Tottenham Rioter 'Wrote Blakelock Murder Rap'

A man accused of stabbing PC Keith Blakelock during the Tottenham Riots in 1985 wrote a rap song about the killing, a court has heard.

Nicky Jacobs, who was 16 at the time of the riots, allegedly wrote the rap while he was in a youth custody centre serving time for a sentence for affray.

A prison officer says he found the hand-written lyrics while searching Jacobs' cell in 1998. It was read out in court by prosecuting counsel Richard Whittam.

Cars were set on fire, and police and rioters were injured during the riots

The rap goes as follows: "As long as I live I remember it was 1985 the 6th October...

"Me have de chopper we have intention to kill an police officer PC Blakelock de unlucky f***** him dis an help de fireman...

"Who did an out an fire de fireman see we av come and decide to scatter but PC Blakelock him never smell the danger but when we fly down upon him he start scream and holla…

"Everybody gather round and av pure laughter he try to head out but we trip him over he start beg for mercy bit it didn't matter him try to play super man...."

PC Blakelock's uniform showing holes made by the knife used to murder him

Mr Whittam previously outlined to the court there was no dispute Jacobs had been involved in the riots, but that it was for the jury to decide if he was responsible for the death of PC Blakelock.

The disorder broke out the day after Cynthia Jarrett, a mother of a police suspect, had a heart attack and died when her home was searched.

PC Blakelock was among a group of officers sent out without cover on the night of Sunday, October 6, 1985, to protect firemen putting out blazes.

They came across a "very large group" of rioters, many armed with an assortment of weapons, the court heard.

PC Blakelock was the first police constable to be killed during a riot in Britain since PC Robert Culley was stabbed to death in Clerkenwell, London, in 1833

Jacobs denies murdering the police officer. The trial continues.

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Top Rugby Player May Lose Eye In Street Attack

Police have released CCTV images of three men they want to speak to over an attack on a Super League rugby player who may now lose an eye.

Sean Gleeson was punched in the face a number of times outside a nightclub in Wigan, Greater Manchester, around 4am on Sunday.

Following a row with three men, Gleeson was involved in a fight with one of them near Ibiza Bar in King Street, police said.

The others joined in before they left the Hull KR centre in the road and ran away.

He suffered serious injuries to his eye and eye socket and was taken to hospital where he is still being treated.

The three men that police want to trace

Wigan-born Gleeson, 26, signed for Hull KR last year but has had a string of injury problems.

He previously played for Salford City Reds, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Widnes Vikings and Wigan Warriors. He has represented Ireland at international level.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "We are now in a position to release images of three people we are very keen to speak to.

"If you recognise these men I would urge you to get in contact. A young man has been left with serious, potentially life changing, injuries as he could lose his eye.

"Imagine if this was your son, brother, cousin, or close friend who was ill in hospital, you would want answers.

"In addition, if anyone was there that night and saw the assault or if you know something that might be relevant to our investigation I would urge them to get in contact with police.

"You might not have seen the actual attack but you may have seen a group of white men running away. I would urge anyone who thinks they may know who is responsible to come forward and speak to us."

Anyone with information should call Wigan police on 0161 856 7259 / 7967 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Holidaymakers Warned Over Online Scams

By Tadhg Enright, Sky News Correspondent

Police have warned holidaymakers to be wary of online booking scams after £7m was stolen by fraudsters last year.

A total of 4,500 cases of booking fraud were reported to police in 2013, with almost a third of cases involving consumers paying for holiday villas and apartments that did not exist.

A report by fraud investigators from The City of London Police said the other most common scams included fake airline tickets and some package holidays to sporting events and religious pilgrimages.

Detective Superintendent Pete O'Doherty said: "The internet has changed the way we look for and book our holidays.

"Unfortunately it is also enabling fraudsters, using online offers of villas, hotels and flights that simply don't exist or promising bookings that are never made, to prey upon those looking for that perfect break."

Laura and Seán Parks told Sky News about their ordeal after they were scammed while trying to book a Valentine's Day break while Seán, a soldier, was home on leave from Afghanistan.

