Hirwaun deaths: Natalie Jones' family pay tribute
The family of a woman found dead has said she was a "compassionate person who brought joy and generosity".Natalie Jones, 39, was found along with the body of a 47-year-old man at a property on High Street, Hirwaun, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, at about 17:45 GMT on Friday.Her family said they were heartbroken, adding Ms Jones was "a beloved daughter, sister, mother, and friend and was a warm, loving, and compassionate person who brought joy and generosity to so many"."She will forever be remembered," they added.South Wales Police said it was still investigating and post-mortems would happen on Wednesday. The force added the deaths were being treated as unexplained.
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Daily Record
41 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Armed officer sues Police Scotland over suspension after TikTok Tallia Storm incident
Steven Jones is taking Police Scotland to court after being suspended over an incident involving singer Tallia Storm. A firearms officer is taking legal action against Police Scotland alleging he was unfairly suspended after footage of an "incident" was shared on TikTok. Steven Jones, 35, appeared before an employment tribunal in Edinburgh on Monday, June 9, where he is suing the force for sex discrimination. Mr Jones claims his actions were unfairly labelled 'misogynistic' and that he was penalised due to Police Scotland management's concerns about the armed response unit being seen as having a 'boys' club mentality'. The tribunal heard that the incident occurred on March 1, 2024, when a video posted by Scottish singer Tallia Storm showed Mr Jones and his colleague stepping out of their marked police vehicle on Edinburgh's Cowgate to take a photo with her. In the footage, Mr Jones can be seen taking the picture while his partner poses with Storm, reports EdinburghLive. Mr Jones told the tribunal he was later 'chastised' by senior officers who described his conduct as 'misogynistic' and criticised him for stopping in a busy pedestrian and traffic area. He said the force reacted negatively due to public backlash over the video. He believes he was treated unfairly because of 'past instances of misogyny' involving other officers in the firearms unit, and that his own actions were wrongly framed in that context. He told the tribunal: "Because of the word 'misogyny,' it made me feel it was because I as a male interacting with a female that it was viewed through that lens. If a member of the other sex had that interaction, it wouldn't have happened." His solicitor, Mr Merck, referenced a previous high-profile case involving female firearms officer Rhona Malone, who received nearly £1 million in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled she had been victimised by the force on the basis of her sex. Mr Jones believes that case influenced how his own behaviour was judged. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He said: "It really surprised me. I was extremely upset and shocked because I knew I had to disclose to my partner what I had been accused of and explain to my family." At the time of the incident, Mr Jones and his colleague were on "parliament duty," patrolling areas around the Scottish Parliament including the Cowgate and Grassmarket. While driving through Cowgate, they encountered a large crowd and slowed the vehicle. Mr Jones said he then recognised Tallia Storm in the crowd. "I knew who she was due to the publicity and her being the Capital DJ host at the time. She was on the side of trams and buses," he said. He and his partner left the vehicle — which held secured firearms — for what he estimated to be about a minute, possibly less. Mr Jones claimed the singer was "ecstatic" about the photo opportunity and added: "There was no rude behaviour or catcalling. I present myself courteously and was calm in the situation. We engaged in conversation to ascertain that a Q&A was being held. It looked like she was making her way over. We very quickly introduced ourselves, it was a polite interaction." He said that throughout the encounter, they ensured their police vehicle remained secure. Despite this, Mr Jones was later suspended — a sanction he believes was disproportionate. He told the tribunal: "It is our job to engage with people. We don't police with fear, we police by good interactions with the public. The last thing I'd ever want is the public to fear the police and to fear me. I always speak to people as a human being. I meet them where they are." Mr Jones joined Police Scotland in March 2017 and completed his authorised firearms officer training in June 2023. He told the tribunal he had ambitions of becoming a national firearms instructor and had been encouraged to apply for a role in counterterrorism. But since the incident, he says he has been demoted to a desk-based role, handling "low-level daily calls" — a stark contrast to his previous work dealing with "very high risk incidents" and high-stakes decision making within the firearms unit. The five-day tribunal, overseen by Employment Judge Amanda Jones, continues.
