
Dog sniffs out 300,000 illegal cigarettes found in Dunstable flat
During the joint inspection, police discovered a man at the rear, carrying two large bags filled with illegal cigarettes, in the shop. He had a set of keys and it led officers to a nearby flat being used to store a significant quantity of illicit goods. Leo then helped discover 298,240 illegal cigarettes, 11.3kg (25Ib) of hand-rolling tobacco and 303 disposable vapes. John Baker, Independent executive councillor for finance and highways, said it was a great example of partnership. "The sale of illegal tobacco and vapes not only puts public health at risk but also undermines legitimate businesses," he said. "We will continue to take firm action against those who break the law."
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Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Southport killer 'wins back television and DVD player perks in prison' after hurling boiling water at a guard as bosses 'bribe him to behave'
Southport triple killer Axel Rudakubana has won back privileges, including a TV and an enhanced weekly spending budget, amid claims guards are 'bribing' him to behave. It is understood the 19-year-old has been raised from 'basic' to 'standard' treatment just weeks after he allegedly threw boiling water at a guard at HMP Belmarsh in south east London. The incident, which is still under investigation by Met Police, is said to have involved Rudakubana boiling a kettle in his cell and throwing the scalding water through a hatch in May. Staff were alerted by the guard's screams and he was treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich. He was discharged after being treated for minor injuries. But now it appears Rudakubana has had some of his privileges returned, The Sun reported. Being elevated to 'standard' means the murderer can have more time out of his cell, as well as increased access to workshops, the library and the gym at the high security prison. He will have access to Freeview TV, a DVD player and will also see his weekly allowance rise from £5.50 a week to around £20. A source said the move was 'outrageous', adding: 'They are basically bribing him to behave — by saying we'll give you a telly and you can keep it if you don't attack anyone.' The 19-year-old triple murderer reportedly hurled boiling water at a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh (pictured) in Thamesmead, east London, where he is serving a life sentence Reform MP Richard Tice said: 'I'm appalled. It feels like he is being rewarded for bad behaviour.' Rudakubana is serving 52 years for killing Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, at a dance class in July last year. The incident at Belmarsh came as serious assaults on prison officers increased 19 per cent in a year according to Home Office figures.


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Lucy Connolly to walk FREE: Tory Councillor's wife who was jailed last year for 'racist' Tweet during the Southport riots is being released from prison in a matter of hours
Lucy Connolly is set to walk free from prison in just a matter of hours after being jailed for writing a racist tweet during last summer's riots. The mother and former childminder has spent more than nine months behind bars after admitting making the inflammatory post on X in the wake of the Southport attacks in July last year. Connolly, who is also the wife of Tory Councillor Ray Connolly, pleaded guilty to a charge of inciting racial hatred and was handed a 31-month sentence in October. The post, which she later deleted, said: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care... if that makes me racist so be it.' She has been serving time at HMP Peterborough and had an application to have her sentence reduced rejected in May. But, the Daily Mail can now reveal that Connolly is due to be released on Thursday. The news will come as a huge boost to her husband and 12-year-old daughter as well as campaigners calling for her release. Connelly's imprisonment had prompted allegations that she was a victim of 'two-tier justice', with claims that those with right-wing views are treated more harshly than others in the UK. Connolly's X post was made just hours after killer Axel Rudakubana murdered three young girls and attempted to murder 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, sparking nationwide unrest. She was arrested on August 6, by which point she had deleted her social media account. But other messages which included other condemning remarks were uncovered by officers who seized her phone. The Southport atrocity sparked nationwide unrest, with several people - including Connolly - jailed as a result. Her tweet was viewed 310,000 times in three-and-a-half hours before she deleted it. She later pleaded guilty to distributing material with the intention of stirring up racial hatred at Birmingham Crown Court and was sentenced to 31 months in prison in October. In May, she had an appeal against her sentence refused by three Court of Appeal judges at the Royal Courts of Justice. In a written judgment, Lord Justice Holroyde, said: 'There is no arguable basis on which it could be said that the sentence imposed by the judge was manifestly excessive. 