Having seen an online advertisement for log cabins near Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands she was duped into paying £400 into the fraudster's bank account - only to find upon arrival that the cabins did not exist.

Seán said that booking service appeared to be legitimate: "The website looked 100%. Everything else, the invoices, they all looked genuine."

Laura added: "He was using a booking company, wasn't he? And I contacted the booking company to ask if they were aware of any of this and they weren't.

"But you have no reason to doubt anything when you have invoices coming through, and you're paying into a bank account."

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, travel industry body the Association of British Travel Agents and the Get Safe Online campaign have urged consumers to be wary and prepared the following advice:

:: Do your research. Do not just rely on one review, do a thorough online search to ensure the company's credentials. If a company is defrauding people there is a good chance consumers will post details of their experiences, and warnings about the company, online.

:: Use your instincts. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

:: Pay safe. Never pay directly into an owner's bank account. Paying by direct bank transfer is like paying by cash and the money cannot be traced and is not refundable. Where possible, pay by credit card or a debit card that offers protection.

ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "Fraudsters are conning unsuspecting holidaymakers and travellers out of thousands of pounds each year - leaving them out of pocket or stranded with nowhere to stay through fake websites, false advertising, bogus phone calls and email scams."

Get Safe Online chief executive Tony Neate said it was vital for holidaymakers to do their research before booking.

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Ukraine: Document Reveals UK Stance On Crisis

A document detailing the UK's position on the Ukraine crisis has been seen being taken into Downing Street.

It was photographed as an official went into Downing Street for a meeting of the National Security Council as the crisis deepened.

It makes clear the Government is not considering curbing trade with Russia - or closing London's financial centre to Moscow as part of any possible package of sanctions against the country.

The papers also suggest the UK will lobby to exclude any talk of a military response to the deepening crisis.

Sky's Jason Farrell said: "It looks like some kind of a briefing document that's being taken into the meeting.

"It does give away some of Britain's position towards Russia.

The unknown official with the document in Downing Street

"It does suggest there may be suspension of contracts with Russia. There is talk about suspending Russia from the G8 and putting in visa restrictions.

"But it says the UK should not support, for now, trade sanctions or close London's financial centre to Russia.

"It also talks of what the UK can do for Ukraine - technical assistance packages - ideally jointly with Germany and about the EU working to provide some kind of alternative gas supply if Russia cuts them off."

The document also talks of pushing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "to take the lead in calling and creating a forum for engaging Russia on Ukraine", and accepting "a special European Council" for leaders to meet and discuss the crisis.

It also says the UK should "discourage any discussion" of any "contingency military preparations".

Farrell added: "It is extremely embarrassing that the points of discussion have come out in this way."

Prime Minister David Cameron said after the meeting Russia would face "diplomatic, political, economic" pressure in response to "violating the sovereignty" of Ukraine.

"What we want to see is a de-escalation rather than a continuation down the path that the Russian government has taken, violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of another country.

"So we shall have to bring to bear diplomatic, political, economic and other pressures in order to make this point.

"That is the very clear message the whole world needs to send to the Russian government."

EU leaders are to hold an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

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Girl Found In Grave: Cause Of Death Revealed

A teenager found dead in a freshly disturbed grave died from "pressure to the neck", police have said.

The body of 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson was discovered in the Great Western Cemetery in Didcot, Oxfordshire, in December.

Her ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley, 22, has been charged with murder and perverting the course of justice.

Toxicology tests were ordered after an initial post-mortem examination was inconclusive.

Jayden was last spotted alive on CCTV

"Those results have now been received and Thames Valley Police can confirm that the cause of death is consistent with pressure to the neck," a police spokesman said.

The Oxford teen was last seen leaving Didcot railway station on December 3.

Police were led to the graveyard by "significant" information. Some 100 officers searched for her body.

Blakeley, of Christchurch Road in Reading, is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court for a plea hearing on March 17.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with perverting the course of justice by allegedly helping to dispose of Jayden's body and other evidence.

