Housing Shortage Sees More Tenants Evicted

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

Increasing numbers of private tenants are being evicted or exploited by landlords cashing in on the increase in house prices and the shortage of rented accommodation, according to latest figures.

Citizens Advice (CAB) saw a 38% rise in the number of people turning to the charity for help with eviction notices served on them, despite being up to date with their rent.

CAB recorded 5,000 cases across the country in 2013/2014 where tenants complained about being forced from their homes, even though they were not in arrears. That figure is up from 3,750 the previous year.

Problems in London and the South East are particularly acute, the charity said, where many house prices are the highest in the country.

Private tenant Ryan Herran told Sky News he was being forced from his Muswell Hill home of five years, because he complained about damp and mould in the property and demanded his landlord fix the problem.

After months of wrangling with the owner, he was eventually served with a section 21 eviction order.

"I was actually in shock for a couple of days because I've always been a good tenant and always paid my rent and never engaged in anti-social behaviour," he said.

"I did ring up the property management company and they told me they don't have to give a reason under the section 21 eviction notice. They said they felt they were doing me a favour by at least giving me two months notice."

Mr Herran believes his eviction is motivated by spite and certainty on the part of the landlord that he would easily be able to find another tenant.

The number of tenants seeking help over eviction has nearly doubled

Roger Harding from the homelessness charity Shelter said: "Sadly landlords can evict for no reason, even if you've been keeping up with the rent. 

"We've found many worrying examples where landlords have evicted people simply because they don't want to have to deal with repair issues and that's something we want to see outlawed."

During January to March 2014 house prices rose by 18% in London and 10% in the South East, compared to the same period the previous year.

CAB's figures reveal those rises were mirrored by an increase in private tenants reporting they had been served with eviction notices, despite being up to date with their rent.

The charity said the number of tenants in London and the South East seeking help over eviction notices between January and March 2014 was 900, compared with 400 over the first quarter of the year before.

Landlord Richard Blanco rents out properties across six London boroughs and is also a member of National Landlords Association. He said private landlords are often unfairly maligned.

"There's a small minority of rogue landlords who might try and increase rents but really the most sensible business model for landlords is to maintain the property well and to have a good relationship with tenants and to try to ensure tenants stay as long as possible," he said.

Mr Blanco said, contrary to widespread belief, more than three quarters of private tenants have not faced an increase in rents over the past 12 months.

The Government is in the process of introducing new legislation which it hopes will strengthen the rights of private tenants and help protect them from exploitation, or unjustified eviction.

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Govt 'Out Of Touch' On Term-Time Holiday Ban

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

New rules banning holidays during school term time are penalising families who have no choice but to take their children out of school, some parents have told Sky News.

Maxine Ingrouille-Kidd, whose son Curtis is severely disabled, said she was threatened with a fine when she asked for permission to take her son on a cruise during term time because it was the only time accessible cabins were available.

"A cruise is a good sensory experience for Curtis ... and it is important for us to have family time together," she said.

"We did try to go at half term and they didn't have an accessible cabin.

"We're really limited by what Curtis needs.

"We didn't think (the school) would refuse us because he has a life-limiting condition and we thought they would appreciate that it was important for Curtis to be with us.

"Despite having up to 40 seizures a day, he's actually quite healthy and has had very few absences."

Curtis, who is quadriplegic, epileptic, blind and has cerebral palsy, was refused permission by his school in Somerset under new rules which came into force last September.

Under the rules, headteachers can only grant permission for term time leave in "exceptional circumstances" - a discretion some parents claim is not being used properly.

Stewart Sutherland, who says he has been unable to take a family holiday for five years because of his job, was prosecuted and fined £996 after he pleaded guilty to taking his three children to Greece on a holiday booked prior to the new rules being introduced.

"The Government is out of touch with society when it introduced these rules," said Mr Sutherland.

"The country does not come to a standstill when the kids are on holiday - there's always someone who is still working."

"Family time is sometimes just as important as schooling," he added.

The Government said the new rules are fair and have reduced the number of pupils regularly missing school by 130,000.

"We have been clear that all headteachers are free to grant pupils leave in exceptional circumstances," a spokesman for the Department for Education said.

"It is up to headteachers to decide whether to grant time off and how much time to grant.

"We are also giving schools the flexibility to set their own term times so they can change dates to ones that work for their pupils and families.

"Parents can urge schools to make use of this new freedom."

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Jellyfish Invade Cornwall - But Don't Panic!

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

Tourism bosses are trying to reassure holidaymakers that a huge surge in the number of jellyfish off the coast of Cornwall poses no danger.

Every summer the waters around the South West of England are a thriving area for marine life.

But this year the warm currents have brought with them swarms of jellyfish; in particular the harmless Barrel jellyfish, which can measure up to one metre in diameter.

The Barrel is usually found further up the western coastline; Wales, Northern England, and Scotland.

There are concerns that people could be put off from visiting Cornish beaches.

Tens of thousands of tourists are due to visit Cornish beaches this summer

Malcolm Bell from Visit Cornwall told Sky News: "It's no different really to rock pooling - you keep your eyes open for the crabs and everything else.

"It's part of the habitat, it's part of the fun thing about having a British beach holiday."

According to data collected by the public and submitted to the Marine Conservation Society, there were 1,133 sightings of jellyfish last year - a "sighting" can mean anything from a single creature to an entire bay full of jellyfish.

By mid-July of this year there were already more than 500 sightings and that number will increase significantly as the summer months go on.

Scientists at the University of Exeter who are examining the data say the number of reported jellyfish is dramatically higher than when the study began nine years ago.

The Moon jellyfish is the most common species

There is no trend in the number of sightings reported by the public and therefore no suggestion that climate change might be a factor in this year's bloom.

Most common is the Moon jellyfish, which makes up 29% of the entire population. They are generally small, translucent, and have a very mild sting.

There have been sightings of the infamous Portuguese Man O'War, which carries a nasty sting although they are far more rare.

Conservationist Patrick Maher from Dive Newquay said: "The important thing to remember with jellyfish is that they can continue to sting even after they have been washed up on the beach and are dead.

"Don't poke them, don't pick them up - avoid them and allow the authorities to remove them, seek medical advice if you get stung by one, but we are very lucky in Cornwall to have these types of species in our waters."

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Child-Rape Trial Halted After Judge 'Fell Asleep'

The trial of a man accused of raping a child was halted because a judge fell asleep, it has been claimed.

An investigation has been launched into the allegations that Recorder Philip Cattan nodded off as a young alleged victim gave evidence via video-link.

The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office confirmed it is looking at what happened at the trial of John Quigley at Manchester Crown Court.

After the allegation was made, the judge stopped the trial and it will now be relisted.

A spokesman for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: "The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office is aware of the allegation that Recorder Philip Cattan fell asleep during a trial at Manchester Crown Court.

"The matter is being considered in accordance with the Judicial Conduct (Judicial and other office holders) Rules 2013."

In a statement, the Crown Prosecution Service said: "The jury has been discharged in the trial of R v John Quigley at Manchester Crown Court following an issue that arose at court during the cross examination of the first complainant in the case.

"The trial will be relisted as soon as possible. The complainants and other witnesses have been kept informed."

Sky News North of England Correspondent Nick Martin said the incident was pointed out by barristers in court working on the trial, which had cost around £10,000 by the time it was halted.

Quigley, 49, of Avon Road, Burnage, Manchester, denies a number of sex offences including raping a child under 13.

Philip Cattan is a practising barrister in the Manchester area as well as a recorder, which is a part-time judge. He belongs to the St Johns Buildings Chambers in the city.

When Judge Gabriel Hutton was found to have nodded off during a rape trial at Gloucester Crown Court in 2002, causing it to be abandoned, he was disciplined.

Mr Cattan will not be commenting, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said.

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Female Navy Commander Faces Affair Claims

The first woman commander of a major Royal Navy battleship has been asked to leave her ship while an investigation is carried out into claims she had an affair with a shipmate.

Commander Sarah West, 42, had been in charge on board HMS Portland, a Type 23 frigate, since May 2012.

Her second-in-command is now in charge of running the vessel while the inquiry takes place, but Cdr West is still officially the Commanding Officer.

The Armed Forces' Code of Social Conduct governs personal relationships within the military and the investigation will look at whether it was breached.

Any Armed Forces member found to have fallen short of its high standards could face a formal warning, reassignment and even termination of service.

Cdr West commands HMS Portland

A Royal Navy spokesman said: "We are aware of an allegation of a breach of the code of social conduct on board HMS Portland, which we are treating seriously.

"Anyone who is found to fall short of the Royal Navy's high standards can expect to face appropriate action. It would be inappropriate to comment further."

