Category: World News

‘Looter who stole Apple iMac computer’ has it ‘STOLEN from him by other looters’ – The Sun

A 'LOOTER' holding an allegedly stolen iMac computer casually walked down a New York City street amid the George Floyd protests and had the expensive technology ripped from his hands.

The video, shared by Instagram user @themostfamousartist, shows what appears to be a looter walking down a street in New York with a new Apple desktop computer before two men come over and steal it.

⚠️ Read our George Floyd protests live blog for the latest news & updates



"LOOTERS LOOTING LOOTERS New York, NY 6/2/2020," the Instagram caption read.

As the man behind the camera followed the young man, who was wearing a red sweater and holding the computer, he said: ''Yo! Oh s***. N**** got the iMac. Bro!'

Two attackers then rushed towards the man, throwing punches and reaching for the packaged computer.

"Yo, don't do that… don't do that. Don’t rob him!" the man taking the video yelled.

The victim is seen walking despite his assailants following him.

But after a few jabs to the face, the victim fights back and lets go of the box – which was then taken away by a group of looters.


Violence and looting plagued the streets of New York City as the anger sparked by the killing of George Floyd grows.

The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month during his arrest by four cops who have since been charged with his killing sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the country as tens of thousands of people demonstrated against police brutality.

High-end stores were ransacked despite an imposed New York City curfew being put into place.

On Monday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a curfew for all NYC residents starting at 11pm until 5am.


However, the curfew has failed to stop people smashing windows and running off with piles of merchandise.

On Tuesday morning, Bronx residents woke up to devastation from the previous night's rioting.

They found broken storefronts, shattered glass and stolen goods.

Meanwhile, on Monday night, an NYPD officer was brutally beat by protesters in the Bronx.

The attack was caught on video and shared by the city’s Sergeants Benevolent Association.


In another attack on police, a separate video, which was also taken in the Bronx, captured the moment a officer was hit by a car.

Protesters have defied curfews in major cities throughout the country to protest police brutality and racism after George Floyd died last week after a police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes.

President Donald Trump has slammed Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasio for New York City being what he described as "totally out of control."

On Tuesday night, Trump tweeted that city police officers were "not being allowed to perform their MAGIC but regardless, and with the momentum that the Radical Left and others have been allowed to build, they will need additional help."

He said Cuomo, the governor of New York, and de Blasio, the mayor of the Big Apple, "MUST PUT DOWN RIOTING NOW!"


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Traveller crime boss caught in Spain after police found £1m of cocaine

Traveller crime boss caught in Spain after police found £1m of cocaine in his site warden Portakabin is jailed for 10 years

  • NCA officers discovered Strange’s role after arresting his father and finding cash
  • Nicholas Strange, 34, sourced cocaine for his father which they sold in the UK
  • John Lewis, lead officer for the NCA, said: ‘Nicholas Strange was a crook who stayed in sunny Ibiza and kept his hands clean while his dad did the dirty work’

The head of an organised crime group which smuggled drugs and cash between Ibiza and Wales has been jailed.

Nicholas Strange, 34, lived on the Spanish island and sourced cocaine sold by his father Neil, 61, and associate Martyn Pagett, 31, from a travellers site in Nantyglo, Blaenau Gwent.

He was arrested in May 2016 by the Guardia Civil, acting on intelligence from the National Crime Agency (NCA), and repatriated to the UK.

NCA officers discovered Strange’s role after arresting his father and Pagett in Bristol in 2014 – an operation which saw them recover £125,000 in cash.

Nicholas Strange, 34, lived on the Spanish island of Ibiza and sourced cocaine sold by his father Neil, 61, and associate Martyn Pagett, 31, from a travellers site in Wales

They also found 8kg of high-purity cocaine, with a value to organised crime of up to £280,000 and a potential street value of £960,000, in Pagett’s Portakabin at the Cwm Crachen travellers site where he was employed as the site warden.

Nicholas Strange, 34, was sentenced to 10 years in jail.

A further £9,000 was recovered from an address near Reading which was linked to Neil Strange.

The NCA then began a two-year search for Nicholas Strange which culminated in his arrest and placement on remand at HMP Cardiff in June last year.