A third person, a 48-year-old woman from Didcot, was also arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and has been bailed.

Meanwhile, the Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating whether Thames Valley Police's response to Jayden's was "appropriate and proportionate in the circumstances".

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Fawlty Towers Star Has 'Mild Alzheimer's'

Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales is suffering from "mild Alzheimer's", her husband Timothy West has revealed.

The actor, 79, talks about Scales' condition in a new documentary called Grand Canal Journeys.

The 81-year-old actress is best known for her role as Basil Fawlty's wife Sybil in the comedy with John Cleese but has had a successful career since.

Scales starred in Fawlty Towers

West tells the programme, which is broadcast on More4 later this month, that Scales suffers from "a sort of mild Alzheimer's", the Radio Times said.

The couple have been navigating Britain's canals on a slow boat ever since they first sparked a passion for the hobby when they borrowed a friend's boat for a fortnight in the 1970s.

And West tells the programme, in which the pair embark on four canal journeys across Britain, that the journeys are perfect for his wife because of the difficulties with her memory.

"She can't remember things very well, but you don't have to remember things on the canal," he says.

"You can just enjoy things as they happen - so it's perfect for her."

Scales says that she was determined not to let the condition keep her from the stage.

"I always say I want to die on the eighth curtain call," she says.

"Eight will mean the show's been rather a success. I just hope I'm somewhere near the middle and have been reasonably good in the part."

The pair celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last October with a trip down the River Thames on paddle steamer the Waverley.

Alzheimer's Society's director of external affairs, Dr Alison Cook, said: "Alzheimer's Society would like to thank Timothy West for speaking out about his wife Prunella Scales' dementia and raising awareness of the condition.

"Their recent adventure navigating Britain's canals shows that it is possible to live well with dementia and plan to carry on enjoying life.

"We would urge anyone who is concerned about themselves or a loved one to speak to their GP today or contact Alzheimer's Society for advice and support."

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Childcare 'Costs Families More Than Mortgage'

The cost to families for part-time childcare is more than the monthly mortgage repayment, figures show.

According to the Family and Childcare Trust study, parents are spending more than £7,500 a year on part-time childcare for two children - around 4.7% more than the average mortgage bill.

Those with two children in full-time childcare are hit with an annual bill of £11,700 - 62% higher than the average yearly mortgage bill.

Its also says some families may be spending more on childcare than they do on their weekly shopping.

Information for the report came from family or children's information services at councils in England, Wales and Scotland.

Each local authority was asked to give the cost of 25 hours and 50 hours of childcare as provided by nurseries and childminders.

They were also asked to give figures on the average cost of 15 hours childcare in an after-school club, or for a childminder picking youngsters up from school.

It found a family with one two-year-old child attending nursery part-time and a five-year-old in an after-school club will be forced to spend £7,549 a year on average.

This is higher than the UK average annual UK mortgage, which the report puts at £7,207.

Education and childcare minister Elizabeth Truss insisted the cost of childcare in England had stabilised for the first time in 12 years.

"In fact, once inflation is taken into account costs for the majority have actually fallen," she said.

"This means more parents are able to access affordable childcare and support their families.

"These reductions contrast with rising costs in Scotland and Wales, highlighting the difference this Government's reforms are making."

The Department for Education said that the survey shows that the cost of nursery for a child over two was now £106.19, compared to £106.52 per week last year, which it said was a 2% reduction in real terms.

Dr Steven Toole, head of policy at 4Children, said: "The cost of childcare remains a major challenge for too many families, resulting in some parents getting into debt and others having to give up or being prevented from taking up work.

"Recent 4Children research shows the scale of the struggle parents face with childcare, with one in four saying that affordable, flexible and accessible childcare would make the most real, positive difference to their family life."

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Cameron 'Profoundly Shocked' By Aide Arrest

David Cameron has expressed shock at the arrest of one of his closest aides over child sex abuse images allegations.