Cdr West became the first female commander of a frontline warship in the 500-year history of the service.

Cdr West was the first commander of a major Royal Navy warship

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper earlier this year that work commitments made it difficult to have a relationship.

She said: "I'm really proud to be the first woman but I'm not reinventing the wheel. Lots of women in the services have challenging roles.

"It's just that I happen to be newsworthy at the moment. There are drawbacks though.

"Years at sea probably explains why I'm single. But every person in the military makes sacrifices."

When Cdr West was made a Commanding Officer she described it as the greatest achievement of her career.

She said: "Taking command of HMS Portland is definitely the highlight of my 16 years in the Royal Navy so far.

"It is a challenge that I am fully trained for and ready to undertake.

"I am very proud to be taking command of a Type 23 frigate, which is an extremely flexible warship, and I'm looking forward to taking HMS Portland on operations with a professional and focused team."

Cdr West has left the ship while the inquiry takes place

HMS Portland, which has a crew of 185, has been on a seven-month deployment around the coasts of Europe, Africa, and South and North America.

The ship's most recently known position, according to a marine positioning website, was the port of San Juan, in Puerto Rico, on July 19.

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Tulisa Found Guilty Of Assaulting Blogger

Tulisa Contostavlos has been found guilty of assaulting a celebrity blogger at V Festival in Essex.

The N-Dubz star hit Savvas Morgan during a row in the VIP area at the site in Chelmsford last August.

She was found guilty by a judge at Stratford Magistrates' Court in east London and ordered to pay a total of £3,020.

Contostavlos shook her head and smiled in disbelief as the guilty verdict was read out.

Savvas Morgan rowed with Contostavlos at V Festival

She appeared to mutter "this is bulls**t" as she walked out of the courtroom.

The 26-year-old has vowed to launch an appeal against her conviction and said she was "outraged at the decision".

"There are a number of high-profile witnesses who were there and know what happened. I urge them to come forward and tell the truth at the appeal," she said outside the court.

"I am determined to clear my name as I have already done once this week. I repeat - I did not assault Vas J Morgan. I am innocent."

Contostavlos apparently held a grudge against her victim

District Judge Angus Hamilton said he was "quite sure" based on the evidence that "Ms Contostavlos did strike Mr Morgan in the face during an argument and that that blow caused minor bruising and swelling".

He said Contostavlos acted in a "confrontational" manner when she turned towards her victim, who she reportedly held a grudge against after he included a link to her sex tape on his blog.

"Her decision to seek to deal with Mr Morgan herself strikes me as aggressive and confrontational," the judge said.

He went on to say that he had a "number of points of concern" about her evidence during the trial.

He found that she "changed her account" of what she did with her hands during the confrontation. At one point she claimed she raised them in a defensive gesture but later said they remained by her sides, he said.

Her assistant, Gareth Varey, was cleared of using threatening behaviour during the incident.

Jeremy Dein QC, barrister for Contostavlos, said in mitigation that his client was provoked by the actions of her victim in relation to the sex tape.

He told the court: "Mr Morgan played a significant part in humiliating and debasing Ms Contostavlos' reputation, clearly for financial gain."

Contostavlos must pay a £2,700 contribution towards the cost of the prosecution, a £200 fine, £100 compensation to Mr Morgan and a £20 victim surcharge.

Earlier this week, a drugs trial against Contostavlos collapsed at Southwark Crown Court after the judge said there were "strong grounds" to believe that undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood - known as the Fake Sheikh - had lied in the witness box.

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Abuse Case Violinist Was 'Failed' Before Death

A coroner has criticised mental health services for "failing" to provide proper care to a concert violinist who died a week after giving evidence at her former teacher's sex abuse trial.

Mother-of-four Frances Andrade was "extremely traumatised" after testifying about abuse she suffered as a teenager at the hands of ex-Chetham's School of Music choirmaster Michael Brewer and his wife Kay.

She took a fatal overdose days later at her home in Guildford, Surrey, on January 24, 2013.

The coroner said he could not be sure the 48-year-old intended to kill herself and ruled out a verdict of suicide.

Michael Brewer was jailed for six years

Ms Andrade did not live to see her abuser jailed for six years for five counts of indecent assault two months later.

Delivering his verdict at Woking Coroner's Court, coroner Richard Travers demanded that new rules are put in place to ensure that vulnerable witnesses are given better support when they face often traumatic trials.

But he said he would be writing three reports - two to the Director of Public Prosecutions and one to the local health service to call for changes in the wake of the inquest.

Ms Andrade's husband described how his wife spiralled into depression after her court appearance and had said she felt as if she was the one on trial.

Speaking at Woking Coroners Court on July 7, Levine Andrade said: "Apart from the trial bringing it all back up she felt the defence barrister seemed to be attacking her personally.

"It got her completely down and she felt completely defenceless."

Ms Andrade was abused by Brewer when she was 14 and 15 and indecently assaulted by his wife at their former family home when she was an adult.

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Dave Lee Travis To Face Trial On Sex Charges

Former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis is to stand trial for two counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.

He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on September 1.

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Mother Admits Beating Mikaeel Kular To Death

Mikaeel Kular's mother has pleaded guilty to killing her three-year-old son, who she subjected to repeated assaults.

Rosdeep Adekoya had been accused of murder but admitted a reduced charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Edinburgh.

She confessed to wrapping Mikaeel's body in a duvet cover, putting it in a suitcase and driving to Dunvegan Avenue in Kirkcaldy, where she hid the case under a bush in woodland behind a house.

The death of three-year-old Mikaeel Kular touched the community

Mikaeel's disappearance from his Edinburgh home in January sparked a huge search involving police officers, firefighters, mountain rescue teams and the coastguard, as well as members of the public.

His body was eventually found 25 miles away in woodland in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

Adekoya's internet searches included "Get rid of bruises"

Adekoya had called 999 to report her son missing to police, telling officers he got out of bed and climbed on a stool to unlock the front door of his home.

But in court she admitted to beating her son to death, repeatedly punching him and causing his body to hit against a hard object or inflicting blunt injuries on his head and body between January 12 and 15.

She also pleaded guilty to attempting to defeat the ends of justice by pretending to police he had gone missing.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice told the court: "The basis for the plea tendered being accepted is that the Crown accepts that the accused had no intention to kill Mikaeel and that the assault perpetrated upon him, although severe, fell short of the wicked recklessness required for murder."

Explaining the charge of culpable homicide, Sky's James Matthews, at the High Court in Edinburgh, said: "Basically she beat up her son causing his death but she didn't mean to kill him, and that's been accepted by the prosecution authorities."

The toddler's body was found in woodland behind a property in Kirkcaldy

He said after killing Mikaeel, Adekoya had done the school-run taking her four other children to school before continuing on to dump his body behind a property where her sister was staying.

"Her concocted story unravelled under questioning by police, and it was when they spotted inconsistencies in her story that she broke down and told them where Mikaeel's body was," Matthews added.

The car used by Adekoya to dump Mikaeel's body after the school-run

Adekoya's internet history showed searches including "I find it hard to love my son", "I love all of my children except one", "Why am I so aggressive with my son" and "Get rid of bruises".

The court heard Mikaeel died on the night of Tuesday, January 14, from injuries inflicted the previous Sunday.

Hundreds of members of the public joined the search for the youngster

His mother "lost her temper" when he was repeatedly sick following a trip to a Nando's restaurant at the city's Fountain Park.

Mikaeel had more than 40 separate injuries to his body, including bruises to his back, chin and cheek, trauma to the brain, haemorrhage in the spinal cord and injuries to his arms.

Mr Prentice said: "If medical assistance had been called for, death might not have resulted."

Sentence was deferred until August 25 at the High Court in Edinburgh.

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Jayden Parkinson's Killer Jailed For Life

A man who strangled his pregnant ex-girlfirend to death and buried her in a grave in a cemetery has been jailed for life.

Ben Blakeley will serve a minimum of 20 years for the murder of Jayden Parkinson on December 3 last year.

He killed the 17-year-old a day after she told him she was going to have his baby, later burying her body in his uncle's grave in Didcot, Oxfordshire.

Blakeley, 22, was found guilty by a jury at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday.

They reached a majority 11-1 verdict after more than 12 hours of deliberation.

Blakeley, a former dustman, was described in court as obsessive and controlling, having threatened to post naked videos and photographs of Jayden on Facebook after the couple broke up.

He had hoped she would kill herself as a consequence.

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Police To Investigate Cyril Smith Cover-Up

Police have announced a criminal investigation into an alleged cover-up by officers and politicians of child abuse carried out by the late Sir Cyril Smith at a Rochdale school.

The 29-stone politician allegedly used his power and influence to abuse young boys at Knowl View School, however, despite police investigations, he was never prosecuted.

