cops

AN urgent manhunt has been launched after a lag escaped from prison.

Liam Slater is reported to have absconded from HMP Hatfield in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, on Sunday – with police warning members of the public not to approach him.

The 33-year-old was last seen boarding a train to Leeds at Stainforth Station at 8.46pm.

Cops say he has links to Wetherby and Seacroft in Leeds.

They want to hear from anyone who has seen or spoken to Slater recently.

A South Yorkshire Police statement added: “If you see Slater, please do not approach him but instead call 999.

“If you have any other information about where he might be, you can contact us online or by calling 101.

“Please quote incident number 818 of 18 May 2025 when you get in touch.”

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THIS is the moment a TV journalist was shot live on air as she reported on the violent immigration riots in Los Angeles.

Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi was covering the protests for Nine News when she was blasted at close range by a rubber bullet, collapsing in agony mid-broadcast.

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“The LAPD are moving in on horseback and firing rubber bullets at protesters,” Tomasi told viewers, as loud bangs echoed across Downtown LA.

Suddenly, a police officer swung his weapon towards her, and a cloud of smoke erupted near the correspondent. Caught on camera, Tomasi doubled over in pain, live on air.

“You just f***ing shot a reporter!” a furious protester screamed at police, as others rushed to help the injured Aussie.

Despite the shocking moment, Tomasi managed to yell back, “I’m good, I’m good.”

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LAYING “snog, marry, avoid” with colleagues at work could be sexual harassment, a tribunal has ruled. 

The “crass” and “inappropriate” game may breach the Equality Act, an Employment judge said. 

The risqué quiz involves naming three people and then asking a person to pick which one you would like to kiss, which one you would get married to and which one you would steer clear of altogether.

In the BBC hit comedy Gavin and Stacey, Pam, Mick, Gavin and Smithy played a version of it featuring celebrities during a car ride from Essex to Wales. 

However, the tribunal found it may break workplace laws. 

The ruling came in the case of a police officer who sued Derbyshire Police after a female colleague involved him in the game — using mugshots of sex workers. 

The officer candidly admitted to the tribunal that she had “jokingly” played the game with co-workers and included PC Shafarat Mohammed in their discussion.

PC Mohammed claimed that during the discussion in May or June 2022 he was only shown images of black women and was asked what he liked about one of them. 

He said he was “embarrassed” and “offended” by the questioning and felt it was inappropriate. 

The tribunal judge said: “We agree that the questions were inappropriate.” 

However, the tribunal found there was no racial or religious element to it as the sex workers were of varying ethnicities.

PC Mohammed lost his case for racial and religious discrimination and harassment. 

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THE historic Appleby Horse Fair has left shops and roads closed as a second day of rowdy celebrations continues.

The Gypsy King, Tyson Fury, joined thousands of revellers yesterday for the first day of the fair.

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The celebrations have seen thousands of travellers descend on the town, riding horses through the small streets.

Cops have been spotted patrolling the streets and roads have been closed to traffic.

Pictures from yesterday’s celebrations show horses being ridden in the River Eden as part of a longstanding tradition.

Tens of thousands of travellers have arrived in the small town for the event, lining the roads nearby.

Campsites have been set up, quickly filling with hundreds of caravans.

The six day event features traditional music, dancing, horse riding, market stalls and horses for sale.

Carts and wagons have been pulled through the town by horse as the event continues to unfold.

Residents in nearby villages have complained of anti-social behaviour during the event.

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The roads of the small town and surrounding area have been lined with travellers arriving to join the festivities.

Today as the celebrations continued locals have shut their shops and roads are being patrolled by cops.

Signs have been left on doors up and down the busy high street reading “closed” with the town effectively shut down for the event.

A huge police presence is in the area for the second day in a row with officers on standby ahead of potential chaos and violence.

RSPCA officers and Blue Cross volunteers are also present, keeping an eye on the welfare of the horses being exercised, bought and sold.

During the 2021 event seven people were arrested.

Travellers and their families have been descending on the town for the fair for 340 years.

The event falls on the first weekend of June and is recognised as the largest of its kind in Europe.

Huge queues have formed along the busy country lanes and town life has ground to a standstill as the fair continues.

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A TEENAGER is fighting for his life in hospital after falling from a balcony while allegedly fleeing police.

The 19-year-old man suffered critical injuries after falling off an “upper balcony from height” in Tameside, Manchester, said cops.

A 14-year-old boy was also seriously injured in the same fall on Saturday night, according to Greater Manchester Police.

It came after police received reports of a “group of males with machetes making threats towards individuals” at the location.

Upon arrival, at around 7.20pm, officers gave chase to three males who “tried to leave” the property, with one of the three escaping through a lower balcony.

The 19-year-old who fell from the balcony then sustained serious injuries.

Footage from the scene showed emergency services at the foot of Bentinck House, a 12 storey tower block on the outskirts of Ashton town centre.

