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Three-year-old dies after being pulled unresponsive from backyard pool
Canada PM Trudeau reflecting on criticism, ally says
New Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has told his caucus he will "reflect" on MPs' criticism of him.
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Democrats elect Rep. Gerry Connolly over progressive star AOC for top Oversight Committee post
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U.S. Releases Kenyan Prisoner Held for Nearly 18 Years Without Charges
The Pentagon has released a Kenyan prisoner who was held at Guantánamo Bay for nearly 18 years on suspicion he was tied to an affiliate of Al Qaeda that plotted attacks against Israeli tourists in East Africa two decades ago. The prisoner, Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu, 51, was never charged with a crime. He was […]
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NYC building inferno leaves man dead as charred bikes, propane tanks seen in rubble
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Mum of paedo cop hid phone in cat’s GRAVE in twisted bid to cover crimes after fiend targeted 210 children on Snapchat
THE mum of a paedo cop buried her son’s phone with her dead cat in a twisted bid to cover his sick crimes.
Lewis Edwards, 25, previously of Cefn Glas, Bridgend, used Snapchat to groom more than 200 girls online and admitted 160 counts of child sexual abuse and blackmail involving 4,500 indecent images of children.
He and his mother, Rebekah, 48, were then charged with perverting the course of justice by concealing further evidence from the police, including burying the phone.
The mother and son were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday.
Lewis Edwards was handed a two-year and eight-month sentence for further possession of indecent images and 12 months for perverting the course of justice.
He will serve both concurrently with his prior lifetime sentence for child sexual abuse.
His mother, a former social care worker for Bridgend Council, was given a two-year sentence, for which she must serve half in custody.
The judge, Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said Rebekah Edwards’ offence was “too serious for anything other than immediate custodial sentence”.
She added: “Bearing in mind that one of the purposes for sentencing for these types of offences is deterrence as well as punishment.”
GROOMED VICTIMS
Lewis Edwards, a former police officer with South Wales Police, posed as a teenage boy to target young girls between 10 and 16, grooming them into sharing indecent images of themselves.
He appeared in court remotely from HMP Parkhurst, wearing a grey jumper, he spent most of the sentencing staring down at his hands on the desk in front of him.
Edwards was initially arrested on February 8 2023 at his parents’ home.
After this, his mother found three more of his phones and moved them from one address to another, concealing them from the police investigation.
She then – at his request – buried one of them in the back garden in the grave of a family pet.
On August 3 of that year, the police executed a warrant at the family’s home and Mrs Edwards initially only handed over two phones, not knowing the police were aware of the third.
Questioned about the phone in the garden, she admitted it was there, and Mark Edwards, her husband, dug it up and handed it to the police.
Roger Griffiths, appearing for the prosecution, said: “At that time Mrs Edwards looked at her husband, her husband returned the look, and she said ‘I buried the phone in the garden when I buried the cat’.
“Mr Edwards told the officers he would go and get the phone.
“When it was retrieved from the earth it was a black mobile telephone with a smashed screen.”
He added the full extent of Lewis Edwards’ offending could not be presented to the court because the buried phone was damaged beyond repair.
The concealed phones came to light after a family member overheard conversations about the hidden evidence and reported it.
The phone found in the garden was too badly damaged to be searched, however, further indecent images of children, as well as applications commonly used by offenders to evade detection were found on the other phones.
Edwards used Snapchat to contact his victims and would manipulate the young girls into sending explicit photos and videos.
Despite the victims’ pleas for him to stop and threatening to report him to the police, Edwards continued to take advantage.
Edwards' previous crimes in full
- 90 counts under section 8 of the Sexual Offences Act, 13 of which involve penetration.
- 27 counts under section 10 of the Sexual Offences Act, 13 of which involve penetration, and one attempt.
- 11 counts under section 12 of the Sexual Offences Act
- Four counts under section 15A of the Sexual Offences Act
- One count under section 48 of the Sexual Offences Act.
- One count of distribution of a category C indecent image of a child.
- 14 counts of making category A indecent image of a child.
- 13 counts of making a category B indecent image of a child.
- 15 counts of making a category C indecent image of a child.
- 10 counts of possessing a category A indecent image of a child.
- 11 counts of possessing a category B indecent image of a child.
- 12 counts of possessing a category C indecent image of a child.
- 22 counts of blackmail.
- One count of failing to disclose a key, namely a personal identification number or password of protected information.
When they refused, he would become increasingly threatening, blackmailing them into complying out of fear he would expose them.
Many of the victims would beg the paedophile to delete the images, with heartbreaking audio and video footage played in court of the victims’ pleas for empathy. In one video, a girl of 13 is exposing herself while crying and wiping her face and types “Pls Stop… ‘I’m litro 13 pls jus del everything (sic),” reports WalesOnline.