Now officers have said they will investigate whether police, spies and politicians helped to hide the abuse carried out by the Liberal Democrat politician, who died in 2010.

The investigation has been triggered by disclosures in a book written by Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk, in which he details the rape of a number of boys at the residential school.

It raises questions of how the politician was apparently able to abuse children as young as eight despite 144 complaints by his victims.

Cyril Smith allegedly abused children with impunity

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said: "Following the publication of MP Simon Danzcuk's book 'Smile for the Camera', GMP conducted an assessment of the allegations contained within that book. 

"As a result of the assessment, GMP decided that a criminal investigation was required.

"The GMP investigation will now seek to identify whether any offences have been committed in the way that previous reports of abuse were handled or allegedly covered up."

He said the force had consulted with the Home Office in relation to the national inquiry into historical child abuse.

Mr Danczuk said: "I welcome the fact that GMP are taking what's in our book seriously. It is clear to me that crimes have been committed, though I hope the police will prioritise the arrests of abusers who are still alive over whether council officers covered this up.

"That is what the victims have told me is their priority. They want to see those who inflicted terrible abuse on innocent children brought to justice."

Fourteen suspects have been questioned as part the inquiry into Knowl View School, relating to alleged offences committed between 1969 and 1990.

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Tory MP Faces Disciplinary For Partner Assault

Conservative MP David Ruffley is facing disciplinary proceedings after it emerged he had been given a police caution for assaulting his girlfriend.

The matter has been referred to Michael Gove after Mr Ruffley issued an apology through his lawyers for his "inappropriate action" four months after the police were called to his home, saying he did not "condone domestic violence".

The case was raised with Mr Gove by the Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral in the MP's Suffolk constituency.

Officers were called to the former shadow police minister's London flat in March after the incident with his partner and he accepted a police caution.

However, he now faces a fight for his political future amid suggestions he lacks support in his Bury St Edmunds constituency and could be dropped by his local Suffolk Conservative association.

Police and church leaders, support groups and local politicians have all called on him to step down.

In a letter to Mr Ruffley, a copy of which was sent to Mr Gove, the Very Reverend Frances Ward, said: "I had received sufficient comment and concern from a wide circle of people, both within the cathedral and through the town and county, to have arrived at the opinion that your position is untenable.

"I hope you take on board the extent of the concerns that I shared with you, for the sake of the town of Bury St Edmunds and the Conservative Party.

David Ruffley with David Cameron in 2010

"It is my belief that you have lost the confidence of a significant proportion of your former supporters and should consider your position."

In his statement, Mr Ruffley said: "In March this year, an incident occurred between me and my former partner, resulting in inappropriate action on my part, which I deeply regret, in respect of which I accepted a police caution for common assault."

He added he had apologised to his former partner and she had accepted the apology and said: "I wish to stress that I would never condone domestic violence under any circumstances."

The local Conservative association has brought forward a meeting of its executive committee from September 9 to July 31 and Mr Ruffley could face deselection ahead of the General Election.

Simon Pott, former vice-chair of the Bury St Edmunds Conservative Association, told Sky News:  "I haven't found anybody who has given him any support. The overriding feeling is that he is going to go.

"The only reason we feel he has given an apology is because he feels his job is on the line."

"He should resign at once and go off to undertake charity work in whichever place will harness his undoubted talents. His place could be taken by someone who has the ability to achieve high office, which is now denied to him."

The Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said: "The future of David Ruffley as a Member of Parliament and prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for the Bury St Edmunds constituency is a matter for their association but I hope I have made my views entirely clear - such behaviour is inexcusable."

The Conservatives confirmed the matter was now being dealt with by the newly appointed Mr Gove.

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Ex-NOTW Reporter Dan Evans Spared Jail

Former News Of The World (NOTW) reporter Dan Evans has been given a 10-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to phone hacking.

Evans - who was the star prosecution witness in the hacking trial of former NOTW editor and Downing Street media advisor Andy Coulson - also admitted conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice.

His sentence was suspended for 12 months.

The 38-year-old told the court he had accessed the voicemails of a number of celebrities, including Daniel Craig and Kate Moss, while working for the Sunday Mirror and the NOTW.

He said Coulson was played a recording of a message from Sienna Miller to the James Bond actor suggesting they were having a relationship while she was dating Jude Law in 2005.

Coulson was found guilty of hacking earlier this month and jailed for 18 months.

Mr Justice Saunders, who also ordered Evans to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community, said he had taken into account his guilty pleas.

The judge said he had also taken his agreement to give evidence in the hacking trial and possibly in the future into consideration.

Andy Coulson was sentenced to 18 months in jail

Mr Justice Saunders said: "In the circumstances of this case, and in particular the co-operation that Mr Evans has given and has agreed to give the police and the prosecution in the future as compared with the lack of co-operation from others, I do feel able to suspend the sentence for a period of 12 months.

"I would not have done that had Mr Evans not made a clean breast of his involvement in these offences."

Evans had been charged with conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office between 2008 and 2010.

He admitted paying a prison officer for stories about Soham killer Ian Huntley and a serving police officer for information about a search on the home of EastEnders actor Steve McFadden.

The police officer was paid £750, the court heard.

Investigators taking part in Operation Elveden uncovered details of the misconduct by trawling through News International emails, the court heard.

Evans admitted perverting the course of justice by making a false witness statement in the High Court in a civil action brought by interior designer Kelly Hoppen over two attempts to hack her phone.

In mitigation, Evans's lawyer Jonathan Turner said his client had been under intense pressure when the crimes were committed.

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Undercover Police Spied On 17 Grieving Families

Seventeen families were spied on by undercover police officers who operated unchecked and by their own rules, a report has found.

The shadowy unit was said to have gone too far in investigating relatives of murder victims involved in family justice campaigns including those of Jean Charles de Menezes and Stephen Lawrence.

And it found officers on the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) routinely made illicit recordings of conversations and kept information they should not have had.

One reference in the secret police records even referred to a grieving relative planning to go to a funeral although "there was no intelligence to indicate that the funeral would have been anything other than a dignified event".

The family of Jean Charles de Menezes may sue

Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon, who published the report, said the unit operated outside of the control of management and it was "astonishing" the vast majority of commissioners and deputy commissioners knew nothing of its existence.

It said: "Over the 40 years that the unit existed, senior Metropolitan Police management of the day either knew nothing about the existence and activities of the unit or, when they did, they appeared to have allowed the SDS to exist in secret isolation in a manner that was complacent and possibly negligent."

Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz said: "As we have discovered in our hearings, despite Operation Herne costing £3.5 million, involving at least 26 officers and taking almost two years, no-one has been prosecuted and no senior officer from the Met has appeared to have taken responsibility."

The report identified 17 family justice campaigns that had been infiltrated by officers in the course of their work between 1970 and 2005.

A police spy was placed in the Lawrence family camp

The police were in the process of informing the families.

Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt stopped short of an apology and instead said: "I regret enormously the distress that has been caused."

The family of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead by police in the aftermath of the 7/7 terror attack, are considering legal action.

The mother of student Ricky Reel, whose family was targeted by undercover officers after her son was killed, has called for a public inquiry after learning of the findings of the review.

Metropolitan Police: no apology but 'regret'

The 20-year-old died after a racist attack and the police investigations into his death were heavily criticised by his family after they failed to establish what had happened and ruled his death was probably an accident.

The SDS was set up to infiltrate protest groups but officers on the squad have come under fire for stealing the identities of 42 dead children to use as cover and for "tricking" women into sexual relations in order to carry out their work. It was disbanded in 2008.

A report on the case of the murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence earlier this year found the Metropolitan Police had placed a "spy" in the Lawrence family camp during the inquiry into the police handling of the investigation.

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Last Moments Of Couple In Mystery Death Crash

Police investigating the deaths of a couple hit by a car on a busy road have released images taken shortly before they died as they continue to look for witnesses.

Nonita Karajevaite, 24, was struck by the vehicle on the A47 in Terrington St John, Norfolk, on Sunday.

Her fiance Tadas Zaleskas, 26, was hit by the same car. Police are treating Ms Karajevaite's death as suspicious after witnesses alleged she was pushed into oncoming traffic.

Officers are hoping the photographs, which include CCTV images captured around an hour before the incident, might help jog the memory of any potential witnesses who may have seen them walking on the grass verge of the eastbound carriageway at around 2.15pm.

The couple seen on CCTV while at the local Worzals Farm Shop

Shortly before the collision - at about 1.20pm - the couple had stopped at Worzals Farm Shop in Walpole Highway. They had separately asked someone to call police.

They were walking barefoot towards King's Lynn on the busy dual carriageway at the time of the crash.

