Migrant hotel sex tape scandal: Fury as 'two asylum seekers are found filming OnlyFans porn video in their taxpayer-funded room'
Astonished staff at the Metropole Hotel in Blackpool allegedly walked in on a Syrian man romping a migrant woman during a room inspection.
It is understood he had a tripod set up at the end of the bed and there were sex toys littered around the room.
A former manager at the hotel told The Sun: '[...] It was pretty obvious what was happening. The couple were running an illegal porn business from the hotel.
'The man was naked with just a towel around him when he answered the door. She was wearing sexy lingerie, lying on the bed.'
'He told us he was filming it to put on OnlyFans,' the former manager added.
The 18th-century Metropole Hotel has been used to house asylum seekers since 2021 and is managed by contractors Serco.
It is located just an eight-minute walk from the famous Tower Ballroom where the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing films an episode every year.
Users who make content on OnlyFans can charge others to view their videos and photographs.
According to the Home Office, cases of illegal working while migrants are being house in hotels can lead to their support being cut.
However, according to The Sun's report, the man who was allegedly caught making the video was moved to another site and received no further punishment.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said they were 'urgently investigating' the incident which reportedly took place in summer last year.
They said: 'These are dreadful allegations which we are urgently investigating.
'While most people comply with the rules, our contractors must maintain order and immediately report any issues.
'Cases of illegal working, including online, antisocial behaviour, or safeguarding breaches can lead to support being cut.'
Meanwhile, Serco said it encourages its staff to look for any 'signs of work or wealth' among the asylum seekers.
A spokesperson added: 'Serco is contracted to provide safe and appropriate accommodation for asylum seekers and to report any signs of work or wealth to the Home Office.
'We always report any signs identified, allowing the Home Office to take appropriate action.
'The rules on benefits, healthcare and the right to leave asylum accommodation are set by government and are not part of Serco's contract with the Home Office.'
It comes after a shock report in May this year revealed that asylum accommodation - including hotels - will cost the taxpayer £15billion over 10 years.
The overall bill is more than triple the Home Office's original estimate, data from the National Audit Office (NAO) showed.
Contracts were originally forecast to cost £4.5billion over a decade from 2019 but are now expected to run to £15.3billion over same period, after the Channel crisis exploded.
It means that on average the taxpayer will spend £4,191,780 a day on housing asylum seekers over the life of the contracts.
A separate breakdown from the NAO showed overall costs in 2024-25 were £1.67billion.
That amounted to £4,567,123 a day on average, or £3,172 a minute.
Asylum hotels 'may be more profitable' for companies holding the contracts than other types of housing, the government's official auditors said.
The Home Office awarded the contracts to three suppliers – Clearsprings Ready Homes, Mears Group and Serco – which operate two or three UK regions each.
They are responsible for finding a range of self-catering accommodation for asylum seekers who are dispersed across the country, and for sub-contracting hotels for tens of thousands of migrants coming across the Channel by small boat.
The report found Clearsprings is now set to be paid £7.3billion over the 10 years from 2019 to 2029, the NAO said, while Serco is expected to get £5.5billion and Mears will receive £2.5billion.
Its study said: 'The total reported profit of suppliers was £383million between September 2019 and August 2024.
'In the first five years of the contract, available data from suppliers show annual profit margins ranging from a loss of 2 per cent to a profit of 17 per cent.
'This is equivalent to an overall 7 per cent profit margin across the whole service.'
The report went on: 'People accommodated in hotels account for 76 per cent of the annual cost of the contracts (£1.3billion out of an estimated £1.7billion in 2024-25).
'Data reported by suppliers suggests that hotels may be more profitable than other forms of accommodation.'
It said the Home Office 'originally estimated that the total contract cost would be £4.5billion over 10 years'.
'However, the current estimated total is £15.3billion over the same period.
