Hacking 'Destroyed' EastEnders Star's Career

EastEnders star Steve McFadden said his ex-girlfriend and former co-star's career was "destroyed" by stories published about her as a result of hacking.

The actor, who plays Phil Mitchell, was giving evidence at a hearing at London's High Court to decide the amount of compensation to be awarded in eight cases brought against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

Lucy Taggart, formerly Lucy Benjamin, played McFadden's on-screen girlfriend Lisa and had a relationship with him during the time her phone was hacked.

McFadden, 55, giving evidence in relation to Ms Taggart's claim against MGN, said he remembered her being "very upset" about stories published about her and "feeling like she was being picked on and bullied".

He and the actress met on the set and were in a relationship from about 2000 to late 2003.

In a witness statement, he said they had hoped to marry, and he got "very close" to proposing, "but the biggest factor that stopped me was thinking that Lucy had a big mouth and was giving out information".

McFadden was in a relationship with Taggart for three years

He said: "All the articles in the Mirror's newspapers that were constantly being published about us made me suspect Lucy.

"I thought she was shouting her mouth off. Now of course I know it was nothing like this and it was the Mirror's journalists stealing information from our phones."

The London-born actor said: "I now know that messages I left for Lucy must have been heard by MGN's journalists. Although I find this appalling, in some senses, I am relieved to finally know why and how so much information came out about me and Lucy.

"The sad thing is that you can't turn back the clock on what I thought and accused Lucy of at the time, which was that she was betraying me."

McFadden said in the statement: "Apart from our relationship, the Mirror's articles also had a really profound effect on Lucy's career and how she felt as a person."

He said she believed they were responsible "for putting her out of work and making her unemployable, and I think she was right".

Earlier the flight attendant ex-girlfriend of footballer Rio Ferdinand sobbed as she said the hacking of her voicemails had left her feeling "hounded" by the press.

Ms Alcorn, who complains about five articles - three of which are admitted to be the product of phone-hacking - said she was "completely shocked and disgusted" by the illegal activities at MGN which carried on in her case from 2002 until 2006.

She said that Ferdinand, who she was seeing secretly as he also had a long-term lover, became increasingly suspicious that she was talking to the press and giving away intimate details of their "pretty intense" relationship.

The hearing continues.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Crufts Death: 'No Proof' Dogs Were Poisoned

The organisers of Crufts have said there is no proof any dogs were poisoned at this year's show.

The Kennel Club made the declaration after earlier confirming it was looking into reports that up to six animals had been targeted.

Its investigation follows the death of an Irish setter named Jagger after it allegedly ate beef laced with poison.

According to the Daily Telegraph, several other dogs including a West Highland white terrier, an Afghan hound and a shih-tzu were also sick after the show at the Birmingham NEC.

The spate of sickness has sparked concerns that one or more people may have been poisoning the dogs.

Video: Dog Owners Make Statement

Kennel Club Secretary Caroline Kisko said she wished to "make it absolutely clear that there is currently no evidence that any dog has been poisoned at Crufts".

She added:"Whilst there are suspicions about poisoning, the veterinary surgeon who carried out the post mortem (on Jagger) has told the Kennel Club that she cannot comment on where, when and indeed if poisoning has taken place until the results of the toxicology report are available.

"Whilst reports surrounding the welfare of dogs at Crufts are taken with the utmost of seriousness, a number of the reports in the news about dogs becoming sick after leaving the show have been from anonymous sources, who have not reported the allegations to us or the police, and we cannot look into claims about which we have no direct information.

"We urge these people and anybody else who may have similar concerns to come forward and report them to the Kennel Club."

Video: Jagger's Death Wasn't 'Inside Job'

Ms Kisko warned anyone "caught attempting to deliberately sabotage another competitor's performance, particularly if a dog's welfare is put at risk" will face severe disciplinary action and could be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act.

Reports of other dogs being poisoned came as the co-owners of Jagger, Jeremy and Dee Milligan-Bott, vowed to return to Crufts next year.

"Crufts is the best show in the world and we will certainly be back again next year competing. This one isolated incident will not spoil our enjoyment to show and compete with our lovely dogs," Mr Bott said.

Three-year-old Jagger, whose pedigree name is Thendara Satisfaction, came second in his class at the show on Thursday.

Video: Irish Setter Shows Off His Skills

He collapsed and died after returning to his co-owner in Belgium, Aleksandra Lauwers.

The owners have said that beef laced with unknown poisons was found during a post-mortem examination. The results of toxicology tests are expected next week.

Mrs Milligan-Bott said Jagger's death was the result of a "heinous crime", but she believed it was a random attack and did not think another exhibitor was responsible.

