Coventry man who stabbed neighbour in the head jailed
A man has been jailed for 16 years after stabbing a neighbour in the head.Sadiq Sulemani, 20, attacked a man at an address in Lower Holyhead Road, Coventry, just before 05:50 BST on 20 February last year.The man sustained significant head and facial injuries after the 20-year-old left the knife embedded and fled the scene, West Midlands Police said.Sulemani was found guilty of attempted murder following a trial and was jailed at Warwick Crown Court on Friday.
The force added that the 20-year-old, of Lower Holyhead Road, had handed himself into the police a short time after he fled the scene.PC Carly Philp said it was a "horrific attack" and there was "no justification for such extreme violence".
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
I go to Appleby Horse Fair every year and this is what it's really like and the truth behind claims of animal abuse and antisocial behaviour
A young woman who has been to Appleby Horse Fair every year of her life has hit back at claims of animal abuse and antisocial behaviour. Lara Houlden, 29, loves the gathering of gypsies and travellers so much that she travelled from Lincoln to Cumbria for the annual celebration. And she claims that reports of animal abuse at the festival have been 'blown out of proportion', with welfare issues happening 'wherever you go'. This year cops made a record-breaking number of arrests at the fair - including on where a man allegedly punched a horse. Some 123 people were detained by Cumbria Constabulary, 80 of whom were for drink or drug driving offences. Separately, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) made 372 interventions at this year's fair - down on 438 last year, but up on 288 in 2023. Ms Houlden, who works for a horse holiday business, said: 'With animal welfare issues, you get that wherever you go - even at a local horse show there's always going to be the odd one. 'But with the amount of people and the amount of horses, it's very very rare you will see a genuine welfare issue. 'Obviously horses are going to scrape their leg coming off the box, mine did it himself once, just came off the box and cut his leg. 'But it's very very rare there are actually welfare issues, it's massively twisted in the way it's represented. 'I think it's more to attract attention and draw people in, it's majorly, majorly blown out of proportion - it's very very rare you will see a serious welfare issue within the fair.' The RSPCA, which attends the event annually, says a 'minority' of people at the festival work horses too hard and commit acts of abuse. This year the RSPCA issued 18 warnings; removed, treated and returned 14 equines to their owners; has two ongoing investigations; and is caring for six horses who were abandoned or are subject to investigations; and removed one wild caught bird. In addition, two horses were put to sleep because they were ill, which the charity said was on veterinary advice and with the permission of their owner. On Saturday, police arrested a man after a report of a horse having been punched. Aidan Tomlinson, 22, of Pudsey, Leeds, was later charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was bailed to attend Carlisle Magistrates' Court on July 14. Cumbria Police also arrested a woman in charge of a horse who had previously been disqualified from controlling animals. She was released under investigation whilst officers investigate. Officers said they had issued 370 traffic offence report tickets during the event in Appleby-in-Westmorland, while 120 vehicles were seized - including those suspected of being stolen, used in a crime, causing an obstruction or driving without insurance. The arrest total compares to 102 last year, and is the highest figure in records dating back more than 15 years - with the closest challenger year being 2009, with 106. Out of the 123 arrests this year, 80 were made during the fair itself while the other 43 were in the weeks leading up to it as part of the overall policing operation. But Ms Houlden - whose mother even went to Appleby while she was in her womb - delighted in the outfits and said she had even met a partner at the fair. She described Appleby as a 'big social event' where people can catch up with friends and enjoy time with horses - and said it cost her just £15 to attend. After getting home from the festival with her four-year-old horse Zorin, Ms Houlden continued: 'It's such a fantastic atmosphere, everybody's so kind and welcoming, the atmosphere's fabulous. 'Everybody's just happy and enjoying themselves, all the horses up and down. 'It's something you've got to see for yourself and experience for yourself at least once, it's something you can never get bored of.' Ms Houlden attends the fair with her mother Vanessa, 60, who has been going for over 50 years and has never missed a year. She said her mother, who has a visual impairment, feels 'safer walking around Appleby than she does walking through our local town'. Despite seeing plenty of glamorous outfits worn at the fair, practical Ms Houlden says she took a different approach. She said: 'Even with the horrendous weather we had on Saturday, there were some lovely outfits to be seen. 