3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Journalist ‘stalked ex-Chancellor George Osborne & his wife for a year and accused them of drug abuse’
A JOURNALIST faced court yesterday accused of stalking former Chancellor George Osborne and his wife.
Lydia Suffield is said to have accused the couple of drug abuse and reported them to a children’s charity.
Former Chancellor George Osborne and his wife Thea Rogers[/caption]
Lydia Suffield is alleged to have stalked the couple via email and Instagram from June 2022 to July 2023[/caption]
Mr Osborne works for an investment bank and is chair of the British Museum after leaving politics[/caption]
Rhianne Neil, prosecuting, told Westminster magistrates’ court that “false, anonymous tip-offs” to the NSPCC resulted in “investigations for drug abuse and neglecting their children”.
She said Mr Osborne and Ms Rogers were so concerned that they paid for extra security around their July 2023 wedding.
Suffield, 27, also allegedly sent messages about the couple’s private life to their friends, family and work colleagues and a gift to the pair for their children.
The freelance journalist, from Liverpool, pleaded not guilty to two charges of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.
Alexandra-Maria Eugenicos, defending Suffield, told the court that any communications sent by her client were in her professional capacity as a journalist.
District Judge Annabel Pilling bailed Suffield to face Isleworth crown court in West London on January 6.
Former Tory chancellor Mr Osborne was editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper after leaving politics and now works for an investment bank and is chair of the British Museum.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Cristian Romero appears to aim dig at Tottenham chiefs as he says club ‘could easily be competing for title every year’
CRISTIAN ROMERO appeared to aim a dig at Tottenham chiefs as he claimed the club “could easily” compete for the title.
The defender pointed to investment from other clubs and how that has improved results on the pitch.
Cristian Romero hinted at who is to blame for Tottenham’s misfortunes[/caption]
Chelsea, who came from behind to beat Tottenham 4-3 on Sunday, are one example Romero pointed to.
Romero was forced off in that clash just 15 minutes into his return from a toe injury as he felt a problem in his thigh.
The Argentine has now voiced his concerns at Spurs and hinted the problem does not lie with the players or the manager.
As reported by talkSPORT, he said: “The truth is, I would say no comment, but… Manchester City competes every year, you see how Liverpool strengthens its squad, Chelsea strengthens their squad, doesn’t do well, strengthens again, and now they’re seeing results.
“Those are the things to imitate. You have to realise that something is going wrong, hopefully, they realise it.
“The last few years, it’s always the same: first, the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it’s always the same people responsible.
“Hopefully, they realise who the true responsible ones are, and we move forward because it’s a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title every year.”
Pressure is growing on boss Ange Postecoglou with Spurs languishing in 11th after just one win in five Premier League games.
But after his side threw away a 2-0 goal lead against Chelsea, it was midfielder Yves Bissouma who shouldered the blame for the defeat after he gave away a penalty for Blues’ third goal.
He wrote on social media: “I’m so sad for that mistake. It’s burning me because we lost the game today from this mistake.
“I feel sorry for my teammates, staff, and fans. I take all the responsibility for that one.
“l’ll learn from this one. It’s time now to show the real me.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on From home bakes to lattes – six budget ways to show appreciation for your children’s school teachers
FINDING the perfect Christmas gift to show appreciation for your children’s school teachers does not have to cost a fortune.
With a little creativity and thoughtfulness, you can make meaningful presents they will love and cherish.
Here’s some ideas for what you can create . . .
CHOCS AWAY: Wash up an old pasta sauce jar and fill with layers of hot chocolate powder and mini- marshmallows.
Add a little festive ribbon to finish it off.
BAKE AWAY: Sugar cookies or gingerbread will make a great gift for teachers.
For sugar cookies, you only need unsalted butter, sugar, flour and a dash of vanilla essence to knock up a batch.
For a cheerful little finishing touch, buy a festive tin from Poundland for £1.50.
GREEN GIFT: Repurpose a plant from your garden or pick up a pot of herbs at Asda for £1.
If you have a pot at home, give it a clean and get kids to decorate it with paint, glitter or anything from their art box.
A nice touch is to add a note saying: “Thanks for helping me grow!”
THANKS A LATTE: Teachers rely on their caffeine fix, so why not give them some coffee pods in a recycled clean jar or a cheap festive mug.