Mr Zaleskas was a factory worker in March, Cambridgeshire, and Ms Karajevaite - a part-time beautician - also worked in a factory in nearby Wisbech. Both were originally from Lithuania and lived locally.

The pair had separately asked someone to call police.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Durham, who is leading the enquiry, explained: "We now believe that prior to her arriving at Worzals, Nonita was wearing black trousers with a black and white patterned round-neck cardigan.

"She was also wearing yellow-framed designer sunglasses and was barefoot.

"It is thought that, when she got to the layby on the A47 probably, due to the weather, she had taken off her cardigan and rolled up her trousers, which gave them the appearance of leggings.

"A key focus on this enquiry is anyone who may have seen the couple as they made their way along the A47 so, with this new information in mind, I'd be keen to hear from anyone who may have seen Nonita to come forward."

On Wednesday, one lane of the eastbound carriageway was closed while officers carried out a detailed search of the grass verge, recovering items of clothing, documents and a pair of sunglasses, believed to belong to the couple.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Peaches Geldof May Have Lied About Drug Tests

Peaches Geldof may have lied to her husband about her weekly drug tests being clear, an inquest into her death has heard.

Thomas Cohen found his wife slumped on the bed in the spare room of their Kent home in April after she failed to answer the phone.

The inquest heard the 25-year-old TV presenter was a heroin addict who had been taking the substitute drug methadone in the two-and-a-half years before her death. 

She had been having weekly drugs tests which she told her husband were negative but, even though he had not seen her take drugs, he became concerned that she might be, the hearing in Gravesend was told.

In February, he found texts suggesting she was taking drugs again and after speaking to her about it, she retrieved heroin from the loft of their Wrotham property and flushed it down the toilet.

Peaches Geldof with her husband Thomas Cohen

Police called to the address on the day she died found 6.9g of "importation quality" heroin with a street value of up to £550, along with drugs paraphernalia including syringes and burnt spoons.

Analysis of the brown powder concluded it had a purity of 61%.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham, who led the investigation, said it "far exceeded" the 26% purity usually found at street level.

He told the inquest that forensic scientist Emma Harris found a high level of morphine in Ms Geldof's blood, suggesting she died "shortly after taking heroin" and that it was "likely" the substance played a role in her death.

In her report, Dr Harris said: "Persons taking heroin on a regular basis develop a tolerance to the drug, and such individuals can use doses that would be toxic, or fatal, to people with no tolerance.

"However, tolerance to heroin and other opiate drugs appears to be lost fairly rapidly when users cease to use the drug, and deaths commonly occur in people who have previously been tolerant and have returned to using heroin."

Det Insp Fotheringham also told the inquest there is an ongoing police investigation into who supplied the drugs to the mother-of-two, but so far there had been no arrests.

The coroner Roger Hatch, who found the model's death was drugs-related, said the purity of the heroin had been a factor.

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Adele's Son Wins Damages For Paparazzi Photos

Singer Adele's son Angelo Adkins is to get a five-figure sum in damages at the High Court over paparazzi photos.

The case was brought against Corbis Images UK Ltd by the singer and her partner, Simon Konecki, over photographs of his "milestone moments".

Adele's lawyer said she was determined her two-year-old son was not and must never be "public property".

"It is a matter of profound sadness that many of his milestone moments, such as his first family outing and his first trip to playgroup, were photographed and published worldwide expressly against his family's wishes," solicitor Jenny Afia told Mr Justice Bean in London.

"Adele and Simon never encourage such photos. Quite the opposite.

"The parents' view is that these images were of routine, everyday family occasions which the paparazzi has no right to intrude upon, profit from and file away in picture libraries for future reference and use."

Corbis will pay damages and legal costs and has agreed it will not use the photos again, Ms Afia added.

The lawyer told the judge that the singer accepted and enjoyed her public profile as a world-famous singer and songwriter.

"She is extremely grateful to the public and press for their support in helping her achieve international acclaim," she said.

As a result of Corbis agreeing the payment, Adele and Mr Konecki have withdrawn a claim against other defendants in connection with photos taken of their little boy.

Ms Afia said: "Adele and Simon are pleased this matter has been resolved. They continue to do all they can to protect Angelo's rights in relation to the paparazzi, including taking legal action where necessary.

"They will be holding the damages on trust on behalf of the claimant for this purpose.

"They will also continue efforts to improve the laws relating to paparazzi and children generally, building on the successful campaign Adele helped fund in California resulting in far stricter harassment laws."

Later, the lawyer said the case showed taking photographs could be as intrusive as publishing them.

"This case also emphasises a dividing line between celebrities who strive to keep their children out of the spotlight and those who make them part of their brand," she said.

"The children of famous parents are not celebrities. The law can, will and should protect them."

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Boa Constrictor Warning: Snake On The Loose

Parents have been warned to be on the lookout for an 8ft (2.4m) boa constrictor which could pose a risk to small children.

The reptile was reported missing from an address in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, on Tuesday evening.

Heavy-bodied boa constrictors, which kill their prey by wrapping themselves around it, pose a potential risk to children and animals as they might coil around them seeking warmth.

They can also deliver a nasty bite if they feel threatened.

However, they are not venomous or normally aggressive towards humans.

The snake kills its prey by coiling around it. Pic: File

Sky's Becky Johnson, reporting from Skelmersdale, said the snake might have slithered down the toilet and be hiding in the drains.

"The neighbours didn't even know they had an 8ft boa constrictor," she said.

"It could come up the drain at one of the neighbour's houses, it could also be in the attic.

"Lancashire County Council have been out searching drains, but so far there is no sign of it." 

Experts said the boa constrictor was likely to be sleeping somewhere warm.

Inspector Mark Porter, of Skelmersdale Police, said: "While we do not believe the snake is aggressive or would attack anybody, there is the potential for risk to small children or pets from the animal seeking warmth.

"I would urge anyone who sees the snake to get in touch so that it can be recovered safely."

The police warning came a day after two boa constrictors were found near a children's play area in an east London park.

Police officers removed the snakes with a litter grabber and brown bags.

:: Anyone with information about the disappearance in Bearncroft, Skelmersdale, should contact police on 101, quoting log number 1586 of July 22.

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Ian Watkins Loses 'Harsh' Sentence Challenge

Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has lost a legal challenge to appeal his 35-year sentence for 13 child-sex offences.

The disgraced rock star had claimed he was treated too harshly when he was handed a 29-year jail term and an additional six years on licence.

But judges at Cardiff Crown Court decided the former singer did not have sufficient grounds to appeal.

Sally O'Neill QC: 'A sense of proportion needs to be maintained'

Watkins, 36, originally declared he was innocent of the offences, which included the attempted rape of an 11-month old child and possession of child-abuse videos, some which he made himself, and encouraging a fan to abuse her own child.

But at the last minute he changed his plea, averting the need for a trial.

He later complained he had not realised his guilty plea would make him "look guilty".

At his original trial, judge Mr Justice Royce told Watkins: "Those who have appeared in these courts over many years see a large number of horrific cases. This case, however, breaks new ground.

"I am satisfied that you are a deeply corrupting influence, you are highly manipulative, you are a sexual predator, you are dangerous. The public and, in particular, young females need protection from you."

Watkins was told that he would have to serve two-thirds of the custodial term before he could be considered for release by the Parole Board.

His two accomplices, only identified as Woman A and Woman B, were jailed for 14 years and 16 years respectively.

Watkins' barrister Sally O'Neil said her client was not given enough discount for pleading guilty.

"This case causes a very disturbing reaction for anyone who has has anything to do with it. We accept these matters are very serious.

"But by pleading guilty my client averted the need for a most distressing and unpleasant trial for all those concerned, especially a jury.

"I am not trying to minimise the gravity of these offences, just simply make the observation that a sense of proportion needs to be maintained.

"These offences, however bad, are not the worst."

Woman B also sought leave to appeal and had her bid turned down.

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Claudia Lawrence Investigation: Man Arrested

Missing Claudia: Timeline Of Events

Updated: 3:28pm UK, Wednesday 23 July 2014

Here is Claudia Lawrence's last known movements and the investigation since her disappearance:

2009

March 18

:: 5.57am - Miss Lawrence is seen on CCTV arriving for work at the University of York's Goodricke College.

:: 2.31pm - The chef leaves work to walk the three miles to her home on Heworth Road.

A female colleague sees her as she drives past in her car and gives her a lift, dropping her off outside her house.

A short time later, Miss Lawrence leaves her house and walks past the Nags Head pub. She has a brief conversation with a woman with a pram.

:: 3.05pm - The last sighting of Miss Lawrence as she walks back to her house.

:: 8.10pm - Miss Lawrence has a telephone conversation with her father, Peter, and then another with her mother, Joan.