Nicholas Strange was arrested in May 2016 by the Guardia Civil, acting on intelligence from the National Crime Agency (NCA), and repatriated to the UK

At his sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, Nicholas Strange, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of supplying class A drugs and one count of money laundering.

Neil Strange, of Paignton, Devon, was previously sentenced to eight-and-a-half years imprisonment for his helping his son smuggle cash back to Ibiza.

Pagett, of Blaina, Blaenau Gwent, is serving eight years imprisonment for handling sales of the cocaine to crime groups across the UK.

John Lewis, lead officer for the NCA, said: ‘Nicholas Strange was a crook who stayed in sunny Ibiza and kept his hands clean while his dad did the dirty work.

The NCA officers discovered Strange’s role after arresting his father and Pagett in Bristol in 2014, an operation which saw them recover £125,000 in cash

‘Taking out his operation led to the imprisonment of several serious and organised criminals and the disruption of their networks. It also denied the criminal economy a lot of cash.

‘We were determined to track Strange down and, thanks to our intelligence capabilities and close ties with the Guardia Civil, he is facing the full weight of justice.’

Strange’s group had been supplying, among others, Ashley Burgham, aged 28, the head of a Gwent-based organised crime group.

Burgham and 10 of his group were sentenced to a combined total of 54 years on December 11, 2015.

The cocaine that was seized by officers.

The Stranges and Pagett were also supplying Anthony Moran, a then-33-year-old from Glasgow.

Moran is serving an eight-year prison sentence after British Transport Police officers acting on NCA intelligence stopped him on a train to Scotland shortly after a meeting with Pagett.

He had with him 1kg of cocaine worth £35,000 wholesale and up to £120,000 when cut and sold. One of Nicholas Strange’s guilty pleas related to the supply of cocaine to Moran.

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Somali mother and son are still living on bench outside library

Somali mother and son are still living on high street bench SIX YEARS after they were evicted from flat despite repeated attempts to rehome them

  • A mother and son have been living on a high street bench in London for years
  • The Somalian pair were evicted from their Battersea flat in February 2014
  • Temporary accommodation had been lined up for them but they did not show up
  • Numerous properties have been offered to them but they have been refused 

A mother and son have been living on high-street benches in south London for six years after being evicted from their flat despite repeated attempts by Wandsworth Council to rehouse them.

The Somalian pair used to live in a council flat in Battersea – three miles north of Tooting but after the death of a family member, they were unable to afford the rent and in February 2014, Wandsworth Council evicted them.

Temporary accommodation had been lined up for them, according to the BBC, but the mother, who is believed to be in her 70s did not show up with her son who is in his 30s.

A mother and son have been living on high-street benches in south London for six years after being evicted from their flat in February 2014 by Wandsworth Council 

The Somalian mother who is in her 70s sleeps alongside her son who is in his 30s outside a library in Tooting, south London

They ended up living on a bench outside a TK Maxx store on Upper Tooting Road a few hundred metres from the bench where they currently sleep outside a library in Tooting. 

In December 2014, they were hospitalised because of the cold weather and the bench they had been living on was removed by the council because it was ‘in their best interests’.

The mother tried to return to the bench after she was was discharged while her son remained in hospital for a while longer, only to find the bench had gone. 

According to the Wandsworth Times, the woman was heartbreakingly found huddled up on a chair nearby using an umbrella to shelter her from the rain. 

Temporary accommodation had been lined up for them, but the mother, who is believed to be in her 70s did not show up with her son who is in his 30s

In April 2015, the mother and son moved to a bench outside Tooting library and have been there ever since. 

It has been reported that the Somali community feel hurt by the case as they have repeatedly offered the mother and son lodging in people’s homes but like the council they have been rebuffed.

It is understood that the council believe it would be cruel and futile to move them on as the mother and son would just find another bench. 

A social worker is believed to visit them every two or three weeks and local charities are also involved with them. 