Patrick Rock, who was deputy head of Downing Street's policy unit, resigned last month just before his arrest at his home in the early hours of February 13.

Mr Cameron said: "Obviously when I heard these allegations I was profoundly shocked and remain profoundly shocked today.

"I have to be careful about what I say about this issue because a criminal investigation is under way."

The Prime Minister also defended accusations of Downing Street secrecy over the issue and said: "But as soon as questions were asked, as questions would inevitably be asked, we have given very full and straightforward answers, which is absolutely the right way to answer this."

Mr Cameron, who was speaking during a visit to the Midlands, said he was happy the matter had been handled in an "absolutely correct way" by No 10.

He acknowledged Mr Rock played "an important role at Downing Street" but, he said, Mr Rock had resigned that position.

Mr Rock, 62, who is not married and is from west London, was one of a number of advisers and officials involved in drawing up the Government's policy on internet pornography filters.

Google and Microsoft agreed last year to introduce changes to make it harder to search for child abuse images online.

He comments came as Downing Street disclosed Mr Rock had also been the subject of a complaint of "inappropriate behaviour", which "was dealt with immediately at a senior level in full accordance with HR policy."

However, no further details were given about the matter.

Mr Rock was arrested after Downing Street reported concerns over child abuse images to police when officials became aware of the potential offence, it was confirmed on Monday night.

A spokesperson for Number 10 said: "Subsequently, we arranged for officers to come into Number 10 have access to all IT systems and offices they considered relevant.

"This is an ongoing investigation so it would not be appropriate to comment further, but the Prime Minister believes that child abuse imagery is abhorrent and that anyone involved with it should be properly dealt with under the law."

Mr Cameron brought Mr Rock into Downing Street in 2011 after working with him at the Home Office under Michael Howard in the 1990s.

He was a protege of Margaret Thatcher and is credited with coining the phrase "cows moo, dogs bark. Labour puts up taxes".

Mr Rock stood for MP in 1984 for the Tory safe-seat of Portsmouth South but after a disastrous by-election campaign he suffered a crashing defeat, losing out to the then Liberal SDP Alliance candidate, Mike Hancock.

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Brooks 'Got Death Threats' Over Milly's Phone

Rebekah Brooks received death threats following the revelation that murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked by the News Of The World, a court has heard.

Brooks, who was chief executive of News International at the time but had been NOTW editor, told the Old Bailey she received messages of support as she found herself the "central figure" of the story.

Former prime minister Tony Blair sent her a text which read: "Let me know if there's anything I can help you with. Thinking of you. I've been through things like this."

Brooks replied: "Thank you, I know what's it's like. GB (Gordon Brown) pals getting their own back. Rupert and James (Murdoch) have been brilliant.

"Hopefully even in this climate the truth will out."

Mr Blair sent Brooks a message of support

Jurors were also read messages of support that Brooks received from former Mirror editor Piers Morgan.

"When it rains, it f***ing pours. Grit your teeth and stay strong," Mr Morgan wrote.

On the eighth day of giving evidence, Brooks' lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw QC asked her about the events of July 2011, when the Guardian broke the "horrific" story about the hacking of Milly's phone.

Brooks said that as the story made headlines around the world: "We were completely at a loss and all over the place really, trying to find out what was true and what wasn't".

Milly Dowler's phone was hacked

Referring to the abusive messages she was sent, Brooks, 45, told jurors: "The allegations were, I think, met with universal revulsion and I was the central figure of that."

Jurors also heard correspondence between Brooks and her mother, who was very fearful for her safety during the period and urged her not to go outside alone.

"Mum, I have more security than the prime minister," Brooks replied.

Jurors heard that in a message to a friend, Brooks said she felt there was a "witch-hunt" against her.

Brooks also said it was believed that whoever had hacked Milly's phone was not a staff member at the paper.

"Obviously the accusation of Milly Dowler's phone in itself was terrible, but it was the deletion of the messages, the false hope, that was rightly sparking fury," she said.

The allegation that voicemails had been deleted, and therefore given Milly's parents the impression she could still be alive, was later found to be untrue.

