Jayden's Ex-Boyfriend 'Abused Other Lovers'

A man accused of murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend had a history of violence towards other former partners, a court has heard.

Ben Blakeley, 22, is alleged to have killed 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson after discovering she was pregnant with his child.

The prosecution at Oxford Crown Court claimed that Blakeley pushed another former girlfriend down the stairs in 2007.

Kirsty Penford, 16, was seven months pregnant with his child at the time. He also threatened to stab her in the stomach to kill the baby.

Miss Parkinson was last seen alive on December 3

Richard Latham QC, prosecuting, said the day after the birth he marched into the ward and started to wheel the cot away, before police were called.

The court heard that he also threatened to kill another partner, Katie Gale, and had repeatedly tried to strangle her.

Mr Latham told the jury: "In total he did this on seven or eight occasions and did this with enough force to leave marks on her neck."

Miss Parkinson's body was discovered in December last year in the grave of Blakeley's uncle in All Saints' Church graveyard, Didcot, Oxfordshire.

Miss Parkinson was pregnant when she was murdered

Blakeley, from Reading, Berkshire, denies murdering Miss Parkinson, but has admitted killing her and disposing of her body.

Mr Latham told the court his behaviour towards other women could clarify whether Blakeley had intended to kill Miss Parkinson.

He said: "The relationships with other women will answer the question of whether he used minimal violence towards her that happened to kill her or she died as a result of an attack upon her in which at very least he intended to cause her really serious harm.

"He is a man, the prosecution say, who seriously injures women."

The court had previously heard that Blakeley was an obsessive and controlling character and regularly beat Miss Parkinson.

She was last seen alive on December 3, 2013, when she was caught on CCTV leaving the One Foot Forward hostel in Oxford where she had been staying.

Half an hour later she was caught by another CCTV camera, this time at Didcot railway station with Blakeley.

Just after midnight the hostel reported Miss Parkinson missing to police after she failed to return.

Despite admitting he killed Miss Parkinson, the prosecution refused to accept his plea and he is standing trial for her murder alongside a 17-year-old boy who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The youth has pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, but he denies preventing a lawful burial between December 2 and December 10 last year.

The trial continues.

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Pubs Lose Out After England's World Cup Exit

As England fans take down their flags after a disappointing World Cup, businesses have started to count the cost of an early exit.

According to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), estimates have been slashed for the benefits its members gain from the game against Costa Rica.

It comes as England bow out early from the World Cup, after suffering defeats from Italy and Uruguay - and Costa Rica's two wins against others in Group D mean mathematically that the Three Lions' campaign has ended.

The association said it expected two million fans to watch the final game in pubs - down 43% from a forecast 3.5 million if England had hopes of progression.

It said an extra four million pints of beer would be sold, down a third on an original calculation of six million pints.

It also forecast the total extra turnover for the game would hit £15m, whereas the original estimate was double, at £30m.

In comparison, the BBPA said that during England's first game - against Italy - £20m was spent in bars and pubs.

A 50% increase in pubgoers was also estimated for the Italy game, with some three million people watching it in licensed venues.

They also supped six million extra pints during the first game, according to the BBPA.

But some firms have seen benefits from the early shower and exit for the England team in Brazil.

A Poundland spokesperson told Sky News: "Our England supporter range has delivered a first class performance with almost 500,000 items sold, a 60% increase in sales compared to the last tournament in 2010."

And according to Travel Weekly, tour operator Thomas Cook saw traffic volumes on its website double last weekend - as disappointed fans sought to leave England's woes behind.

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Briton 'Strangled Wife To Death' In Caribbean

A British man has been charged with killing his wife after she was beaten and strangled in the Caribbean.

Nixiann Downes-Clack's body was found in a shallow grave in Grenada on Friday, four days after she was reported missing by relatives on the island.

She died of blunt force trauma and asphyxiation by strangulation, according to a post-mortem examination.

Her husband, Alexander Clack, is in custody on a charge of non-capital murder, meaning the death penalty cannot be considered if there is a conviction.