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MOTHER AND SON WHO HAVE SET UP CAMP OUTSIDE A PUBLIC LIBRARY IN LONDON 

10.30am: The mother and her son wake up

10.45am: The son, believed to be in his 20s, urinates in the corner up against the Tooting Library 

11am: The pair enjoy breakfast, which typically consists of a honey sandwich

Noon: They drink takeaway coffees and the son listens to his MP3 player

1pm: The mother goes into the library when it opens and the pair then go for a walk  

2pm: The son goes and collects their lunch of chicken and chips

2.45pm: The woman goes for a walk and he reads a book under his umbrella 

4.20pm: He has an afternoon nap 

7pm: They share a coffee

8pm: He sprays himself with deodorant and she applies hand and face cream

9pm: The son collects more chicken for them to eat  

10.30pm: The mother falls asleep and he listens to his MP3 player

Midnight: The tarpaulin goes over and they both sleep   

A photo taken by Wandsworth Council of the flat the Somalian pair were offered to live in

This was one of many flats that had been offered to the pair and it had been refurbished

Numerous properties have been offered to the Somalian pair but they have all been turned down. 

A statement from Wandsworth Council last October said: ‘Over the last few years Wandsworth Council has offered them four different properties to move into, all very pleasant and fully refurbished, including the original property where they used to live, but they turned all of them down without viewing them. 

‘Currently, a property is being held vacant for them and our social work team continues to liaise regularly with the family to try and persuade them to accept it.’

The statement adds that if people refuse offers of help, ‘that is their decision and choice – we cannot force people to accept our help.’

In December 2014, they were hospitalised because of the cold weather and the bench they had been living on was removed from the council because it was ‘in their best interests’

In April 2015, the mother and son moved to a bench outside Tooting library and have been there ever since

It goes on: ‘Wandsworth Council is enormously concerned for their welfare and has done everything it can to try and resolve this issue and get them off the streets. 

‘We will continue to work alongside health partners and other agencies, including the police and local charities, as well as the local Somali community, in closely monitoring this situation – including the physical and mental well-being of these two people and their capacity to make decisions.’

Wandsworth Council have been approached by the MailOnline for further comment.

The average of a rough sleeper at death is 44 years for men and 42 years for women according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS estimated that 597 homeless people died in 2017 in England and Wales – mainly on the street. 

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Cunning leopard uses baby monkey as BAIT to lure adults towards it

Cunning leopard uses baby monkey as BAIT to lure adults towards it… but the animal is left to its fate by its group

  • German photographer Thomas Retterath snapped a rare moment involving a leopard and a baby monkey
  • While on safari in Okavango Delta in Botswana Retterath spotted a leopard using a baby vervet monkey as bait
  • The big cat is thought to have been using the monkey as a way to draw in its larger, more appetising parents

An amateur wildlife photographer has captured the rare moment a leopard used a baby vervet monkey as bait in an attempt to lure in larger adults. 

Thomas Retterath, from Germany, documented the scenes, in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, as the big cat toyed with the small primate. 

No adult monkeys took the bait, and by the time Thomas and his tour group had to leave for their flight, the baby monkey was still alive and in the care of the leopard.  

The photographer explained that instead of killing the baby monkey once it was captured, the leopard toyed with it, occasionally letting it go only to retrieve it again, comparing the way it played with the monkey to when a house cat toys with a mouse. 

‘She bit down just so hard that the monkey was not hurt. She took it in her mouth, as if she were transporting her own offspring,’ Retterath recalled. ‘The cat apparently used the tiny one as bait in the intention that one of the adults would become careless and start a rescue operation.  

‘We watched this spectacle for 30 minutes. None of the monkeys got cocky and we left the crime scene, because we had to get to our bush flight. The cat had not killed the monkey by then,’ he said.

Amateur wildlife photographer Thomas Retterath, from Germany, captured the moment a leopard used a cute baby vervet monkey as bait in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Pictured: The leopard crouches behind the baby monkey, that appears unaware of the potential danger that it is in. The leopard’s spots camouflage it against the background, hiding from prey



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The leopard was trying to draw in other, larger monkeys with their baby, in the hope they would stage a daring rescue attempt. During his time observing the leopard, Retterath said that no monkeys took the bait. Pictured: The leopard appears to spot the photographer, staring directly at him as he takes snaps from a distance

Photographer Retterath explained: ‘It had rained that morning and the safari had been very uneventful. Suddenly our guide heard nagging and shouting from monkeys in the bush.’ Leopards in the wild are a rare sighting