'The application for leave to appeal against sentence therefore fails and is refused.' He added that the principal ground of appeal 'was substantially based on a version of events put forward by the applicant which we have rejected'. Connolly argued she had been 'really angry' after the Southport attacks, but hours after posting the rant on X realised it was not an acceptable thing to say, so deleted it. She also said that news of the Southport murders had triggered her anxiety caused when her baby son, Harry, died as the result of a hospital blunder 13 years earlier. At her appeal case, Adam King, representing Connolly, asked if she had intended for anyone to set fire to asylum hotels or 'murder any politicians'. She replied: 'Absolutely not.' Naeem Valli, for the prosecution, told the court the post was a reflection of her attitude towards immigrants. At the time Mr Connolly told of the pain of his wife's long imprisonment, saying: 'The 284 days of separation have been very hard, particularly on our 12-year-old girl.' Connolly's case later became international news, with US officials saying earlier this year they are keeping tabs on developments over their 'concerns' about free speech. A State Department spokesman said in May: 'We can confirm that we are monitoring this matter. The United States supports freedom of expression at home and abroad, and remains concerned about infringements on freedom of expression.' It came after political commentator and Trump ally Charlie Kirk was made aware of Connolly's ordeal after a visit to the UK and vowed to get the US State Department involved in the process. Appearing on GB News, Kirk said: 'I am going to try and get the US State Department involved. I'm going to bring this up to Marco Rubio. I'm going to send him a text.' Kirk had been in the UK for a debate at the Oxford Union on Monday when the case of Mrs Connolly was raised. He later appeared on GB News, during which he said: 'I'm sorry, speaking as a citizen not on behalf of the US government, is this a way that a liberal democracy and ally of the United States acts? Kirk continued: 'I just find it so outrageous that she is now going to jail for two and a half years for a deleted social media post that she apologised for. As you guys (the UK) have birthed free speech to the world, you are now becoming a totalitarian country. 'I'm going to bring this up to Marco Rubio. I'm going to send him a text. This should be mentioned. It's not new.' Connolly's sentence was recently brought under the spotlight again last month after a man who abused a first class cabin crew on a flight from London was jailed for just 15-months. Recruitment tycoon Salman Iftikhar, 37, was flying in first class when he launched a vile tirade of abuse towards Virgin Atlantic staff on a flight from London Heathrow to Lahore in his homeland of Pakistan. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the sentence was evidence of 'two-tier justice', given Connolly was jailed for more than double his sentence. Mr Philp told the Mail last month: 'Iftikar was sentenced to only 15 months in prison last week for threatening an air stewardess with gang rape and for racially aggravated harassment. Iftikhar has multiple previous convictions. 'Yet Lucy Connolly got 31 months for a far less serious offence - a prosecution Lord Hermer personally authorised. 'This is two-tier justice in action. 'I have today referred the case to the Attorney General Lord Hermer for review under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. 'We'll now find out if Hermer is willing to take action to fix Britain's two-tier justice problem.'


The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Body tragically found in search for missing man, 35, after his mum issued desperate appeal
A BODY has been found in the search for a missing County Durham man. Police were searching for 35-year-old Dean from Chester-le-Street when they recovered the body Wednesday afternoon. 2 2 While formal identification is yet to take place, the body is believed to be Dean. Durham Constabulary issued an appeal to help find the missing man early on Wednesday. His mum also posted an appeal on Facebook, writing: "Has anyone seen my son Dean he left home yesterday at 11am to go to the gym at Chester le Street and he hasn't come home." She posted another photo of Dean this evening without a caption. He had last been seen crossing the road to the cycle path near the Pelton Buffs Social Club just before 11am on Monday. The body was recovered from the Pelton area. Police thanked Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue for their help during the search. A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: "We're very sorry to report that a body has been found in the search for Dean. Sadly, the body of a man was recovered from the Pelton area this afternoon. "Formal identification has yet to take place, but we believe it to be that of the 35-year-old, from Chester-le-Street. Dean's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. "We're very sorry to report that a body has been found in the search for Dean. Sadly, the body of a man was recovered from the Pelton area this afternoon (August 20). "Formal identification has yet to take place, but we believe it to be that of the 35-year-old, from Chester-le-Street. Dean's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers." His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.