'The number of people seeking asylum who are accommodated by the Home Office increased from around 47,000 in December 2019 to around 110,000 in December 2024,' it added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
12 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Gregg Wallace apologises but says he is ‘not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher'
Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has again apologised to anyone hurt by his behaviour, but insisted he is 'not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher'. In an interview with The Sun, the British TV presenter also defended his sacked former co-host John Torode, telling the paper he is 'not a racist'. Advertisement Torode was the subject of an allegation about using racist language that was upheld as part of a review carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin into the alleged behaviour of co-presenter Wallace. Torode said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation. In November 2024 it was announced that Wallace would step away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. Wallace issued an apology saying he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' and that he 'never set out to harm or humiliate' in the wake of the Lewis Silkin review that saw 45 out of 83 allegations made against him upheld. Advertisement The review concluded that the 'majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour', adding that 'a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated', with 'one incident of unwelcome physical contact' also substantiated. Gregg cries about allegations made against him — The Sun (@TheSun) July 25, 2025 In fresh comments to The Sun, Wallace acknowledged that he had said things that 'offended people, that weren't socially acceptable and perhaps they felt too intimidated or nervous to say anything at the time. 'I understand that now – and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry.' Wallace added: 'I'm not a groper. People think I've been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I am not a flasher. Advertisement 'People think I'm a sex pest. I am not.' Wallace also said his recent autism diagnosis means he struggles 'to read people'. 'I know people find me weird,' he said. 'Autism is a disability, a registered disability.' Advertisement Pointing to the allegation against Torode, Wallace told the paper: 'I've known John for 30 years and he is not a racist. John Torode began presenting MasterChef alongside Gregg Wallace in 2005 (BBC/Shine TV) 'And as evidence of that, I'll show you the incredible diversity of the people that he has championed, MasterChef winners, over the years. 'There is no way that man is a racist. No way. And my sympathies go out to John because I don't want anybody to go through what I've been through.' It was announced this week that a series of MasterChef filmed last year before allegations against Wallace and Torode were upheld will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6th. Advertisement A decision on airing the celebrity series and Christmas special has not been decided, with plans to be confirmed later in the year, the BBC said. Both presenters will still feature in the upcoming series, but the edit will be looked at in light of the findings of an investigation, with focus being given to the contestants, the PA news agency understands. A BBC spokesperson said: 'After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August. 'MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey. 'This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it. 'In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters. 'We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC. 'However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. 'We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series. Entertainment John Torode says he was not informed of MasterChef... Read More 'At this stage we have not taken a decision on the celebrity series and Christmas special, which was filmed earlier this year, and we will confirm our plans later in the year. 'Most importantly MasterChef is a brilliant, much-loved programme which is bigger than any one individual. 'There are many talented, dedicated and hard-working people who make the show what it is. It will continue to flourish on the BBC and we look forward to it returning stronger than ever in the future.'
The Independent
41 minutes ago
- The Independent
RMT calls for action to tackle ‘escalating violence' on busy rail routes
The biggest railway workers union is calling for action to tackle claims of escalating violence on busy train routes. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said there had been a 'serious escalation' in violent and anti social behaviour across Southern and Gatwick Express services, operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). Staff are facing daily incidents of assault, threats, spitting, verbal abuse, and intimidation, the union claimed. The RMT is calling for measures including additional staff and security personnel at key locations and a visible enforcement presence to deter violent behaviour. GTR said it takes the personal safety and security of everyone on its network seriously and physical or verbal abuse of any kind against staff is 'absolutely unacceptable'. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: 'The level of violence on GTR's Southern and Gatwick Express services and stations, has reached a crisis point and is totally unacceptable. 'Our members are being assaulted, threatened and abused at work and the company is not doing enough to stop it. 'GTR must take urgent action now to protect staff and passengers or we will have to consider all our options, including industrial action. 'We will not tolerate a situation where workers are left exposed and unsupported while this behaviour goes unchecked.' The RMT is running a campaign calling for stronger protections for transport workers and a zero-tolerance approach to violence and abuse across the rail network. Govia Thameslink Railway's safety, health and security director Sam Facey said: 'We take the personal safety and security of everyone on our network incredibly seriously and physical or verbal abuse of any kind against our colleagues is absolutely unacceptable. 'Last year we launched a £2.5 million Antisocial Behaviour Improvement Plan, created following feedback from stakeholders including the police, and some of our staff and trade unions representatives. 'We remain fully committed to tackling this issue by working closely with the unions and building on what we've done so far – this includes making more than 1,500 body worn cameras available, which studies show reduce assaults by 47% and also gather vital evidence to prosecute. 'We have also doubled the number of high visibility Travel Safe Officers who are deployed using data-led insight to work with British Transport Police (BTP) and our teams of Rail Enforcement Officers to support our colleagues at stations and onboard trains. We have also invested heavily in education projects for schools and colleges. 'But this is bigger than the railway – it is a wider, regional problem of youth violence affecting communities, particularly those on the south coast, which is why the close collaboration of the police, councils and other agencies continues to be so important in tackling this kind of behaviour.'
The Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Sun
My baby boy was killed by his own dad in horrific attack, awful twist means I can never get justice for him
ANSWERING the door Rachel Surtees felt her heart instantly drop. Standing in front of her were two detectives delivering the news that no mother should ever have to hear and that would tear her life apart. 8 8 8 Her baby son Hudson had been found unresponsive in his father, Carl Bibby's flat. He had died as a result of non-accidental head injuries inflicted by Bibby. In a further devastating blow, the officers went on to explain that hours later Bibby had taken his own life. 'My grief was unimaginable and total," Rachel says. 'The man I had trusted to take care of our little boy was the reason he was no longer here, it shattered my world.' Respiratory nurse, Rachel Surtees 33, who lives in Newcastle with her new partner and her children Layton, 14, Fraser, six, from previous relationships and ten-month-old Georgie, a joyful little girl. Born in February 2023 Hudson was her third child. He died when he was just 12 weeks old. 'Hudson will not be forgotten,' Rachel says. 'My drive to ensure that no other baby suffers like he did keeps me moving forward.' Single mum Rachel was recently divorced when she met single dad and scaffolder Bibby in April 2022 on a dating site and discovered they had mutual friends. She says: 'We went on a couple of dates and would take our kids out together. 'But our relationship wasn't particularly serious ' However, just two months after they began dating Rachel was stunned to discover she was pregnant, particularly as in 2017 she had one of her fallopian tubes removed after an ectopic pregnancy. According to Rachel, initially Bibby struggled with the news. 'Carl didn't seem happy with the pregnancy in the initial stage but did come to the 20 week scan and seemed positive asking for a scan picture,' she says. 'I told him I was happy to raise Hudson on my own and that I didn't expect any financial help. 'I gave him that option to be out of our lives but he didn't take it.' As the pregnancy went on, the pair drifted and became more friends than romantic partners. 8 8 8 'Carl blew hot and cold,' Rachel says. 'I think that the stress of his work and raising his children was really getting to him.' In February 2023 Hudson John Bibby was born, three weeks premature and weighing 7lb7oz at the RVI Hospital in Newcastle. 'I delivered Hudson with my best friend as support. He was rushed into the special care unit as the delivery was rough, he was premature and poorly,' says Rachel. 'When I held him for the first time my heart swelled., I knew instantly he was a kind loving little boy. 'He radiated joy, and my other two boys adored him.' Rachel explains Bibby visited for an hour the day after he was born and an hour on another day and bought some gifts. Rachel was in hospital for seven days as little Hudson had jaundice. 'It didn't bother me that I was the primary carer, as long as he was happy and safe,' she says. Bibby and Rachel arranged for her to bring Hudson to his home in February 2023 when they registered his birth and then once a fortnight so he could spend time with his dad and two half siblings. 'I felt it was progress and did it for Hudson's benefit,' Rachel says. 'Every two weeks I'd drop Hudson to his dad for a couple of hours hoping that the two of them would bond. 'It all seemed to be going well, there were no red flags in my eyes.' With the arrangement working well, Rachel was happy for Bibby to have Hudson over night on two occasions. The second time she collected him from an overnight stay Hudson seemed a bit poorly with Rachel believing it was just a simple cold. Then the next weekend on April 28 Bibby asked if he could have Hudson over with his two other children because it was Bibby's birthday. 'I agreed and when I kissed Hudson goodbye Carl seemed happy, everything was perfectly normal,' Rachel says. 'I couldn't have imagined that would be the last time I saw my little boy alive. The following day, Rachel was getting ready to collect Hudson when the police arrived at her door. "They asked to come in and the two female CID officers asked me to sit down,' she says. "They told me Hudson was found unresponsive in his father, Carl's flat and that my little boy was dead. "They told me that Carl had also died after taking his own life. "It was like a tidal wave of horror and the shock took my breath away.' Grief-stricken Rachel was then taken to RVI mortuary to identify her son's body. 'Standing in the mortuary I saw his tiny face, he looked as though he was sleeping' she says. 'The reality struck me and my legs gave way - this wasn't a nightmare, my baby boy was gone.' Returning home without her son was almost too much to bear for Rachel. WHAT IS SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME? Babies have weak neck muscles and often struggle to support their heavy heads. If a baby is forcefully shaken, his or her fragile brain moves back and forth inside the skull. This causes bruising, swelling and bleeding, and can be fatal. Shaken baby syndrome usually occurs when a parent or caregiver severely shakes a baby or toddler due to frustration or anger — often because the child won't stop crying. It isn't usually caused by simple, day-to-day movements such as bouncing a child on your knee, minor falls or even rough play. Dr. Harvey Karp, CEO of Happiest Baby inc, explains: 'Shaken baby syndrome is arguably the deadliest form of child abuse. 'It usually occurs before 12 months of age when a parent finally loses patience with their inability to soothe the babies crying and grabs the baby by the shoulders rapidly shaking the baby's body out of frustration. 'The babies heavy head may be hit against a surface or snapped back-and-forth on the infant's thin neck causing the soft brain inside to bang against the hard inside of the skull causing brain swelling and tearing tiny veins causing life-threatening bleeding. 