Stanley Murphy-Johns

Around 100 firefighters using 15 fire engines are battling a fire involving approximately 50 tonnes of household waste at a recycling facility on Landmann Way in Deptford, southeast London. Heavy smoke has prompted advice for residents to keep windows and doors closed, while the cause remains unknown. Rail services between London Bridge, Canada Water and New Cross are blocked or severely disrupted, with delays of up to 100 minutes expected. The incident follows another major London fire at a Wembley hotel during a period of severe heatwave pressure on emergency services.

Gerry Duffy, 76, pleaded guilty after entering his neighbour Andreas Ptohides’s garden in Barnet and using motor oil and detergent to damage the pond, kill five or six koi carp and destroy a noisy water pump. Duffy said the pump had driven him to exhaustion and frustration after keeping him awake. He received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £565 in compensation.

Gerry Duffy, 76, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court to three counts of criminal damage and unlawfully destroying fish after climbing into his neighbour Andreas Ptohides’s garden and using motor oil and detergent to damage a pond, pump and pipes. The dispute arose because the pond’s water pump kept Duffy awake; five or six koi carp died and the damage was valued at £565. Duffy received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £565 in compensation.

A French boy who survived being thrown 100 feet from the Tate Modern’s viewing platform in 2019 has been discharged from hospital after a recent setback in his recovery. His family said he briefly returned to school, resumed learning and regained his smile, while continuing intensive physiotherapy, speech therapy and neuropsychological rehabilitation. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than £500,000 for medical costs. The family plans a tandem paragliding flight, a seaside trip and a return to adaptive swimming and maths tutoring. The attacker, Jonty Bravery, is serving a life sentence for attempted murder and recently received an additional 16-week sentence for assaulting two nurses at Broadmoor.

A French boy who suffered life-changing injuries after Jonty Bravery pushed him from a viewing balcony at London’s Tate Modern in 2019 has been discharged from hospital. His family said he briefly returned to school and has regained his smile after a setback in recovery. More than £500,000 has been raised through GoFundMe to fund intensive physiotherapy, speech therapy and neuropsychological treatment. Bravery pleaded guilty to attempted murder and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years; he was later jailed for assaulting nurses at Broadmoor Hospital.

Four passengers, including a baby girl, died after a red Hyundai left the A38 near Derby and crashed into trees. Two women aged 18 and 30 and a 36-year-old man died at the scene, while the baby girl later died in hospital. The 33-year-old driver suffered serious injuries and was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Four young men—Jack Diggle, Benjamin Dooley, Andrew Roberts and Craig Shackleton-Brady—were killed when a black Seat Cupra left Liverpool Road in Huyton and struck a lamppost shortly before 2am on Friday. Their families released tributes describing the men as loving, kind and devoted, while Merseyside Police appealed for witnesses and information about the crash.

Two witnesses have provided statements to the Criminal Cases Review Commission naming Raymond Buck as the alleged killer of Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan in Kent in 1996. Michael Stone, who was convicted of murdering them and attempting to murder Josie Russell, has maintained his innocence for 29 years. A witness says he overheard Buck confess on the day of the attacks; Buck, who had a history of violence, died by suicide in 2000. Stone’s solicitor Karen Todner says the CCRC is reviewing the new testimony and conducting advanced DNA analysis involving Stone and a member of Buck’s family, with a DNA match potentially prompting a referral to the Court of Appeal.

RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Lincolnshire to intercept a Qatar Airways flight from Doha after a hoax threat was reported to National Air Traffic Services. The aircraft landed safely at Manchester Airport, and no danger to passengers or crew was found. A 14-year-old boy from Bolton is assisting Greater Manchester Police with its investigation, while police warned that hoax calls cause serious disruption and divert emergency resources.

A 14-year-old boy from Bolton was identified by police after a hoax threat was made against a Qatar Airways flight travelling from Doha to Manchester. The alert prompted RAF Typhoons to scramble from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, while police, NATS and airport authorities responded. The aircraft landed safely at 19:45 BST, with no danger to passengers or crew. Greater Manchester Police said the boy was assisting with inquiries and warned that false reports can disrupt emergency services and lead to serious consequences.

