been under siege for more than 18 months.

The UN Human Rights Office said it documented the killing of at least 4,400 people inside the city between 25 October and 27 October, while more than 1,600 were killed as they were trying to flee the RSF rampage.

The 29-page UN report detailed atrocities that it said ranged from mass killings, summary executions, sexual violence, abductions for ransom, torture and ill-treatment to detention and disappearances.

In many cases, the attacks were ethnicity-motivated, it said.

Sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, was apparently widespread during the Al Fashir offensive, with RSF fighters and their allied militias targeting women and girls, the report added.

The RSF did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

The alleged atrocities in Al Fashir, the provincial capital of North Darfur, mirror a pattern of RSF conduct in other areas in its war against the Sudanese army, the report said.

The tribal militia turned paramilitary is known to document its own war crimes.

Videos of their fighters lynching women, lashing emergency responders and cheering over dead bodies have circulated online since the start of the conflict.

Read more:
1,000 days of war in Sudan
UK sanctions four paramilitary commanders over ‘mass killings’

The war began in April 2023 when a power struggle between the two sides led to open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere across the country.

The conflict created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with parts of the nation pushed into famine.

It has also been marked by atrocities, which the International Criminal Court said it was investigating as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been accused of backing the RSF, something that an RSF intelligence officer appeared to confirm in an exclusive interview with Sky News.

But the UAE’s foreign ministry hit back at the allegations, saying: “We categorically reject any claims of providing any form of support to either warring party since the onset of the civil war.”

Many people imagine the Victorians to be the stern “we are not amused” type, yet they had a pretty cruel sense of humour when it came to Valentine’s Day. While today’s lovers often exchange cute (and cheesy) cards, the Victorians loved to send insulting “vinegar Valentines”.

I first discovered this peculiar practice in 2019, when I designed a small exhibition at The Atkinson arts hub in Southport as part of a larger show about Victorian humour. Researching the cards was eye-opening and a lot of fun, and I think of them every Valentine’s Day when I look at the more sentimental and affectionate fare on sale now.

Posted to unwanted suitors or people one disliked, vinegar Valentines were cheaply produced cards with unflattering images and offensive poems. These anonymous illustrations and verses were intended to represent the unfortunate recipient and point out their flaws, as well as leaving them guessing who sent it.

The last word in bad romance, these mock valentines were particularly popular in Britain and America from the 1840s onwards. They featured many different types of caricatures.

Some cards focused on the recipient’s looks, exaggerating or shrinking facial features to look as unpleasant as possible. The illustration above depicts a women with squashed, unappealing features – and the accompanying verse highlighted these flaws. The rhyme, A Beanery Beauty, states:

Though nothing more homely e’er walked on two feet,

In your own mind you’re everything lovely and sweet,

That you’re not a heart-breaker’s a fact I’d impart –

You may break lots of dishes, but nary a heart.

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The card lampoons the recipient’s presumptions that she is attractive and good-tempered. However, the verse cuts through the supposed good opinion the lady has of herself by asserting that she would never be admired enough to be loved. The line describing how she “may break lots of dishes, but nary a heart” is the zinger. Not only is the poor woman deemed unattractive, she’s clumsy too.

Women were not the only recipient of Valentine’s Day hate mail – men were denigrated if considered to be unappealing flirts. A common feature of vinegar Valentines was to depict the recipient as an animal. My favourite features a snake in a blue smoking jacket with a black top hat, and a horrified lady in the background.

The accompanying poem states the man is a “rattlesnake”, hence the image, and describes the “bitter” life a lady would lead with the recipient as a spouse. It ends with the cautionary line that a lady would “not accept the ring / Or evermore ‘twould prove a sting”.

These cards were phenomenally popular and demonstrate what happens when love goes wrong. But how did Victorians actually meet their potential spouses?

A Victorian version of online dating

A new method of courtship in the Victorian era was placing a matrimonial advert in a newspaper or periodical. These advertisements were much like a modern-day dating profile, where readers would submit their “bio” to the paper and wait for it to be published.

One paper that regularly featured matrimonial adverts was Ally Sloper’s Half-Holiday, an illustrated weekly that focused on the leisure pursuits of the late-19th century.

An early version of the comic strip, the Half-Holiday established an enormous readership, reaching 340,000 people. Most stories followed the fictional exploits of idle schemer Ally Sloper, who skulked and sloped about the alleyways of East London in the late 19th century. The “half-holiday” referred to the half day on a Saturday when people were free to indulge in leisure activities, and which for many coincided with football matches.

