Darren Burke

Scissor Sisters delivered a flamboyant, camp and nostalgic performance at Halifax’s Piece Hall, led by Jake Shears and featuring hits including “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’,” “Laura,” “Fire with Fire” and “Let’s Have a Kiki.” Support came from Joel Gibb of The Hidden Cameras and Bimini, whose provocative set heightened the party atmosphere. The show included costume changes, dancers, inflatable props and a Jeep, while Shears reflected on the band’s return to live performance after a period away. The reviewer judged the concert an exuberant and unmissable celebration.

Serial sex offender Andrew Davies, also known as Andrew Barlow and Andrew Longmire, died from brain cancer at HMP Moorland in Doncaster on 28 February 2026, aged 69. He had received 13 life sentences for raping women across northern England, including a Sheffield attack witnessed by the victim’s three-year-old daughter, and was also convicted of attempting to murder two police officers during his arrest. A Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigation found that his prison healthcare was of a reasonable standard and equivalent to care available in the community; the coroner concluded that he died of natural causes.

A man fell approximately 30 feet onto a pavement in Doncaster city centre after climbing a drainpipe toward a top-floor window. The incident occurred on Cleveland Street on August 3, prompting an ambulance response; the man, who suffered cuts and bruises, was taken to hospital. An eyewitness said he had been involved in an argument before climbing the pipe, while South Yorkshire Police said its officers were not involved.

South Yorkshire Police raided an industrial warehouse in Lodge Lane, Braithwaite, Doncaster, uncovering 1,790 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £1.7 million. Three people were arrested: a 23-year-old man was charged with producing cannabis and appeared at Barnsley Magistrates' Court, while a 41-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were bailed. Police also seized weapons during the operation and said the farm was linked to an organised crime group. Authorities urged residents to report suspected cannabis cultivation to police or Crimestoppers.

Fire crews are expected to remain overnight at a large scrapyard fire on Bootham Lane near Hatfield in Doncaster. The blaze produced a thick plume of smoke visible across South Yorkshire and as far as Scunthorpe, prompting advice for nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed and warnings of traffic disruption. The response was reduced from nine fire engines and a command support unit to four engines as firefighters made progress.

A toddler was seriously injured after falling from a first-floor window on Burton Avenue in Balby, Doncaster, on July 26. The child was taken to hospital and remained in a life-threatening condition. South Yorkshire Police attended the scene, while the Yorkshire Air Ambulance landed on nearby playing fields and police closed the road.

Police are searching Doncaster woodland for 17-year-old Rachel, who has been missing from Lowestoft in Suffolk since July 23 and is believed to be with 39-year-old Craig Clarkson. South Yorkshire Police released CCTV images and said the pair may be in Brodsworth Woodland near Long Lands Lane or the Clay Ponds area of Askern. Specialist search teams, officers and detectives are involved, while police have urged the public to call 999 if Clarkson is seen and emphasized that Rachel is not in trouble and that officers are concerned for her welfare.

A Doncaster man, Stefan Wheeler, pleaded not guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to the murder of Najib Maghsodi, who died after a hit-and-run collision on Prince’s Street in April. Wheeler admitted several driving offences but denied the murder charge and remains in custody. Tributes from Maghsodi’s family and friends highlighted his character and upcoming fatherhood. A trial is scheduled to begin on November 30, 2026.

Liam Stapleton, 48, was sentenced to three years in prison at Sheffield Crown Court after being convicted of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent. He punched a man in the face and stamped on his head five times, leaving the victim with severe facial injuries. Stapleton had denied the more serious charge of wounding with intent but was convicted of the lesser offence following an April 2026 trial. South Yorkshire Police said the investigation led to his arrest and expressed hope that the sentence would provide closure for the victim.