Spotted: A leopard’s camouflage and their tendency to keep hidden while stalking prey makes sightings of them in the wild a rare event. Some leopard’s are considered vulnerable, with some variants classed as extremely endangered, by wildlife conservation groups. Their coats make them a prime target for hunters who covet their spotted fur

‘Instead of killing the baby quickly, the cat played with him. The cat occasionally let go of the little one, only to bully him again a short time later,’ Retterath said. ‘The behaviour was very much like when a house cat catches a mouse.’ Pictured: The Leopard watches as the monkey plays on a fallen branch, patiently waiting for potential prey

Leopards are often confused with the similar looking Jaguar, coming from the same genus, but they are distinguishable by their smaller frame, smaller ‘rosettes’ – or spots – which are more densely packed

Retterath said that he watched the jaguar for 30 minutes, but during that time ‘none of the monkeys got cocky’. The group left the ‘crime scene’ in order to catch their flight home. ‘The cat had not killed the monkey by then,’ he said. Pictured: The money appears to make a break for it, but the leopard stalks behind it as the baby crawls along the branch

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Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland considering FORCING people to wear masks in shops

NICOLA Sturgeon has admitted Scotland is considering forcing people to wear masks in shops.

The Scottish First Minister today revealed the plan was under consideration as it could help protect others around those in face coverings.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

Speaking at her daily press conference, Ms Sturgeon admitted the science was not conclusive, but that masks could make things safer in enclosed spaced.

She explained: “I said when we announced the policy that we would keep it under review, we have not reached a final decision on this.

“But it’s fair to say this is something we are considering.

“I understand why people might not want to wear face coverings, it’s not the most comfortable thing to do.

“The scientific evidence on this is not overwhelming but there is a benefit to be had if you wear a face covering in an enclosed space where physical distancing is a bit more difficult.

“There is some evidence that wearing a face covering can protect someone else.”

Ms Sturgeon said there was "some evidence" that wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces such as shops could make a difference.

She added: "I really want to strongly encourage people if you haven't already been doing it, or if you have started to do it and found it uncomfortable and haven't continued, please consider this very carefully.

"We want to ensure we are doing everything we can to reduce the risks of transmission."

The news will spark speculation Britain is considering its own rules on mask wearing.


This week a major study claimed face masks can slash the risk of catching Covid by more than four-fifths.

Experts say the findings suggest universal uptake could allow Brits to safely “resume normal activities” and “protect people in crowded settings”.

The Lancet report also found staying more than two metres away from others when outside halves the chances of catching the bug, compared to a one metre gap.

Researchers looked at 44 related studies involving nearly 26,000 people that had caught either Covid, Sars and Mers.

The analysis, commissioned by the World Health Organisation to inform their guidance, shows just three per cent of those wearing a mask were infected.

It compares with 17 per cent of those who had no face protection at all.

Last month, ministers urged all Brits to use home-made facemasks when shopping or using public transport, but did not make it compulsory.
Another study warned couples should mask up to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The intimacy involved in sex is likely to give you coronavirus if your partner has it, experts say.

Harvard University has conducted a study into the safest way to have corona-sex if you're worried your partner may have covid-19.

In the shock finding, abstinence (no sex at all) was found to be the safest sexual position, followed by masturbation, but things like corona-kissing will spread the virus like wildfire.

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South Korea vows to end border protests after Kim Jong Un’s sister’s threat

South Korea said Thursday it plans to ban activists from flying anti-Pyongyang leaflets over the border – hours after Kim Jong Un’s sister threatened to cancel a recent bilateral military agreement with Seoul if the activity continues.

Kim Yo Jong, the Hermit Kingdom’s leader’s younger sister and key adviser, issued the warning after propaganda leaflets concealed in 500,000 balloons were sent across the border this week by several North Korean defectors, the Guardian reported.

The leaflets assailed the despot’s nuclear threats, according to the Yonhap news agency. Previous messages also have slammed the rogue regime’s human rights record.

Kim’s sister warned of the possible scrapping of the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement that promised to eliminate practical threats of war, saying that pact was “hardly of any value,” according to Reuters.