Five Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit officers were injured when their boat collided with Westminster Bridge in central London while responding to a report of a person in the River Thames near Battersea. Three officers were thrown into the water, and all five were rescued and taken to hospital. Four remained hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while one was discharged. The crash caused significant disruption to traffic and transport services.

Five Metropolitan Police officers were injured when a Marine Policing Unit boat struck Westminster Bridge while responding to a report of a person in the water near Battersea. Three officers were thrown into the Thames; four remained in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while one was discharged. Other river users helped rescue the officers, and the crash caused road, Underground and river-service disruptions in central London.

Greater Manchester Police launched an urgent manhunt for Marwan Jumaa, a 20-year-old prisoner who escaped from North Manchester Hospital during a medical transfer. Jumaa, who is serving an indefinite secure hospital sentence after pleading guilty to assaults, robbery and grievous bodily harm, was last seen in Radcliffe and is believed to have links across Greater Manchester, Leeds and London. Police have circulated CCTV footage, deployed specialist search teams and instructed the public not to approach him but to call 999 if he is sighted.

Criminal gangs are using TikTok and Instagram to target young people with offers of cheap or free holidays in exchange for smuggling cannabis from countries where it is legal. UK Border Force reports a sharp rise in cannabis smuggling cases and record-high drug seizures, warning that couriers risk severe prison sentences and long-term travel restrictions. Young travellers are urged to reject free trips, avoid carrying others’ bags, and report suspicious approaches to authorities.

Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers were each sentenced to five years and six months in prison for a cyber attack on Transport for London carried out between 31 August and 3 September 2024. After tricking TfL’s helpdesk into resetting a password, they obtained highly privileged access through Microsoft Azure, accessed Oyster refund data, delayed contactless services and disrupted photoc ard applications. TfL disconnected its systems from the internet to prevent potentially catastrophic damage, while the disruption and operational response were estimated to have caused £29 million in damage and £10 million in lost income. The pair, linked to the Scattered Spider hacking group, admitted computer-related conspiracy offences; Flowers also admitted attacks on two US healthcare systems that were interrupted by his arrest.

Two young hackers, Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers, were sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a multi‑day cyber attack on Transport for London that caused more than £29 million in damages and forced TfL to shut down its own systems to avert wider catastrophe. The pair gained high‑level access after tricking a helpdesk, used TfL’s infrastructure to further penetrate its network and livestreamed parts of the intrusion. Prosecutors described the attack as reckless with potential for nationwide disruption. Both defendants admitted charges related to unauthorised computer acts, with Flowers also linked to attempted hacks on US healthcare systems discovered at his arrest.

Thalha Jubair, 20, and Owen Flowers, 18, were each sentenced to five years and six months in prison for a cyberattack on Transport for London in September 2024. The hackers obtained highly privileged network access, forcing TfL to disconnect systems and disrupting Oyster refunds, contactless payments and employee operations. The attack caused an estimated £29 million in damage and £10 million in lost income, and the defendants were linked to the Scattered Spider group.

An inquest heard that train driver Shaun Burton died from traumatic injuries after his East Midlands Railway service passed a red signal and collided with a stationary train near Bedford. Investigators reported that the stopped train had halted due to a fault that triggered its brakes and turned the signal behind it red. Data showed Burton’s train applied brakes shortly before impact, reducing speed from 77mph to 49mph. The ongoing RAIB and British Transport Police investigations will continue before the inquest resumes.

Safi Dawood admitted the manslaughter of dog walker Wayne Broadhurst during a violent incident in Uxbridge on 27 October 2025, citing diminished responsibility because he was experiencing a psychotic state. Prosecutors accepted the manslaughter plea after medical experts confirmed an abnormality of mental functioning and loss of contact with reality. Dawood also admitted wounding his landlord Shahzad Farrukh, causing actual bodily harm to a 14-year-old boy and possessing an offensive weapon, but will stand trial for the attempted murders of Farrukh and the teenager.

