Prince Charles Myths Denied By Clarence House

Claims Prince Charles has seven boiled eggs cooked for his breakfast but only eats one have been dismissed by Clarence House as part of a new royal myth-busting mission.

The anecdote was first written about by Jeremy Paxman, the Newsnight presenter, in his book On Royalty in 2006 - apparently the Prince is so fussy about how he likes his eggs that he requires a selection to take his pick from.

But now, on a new website dedicated to the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the tale has been refuted.

In the FAQs section, 26 questions are answered about the royal couple, ranging from how many staff they have, to whether Camilla still smokes - apparently she gave up "many years ago".

The site says Prince Charles pays 50% tax on his earnings from the Duchy of Cornwall but he does not pay corporation tax because the Duchy is a trust not a company.

In response to a question about whether he has made plans for his coronation, Clarence House said he has not been involved in any discussions and does not plan on giving it any consideration during his mother's reign.

It also confirms that the Duchess of Cornwall will not become Queen when her husband accedes to the throne.

Queries about the Prince's environmental credentials and his choice of cars are also addressed.

"The Prince does not own or choose to drive around in a Bentley. The car is required for some engagements for security reasons and is owned by the Metropolitan Police.

"Normally, the Prince and the Duchess are driven around in a Jaguar XJ diesel, his main official car.

"In order to reduce net emissions from car travel, the Prince's Jaguars, Audi and Range Rover have been converted to run on 100% biodiesel made from used cooking oil, and his 40-year-old Aston Martin to run on 100% bioethanol made from waste wine."

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are on a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand to mark the Queen's diamond jubilee.

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Former Beauty Queen On Trial On Fraud Charges

A former Miss Great Britain competitor is going on trial accused of claiming more than £22,000 in benefits as a single parent.

Rachel Hatton, 28, of Foxfield Way, Grange Park, Northampton, pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing at Northampton Crown Court to two charges of fraud and two of false representation while allegedly living with her then partner Nathaniel Simon.

The charges relate to her allegedly falsely claiming housing benefit, council tax, income support and legal aid.

The beauty queen's then landlord Simon, 36, also of Foxfield Way, denied providing false information on a tenancy agreement and failing to disclose information at the same hearing.

Divorcee Hatton hit the headlines in 2010 after becoming the first single parent to be allowed to enter the Miss Great Britain competition.

The mother of one won the regional title of Miss Warwickshire before going on to the finals of the contest.

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Ex-Bishop Held Over Child Sex Abuse Claims

A retired Church of England bishop is among two clergymen arrested over historic allegations of child sex abuse.

Peter Ball, 80, was held at his home near Langport, Somerset, on suspicion of eight sex offences against eight boys and young men aged from 12 to their early 20s, sources said.

The alleged abuse is said to have happened within the scandal-hit Diocese of Chichester in East Sussex and elsewhere in the late 1980s and 1990s.

A second man, an unnamed 67-year-old retired priest, was also detained at his home this morning near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, on suspicion of separate sex offences against two teenage boys in East Sussex between 1981 and 1983, Sussex Police said.

Police said the allegations did not involve the two men allegedly acting together.

The arrests follow a review and subsequent inquiry over the past six months by a team of Sussex Police detectives.

The investigation followed receipt by police in May this year from Lambeth Palace of two reports from a CofE safeguarding consultant.

They contained reviews of Church files relating to safeguarding matters of young people in the Diocese of Chichester during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Officers described it as a "very complex inquiry" during which many people, who are all now adults, have had to be traced along with witnesses and records.

Police said there were no allegations of recent or current offending, and there was no suggestion that any young people are at risk.

Detective Chief Inspector Carwyn Hughes, of Sussex Police, who is leading the investigation, said church officials are co-operating fully with police: "Although the matters referred to are still subject of police investigation, Sussex Police make it clear that the force will always take seriously any allegations of historic sexual offending, and every possible step will be taken to investigate whenever appropriate."

The Diocese of Chichester said the retired bishop - whom it did not name - had had no ministry in Sussex for "many years". Mr Ball is a former Bishop of Lewes who retired as Bishop of Gloucester in 1993.

It said: "Our co-operation with Sussex police in this investigation continues our ongoing commitment to do all that is necessary to bring any alleged criminal matters to the attention of the public authorities, and to ensure that the Diocese of Chichester is a safe place for all in our church communities, whilst being an unsafe place for any who may seek to abuse them."

The Rt Revd Paul Butler, chair of the Churches National Safeguarding Committee, urged any victims of abuse or people with information to come forward and said "support systems" had been put in place for victims.

:: A helpline staffed by the NSPCC has been set up to help anyone who needs support relating to this or other cases: 0800 389 5344.

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Submariner Admits Official Secrets Act Breach

By Darren McCaffrey, Sky Reporter

A former Royal Navy submariner has admitted collecting secret coding programmes that could be useful to an enemy of the UK.

