How I was was conned out of £62k by a Facebook scammer posing as a French single mother
'I'd just got home and she started shouting,' recalls Arthur, 63. 'My Collie, Patch, doesn't like confrontation, so we sat at the bottom of the garden. He looked at me as if to say, 'Let's go'. So we did.'
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Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Alex Jones reveals she was completely unaware about complaints made against her The One Show co-host Jermaine Jenas
Alex Jones has revealed she was completely unaware about complaints made against her The One Show co-host Jermaine Jenas. Jenas, 42, was taken off the show after being fired by the BBC for sending inappropriate messages to female employees during his time at the corporation. The sexting scandal also cost Jenas his 13-year marriage after his wife Ellie, the mother of three of his four children, announced the pair were divorcing earlier in March. Someone who was oblivious to the complaints was Welsh presenter Alex, who used to host The One Show alongside Jenas. Speaking to The Big Issue, she said: 'I very much take people on face value. But with JJ I didn't know what was going on. I thought he was taking extended leave. 'If that was my daughter and she felt uncomfortable with someone's behaviour, I hope that whatever company she was working for would deal with it swiftly as well.' Jenas, who also has a daughter from a previous relationship, was sacked by the BBC in August, which resulted in him losing his hosting gig on The One Show and punditry work on both Match of the Day and 5 Live. The BBC confirmed their decision while he was on air guest hosting talkSPORT's drive time show. His agency MC Saatchi also cut ties with him before he brought in a crisis PR team to handle the aftermath of the scandal. Jenas revealed he lied to wife Ellie during a family holiday in order to sneak off and take a Zoom call with BBC bosses after news of his X-rated messages was first revealed within the broadcaster. And he also told how she had kicked him out of their £1million home in Hertfordshire after he admitted sending inappropriate messages to two female colleagues. Speaking to the Filthy Rellas podcast last month, Jenas claimed historical problems within the relationship also contributed to the break up. He said: 'The reality is, me and my wife haven't split up because I sent some text messages to some people at work. 'We had issues for a period of time, it all comes to a head and you eventually make a decision to say, as adults, we will be better parents for our children if we just remain friends and that's it. 'We had 16 amazing years together, me and my wife, how many people last that long? Sixteen years. Ups and downs. She caught the wrong end of my [playing] career, bless her.' During an interview with The Sun shortly after he was sacked by the BBC, Jenas admitted his wife was 'raging' over the incident. He said: 'We've not really spoken properly since. She's absolutely raging.' Jenas continued: 'It's just about the children right now. It's the school holidays and they're trapped in the house because photographers are outside my house. 'They're like, 'What's going on, Daddy?'. It's tough.' He added: 'I've got to take responsibility and I've apologised to all of them. 'I don't know what to say about that, to be honest with you. It's just hard at home for the kids right now. My wife's a real one 'My wife is solid and she's amazing. She is kind. She just needs some time.' Jenas bombarded a woman working at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago with unwanted messages asking 'You want my boy now?' During the interview, Jenas insisted Ellie should not fear more women coming out of the woodwork with tales of further inappropriate behaviour. However, weeks after the scandal broke, MailOnline revealed Jenas bombarded a woman working at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago with unwanted messages asking 'You want my boy now?' before sending her a picture of his manhood, despite her making clear she was not interested in his advances. The following week, we also told how he repeatedly pestered a junior make-up artist for sex - and when she told him she had a boyfriend replied: 'Just come to my dressing room early and I'll [perform a sex act] on u… that's not cheating.' That incident took place when he was working for BT Sport in 2017, where he was a rising star as a football pundit.
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Anderton Boat Lift: 'Cathedral of the canals' celebrates 150 years
A landmark known as the "cathedral of the canals" has been celebrating its 150th anniversary with a Victorian by Edwin Clark in 1875, Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire raises vessels 50ft (15m) from the River Weaver to the Trent and Mersey Canal and attracts about 100,000 visitors every pioneering structure meant goods did not have to be transferred between boats and therefore had a smoother passage between the Potteries in Staffordshire - known as a hub for ceramic production – and the port of and attraction manager Ani Sutton said it was an "amazing structure" that had enabled cargo to travel from Northwich to all around the world. The huge iron structure uses two water tanks as counterbalances to transport the boats up and down in what has been described as an "engineering masterpiece". Canal and River Trust north west director Jon Horsfall said: "Anderton Boat Lift took the canal world by storm when it formally opened to boat traffic on 26 July 1875."It was a huge success and attracted distinguished engineers, scientists and guests from all over the world to marvel at the ingenuity of its creation."Ms Sutton said it remained "absolutely a landmark" and was an ancient scheduled monument."That means it's got international recognition throughout the world," she said."There's nothing quite like Anderton Boat Lift so it's really significant to Northwich, it's really significant to the UK but also internationally." 'Spiralling costs' A Victorian fair was held over the weekend to celebrate the structure's Simon Brooks said it had a "wow factor"."I, like everyone else that works or volunteers here, am absolutely passionate about the fact that we've got a great feat of Victorian engineering that we want to preserve for future generations."Mr Horsfall said preserving it as a working monument was "increasingly a challenge" and "spiralling costs" had led to a postponement of a major planned had also been a problem with the lift gates for the last six months, he said."We are hopeful this will be sorted out by our charity's engineers very soon and the boat lift can resume its task of transporting around 3,000 boats a year between the two waterways." Regal reopening Commercial traffic on the waterways declined during the 1950s and 60s, while the use of river water as a hydraulic fluid caused major corrosion the 1980s, the lift was declared structurally unsound and was Sutton said "a wonderful group of volunteers, many who are still with us and still involved in the lift, really fought to get this open again".It was restored after more than £7m was raised to pay for repairs and began operating again in 2002, before the then Prince of Wales officially re-opened it in 2003. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rochdale street wins 'alleyway of the year' for 2025
A protected alleyway has been crowned the best in its borough for the eighth year in Littleborough were recognised by Rochdale Borough Council as part of its annual Alleyways in Bloom event gives residents the chance to "share their love of gardening" by decorating the gate-protected spaces, which were installed in 2017 as part of a council scheme to reduce crime and Simpson, from Shaftesbury Avenue, said he was "delighted" to have once again impressed the judges. 'Thriving community' Shaftesbury Avenue alleyway was described by the council as "a vibrant, attractive and tranquil area" featuring seating, a fairy garden, and an "appealing archway".Mr Simpson said: "While receiving such recognition is gratifying, the value of our protected alleyway extends beyond competitions."Since the gates were installed in 2017, our community has collaborated to establish a safe and welcoming environment for all residents, both current and future."In Castleton, Barry Flynn joined with neighbours in Smalley Street to enter the competition for the third year and secured the runner-up said: "The gates have helped turn a once unused and problematic space into a thriving community garden, which we are continuing to develop and improve."We're delighted to have been chosen again as an example of how alleyways like these can be transformed into a safe haven and welcoming space that not only look great but offer a place for peace and relaxation."The sites at Shaftesbury Avenue and Smalley Street are two of more than 600 protected alleyways across the borough. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