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Mexborough for the funeral of 11-year-old Mackenzie Swift, who drowned in the River Don after a 48-hour search. Vehicles, buildings and streets were decorated in his favourite colour, yellow, and a parade of supercars and motorbikes accompanied the funeral procession. The community has raised nearly £19,000 for funeral costs, held memorial events and launched campaigns for improved waterway safety and a bridge named in his honour. An inquest into his death has been opened by the Doncaster Coroner.

A prison employee in Doncaster, Aiden Evans, received a sentence of four years and one month after admitting to nine sexual assaults and two attempted assaults against colleagues at HMP Moorland and during work-related events. A police investigation uncovered multiple victims and contradictory accounts from Evans, who initially claimed his actions were banter. Authorities praised the victims’ courage and confirmed Evans is barred from future employment in the prison service, with lifetime restraining orders issued to protect the victims.

A 55-year-old man died after suffering a serious stab wound to the neck at Galsworthy Close in Doncaster. South Yorkshire Police arrested a 46-year-old man on suspicion of murder and several related offences, including possession of an offensive weapon, dangerous driving and robbery. Police are investigating reports that people fled the scene and are appealing for witnesses and information, while the victim’s family is being supported.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster has welcomed Setanta, a 15-year-old Rothschild giraffe transferred 75 miles from Twycross Zoo after 11 years there. He arrived safely in a specialist Crossborder transporter and quickly settled into the giraffe house. Staff plan to introduce him to resident giraffes Jambo and Jengo, while animal director Charlotte MacDonald marked a reunion with an animal she previously cared for. Setanta will later explore the park’s Into Africa savannah alongside other species, while the article also explains the conservation status and distinguishing features of Rothschild giraffes.

A petition has been launched to rename the Ferry Boat Wharf footbridge near Mexborough the Mackenzie Swift Bridge, in memory of 11-year-old Mackenzie Swift, whose body was recovered from the River Don on June 2 after he went missing on May 30. His aunt Bryonie Whittington is also calling for a permanent yellow memorial, reflecting Mackenzie's favourite colour. The bridge has become a focal point for tributes, alongside school events, a church service and a balloon release. An inquest has opened, with a final hearing scheduled for February 16 next year.

Three friends from South Yorkshire—Steve Edson, Luke Taylor and Jonny Blank—will drive a 2010 London TX4 in the Bangers and Cash charity rally from Chesterfield to Whitby via northern England and Scotland from 17 to 21 September. Representing Spacestar Digital, they aim to raise £2,500 for Ashgate Hospice, which supports more than 2,600 people annually across North Derbyshire with life-limiting illnesses. The team will join 45 entrants and cover about 950 miles, using the rally to give the former taxi a final adventure.

More than £10,000 has been raised for the family of 11-year-old Mackenzie Swift, who died after entering the River Don near Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough. A memorial service was held at St John The Baptist Church, while flowers were laid at the scene. Mackenzie's body was recovered on Monday after extensive searches by South Yorkshire Police, an underwater team and Mountain Rescue volunteers. His school described him as kind, caring and humorous, and the community fundraiser is intended to help his family with funeral and related costs.

Ross Kent, 36, died after coming off his bike at Uncle Eddie’s motocross track on Bentley Moor Lane in Doncaster on May 31. Tributes have been paid by his family, friends and the motocross community, while a fundraising campaign organised by Adele Lashley had raised more than £3,000 for funeral costs and family expenses. South Yorkshire Police said Kent was pronounced dead at the scene and that an investigation remains open, with a file being prepared for the coroner.

More than £1,500 was raised for the family of 11-year-old Mackenzie Swift after police recovered a body from the River Don near Mexborough. Swift had been missing since entering the water on Saturday evening, and formal identification was still pending. South Yorkshire Police, Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, and specialist underwater teams took part in the search. The mountain rescue team paid tribute to Swift and thanked the local community for its support.

A 36-year-old motorcyclist died after coming off his bike at Uncle Eddie's motocross track on Bentley Moor Lane in Doncaster on 31 May. South Yorkshire Police said the man was pronounced dead at the scene, his family had been informed and supported, and a file was being prepared for the coroner while the investigation remained open. Venue owner Eddie Todd paid tribute and appealed to the motocross community's sense of solidarity.

