Ewan Gawne

Syed Rafay Ahmad was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to life in prison, with a minimum term of 27 years and four months, after stabbing his wife, Anam Rafay, 40 times in their Wythenshawe home. The court heard that Ahmad had subjected her to years of controlling and abusive behaviour and attacked her after she decided to leave and seek a divorce. Anam escaped to a neighbour’s home but collapsed and died after Ahmad continued the assault. He initially denied murder and claimed psychosis before changing his plea during the trial. Greater Manchester Police described the attack as horrific and cold-blooded and stressed the lasting impact of domestic abuse on victims and families.

Around 70 RMT members employed by Avanti West Coast at Manchester Piccadilly plan a 24-hour strike over the dismissal of a colleague following anonymous conduct allegations. The union claims the worker was scapegoated amid a toxic workplace culture and wants the dismissal overturned, with further strikes planned for August and October. Avanti West Coast says it conducted a thorough investigation, criticizes the industrial action, and says contingency plans will prevent disruption to train services.

Bride-to-be Sarah Burwin was worried that increased security at Manchester’s No 10 North, which shares a building with the Manchester Register Office, would disrupt her 21 August wedding. After her TikTok post attracted one million views, Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded humorously with “noted Saz” and reassured her that weddings would continue. Burwin also joked with nightlife figure Sacha Lord about arranging a joint DJ set for the reception.

Residents living near the Astley Warehouse Business Park in Tyldesley say overnight lorry movements, air brakes, reversing and other operational noise from Whistl’s new logistics site are disrupting sleep and reducing their quality of life and property values. Whistl, which is operating under an interim licence, says it is complying with restrictions on vehicle movements, horns and reversing alarms, and is monitoring noise while considering mitigation measures. The Office of the Traffic Commissioner says horn checks are guidance rather than an inflexible legal requirement and advises operators to use a risk-based approach. Wigan Council is working with the company and residents on possible solutions while Whistl’s application for a full licence remains under consideration.

Greater Manchester Police admitted failing to examine mobile phones seized twice from Jihad Al‑Shamie months before he carried out a deadly car and knife attack at a Manchester synagogue, despite the devices containing evidence of extremist views. Chief Constable Stephen Watson apologised, acknowledging that reviewing the data could have prompted further investigation. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is examining previous police contact with Al‑Shamie, including the handling of earlier allegations against him. Recent court proceedings revealed that Al‑Shamie and Mohammad Bashir, later jailed for plotting a separate attack, discussed martyrdom and extremist plans in WhatsApp messages. Upcoming inquests will assess whether the attack could have been prevented.

Police uncovered firearms, ammunition and a machete buried in the garden of a home on Crowngreen Road in Eccles, leading to multiple weapons and drug possession charges against 57‑year‑old David White. The charges stem from a warrant executed on 8 July, and he was scheduled to appear at Manchester Magistrates Court.

Rough sleeping in Greater Manchester fell significantly during Andy Burnham’s early years as mayor, supported by initiatives such as Housing First and the A Bed Every Night scheme, but numbers have risen again since 2021 due to factors including the cost‑of‑living crisis, asylum system pressures and limited social housing. Critics argue Burnham failed to meet his 2020 pledge, while academics and local charities highlight strong early results and national policy constraints. Experts note Manchester’s rough sleeping levels still compare favourably to national trends and credit Burnham’s leadership, though they stress that structural issues like austerity and housing shortages continue to drive homelessness.