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The dodgy Sloper was the main recurring character, but the paper also regularly featured his glamorous daughter, a music-hall actress and founder of Tootsie’s Matrimonial Agency. The paper liked to pretend their fictional characters were a genuine family, and offered real services to their readers. As the most romantic character, Tootsie Sloper was the natural figurehead for romance-seeking readers. Hopeful advertisers often described themselves as “fond of fun” and wanted their partners to be “jolly”.

Others played with humour in their ads, like the “Two Young Gentlemen” who described themselves to be “not painfully repulsive, but not precisely dangerously handsome”. Despite fears that dating adverts were full of scammers – much like catfishing today – they provided a novel way for partners to meet, and allowed regular readers the fun of speculating about the advertisers.

Victorians were not the perpetually grim-faced, serious bunch that old photographs often make out. They were fun-loving people who enjoyed playing practical jokes on one another. Matrimonial adverts allowed Victorian lovers to have more control over how they presented themselves to potential partners, and express their humour for all to see.

Vinegar Valentines were one of many ways the Victorians shared their sense of humour, while rejecting any unwanted attention. Insulting in nature, these cards were were intended to make the recipient feel foolish, much like the jokes found in comic papers at the time.

But spare a thought for the poor souls who received one of these cruel cards before the era of prepaid postage. They had to pay to receive their insults!

I’ve clocked up a fair few riverside towns across Wales, and people usually ask me which one’s my favourite

Regular readers will know I’m not exactly subtle about my fondness for Welsh towns. Give me a selection of proper pubs, independent shops, and quirky cafes selling local produce and decent coffee, and I’m as happy as a clam in cheap chardonnay.

I’ve clocked up a fair few riverside towns across Wales, and people usually ask me which one’s my favourite. It’s a difficult question when our lush country is basically wall-to-wall charm, but after much serious thought, mostly conducted in pubs, I have an answer. Cardigan (Welsh Aberteifi).

Positioned on the tidal reach of the River Teifi at the point where Ceredigion meets Pembrokeshire, Cardigan is one of my favourite riverside towns in Wales, and I keep returning for weekend breaks near the coast.

It’s home to one of my favourite hotels right now, which is really conveniently located in the centre of town. Perched on the riverside in Cardigan, The Albion Aberteifi blends seafaring charm with maritime design and is a great place for an adults-only break.

Often outshone by tourist hotspots like Tenby, Cardigan is sometimes overlooked by tourists, but it really shouldn’t be. It’s the gateway to the Teifi Valley and both the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire coastal paths, which makes it a great base for exploring this glorious coastal sweep.

Cardigan is the second-largest town in Ceredigion. It packs a punch culture-wise, having transcended from a significant 18th-century Atlantic seaport to a swish, artsy enclave with theatres and galleries. It’s fast becoming one of my favourite spots for a weekend break for excellent eats, coastal walks and a spot of culture.

As I’m now in my history era, it’s also grabbed my attention with its rich heritage and handsome stone castle. Found on the bend of the River Teifi, Cardigan has a long and varied history.

Henry VIII granted Cardigan its charter in 1543; by the 18th century, it was the most important seaport in southern Wales. It had a thriving herring and shipbuilding industry, and its merchant fleet carried fish, slate, bricks, tannery bark, corn, and ale.

Its heritage is also found in the town’s varied architecture, where you can still see Georgian buildings, including the restored Castle House and original 17th-century arches.

Today, it has a thriving small-town feel with boutiques, an independent bakery, an acclaimed hotel, and waymarked coastal paths that guide you along the glorious shoreline. I have visited several times and fallen a little more in love with the town each time.

Despite the buzzing town’s many offerings, it’s not quite as well known as tourist hotspots like Tenby or the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Perhaps that’s because the Cardigan Bay area remains one of Wales’s most underrated stretches of coastline, sandwiched between the headline-grabbing beauty of Pembrokeshire and the Llŷn Peninsula. In 2023, Time Out magazine even dubbed its main town, Cardigan, the “most underrated” spot in west Wales.

Here, you can experience Wales as its most authentic self, zipping between secluded bays to spot dolphins, trekking the coastal path and feasting on piping hot fish and chips in small fishing villages.

The relative remoteness of Ceredigion and the proud, resilient character of its communities have long made this coastline a stronghold of Welsh language and culture.