Police said the 32-year-old led investigators to his wife's remains in Mont Moritz, a village just north of the capital, St George's.

The 27-year-old woman was "suspected to have been the victim of domestic abuse and gender violence", said Delma Thomas, Grenada's minister of social development, housing and gender affairs.

A teenage girl detained with Clack on Friday has since been released from police custody.

Clack was born and raised in London, but lives in Grenada, a small country in the eastern Caribbean.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We were informed of the arrest of a British national on June 20 in Grenada.

"We are providing consular assistance."

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Queen Visits Game Of Thrones Set In Belfast

Safe in the knowledge that there is no dispute over her place as monarch, the Queen has paid a visit to the Game Of Thrones set in Belfast.

Her Majesty was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh for the visit to the Paint Hall Studios in the city's regenerated Titanic Quarter, where much of the popular Sky Atlantic series is filmed.

The Royals met members of the cast including Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark, Kit Harington, who stars at Jon Snow, and Lena Headey, who plays Queen Cersei Lannister.

Local Ballymena-born actor Conleth Hill, who plays the manipulative Lord Varys, was also on hand to show the dramatic influence the hit show has had on telly addicts and the Northern Ireland economy.

Cast members were on hand to greet Her Majesty

The Iron Throne was on display for the Queen, but she did not take the opportunity to test it out for comfort.

Instead she was given her own miniature throne to take back to the palace with her.

The Queen was also shown handmade costumes and props and armoury, while David Benioff and Dan Weiss, executive producers and writers of Game of Thrones, led a tour through the sets for the Red Keep and the Throne Room.

Kit Harington plays Jon Snow in the series

It is not known if the Queen and Duke are fans of the show, which is famous for its violence and nudity.

Northern Ireland is fast developing an international reputation as a leading filming destination, with the powersharing administration at Stormont offering attractive incentives to producers to film in the region.

The adaptation of George RR Martin's story is estimated to be the biggest TV production in Europe and its first four seasons have been credited with bringing a direct economic benefit of £82m to Northern Ireland, creating the equivalent of more than 900 full-time and 5,700 part-time jobs.

Series 4 of Game Of Thrones finished last week.

Earlier, Stormont's first and deputy first minister accompanied the Queen on a tour of a notorious Belfast prison, where both politicians were held during the Troubles.

Once a forbidding facility synonymous with the dark years of the conflict, the transformation of the old Crumlin Road Gaol into a popular visitor attraction is symbolic of Northern Ireland's journey toward peace.

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Bank Of England Governor Cools Rate Rise Talk

The governor of the Bank of England has moved to cool speculation he will trigger a base interest rate rise sooner rather than later.

Mark Carney told the Treasury Select Committee (TSC) that there is additional spare capacity in the UK labour market that can be absorbed before the rate, used as a benchmark for home loans and saving, is increased.

He stressed that the timing of any rate rise is not as important as the fact any increase in the base rate will be "limited and gradual".

The pound strengthened on foreign currency markets, up against both the dollar and euro in late morning trades.

Mr Carney also stressed the importance of real wage growth to the recovery, saying "wage data is still softer than expected", adding that the latest data was giving the impression that a pick up in earnings growth could be imminent.

He told the committee that he expects the base rate, in five years' time, to be "materially below" the historic average of 5%. It currently sits at a historic low of 0.5%.

TSC member and Labour MP Pat McFadden said the bank's shifting position on rates was like an "unreliable boyfriend - one day hot, one day cold".

In recent days Mr Carney has hinted that a rate rise may occur in coming months. Many analysts expected a rise before the end of 2014.

Deputy governor Charlie Bean also told MPs that all of the bank's Monetary Policy Committee members were struck by the markets' high degree of certainty before June 12's Mansion House speeches, where hints on a rise were given.

Mr Carney's TSC comments come as new figures have been released showing the impact of the Mortgage Market Review rules starting to bite.