The four-day event finished on Sunday, with Scottish Terrier Knopa named Best In Show.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Becky Watts' Phone And Computers Recovered

Police investigating the murder of teenager Becky Watts say they have recovered her mobile phone, laptop and tablet computer.

A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said the investigation into the 16-year-old's death is likely to continue for several weeks.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Liz Tunks, said: "There is likely to be ongoing police activity at properties in St George and Barton Hill for the next couple of weeks as part of our investigation into the murder of Becky Watts.

"There are specific forensic examinations which we need to complete to help establish exactly what happened to Becky.

"We'd like to reassure the local community that our primary aim is to conduct a meticulous and exhaustive inquiry into Becky's death and even though there have been charges brought in this case, it continues to be an active investigation.

"Although six people have been charged in connection with the case, specialist forensic examinations will continue to help establish the full circumstances surrounding Becky's death."

Becky vanished from her home in Bristol on 19 February, taking her electronic devices with her.

Parts of her dismembered body were found on 2 March.

Her stepbrother, Nathan Matthews, 28, has been charged with her murder. His girlfriend Shauna Hoare, 21 has been charged with perverting the course of justice.

Four others have been charged with assisting an offender by helping to dispose of and hide Becky's remains.

Two fundraising pages intended to help the teenager's family pay for her funeral have raised more than £11,000.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing Girls: 'No Sign Of Radicalisation'

The families of the three east London girls who are thought to have joined Islamic State say they had no idea they had been radicalised.

Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase flew from Gatwick to Istanbul on February 17 and are feared to have continued to Syria to become so-called "jihadi brides".

According to reports, they are now staying in a house in the IS militants' stronghold, Raqqa.

Appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee, Amira's father Hussen Abase, Khadija's cousin Fahmida Aziz and Shamima's older sister Sahima Begum said there were no indications the girls had been turned.

Responding to a question from Committee chair Keith Vaz, Sahima said: "My sister was into normal teenage things. She used to watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians."

Family solicitor Tasnime Akunjee told the committee the Metropolitan Police owed the parents an apology over the way a similar case was handled last year.

It has emerged that police gave the three schoolgirls - as well as four other girls - letters addressed to their families about another 15-year-old pupil at Bethnal Green Academy who joined Islamic State in December.

However, the girls did not pass the letters on to their families, prompting questions over why it was not delivered directly to their parents.

Had they received them Mr Akunjee said the parents would have been "on notice" for issues like radicalisation and foreign travel.

Sahima said she and her family "did what they could" to monitor Shamima's activities, but they would have done more if they had known the first girl - a friend of Shamima's - had gone to Syria.

"We would have questioned that," she said.

Sahima said she was not aware of the Government's anti-radicalisation programme Prevent before her sister went missing.

She said she should have been given a risk assessment under the Prevent strategy when she was interviewed about her friend going missing last December.

Scotland Yard previously said that, "with the benefit of hindsight", letters addressed to seven girls' families could have been sent directly to them.

Earlier on Tuesday the force said the parents had already been made aware by the school's deputy head that the 15-year-old girl had gone to Syria.

But it later issued a clarification stating the deputy head had only told the families the girl had disappeared.

Met Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe told the committee it was hard to identify those being radicalised as the scale was so large.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Police Forces Lose Track Of 396 Sex Offenders

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Video: Police Lose Track Of Sex Offenders

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

Police have lost track of almost 400 registered sex offenders they should be monitoring, include a child rapist who vanished two years ago, official figures have revealed.

Others have been off the police radar for much longer, one for 14 years.

Claude Knights, of the child protection charity Kidscape, said: "The horrifying prospect is that these offenders will have rebuilt their lives in communities who don't know them.

"Re-offending is high and particularly among those who have left the support system that was designed to help them."

Everyone on the register - currently around 60,000 - is required to say where they are living. They are monitored by police, probation officers and the prison service under the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA).

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1. Gallery: Police Have Lost Track Of Almost 400 Sex Offenders

   Failed asylum seeker Patrick Kanda, who was convicted of child rape, is unaccounted for - one of 396 registered offenders that UK authorities have lost track of

Stefan Taylor, who was convicted of indecent assault, disappeared in Blackpool. The offenders have vanished after moving home without telling authorities

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Anishbai Patel incited a child to engage in a sex act. Lancashire Police have described him as "high risk"

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It is believed Witshire rapist Abdelouaheb Delham may have returned to Algeria

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Iraqi Osman Abdurahman, who is missing from Sheffield, committed a sex attack on a teenage girl

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But a total of 396 registered sex offenders have vanished after moving home without telling the authorities their new address.