She also warned that Pyongyang would withdraw from the Kaesong industrial project and shut down the joint liaison office in the North’s border city unless Seoul put a stop to such activity.

Kim Yo Jong, who serves unofficially as her brother’s chief of staff, serves formally as a vice director of the ruling Workers’ Party’s powerful Central Committee.

The “anti-DPRK leaflets” — titled “Defectors from the North” — have been dumped along the North’s side of the heavily fortified DMZ.

DPRK, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is the official name of North Korea.

“If such an act of evil intention committed before our eyes is left to take its own course under the pretext of ‘freedom of individuals’ and ‘freedom of expression’, the south Korean authorities must face the worst phase shortly,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA.

Responding to the statement, a spokesman for South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, called for a stop to the leafletting.

With Post wires

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Judge rules that ill man should be allowed to die

Judge rules that man in his 30s should be allowed to die because he does not want to live with a stoma

  • Seriously ill patient who has long-term bowel problems made clear his wishes 
  • Following surgery, specialists put chances of survival between 60 and 70%
  • The man had lived with a temporary stoma before and ‘hated it,’ his parents said
  • Man said: ‘How can I get a job? How can I get a woman?’ according to mother

Mr Justice Hayden published the ruling yesterday allowing the man to die

A judge has ruled a sedated man in his 30s should be allowed to die rather than live the rest of his life with a stoma.

The seriously ill patient who has suffered long-term bowel problems made clear his wishes before going into intensive care at Barnsley Hospital.

Following major surgery, specialists put his chances of survival between 60 and 70 per cent.

But they said he would need a permanent stoma – a surgical opening on the abdomen though which urine or faeces can be diverted out of the body.

The man had lived with a temporary stoma before and ‘hated it,’ his parents, who respect their son’s wishes, told Mr Justice Hayden during Monday’s Court of Protection hearing.

Speaking via videolink, his mother described how her son said: ‘How can I get a job? How can I get a woman?’    

In a ruling published yesterday, the judge was told the man had made a written ‘advanced decision’ saying he would not want to live with a permanent stoma.

It is unlikely to be appealed as none of the litigants opposed carrying out the man’s wishes. 

Bosses at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, who have responsibility for his care, had asked Mr Justice Hayden to decide what was in the man’s best interests.

They said a decision needed to be made because it would be some time before the man regained the capacity to make a decision for himself. 

The man had lived with a temporary stoma before and ‘hated it,’ his parents, who respect their son’s wishes, told Mr Justice Hayden during Monday’s Court of Protection hearing

Mr Justice Hayden considered evidence on Monday at a virtual hearing in the Court of Protection, where judges consider issues about people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.

He outlined his decision in a written ruling published on Wednesday.

The judge said medics could lawfully stop providing nutrition and hydration by artificial means to the man and move him to a palliative care regime.

What is a stoma? 

A stoma is where a section of bowel is brought out through an opening on your stomach area (abdomen). Your bowel movements (excrement) are collected in a pouch or bag attached to the skin around your stoma. 

There are two types of stoma – a colostomy is formed from the large bowel and an ileostomy is formed from the small bowel.

Ileostomy is an opening from your small bowel to allow faeces to leave your body without passing through your large bowel. Bowel movements after an ileostomy are usually quite fluid.

Colostomy is an opening from your large bowel to allow faeces to leave your body without passing through your back passage (anus). Bowel movements after a colostomy are usually quite solid.

Source: Bupa 

Mr Justice Hayden said the man could not be identified in media reports of the case and referred to him by the initials ‘MSP’ in his ruling.

The man’s parents spoke to the judge at Monday’s hearing from their home, telling him their son had lived with a temporary stoma once before, following surgery.

‘He hated it,’ the man’s mother told the judge. ‘He said, ‘How can I get a job? How can I get a woman?’

‘We support what he wants.’

Mr Justice Hayden said many people live ‘perfectly full lives’ with a stoma, but the man had delivered a ‘consistent’ message.

‘Many people require a stoma to be fitted and I have no doubt that the vast majority make the necessary accommodations to ensure that it does not unnecessarily inhibit their enjoyment of life or become an impediment to their personal and sexual relationships,’ said Mr Justice Hayden in his ruling.