Ms Carter was described as an "amazing friend"

Brooks said that she and senior colleagues had first discussed closing the News Of The World in June 2011 due to the mounting number of civil liability cases brought against it by celebrities.

The final edition of the paper was published just days after the Milly story broke on July 10. Brooks went resigned on July 15. She told jurors: "I felt it was the right thing to do."

Mr Laidlaw asked Brooks about the charge of conspiring to cover up evidence to pervert the course of justice between July 6 and 9, 2011.

"Is there any truth in that?" he asked.

Brooks replied: "No, absolutely not."

Mr Laidlaw asked Brooks to describe Cheryl Carter, 49, her co-defendant on that charge, who worked as her personal assistant for 16 years.

Brooks described her as an "amazing friend" and "brilliant PA" who could be "scatty and forgetful" but would not pervert the course of justice.

Asked if she knew seven boxes were removed from the News International archives, Brooks said: "Absolutely not." She denied any knowledge of the boxes.

Brooks denies conspiring to hack phones, conspiring to commit misconduct in public office and conspiring to cover up evidence to pervert the course of justice.

She is one of seven defendants who all deny the charges against them.

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PM And Clegg In Tax Cuts Hypocrisy Row

Nick Clegg accused the Tories of having a "brass-neck" as the Prime Minister gave a speech hinting at tax cuts for hard-pressed families.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the Tories had been "spectacularly inconsistent" when it came to having a "commitment to fairer taxes" and had to be "dragged kicking and screaming" in Budget negotiations.

Mr Cameron used a speech in the Midlands on Tuesday to claim that as a result of the austerity measures the Government could now "give money back".

He said it would be "a bit of extra cash that can help a dad afford those trainers for his son or help a mum celebrate her daughter's birthday with a meal out", adding: "Having more money in our pockets is what gives everyone that sense of financial security and peace of mind. It's what enables us to provide for our families and feel more confident about the future."

Coming two weeks before the Budget it is expected this will mean the Chancellor will announce a rise in the personal allowance - the amount people can earn before tax kicks in - to above £10,000.

Nick Clegg is pushing for a rise in the main income tax allowance

Mr Clegg reacted furiously to news of the speech, claiming that the Tories were attempting to position themselves to take the credit for what was a Lib Dem policy and manifesto pledge that would be a £100 bonus for workers.

In a speech in Westminster, he said: "I'll try and be polite on this: my coalition partners, by contrast, have been spectacularly inconsistent. At the beginning of the Parliament they were first going on about inheritance tax cuts for millionaires.

"Then they wanted to fiddle around with the upper rate of income tax. Then they wanted to fiddle around with the taxes for married couples. Then they wanted to fiddle around with taxes to give incentives to people to give up employment rights to take up shares.

"So they have got a fair amount of brass neck to now claim that somehow all they ever wanted all along was to see the allowance go up, because that's not what they said in public and crucially it's not actually what they said in private either."

"I've had to drag the Conservative Party kicking and screaming, in every single Budget negotiation - by the way, not least recently. When I talked about wanting to see this extra workers' bonus, there was a very hostile reaction behind closed doors in Whitehall from my Conservative coalition partners.

"So I'm delighted that everybody is now scrambling to share authorship of a Liberal Democrat idea but I would just ask for my coalition partners, indeed anybody else, to be consistent in what you say in public and what you say in private and also consistent on what you say over a long period of time on tax."

Senior Conservatives have been encouraging the Chancellor to raise the 40p income tax rate threshold to £44,000, from £41,451, so it eases the burden on middle class voters.

The PM and Mr Clegg at the beginning of their coalition relationship

Responding to Mr Cameron's speech, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Chris Leslie said: "David Cameron has revealed his true values by the choices he has made.

"He's chosen to give the top 1% of earners a £3bn tax cut while everyone else is worse off.

"Working people have seen their wages fall in real terms by over £1,600 a year on average under David Cameron's Government. Tax and benefit changes since 2010 have also left families £891 a year worse off."

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