Heat health alerts across England and Wales were extended as temperatures reached record highs, with multiple regions placed under amber and yellow warnings. Authorities warned of increased health risks, water-related incidents and wildfire dangers, while emergency services responded to fires in Derbyshire and London. Forecasters expect continued high temperatures, shifting heat focus and potential thunderstorms in southern areas, alongside improving conditions in northern Scotland.

Britain is experiencing a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures expected to remain above 30°C across England and Wales and potentially set records for consecutive hot days. Emergency services have warned of extreme wildfire risks and rising demand, while amber and yellow heat-health alerts remain in force across much of England. Several water companies have imposed hosepipe bans because of strained supplies, and two 18-year-old men have died in separate water-related incidents, prompting renewed warnings about water safety. Thunderstorms may bring some relief to southern areas from Monday.

A shrubbery fire near Stratford Station temporarily closed the station and caused severe delays on the Elizabeth, Mildmay and Jubilee lines. The London Fire Brigade warned of an extreme wildfire risk across London because of dry, hot and windy conditions, while Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall urged people to avoid disposable barbecues and dispose of rubbish and cigarettes safely. The Met Office reported that 2026 had already seen a record six days with temperatures of at least 35°C.

A fire near the railway line forced the closure of Stratford Station in London, causing severe delays across several transport lines as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. The London Fire Brigade warned that prolonged dry weather and high temperatures are pushing the city's wildfire risk from elevated to extreme, urging residents to avoid activities that could spark fires. Officials highlighted the growing dangers during the ongoing heatwave, with recent temperatures reaching record highs for the year.

Mark Harding, Robert Townsend and Peter Costello were each sentenced to five years and three months in prison for a highly organised burglary at a pharmaceutical distribution site in St Albans. They entered through an air-conditioning duct, bypassed alarms, sprayed CCTV cameras and stole £944,544.89 worth of Mounjaro weight-loss drugs. Harding and Townsend also admitted possessing criminal property after police found £35,000 and £19,900 in cash hidden at their homes. The drugs have not been recovered, and proceeds-of-crime proceedings will follow.

Nandito Badea and George Stana were sentenced to eight and 12 years respectively for the targeted stabbing of Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati outside his Wimbledon home in March 2024. The judge concluded that the attack was carried out for the benefit of a foreign power and that the defendants ought to have known of its connection to the Iranian state. Prosecutors said the assault followed reconnaissance and was ordered through third parties, while the defence disputed the men’s knowledge and, in Badea’s case, his role as the stabber. Zeraati said the attack left him fearful and forced him to relocate abroad. Counter Terrorism Police said they have foiled 20 Iran-linked plots in the UK since 2022, and Iran International described the convictions as an important response to an ongoing campaign of intimidation.

Police are searching for Emmanuel Sakyi, convicted in absentia of causing the death of his seven‑month‑old daughter after driving drunk and on the wrong side of the road in Milton Keynes. Jurors heard he failed to secure the child properly and collided with an oncoming car before fleeing the scene. He received a 15‑year prison sentence and an 18‑year driving ban. Thames Valley Police issued an appeal urging the public to report sightings but not to approach him.

Resident doctors in England have approved a government offer on pay and working conditions, ending a prolonged period of industrial action that included 21 strike days since July 2025. The agreement provides an average 6.6% pay rise to be implemented by April 2027, standardizes 2016 contract terms for all locally employed doctors and adds 4,500 specialty training places over three years. The Department of Health and Social Care says the package will bring average pay 35.2% higher than four years earlier. Health Secretary James Murray welcomed the deal as a step toward stability for the NHS. The vote followed the postponement of a planned four‑day strike after the offer was issued.

