UK! Brianna Ghey’s teenage killers, ‘Opportunistic’ rapist jailed for almost seven years for Kettering attack, Two men guilty over theft of £4.75m golden toilet from Blenheim Palace, Woman jailed after stabbing teen at Swindon house party, Bethany Shipsey did not die by suicide, Steven Burke Weapons Used to Attack Vehicle, Mum-of-two teacher sexually abused 14-year-old pupil, Murdered girl Sara Sharif, Neighbour from hell ‘terrorised’ Shirebrook residents, Man jailed for driving test fraud 2025.3.11-3.27

Brianna Ghey’s mum Esther has made a documentary with ITV about her daughter

ITV is airing a new documentary that will explore the brutal murder of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey. In February 2023, the schoolgirl from Warrington was lured to Culcheth Linear Park by Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe.

The Birchwood Community High School student was murdered by so-called friend Jenkinson and a boy she had never met before, Ratcliffe. Brianna’s killers were both 15-years-old at the time of the murder and were given life sentences in February 2024.

Brianna, a transgender girl described as a “lovely kid”, had spoken to her mum on the day of the murder, February 11 2023, and a video was posted to her TikTok account only hours before she was killed.

In a powerful documentary made by MultiStory Media, part of ITV Studios, Brianna’s mum Esther speaks in depth for the first time about her “beautiful daughter” and how the devastating loss has driven her campaign for change.

What happened to Brianna Ghey’s killers?
The teenage killers were just 15 when they lured Brianna to Linear Park near Warrington. Brianna was stabbed 28 times in her head, neck and back with a hunting knife on February 11, 2023.

Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were known throughout their trial as girl X and boy Y, but a judge lifted the anonymity order at Manchester Crown Court in February last year, where they were being sentenced for Brianna’s murder.

Jenkinson, who lived in Culcheth, and Ratcliffe, who lived in Leigh, had been friends since they were 11 and went to Culcheth High School together. Both came from ‘normal backgrounds’ and Ratcliffe had a keen interest in karate as a child. Jenkinson was sent to Birchwood Community High School, where Brianna was a student and that was how the two met.

The court heard how Jenkinson had developed a friendship with Brianna prior to the attack – and had spent a significant amount of time trying to convince Brianna to meet up with her and Ratcliffe in Culcheth that day.

During their initial interviews, both defendants denied any involvement in Brianna’s death but when the messages found on their mobiles were put to them, they began to turn on each other.

Both Jenkinson and Ratcliffe pleaded not guilty to Brianna’s murder despite the mountain of evidence gathered against them throughout the investigation.

On Wednesday, December 20 2023, a jury found them guilty of murder following a trial spanning almost four weeks.

During the 18-day trial at Manchester Crown Court in December last year, the jury heard of the twisted duo’s fascination with violence and how they had been planning to stage a killing frenzy for weeks.

While they tried to mask their obsessive and disturbing natures, their “thirst for killing” was evident in their text exchanges and cross-examinations.

Jenkinson mapped out the ‘murder plan’ in a handwritten note but they appeared to work together. Ratcliffe suggested using various poisons and medieval torture weapons they could use on their prey.

A hunting knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered from Ratcliffe’s bedroom, and found to contain traces of Brianna’s blood.

From the age of 14, Jenkinson immersed herself in graphic videos of people being tortured, telling Ratcliffe: “I love watching torture vids. Real ones on the dark web.”

Jenkinson was sentenced to a minimum term of 22 years imprisonment, she is currently held at Adel Beck Secure Children’s Home in Leeds. Ratcliffe was sentenced to a minimum term of 20 years imprisonment.

It is believed the distinctive toilet has now been split up and disposed of, Oxford Crown Court was told previously.

Two men have been found guilty over the theft of a £4.75 million gold toilet from Blenheim Palace.

The fully-functioning 18-carat gold toilet, which had been installed as an artwork at the Oxfordshire country house where Sir Winston Churchill was born, was stolen in a raid in the early hours of September 14 2019.