'I dressed for the weather, I don't deal with cold very well!' She added: 'I stayed in my car on Fair Hill, which, with the horse box, cost me £15. 'If you take your own food and drink, you wouldn't need to spend more unless you wanted to buy from the market.' Organisers said this year's event was 'one of the busiest in recent years', with a total of 1,307 caravans and bowtops in attendance - up on 1,287 last year but short of the record of 1,318 recorded in 2014. The 2025 figures saw a drop in the number of traditional bowtops to 95, down from 112 in 2024. There were 1,152 caravans, up from 1,078 in 2024, 46 tents and a further six vans, or wagons used as accommodation. Meanwhile there was drop in the number of stalls at the fair this year with overall numbers at 231, including 25 food stalls. This was down on the 268 recorded in 2024 and well below the 2016 record high of 276. Data on arrests each year was compiled by MailOnline from the annual 'Learning Lessons' report released by the Appleby Fair Multi-Agency Strategic Coordinating Group (MASCG), which was established in 2008. Comparative figures are therefore not believed to be available before 2009. RSPCA Chief Inspector Rob Melloy, who oversees the animal welfare operation, said: 'Our interactions with the Fairgoing community have been overwhelmingly positive and interventions, when they've been necessary, have been cordial. 'People may have seen something they're not happy with, if it has been reported to us it has been investigated by our staff. 'Whilst we did see tired horses, none of those who were exhaustion tested were so bad that they needed to be removed from their owners permanently. When they had rested, we were able to return them.' Steph Cordon, chair of the Appleby Fair MASCG, said: 'With poor weather forecast over the weekend of the Fair, which also coincided with the Epsom Derby, we did wonder if caravan and bowtop numbers might be lower this year. 'An initial reading of the count would suggest otherwise, but the recording of vehicles at the fair is now much more accurate using drone technology, so comparisons to previous years is not necessarily a helpful barometer. 'I'm pleased that this year's fair has passed without any major incidents and I'd like to thank everyone involved in the response to the Fair, for their hard work and dedication in making sure that this was the case.' It comes after a huge operation to clear fields of discarded rubbish began yesterday as thousands of travellers headed home – with sofas, wooden furniture, bedding, food and toilet waste strewn across the picturesque countryside. Appleby is billed as the biggest traditional traveller fair in Europe and takes place in the market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland every year. Around 10,000 people from the gypsy and traveller community were expected to attend this year's event, outnumbering the local population of just 3,048 people.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Thieves stole my car using a fiendish new device disguised as a Game Boy. So I tracked it down and stole it back myself: ALEX BANNISTER
This is not the Monday morning I had planned. I was meant to be in a business meeting in west London at 9.30. Instead, it's 9.45 and I'm gingerly venturing into a north London council estate on the rougher edges of Edmonton. My suit and tie are incongruous and I've already attracted the attention of a suspicious-looking local who is monitoring me and my neighbour's every move.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Moment Bridgerton actress has her phone robbed by prolific Algerian thief in Joe & the Juice - before star heroically fights back in front of stunned customers
This is the moment a Bridgerton actress had her phone robbed by a prolific Algerian thief in Joe & the Juice - before the star heroically fought back in front of stunned customers. MailOnline can reveal for the first time CCTV of Genevieve Chenneour, 27, bravely defending herself after Zacariah Boulares, 18, snuck up behind her and grabbed her phone in the upmarket coffee shop on Kensington High Street, west London, on February 8. Around 18 months earlier, Boulares had threatened to behead Aled Jones with a machete as he stole his £17,000 Rolex in Chiswick, west London. The thief, then 16, was locked up for his attack on the Welsh chorister in October 2023 but was released from youth detention early after serving just 14 months of his 24-month sentence. Boulares, who can now be named and pictured after turning 18, has gone on to commit a spate of crimes, including robbing rising star Ms Chenneour, who plays rumour-monger Clara Livingston in hit Netflix period drama Bridgerton. The thug's extensive criminal history - 12 previous convictions relating to 28 offences - was laid bare after he pleaded guilty on May 29 to stealing Ms Chenneour's phone and assaulting another customer, Carlo Kurcishi. In exclusive footage obtained by MailOnline, the actress can be seen courageously fighting back against the hooded thief who