:: 8.23pm - She sends a text message to a friend.

:: 9.12pm - Miss Lawrence receives a text on her mobile phone but it is not known if she read the message.

March 19

:: 6am - Miss Lawrence fails to arrive for her shift at work.

:: Later in the evening, Miss Lawrence fails to keep an arrangement to meet her friend, Suzy Cooper, at the Nags Head pub.

Ms Cooper discovers her friend did not attend work and rings Mr Lawrence, who contacts North Yorkshire Police.

March 23

:: Mr Lawrence, a solicitor from Slingsby, North Yorkshire, makes an emotional appeal for information about his daughter at a news conference in York. He describes Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a "living nightmare".

:: Police say they cannot rule out the possibility that the chef has been abducted.

March 25

:: Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, leading the investigation, says he believes Miss Lawrence may have come to harm after meeting someone she knew.

He confirms around 100 police officers are involved in the search and says North Yorks Police are bringing in officers from other forces to help.

CCTV footage of the chef's last known movements is released.

March 30

:: Detective Superintendent Galloway makes an appeal for information on BBC1's Crimewatch programme.

April 7

:: Mr Lawrence holds his first weekly press conference at his home and appeals for anyone protecting his daughter's possible abductor to come forward.

April 16

:: Police say they are investigating "significant" new lines of inquiry, including a couple seen arguing near a car on Miss Lawrence's route to work the day after she was last seen and two men apparently trying the front door to her house in the week before she disappeared.

April 24

:: Detectives say they are treating Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a suspected murder investigation and Crimestoppers offers a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

Detective Superintendent Galloway also reveals new information received from members of the public. He says one witness reported seeing a man and a woman walking near the University of York between 6am and 6.30am on March 17 and March 19.

Another witness saw a man and a woman, possibly matching Miss Lawrence's description, at 5.35am on March 19 on Melrosegate on the chef's route to work.

April 29

:: Mrs Lawrence releases her first statement through police describing her daughter's disappearance as "every parent's worst nightmare"

May 6

:: Police reveal they have received more than 1,000 calls about Miss Lawrence's disappearance since March 22 and have taken 1,096 statements and reports.

Officers involved in the investigation have visually searched around 1,270 properties, including gardens and outbuildings and student halls of residence at the University of York.

May 15

:: Police release CCTV footage of a man seen near Miss Lawrence's home in the early hours of March 19.

Detective Superintendent Galloway says the number of searching officers has been scaled-down and police are now only carrying out intelligence-led searches.

June 2

:: A reconstruction of Miss Lawrence's last known movements and possible witness sightings is screened on BBC1's Crimewatch programme.

Detective Superintendent Galloway tells the show that Miss Lawrence was involved in relationships of "complexity and mystery" and appeals to anyone who had ever been in a relationship with the chef to come forward.

August 19

:: Police say an external review of the investigation by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) is "extremely positive" and the force are acting upon a list recommendations.

September 18

:: Detectives reveal they have extended their investigation to Cyprus.

2010

March 18

:: Police reveal Ms Lawrence spent the night with a mystery boyfriend just two days before she went missing. It was "critical" they spoke to the man, a detective adds.

March 24

:: Detectives search an area near York University following new information.

May 25

:: Police confirm they have spent two days searching a house about 10 miles from Claudia's home as a result of a "recent development".

July 29

:: Police confirm they are scaling back the number of officers dedicated to the inquiry.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Madgwick says 100 officers were dedicated to the investigation at its height.

A year after Miss Lawrence disappeared, this figure had dropped to about 20 to 30 and there were now 16 detectives involved. Mr Madgwick says they will be cut cut to seven officers the following month.

August 8

:: A man arrested on suspicion of burglary has been spoken to about the case, North Yorks police say.

But he is described as  "one of many people spoken to during the course of the investigation" and there still have been no formal suspects identified by the inquiry team.

September 20

:: Mr Lawrence speaks of his "devastation" after it is revealed that a cash reward for information was being dropped.

The decision means the North Yorks Police will remove their appeal posters from fleet vehicles because they refer to the reward.

2011

March 18

:: On the second anniversary of Miss Lawrence's disappearance, Detective Superintendent Galloway reveals that he could have "potentially" spoken to her killer.

December 13

:: Detectives say they are pursuing a new lead which could be "significant".

2012

March 16

:: Peter Lawrence speaks of his daily pain over his daughter's disappearance and makes a plea for anyone who may still harbour a sense of "misguided loyalty" to come forward and help with the police investigation.

July 10

:: Martin Dales, spokesman for Mr Lawrence, says a former private detective has contacted him to say he spotted someone with a striking resemblance to Claudia a week earlier in Amsterdam.

2013

February 27

:: Family and friends of Miss Lawrence make an emotional appeal for help to find her on what would have been her 39th birthday.

October 29

:: Police announce a new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is to begin as they launch a fresh review of the case.

2014

March 17

:: Mr Lawrence, speaking ahead of the fifth anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, says not knowing what happened to his daughter five years after she disappeared is like a "cancer" eating away at him.

March 19

:: Police say a new forensic examination of Claudia's house has uncovered the fingerprints of people who still have not come forward five years after she disappeared. They say they are seeking to trace two men and two vehicles seen near her home.

April 17

:: North Yorks Police say 121 people have come forward to help their inquiry since a national appeal was made to coincide with the fifth anniversary of her disappearance. They say taxi drivers may have important information about the case.

May 13

:: A 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder by detectives investigating the disappearance.

:: A police spokeswoman says Miss Lawrence has not been found and they cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests in the future.

July 23

:: A 46-year-old man from the York area is arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

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Trojan Horse Report: There Was Islamist Plot

School 'Trojan Horse': A Timeline

Updated: 1:26pm UK, Tuesday 22 July 2014

:: March 7

A letter is sent to Birmingham City Council, apparently from an Islamic extremist, giving details of a "takeover" of Birmingham schools known as Operation Trojan Horse. The plot, it says, has seen four head teachers removed from post and replaced with Islamist appointments.

It highlights 12 other schools that are to be targeted. The letter has now been widely denounced as fake but is thought to have been written by someone who was trying to draw attention to the problem.

:: March 10

Birmingham City Council launches a five-point response plan announcing a six-month investigation into allegations to be led by former head teacher Ian Kershaw. A review group will oversee the work.

:: March 22

Park View Academy, one of the schools at the centre of the allegations is to be placed in special measures, according to senior education sources, who leak the details of an Ofsted inspection.

::April 14

Birmingham City Council announces Peter Clarke, the former Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism boss, will oversee the Trojan Horse inquiry. Community leaders say it sends out the wrong message.

:: May 28

Head teacher Tim Boyes discloses he warned the Department for Education in 2010 about a plot by Islamic hardliners to infiltrate Birmingham schools.

:: June 2

A leaked Ofsted inspection on the Golden Hillock school finds it "failed to protect children from extremism".

::June 3

The former chairman of governors at Golden Hillock, John Ray, says he raised Islamist infiltration fears with John Major's government in 1994.

:: June 4

Comments by Education Secretary Michael Gove are leaked to The Times in which he is critical of the Home Office approach to tackling extremism. In response the Home Office releases a letter from Theresa May to Mr Gove asking why his department did not tackle fears of an Islamist takeover plot when they were raised in 2010.

:: June 5

A leak of the Ofsted report into Golden Hillock school, run by the Park View Educational Trust, shows it is to be placed in special measures.

:: June 6

After three statements insisting they work well together, Mr Gove says he is "not at war with Theresa May".

:: June 7

Mr Gove is made to apologise for his comments and Mrs May's aide Fiona Cunningham is forced to resign for her response to The Times story. She told journalists: "Why is the DfE wanting to blame other people for information they had in 2010? Lord knows what more they have overlooked on the subject of the protection of kids in state schools? It scares me."

:: June 8

Downing Street releases some details of Ofsted reports on the 21 Birmingham schools that have been inspected as part of the Trojan Horse response. Schools are accused by Ofsted of covering up evidence of infiltration and some are placed in special measures.

David Cameron orders Michael Gove to launch spot checks on schools.

:: June 17

An assistant principal at Park View claimed "plain old Islamophobia" was behind the claims. Lee Donaghy told a panel of MPs that people were failing to differentiate between "Muslims", "terrorists" and "extremists" and twisting events at his school.

:: July 9

Chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw told MPs on the education select committee that there was no evidence of actual extremism.

However his inspectors had found schools implicated in the so-called "Trojan Horse" plot used deliberate intimidation against those who did not conform to their ideology, leaving pupils at risk.