It was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and was a star attraction in an exhibition when it was stolen.

It is believed the distinctive toilet has now been split up and disposed of, Oxford Crown Court was told previously.

Jurors at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday found Michael Jones, 39, guilty of burglary.

Jones, from Oxford, visited the palace twice before the theft, but denied these were reconnaissance trips.

He previously told jurors he “took advantage of” the gold toilet’s “facilities” while at the country house the day before it was taken.

Asked what it was like, Jones said: “Splendid.”

Jurors were previously told James Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, had already pleaded guilty to burglary.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transfer criminal property and one count of transferring criminal property, at Oxford Crown Court in April 2024.

The court previously heard Jones had worked as a roofer and builder for Sheen from about 2018 and was effectively Sheen’s “right-hand man”, being trusted to arrange payments for his friend’s other employees.

Frederick Doe, 36, also known as Frederick Sines, of Winkfield, Windsor, Berkshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

Doe helped Sheen sell some of the gold in the following weeks, the court heard.

Bora Guccuk, 41, from west London, was found not guilty of the same charge.

Jones was arrested on October 16 2019 and police analysed his phone. He had been searching for newspaper reports about the stolen toilet on September 20, jurors were told previously.

Doe will be sentenced on May 19. Jones and Sheen will be sentenced at a date yet to be set.

Shan Saunders of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This was an audacious raid which had been carefully planned and executed – but those responsible were not careful enough, leaving a trail of evidence in the form of forensics, CCTV footage and phone data.

“It has been a complex case to prosecute, involving a nationwide investigation with many lines of inquiry to identify those who were subsequently charged in relation to the theft.

“While none of the gold was ever recovered – no doubt having been broken up or melted down and sold on soon after it was stolen – we are confident this prosecution has played a part in disrupting a wider crime and money laundering network.”

Thames Valley Police said other people were involved in the burglary at Blenheim Palace and called for anyone with information to come forward.

Speaking outside Oxford Crown Court following the verdicts, Detective Superintendent Bruce Riddell said: “As part of the investigation a number of other arrests were made but further charges could not be brought and it is clear that there are others who were involved in this crime.

“If anyone has information that they have not already come forward with in relation to the burglary or the sale of the gold, then we would encourage them to get in touch with Thames Valley Police or Crimestoppers.”

Speaking of Sheen, Mr Riddell said: “It is clear that Sheen has only one intent, and that is to do whatever he can to steal money and property regardless of the impact it has on others and communities.

“I am satisfied that Sheen pleaded guilty to his offences, and he will continue to serve time in prison for his crimes, as he was previously convicted of defrauding elderly and vulnerable people as well as the theft of money from cash machines and the organised theft of agricultural machinery.”

Speaking of Jones, Mr Riddell added: “Jones was clearly keen to assist Sheen in the burglary, carrying out the recces on his behalf and it is our case that he benefitted financially from the crime and we believe he also was present at the raid.”

Mr Riddell further said the convictions were the result of “a vast amount of work by detectives at Thames Valley Police”.

He said: “This has been a complex investigation with detailed forensic work, complex phone analysis and piecing together who planned the burglary of this unique piece of artwork, with an estimated value of £4.8 million.

“We made multiple arrests, investigated numerous scenes across the country, examined more than 2,000 exhibits, including CCTV enquiries, hundreds of statements, gathered a significant amount of intelligence, and looked into multiple lines of enquiry with our regional, national and international partners.

“All to find out who was behind the burglary, where the toilet had gone and who had profited from it.”

Blenheim Palace said in a statement: “We are extremely pleased that, five years after the theft of Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork America, three individuals have been brought to justice.

“We would like to thank Thames Valley Police for their tireless work on this case and the highly professional way they have conducted their investigation into the theft from Blenheim Palace.”

A young woman from Swindon has been jailed after stabbing a 17-year-old with a broken champagne bottle at a house party.

Drew Stanton-Foreman, 20, of Redhouse Way, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent during an incident at a house party.