You can pick up a pack of colourful pods for £1.35 at Aldi.
GET ARTY: Head to The Range for a brilliant selection of “make your own gift” kits.
The textured canvas kit is now £2.49, reduced from £4.99 — or paint your own tote bag for £3.99.
Both kits enable you to make brilliant presents that look more expensive than they cost.
FROM THE HEART: Never underestimate the power of a heartfelt letter to truly reward and delight.
Have your child write a note expressing why they appreciate their teacher.
Include specific examples of how that teacher has helped or inspired them.
All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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GET ready for the great outdoors with the Regatta sale – this men’s half-zip fleece was £26, now £10.50.
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Cheap treat
WHIP up cranberry-juice mocktails at home – Ocean Spray Cranberry Classic, no added sugar, was £1.85, now £1 at Tesco with Clubcard.
SAVE: 85p
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Top swap
MAKE midweek dinners easy with the Daewoo 3.5L slow cooker, top, for £23.99, at currys.co.uk, or get the George Home 3L slow cooker, above, at Asda, now reduced to £12.
SAVE: £11.99
Shop & save
THE Homebase trowel-and-fork set is a great gift for budding gardeners – was £5, now £2.85, in store only.
SAVE: £2.15
LITTLE HELPER
HELP a family in need. B&M has partnered with Cash for Kids, so you can buy a Christmas gift in store and donate it at a drop-off point there before December 18.
The festive plant could be the perfect Christmas gift[/caption]
Peace Lillies love humid conditions and can even grow under fluorescent lights, according to experts.
Aldi and Lidl are stocking the handy plants for just £9.99.
The budget superstores have marketed the “festive” foliage as ideal Christmas gifts too.
Lidl specifies their Peace Lilies are between 60 to 70cm, while the diameter of the pot is 17cm.
They will be in store from December 12.
Aldi’s plant holders are the same size, while the stem height isn’t specified.
The plants will be available at the discount supermarket from December 15.
When kept in low light Peace Lilies will produce more leaves and look like a traditional foliage plant, whereas when kept in sunlight, lilies will flower more often.
These plants can be a great option for people with allergies or asthma, but the plant with the white flowers can also be toxic to pets so it is recommended that it is kept out of reach.
This succulent plant keeps excess water in its thick leaves and is very hardy and adaptable.
Snake plants are great starting plants for beginners as they are pretty low maintenance.
You only need to water the plant every week or two and it will survive even if you forget a couple of times.
The snake plant grows best in bright light and warm temperatures and comes in leaf shapes and colours.
You can get miniature snake plants in Ikea for just £5.
Boston ferns
Boston ferns are popular houseplants known for their lush, feathery fronds but are also great at reducing mould spores and toxins through their leaves.
When caring for a Boston fern, a good rule of thumb is to check the soil moisture regularly and water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Experts also recommend misting the plant occasionally, as this can help increase the humidity around it and keep its fronds looking fresh and vibrant.
B&Q also had some Boston Ferns on its website starting from £14.99.
English Ivy
The English ivy can remove airborne mould from humid spaces and other nasties too.
It’s a great choice for tiny spaces and cramped bathrooms.
This plant thrives in bright, indirect light and somewhere with airflow and needs regular watering.
Hanging baskets are ideal for this plant – and they serve another purpose too – as it’s toxic to pets.
It’s worth noting that these plants are vines and can extend up to 50 meters in length, with growth booming particularly in the third year.
Orchids
If you’re aiming to combat mould and condensation but also want something pretty to look at, orchids are the way to go.
In addition to enhancing your home decor, they also contribute to lowering humidity levels indoors.
These plants derive all their nutrients and moisture from the surrounding air.
To thrive, orchids need regular watering and misting, but experts recommend doing so with rainwater or boiled water rather than tap water.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on ‘Going to take decades’: Today co-host Sarah Abo reveals her thoughts on Syrian president fleeing to Russia
The Today co-host, born in Damascus, says while there is a lot of relief following news the Syrian president has fled to Russia, there is also “real fear”.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Jed Morgan among 12 Aussies in LIV Golf promotion event in Saudi Arabia
There aren’t a host of big names looking to secure a LIV Golf spot in 2025, but a dozen Aussies are among the hopefuls chasing their piece of the giant paydays.