Cardigan is the main hub here and is ideal for exploring the Ceredigion coast. As the birthplace of the Eisteddfod, Wales’s most important cultural festival, the town has long been a hub for storytelling, music, and art. Wander its streets, and you’ll find charming cafes, pubs, and a thriving collection of independent shops and businesses.

At the heart of the town sits the beautifully restored Cardigan Castle, the first stone castle built by a Welshman and the birthplace of the first Eisteddfod in 1176.

This ancient Norman fortress, originally rebuilt in 1244, underwent a £12 million transformation in 2015, reviving its role as the town’s crowning centrepiece.

With a history spanning more than 900 years, the Castle has weathered many brutal power struggles between Wales and England. Today, it’s a vibrant heritage site featuring a museum, restaurant, open-air concert space, and Grade II-listed pleasure gardens.

According to Discover Ceredigion, the Castle also has a cultural connection. To celebrate the Castle’s completion, Lord Rhys hosted the first recorded Eisteddfod, a festival of music and poetry. This competitive arts festival is a uniquely Welsh tradition that thrives locally and follows Welsh people wherever they migrate.

After stomping the castle grounds, I always head for my favourite cafe spot – Crwst. This swish Cardigan cafe and deli has garnered a cult following for its banging brunch and bakery items and has also caught the eye of food writers.

Founded by husband and wife Osian and Catrin Jones, it is a swish 80-seater cardigan cafe and deli that attracts customers from miles around.

Five years ago, a married couple decided to pack in their jobs and make a living from what they loved most: baking and drinking coffee. Crwst is the happy, bricks-and-mortar result of this foodie journey. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here

Since their launch in 2018, the dynamic duo have grown the business and the foodie brand, taking on a second venue at Poppit Sands at the start of the Pembrokeshire coast path, where they serve Crwst’s most popular bakes, ice creams and coffees.

The Cardigan cafe is nearly always busy after it was named in the Good Food Guide. People arrive in droves for its delicious dishes and fresh-baked goods, including sourdough loaves, brioche doughnuts, and cinnamon swirls.

The Cardigan Cafe also offers a delicious brunch menu, ranging from harissa halloumi burgers to pancake stacks and Turkish eggs, and has earned glowing reviews from food writers.

Guardian writer Genevieve Fox writes: “Brunch is the ticket at this bright, trendy Cardigan craft bakery. The Full Welsh Brekkie includes Crwst’s signature beans and a cockle and laverbread gratin, the halloumi is made locally, and the blow-out Sausage & Egg McDoughnut is filled with melted cheese.”

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My personal favourite, though, is the rum and Banana French Toast, loaded with brule banana streaky bacon and topped with creamy Barti Rum Caramel ice cream. It’s sweet and salty goodness with a lovely rum kick, which is exactly what you want at 10 a.m.

Outside of baked goods, there’s plenty to eat in and around the town. A great spot for pizza is the unique riverside venue Grain.

Formerly Pizzatipi, this rustic restaurant has a large tipi with a standout feature in the middle that I loved instantly – a roaring fire.

Here you can expect made-to-order stone-baked pizzas with bold, fresh flavours, a rotating list of craft beers from Bluestone Brewing Company, and a buzzing outdoor space and huge fire to keep you warm on cold winter nights.

There’s also Yr Hen Printworks, Templebar Cafe, and Farmshop in Nevern if you want to continue your culinary journey in Cardigan.

Another highlight is the shopping offering. While it’s not a major scene, Cardigan has a small selection of shops and boutiques selling crafts, surfwear, and books. Most shops and businesses are located along or just off High Street and further up on Pendre, with several shops at Black Lion Mews off the main street.

Cardigan’s indoor market is the retail showstopper, housed in the historic Guildhall building. The two-level market hall was originally the town’s meat and dairy marketplace. Today, it is a lively shopping area for locals and visitors, with over 50 stalls run by independent local traders selling an impressive variety of goods and gifts.

For a small town, Cardigan also has a fizzing arts scene with two theatres and music held at several venues across town, including the Castle grounds. Theatr Mwldan Arts Centre is an impressive cinema complex in the centre of Cardigan, with three fully digital screens, and is Wales’ only truly Independent multiplex.

There’s a gallery and cafe here, and it’s also the base of Gwyl Fawr, the town’s Eisteddfod, which has several concerts and musical, literary, and dance competitions.