The court heard how Stanton-Foreman, who was 19 at the time, had attended a house party on June 4, 2023, when she drank half a bottle of vodka and several shots.

The woman, who didn’t typically drink, became aggressive towards several party-goers and just after 1am she smashed a champagne glass in the kitchen and then stabbed a 17-year-old in the neck with the broken glass.

Judge Jason Taylor KC sentenced Drew Stanton-Foreman to two years and eight months in prison.

When others tried to restrain her, she threatened to repeat the attack, asking “do you two want to get stabbed too?”

The attack has been described as an ‘unprovoked’ incident from a woman ‘of previous good character’ and despite pleading guilty, Stanton-Foreman claims to have no memories of the incident.

The victim, who received a stab wound near the jugular vein that ‘could have very nearly been fatal’, had not been planning to attend the party that night, and had only been collecting a friend when he was invited in.

“The injury has affected my ability to speak,” said the teenage victim, who will not be named.

“I can’t understand why it happened to me or the reason for it.

“It’s affected my confidence in going out in the evening and I have had to see my mum be strong for me especially knowing there was a prospect I could’ve died.”

Speaking at the Swindon Crown Court sentencing on Monday, March 17, Ms Ruba Huleihel, defending, said: “This is out of character for Ms Stanton-Foreman and it seems that what she has done came out of nowhere.

“It is unexplained and unprovoked. This is a woman of previous good character and she can remember very little of that night.”

Despite speculation that the defendant may have been spiked and was unaware of her actions, a text sent by Stanton-Foreman after the incident stated ‘I’m going to go to prison’ and was shown to the court in evidence.

The defendant claims she doesn’t remember sending the text and is not sure whose number it was sent to.

“She is extremely remorseful and accepts what she’s done and feels terrible for what the victim has gone through,” added her defence lawyer.

“She will have to live with the fact she can’t explain why this has happened, only that it did happen.”

Past trauma that Stanton-Foreman experienced at a young age was also put forward as a mitigating factor.

Her family, who attended the sentencing, and the defendant herself were tearful and distraught throughout the hearing.

She will serve half of this before being released on license, and Stanton-Foreman will also have to pay a victim surcharge which will be drawn up later administratively.

Speaking to the young woman, Judge Taylor said: “It has been speculated that you were spiked, however that is nothing but speculation.

“I don’t accept there’s a mental condition linked to this incident, however your background and general mental health is something that I will reflect.

“You are still a young woman and prison will be particularly hard for you, especially in the current environment. However, immediate custody can’t be avoided.”

A CORONER’S verdict that a 21-year-old woman from Worcester died by suicide after taking unlicensed slimming aid pills has been overruled at the High Court.

Bethany Shipsey died from the toxic effects of Dinitrophenol (DNP) on February 15, 2017, after going into cardiac arrest in hospital.

The senior coroner for Worcestershire later found that there were “significant failings” in her care from Worcestershire Royal Hospital, but did not find this to be the cause of her death, instead ruling it as a suicide.

Miss Shipsey’s parents have always maintained that their daughter, who was described as an animal lover and animal rescuer, never intended to take her own life.

They brought legal action to the High Court seeking to remove part of the coroner’s conclusions that she had died intentionally.

Lady Justice Macur and Mrs Justice Hill agreed with this, based on new evidence showing Miss Shipsey’s social media use in the hours before her death.

Mrs Justice Hill said in a written judgment handed down on Friday: “It is possible that, in light of all that evidence, a fresh investigation would conclude that it is more likely than not that Beth did not, in fact, intend to take her own life.”

The judges said Miss Shipsey had a “long history” of mental health difficulties, including an eating disorder and self-harm.

She had previously taken 14 overdoses and was admitted to hospital on several occasions.

On January 7, 2017, she entered hospital after reporting “suicidal ideation” and went home a month later, on February 15.

That same afternoon, she took “a quantity” of DNP pills at home and messaged friends on social media about what she had done.

After 5pm, Miss Shipsey was taken by ambulance into the emergency department of Worcestershire Royal, where she went into cardiac arrest a few hours later and was pronounced dead at 10pm.