Yorkshire Water employee Peter Saunders, 37, was arrested after police searched Bootham Lane Pumping Station in Dunscroft, Doncaster, on 8 May and found drugs, two handguns, a shotgun and ammunition. He has been charged with involvement in the supply of cocaine and firearms offences, appeared before Doncaster Magistrates’ Court, and was remanded in custody until a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on 9 June. Yorkshire Water said it could not comment while the investigation continues.

Family, friends and members of the public gathered in Doncaster for the funeral of seven-year-old Nyla May Bradshaw, who died after drowning in a pond at Owston Hall golf course on March 30 while in the care of a new childminder. Her coffin was carried in a pink horse-drawn carriage, followed by a balloon release and a gathering at a nearby restaurant. Nyla’s mother, Hayley Beardsley, described the service as a beautiful send-off and said it was “never goodbye” but “see you later.” A woman in her 30s has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and child neglect and remains on bail while inquiries continue.

Drivers are being warned of significant delays in South Yorkshire on Sunday 10 May as police escort a 510-tonne transformer from junction 28 of the M1 to Goole Docks. The 76-metre-long load will travel at about eight miles per hour along the M1, M18 and M62, requiring motorway exits, diversions and a contraflow near junction 36. South Yorkshire Police advises motorists to plan ahead, follow officers’ instructions and use alternative routes.

Doncaster-born writer Richard Cameron has died aged 77, prompting tributes from friends and local figures. Known for portraying South Yorkshire working-class life, particularly former mining communities, he wrote acclaimed theatre works including The Glee Club, All of You Mine and Pond Life, as well as television drama Stone, Scissors, Paper and an episode of Midsomer Murders. Cameron received several theatre and television awards, and his work explored subjects including the miners’ strike, community life and the experiences of local families during World War I.

Seven-year-old Doncaster dancer Sofia Michnea has died after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumour the previous year. Her dance school described her as kind, warm, talented and much loved, while friends and others remembered her infectious smile, generosity and passion for dancing. A fundraiser organized by family member Adrian Moldovan for Sofia’s mother, Ioana Michnea, raised more than £20,000. Sofia’s illness began suddenly while she was trick-or-treating, after which scans at Sheffield Children’s Hospital confirmed the tumour.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that two white men were arrested in connection with the reported rape of a woman on Bank Street in Mexborough, Doncaster, after false online claims alleged the suspects were illegal immigrants. A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape and a 45-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault; both were bailed pending further inquiries. Police are appealing for information, while the victim is receiving specialist support.

Two men aged 48 and 45 were arrested after a woman was reportedly raped by two men on Bank Street in Mexborough, Doncaster, at around 2:09 a.m. on 2 May 2026. Both men have been bailed pending further enquiries. South Yorkshire Police are continuing the investigation, while the victim is receiving specialist support and detectives are appealing for information.

A police cordon and forensic officers were present for much of the day on Bank Street in Mexborough, Doncaster, where officers focused on shops opposite the Corner Pocket club. Witnesses reported police cars, a heavy police presence, forensic teams and evidence markers. South Yorkshire Police had been asked for further details, but the nature of the incident was not yet confirmed.

Michael and Sheila Thwaites, aged 82 and 78, were found dead at their bungalow on Brockenhurst Road in Hatfield, Doncaster, on 26 April. Their identities were confirmed as inquests opened at Doncaster Coroner’s Court, while South Yorkshire Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that officers are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths.

Family and friends of seven-year-old Nyla May Bradshaw will hold a memorial fundraising walk in Doncaster on May 2 following her death in a pond at Owston Hall golf course on March 30. The event, organized by family friend Charlotte Cooper, will raise money for Nyla’s parents and awareness of the needs of children with special educational needs. A woman in her 30s has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and child neglect and bailed pending further inquiries, while the City of Doncaster Council says a multi-agency investigation is under way. A related GoFundMe campaign has raised more than £20,000.