Along with Mwldan, St Mary’s, a Grade II-listed 12th-century church, is the main base for the November Other Voices festival concerts featuring contemporary, internationally known Welsh musicians. Several smaller venues, from cellar bars to art galleries and bakeries, create a great atmosphere along the festival’s music trail around town.

Nearby Small World is an environmental theatre company that creates giant puppets, public events, and art commissions. It is a wildly creative, near-zero-carbon space that hosts family-friendly events, including children’s theatre shows featuring live music and puppetry.

For a show with a wow factor, Cardigan Castle hosts a range of performances. The Castle’s beautiful surroundings provide the perfect setting for choirs, bands, opera performances and concerts.

Outside the town, there’s plenty to explore, as Cardigan Bay stretches over 129 miles, from Bardsey Island off the Llŷn Peninsula in the north to the wild headland of Strumble Head in the south. It’s home to the largest population of dolphins in Europe, and its rich waters are a haven for wildlife, including seals and seabirds.

For nature lovers, this is the best place in Europe to spot dolphins, especially if you’re skimming over the waves on a fast-paced RIB ride through the bay’s choppy waters.

When the weather is decent, book a budget-friendly Bay Explorer boat trip with local pros, ‘A Bay to Remember‘.

Departing from nearby St Dogmaels, this hour-long trip wizzes you around the shore on high-speed RHIBs, where your knowledgeable skipper will keep their eyes peeled for wildlife. This was one of my favourite wildlife tours, and I got loads of lush snaps of seals and seabirds.

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Bouncing over the waves, you’ll likely spot herring gulls and razorbills swooping through the air and landing on rocky outcrops. Your vessel will also speed past Mwnt, a sandy bay that’s one of the best places in Ceredigion to spot dolphins, so keep a good lookout for those distinctive dorsal fins slicing through the water.

These zippy boat trips also visit secluded, pebbled bays where Atlantic grey seals lounge lazily on the rocks. These resident seals are easy to recognise thanks to their distinctive heads. Their scientific name even translates to “sea pig with a hooked nose.” Adorbs or what?

For hiking, the Ceredigion Coast Path is one of the most rewarding sections of the 870-mile Wales Coast Path. Stretching for 60 glorious miles between Ynyslas and Cardigan, it offers some of the most varied terrain and scenery on the entire route, ranging from soft dunes and sandy coves to craggy cliffs and windswept headlands.

This waymarked path can be walked in seven manageable sections, each ending in a village or town with accommodation and transport options.

You can also tackle the full route over a week or choose shorter sections, such as New Quay to Aberaeron or the 11.7-mile stretch from Cardigan to Aberporth.

Highlights along the way include the dramatic headland at Mwnt, the birdlife of Birds Rock, the tidal island of Ynys Lochtyn, and the expansive Ynyslas dunes.

Wildlife sightings are common; watch for bottlenose dolphins, seals, and even porpoises along the pebble-strewn cliffs and coves.

The trail’s southern end begins in Cardigan, where the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Coast Paths meet. Once the largest port on Wales’s west coast, this historic town gave its name to Cardigan Bay.

A bronze otter statue marks the official start of the route, standing beside a quayside wall inscribed with poetry by local writer Ceri Wyn Jones.

As you leave town, the path follows the north bank of the River Teifi, passing farmland and the likely site of the original wooden Cardigan Castle, hastily built to control the river and access to the sea.

The route continues past the Cardigan Golf Club and the Victorian-era Cliff Hotel, once part of a grand vision to turn this coastline into a rival to Brighton.

From there, it’s a clifftop walk toward Aberporth, with panoramic sea views and a coastline dotted with caves, sea stacks and rock formations with evocative local names like Hatling Bigni, Pen Peles and Pencestyll. These rocky markers were once essential reference points for mariners navigating this wild stretch of coast.

Poppit Sands is my go-to beach in this area, even in winter, as the lovely Crwst bakery is open for bakes and brews.

This wide, dune-backed beach at the mouth of the River Teifi has all the hallmarks of a brilliant Welsh beach, expansive golden sands, big skies, sweeping estuary views and even dolphin sightings if you’re lucky!

Making a weekend of it? The town and surrounding area offer a range of hotels, B&Bs, cottages, and campsites. You can check prices and book on Airbnb and booking.com.

I would recommend booking at one of my favourite hotels in the area for a stylish stay with a river view.