New evidence submitted after the coroner’s verdict included messages Miss Shipsey had sent to her boyfriend on the day of her death saying she had done something “really stupid”.

She also told her brother she had taken “herbal diet pills” and said “I’ll see you later” as she was leaving for hospital.

Her mother, Carole Shipsey, provided further social media messages from that day suggesting her daughter was in a light mood and was planning activities with her animals.

Mrs Justice Hill said: “The ‘new facts’ and ‘new evidence’ now relied on, when read cumulatively, provides a much fuller evidential platform for consideration of the intention issue.

“Such a course is appropriate and necessary because the combined effect of the new evidence that these determinations are no longer evidentially sound.

“It is the court’s hope that this judgment affords the claimants and those concerned in the NHS trusts at least some closure.”

She also admitted perverting course of justice by making false allegation that she was sexually assaulted by the teenager

A female teacher groomed and sexually abused a 14-year old pupil and has been jailed and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Imposing the four-year sentence on Judith Evans Judge Patricia Smyth said the mother-of-two had “groomed this child, who was vulnerable by reason of age and personal circumstances, basking in his adolescent attraction towards her”

Evans, 33, from Elmwood Grove in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, taught at the Belfast Boys Model School when the offences occurred last year. Due to her conduct and offending, she is no longer teaching and is now the subject of a five-year sexual offences prevention order which bans her from working with children.

Despite initial denials – and at one point accusing her young victim of raping her and being in “complete control” – she admitted eight charges. Evans was sentenced for sexual communication with a child, three counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child involving penetration, causing a child to watch a sexual act and possessing indecent images of the schoolboy.

These offences were committed between March 1 and May 17, 2024, BelfastLive reports. Evans also admitted a charge of perverting the course of justice between June 13 and 27, 2024 by making a false allegation that she was sexually assaulted by the teenager.

Belfast Crown Court heard that as well as driving the teenager to Black Mountain, where unprotected sexual intercourse occurred in her car on April 26, 2024, the pair also exchanged a total of 9,528 text messages – a majority of which were highly sexually explicit.

This communication, which was deleted by Evans but recovered from her phone by the PSNI, also included videos Evans sent to the teenager of her naked in the bath. Indecent images of the teenager were also located on Evans phone. Evans’ offending began when the teenager was going through a hard time.

Noticing a change in his demeanor at school, Evans began keeping him behind after class and asking if he was okay. He then opened up to her and after offering support and reassurance, Evans gave him her personal email address and mobile number.

The teacher and pupil then began texting each other with Judge Smyth noting that “from an early stage they contained inappropriate sexual suggestions”. Over the Easter holidays the communication escalated with Evans sending the teenager sexualised images of her and expressing her desire to have sex with him.

When school commenced again after the Easter break, they texted each other during class when she made what the Judge described as “inappropriate” comments about his appearance.

What followed was the incident at Black Mountain with two further meetings taking place outside school where sexual activity occurred. At the start of May last year, a concern was raised with the school that Evans was showing favouritism towards the teenage boy.

Evans response was to suggest that the teen was troubled and she told a senior staff member “I’m not blowing my own trumpet but relationships are my strength”. Evans campaign of offending emerged on May 17, 2024 when the teenager’s girlfriend found messages on his phone from ‘Jude’.

The teenager told his girlfriend he had been cheating on her, he threatened to kill himself and after his family became aware of what had occurred, the police became involved.

The court also heard that prior to this, Evans became involved in her victim’s family life and contacted his mother on several occasions. This included Evans calling the teenager’s mother on April 19, 2024 saying she wanted to keep him after class for revision.

When he returned home that afternoon, the boy looked dishevelled with this tie undone and short buttons open. After disclosing to his family what had happened, Evans was arrested on May 17, 2024 and during an interview on that date, she adopted a ‘no comment’ stance.