Another victim, who was just 12 years old, said: “Just delete them please, I am sick of them now”, “Just delete them and I’ll do more”, “Leave me the f*** alone dude, I am serious.”
Edwards responded: “Hehe if u leave il ruin ur life rn… Now do the vids I asked for and stand further back yh x(sic)”.
The victim sent images of herself performing a sex act while visibly in distress and crying, and Edwards told her to not cover her face.
SERVING POLICE OFFICER
He was a serving police officer when he engaged in his predatory behaviour, having met one of his victims in the course of his work.
He was previously sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 12 years.
Lucy Dowdall from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “In assisting his attempts to conceal further evidence of his sexual exploitation of children, (Rebekah Edwards) demonstrated a lack of concern for the devastating impact of her son’s actions on innumerable young people and their families.
“Her sole concern was for her paedophile son and not for his victims or helping them secure the justice they deserved.
“The fact that Lewis Edwards involved his own family members shows how far he was prepared to go to cover up his offending, and his continued lack of remorse for his abhorrent behaviour.
“The images found on one of the phones retrieved included category A images, the most severe type of child abuse, indicating the seriousness of his offending.
“Our work on this case did not stop with the original conviction, and we have continued to work with investigators to identify where offences were committed, to ensure justice is served.”
Derek Ray-Hill, Interim CEO of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the UK’s front line against online child sexual abuse imagery, said: “Every image or video of child sexual abuse is a crime scene.
“The children are real, and the abuse inflicted on them can affect them for life.
“Brazen criminals like Edwards think only of themselves.
“His selfishness in trying to cover his own tracks with schemes involving his own family is in stark contrast to how little he cares about those children who suffered as a result of his actions.”
High street bargain chain with 800 branches closes suddenly in town centre after it ‘didn’t pay its rent’
A BARGAIN high street chain with 800 branches across the UK has been forced to close one down today.
A Poundland in Bolton was seized by the council and a forfeiture notice was slapped on the shutters after allegations it didn’t pay its rent.
The store on Victoria Square owed a “longstanding amount” on its property, according to the council, but Poundland insists they had just paid it.
A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “As landlords, the council has had no choice but to act in order to retrieve the longstanding amount due on a property that is, ultimately, owned by Bolton council tax payers.
“The tenant operates successfully from a number of premises across the UK and we are confident that the non-payment is due to an administrative oversight.
“We aim to resolve the matter as quickly as possible so the shop can reopen in a matter of days.”
A spokesperson for Poundland said: “We were surprised by the council’s action this morning – not least because we made a substantial rental payment recently and once negotiations for a new lease are concluded will believe we will in fact be in credit on our rental account.
“We will discuss the situation with the council today so we can re-open the store as soon as possible.”
Bolton shoppers were not happy about the news, with one local commenting: “Can Bolton really afford to lose another store, also another building that will be turned into flats.
“Goodbye Bolton town centre.”
Another person commented: “Only the charity shops will be left after Christmas it’s a ghost town.”
A third said: “Such a shame, no real attraction to bring anyone into town centre these days.”
Cllr Linda Thomas, whose ward covers Bolton town centre, said: “That is a great pity, it is a popular shop that serves the town.
“It is a shame, I hope it can be accommodated somewhere else within the regeneration of the town centre.
“I am sure our officers will be doing everything they can to encourage them to stay in Bolton, and I am sure they will.
“We have got a growing community in Bolton town centre that will need shops like this.
“I hope they stick with us, are not too disheartened and can find somewhere else to provide their retail experience from.”
The forfeiture notice at the shop says: “Take notice. To whom it may concern. These premises have today been seized on the authority of the landlord.
“Notice is hereby served and forfeiture of lease effected. No unauthorised persons are permitted entry unless with the prior consent and knowledge of clearway debt squared or the landlord/managing agent.”
According to Poundland’s website, the chain has 850 stores in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
They opened their first in Burton-upon-Trent in 1990 and employ around 18,000 colleagues.
HIGH STREET TROUBLE
Elsewhere in the UK, Sainsbury’s has announced it will be shutting the store in Stamford Hill, London, as reported by The Sun.
Sainsbury’s confirmed it is closing down the store due to the landlord looking to redevelop the site after the lease expires.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson told The Sun: “Earlier this year, we shared the difficult news with colleagues at our Stamford Hill supermarket that the landlord intends to redevelop the site.
“The store will remain open and our colleagues will continue to serve the local community as usual between now and the 1st of February, when our lease expires.