Perched on the riverside in Cardigan, the adults-only Albion Aberteifi hotel blends seafaring charm with maritime design, featuring original sketches and calculations by 1800s shipwrights.

Just four months after opening, The Times and The Sunday Times named it the Best Place to Stay in Wales 2023, and it’s easy to see why.

The Times journalist said of the property: “Expect more of a grown-up vibe here (no children are allowed) with a moody bar serving the Albion Collins, a heavenly blend of mead and local gin.”

Each of the 12 en suite rooms feels like a captain’s cabin with reclaimed wood-panelled walls, 150-year-old oak floors, Welsh wool blankets, custom furniture, and river views from every window.

The hotel wears the town’s maritime past with plenty of character and design features. Contemporary comforts sit alongside the quirks of the original buildings, giving a historic feel while providing plenty of modern amenities.

Old stone and timber are proudly left on show, giving the place a sense of history you can actually feel. Head up to the third floor, and the walls tell their own story – lime-washed surfaces covered with mid-19th-century pencil sketches of tall ships alongside careful notes on rope lengths and sail sizes.

Breakfast is served in the relaxed resident lounge, where you’ll also find crafted cocktails, wines, and local beers by night and coffee and cake by day.

Book your stay here.

Police are appealing for information after a 75-year-old man was badly injured on Paisley Road West on Saturday

A pensioner has been seriously injured in a two-car crash in Glasgow which saw a man arrested.

Police are appealing for information after the smash, which happened on Paisley Road West at its junction with Portman Street at around 5pm on Saturday.

It involved a blue Range Rover and a red Renault Clio and closed the road for several hours as investigations were carried out.

A 75-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment, where his condition is described as serious.

A 42-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and released pending further enquiries.

The road was closed and reopened around 11.30pm.

Sergeant Jack Swindells said: “Enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash to contact us.

“We’d also ask anyone with dash-cam footage that could assist our enquiries to come forward.”

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Serial killer Harold Shipman targeted his youngest victim, Peter Lewis, when the former popstar was at his most vulnerable, with the sick GP making a disturbing request of his devastated wife

One of the most prolific serial killers in criminal history, Dr Harold Shipman used his reputation as a “good doctor” to target those who’d trusted him to treat them in their hour of need.

The twisted GP often targeted older women in the small Greater Manchester town of Hyde, who were said to “adore” him, with an extraordinary 80 per cent of Shipman’s victims being female pensioners. Rather than providing them with care, Shipman instead injected fatal doses of poison into many of these patients, before callously pocketing money from their wills.

Shipman’s reign of terror finally came to an end in 1998 when he was arrested and subsequently convicted of murdering 15 of his patients, though the actual death toll is suspected to have reached the 250 mark over a staggering 30-year period. However, the sick medic didn’t only prey on the elderly, and, tragically, it’s suspected his youngest victim may have been just four years old.

READ MORE: UK’s worst serial killer Harold Shipman’s last words in horrifying personal letters before death

Indeed, Shipman’s youngest confirmed victim, Peter Lewis, was just 41 years old when the duplicitous monster set his sights on him, even cruelly getting the taxi driver’s wife to hold the needle as he injected the lethal dose of diamorphine.

While much younger than many of Shipman’s confirmed victims, Peter was at a particularly vulnerable stage in his life when the predator struck. In his younger years, Peter built a successful career as the frontman of pop group The Scorpions, with the group even securing a number one hit in Holland, toppling The Beatles from the chart summit.

He had tied the knot with his wife, Muriel, two years prior to his untimely demise, and the pair had relocated to Tameside, where their local GP was none other than Shipman. Shortly after settling in their new home, Peter started shedding weight at an alarming rate and sought medical advice, which was out of character for him. In a written testimony submitted to the Shipman Inquiry, Muriel recalled: “Pete was very much a man’s man. He was never ill. He took the view that going to the doctor was for softies,” she said.

“He had been the lead singer in a pop group and apparently had a number one hit in Holland. He even told me that he had knocked The Beatles off from the top spot. The band was called The Scorpions. Pete was always happy and was always singing. He always kept himself fit and didn’t put any weight on. I would describe him as typically northern.”

Sadly, it later emerged that Peter had been grappling with stomach cancer, a condition that Shipman had overlooked for half a year, instead diagnosing an ulcer. As Peter continued to weaken with each passing day, his worried wife Muriel had to assist him with one particular visit to the GP’s surgery, and it was here that they were taken aback by an inappropriate comment made by Shipman.