During a second interview on June 14, she claimed the teenager threatened her and raped her in her car and that she tried to ‘shut it down’. Judge Smyth said: “Every aspect of that account was false.” The Belfast Recorder spoke of Victim Impact Statements compiled by both the teenager and his parents and revealed that both the teenager and his mother are receiving counselling.

The Judge said these statements “describe in detail the devastating impact this course of offending has had on each of them as individuals and on their collective family life”.

The young victim spoke of the fear he now feels at school, the lies he said Evans forced him to tell and that he has to “live forever with regret and shame” and is concerned about trust issues.

His mother spoke of her shame and guilt that she couldn’t protect her son, she feels betrayed by Evans and is angry that her son’s childhood has been destroyed. His father spoke of his fears for his son’s future and mental health, and how he can protect him from predators.

Judge Smyth said: “There is no question that the defendant’s behaviour and the aftermath of the discovery of these offences has had a profound affect on this young victim and his family.

“Teenagers need protection because their immaturity prevents them from appreciating the long-term harm caused by inappropriate sexual activity.”

She also cited several aggravating factors including the breach of trust, the “repetitive and intense nature of the sexual communication” and the “significant” difference in age between Evans and her victim.

Turning her attention to Evans, Judge Smyth acknowledged that she had a clear criminal record. As Evans wept in the dock, the Judge said her two children are now being cared for by their father and that she was “struggling to cope with her current circumstances”.

She added that whilst Evans has reported a number of traumatic events in her life, there have been expressions of remorse, guilt and the harm she has caused but a lack of an explanation regarding her offending.

The Judge said: “In truth, there is no explanation other than a selfish desire for attention and intimacy which she considered was lacking in her relationship at that time.”

Saying that Evans has accepted “she will never teach again”, Judge Smyth imposed the jail term and the five-year SOPO as well as determining that Evans will be on the Sex Offenders Register “for life”.

Reacting to the sentencing, PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Jill Duffie said: “Evans is a cold, calculating child predator who abused her position of trust by taking advantage of a young boy. She preyed on his vulnerabilities and built an inappropriate ‘friendship’ with the boy before then further grooming him and sexually exploiting him. The messages exchanged between her and her underage pupil were highly sexual and nothing short of sickening.

“As a result of the abuse he was subjected to, the victim has suffered greatly with mental health struggles and has shown immense bravery to bring her to justice today. There is still a societal stigma surrounding male victims of abuse, especially that of a sexual nature. I hope today’s court outcome will showcase that young boys are just as vulnerable and that there is no shame for them to carry. Suffering in silence is never the answer, abuse is never the victim’s fault.

“We will continue to work around the clock to bring child predators before the courts and would encourage anyone who may have been abused in a similar way to come forward. The passage of time doesn’t matter. Child abuse cannot continue in Northern Ireland, we will do everything in our power to stop predators in their tracks and get victims the justice they deserve.

“If there are any young people out there who have been targeted and abused in a similar way, please come forward to us. We will help and support you.”

A UK court on Thursday will hear the appeals of the father and stepmother of a murdered British-Pakistani girl, who were jailed for life after killing the child following years of torture.

The trial of Urfan Sharif and his wife Beinash Batool caused waves of revulsion in the UK as the horrific abuse suffered by the 10-year-old girl was revealed in a London court.

There was anger too at how the bright, bubbly youngster had been failed by all the authorities supposed to be in charge of her care.

London’s Old Bailey court heard that her body was found in her bed in August 2023 covered in bites and bruises with broken bones and burns inflicted by an electric iron and boiling water.

Passing sentence in December after the trial, judge John Cavanagh said Sara had been subjected to “acts of extreme cruelty” but that Sharif and Batool had not shown “a shred of remorse”.

They had treated Sara as “worthless” and as “a skivvy”, because she was a girl. And because she was not Batool’s natural child, the stepmother had failed to protect her, he said. “This poor child was battered with great force again and again.”

‘Most distressing case’
Sara’s father, 43, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, while her stepmother, 30, was ordered to remain in jail for at least 33 years.