‘However, this was simply not the case with MSP. There is powerful evidence that as a young man in his 30s… MSP could never accept life with a stoma.

‘No amount of support, love or understanding could change MSP’s mind.

‘There is no doubt in my mind that he had come to a clear and entirely settled decision that he was not prepared to contemplate life with a stoma.’

The judge said the man had endured a ‘decade of serious ill health’ and had a ‘desperately reduced’ quality of life.

‘His confidence and self-esteem has been adversely impacted,’ said the judge.

‘His capacity to forge and maintain interpersonal relationships has been significantly eroded.

‘He has made a practical, utilitarian calculation that life in these circumstances is not what he wants.

‘In a real sense this is not a case about choosing to die, it is about an adult’s capacity to shape and control the end of his life.’

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Penny Lancaster joins the police after loving stint on reality show

Penny Lancaster joins the police: Sir Rod Stewart’s wife signs up as special constable after loving stint in uniform on reality show Famous and Fighting Crime

  • The Loose Women panelist worked with Cambridgeshire Police on TV last year 
  • A drug dealer threatened to stab her in an experience she admits was ‘terrifying’
  • But the former model will join up with City of London Police once lockdown ends 

Penny Lancaster, who joined police on the beat in a TV documentary last year, is now set to become an officer for real.

The Loose Women panelist signed up to become a special constable after taking part in Channel 4’s Famous and Fighting Crime, where she was seen working with officers from Cambridgeshire Police.

In a ‘terrifying’ experience during filming, she was at one point confronted by a drug dealer who threatened to stab her. 

Penny Lancaster, pictured in uniform, trained with the police for Famous and Fighting Crime and is now set to become an officer for real

She was one of five well-known rookies being given the chance to see what it’s like to be in the police

Special Constable Penny (pictured giving comfort to a member of the public) said she ‘never felt more comfortable in a position’

Despite the scare, however, the former model took so much from her stint in uniform that she has now successfully completed the application process for the part-time role.  

Penny, 49, who is married to Sir Rod Stewart, will join the City of London Police after undergoing training once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

She said: ‘I did a show called Famous and Fighting Crime where I was involved with the police.

‘It was terrifying but I never felt more comfortable in a position and I felt like this is where I was supposed to be.

‘I have signed up to be an officer.

‘I had to sit exams, English and maths type of exams, and go for an interview with two officers. And then I did a fitness test which was the bleep test which was pretty tricky so I had to get fit for that and I passed.

‘Then I had to do this massive vetting form going through all personal details of myself, my family, people I know and all that kind of thing.

‘So now I’m waiting for the training to begin so I can serve the community.

‘I’m going to become a police officer for the City Police in London.’

Penny, pictured far right, appeared on the show alongside, left to right, comedian Marcus Brigstocke, Gogglebox star Sandi Bogle, TV presenter Katie Piper and Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing

The mother-of-two, who married Sir Rod in 2007, said the experience made her realise how underfunded the police are.

Both her husband and her parents have admitted concerns about her joining the force, but Penny, speaking on an Instagram Live chat with her former Strictly Come Dancing partner, Ian Waite, is determined to take on the challenge.

She added: ‘My mum and dad are not so keen on the idea but I can’t wait.

‘I feel sorry for the police right now because they really, really have their work cut out for them trying to create social distancing while trying to arrest someone.’

Speaking previously, Sir Rod, 75, said: ‘No one’s ever been able to stop Penny if she’s decided she wants to do something. And I’m always behind her all the way.

‘But am I scared for her? Yes, a little. Did you see that drug addict who threatened to stab her with a needle on the TV show?

‘As long as she’s accompanied at all times by another constable, she’ll be okay.’ 

How Penny helped bring a violent groom to justice on the show 

As part of the show, Penny interviewed a groom, who started an attack at his own wedding reception which left a man with a fractured jaw. 

The victim had been at a comedy club night at the Cresset, in Peterborough, with his partner who was then invited by her friend to the wedding reception of Luke Stone, of Goodwood Road in Bretton, Peterborough.

The victim had entered the function room to the wedding reception, held in the same building, and was stood with his partner when the groom walked over and punched him in the face.