Some of those missing are foreign nationals who may have returned to their own countries. That could include failed asylum seeker Patrick Kanda, 36, who was convicted of child rape.

He was monitored for several years after he was released from prison, but vanished two years ago from his home in Dagenham, Essex.

He is one of 167 offenders who have stopped reporting to monitors at the Metropolitan Police.

West Midlands Police has "lost" 39 registered offenders, Greater Manchester Police is missing 25, and Essex and Sussex have no contact with 11 offenders.

There are offenders missing from their homes in most of the UK's 45 forces, but only Scotland says it knows where all its 4,775 sex offenders are living.

The figures were revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request by the Press Association news agency.

Jim Gamble, who runs child protection consultancy Ineqe, said: "Offenders who have chosen to go off the radar should be pursued and punished.

"By disappearing they are removing the incentive for staying in the system for the many others who choose to comply."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The UK has some of the toughest powers in the world to deal with sex offenders and we are committed to ensuring the system is as robust as possible.

"Under this government more adult sex offenders are being imprisoned, and they are being imprisoned for longer. The latest published figures show there are more than 11,000 sentenced adult sex offenders in prison - up by more than 2,500 since 2010.

"We have also reformed civil orders by introducing new measures that give police and the courts further powers to restrict and monitor the activities of sex offenders and those who pose a risk.

"It is for the police to manage offenders in their area, but we work closely with forces to ensure legislation is effective and that officers have all the tools they need."

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1. IS Defector: I Saw Jihadi John Kill Hostage
2. Breaking News: 'No Sign Missing Girls Had Been Radicalised'
3. Breaking News: Video Of Reality TV Helicopter Crash
4. Becky Watts' Phone And Computers Recovered
5. I Wasn't Best Man For Job - Hillsborough Chief

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Video: Police Lose Track Of Sex Offenders

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

Police have lost track of almost 400 registered sex offenders they should be monitoring, include a child rapist who vanished two years ago, official figures have revealed.

Others have been off the police radar for much longer, one for 14 years.

Claude Knights, of the child protection charity Kidscape, said: "The horrifying prospect is that these offenders will have rebuilt their lives in communities who don't know them.

"Re-offending is high and particularly among those who have left the support system that was designed to help them."

Everyone on the register - currently around 60,000 - is required to say where they are living. They are monitored by police, probation officers and the prison service under the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA).

1/6

1. Gallery: Police Have Lost Track Of Almost 400 Sex Offenders

   Failed asylum seeker Patrick Kanda, who was convicted of child rape, is unaccounted for - one of 396 registered offenders that UK authorities have lost track of

Stefan Taylor, who was convicted of indecent assault, disappeared in Blackpool. The offenders have vanished after moving home without telling authorities

]]>

Anishbai Patel incited a child to engage in a sex act. Lancashire Police have described him as "high risk"

]]>

It is believed Witshire rapist Abdelouaheb Delham may have returned to Algeria

]]>

Iraqi Osman Abdurahman, who is missing from Sheffield, committed a sex attack on a teenage girl

]]>

But a total of 396 registered sex offenders have vanished after moving home without telling the authorities their new address.

Some of those missing are foreign nationals who may have returned to their own countries. That could include failed asylum seeker Patrick Kanda, 36, who was convicted of child rape.

He was monitored for several years after he was released from prison, but vanished two years ago from his home in Dagenham, Essex.

He is one of 167 offenders who have stopped reporting to monitors at the Metropolitan Police.

West Midlands Police has "lost" 39 registered offenders, Greater Manchester Police is missing 25, and Essex and Sussex have no contact with 11 offenders.

There are offenders missing from their homes in most of the UK's 45 forces, but only Scotland says it knows where all its 4,775 sex offenders are living.

The figures were revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request by the Press Association news agency.

Jim Gamble, who runs child protection consultancy Ineqe, said: "Offenders who have chosen to go off the radar should be pursued and punished.

"By disappearing they are removing the incentive for staying in the system for the many others who choose to comply."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The UK has some of the toughest powers in the world to deal with sex offenders and we are committed to ensuring the system is as robust as possible.

"Under this government more adult sex offenders are being imprisoned, and they are being imprisoned for longer. The latest published figures show there are more than 11,000 sentenced adult sex offenders in prison - up by more than 2,500 since 2010.

"We have also reformed civil orders by introducing new measures that give police and the courts further powers to restrict and monitor the activities of sex offenders and those who pose a risk.

"It is for the police to manage offenders in their area, but we work closely with forces to ensure legislation is effective and that officers have all the tools they need."

Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain

Top Stories

1. IS Defector: I Saw Jihadi John Kill Hostage
2. Breaking News: 'No Sign Missing Girls Had Been Radicalised'
3. Breaking News: Video Of Reality TV Helicopter Crash
4. Becky Watts' Phone And Computers Recovered
5. I Wasn't Best Man For Job - Hillsborough Chief

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hammond Criticises Jihadi John 'Apologists'

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has criticised "apologists" who tried to blame Britain's intelligence agencies for radicalising the Islamic State (IS) militant known as Jihadi John.

He condemned critics who try to "excuse" terrorists by pointing the finger of blame at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.

"We are absolutely clear - the responsibility for acts of terror rests with those who commit them. But a huge burden of responsibility also lies with those who act as apologists for them," he said.

His comments appeared to be directed at Asim Qureshi, of campaign group Cage, who said it was MI5's attempts to recruit Mohammed Emwazi - recently revealed as Jihadi John - as an informer that led to him joining IS.

The agencies have been criticised for allowing Emwazi to travel to Syria

The agencies have been criticised for allowing the 26-year-old Londoner to travel to Syria - where he is believed to have beheaded Western hostages in videos - even though he had been known to MI5 since 2008.

Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Mr Hammond said agencies are currently facing an "unprecedented" level of challenge in the face of a wide range of global threats.

Video: IS Defector: John The 'Big Boss'

"The sheer number and range of cases, old and new, amounts to the greatest challenge to our collective security for decades and places unprecedented demands on those charged with keeping us safe," he said.

"The emergence of groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and (IS) in Syria, Iraq and Libya, simply serves to underline the pace with which the threats to our safety and security from this source are evolving.

"It is only thanks to the dedication, and in many cases the brilliance, of our intelligence officers that we have succeeded to detect and contain these threats."

Mr Hammond also highlighted the renewed threat posed by Russia - saying it was the "single greatest threat to Britain's security".

Video: Boko Haram Pledges Allegiance To IS

"We are now faced with a Russian leader bent not on joining the international rules-based system which keeps the peace between nations, but on subverting it," he said.

"President (Vladimir) Putin's actions - illegally annexing Crimea and now using Russian troops to destabilise eastern Ukraine - fundamentally undermine the security of sovereign nations in Eastern Europe."

During questions at the end of his speech, Mr Hammond was asked what efforts are being made to track down Emwazi.

He said: "What I can tell you is the murders of hostages in Syria are the subject of an ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation.

Video: Sky Sources: UK Girls 'In Al Raqqa'

"And as you would expect I can't comment on any aspect of an ongoing police investigation I'm afraid."

He also said parents and schools have a responsibility to stop young people travelling abroad to take part in the conflict in Syria and Iraq.

The parents of three London schoolgirls believed to have entered Syria with the aim of joining IS are due to appear before the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee later, alongside the ambassador of Turkey.

Mr Hammond said he had spoken to Turkey's foreign minister about what action can be taken to stop would-be jihadists crossing the country's border with Syria.

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1. Gallery: Images Of The 3,000-Year-Old Assyrian Site

   The 3,000-year-old site on the banks of the Tigris river was once the capital of the world's most powerful empire, the Assyrians. European archeologists first excavated the site in the 1840s

Statues, sections of palaces and gold items were unearthed at the site. Some of its best-known monuments include these winged bulls with human faces, known as lamassus

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23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hillsborough Chief: I Wasn't Best Man For Job

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

The match commander on the day of the Hillsborough disaster has admitted he was "not the best man for the job".

Former chief superintendent David Duckenfield told the Hillsborough inquests jury he had "limited experience" of planning for football matches prior to the day of the disaster on 15 April 1989.

Watched by approximately 200 family members of the 96 fans who died, Mr Duckenfield confirmed he had been promoted just a few weeks before the FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

He was asked by barrister Christina Lambert QC: "Did you think with hindsight: I should have thought about my limited knowledge of the role of commander in a major event that was an all-ticket sell-out?"

He replied: "I am older, probably wiser. Probably I was not the best man for the job on the day."

He was also asked whether it had occurred to him before the match that it "was a job that called for deep experience".

The former South Yorkshire police officer said he had been assured by the assistant chief constable at the time, Walter Jackson, that he would have an experienced team to assist him on the day.

Margaret Aspinall and 200 other family members are in court

Ms Lambert asked: "Did you think it was a mistake for you to accept the role of match commander and not seek assistance from others?"

He told the jury there had been a culture at the time of  senior officers being moved around different departments and learning "on the job".

Ms Lambert continued: "My question was whether or not it was a mistake."