Resident doctors in England have voted to accept the government’s offer on pay and working conditions, ending a year of industrial action. The agreement extends standard 2016 contract terms to locally employed medics, delivers an average 6.6% pay uplift by April 2027, and creates 4,500 additional specialty training places over three years. The Department of Health and Social Care says the package will make average resident doctor pay 35.2% higher than four years ago, while Health Secretary James Murray said it would allow the NHS to move beyond the disruption and focus on rebuilding.

Former Nigerian petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke was cleared by a Southwark Crown Court jury of five bribery charges and one conspiracy charge. Prosecutors alleged that energy industry figures funded luxury properties, renovations, shopping, transport and household staff for her in exchange for Nigerian government contracts. Alison-Madueke consistently denied wrongdoing. Oil company owner Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, were also acquitted of related charges.

Naomi Campbell told a London tribunal that she was deceived by Bianka Hellmich, whom she says presented herself as a qualified lawyer and assumed responsibility for Fashion For Relief’s regulatory and financial affairs. Campbell is appealing a five-year ban from serving as a charity trustee after the Charity Commission found serious mismanagement, including spending on a Cannes hotel stay, spa treatments, cigarettes and room service. The commission argues that Campbell could not legally delegate her trustee responsibilities and act only as a figurehead. Hellmich and another trustee, Veronica Chou, were also disqualified, while alleged forgery and fraud have been referred to police.

Naomi Campbell is appealing a five-year Charity Commission ban from serving as a charity trustee. The ban followed findings of serious financial mismanagement at Fashion For Relief, including spending on Campbell’s hotel accommodation, spa treatments and cigarettes. Campbell says she was deceived by Bianka Hellmich, whom she accuses of forging her signature and misrepresenting her legal credentials; allegations of forgery and fraud have been referred to police.

Arsenal fans celebrating during a Premier League trophy parade in London created dangerous scenes by climbing trees, rooftops and traffic lights. Emergency services rescued about 75 people from precarious positions, while the London Fire Brigade attended a hotel fire believed to have been caused by a stray flare and warned against rooftop climbing and pyrotechnics. The Metropolitan Police made 16 arrests for offences including disorderly behaviour, drug offences, sexual assault and assaults on emergency workers. A separate stabbing on Hornsey Road left one man hospitalized.

The garden in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, containing the original Bramley apple tree has been sold to neighbouring property owners Joshua and Alicia Wheatley, ending campaigners’ efforts to create a public heritage and education site. Artist and campaign co-founder Dan Llywelyn Hall criticised Nottingham Trent University, which owned the garden, saying institutions had failed the tree despite a fundraising campaign that collected £14,000. The university said the new custodians would preserve the more than 200-year-old tree, maintain its heritage and allow public access for events. The original tree gave rise to millions of saplings and the commercially important Bramley cooking apple, which is widely grown in the UK.

Prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Metropolitan Police officers Chris Johnson and Danny Tomkins were driving at more than 70mph in a 30mph zone and overtaking vehicles on the wrong side of Eltham Road before a fatal collision. Johnson allegedly reached about 80mph and collided with Mariam Ahmed’s Volkswagen Polo, killing her unborn child; Ahmed later died, according to the report’s framing. Johnson faces a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, while Tomkins denies a dangerous-driving charge. Both men were granted unconditional bail and are due to appear at the Old Bailey on June 25.

Around 18,000 customers in Kent are experiencing intermittent water supplies after record-breaking May temperatures drove demand sharply higher. South East Water pumped 660 million litres on Tuesday—more than 100 million litres above the daily average—and has established bottled-water stations. Customers are being asked to use water only for essential purposes and store some for drinking, washing and cooking while reservoir levels recover.

Twelve-year-old Junior Slater died after getting into difficulty in the River Ribble at Ribchester during a period of record-breaking UK temperatures. His family paid tribute to him, while the Royal Life Saving Society warned that open water remains dangerously cold despite warmer air. He was one of nine people, mostly children, reported to have died after incidents in open water across the UK.