Muriel shared with the Manchester Evening News: “When we got into the doctor’s room, Shipman was washing his hands at the sink and turned to me saying, ‘Have you two got a season ticket?’” I didn’t believe what I had heard, so I said, ‘Sorry, what did you say?’ and he repeated it. As I was a little afraid of him, I simply laughed nervously. Until this occasion, I had always thought that he was a caring doctor.”

Eventually, Peter was referred to Manchester Royal Infirmary for surgery to determine the cause of his illness. He and his wife received the heartbreaking diagnosis that he had stomach cancer, which had already metastasised. Not long afterwards, Peter passed away at home, following a visit from Dr Shipman.

On the evening of New Year’s Eve 1985, Shipman was summoned to Peter and Muriel’s residence due to his deteriorating condition. Present in the bedroom were Shipman, Maureen, and her mother, Elsie Gee, when the doctor made a disturbing request.

He asked Peter’s wife to hold the injection needle steady in his patient’s arm. Muriel recalled: “As I was holding the needle in his arm, the blood flowed back into the barrel of the needle from his arm, and I had to go out of the room. I was very upset.

“I went back into the room and Shipman (had) one hand around Pete’s throat. He seemed to be squeezing Pete’s windpipe. I asked him what he was doing, and (he) said he was stopping him from swallowing his tongue. I wasn’t present when Pete died. I went into the lounge. I couldn’t stay till the end. I can remember, however, Shipman saying to Pete, ‘Come on, lad, give up. We’ve all had enough’. I gained the impression he was willing him to die.”

Muriel, unable to bear the sight of her husband in such agony, exited the room. However, when Muriel’s mother returned to the bedroom, she witnessed Shipman in a chilling stance. She recounted: “Dr Shipman was standing by the bed in front of Peter, holding a pillow in both hands. He was putting the pillow over Peter’s face. I shrieked, ‘What are you doing, man?’ and he put the pillow at the back of Peter’s neck.”

It would take another 13 years for doubts about Shipman to emerge, during which time he had been free to commit murder unchecked. Most of his victims were discovered sitting upright in a chair, fully clothed, appearing to have passed away from natural causes. In truth, Shipman had administered a fatal dose of morphine to them.

In March 1998, three months prior to his final act of murder, Deborah Massey from Frank Massey and Sons funeral parlour voiced concerns about the high number of deaths among Shipman’s patients. These concerns were relayed to Linda Reynolds from the Donneybrook Surgery, also located in Hyde, who then informed John Pollard, the coroner for the South Manchester District.

Linda also expressed worry about the number of cremation forms that Shipman had countersigned. The police were notified but lacked sufficient evidence to press charges, leaving Shipman free to claim the lives of three more patients.

Greater Manchester Police faced sharp criticism in the Shipman Inquiry after his conviction for allocating the investigation to inexperienced officers. However, doubts about the doctor persisted, and several months later, Hyde taxi driver John Shaw approached police, claiming he suspected Shipman had murdered 21 of his patients.

Ultimately, Shipman would seal his own fate through a catastrophic error during the killing of his last victim, Kathleen Grundy. The 81-year-old was discovered dead at her home on June 24, 1998. Shipman had been the final person to see her alive and documented “old age” as her cause of death on the death certificate.

Yet her daughter, Angela Woodruff, a solicitor, sensed something was deeply amiss when her solicitor, Brian Burgess, contacted her regarding her mother’s will. Kathleen had disinherited her own children and instead bequeathed her entire £386,000 estate to Shipman.

It read: “I give all my estate, money and house to my doctor. My family are not in need and I want to reward him for all the care he has given to me and the people of Hyde.” The document reached her solicitor’s office on the day of her death, accompanied by a letter that had been typed on the identical typewriter as her will and bore Kathleen’s signature.

The letter said: “Dear Sir, I enclose a copy of my will. I think it is clear in intent. I wish Dr Shipman to benefit by having my estate, but if he dies or cannot accept it, then the estate goes to my daughter. I would like you to be the executor of the will. I intend to make an appointment to discuss this and my will in the near future.”

Mr Burgess advised Angela to report the matter to the police, who subsequently launched an investigation and exhumed Kathleen’s body. Medical heroin traces were discovered in his system, a substance often used for pain management in terminal cancer patients.

Shipman attempted to justify this by alleging that Kathleen was an addict, presenting detectives with notes he had recorded on her digital medical files. However, upon inspection of his computer, it was revealed that these notes had been added posthumously, leading to Shipman’s arrest on September 7 1998.

