Chico Slimani said that he drank whisky for six hours after his friend’s death (Picture: Simon James/WireImage)
Former X Factor contestant Chico has been found guilty of drink-driving after telling a trial that his arrest came hours after he broke his sobriety.
Chico, whose real name is Yousseph Slimani, told Willesden Magistrates’ Court that he drank Famous Grouse whisky for six hours after losing a third friend to cancer.
The singer, now 55, reached the quarter finals of the TV talent show’s 2005 series and later released a number one single, It’s Chico Time.
He wore a maroon silk shirt and placed his cowboy hat on the table in front when he arrived for his trial on Thursday.
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Slimani was convicted of driving a Vauxhall Astra with 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath in Chase Way, Southgate, on December 13, when the legal limit is 35mg.
He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined. The court heard he has been heavily in debt and as a result faced county court proceedings.
Chico Slimani finished in fifth place on the 2005 series of The X Factor (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
The 55-year-old was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined (Picture: Ken McKay/Shutterstock)
During his evidence the defendant had with him a book that he said he was writing at the time of the alleged offence, titled The Secret 19. Cancer Questions Worth Asking.
He said he consumed Famous Grouse whisky between 1am and 7am and then Nyquil at 5.30pm – a cold and flu medicine similar to Night Nurse – before he was pulled over at about 6.30pm that evening.
Slimani, of north London, told the court: ‘It was after a third bereavement of one of my dearest friends, which was just devastating.
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‘All young people in their 50s with terminal cancers that have passed on – non-smokers, non-drinkers, several cancers – and basically are not here, sadly.
‘On that fateful day, I’m teetotal, I don’t drink, and it felt like I was going out of my mind, couldn’t take it, so I drank.’
He later told the court he has not drunk alcohol since.
The defendant claimed he had been taking Nyquil for ‘a flu which you may call long Covid’ that ‘kept coming and going’ and has been documented on his social media channels.
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He did not inform police when asked if he had consumed other drugs or medicines, and said this was ‘because when I got arrested, and they were taking me to the police station, my mind was literally going at 600,000mph’.
He added: ‘And when I got to the police station all I could think of was the implications of me being arrested for something that goes completely against what I am and what I do.’
The former entertainer switched his career to become a wellness guru (Picture: Ken McKay/Shutterstock)
The court heard he has been heavily in debt and as a result faced county court proceedings (Picture: Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)
He later said his fears ‘sadly have all come true’ and these were of ‘the press, the loss of my reputation, the loss of work – everything has happened, it has been a catastrophe’.
His solicitors told a toxicologist that he consumed 810ml of Famous Grouse whisky and 30ml of an unspecified Nyquil product that contained alcohol, the court heard.
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The toxicologist, Sarah Morley, calculated that the Nyquil would have contributed to 2mg per 100ml of alcohol on his breath.
Ms Morley also told the court: ‘I can’t verify if the information provided to me has been accurate or not.’
Arresting officer Pc Yuksel said he was watching Slimani speak to a fellow officer about a separate matter when he noticed the defendant’s ‘quite vivid’ facial expressions that were ‘almost joyful’.
Giving evidence, he said he smelt alcohol on the former singer’s breath, adding: ‘He was very animated with his facial features, they were very vivid and his demeanour seemed a bit – I don’t know how best to describe it – but under the influence of alcohol.
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‘I asked him if he had consumed any alcohol, then his demeanour changed.”
The police officer said: ‘He appeared quite shocked and his demeanour just changed to very defensive, from very happy and expressive to very defensive when asked that question.’
The former X Factor contestant failed a breath test but was ‘calm and compliant’ when he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, he said.
He was then taken to a police station and breathalysed again.
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Slimani was ordered to pay a £600 fine, £240 surcharge and £620 in costs by District Judge Mark Jabbitt.
He was offered a drink drivers’ rehabilitation scheme that if completed will reduce his qualification by a quarter.
The judge said: ‘It is inevitable that I will find the case proven.’
He added that he is ‘generally sympathetic’ to Slimani’s bereavements but not to excessive drinking or taking medication without checking the effect it has on driving.
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Former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a MAGA ally who has rejected President Donald Trump, suggested the Republican Party needed to start over entirely because too many lawmakers were loyal to Israel.
“Here’s what we have to do: we have to be realistic about the Republican Party,” Greene said. “The Republican Party needs to burn to the ground. It’s completely controlled.”
Greene, an “America First” advocate, has accused the president of abandoning the U.S.’s interests to pursue war with Israel in the Middle East. She’s also criticized those who continue to support Trump’s agenda, despite his campaign promise not to engage in wars.
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“We want to cheer and root for America, but you don’t have to be in a cult where you can’t call it out,” Greene said. “That is what this has turned into. It’s turned into a cult.”