:: July 15

The chairman and board of trustees of the Park View Education Trust, Tahir Alam, resign. Michael Gove becomes a victim of the Cabinet reshuffle, losing his job as Education Secretary to Nicky Morgan. Mr Gove becomes Commons chief whip in a period of legislative calm ahead of the next General Election.

Mr Alam also urged the new Education Secretary to "urgently consider" removing Ofsted head Sir Michael from his position for what he called his "role in this fiasco".

:: July 22

The report carried out by Mr Clarke finds: There has been co-ordinated, deliberate and sustained action, carried out by a number of associated individuals, to introduce an intolerant and aggressive Islamic ethos into a few schools in Birmingham."

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Litvinenko Public Inquiry: Why Announce It Now?

Key Dates Leading Up To Litvinenko Inquiry

Updated: 12:08pm UK, Tuesday 22 July 2014

A public inquiry into the death of poisoned Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko has been announced by the Government.

Here are the key events leading up to the announcement.

::  October 2000 - Alexander Litvinenko and his family flee Russia, despite an order telling him not to leave Moscow.

::  November 2000 - the former spy asks for asylum at Heathrow Airport.

::  May 14, 2001 - the UK grants him political asylum.

::  November 1, 2006 - Mr Litvinenko is taken ill after having tea with former agents Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun at a hotel in London.

::  November 23, 2006 - the ex-KGB officer dies of poisoning by radioactive polonium-210.

::  May 22, 2007 - Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald decides there is enough evidence to charge prime suspect Mr Lugovoi over Mr Litvinenko's death - he subsequently denied involvement, accusing Mr Litvinenko of being a British spy.

::  July 2007 - Russia refuses to extradite Mr Lugovoi on the grounds that it is against the Russian constitution to extradite someone without firm evidence.

:: October 2011 - A London coroner announces there will be an inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death, with a High Court judge looking at all the evidence, including the various murder theories.

::  May/June 2013 - The inquest is put on hold as the coroner says a public inquiry would be better.

::  July 2013 - The British Government rules out public inquiry.

::  February 2014 - Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, wins a seven-year fight to force a public inquiry when the High Court backs her case.

::  July 22, 2014 - Home Secretary Theresa May announces a public inquiry is to be held, saying she "hopes it will be of some comfort to his widow".

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Woman Killed By Car 'May Have Been Pushed'

Two pedestrians killed on a busy Norfolk road had seperately asked someone to call the police shortly before their deaths, detectives have revealed.

The man and woman, believed to be Lithuanian nationals in their 20s who were living in the area, died on Sunday afternoon after being hit by a car on the A47 east-bound at Terrington St John.

Police say they are treating the woman's death as suspicious following accounts by some witnesses that she may have been pushed into oncoming traffic.

Both the man and woman were walking barefoot towards King's Lynn on the busy dual carriageway at the time.

Det Chief Inspector Paul Durham, said that officers were trying to piece together the pair's movements but help from other witnesses is needed.

The first reported sighting of them is at 12.30pm on the Elm roundabout at Wisbech. At 1.20pm they stopped at Worzals Farm Shop in Walpole Highway and each asked an assistant to call police, giving no explanation about why. 

They left before police were called, the detective said.

He went on: "Witnesses then see them again walking along the verge of the A47 eastbound dual carriageway, where they are struck and killed by a single vehicle at 2.15pm.

"They would have posed an unusual sight - the woman wearing a bright pink vest-top and the man in designer-style jean shorts - both walking barefoot along one of our busiest trunk roads on one of the hottest days of the year.

"We need to find out how and why this tragedy occurred and I would urge anyone who thinks they may have seen them in the area, at any time on Sunday morning, to come forward with information."

The man is described as slim, white, 6ft 1in and with short dark hair. He was wearing blue knee-length jean shorts and a grey T-shirt.

The woman is described as slim, white, 5ft 7in, and with long auburn hair. She was wearing a bright pink vest top and black knee-length leggings.

Police are trying to trace next of kin and will not reveal the pair's identity until their families have been told.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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Litvinenko Death: Public Inquiry To Be Held

The widow of poisoned ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko says she is "relieved and delighted" that there will be a public inquiry into his death.

Marina Litvinenko said the Government's announcement there would be a full investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death sent a message to his killers that "no matter how strong and powerful you are, the truth will win out in the end".

Home Secretary Theresa May outlined the terms of the public inquiry in a written statement.

Investigators will now be able to examine whether his killing was a Russian state-ordered assassination, as has been suggested.

Marina Litvinenko had been fighting for a public inquiry

Mr Litvinenko was poisoned by a cup of tea laced with the deadly radioactive element polonium-210 during a meeting at a London hotel in 2006 with two former Russian agents. He died three weeks later.

Mrs Litvinenko has fought for a public inquiry into his death ever since, but the Government refused on the grounds it wanted to wait for the outcome of an inquest into his death.

Mrs May said in her statement: "I very much hope that this inquiry will be of some comfort to his widow."

The Litvinenko affair has caused significant diplomatic ructions between Britain and Russia. Police have asked for the arrests of two prime suspects, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun, but the Kremlin has refused.

The announcement of an inquiry could not have come at a worse time for Britain's increasingly frayed relationship with Russia as tensions between the two countries intensify over Vladimir Putin's handling of the Ukraine air disaster.

Andrei Lugovoi is now a Russian MP

Sky's political correspondent Anushka Asthana said: "Sources admit it is 'bad timing' but insist there is no conspiracy. They point to a High Court ruling back in February, following a judicial review by Mr Litvinenko's widow. It said there was a pressing need for an inquiry. So the Government had to act.

"But it did so slowly. Today was its final opportunity, according to the source, because it is the day that Parliament breaks up - and given the ruling it would be inappropriate to wait until after the summer."

Mr Litvinenko fled Russia in 2000 and was granted asylum in Britain. His widow claims he was working for MI6 at the time of his death after meeting Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun at the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square.

Last year, Sir Robert Owen, who was conducting the inquest and would now chair the inquiry, said he could not hold a "fair and fearless" investigation into Mr Litvinenko's death because the Government refused to release information on Russian and British intelligence involvement.

Alexander Litvinenko in 1998

He had said a public inquiry would be the best way to proceed.

Mr Lugovoi, who is now a Russian MP, withdrew his cooperation with the inquest in 2013, accusing the British Government of a cover-up.

He has always denied murdering Mr Litvinenko, but has admitted meeting him shortly before his death, however, traces of radiation at key locations on his route from Moscow to London were found.

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England 'Won't Bid While Sepp Blatter At Fifa'

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke says England will not bid for any Fifa tournaments while Sepp Blatter is in charge of the organisation.

Giving evidence to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS), Mr Dyke said: "We have already made a decision that we will not bid for Fifa tournaments while Sepp Blatter is there because we won't win.

"Mr Blatter sees the allegations (about corruption in Qatar's bid) as an attack on Fifa by the British press. Our decision is to try and concentrate in the years ahead on hosting Uefa tournaments.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter

"I don't think we should walk out of Fifa because within a week everyone has forgotten you and I don't think that sort of gesture-politics would help.

"I think trying to reform through Uefa and from the inside is the better way forward."

The DCMS is investigating allegations of corruption and bribery against two former vice-presidents of Fifa, the governing body of world football.

The claims stem from reports in the Sunday Times that Jack Warner, a former influential figure at Fifa, allegedly received $1.6m (£950,000) from a company controlled by Mohamed bin Hammam, a senior figure in Qatar's bid.

The organisers of Qatar 2022 World Cup have refuted the allegations, insisting they are "baseless and riddled with innuendo".

The small Emirate won a secret ballot of Fifa's executive committee, defeating bids from the US, Australia, Japan and Korea in 2010.

Asked about the Qatar event, Mr Dyke said: "It is accepted by everyone now that the 2022 World Cup will not be held in Qatar in summer.

Qatar's World Cup organisers have refuted corruption allegations

"That means it will either be played somewhere else, or in Qatar at a different time of year.

"The Premier League has also accepted the 2022 World Cup will not be held in summer. Its preference would be November, December time but European football associations each have their own preferences. Discussions are ongoing."

Mr Dyke also told the panel of MPs that England manager Roy Hodgson did "quite a good job" at the World Cup, adding: "We are looking at what needs to change and that discussion will happen in September."

And the FA chairman also said he was undecided over whether Russia should be stripped of the 2018 World Cup following recent political events in Ukraine and Crimea.

"I think it has to be looked at in longer terms than a week or two. We wouldn't have a view yet," Mr Dyke said.

Hodgson did "quite a good job" in Brazil, according to Mr Dyke

"I think we have to wait and see how things play out."

Labour's shadow health minister Andy Burnham is among those who have called on Fifa to "revisit" its decision to let Russia host the World Cup.