Three people have been arrested and drugs and a weapon have also been seized, said police.

Witnesses reported seeing armed police and an air ambulance at the scene.

Det Supt Gareth Jenkins from the Tameside District said: “The two injured parties, aged 14 and 19, have been taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries, with the older male in a critical condition.

“These males are under the detention of officers pending their medical treatment, and another male has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

“Enquiries are ongoing to determine all of those involved and the full circumstances of what has happened in the lead up to the incident. Suspected drugs and a weapon have been recovered.

“A small scene remains in place at the property and residents in the area should expect to see further police activity.

“Anyone with any information which has not yet been provided to us, or with any concerns, should speak to officers on the ground.

“I’d like to reassure the community that this incident is believed to be between individuals known to one another, with no wider risk to the community.”

Police are looking for any witnesses to come forward with any information that could aid their inquiries.

Anyone with information is being urged to call 101 quoting incident number 2849 of May 31 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A BRIT former flight attendant accused of smuggling £1.2 million worth of cannabis today appeared in front of a  Sri Lankan court.

Part-time beautician Charlotte May Lee was arrested last week after cops found two suitcases stuffed with 46kg of synthetic drug kush — which is 25 times more potent than opioid fentanyl.

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If found guilty, South Londoner Charlotte could face a 25-year sentence.

The Brit appeared in front of a court today after languishing in a “hell-hole” prison for days.

Charlotte from Surrey was stopped by Sri Lankan customs officials after stepping off a flight from Thailand on Monday last week.

Speaking from behind bars Charlotte said she had “no idea” that there were drugs in her luggage when she left Bangkok.

She claimed: “I had never seen them before. I didn’t expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff.

“I had been in Bangkok the night before and had already packed my clothes because my flight was really early.

“So I left my bags in the hotel room and headed for the night out. As they were already packed I didn’t check them again in the morning.”

The young Brit believes the huge amount of illegal substances were planted in her luggage in a planned move by dangerous dealers in Southeast Asia.

Kush, a highly addictive synthetic drug, has claimed the lives of thousands in West Africa where it first appeared in 2022 – and is spreading globally at an alarming rate.

The dirt-cheap drug is cut with an array of additives including acetone, the opioid tramadol and formalin, a toxic chemical commonly used to preserve bodies in mortuaries.

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THIS is the butter knife that led cops to pepper-spray and Taser a tragic amputee as he sat in his wheelchair, a court heard.

PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto are accused of assaulting Donald Burgess at Park Beck Residential Care Home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex.

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The officers had been called to the residence after the 92-year-old poked a worker in the stomach with a butter knife, jurors heard.

A picture has now been released of the knife, which was specially adapted so the pensioner could eat his food.

Bodycam showed Donald clutching the blade while sat in his wheelchair when Smith and Comotto entered his room.

PC Smith can be heard saying: ‘Put it down mate. Come on, Donald, don’t be silly.

“We can solve it without having to resort to this…Do as you’re told.”

He then “emptied all or almost all of his canister” of pepper spray in Donald’s face, Southwark Crown Court was told.

The footage also showed Smith making his way towards the pensioner with his baton extended before striking him.

Comotto then deploys her Taser as Donald screams out in pain before the officers took the knife from him.

Jurors heard the pair used “unjustified and unlawful” force just 83 seconds into entering the one-legged pensioner’s room.

The officers were later seen joking about the shocking incident, it was said.

In separate bodycam, Comotto is seen laughing and asking Smith: “Oh my God, is there any left in your can?”

Smith replies: “Probably not.”

The court heard Donald suffered from multiple health conditions including diabetes and carotid artery disease.

He was taken to hospital after the incident and died 22 days later after contracting Covid.

Jurors heard police had been called to the care home on June 21, 2022, after Donald was seen poking a care worker in the stomach with a knife after flicking food at her.

He allegedly threatened staff with the blade and told them he would take plasure in murdering them.

Managers wheeled him back to his room and tried for 30 minutes to calm him down before calling 999.

The officers were dispatched under a grade one call, meaning it was treated as the highest level of emergency.

Jurors were told the care home specialised in support for people with dementia but Donald had been diagnosed with the disease.

Prosecutor Paul Jarvis KC said: “I want to make it clear – these defendants are not responsible for his death.

“He was an elderly gentleman who was unwell.”

But he added: “The force used was unnecessary and excessive in the circumstances.

“The defendants assaulted Mr Burgess, causing actual bodily harm.”

Smith, 51, denies two counts of assault by using Pava spray and a baton, and Comotto denies one charge of assault by discharging her Taser.

The trial continues.

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COPS are desperately searching for a man and his two children – last seen speeding through a major seaside town.

Authorities are concerned over the welfare of the passengers and have sent out a police helicopter to help them in their search.

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A SERIAL thief has been barred from every Greggs in England and Wales after repeatedly targeting the same bakery in a shameless crime spree.