The sector most affected has been those trying to get a better deal with current providers or swapping to another lender for a more competitive rate.

The number of homeowners re-mortgaging their properties has dropped 11% in a month, according to the British Bankers' Association (BBA).

It said approved re-mortgages in May reached 18,206, down 11% on April's figure of 20,448.

The BBA said that in comparison, the number of house purchase mortgages remained virtually flat in May, at 41,757.

On Monday, big homebuilders and property management firms were hit as investors started to shift out of the sector, fearing a slowdown in construction.

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Former Inmates Show Queen Around 'The Crum'

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

The Queen has been shown around Belfast's Crumlin Road Gaol by tour guides with first-hand experience - Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness had both previously been detained at the former prison, known locally as the Crum.

They now share power in devolved government and accompanied Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh on a tour of C wing.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Mr Robinson was locked up four times during the 1980s for protesting against the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Sinn Fein's Mr McGuinness was remanded there for six weeks in 1976 when accused of IRA membership.

Among the cells the Royal couple passed in C wing was the room where condemned prisoners were hanged.

The Queen pictured speaking to Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness

In 1996, the Governor emerged through the air-locked doors and slammed the gates shut for the last time.

Since then, the Victorian penal architecture has been restored.

The 19th century building is now a popular visitor attraction and is symbolic of Northern Ireland's journey toward peace.

Among the people the Queen was introduced to was Belfast lottery millionaire, Peter Lavery, who is turning A wing into a boutique whiskey distillery.

The Crum evokes memories of conflict, daring escape and in the case of 17 prisoners, execution.

Her Majesty visits the set of Game Of Thrones in Belfast

Some 25,000 people were imprisoned there, many interned without trial, during the jail's 160-year history.

Former inmates include Eamon de Valera, one of the leaders of Ireland's fight for independence, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and the prominent Unionist, Reverend Ian Paisley.

During their visit to Belfast, the royal couple also toured the set of the television drama Game of Thrones in the Titanic Quarter.

They met members of the cast and production crew, and viewed costumes and props used in the hugely successful first four series.

Other engagements include a trip to St George's Market, a civic lunch in Belfast City Hall and a garden party at Hillsborough Castle.

On Wednesday, the Queen will honour First World War soldiers from Northern Ireland and the Republic during an act of remembrance in Coleraine, County Londonderry.

It is Her Majesty's 21st visit to Northern Ireland, but never before have so many details been released in advance.

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Phone Hacking A 'Shameful Episode' For Press

Hacking: Brooks Cleared But Coulson Guilty

Updated: 4:15pm UK, Tuesday 24 June 2014

Rebekah Brooks has been cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial, while ex-Number 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson has been found guilty of plotting to hack phones.

Jurors at the Old Bailey found former News of the World editor Coulson guilty of conspiring to hack phones with others between 2000 and 2006.

The 46-year-old, who was forced to quit as Prime Minister David Cameron's communications director over the scandal, now faces the possibility of a prison sentence.

Mr Cameron on Tuesday apologised for recruiting Coulson, saying: "It was the wrong decision and I am very clear about that."

He stood by his July 2011 pledge to the House of Commons when he said: "If I have been lied to, that would be the moment for profound apology. In that event, I can tell you I will not fall short."

An emotional Mrs Brooks, former chief executive of News International, who was found not guilty of all the charges she faced, was led out of the courtroom upon learning the verdicts.

Brooks, 46, was cleared of hacking, misconduct in a public office for allegedly signing off payments to a Sun journalist's military contact between 2004 and 2012, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perverting the course of justice.

Her 52-year-old husband, racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks and News International's former head of security Mark Hanna, 51, were cleared of perverting the course of justice around the time of police searches in July 2011.

Mr and Mrs Brooks left the building holding hands and made no comment to the reporters assembled outside the central London court.

Ex-News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was also cleared of being part of a conspiracy to hack phones dating back to 2000 and spanning six years.