Former Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene insisted a new Republican Party needed to emerge because too many lawmakers do not prioritize Americans’ needs (Getty)
“That’s absolutely wrong,” she said of Trump supporters who do not criticize the president’s actions.
Greene was once one of Trump’s loudest supporters, but her position has changed since the two had a falling out earlier this year that led to her resigning from the House of Representatives. Trump said he would no longer support Greene as a Republican representative after she pushed for the release of the Epstein files.
Since then, she’s accused the president of being mentally unstable – particularly after Trump threatened to wipe out the Iranian civilization unless the Iranian regime reopened the Strait of Hormuz.
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“The truth is, look, you may have supported President Trump for 10 years like I did and like you have. But this is not the same man,” Greene insisted. “This is not the same man that we supported.”
Greene was once considered one of Trump’s most loyal allies in Congress, but after their falling out earlier this year she has become a vocal critic (AP)
Other former Trump allies, such as Jones, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and political commentator Candace Owens, have also taken a step away from the president and criticized his decision to go to war against Iran.
Greene and Jones said Wednesday they would continue criticizing Trump in the hopes of drawing supporters away.
Greene said a new Republican Party could emerge, but that those candidates should not take money from AIPAC or “AIPAC-adjacent donors.”
The former congresswoman insisted her comments were not antisemitic because they were not about Jewish people but rather “the secular government of Israel.” However, Greene also has a long history of making antisemitic remarks –from promoting a conspiracy theory about Jewish people controlling a space laser to start wildfires to comparing the Holocaust to wearing masks during Covid.
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Greene pushed forward the idea of a new Republican Party on X Thursday when she told Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, “We need a strong populist coalition of the right and left that can come together on the most important issues for the future generations of Americans.”
”For the sake of my children’s generation, I’m willing to come together, go to the whiteboard, and begin to try to sketch something new,” Greene said.
“Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony, each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public, if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record, then and only then we will have the truth.”
Police are appealing for information after a child is believed to have died as a result of a dog bite
John Rogan , Annette Belcher and Ethan Blackshaw Deputy Publishing Lead (Mirror)
21:29, 09 Apr 2026
A child is believed to have died as a result of a dog bite. Cleveland Police were called to Hardale Drive in Dormanstown, Redcar shortly after 1.30pm on Thursday following reports over concerns for a child.
But upon arrival at the property, officers found the child had sadly died. The child is believed to have died as a result of a dog bite.
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Armed officers attended and one dog was destroyed on the street while another dog at the property has been recovered by police, Teesside Live reports.
District Commander, for Redcar and Cleveland, Emily Harrison said: “Understandably this is a distressing and tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the child’s family.
“There is a scene in place at the address while an investigation into the child’s death begins. I would encourage anyone who has concerns or information to please speak to an officer.”
Paramedics also attended the scene. A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident at a private address in Redcar on Thursday, April 9 shortly before 1.30pm.
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“We dispatched three ambulance crews, one clinical team leader and one duty officer to the incident. One patient was transported to hospital for further treatment.”
If you have information, please contact Cleveland Police on 101 or by visiting the website quoting reference number 066204. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A smiling Fury made his entrance in typical fashion – dancing onto the stage and playing to the crowd before crossing immediately to shake Makhmudov’s hand.
There has been little animosity between the pair during fight week. Fury even blew a kiss at his opponent during a promotional appearance earlier in the week.
The news conference itself felt at times like a rerun of the previous launch news conference when the fight was first revealed. Makhmudov rarely engaged in any back-and-forth despite the host’s attempts to spark a war of words.
Makhmudov spent most of the time glancing at his phone, drawing criticism from heavyweight great Lennox Lewis who was part of the TV broadcast.
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The 36-year-old did address one unusual training method – wrestling a bear. “But I don’t want to try this anymore because it was so scary,” he added.
Eventually, Fury – whose record stands at 34 wins from 37 fights, with 24 knockouts, alongside two defeats and one draw – seized the spotlight.
He described himself as “speedy, skilful, handsome and destructive”.
“I’ve never lost my speed of reactions. I’ve still got it – 100%,” he added. “I’m looking for as good a performance as it can be after [nearly] 16 months out. I must have done 500 rounds of sparring to prepare.”
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The ‘Gypsy King’ later wandered over to join the broadcast team, where he could be heard shouting: “I’m on top of the world, baby.”
Crime scene investigators have been spotted on Hardale Drive, in Dormanstown, this evening (Thursday, April 9)after the incident at 1.30pm which saw a dog put down.
It comes after police received a report of concern for the safety of a child at a property. Tragically, Cleveland Police has now confirmed a child has died.
A spokesperson said: “This is believed to have been as a result of a dog bite. Armed officers were also in attendance and one dog was destroyed on the street while another dog at the property has been recovered by police.
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“Understandably, this is a distressing and tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the child’s family.”