South Yorkshire Police has closed a five-year investigation into allegations of widespread abuse of more than 100 children with learning disabilities at three Hesley Group care homes in Doncaster. Reported abuse included physical assaults, degrading treatment, discriminatory mistreatment and dangerous neglect. No staff or representatives of Hesley Group have been arrested or charged, and police reportedly never submitted a complete evidence file to prosecutors, saying the threshold for prosecution had not been met. The force also declined to publish the findings of an independent Hydrant review because families are pursuing legal action. Ofsted, South Yorkshire Police and the local authority had received repeated warnings before the homes were closed.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Reform UK to honour its commitments and support the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The dispute concerns a proposed £57 million loan that Reform councillors on Doncaster Council had previously supported but now want to reconsider after citing newly surfaced information. Labour says reversing the decision could kill the project, which it argues would create jobs and boost investment across South Yorkshire.

A rally was held outside Doncaster Sheffield Airport in Finningley to build support for reopening the facility, which closed in 2022. The demonstration took place ahead of a meeting on a proposed £57 million loan deal, after Reform UK councillors called for a fresh vote, citing new information and insisting there was no blank cheque. Labour warned that reversing the deal would effectively kill the reopening plan, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage backed reopening through private financing. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also urged Reform UK to stop delaying the airport's revival.

Nyla May Bradshaw’s parents have announced that her funeral will be open to the public on 9 May at Barnby Dun Crematorium, with mourners encouraged to wear pink or other light colours and attend a balloon release. A fundraising walk will also take place on 2 May in Doncaster, with proceeds going to the family; an associated GoFundMe campaign has raised more than £20,000. Nyla, a severely autistic seven-year-old, died after drowning in a pond at Owston Hall golf course while in the care of a new childminder. A woman in her 30s was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and child neglect and released on bail, while the City of Doncaster Council confirmed a multi-agency investigation.

Police are investigating the deaths of an 82-year-old man and a 78-year-old woman found at a property on Brockenhurst Road in Hatfield, Doncaster, on 26 April. Officers and ambulance personnel attended, but both were pronounced dead at the scene. A police cordon remains in place while detectives establish the circumstances; authorities say they are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths.

Tributes have been paid to an elderly couple after an 82-year-old man and a 78-year-old woman were found dead at a bungalow on Brockenhurst Road in Hatfield, Doncaster. South Yorkshire Police said officers discovered the pair after responding to reports of serious injuries on 26 April and confirmed that both died at the scene. The investigation remains ongoing, but police are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths. A police cordon is expected to remain in place while officers establish the circumstances.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is preparing to receive its first large jet since closing in 2022. 2Excel Aviation will land its specially adapted Boeing 727 Oil Spill Response Aircraft from Southend on 28 April, with the flight serving as a live test of the airport’s infrastructure, operational systems and safety procedures. Airport operations director Simon Hinchley said the event marks a shift from planning to practical delivery ahead of a phased reopening programme. Public access will be limited to designated viewing areas, with visitors asked to follow security instructions and avoid disrupting airport operations.

Tributes have been paid to 24-year-old Charlie Jay O’Rorke of Doncaster, who died on April 7 after lifelong health problems. Friends described her as polite, cheerful, full of life, and someone who brought laughter and light to others. A GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Wendy Gilson had raised £800 to help Charlie’s single mother cover funeral costs. The funeral will be held at St Peter’s Church in Conisbrough on May 6, followed by a service at Rotherham Crematorium.

Former Doncaster teaching assistant Pamela Martin, 44, and her partner Christopher O’Kane, 41, were each sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple child sexual offences, including making and distributing indecent images. Both must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and are subject to lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Orders. A joint investigation by Humberside Police and South Yorkshire Police found images of children on the couple’s devices dating from December 2024 to July 2025.