Fifa declined to comment when asked by Sky News if it believed Russia remains an appropriate choice for the 2018 World Cup following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

A spokesman said: "We are in contact with both federations (Russia & Ukraine) and Uefa. We are not in a position to comment further at this stage."

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Britain Too Reliant On US, Says Blair

Tony Blair has said the UK is too reliant on the US and cannot keep falling back on the special relationship to deal with problems on its doorstep - such as the situation in Ukraine.

At a speech to mark the 20th anniversary of him becoming Labour leader, Mr Blair said Britain must develop a strong foreign and defence policy and lead within Europe to tackle international issues.

He said Britain was "completely dependent on the US" and added: "We must develop the capability in Europe to deal with problems on our own doorstep".

Cameron warns Putin: 'The world is watching you'

Mr Blair said now was not the time to be talking about "leaving Europe" and that he would love to see Britain "leading in Europe".

And he warned Vladimir Putin he had to "take responsibility" for the downing of flight MH17 and the deaths of the 298 passengers and crew.

He said: "I think that is more likely that will happen if Europe and the US stand together."

The former Labour prime minister was speaking as David Cameron warned Mr Putin the "world was watching him".

Mr Cameron said the EU was ready to impose further sanctions on Russia if there was not "radical change in the way they behave".

Separatists are blocking access to the bodies and the crash site

He said: "It is an absolutely horrific incident that has taken place and what I said to Vladimir Putin is that the world today is watching Russia, the world is watching Putin and they want to know, everybody wants to know, that he will do everything in his power to make these separatists open up the site so there can be a proper investigation.

"But the world also wants to see a real change in the stance that Russia has taken over the crisis in the Ukraine. We need no more weapons crossing the border, no more troops crossing the border, no more support for the separatists and respect for Ukrainian territorial integrity."

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Nurse Guilty Of Plotting To Kill And Eat Girl

A nurse has been found guilty of planning to kill and eat a 14-year-old girl to satisfy his cannibalism fetish.

It took jurors at Canterbury Crown Court three hours of deliberation to convict Dale Bolinger of trying to meet the teenager after sexually grooming her and promising to behead and eat her.

The married father-of-three used a fetish website to discuss beheading and eating women and girls for sexual gratification, the trial heard.

He bought an axe from a DIY store in Broadstairs, Kent, the day before he planned to meet the schoolgirl, who had agreed to the plan.

Bolinger told the girl in one online chat: "The idea of us making love and then eating you is a VERY great turn on!

"I have been called a very generous lover and I would be very generous to you before I prepped you for the table."

However, the teenager, a Mexican girl called "Eva", said to be living in Germany, failed to show up at Ashford International Station as planned.

The plot was uncovered by an FBI team in New York which investigates webchat rooms discussing the rape, killing and cannibalism of women.

A Facebook profile picture of Bolinger

They discovered an email address was being used in Kent and passed the information on to Kent Police who arrested Bolinger.

The 58-year-old, who used a profile picture of supermodel Naomi Campbell on his profile, listed his interests as "cannibalism, mainly the hunting and preparation of young but sometimes not so young women".

Chat logs between Bolinger and users showed him discussing beheading a 14-year-old, eating children while their mothers watched, and cooking and eating a pregnant woman and her foetus, prosecutor Martin Yale told the trial.

Bolinger told police he thought "Eva" was a man in his 30s "surrounded by pizza boxes" and said he would never decapitate someone in reality.

Paul Jarvis, defending, told jurors: "We say that when you look at all the evidence, it's quite clear that Mr Bolinger is far more Walter Mitty than Hannibal Lecter.

"He is a fantasist and sometimes he goes too far and sometimes he stops, and sometimes - when the person encourages him - the fantasy continues."

However, chat logs showed Bolinger had bragged to others about his plan.

He told police he started having fantasies about cannibalism at about the age of six, adding:  "By the time I got to 14, I turned into the villain of the piece and I wondered what it would be like to eat a girl."

Before the trial, Bolinger admitted other charges, including administering a poison or noxious substance after he put a cloth soaked in dry cleaning fluid over his friend Urlene King's mouth in July 2010.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent pseudo photographs of children, and seven counts of publishing an obscene article.

Judge Adele Williams asked for a psychiatric and a pre-sentence report to be prepared to "assess the level of risk the defendant poses to the public".

Sentencing was adjourned until September 19.

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Man Held After Fellow Climber Falls To His Death

A man has been arrested after a fellow climber plunged to his death from a coastal cliff.

A 51-year-old man was airlifted to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough after falling at Kettleness Point, near Runswick Bay, north of Whitby, at around 12.40pm on Friday.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

North Yorkshire Police said a man his 20s, from the Whitby area, had been arrested and bailed pending further inquiries.

It is believed he was climbing with the man who fell.

Officers have appealed for two walkers who were seen in the area at the time to come forward.

Temporary detective superintendent Steve Smith said: "This is a tragic incident involving two climbers who appear to have got into difficulty, resulting in the death of one of them.

"A full investigation is under way to establish exactly what happened."

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'Fake Sheikh' Suspended As Tulisa Trial Collapses

An undercover reporter dubbed the "fake sheikh" has been "suspended pending an immediate internal investigation" following the collapse of the Tulisa Contostavlos drugs trial.

The former N-Dubz singer, 26, was accused of brokering a cocaine deal for Mazher Mahmood but the trial has been thrown out after the judge told the jury there were "strong grounds to believe" that Mr Mahmood had "lied".

Reading a statement outside Southwark Crown Court, Ms Contostavlos said the whole case had been a "horrific and disgusting entrapment" by Mr Mahmood and The Sun on Sunday newspaper.

"Mahmood has now been exposed by my lawyers openly lying to the judge and jury. These lies were told to stop crucial evidence going before the jury, " she said.

Ms Contostavlos claims Mr Mahmood's driver Alan Smith had been pressurised into changing his statement to strengthen Mr Mahmood's evidence.

Mr Smith originally suggested he had heard the star talking disapprovingly about drugs but "changed his mind" after a conversation with the undercover reporter, the court was told.

During a pre-trial hearing, Mr Mahmood was asked: "Did you subsequently ask or find out, discuss with Mr Smith anything that was said in the car?"

He replied: "No."

Michael Coombs, also known as Mike GLC, walks free

Asked if at any stage he discussed Ms Contostavlos saying she "disapproved" of drugs, he also said no.

But the judge said he gave answers which were "entirely inconsistent" when he gave evidence about the same topic at the trial last week.

It can now be reported that, before the trial began, defence counsel argued that the case should be "stayed" - meaning thrown out - but their application was turned down.

In her statement Ms Contostavlos denied ever having dealt or taken cocaine and said she was targeted by the reporter when things were going badly for her.

Ms Contostavlos has urged the police to launch an investigation and said "this type of entrapment should not be allowed to happen to anyone", adding that her life had been ruined for a year.

A Sun spokesman said: "We are very disappointed with this outcome, but do believe the original investigation was conducted within the bounds of the law and the industry's Code. This was demonstrated by the CPS decision to prosecute.

"The Sun, of course, takes the judge's remarks very seriously. Mr Mahmood has been suspended pending an immediate internal investigation."

Explaining his decision to halt the case to the jury, the Judge Alistair McCreath said: "Occasionally - very rarely - circumstances may arise in which a court has to say that, whatever apparent merits a prosecution may have, the court cannot allow the prosecution case to be taken forward to trial."

He said the situation arose from a "fundamental principle" that the court "cannot allow itself to be party to improper conduct".

The Metropolitan Police said it is aware of the judge's decision and will "continue to liaise with the CPS should further work be required".

Earlier Ms Contostavlos appeared ecstatic, punching the air as she left the dock before crying as she hugged supporters including her PA, Gareth Varey, shortly after the case against her was thrown out.

Mike GLC - whose real name is Michael Coombs - pleaded guilty before the start of the trial to supplying half an ounce (13.9g) of cocaine but he also walked free after judge said the case cannot proceed against him.

The 36-year-old also wept as he hugged defence barrister Jeremy Dein QC.

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Skipper Steven Gerrard Retires From England

England captain Steven Gerrard has retired from international football.

The 34-year-old represented his country 114 times - putting him third overall behind Peter Shilton (125) and David Beckham (115).

Gerrard skippered England 38 times and scored 21 goals - but his Three Lions career ended on a low following a disappointing World Cup in which he and his teammates failed to win a game.

The Liverpool midfielder said: "I have enjoyed every minute of representing my country and it is a sad day for me knowing that I won't pull on the England shirt again.

Gerrard is the third most capped Englishman of all time

"To ensure I can keep playing to a high level and giving everything to Liverpool Football Club I believe this is the right decision.

"This has been a very difficult decision, one of the toughest I've had to make in my career. I have agonised over this since coming back from Brazil and have spoken to family, friends and people close to me in the game before coming to this point."