'Clearly, the serious cases are the tip of the iceberg. "Many children may have minimal brain damage that is not diagnosed but perhaps goes on to cause neurological problems such as attention deficit and learning problems.' John McMullan, the consultant paediatric neurosurgeon at Sheffield Children's Hospital, told the BBC that shaking a baby caused brain injuries similar to those in boxing. But he said: "In boxing, the incidences of the head blows are relatively infrequent and so that damage is taking place over, typically, years. "Whereas with an infant shaking, the damage is occurring in seconds." 'I went home and his Moses basket was next to my bed. I could smell him on the sheets, his clothes, and toys,' she says. 'I was breast feeding and every day my body produced milk for my son who was no longer there. 'It enveloped me in darkness and grief so deep I never thought I'd find a way out.' The initial postmortem discovered Hudson had suffered blunt force trauma to the head. 'X-ray and samples had to be sent away to determine the exact cause of death,' Rachel says. Police who had tried to prevent Bibby from taking his own life told Rachel his answers to questions made them believe he'd 'done something irreversible' but he would not say what. 'The idea that my baby boy's body had been left alone in the house broke me,' Rachel says. Hudson was cremated in a wicker baby burial basket on May 16, 2023 at Tynemouth Crematorium with more than a 100 people turning out to support Rachel and her two older boys in their grief. In August 2024, the final forensic pathology results were revealed. Forensic experts determined Hudson has suffered severe shaken baby syndrome - shaken by his father so badly that night it caused retinal bleeding, spinal cord and brain bleeds. He was then thrown onto a surface, killing him instantly. 'They also found evidence of a brain bleed a week old which coincided when Hudson had last stayed over at his dads,' she says. Rachel explains brain bleeds don't cause obvious bruising, 'There was no obvious bruise, but the cold symptoms are a rare side effect of such an injury,' Rachel explains. 'My son died according to coroners' findings between 11:45pm and 12:15am between the 28th and 29th. 'The police report was so precise because Carl was seen on CCTV leaving his flat at 12.15 and not returning.' Last November Georgina Noland, H.M Senior Coroner for Newcastle and North Tyneside Coroners released the Inquest of Record into Hudson's death. It concluded 12-week-old Hudson's medical cause of death was blunt head trauma and he was unlawfully killed at the hands of his father, Carl Bibby. The coroner declared: 'Hudson John Bibby was 12 weeks old. Overnight on 28th - 29th April 2023 he was placed in the sole care of his father at his home in Whitbeck Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, who subjected him to a deliberate head injury which led to his death at the scene.' While knowing the truth about Hudson's death provided some comfort to Rachel she felt cheated by the fact that Bibby could not be prosecuted. 'We knew Carl was responsible but seeing it written down by a coroner was so very important to me,' Rachel says. 'He was criminally liable but because he died the same day as Hudson, there was no one to arrest and no case to be brought to court,' Rachel says. "I wanted justice for Hudson. I am angry I couldn't get that through the criminal courts. "Carl taking his life robbed me of finding out why it all happened.' While Rachel holds a lot of anger towards Bibby, she recognises that he was suffering with his mental health and desperately needed help. "I wish Carl had gotten help for any mental health issues that I believe lead to Hudson's death,' she says. 'Often men struggle after the birth of a child with the focus on the mother's mental wellbeing and child's health. "Post birth dad's mental health can decline and be unnoticed.' Following Hudson' death, Rachel was visited by members of Bibby's family. Rachel explains: "Carl's step mum and dad came to see me with flowers. "I spoke to his sisters. I had never met them and they have their own grieving to do.' Determined to pay tribute to her son, she crowdfunded a bench in Hudson's memory overlooking the beach she loved to take him. 'I sit there most days and remember the three months he was with us,' she says. Dedicated to helping others the nurse has also fundraised more than £3100 for 4Louis, a UK charity dedicated to supporting families affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and the death of a baby or child. Shortly after Hudson's death Rachel reconnected with a male friend she hadn't seen for 14 years. 'He was always a good mate and helped me try and deal with the tragedy,' Rachel explains. The pair became a couple and in September 2024 Rachel gave birth to a little girl Georgie, now ten months old. 'Holding Georgie in my arms I knew Hudson was there too – in part of me and in part of her,' Rachel says. 'She is not a replacement for Hudson, no one ever could be but she was a glimmer of light in such a dark time. 'Georgie brings me joy and hope again.' As part of her grieving process Rachel has bravely shared her story on social media. 'I have talked about my PTSD, my depression, my grief and shared Georgie's pregnancy and birth,' Rachel says. 'So many women have messaged me and shared their story, and we have been an enormous support to one another. 'I believe that's one of the gifts Hudson gave me the chance to help other mummies and other little babies like him'. While Rachel has learned to manage her grief she still struggles to accept the loss of Hudson. 'I know time will heal but at the moment I still can't quite reach acceptance,' she says. Rachel hopes that by sharing Hudson's story she will be able to keep his legacy alive. She says: 'I will dedicate my life to Hudson's legacy and other babies that can't speak for themselves. 'I know we can prevent deaths like his, I wouldn't want anyone to suffer like he or I did. 'He might be gone but his spirit lives on in me and my children.' 8 8