And jurors cleared Cheryl Carter, 50, Mrs Brooks' friend and former personal assistant, of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by removing seven boxes from the NI archive just days before she was arrested in 2011.

However, not all the verdicts have been returned by the jury of eight women and three men, which has been deliberating since June 11.

They are still considering further charges against Coulson and ex-News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying police officers for two royal directories.

The trial heard victims of phone hacking included royals, celebrities, politicians and ordinary members of the public including Kate Middleton and Prince William, Bond star Daniel Craig and murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

A spokesman for News UK, formerly known as News International, said: "We said long ago, and repeat today, that wrongdoing occurred, and we apologised for it. We have been paying compensation to those affected and have cooperated with investigations.

"We made changes in the way we do business to help ensure wrongdoing like this does not occur again. And we are strong supporters of the Independent Press Standards Organisation that is expected to begin work this autumn, serving as a watchdog on the industry in the public interest.

"Out of respect for the fact that further legal proceedings will occur, we will have no further comment at this time."

The campaign group Hacked Off said in a statement the trial "shone a light on the appalling, systemic newsroom culture of bullying, lies, intimidation and intrusion that has devastated the lives of many people".

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Hacking: Brooks Cleared But Coulson Guilty

Rebekah Brooks has been cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial, while ex-Number 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson has been found guilty of plotting to hack phones.

Jurors at the Old Bailey found former News of the World editor Coulson guilty of conspiring to hack phones with others between 2000 and 2006.

The 46-year-old, who was forced to quit as Prime Minister David Cameron's communications director over the scandal, now faces the possibility of a prison sentence.

Coulson arriving at the Old Bailey, earlier

Mr Cameron on Tuesday apologised for recruiting Coulson, saying: "It was the wrong decision and I am very clear about that."

He stood by his July 2011 pledge to the House of Commons when he said: "If I have been lied to, that would be the moment for profound apology. In that event, I can tell you I will not fall short."

An emotional Mrs Brooks, former chief executive of News International, who was found not guilty of all the charges she faced, was led out of the courtroom upon learning the verdicts.

Mr Cameron has apologised for employing Coulson at Number 10 Downing Street

Brooks, 46, was cleared of hacking, misconduct in a public office for allegedly signing off payments to a Sun journalist's military contact between 2004 and 2012, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perverting the course of justice.

Her 52-year-old husband, racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks and News International's former head of security Mark Hanna, 51, were cleared of perverting the course of justice around the time of police searches in July 2011.

Mr and Mrs Brooks left the building holding hands and made no comment to the reporters assembled outside the central London court.

The trial has been ongoing at the Old Bailey in London for nine months

Ex-News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was also cleared of being part of a conspiracy to hack phones dating back to 2000 and spanning six years.

And jurors cleared Cheryl Carter, 50, Mrs Brooks' friend and former personal assistant, of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by removing seven boxes from the NI archive just days before she was arrested in 2011.

However, not all the verdicts have been returned by the jury of eight women and three men, which has been deliberating since June 11.

They are still considering further charges against Coulson and ex-News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying police officers for two royal directories.

The trial heard victims of phone hacking included royals, celebrities, politicians and ordinary members of the public including Kate Middleton and Prince William, Bond star Daniel Craig and murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

A spokesman for News UK, formerly known as News International, said: "We said long ago, and repeat today, that wrongdoing occurred, and we apologised for it. We have been paying compensation to those affected and have cooperated with investigations.

"We made changes in the way we do business to help ensure wrongdoing like this does not occur again. And we are strong supporters of the Independent Press Standards Organisation that is expected to begin work this autumn, serving as a watchdog on the industry in the public interest.

"Out of respect for the fact that further legal proceedings will occur, we will have no further comment at this time."

The campaign group Hacked Off said in a statement the trial "shone a light on the appalling, systemic newsroom culture of bullying, lies, intimidation and intrusion that has devastated the lives of many people".

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Man May Have Followed Victim Before Murder

Police investigating the murder of a Saudi student in Essex are trying to trace a man who may have followed her four days before she was killed.