The man was immediately punched for a second time by the groom’s brother Joshua, of Kirkmeadow in Bretton, Peterborough, causing him to fall to the floor unconscious.

Penny Lancaster (centre) interviews Joshua Stone as part of the Channel 4 documentary

Staff at the Cresset Theatre placed the victim in the recovery position while they waited for police and paramedics. Both defendants left the scene before officers arrived.

The victim was taken to hospital with a fractured jaw. The assault was caught on CCTV and the defendants were arrested and interviewed the following day.

In police interview, with DC Sam Delmer and celebrity Penny, Luke Stone claimed he punched the victim because he feared being assaulted by the man himself.

He claimed he wouldn’t wish serious injury on anyone, but added that if he could say anything to the victim he would say ‘don’t gate-crash parties’.

The defendant admitted it was him in the CCTV footage and said in hindsight he should have got a staff member to ask the victim to leave the party.

In his police interview, Joshua Stone said he had been drinking all evening and admitted things had got ‘messy’.

He accepted punching the victim but said he believed it was just a ‘warning jab’ and didn’t mean to hit the man so hard.

The defendant watched the CCTV footage and showed remorse for what he had done. He said he wanted to protect his family and would have resolved the issue in ‘a more civilised manner’ if he hadn’t been drinking.

Luke Stone previously pleaded guilty to common assault, while Joshua Stone previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

Joshua Stone was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to the victim.

Luke Stone was handed a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £500 in compensation.

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Aston Martin to axe 500 jobs while car dealership shuts down showrooms

Aston Martin will axe 500 jobs while car dealership Lookers shuts showrooms and cuts 1,500 roles as new vehicle sales plummet by 90% amid coronavirus lockdown with only 20,000 bought in May

  • Only 20,000 cars were registered last month, compared to 180,000 in May 2019
  • Showrooms were shut for coronavirus lockdown, but deliveries could take place
  • AutoTrader offers hope, saying there is ‘pent up demand,’ from car buyers  
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Up to 2,000 jobs in the car industry are being axed at Aston Martin and car dealership Lookers after new vehicle sales plummeted by 90% last month.    

Only approximately 20,000 new cars were registered in May compared with more than 180,000 during the same month in 2019, according to preliminary figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).  

The figures make depressing reading for the car industry, as Aston Martin declared it was cutting 500 jobs to deliver £10million worth of savings.

Car dealership Lookers is set to close 12 showrooms and make 1,500 redundancies as the industry suffers a huge hit from the coronavirus pandemic. 

Lookers is making 1,500 redundancies in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, the car dealership has showrooms across England, including in Battersea, above

The SMMT recently forecast that around 1.68 million new cars will be registered in 2020, which would represent a 27% decline on last year. 

Car showrooms across the UK were closed for the whole of May, but limited deliveries of new vehicles could take place.

Despite car dealerships reopening in England earlier this week, Lookers said it was launching redundancy consultations across all areas of the group, which are expected to see around 1,500 jobs go among its 8,100-strong workforce.

Around 55% of its staff are still on the government’s furlough scheme.  

It comes as the Altrincham-based group revealed it will shut another 12 sites – either by closure, merging with other showrooms or refranchising – on top of the 15 dealerships being closed already under plans announced in November.

The closures will leave it with 136 dealerships across the UK

Aston Martin is set to cut at least 500 jobs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic

Lookers said the moves will cut costs by about £50 million a year.

Recently-appointed chief executive Mark Raban said: ‘We have taken the decision to restructure the size of the group’s dealership estate to position the business for a sustainable future, which regrettably means redundancy consultation with a number of our colleagues.

‘This has been a very difficult decision and we will be supporting our people as much as possible throughout the process.’

Aston Martin said its new strategy is intended to deliver £10million in operating cost savings each year.

In a statement, the company said: ‘The measures announced today will right-size the organisational structure and bring the cost base into line with reduced sports car production levels, consistent with restoring profitability.

Demand for new cars fell by around 90% last month as the coronavirus lockdown hit sales (Jacob King/PA)

‘Aston Martin will shortly launch a consultation process on proposals to reduce employee numbers by up to 500, reflecting lower than originally planned production volumes and improved productivity across the business.