“We appreciate this will be an unsettling time for everyone this affects and we are doing everything we can to support them, including exploring opportunities for our colleagues to redeploy to alternative roles within Sainsbury’s.”
Why are retailers closing stores?
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming.
The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.
The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.
Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.
“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”
Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.
However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.
The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.
Shoppers were left saddened by the news as they took to social media to speak on the closure.
One posted an image of the shopfront alongside the caption: “Will be sad to see them go and I shudder at what will replace them given what’s happening at another local closed supermarket.
“But times and neighbourhoods do change and such is life.”
Another said: “Damm that’s such a handy supermarket.”
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed 8,543 stores closed and more than 130,000 retail jobs were lost in 2024.
This ongoing issue has seen brands such as Paperchase, and The Body Shop all lose dozens of stores this year.
Also, the rising popularity of online shopping has meant people are favouring digital ordering over visiting a physical store.
Unseasonably wet weather has also deterred shoppers from hitting the high street.
Olivia Attwood shares real reason she didn’t go back to I’m A Celeb after ‘door was left open’ – and slams ‘big c**k up’
OLIVIA Attwood has lifted the lid on how emotional she was when she was forced to quit I’m A Celeb in 2022, as well as sharing why she hasn’t returned to the Australian jungle yet.
The former Love Island beauty was forced to quit the hit ITV show after just 48 hours when she starred on the show briefly in 2022.
Olivia was forced to quit the hit series, which is hosted by Ant and Dec, amid concerns that she was suffering from anaemia.
And now the Love Islander has opened up on her departure from camp and how it was a “big c**k up” while chatting to Pete Wicks on his podcast.
Chatting to Pete on the podcast he co-hosts with Sam Thompson, Staying Relevant, Olivia got candid.
Opening up about her departure from the jungle, Olivia said: “That is the worst thing that’s happened to me in this industry.”
She added: “I really wanted the jungle.”
The TV star then spoke of her joy when she finally got the call after the show said “We’re not going to do a Love Island jungle crossover”.
Talking about her jungle departure, Olivia said: “It was a big c**k up on so many levels.”
“[It was a] medical thing essentially,” Olivia added, on why she was forced to quit the show.
“I tried to fight them on it because I felt like I was fine,” she added, but later revealed that after some tests, it was clear she had to leave.
POSSIBLE JUNGLE RETURN?
“I would [go back and do it again],” she told Pete during the episode, adding how ITV and the show itself “left the door open”.
Olivia also said that “conversations have been had” about her potential jungle return.
Speaking about the recent series, she said: “I know I could have gone back,” but then spoke about how she decided against returning, in turn revealing the reason why she hasn’t headed back to Australia yet.
“I need time to settle on it because it was such an anticlimax for me,” she said before revealing she has had a lot of work, so technically could not return anyway.
‘WHEN I LEFT, I CRIED’
“When I left, I cried,” she then revealed, turning to Pete and saying: “I never cry, do I?
Olivia Attwood's Career History
From Monster grid girl and Love Island star to daytime telly panellist and respected documentary maker, Olivia Attwood has made a huge career pivot in recent years...
Olivia first started as a Monster grid girl at motorsport events in 2012 when she was 19-years-old, and did it right up until she went into Love Island in 2017.
After placing third in the reality show with then-boyfriend Chris Hughes, she starred in their own spin-off series, Chris & Olivia: Crackin’ On, in 2018.
Later that year, she appeared on Celebs Go Dating and then joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex in 2019, where she had a number of fiery on-screen rows.
In 2020, the reality TV veteran began starring in her own reality series on ITVBe titled Olivia Meets Her Match, which followed her wedding preparations with footballer Bradley Dack.
In 2021, the tide started to turn.
Olivia made appearances on household shows Lorraine, Tipping Point: Lucky Stars and Loose Women.
Then, in 2022, ITV commissioned her for her first ever documentary series.
She presented Olivia Attwood: Getting Filthy Rich, which explored women selling sexual content online.
In June 2023, ITV commissioned Olivia Marries Her Match and made her a regular guest panellist on Loose Women.
Her most recent docu-series, Olivia Attwood: The Price of Perfection, aired in January this year where she sensitively explored the cosmetic industry.
“I cried for like three days straight, I was like dehydrated. I was devastated.”
‘THE JUNGLE WILL BE GETTING FINISHED AT SOME POINT’
Speaking to us about a possible return to the jungle earlier this year, Olivia said: “The jungle will be getting finished at some point, one thousand per cent. I can’t rest until I’ve finished it.
“But probably not this year. From a purely logistical point of view, it would be almost impossible.
“Plus, being a contestant is not something I’m prioritising because I think I just want to really focus on being a host right now.”