Former Dorset Police officer Lorne Castle pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Daniel Meyrick during a June altercation outside a Nike store at Bournemouth's Castlepoint shopping centre. Prosecutors allege Castle improperly restrained Meyrick for 20 to 30 minutes, causing a fractured hip that required surgery, despite the incident being described publicly as a citizens' arrest. Castle, who left the police force weeks before the incident, was granted bail with a condition prohibiting contact with Meyrick and is due to appear at Reading Crown Court on 23 June.

The Metropolitan Police will increase the proactive release of body-worn camera footage to counter selectively edited social-media clips, improve transparency and rebuild public trust. The policy was trialled after the Golders Green knife attack, when footage was released within hours amid criticism of officers’ use of force. The force also released footage from a Unite the Kingdom protest and plans to disclose video where practical to help trace suspects, support court proceedings, highlight heroic actions or clarify significant and contentious events. Commander Neerav Patel said the approach would support officers while acknowledging that the Met must remain transparent when it gets things wrong.

The Metropolitan Police plans to release body-worn camera footage more proactively and quickly to counter selectively edited social media clips, improve transparency and rebuild public trust. The approach was trialled after the Golders Green knife attack, when footage was released within hours amid criticism of officers’ use of force. Commander Neerav Patel said the policy would help demonstrate police work, protect officers from misrepresentation and acknowledge mistakes, with releases also intended to help identify suspects, support court proceedings and clarify contentious incidents.

Science teacher Jennifer Farron has been prohibited from teaching indefinitely after the Teaching Regulation Agency found that she fostered excessive and overly personal email contact with vulnerable pupils at St John Bosco Arts College in Liverpool. Communications included late-night messages and expressions of affection, and Farron was also found to have deleted relevant emails and asked pupils to do the same. She admitted the allegations, acknowledged that she should have sought further help, and can apply to overturn the order from May 2029 or appeal to the High Court.

Meghan marked her eighth wedding anniversary with Prince Harry by sharing 24 previously unseen photographs from their 19 May 2018 wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The images show candid moments, the ceremony, Harry’s speech, evening celebrations and a performance by Sir Elton John, and were credited to photographer Chris Allerton. The wedding was officiated by Justin Welby, cost an estimated £32 million and was reported to have generated around £1 billion for the British economy.

King Charles visited a Jewish Care centre in Golders Green to meet victims of the 29 April stabbings and demonstrate support for the local Jewish community. Victim Moshe Ben Baila, also known as Norman Shine, praised the King’s warmth and said the community regarded him as a genuine friend. The King also met Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and members of the Shomrim security group before greeting local residents. Essa Suleiman remains in custody accused of three counts of attempted murder.

King Charles visited Golders Green to show solidarity with the UK Jewish community after stabbings in the area on 29 April. He met victims Shloime Rand and Moshe Ben Baila at a JewishCare centre, alongside Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, and spoke with members of Shomrim, who helped respond to the attacks. Essa Suleiman has been remanded in custody and accused of three counts of attempted murder.

Prince Harry has written in The New Statesman about rising antisemitism in the UK, arguing that legitimate criticism of state actions in the Middle East must not become hostility toward Jewish people or any other faith. He acknowledged the loss of life in Gaza and Lebanon while calling for anger to be directed at governments rather than entire communities, and linked his position to his own past mistake of wearing a Nazi uniform in 2005. Harry urged greater clarity and responsibility in polarized public debate and called for opposition to both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. The article also reports that Prince William stressed the importance of preserving the truth amid Holocaust distortion and rising antisemitism.

Prince Harry has expressed profound concern about a rise in antisemitism across the UK, warning that silence enables hatred and extremism. He distinguished legitimate criticism of state actions from prejudice against Jewish people, while acknowledging alarm over civilian deaths in Gaza and Lebanon. Reflecting on his own past mistakes, he argued that a lack of nuance is intensifying division and called for opposition to both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate.