Edinburgh Live
3 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh police officer sues force after 'suspension for photo with influencer'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh authorised firearms officer is taking legal action against Police Scotland - claiming he was unfairly suspended after an "incident" was filmed and posted on TikTok. Steven Jones, 35, gave evidence at the Edinburgh Employment Tribunal on Monday, June 9 where he is suing on the grounds of sex discrimination. Mr Jones says his behaviour was branded as "misogynistic" and he suffered detriment due to a fear among Police Scotland management that the armed response unit is perceived as having a "boys' club mentality". The court heard details of the incident which took place on March 1, 2024. It concerns a video posted to TikTok by Scottish singer Tallia Storm. Footage shows Mr Jones and his partner exiting their marked police vehicle on Edinburgh's Cowgate to snap a photo with Ms Storm. Mr Jones can be seen taking the photograph while his partner poses with the media personality. The court heard that Mr Jones' superiors "chastised" him following the incident. Mr Jones claimed they described his conduct as "mysogynistic". The officer also said he was criticised following the public's "negative" response to the TikTok and for parking the police vehicle on a road with "heavy" pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Mr Jones believed he was punished due to "past instances of misogyny" in the firearms unit, which he felt constitutes sex discrimination. He claimed senior management at Police Scotland were wary the armed response unit is perceived as having a "lads' mentality". He said: "Because of the word "misogyny," it made me feel it was because I as a male interacting with a female that it was viewed through that lens. If a member of the other sex had that interaction, it wouldn't have happened." Employment solicitor Mr Merck, representing Mr Jones, made reference to a prominent case where female firearms officer Rhona Malone was paid nearly £1m after an employment tribunal found she had been victimised on the basis of sex by Police Scotland. Mr Jones believed Ms Malone's case informed the reason his behaviour was branded as "misogynistic". Mr Jones added: "It really surprised me. I was extremely upset and shocked because I knew I had to disclose to my partner what I had been accused of and explain to my family." On March 1, 2024 Mr Jones and his colleague were on "parliament duty", requiring them to patrol the streets surrounding Scottish Parliament including the Cowgate and Grassmarket. While driving on Cowgate, the pair encountered a large crowd of pedestrians. Mr Jones, who was driving, slowed the vehicle to assess whether the scene required intervention. He claimed he then noticed Ms Storm in the crowd. Mr Jones said: "I knew who she was due to the publicity and her being the capital DJ host at the time. She was on the side of trams and buses." He and his partner exited their vehicle - which housed firearms inside a locked compartment - for around one minute. Mr Jones added: "It could've been less than that." The officer claimed Ms Storm was "ecstatic" by the photo op and stated: "There was no rude behaviour or catcalling. I present myself courteously and was calm in the situation. We engaged in conversation to ascertain that a Q&A was being held. It looked like she was making her way over. We very quickly introduced ourselves, it was a polite interaction." The officer also said he and his partner continued to maintain security of their vehicle during the incident. Mr Jones claimed he later faced suspension, a sanction he felt was not commensurate to his actions. He said: "It is our job to engage with people. We don't police with fear, we police by good interactions with the public. The last thing I'd ever want is the public to fear the police and to fear me. I always speak to people as a human being. I meet them where they are. Mr Jones joined Police Scotland in March 2017. In June 2023, he completed authorised firearms officer training. The court heard of his ambition to become a national firearms instructor and how Mr Jones claimed he was repeatedly nudged to pursue a role in counterterrorism. However, since the incident the officer said he has been demoted to an office role dealing with "low-level daily calls" whereas he was formerly tasked with "very high risk incidents" with "very high levels of decision making" on the firearms unit. The five-day proceedings began on Monday, June 9 and are presided over by Employment Judge Amanda Jones. The tribunal continues.
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Powys County Times
Powys: Mechanic clipped car during overtake on A458
A self-employed mechanic who is learning to drive almost ran a vehicle off one of Powys' "most dangerous" roads. Jake Lowe, 19, veered off towards Welshpool after clipping the wing mirror and bumper of a Ford Kuga while overtaking on solid white lines on the A458 near Trewern. The young mechanic pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a road accident and driving without a full licence and insurance when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, June 3. Prosecutor Helen Tench said a car had to veer out of the way when the Vauxhall Vectra driven by Lowe was overtaking vehicles. She added that Lowe had travelled a "considerable" distance from the scene of the collision before making off on foot to an address to which the vehicle's was registered, and which was passed to police by witnesses. Lowe told police that he was the driver at the time of the collision and didn't have a supervisor with him which he should have done because he was a provisional licence holder. Owain Jones, a solicitor acting on behalf of Lowe, said the teenager was "frustrated" because a car in front was travelling "considerably slower" than the speed limit. "He was looking for an opportunity to overtake. He doesn't know how he clipped the car but he acknowledges that he did," Mr Jones said. "He accepts that his driving was not as a careful and competent driver. "He saw vehicles coming to a stop and then stopped the car but fearing he had no insurance, he left the scene, I'm afraid. "Since the incident, the defendant hasn't been driving. All of this will have an impact on him. He's a self-employed mechanic. This will have a bearing on him if he is disqualified or imposed points." Mr Jones added: "The insurance company has been in touch to say that the only damage to the clipped car was a few scratches to the side, light in fact, and the wing mirror was taken off but there was no significant damage to the car or the driver fortunately." "You proport to be a mechanic. I would have thought having a clean licence and working on cars, picking up cars was one of the fundamentals, the most important part of being a mechanic. "It seems incomprehensible why you would go to drive a car. You should have known that it's probably one of the most dangerous roads there could be. There's double white lines almost all the way." Lowe, of Garth Vaughan, Guilsfield, was ordered to pay the court £267 in fines and surcharges.