Petty officer Edward Devenney, from Northern Ireland, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to gathering details of encryption programmes in breach of the Official Secrets Act.

The 30-year-old also admitted a charge of misconduct in a public office in relation to a meeting with two people he thought were from the Russian secret service.

He said he had discussed information relating to the movement of nuclear submarines with the pair.

They turned out to be British agents who carried out a sting operation in January of this year.

The Official Secrets Act charge was collecting information for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state between November 18 last year and March 7 this year.

Devenney gathered details of "crypto material" - programmes used to encrypt secret information - which could be useful to an enemy.

Edward Devenney on his way to an earlier court appearance

He denied a second count of communicating information to another person and this will not be pursued by prosecutors.

The Ministry of Defence has said no classified information was ever passed on to the Russians or any other countries.

It has described Devenney as somewhat of a Walter Mitty character - referring to the fantasist character in James Thurber's book The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

The judge, who said it was a highly unusual case, adjourned sentencing until December 12.

Some of that hearing will be held in private as the information relates to current British naval operations.

Devenney has been remanded in custody.

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Margaret Moran Found To Have Fiddled Expenses

A Political Career In Tatters

Updated: 2:02pm UK, Tuesday 13 November 2012

Margaret Moran's expenses claims were some of the most notorious of the Westminster scandal and shattered her political career.

It was all a far cry from her promising start in the Labour party in the 90s.

Moran first stood for election in 1992 and finished third in the race for Carshalton and Wallington.

Despite the defeat, she was picked for an all-woman shortlist to stand for Labour in Luton South in the 1997 election, going on to win the seat from the Tories.

She was re-elected in the 2001 election, and promoted to assistant whip, then went on to be voted in for a third term in 2005.

In October that year, her expenses claims for 2004-5 emerged as the second highest in the country - coming to £168,569.

And when the expenses scandal broke in 2009, she was revealed to have claimed £22,500 to treat dry rot at her partner's home in Southampton - 100 miles from her constituency and Westminster.

She remained defiant in the immediate aftermath, saying: "Any MP has to have a proper family life, they have to have support of their partner."

But amid growing public fury she announced she would stand down at the next general election, saying the "understandable public anger" had caused her great stress.

In the first hint of medical problems that would later render her unable to stand trial, she said this had "seriously worsened my existing health problem".

Moran was formally barred from standing again as a Labour candidate and agreed to repay the money.

She had already been off work since the expenses scandal erupted, blaming stress, but the drama did not end there.

In March 2010, she was among several MPs - including three ex-Cabinet ministers - caught in a TV "sting" agreeing to use their position to influence government policy for cash.

The group were secretly filmed discussing the possibility of working for what they thought was an American lobby company.

Moran was suspended from the Labour Party after the revelations.

Little was then heard from her until September 2011 when the Crown Prosecution Service announced she would face criminal charges.

She wept inconsolably throughout a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, having to be passed a tissue by a court official.

It was later ruled that she was unfit to stand trial because of her mental health problems but a trial of the facts went ahead in her absence.

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Amelia Arnold Killing: Boyfriend In Court

A man has appeared in court charged with murdering his 19-year-old girlfriend, who went missing last week.

Jack Wall, 22, appeared before magistrates in Hatfield today accused of the murder of Amelia Arnold.

She disappeared from the home she shared with Wall in Hadrian's Walk, Stevenage, in Hertfordshire, last Wednesday.

A body believed to be that of Miss Arnold was found in woodland near Travellers Lane in Hatfield four days later.

Formal identification of the body is yet to be carried out, but Miss Arnold's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, police said.

A post-mortem examination carried out last night revealed the cause of death to be head injuries, a force spokesman confirmed.

Wall, from Hadrian's Walk, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was remanded in custody and will appear at St Albans Crown Court tomorrow.

A second man was remanded in custody at Hatfield Magistrates Court on Monday in connection with the case.

Joseph Potter, 41, of Sycamore Avenue, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, is charged with perverting the course of justice. He will next appear at Cambridge Crown Court on November 19.

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Abu Qatada Freed After Winning Appeal

Terror suspect Abu Qatada has been released on bail after winning his latest appeal to avoid extradition to Jordan.

The radical cleric smiled as he was driven from Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire and returned to his family home in north west London.

Qatada smiling as he leaves prison

He was taken from the maximum security jail in a black Volkswagen people carrier and made no attempt to hide from photographers.

Protesters gathered outside his house shouted "out, out, out" when he arrived later and was escorted inside by officials.

Resident Jackie Chaunt, 50, said: "He shouldn't be here. It's a disgrace." Aaron Baker added: "We're paying for all this as taxpayers. Its ridiculous."

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said in the Commons that the case shows why the Human Rights Act needs overhauling.

"All of us believe the law should not operate in this way and this case underlines my view that there is a very real need to major changes to the way the European human rights framework operates," he said.

Qatada was granted bail on Monday after judges ruled returning him to his home country to face trial would breach his human rights.