Rod Stewart congratulated King Charles at a Royal Albert Hall event marking the 50th anniversary of The King's Trust, saying the King had put Donald Trump “in his place” during his recent US state visit. Charles appeared to laugh off the comment, while Ronnie Wood was seen grinning nearby. The visit included the King’s address to Congress on NATO and climate change, and the event highlighted the charity’s support for more than 1.3 million young people.

Prosecutors told the Old Bailey that Roman Lavrynovych, Petro Pochynok and Stanislav Carpiuc were offered payment by a Russian-speaking contact known as “El Money” to set fire to a car and two homes linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer in north London. Lavrynovych also faces charges over two additional properties. All three men deny conspiracy to damage property by fire, and the trial is expected to continue until the end of May.

Shafiq Rahman admitted racially aggravated assault, threatening behaviour and criminal damage after verbally abusing and attacking an Orthodox Jewish man in Slough. Rahman allegedly used antisemitic slurs, accused the victim of killing babies in Palestine and threatened to break his jaw. A judge described the incident as a “pure hate crime.” Rahman was granted bail pending sentencing on 10 July.

Shafiq Rahman pleaded guilty at Reading Magistrates’ Court to racially aggravated common assault, fear or provocation of violence, and criminal damage after verbally abusing an Orthodox Jewish man in Slough. Rahman was filmed calling the victim a “dirty Jew,” accusing him of killing babies in Palestine and threatening to break his jaw. The judge described the incident as a completely unprovoked hate crime, and Rahman was granted bail pending sentencing on July 10.

Karin Al-Danasurt, an Egyptian asylum seeker, was convicted alongside Ibrahim Alshafe and Iranian national Abdulla Ahmadi over the rape of a woman on Brighton beach. Prosecutors told the court that Al-Danasurt had allegedly been convicted of murder in Egypt, but the claim was disputed by his defence and excluded from the jury trial. Further inquiries into his overseas criminal history are continuing. The government says the three men will be considered for deportation after sentencing, although prosecutors cautioned that removal is not guaranteed and arrangements depend on legal and diplomatic factors.

Reform UK has proposed requiring schools to display the Union flag and a portrait of King Charles III, celebrate St George’s Day, and teach a more explicitly patriotic history curriculum. The party says a new curriculum would be introduced within its first 100 days in government, with British history making up at least 60% of assessed content and the education secretary empowered to intervene if this is not met. Reform’s would-be education secretary Suella Braverman argues that existing Tory and Labour policies have weakened academic rigour and national identity. The proposals also include funding for schools in Scotland and Wales to fly the Union flag alongside their national flags, despite education being devolved, while the party acknowledges that many of its preferred historical topics are already covered in GCSE courses.

Reform UK has proposed mandatory displays of the King’s portrait and the Union flag in every school, alongside “patriotic” history lessons intended to promote national pride and challenge what it calls a progressive view of British history. If it formed a government, the party says it would introduce a new curriculum within 100 days, requiring at least 60 per cent of assessed history content to cover British history and giving the Education Secretary powers to intervene. Suella Braverman, the party’s prospective education secretary, said the changes would help children understand the privilege of being British.

King Charles III appointed historian Lord Peter Hennessy, former cabinet secretary Lord Augustine Thomas O’Donnell and former chief justice Lord Ian Burnett to the Order of the Garter on St George’s Day. Founded by Edward III in 1348, the order is Britain’s oldest and most senior honour, and the appointments bring its membership to 23 of a maximum 24 companions.

King Charles III marked St George’s Day by appointing three distinguished members of the House of Lords—historian Peter Hennessy, former cabinet secretary Augustine Thomas O’Donnell and former Lord Chief Justice Ian Burnett—to the Order of the Garter. The appointments bring the Order’s membership to 23 of a possible 24 companions. The ancient honour, founded by Edward III, is awarded personally by the sovereign and is celebrated annually at Windsor Castle.

More than 59,000 UK businesses and organizations may pursue a £1.7 billion collective action against Microsoft, alleging that its licensing practices overcharged customers using Windows Server on rival cloud services. The Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that the claim can proceed and granted opt-out collective proceedings status, finding it had a real prospect of success. Microsoft disputes the allegations and plans to appeal, arguing that the tribunal failed to follow recent Supreme Court precedent.