Lee Chadbourne, 38, of Doncaster, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to five years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice. He attacked a woman in a Leeds hotel with a wine bottle, punches and kicks, causing a serious eye injury requiring laser treatment. After being released on conditional bail, Chadbourne threatened and tried to pay the victim to drop the charges, leading to his further arrest and remand. He was also given a restraining order, while British Transport Police praised the victim for reporting the assault and supporting the investigation.

A new FlyDSA website has launched to provide information and updates on plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Built by Doncaster-based Moirae Creative, it will cover the project, Airport City and future developments. Around 50 people are already working on the site, while the airport seeks a fixed-base operator and advances an airspace-change proposal toward public consultation. The reopening faces renewed uncertainty after Reform UK councillors reconsidered their support for a £57 million loan, prompting a Doncaster Council meeting on April 30; Labour says blocking the funding would effectively end the project.

Actor Frazer Hammill, 41, was found dead at his Doncaster home on December 30, 2025, one day after being arrested and interviewed over an alleged sexual assault reported in Lytham. Lancashire Constabulary said he was bailed the same day and that the investigation was closed after police were informed of his death. A Doncaster inquest concluded that his death was a deliberate act involving planning and recorded the medical cause as hanging. His sister said the death was a complete shock and that the family had not known he was struggling, while former colleagues and theatre organizations remembered him as talented, kind-hearted and deeply loved.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that two firearms discharges targeting properties on Surrey Street and Sheppard Road in Balby, Doncaster, on April 17 and 19 are being treated as connected. No one was seriously injured. Officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries and appealing for information, while Detective Chief Inspector Simon Cartwright said investigators are pursuing all lines of enquiry to identify those responsible.

Owston Hall golf club in Doncaster is opening its grounds on April 3 from 3pm to 6pm for family, friends and members of the public to pay tribute to seven-year-old Nyla May Bradshaw, who died in a pond at the course. Visitors can lay flowers and share memories, but have been asked not to release balloons because of concerns about surrounding farmland. Donations to support Nyla’s parents, Hayley and Kieran, through GoFundMe are nearing £20,000.

Cristina Târnoveanu, 29, has been ordered to return from Britain to Romania to serve a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for the ill-treatment of a minor. She reportedly left her two-year-old daughter alone while going out in Iași, fled Romania after being released pending appeal, and was later found in Doncaster. Westminster Magistrates’ Court confirmed that she was ordered to Romania on conditional bail.

Macauly Burdis was sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to wounding a man during a group assault on Ramsden Road in Hexthorpe on June 2, 2025. CCTV linked the attack to Burdis’s Audi S3, while forensic testing identified his handprint on a nearby parked car. He also pleaded guilty to possessing crack cocaine and other cocaine with intent to supply.

Amazon is investigating after footage from a Ring doorbell camera showed a delivery driver entering an unlocked house on Cedar Road in Thorne, Doncaster, after the occupants did not answer immediately. Three children were inside, and the homeowner said the incident left them feeling unsafe and prompted the family to keep the door locked. Amazon said the driver worked for one of its delivery partners and that it was looking into the matter.

Cusworth Hall near Doncaster has received a £116,000 Arts Council England grant secured by City of Doncaster Council. The funding will support a new commercial plan for Cusworth Hall and Park, expanded volunteering opportunities, and an architectural assessment of the Grade II listed Bothy, which is currently used for storage and teaching. The investment is intended to strengthen the site's financial resilience, heritage offer and long-term future.

Violence at HMP Doncaster has increased over the past five years, with 359 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults recorded in 2024/25—a 53% rise since 2020—and assaults on staff rising from 78 to 86. The figures form part of a wider national increase in prison violence, which researchers link to overcrowding, staffing pressures, inadequate activity, security concerns and poor mental health. The Ministry of Justice says it is responding through £40 million in security investment and plans to create 14,000 additional prison places by 2031. A solicitor said prison authorities have a duty to protect inmates and staff and may face compensation claims where that duty is breached.