Patrick Verry, 33, is now forbidden from entering any of the high street baker’s hundreds of branches following a court order brought by the Met Police.

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He was caught in the act last week by officers inside a Greggs shop in Wood Green, North London, after striking the location seven times.

Verry was arrested on the spot and brought before Highbury Magistrates’ Court the following day, where he admitted to six counts of theft from the same Greggs store.

Police described him as one of the capital’s “most prolific shoplifters” — and now he’s banned from every Greggs outlet across the country in a move to protect staff and customers.

The order comes as part of a new Met Police blitz on retail crime amid soaring shoplifting rates nationwide.

Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Met’s retail crime lead, said: “The Met is focused on tackling the most prolific shoplifters like Verry.

“They cause fear to retail workers and their offending has a negative impact on communities.”

He continued: “We continue to work with local business owners to investigate reports of shoplifting, understand concerns and use different tactics to crackdown, including targeted operations and regular patrols.”

The ban on Verry comes as The Sun lifts the lid on the true scale of the shoplifting crisis crippling British high streets.

Our undercover investigation found Greggs shops across the country being stripped of stock in broad daylight, with some stores experiencing a theft every 20 minutes.

At one busy location in South London, a thief was seen stuffing doughnuts and drinks into his pockets before barging past staff and walking out unfazed.

In another shocking clip filmed in Tooting, a brave female Greggs manager tried to stop a thief who was carrying several bottles of Coca-Cola.

She shouted: “You’re not having all of that,” as the crook tried to leave.

He coolly replied: “Yeah I’m walking out with them, watch me.”

Customers looked on in silence, too scared to step in. A witness said: “There were two grown men just stood by the tills.

“Everyone was just silent.

“No one said a word. People are just afraid now.”

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The Met later confirmed it was not alerted to the Tooting incident, which happened in August, highlighting just how many shoplifting cases go unreported.

Our reporters saw similar scenes play out in branches from Newcastle to Brighton, with thieves helping themselves to hot food, drinks and sandwiches without even trying to hide it.

In Stockwell, South London, one man was caught on camera filling his coat with products before grabbing two boxes of jam doughnuts worth £3 each and fleeing during the lunchtime rush.

In Worthing, West Sussex, two men repeatedly walked in and out of Greggs helping themselves to hot food from the display cabinets.

On Brighton’s Queen’s Road, one crook walked off with two trays of wedges in front of a stunned staff member. “Average day,” the employee said when asked about it.

Minutes later, another thief ran out with two trays of wedges and a sandwich, while yet another masked man sprinted off carrying food as helpless staff shouted after him.

In Southampton, a man entered just after midday, grabbed four hot food items and said: “Sorry guys, I’m homeless, I need to eat,” before walking straight out the door.

In many cases, Greggs staff are told not to intervene directly with thieves for safety reasons.

One insider told us: “They’ve been told not to chase anyone, not to engage. It’s heartbreaking for the team.”

Astonishingly, just 350 people have been prosecuted for stealing from Greggs in the last six months.

Of those, only 111 received immediate or suspended jail time — and most had long criminal records.

Greggs has started introducing extra security measures in stores hit hardest by crime.

That includes removing self-serve fridges, placing chilled food behind the till, and trialling bouncers in some branches.

One staff member said: “It’s like we’re on the front line. You’re trying to sell sausage rolls but you’re looking over your shoulder constantly.”

Greggs boss Roisin Currie confirmed the company is now using facial recognition technology to catch thieves and pass images to police.

“We’ve now got a system where we can take photos of people committing theft on the shop floor and that then instantly goes to the police,” she told The Sun.

The bakery chain is also investing in body cameras for workers and running trials with a 24-hour shoplifting helpline.

A Greggs spokeswoman said: “Shoplifting is an industry-wide issue and we take it extremely seriously.

The safety of our colleagues and customers remains our absolute priority.”

Politicians have backed The Sun’s investigation.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “This is an important and timely investigation from The Sun, exposing just how bad the shoplifting epidemic has become.

“There has to be consequences for this appalling criminality.”

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson added: “Retail workers should never feel unsafe at work. That is why we’re taking robust action to tackle shop theft and protect workers.”

She confirmed new laws are coming under the government’s Crime and Policing Bill, which will create a specific offence for assaulting shop staff and scrap the £200 threshold that previously gave low-level shoplifters “effective immunity.”

Meanwhile, the Met has released dramatic new footage showing suspects sprinting from stores clutching bottles, sandwiches and snacks as part of a wider crackdown on repeat retail offenders.

And police chiefs say they’re not stopping with Verry, more bans could be coming for other prolific shoplifters as efforts ramp up to restore order on Britain’s battered high streets.

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POLICE have launched a desperate appeal for information after a 17-year-old girl vanished with her baby girl.

Skye Conway was last seen with the infant near Strood town centre at around 7.30pm on Tuesday 14 May 2025.

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