‘The employee and trade union consultation process will be launched in the coming days.’

Ian Plummer, commercial director at online car marketplace Auto Trader, said there is ‘a lot of pent up demand’ from car buyers, creating a ‘huge opportunity for the industry to help kick-start the country’s wider economy’.

He added that retailers have worked hard to show consumers that their sites adhere to new hygiene guidelines ‘to instil confidence that if they turn up to a forecourt, it’s safe to do so.’

The Guardian reported on Wednesday that the SMMT has been in talks with the Government over a possible £1.5bn scrappage scheme that would take £2,500 off the price of a new car to stimulate the market.

Andrea Lee, clean air campaigns manager for environmental lawyers ClientEarth, said taxpayers’ money should be used to help people on low incomes and small businesses switch to cleaner forms of transport.

‘Subsidies that keep fossil-fuelled vehicles on the roads have no place in creating a healthier and fairer future for the UK,’ she added.

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Boris Johnson's 24-hour test target will NOT apply to postal kits

ANOTHER testing shambles: Boris Johnson’s new 24-hour target for getting results will NOT apply to postal kits or care homes – around a third of the total – as it emerges thousands of swabs sent to the US had to be RE-DONE

  • Boris Johnson pledged yesterday to process coronavirus tests within 24 hours
  • Experts believe a quick turnaround is key to stopping the spread of the disease
  • But it is thought around a third of checks could be excluded from 24 hour pledge
  • Meanwhile, thousands of tests had to be redone after they were sent to US lab 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Boris Johnson’s pledge to process all coronavirus tests within 24 hours by the end of June will not include postal kits or potentially those sent to care homes – a third of the total. 

The Prime Minister promised yesterday to speed up the amount of time it takes to provide people with test results. 

But it has now emerged that many thousands of daily checks may not be subject to the target. 

Experts believe tests must be processed within 24 hours so that the contacts of people who test positive can be swiftly identified and told to self-isolate in order to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.  

The fact that the PM’s 24 hour pledge does not appear to be a blanket guarantee is likely to prompt a backlash amid fears delays in processing tests could hamper efforts to prevent a second wave. 

Meanwhile, ministers are also facing scrutiny over a decision to send thousands of tests to the US for processing only for approximately 40 per cent to be voided, meaning people had to get checked again. 

Boris Johnson, pictured in the House of Commons yesterday, told MPs all coronavirus tests will be processed within 24 hours by the end of June

The NHS Test and Trace programme launched last week but ministers are under pressure after failing to reveal how many people have so far been contacted

Mr Johnson was grilled on the subject of test processing at PMQs yesterday by Health Select Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt. 

Mr Johnson said: ‘The answer is that we already turn around 90 per cent of tests within 48 hours. 

‘The tests conducted at the 199 testing centres, as well as the mobile test centres, are all done within 24 hours. 

‘I can undertake… now to get all tests turned around in 24 hours by the end of June, except for difficulties with postal tests or insuperable problems like that.’ 

But Number 10 later admitted the pledge will not cover postal tests while officials were unable to say if checks sent to care homes would be included, according to The Times. 

The latest testing numbers showed that home kits and sets of tests sent to care homes accounted for just over 60,000 of the 170,000 checks carried out yesterday – approximately one third of the total. 

At the moment approximately half of tests are thought to be processed within 24 hours. 

The Government is under pressure on a number of fronts over its testing regime after the troubled launch of the NHS Test and Trace programme. 

Ministers have been criticised for refusing to reveal how many people have been contacted since the system started last week. 

They have also been criticised for failing to say how many individuals have been tested, with the Government instead publishing a daily figure for the total number of checks carried out. Those numbers are skewed because some people are tested more than once.   

Ministers are facing fresh scrutiny today after it emerged that tens of thousands of tests sent to the US to be processed had to be re-done.

The Telegraph reported almost 70,000 tests were sent across the Atlantic for processing over a 10 day period at the start of May. 

But nearly 30,000 were apparently ‘voided’ because of the way they had been processed, with those people affected having to be told to get checked again.

A Department of Health source told the newspaper that the numbers represented only a fraction of the total UK testing operation with almost five million checks having been administered since the start of the outbreak.   

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