Home Secretary Theresa May had obtained assurances from Jordan that evidence obtained through torture would not be used at his trial.

But in a serious blow, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) said this could still not be guaranteed and refused to back the Government.

The radical cleric arriving at his London home

The decision is the latest twist in an 11-year legal battle, that is believed to have cost the British taxpayer at least £1m.

Qatada, once described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, will have to obey a 16-hour curfew and can only go out between 8am and 4pm.

He will also have to wear an electronic tag, cannot use the internet and will be barred from contacting certain people - who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Round-the-clock surveillance of his home is now expected to be put in place, at a reported cost of up to £100,000 a week.

Downing Street has said the Home Office will be ensuring "we take all the necessary steps" to make sure Qatada does not pose a risk to national security.

Qatada was granted leave to remain in Britain in 1994 after arriving here and seeking asylum but he was convicted of terror charges in Jordan in his absence in 1999.

Since 2001, Britain has been trying to deport him to his home country so that he can be retried but every attempt has been thwarted.

In April, he was rearrested and Mrs May declared he would soon be on a plane - but yet again, he managed to appeal.

Britain has been trying to deport Qatada since 2001

The Home Secretary insists he is still "a dangerous man" and the Government is appealing the latest court ruling on the basis that Siac applied the wrong legal test.

"We believe that we have got the right assurances from the Jordanian government," the Prime Minister's spokesman said.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg added: "We are absolutely determined to see this man get on a plane and go back to Jordan, he does not belong here.

"He wanted to inflict harm on our country and this coalition Government is going to do everything we can to challenge this every step of the way to make sure that he is deported."

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Wrong-Way Motorway Death Driver Museka Jailed

A drink-driver who caused the death of an aspiring model by driving the wrong way down a motorway has been jailed for eight years.

Wilfred Museka was travelling at "motorway speed" when he was in a head-on collision that left 20-year-old Rebecca Caine, from Leeds, with fatal injuries.

Zimbabwean national Museka, 31, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Ms Caine's family and friends sobbed as the court heard the force of the crash between junctions 21 and 22 on the M62 near Manchester caused her to be flung from the car.

She suffered severe injuries to her face, head and body.

Museka, who came to the UK as an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe, had also admitted fraudulently claiming to have held a full UK driving licence for 10 years, driving with no insurance and with excess alcohol.

More follows...

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Pensioner Beaten: Police Release Photo Of Injuries

A photograph of a pensioner who was badly beaten in an "unprovoked" attack has been released by police.

The 78-year-old man was left with swollen eyes and a severely bruised face following the assault in Widmore Road, Bromley, south east London, on October 15 at around midnight.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Rosemarie Lee said: "This was an unprovoked and sustained attack on an elderly gentleman.

"He was so shocked by the attack that he agreed to a picture of his injuries being released as part of our witness appeal and investigation into the assault.

"We want to hear from anyone with information about this incident or who was in the area at the time."

The victim, who did not want to be named, was taken to a south London hospital when police arrived at the scene and was kept there overnight.

A man aged 18 and a 19-year-old woman have been arrested and charged in connection with the attack.

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Frankie Dettori Has 'Positive Test'

Jockey Frankie Dettori is to face an inquiry after a 'positive test' at Longchamp in France.

The rider's legal representative, Christopher Stewart-Moore, revealed that Mr Dettori will face a France Galop inquiry next week following the test in September.

He released a statement saying that the Medical Committee of the French authority is planning a hearing.

"On behalf of Frankie Dettori I can confirm that, as a consequence of a positive test at Longchamp on September 16, 2012, he will be the subject of an inquiry by the Medical Committee of France Galop next week," the statement said.

"In compliance with, and out of respect for, the regulations of France Galop, he will not be commenting further until the France Galop procedures have been completed."

The statement did not specify what the test was for.

Dettori had four rides at Longchamp on September 16, a day of major trials for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting the following month.

The Italian partnered Marco Botti's Joshua Tree to finish third in the Qatar Prix Foy, while the John Hammond-trained Sarah Lynx trailed home last in the Prix Vermeille.

He was then beaten just a head into second on Godolphin's Farhh in the Prix du Moulin and was third for his former employers on Willing Foe in the Prix Gladiateur.

France Galop have not commented on proceedings and in previous similar cases they have not issued a statement before the hearing.

Dettori is one of the biggest names in flat racing. Last month he made the headlines when his 18-year association with the Godolphin stable came to an end. He plans to ride as a freelance in 2013.

The 41-year-old partnered nine English Classic winners in the royal blue silks, including their first in 1994 Oaks victor Balanchine, and a total of 110 Group or Grade One winners for the owner.

A host of Dettori's big-race winners have been trained by Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor, including four of those that formed the rider's 'Magnificent Seven' at Ascot in 1996, when he won all seven races in one afternoon and cost bookmakers millions of pounds in payouts.  

He had recently been sharing the Godolphin rides with fellow retained jockeys Mickael Barzalona and Silvestre de Sousa before the split.

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