Paramedics also attended the scene. A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident at a private address in Redcar on Thursday, April 9 shortly before 1.30pm.
Read more:
“We dispatched three ambulance crews, one clinical team leader and one duty officer to the incident. One patient was transported to hospital for further treatment.”
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A crime scene investigation van and a police car remain at the scene this evening.
Anyone who has concerns or information is encouraged to speak to an officer. If you have information, please call 101 or visit our website quoting reference number 066204.
The BBC crime drama first aired back in 2024 and saw David Mitchell take on the role of twin brothers John Taylor and DCI James Taylor.
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When John went to visit his sister-in-law, Lucy Betts-Taylor (Anna Maxwell Martin), things took a drastic turn as he learned his brother had gone missing from their Cambridge home.
As she explained that James had been acting strangely while working on a case, Lucy told John that her husband had given instructions to flee with their son after he didn’t come home one night.
However, she went against his wishes and recruited his twin brother to take on John’s persona and pretend to be part of the police force in order to get to the truth.
Despite his initial hesitations, he eventually agreed as his puzzle-solving skills allowed him to see that the letter that his brother left was filled with secret messages.
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After a series full of twists and turns, John finally came clean that he wasn’t his twin brother. However, they received a surprise voicemail from the real James.
Admitting he vanished, James tells his twin to continue investigating the corruption in Cambridge.
While the second series is set to air later this year, it looks as though there could be more episodes on the way as TVZone reports that a third instalment has been commissioned.
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However, the BBC declined to comment when approached by Cambridgeshire Live.
Speaking about the second series, David Mitchell said: “I’m delighted that John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor has failed to escape the clutches of the Cambridge police and will have to continue to face up to the city’s alarming conundrum-based crime wave.”
Along with David and Anna returning for Ludwig, people can also see Dipo Ola (DCI Russell Carter), Dylan Hughes (Henry Betts-Taylor), Dorothy Atkinson (DCS Carol Shaw), Ralph Ineson (Chief Constable Ziegler) and Karl Pilkington (DI Matt Neville) return.
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The series has been highly praised by fans since it aired, as one person said: “#Ludwig on BBC is amazing!” Another wrote: “Oh my goodness @BBCiPlayer – #Ludwig was absolutely incredible! When is series 2 out??!!”
Someone else commented: “Clever, witty and perfectly casted! Back to classic entertainment! Just what we need these days, and we need more of it.”
While someone else shared: “A WONDERFUL ENTERTAINING MURDER MYSTERY, EVOCATIVE OF MISS MARPLE HERSELF. Ludwig from the BBC, is a beautiful written mini series.”
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The first series of Ludwig is available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer.
Mum-of-one Ava Woodcock (pictured with her mother Amanda Eversole) died on Tuesday after she was shot while arriving at Annie’s Restaurant in Glasgow, Kentucky (Picture: Facebook)
A 22-year-old pregnant woman was shot to death in a car park after she honked her horn at a man.
Mum-of-one Ava Woodcock died on Tuesday after she was shot while arriving at Annie’s Restaurant in Glasgow, Kentucky.
Brandon Bond, 24, has been charged with murder, first-degree fetal homicide, and first-degree fleeing or evading police.
Ava was pulling into the car park and honked her horn as Bond crossed the street, according to WBKO.
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Bond then allegedly opened fire, which sent Ava’s car rolling before it crashed.
He reportedly ran away from the scene and was uncooperative with the police.
Ava Woodcock was shot and killed while pulling into a restaurant (Picture: Facebook)
Brandon Bond, 24, has been charged with murder, first-degree fetal homicide, and first-degree fleeing or evading police (Picture: Barren County Detention Center)
A GoFundMe was set up for Ava’s family. It reads: ‘This fundraiser has been created to support the Woodcock family as they walk through this tragedy.
‘Donations will help cover funeral expenses for both their beloved daughter and her baby, as well as urgent and ongoing needs—including care and support for her young daughter.’
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Amanda Eversole, Woodcock’s mother, uploaded a photo of Bond to her Facebook.
She wrote: ‘This piece of c**p will never see daylight again.
‘He took one of God’s precious babies away from our family, and my daughter is fighting for her life. I will never forgive you.’
A commenter added: ‘So sad, sending my deepest condolences to her and her family.’
Neighbours on Hardale Drive in Dormanstown described a standoff between ten armed officers and the dog before it was destroyed after 1.30pm on Thursday (April 9).
A second dog was taken from a house by police.
Residents said they were in “utter shock” and in a state of disbelief.
Police on Hardale Drive in Dormanstown (Image: OLIVIA HOWLETT)
One resident, who lives on the street with his daughter and grandchildren said: “it’s absolutely heartbreaking, I cannot believe it.
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“You never expect anything so horrific to happen in your area.