Mr Duckenfield replied: "With hindsight it was a serious mistake."

He accepted under questioning that he could not remember whether he had read the relevant police guidelines before the match and that he was not aware of the codeword "catastrophe" that was to be used by emergency services in the event of a major incident.

The inquests have already heard that Mr Duckenfield gave the order to open a perimeter gate at the Hillsborough stadium before telling officials that fans had forced it open. 

Ninety-six Liverpool fans died as a result of crushing on the terraces in overcrowded pens at the ground's Leppings Lane end.

Mr Duckenfield is due to give evidence to the inquests in Warrington for four days.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pound Soars Amid Latest 'Greek Drama'

Fresh uncertainty over Greece has prompted a warning from the Chancellor and helped push the pound to a seven-year high of €1.40.

Sterling is now at levels not seen since the autumn of 2007, meaning Britons travelling abroad will get more for their money - around €1.38 at tourist exchange rates.

But Chancellor George Osborne remains focussed on resolving the deadlock over Greece, tweeting: "Just had bilateral meeting with Greek finance minister, urging them and eurozone to find solution.

"Unfortunately this Greek drama isn't over," he wrote.

Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis was told by his fellow eurozone finance ministers on Monday that time was running out and he must urgently put forward concrete proposals if the country wants to secure rescue funds agreed under its bailout extension.

Athens got a lifeline last month when ministers agreed a four-month deal on extending its current EU-IMF bailout, subject to the reforms being agreed.

The next payout of €7bn (£5bn) is due at the end of April.

Greece may have to leave the currency union if no reform programme can be ratified.

Mr Varoufakis has faced ridicule in Brussels and back home for some of his proposals, including the use of tourists to spot tax cheats.

His tough negotiating style has also irritated creditors, who have signalled their patience is wearing thin.

Greece has warned of a possible referendum if its plans are rejected.

The new radical left-wing government has pledged to streamline bureaucracy and tackle smuggling but its blueprint has been slammed as lacking detail, and especially figures.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup, said on Monday: "We have lost over two weeks in which very little progress has been made - we have to stop wasting time and start talks seriously."

Mr Dijsselbloem, who is also the Dutch finance minister, added: "The extension (of the Greek bailout) is only for four months and the clock is ticking."

The deadlock, combined with the effects of the eurozone's new QE programme, pushed the euro on Tuesday to levels not seen for years.

The FTSE 100 suffered however, having fallen more than 1.5% by Tuesday lunchtime.

It was pegged back by Prudential after the insurer said its chief executive was leaving for Credit Suisse.

A fall in energy stocks on weaker oil prices also weighed on the market.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sarah Brightman Writing Song To Sing In Space

Sarah Brightman has revealed she and ex-husband Andrew Lloyd Webber are working on a song for her to perform during her space trip.

The English-born soprano is training for 16 hours a day in Star City, near Moscow, ahead of the 10-day tourist flight to the International Space Station on 1 September.

Brightman admitted travelling in space seemed "unrealistic and crazy", but said watching the first moon landing when she was nine was "a pivotal moment" in her life.

She said: "It actually changed my perception about life. Suddenly my mind opened".

"For me to have got this far and have a taste of what I felt at that time, and have a taste of the future, is an amazing thing."

Video: Opera Singer's Space Trip Prep

Speaking at a news conference in London, Brightman told reporters she wanted to sing from space in a duet with a performer back on Earth.

She said: "We're trying to work this out at the moment, we're working on the music at the moment."

Brightman, who is learning Russian for her trip, said she was working with Lloyd Webber on a song.

"It's finding a song that suits the idea of space and something that is incredibly simple," said the 54-year-old.

Video: The Lucky Few: Space Tourists

The singer said Lloyd Webber had come up with "the most beautiful line" for a piece she could potentially perform from the spacecraft.

The Phantom Of The Opera star, who scored a top 10 hit in 1978 with I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper, said she might do one of the moves from the hit track's dance routine while she is up in space.

Brightman, who has sold 30 million records, said she had paid for the trip herself, but could not "contractually" reveal how much it cost.

The figure is thought to be in the region of the tens of millions.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Going It Alone: Life Of Independent Candidate

By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter

Without the support of a political party, campaigning in the General Election is tough.

In the latest episode of our series on what it is like for independent candidates, we follow Richard Lupson-Darnell as he does his first bit of door knocking and launches his manifesto to a disappointing amount of people.

We also meet a campaigning cabbie who uses his time with customers to win as many votes as possible.

Also in this episode, we find out how an independent has managed to raise £10,000 through crowd funding for her campaign.

Click here for episode one.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More