Cunard will bring Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Anne together on the River Mersey in Liverpool on 16 May 2028, marking the first time its four ships have assembled. The event will celebrate Cunard’s origins in Liverpool, coincide with the 20th anniversary of the city’s European Capital of Culture designation, and follow a 2015 gathering of three ships that attracted more than one million spectators.

Ahoor Ramabark Fathi, 61, pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to intending to supply Class A and Class B drugs, possessing a firearm and ammunition, and possessing criminal property. Police found 2,256 litres of GBL in a storage container linked to him, along with 456g of crystal meth, £100,000 in cash, a firearm and ammunition at associated addresses in Ealing and Southall. The Metropolitan Police said the seizure was one of the largest discoveries of GBL in London and disrupted supplies linked to spiking and the chemsex scene. Fathi is due to be sentenced on July 23.

Former MI5 employee Juan Joseph, 43, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after being accused of repeatedly disclosing sensitive information to a foreign power and attempting to arrange a meeting at its embassy in Latvia. The Old Bailey heard that he had paranoid schizophrenia and did not understand that his actions were wrong. Following psychiatric assessments, the court imposed an indefinite hospital order under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act, requiring his detention at Broadmoor Hospital and Ministry of Justice approval for release. The judge concluded that untreated deterioration could pose a serious risk to national security and individuals.

Waitrose dismissed 54-year-old employee Walker Smith after he confronted a shoplifter stealing chocolate Easter eggs at its Clapham Junction branch. Smith, who had worked for the company for 17 years, said he briefly struggled with the thief and threw chocolate in frustration after the thief fled. Waitrose said reports did not contain the full facts and defended its policy prohibiting staff from intervening in thefts because of safety risks. The dismissal comes amid rising shoplifting in England and Wales and discussion among politicians about protections for retail workers who intervene.

Long-serving Waitrose employee Walker Smith says he was dismissed after confronting a shoplifter carrying a bag of Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs at the retailer’s Clapham Junction branch. Smith says he acted out of frustration after years of witnessing thefts and feels demoralised by the dismissal, while Waitrose maintains that staff must not intervene because shoplifting confrontations can seriously endanger employees and customers. The dispute comes as recorded shoplifting offences in England and Wales rise, prompting Conservative calls for legal protections for retail workers who act as Good Samaritans.

Southampton Solent University is expected to recommend rescinding Scott Mills’s honorary doctorate after the BBC terminated his contract following allegations concerning his personal conduct. The BBC acknowledged that it had known about a 2017 police investigation into an alleged historical sexual offence but said it acted decisively after receiving new information. Mills said he had fully cooperated with the investigation, which was closed in 2019 because prosecutors found insufficient evidence to bring charges. Outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie described the dismissal as a shock and said the broadcaster’s culture was improving but not fully fixed.

Former BBC Radio One DJ Tim Westwood, 68, is facing charges of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault involving seven women, with alleged offences said to have occurred between the 1980s and 2010 in London and Gloucestershire. He denies all charges and has pleaded not guilty. A pre-trial review is scheduled for 14 December, with the full trial due to begin on 25 January 2027.

Former BBC and Capital Xtra DJ Tim Westwood, 68, is due to appear at a pre-trial review at Southwark Crown Court on 14 December, with his trial scheduled to begin on 25 January 2027. He faces charges relating to alleged rape, sexual assault and indecent assault involving seven women, dating from the 1980s through the 2010s. Westwood denies all charges and has been granted bail on condition that he does not contact the complainants.

The meningitis outbreak in Kent has risen to 34 cases, including 23 confirmed cases and 11 under investigation, with two student deaths reported. Hundreds of people have sought vaccinations at the University of Kent, while authorities have administered nearly 5,800 vaccines and distributed more than 11,000 antibiotic courses. Officials say the risk to the wider public remains low but warn that small, sporadic household clusters could occur elsewhere in the UK.