Witnesses said the man walked behind two women, including one who could have been victim Nahid Almanea, at around 8.45am on Friday, June 13.

He was seen following the pair as they came out of a house in Stanley Wooster Way, Colchester, according to officers.

Detectives have appealed to him to come forward.

He is described as white, in his 30s, around 5ft 10in tall, and with short, dark hair.

He was dressed casually and was wearing dark jeans. He also had a local Colchester accent.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact the incident room on 01245 282103.

Police look for clues in the hunt for Ms Almanea's killer

It is a week since Ms Almanea was stabbed 16 times and left to die as she walked along a quiet footpath in the town.

She was attacked on the Salary Brook Trail at around 10.40am on Tuesday, June 17.

More than 100 police officers from Essex, Kent and the Metropolitan Police are involved in the investigation into Ms Almanea's killing, as well as profilers from the National Crime Agency.

Officers are yet to find the murder weapon and are keeping an "open mind" about possible links between Ms Almanea's death and that of James Attfield in Colchester two months ago.

Mr Attfield, 33, was stabbed 102 times on his arms, hands, back, neck and head in what police described as a "senseless and frenzied" attack.

Police have said they do not have evidence that the killings are linked or that a serial killer is involved.

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Cameron Apology: 'I Was Wrong To Hire Coulson'

Hacking: Brooks Cleared But Coulson Guilty

Updated: 4:15pm UK, Tuesday 24 June 2014

Rebekah Brooks has been cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial, while ex-Number 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson has been found guilty of plotting to hack phones.

Jurors at the Old Bailey found former News of the World editor Coulson guilty of conspiring to hack phones with others between 2000 and 2006.

The 46-year-old, who was forced to quit as Prime Minister David Cameron's communications director over the scandal, now faces the possibility of a prison sentence.

Mr Cameron on Tuesday apologised for recruiting Coulson, saying: "It was the wrong decision and I am very clear about that."

He stood by his July 2011 pledge to the House of Commons when he said: "If I have been lied to, that would be the moment for profound apology. In that event, I can tell you I will not fall short."

An emotional Mrs Brooks, former chief executive of News International, who was found not guilty of all the charges she faced, was led out of the courtroom upon learning the verdicts.

Brooks, 46, was cleared of hacking, misconduct in a public office for allegedly signing off payments to a Sun journalist's military contact between 2004 and 2012, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perverting the course of justice.

Her 52-year-old husband, racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks and News International's former head of security Mark Hanna, 51, were cleared of perverting the course of justice around the time of police searches in July 2011.

Mr and Mrs Brooks left the building holding hands and made no comment to the reporters assembled outside the central London court.

Ex-News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was also cleared of being part of a conspiracy to hack phones dating back to 2000 and spanning six years.

And jurors cleared Cheryl Carter, 50, Mrs Brooks' friend and former personal assistant, of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by removing seven boxes from the NI archive just days before she was arrested in 2011.

However, not all the verdicts have been returned by the jury of eight women and three men, which has been deliberating since June 11.

They are still considering further charges against Coulson and ex-News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying police officers for two royal directories.

The trial heard victims of phone hacking included royals, celebrities, politicians and ordinary members of the public including Kate Middleton and Prince William, Bond star Daniel Craig and murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

A spokesman for News UK, formerly known as News International, said: "We said long ago, and repeat today, that wrongdoing occurred, and we apologised for it. We have been paying compensation to those affected and have cooperated with investigations.

"We made changes in the way we do business to help ensure wrongdoing like this does not occur again. And we are strong supporters of the Independent Press Standards Organisation that is expected to begin work this autumn, serving as a watchdog on the industry in the public interest.

"Out of respect for the fact that further legal proceedings will occur, we will have no further comment at this time."

The campaign group Hacked Off said in a statement the trial "shone a light on the appalling, systemic newsroom culture of bullying, lies, intimidation and intrusion that has devastated the lives of many people".

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