Gerrard, who first represented England in 2000, will take on an ambassadorial role with The FA.

Manager Roy Hodgson described him as "an incredible man and a fantastic footballer".

Wayne Rooney is thought to be a contender to take the armband

"While I'm disappointed in the decision, I can entirely understand Steven's situation and can have no complaints given the incredible service he has given to his country," he said.

"It is never by coincidence that people reach such a staggering figure as 114 caps, it is a mark of his wonderful talent allied to a huge drive and determination to live up to the highest standard."

Despite a glittering club career, Gerrard failed to get past the quarter-final stage of any tournament with England.

FA chairman Greg Dyke said his retirement was "sad news" and that Gerrard would be remembered as a "great". 

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes Hodgson now has a "big decision" ahead as there is "no stand out candidate" to replace Gerrard.

"Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart are the two leading candidates," said Carragher.

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Team Scotland Fighting For Independence?

By Niall Paterson, Sky News Correspondent

It's really not quite what I expected. As someone brought up on the sweat-and-spit-bucket boxing stereotype perpetuated by the Rocky films, Team Scotland's facility in the Bridgeton area of Glasgow is something of a revelation.

Bright, airy, full of new kit, and without a spit bucket in sight, these are training facilities that professionals would covet.

The gym echoes to the squeak of shoes on wood, the steady thump-thump-thump of combinations being thrown.

Heavy bags swing like condemned criminals, as the boxers punch, bob and weave in one of their last training sessions before the Games begin.

There's an air of confidence to these young men born less of their ability to take and throw a hefty blow but of the months of arduous training that have led them to this point.

Team Scotland expect to win medals.

If they close their eyes they can hear Flower of Scotland being bellowed by appreciative crowds as the Saltire is raised and they take their place at the top of the podium.

Scotland's boxers have been training hard for Glasgow

The referendum is far from the front of their minds. Understandable, given what they'll be facing in just a few days.

But it has long been argued that success for Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games could convert into support for the Yes campaign.

I'm not so sure.

London 2012 is commonly held to have engendered so much national pride that we were fit to burst.

Frankly, much of that sense of being part of a greater whole seems to have dissipated, going by the invective directed at Scotland by some people not directly involved in the independence debate.

And surely there's a difference between the short-lived euphoria that surrounds cheering on and celebrating with your team, and a longer lasting desire to seek self-determination.

Members of Team Scotland showing off their controversial uniforms

Ninety-minute nationalism, as one academic described it to me, seems all important at the time but ultimately proves ephemeral.

And even if there were to be any lasting effects from the Games, wouldn't Better Together stand as much chance of benefiting as Yes?

After all, these were formerly known as the British Empire Games. The Queen will be in attendance. The countries that participate are part of that shared age of Empire.

One for debate, perhaps.

Sporting events have always been used for political purposes - Hitler in 1936, for example.

Both sides of the independence debate have been at pains to promise this is nothing more than a celebration of sport.

We'll see.

In Bridgeton, I'm sure of one thing only. It's a brave man who'll step into the ring and face off against Team Scotland.

Josh Taylor, Stephen Lavelle, Joe Ham and the rest are waiting. And they've got a nation in their corner.

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Police 'Closing In' On Landlady Murder Suspect

Police hunting a man suspected of murdering a guest house landlady in East Yorkshire have said they are closing in on him.

Bei Cater, 49, was found dead on Friday night at the Morayland Hotel in Bridlington.

Detectives said suspect John Heald may have returned to his native South Yorkshire and may be sleeping rough.

They have described the 53-year-old as "dangerous" and warned any friends he approaches looking for help not to assist him.

Bei Cater

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Baldwin, of Humberside Police, said: "John Heald has managed to evade the police so far but we are closing in on him and will not relent until we have found him.

"I believe he is a very dangerous individual and it is an absolute priority to track him down.

"I strongly suspect he has headed back to South Yorkshire where he originates from and he may have approached friends for help in providing him with shelter.

"My message to them is very clear; this is a dangerous man, the police need to find him as a matter of urgency and if he contacts you, ring the police immediately.

"Do not assist him in avoiding the police.

"It may also be that Mr Heald is sleeping rough and so once again I would ask for the public to remain vigilant and anyone who thinks they see him should not approach him but contact the police straight away."

:: Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Incident Team at Humberside Police on 01377 208989 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Photo To Mark Prince George's First Birthday

An official photograph has been released to mark the first birthday of Prince George on Tuesday.

It was taken during a visit with his parents to the Sensational Butterflies outdoor exhibition at London's Natural History Museum.

With his arms outstretched and eyes fixed on where he is going, the photo depicts a happy and confident child.

He is wearing a pair of dungaree shorts from French label Petit Bateau over a polo shirt-style top, shoes and socks.

George with his mum at a polo match last month

The picture was taken by Press Association photographer John Stillwell who has also snapped other key moments in the Prince's life.

These include his first public appearance the day after he was born and his christening last October.

Mr Stillwell said: "Prince George was very lively and very sure of himself and confident - a very determined young boy.

George gets a kiss from his loving Dad

"When you have children yourself you don't realise they grow up in such a short space of time, it's always other people saying how big they've grown.

"So having seen him soon after he was born and at his christening three months later, he's now gone from a baby at his christening to a toddler, that's the biggest change.

"And who does he look like? I'd have to say his dad, William."

George's christening

The birth of George Alexander Louis, known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge, saw the world's media camped for days outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in central London.

Kate gave birth to a son weighing 8lb 6oz at 4.24pm on July 22, but the news was not announced until four hours later when members of the Royal Family spoke of their joy at the newest addition to their ranks.

Kate and William leave hospital with their new son

The proud parents could not contain their happiness when they walked from the Lindo Wing and presented their son to the world the following day.

Commenting on George's birthday, a Kensington Palace spokeswoman said: "The family are going to be marking it privately with close family and friends at Kensington Palace."

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Newcastle Fans Fund Gets Thousands From Rivals

Malaysia Airlines Defends War Zone Flight Path

Updated: 4:48pm UK, Saturday 19 July 2014

A Malaysia Airlines official has defended the company's decision to fly over eastern Ukraine after flight MH17 was brought down.

Hugh Dunleavy, commercial director for the airline, said there had been no incidents involving civilian aircraft using the flight path and Malaysia Airlines had been using it "for quite some time".

However, at least three Ukrainian military aircraft were hit by missiles fired by pro-Russian separatists operating in the region in the week before MH17 was shot out of the sky, killing 298 people. Of the victims, 189 are Dutch.

Mr Dunleavy told Sky News: "Now there's been an incident like this, everyone is looking back saying 'you should have done something different'.

"But at the time we were flying, along with many other airlines on that flight path, there had been no incidents involving civilian aircraft.

"These are routes that are traditionally accepted on a day-by-day basis by the air traffic control authorities so they also consider them safe to fly.

"This was something totally extraordinary, it could just as easily have been the aircraft ahead of Malaysia Airlines or the aircraft behind that was hit."

Mr Dunleavy added the airline would now be using an alternative flight path around Ukraine and they have stopped calling the route MH17 out of respect for the victims. It will now be called MH19.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation, a UN agency and other aviation authorities recently issued a "notice to airmen" (NOTAM) putting the eastern edge of Ukrainian airspace off limits up to 32,000 feet because of the conflict.

But MH17 was flying at 33,000 feet when it was hit by a missile fired from what experts believe was a Buk launcher.

Ukraine has now closed all airspace in the east. 

Ismail Nasaruddin, president of the Malaysian Flight Attendant Union, said some crew members were too distraught to work following the tragedy.

He said: "We have lost 21 crew members in a very short time period. This is not something we like to see.

"We are affected, the crew members are demoralised by the essence of this tragic incident.

"What we are looking at now is probably an event that Malaysia crew members have never experienced before."

Daniel Holland, a military aviation expert, told Sky News airspace above war zones should be sealed off to commercial aircraft.

He said: "When a war zone occurs, everything from ground level up until realistically the level of space needs to be sealed off to any and all commercial traffic just to avoid something like this happening where a plane accidentally wanders over a battle ground.

"You've got that probability that an accidental misfire could occur and strike a civilian target without any real rhyme or reason, other than it being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

On Tuesday, Polish blogger Michael Dembinski suggested flying over eastern Ukraine was "worrying".

He wrote: "Take a look at eastern Ukraine and you'll see a procession of civilian aircraft flying along an air corridor between Luhansk, Donetsk, Horlivka, Kramatorsk - places where battles are raging and people are being killed.

"Yet blithely oblivious to what's happening on the ground, some of the world's largest civilian airliners are criss-crossing the area at 38,000ft."

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