Seven people were jailed for organizing about 140 drone flights that delivered drugs, mobile phones, USB sticks and other contraband to at least nine UK prisons between December 2024 and February 2025. Ringleader Shafaghatullah Mohseni received five years and three months, while the other defendants received sentences of 27 to 33 months. The Metropolitan Police said the group accounted for 75% of drone drops into London prisons during the period. The judge condemned the scheme’s corrosive effect on prison safety, while the chief inspector of prisons warned that drones created an escalating security risk.

A seven-member gang led by Shafaghatullah Mohseni was sentenced for using drones to deliver drugs, weapons and mobile phones to inmates at at least nine prisons in London and southeast England. The operation carried out about 70 drops and 140 flights between December 2024 and February 2025, generating more than £30,000 for Mohseni. Metropolitan Police arrested Mohseni and three accomplices while they were travelling to a delivery at HMP Norwich; Mohseni received five years and three months, while the other gang members were sentenced to between 27 and 33 months.

Former techno DJ Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for selling nearly £7m of aircraft engine parts with forged authenticity certificates through AOG Technics. The parts were used in CFM56 engines powering Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft, prompting global safety alerts and the grounding of planes in 2023. Airlines’ known losses reached £39.3m, including more than £21m incurred by American Airlines, while Ethiopian Airlines bought 5,627 falsely documented parts. The fraud was uncovered after a bolt supplied to Portugal’s TAP failed to fit, leading investigators to expose the forged records. Zamora Yrala was also barred from serving as a company director for eight years, with proceeds-of-crime proceedings pending; a related Portuguese investigation remains ongoing.

Former techno DJ Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after admitting that his company, AOG Technics, sold nearly £7 million of counterfeit aircraft engine parts between 2019 and 2023. He forged more than 60,000 authenticity certificates for components used in CFM56 engines powering Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft. Safety alerts from UK, US and EU aviation agencies led to planes being grounded worldwide in August 2023, while airlines including Ethiopian Airlines and American Airlines suffered known losses of £39.3 million. Zamora Yrala was also barred from serving as a company director for eight years, with further proceeds-of-crime proceedings pending.

A clinical trial examining puberty blockers in children has been paused after the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency warned that participants should be at least 14 because of an unquantified risk of long-term biological harm. The King's College London-sponsored trial will not begin recruiting until discussions address the regulator’s concerns. The pause follows legal action and public opposition, while the Department of Health and Social Care says the study should proceed only if expert evidence establishes that it is safe and necessary.

Six companies directed by Sarah Ferguson are being wound down after applications were filed with Companies House to strike them off the register. The move follows the release of US government documents detailing Ferguson’s past correspondence and relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, including exchanges dated after his 2008 conviction. Ferguson’s charity, Sarah’s Trust, has also announced that it will close for the foreseeable future.

Six companies linked to Sarah Ferguson, including S Phoenix Events and Fergie's Farm, are being wound down after US authorities released Epstein-related documents detailing her contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Ferguson was the sole director of the companies. Her charity, Sarah's Trust, also announced its closure, while she changed her name on company documents from “Sarah Duchess of York” to “Sarah Margaret Ferguson.”

A 19-year-old University of Lancashire student, Carla Georgescu, was found dead at accommodation on Victoria Street in Preston. Police are treating the sudden death as suspicious and have arrested a 34-year-old man known to her on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody, and officers say they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the case.

Kent County Councillor Peter Osborne will face no disciplinary action after allegedly writing in a WhatsApp group that he wanted to punch a colleague in the jaw. Kent County Council concluded that the remark was not serious enough to warrant further action and that Osborne was not acting in his capacity as a councillor when he sent it. Opposition group leaders criticized the decision, while former Reform councillors accused Reform UK of hypocrisy because members had reportedly been expelled over less threatening WhatsApp messages. Osborne previously said the message was sent in frustration rather than malice and acknowledged that violence was never justified.