Both are now appealing their terms at the Royal Courts of Justice, along with Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, who lived with the family and was sentenced to 16 years after being found guilty of causing or allowing her death.

The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby, is also appealing the sentence imposed on Urfan Sharif, maintaining it was “unduly lenient”.

A post-mortem examination of Sara’s body revealed she had 71 fresh injuries and at least 25 broken bones.

She had been beaten with a metal pole and cricket bat and “trussed up” with a “grotesque combination of parcel tape, a rope and a plastic bag” over her head. A hole was cut in the bag so she could breathe, and she was left to soil herself in nappies as she was prevented from using the bathroom.

Police called the case “one of the most difficult and distressing” that they had ever had to deal with.

The day after Sara died, the three adults fled their home in Woking, southwest of London, and flew to Pakistan with five other children.

Her father, a taxi-driver, left behind a handwritten note saying he had not meant to kill his daughter. After a month on the run, the three returned to the UK and were arrested after landing. The five other children remain in Pakistan.

There has been anger in the UK that Sara’s brutal treatment was missed by social services after her father withdrew her from school four months before she died. Sharif and his first wife, Olga, were well-known to social services.

In 2019, a judge decided to award the care of Sara and an older brother to Sharif, despite his history of abuse.

The school had three times raised the alarm about Sara’s case, notably after she arrived in class wearing a hijab she used to try to cover marks on her body that she refused to explain.

Since December, the government has moved to tighten up the rules on home-schooling.

Sara’s body was repatriated to Poland, where her mother is from, and where a funeral was organised.

The victims first reported Kyle Scott to police in March 2023 after an incident in which he shouted obscenities at their children

A Shirebrook man ‘terrorised’ his neighbours with abuse, intimidation and harrassment. The victims first reported Kyle Scott to police in March 2023 after an incident in which he shouted obscenities at their children as theyh played in the garden of their home in Scarlett Way.

What happened next left their home feeling ‘like a prison’, they said. Scott was initially given a fixed penalty notice, but his behaviour continued to escalate.

Officers received reports about Scott on multiple occasions throughout 2023 and 2024 – including incidents where he banged on the neighbours’ walls, filmed them, shouted abuse, swore at them and threatened to kill them. He also punched their front door so hard that it cracked the doorbell.

Despite being arrested, Scott did not stop, He repeatedly broke bail conditions not to approach or contact the victims.

On June 2, 2024 Scott’s offending spiralled further. On seeing his neighbour go out to their bins, he shouted from a window that he would burn down their house while the family were inside and ‘watch you die’.

Following this incident Scott once again breached bail conditions imposed by the court and was charged. He was further charged with harassment in October 2024 after an incident in which he’d banged on the walls of the victim’s salon which was joined to her home, screaming and swearing at her through the video doorbell and frightening her clients.

Scott, of Scarlett Way, was arrested on suspicion of harassment and duly charged. He was also charged with criminal damage after he spread his faeces round a police cell following his arrest.

The 22-year-old admitted criminal damage and was found guilty of harassment following a trial. He was sentenced to 27 months in prison and handed a 10-year restraining order in respect of his victims at Derby Crown Court on February 21.

In a victim impact statement one of the victims describing Scott’s offences said: “Our home which should be our sanctuary, often feels like a prison. It has become increasingly difficult to even step into our garden or take a moment outside, knowing that we may face the abusive shouting and harassing behaviour from him.

“The intimidation that we experience has turned into a distressing obsession directed at me mainly, but has included all family members, friends and clients. It feels as if we have lost our sense of security.”

PC Jake Stone, officer in the case said: “Kyle Scott was intent on terrorising his neighbours and had no intention of stopping. Despite repeated police intervention and numerous arrests, his behaviour continued to escalate leaving his victims in a constant state of fear and distress.

“His actions not only impacted their home life, but their business too. No-one should be made to feel like a prisoner in their home and be in genuine fear for their family’s safety.

“I hope that this sentence and the restraining order imposed against Scott allows them the time and peace they need to rebuild their lives.”