targeted her while she was out with a friend on a dog walk. Speaking of the moment she fought off the teenage thug, Ms Chenneour previously told the Mail: 'They didn't expect me to stand up for myself – but I did.' CCTV footage shows brave the moment Bridgerton actress, Genevieve Chenneour fought back against the thug In the CCTV, Boulares can be seen prowling around the back of the café, waiting for Ms Chenneour's friend to leave her alone at the table when he ordered before he pounces. The hooded thief, wearing all black with a navy cap, then swipes the phone while Ms Chenneour has her back turned, but she quickly leaps into action and takes down the thief with the help of her friend. The fearless Yorkshire-born actress puts her arm out to block the thief from leaving and dislodges the phone from his hand. Retrieving the iPhone from off the floor, she then uses the device to strike Boulares who is left helpless on the floor. The commotion continued as shocked onlookers began to form a crowd in the popular café in Kensington. The tussle can then be seen spilling into the back of the café, where Ms Chenneour, her friend and Boulares can only be seen in CCTV in glimpses via a mirror. After around four minutes of scuffling, the humbled crook then points his finger in the face of Ms Chenneour's friend before walking out of the café without the phone. The actress previously revealed: 'I was left with a concussion just before the Screen Actors Guild Awards and since then, I've felt constantly on edge. 'Even my dog was traumatised - now, if anyone touches me, he panics and tries to protect me. 'Getting a coffee shouldn't be something you need your wits about you for. She courageously stood up to the thief, hitting him with the phone as he tussled with a man on the floor during the ordeal 'I'm so grateful to the staff at Joe & The Juice – they were incredible during the incident and when I went back to see them after.' Boulares appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 29, where he pleaded guilty to stealing the phone and assaulting Mr Kurcishi. To the charge of stealing a mobile phone of a value unknown belonging to the Bridgerton actress, he shouted: 'Guilty'. He also admitted stealing a black leather hand bag from a diner at a pizza restaurant in London's West End on 30 January this year. The defendant has been remanded into custody with sentencing scheduled for June 17 at Isleworth Crown Court in west London. More than 70,000 phones were snatched in London in 2024, out of an estimated 100,000 thefts across the UK. Ms Chenneour is a former athlete who joined Team GB's artistic swimming team at the age of 15. She was awarded an Olympic scholarship before the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, but her sporting career was cut short by injury and she retrained as an actress. After appearing as a stunt double in the underwater sequences of period feature Gateway To The West, she landed her breakthrough role in the Regency drama. A source was previously quoted as saying: 'Genevieve showed real bravery throughout. It was a very shocking incident. 'It shows what is happening on London's streets on a daily basis. 'This was just another young woman going about her daily business. She's handled it brilliantly.' Genevieve Chenneour, pictured here at the premiere of Netflix's The Gentlemen at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane in March last year, had her phone stolen in February this year Boulares went on to rob Ms Chenneour after being released from youth detention for the attack on chorister Mr Jones on July 7 2023. The Algerian national threatened Mr Jones with a 20-inch blade, demanding the 'f***king Rolex' on the singer's arm, while threatening to cut his limb off. Boulares could not be named at the time due to his age. After the terrified baritone gave the menacing youth his Dayton, Boulares later said he would 'cut [Jones's] head off' if the Songs of Praise star continued to follow him. The now 18-year-old appeared late to magistrates court late several times before he eventually pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon at Wimbledon Youth Court. It was also heard the youngster had also stolen a £20,000 gold Rolex from a pensioner. His record was dubbed 'appalling' by Chairman of the bench Rex Da Roach. A Detention and Training Order (DTO) can be handed to teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, where they serve half of their time in custody and are later supervised, by a Youth Offending Team. However after only 14 months the Algerian national was freed, and later went on to commit a spate of crimes, including at Joe & the Juice. A spokesman for the Met Police said: 'Police were called to a restaurant on Kensington High Street on Saturday, 8 February following reports of a theft and an assault. 'CCTV showed the suspect stealing a phone from the table and then assaulting a separate member of the public who confronted him. 'The victim of the assault was kicked and punched before the suspect left the premises. 'CCTV enquiries identified Zacariah Boulares as the suspect and he was arrested.