He had made one final mistake – the falsified will had been typed on a Brother typewriter, which Shipman owned, and he had also left a fingerprint on the document. Police were convinced that Kathleen wasn’t his only victim and compiled a list of 15 potential murder victims for whom Shipman had signed death certificates.

A recurring pattern soon became apparent: high doses of diamorphine, or heroin, followed by his signing the death certificates and fabricating health complications. On January 31, 2000, Shipman was convicted of 15 counts of murder and one count of forgery. He received a life sentence. On January 13, 2004, Shipman was found hanged in his cell at Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire. The Shipman Inquiry, conducted two years after his conviction, concluded that he had killed at least 215 of his patients.

Dame Janet Smith, who presided over the inquiry, believes he was responsible for 250 deaths. Shipman’s atrocities sparked sweeping reforms across the medical profession. Single-handed GP surgeries have become increasingly rare as a result.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

READ MORE: Dad-of-four with ‘normal life’ murders up to 215 people as ‘Britain’s worst killer’

Police say inquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing.

A street has been taped off in Glasgow after a man was found unwell.

Police were called to Springboig Road in the east end of the city after receiving a report of concern for a man found unwell at 3.35am on Sunday. Officers attended and the man was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for treatment.

His current condition is unknown. Police say inquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3.35am on Sunday, 15 February, 2026, we were called to a report of concern for a man found unwell on Springboig Road, Glasgow.

“He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances.”

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Laura was last seen in the Eldon Street area of Millfield on Friday at around 10pm.

The 41-year-old is described as white, about 5ft 7in tall, of large build, and with long brown hair, which was tied up in a bun.

She was last seen wearing beige trousers, a black top, black boots and is believed to be carrying a black tote bag with white writing on the front.

A spokesperson from Northumbria Police said: “We are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare.

“Laura, or anyone who thinks they may have seen her, should send us a direct message on social media or use the live chat or ‘report’ form on our website.”

Sasilicious, which has been serving breakfasts, lunches and takeaway meals from its shop on Bridge Street, closed on Friday, February 13.

Owner, Sas Hardman, says that its “hasn’t been an easy decision, but due to rising running costs” the shop will no longer be trading.

The mum-of-three closed her Tottington store in December last year after two and half years of trading to focus on the catering side of the business.

This week, Sas stressed that “Sasilicious isn’t going anywhere” as she plans on running it as a ‘dark kitchen’ from her home, which is being fitted out with catering equipment.

Owner Sas Hardman (Image: supplied)

As of Tuesday, February 17, customers will still be able to order from the full menu, with breakfast available all day and into the evening and opening hours running until around 8pm most nights.

The relaunched dark kitchen will focus on “teatime favourites” including corned beef hash, cottage pie, shepherd’s pie, lasagne, enchiladas, chilli, curry and jacket potatoes, alongside the breakfasts and deli-style dishes customers are used to.

Sharing on social media, Sas said: “Just want to say a huge thank you to every single person who has supported Sasilicious at both of the shops so far – this next chapter means I can keep doing what I love and keep feeding you all.”

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu collected the Calcutta Cup following a 31-20 win over England – but had an awkward moment with Princess Anne before lifting the trophy

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu endured an awkward moment with Princess Anne when going to collect the Calcutta Cup following victory over England.

Scotland came out as comfortable 31-20 winners in the Six Nations clash at Murrayfield on Saturday, to move top of the standings. The victory for Scotland ended England’s 12-game winning streak.

The win came as a big relief to under-pressure Gegor Townsend following last weekend’s 18-15 defeat to Italy in the Six Nations opener.

The win saw them lift the Calcutta Cup for the seventh time in nine years. They were presented the trophy by Princess Anne, who had returned from the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, but it led to an awkward moment.

Images broadcast live on ITV captured Scotland captain Tuipulotu greeting people in the royal box as he made his way towards the trophy, which was being held by Princess Anne.

As he approached the Royal, he went to hug her, only for her to hang back, pat him on the shoulder and say something to him before handing over the cup.

Fans were quick to spot the awkward encounter and post the toe-curling footage on social media. However, it wouldn’t have dampened the spirit of the Scotland captain as they claimed a huge victory in front of a raucous home crowd.

Speaking after the game, Tuipulotu said, via BBC Sport: “I’m extremely proud.