“Police swarmed the street around 1.30pm I think and there was a proper standoff with the dogs and then one was shot dead. I cannot imagine what that family are going through.
“It’s really scary.”
Crime scene investigators at the scene on Thursday evening (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
A man, who lives on a road nearby added: “It’s the school holidays and kids were everywhere. Initially I didn’t know what had happened but to now hear some details I can’t believe it, it sounds horrendous.”
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CSI vans remained parked up outside a house on the street around 8.30pm.
Another woman on the street said: “I am in utter shock it was just surreal all of it. I hope everyone involved is okay, it is such a tragic incident.”
Another added: “There were around ten armed police men and so many cars and vans. I think everyone just went straight inside because the dogs had got out and were running all over the police having a pro
per stand off. I feel physically sick about it all.”
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Cleveland Police District Commander, for Redcar and Cleveland, Emily Harrison said: “Understandably this is a distressing and tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the child’s family.
“There is a scene in place at the address while an investigation into the child’s death begins.
“I would encourage anyone who has concerns or information to please speak to an officer.”
Anyone who has concerns or information is encouraged to speak to an officer. If you have information, please call 101 or visit our website quoting reference number 066204.
The King will make a major speech on April 21, to commemorate the life and legacy of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on what would have been her 100th birthday
The King is to lead commemorations for what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday on April 21 by delivering a rousing address to the nation, celebrating her life and legacy.
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The monarch will also, alongside Queen Camilla, host a special reception at Buckingham Palace, for dozens of representatives from organisations and charities with a deep connection to our late queen.
Charles has spent months handpicking the guest list from hundreds of patronages that Queen Elizabeth had throughout her life. Royal insiders have revealed that Charles’ personally penned emotional tribute will celebrate his beloved late mother’s achievements and her dedication to duty.
The King’s speech will also include a heartfelt video montage special moments from her life, expected to include footage of Elizabeth’s service During World War II in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, royal tours and engagements around the country and her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
Elizabeth II became Britain’s longest-serving monarch on September 9, 2015, surpassing the record of 63 years, seven months, and two days, of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.
In 2022, the country celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking Elizabeth’s 70-year milestone on the throne. She passed away peacefully at her Balmoral home in Scotland on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96.
The King and Queen Camilla, who are currently residing at their Birkhall home in Scotland on the Balmoral estate, will return to London on April 21, when the sovereign’s speech will be broadcast to the nation and the Commonwealth. Charles, 77, is expected to convey what an inspiration his mother was not only to himself personally, but to the rest of the royal family.
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Senior members of the royal family are also expected to accompany the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace for the special reception. The Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as the Princess Royal and Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are also hoping to attend.
In 1947, on her 21st birthday, a young Princess Elizabeth pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her people.
In his first address to the nation as monarch following his mother’s passing, King Charles III said: “That was more than a promise: it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life.”
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A royal source said: “The 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II birth will not only be a poignant moment of reflection for His Majesty, it will be a cause for celebration of an incredible life well lived and a life dedicated to duty and to her country.
“It is both the King and Queen’s sincere wish that the commemorations honour the late Queen’s profound devotion to service and celebrate how much she was respected and admired around the world.”
As well as the King leading commemorations on the day, a range of engagements will also be held around the period to reflect both her 70-year reign and Elizabeth II’s cultural legacy.
A national monument in St James’s Park in London has already been announced, with further details of final preparations expected soon, alongside other national memorial projects, cultural exhibitions, heritage openings and commemorative initiatives.
Key features of the winning design for the permanent national monument include a statue of the Queen in a new civic space called Queen Elizabeth II Place at Marlborough Gate, a new Prince Philip Gate on the other side of the park on Birdcage Walk with a statue of Philip, as well as a “family of gardens”, meandering paths and a new translucent, glass unity bridge.
After The Mirror exclusively revealed plans for the monument, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it would provide “everyone with a place to honour the late Queen and connect with the shared history we cherish”.
The memorial bridge is inspired by the tiara Queen Elizabeth wore on her wedding day to the late Prince Philip in 1947. The tiara, known as the Queen Mary Fringe diamond tiara, famously broke just hours before she was due to walk down the aisle.
The new crossing, located a stone’s throw away from the bronze statues on the Mall, will replace the park’s existing Blue Bridge and will serve as a fitting reminder of the late Queen’s achievements during her 70-year reign.
A landmark exhibition called ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’, announced this week, will welcome thousands of visitors to the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace until October 2026.
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The specially curated exhibition will put on show for the first time the largest collection of the Queen’s outfits and personal belongings.
A new commemorative garden is also opening in London’s Regent’s Park to honour her life and the Royal Mint will issue special £5 coins marking the centenary.
A royal source said: “The tone will not be somber, but rather a celebration and a chance for people across our four nations and the Commonwealth to come together and reflect on an amazing life and legacy of our late Queen.”
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