“To go through what we went through last week really hurt and we understood because we deserved it. Ultimately Italy were better than us.

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“We really felt like our backs were against the wall and we showed up today.

“I felt guilty. Head coaching is a hard job because when it is going well you get all the positives but when it is not going well you get all of the criticism.

“We got behind our coach this week. I’m proud of the boys for getting behind our coach and delivering a performance.”

Scotland are back in action next Saturday when they take on Wales at the Millennium Stadium (4.40pm). Wales, who host France today, will be looking to improve, having suffered a 48-7 loss against England in their first Six Nations outing last week.

Alisha Young, 25, and Connor Craster, 26, from Seaton Carew found they were pregnant with naturally conceived twins while she was in hospital about to have a hysterectomy. 

It was just months after Alisha was told she wouldn’t be able to conceive because she has endometriosis, and Lottie and Hattie were born on November 2, 2024.

Then Florence and William were born on their big sisters’ first birthday.

Children’s support worker Alisha said they felt “so happy and so blessed”

Connor Craster and Alisha Young, with their four children, Hattie (two), Lottie (two), Florence (one) and William (one) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

Alisha said: “I always wanted a big family and have always wanted to be a mammy. Finding out we were pregnant was such a shock but a huge blessing.

“I was absolutely gobsmacked. Then to be told it was twins was even more of a shock.

“We were so excited! Finding out we were pregnant again when Lottie had just come out of hospital was another huge shock.

“It was crazy – I didn’t know what we’d do. Once they were here our lives and family felt complete. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Hattie (two), Lottie (two) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

Scaffolding operative Connor said: “Basically we’ve got quads. It was a shock but such a massive relief – we really did want to have children.”

Alisha suffered with painful and heavy periods, and pelvic pain, from a young age and was diagnosed with endometriosis.

Doctors said she risked losing her right ovary.

She said: “It’s very difficult with endo, you’re there’s always a lot of information to think about, options to explore, and decisions to make.”

Florence (one) and William (one) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

Alisha and Connor met while both working in a hospital in May 2022, and were engaged on November 5 2023.

Months later medics told Alisha she couldn’t have children, because of the severity of her endometriosis, and advised she have a hysterectomy.

But when she took the pregnancy test ahead of the op, in February 2024, Alisha discovered she was pregnant. An eight-week scan revealed twins.

Connor said: “I saw two circles on the screen. They were joined by a little line and it looked like a smiley face.”

Connor Craster and Alisha Young, with their four children, Hattie (two), Lottie (two), Florence (one) and William (one) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

The couple discovered they were expecting girls at 16 weeks, and the babies were due on December 27 2024.

Lottie, 4lb 2oz, was born at 5.07am, and, Hattie, weighing 3lb 14oz, was born at 5.40am, on November 2, 2024, and they spent 29 days in neonatal care.

Never expecting a second miracle, they did a pregnancy test after Connor noticed Alisha was craving ice – something she had done during her first pregnancy.

She did a test in April 2025 which came up positive.

A scan four weeks later revealed they were expecting twins again.

Connor Craster and Alisha Young, with their four children, Hattie (two), Lottie (two), Florence (one) and William (one) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

“We couldn’t believe it,” Connor said.

“The first time was so unexpected it just didn’t seem possible. We looked at each other with dropped jaws – we were told we couldn’t have any children and now we were about to have four.”

The babies were due on December 17, but Alisha went into labour on October 29.

When the labour didn’t progress her waters were broken on November 2 and 5lb 5oz Florence and 5lbs 3oz William were born six weeks early, at 2.15PM and 3.35pm, at North Tees Hospital.

Florence and William spent 14 days in neonatal care, in the exact same bed spaces as their sisters a year earlier.

Connor said: “It was just so lovely to see them.”

Connor and Alisha have help from their mums who both live near by.

The couple survive on a maximum of five hours sleep a night, and have all four children bathed, fed, and in bed, by 7.30pm.

Connor said: “I can’t say when the day starts, because the last one just doesn’t end.”

The couple had to trade in their Mitsubishi mirage for a Kia Caren.

The pair change 50 nappies in 24 hours – up to 30 for Lottie and Hattie, and 20 for Florence and William – costing about £18 a day on nappies.

Alisha said: “With four children routine is absolutely key. Making sure you stick to timings is the only way to get any time for yourself.

“When people say it takes a village to raise children it really does. We’re so lucky to have a great support circle.”