Former teacher, 90, charged with sexual offences against boy
A 90-year-old former teacher will appear in court after being charged with sexual offences committed against a boy about 50 years ago.Derek Barker of Limpley Stoke will appear at Bath Magistrates' Court on Thursday after being charged with three offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.The charges relate to offences allegedly committed in the mid-1970s at Monkton Combe School in Bath, where he was a teacher at the time.Avon and Somerset Police has asked those with any concerns or information to get in touch by calling 101.
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The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
Starmer accused of U-turn after ordering inquiry into grooming gangs
Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of a U-turn after committing to a statutory inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal. After resisting pressure for months to implement a full probe, the Prime Minister said he had read 'every single word' of an independent report into child sexual exploitation by Baroness Louise Casey and would accept her recommendation for the investigation. Earlier this year, the Government dismissed calls for a public inquiry, saying its focus was on putting in place the outstanding recommendations already made in a seven-year national inquiry by Professor Alexis Jay. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the move as a 'welcome U-turn', while Kemi Badenoch called on him to apologise for 'six wasted months'. 'Just like he dismissed concerns about the winter fuel payment and then had to U-turn, just like he needed the Supreme Court to tell him what a woman is, he had to be led by the nose to make the correct decision here,' she said. 'I've been repeatedly calling for a full national inquiry since January. It's about time he recognised he made a mistake and apologised for six wasted months.' Speaking to reporters travelling with him on his visit to Canada, the Prime Minister said: 'I have never said we should not look again at any issue. I have wanted to be assured that on the question of any inquiry. That's why I asked Louise Casey who I hugely respect to do an audit. 'Her position when she started the audit was that there was not a real need for a national inquiry over and above what was going on. 'She has looked at the material she has looked at and she has come to the view that there should be a national inquiry on the basis of what she has seen. 'I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation. That is the right thing to do on the basis of what she has put in her audit.' The Times newspaper reported that the findings of Baroness Casey's review will be set out in Parliament on Monday. The inquiry will be able to compel witnesses to give evidence, and it is understood that it will be national in scope, co-ordinating a series of targeted local investigations. Prof Jay's 2022 report concluded there had been institutional failings across the country and tens of thousands of victims in England and Wales. A national row over grooming gangs was ignited in January after tech billionaire Elon Musk used his X social media platform to launch a barrage of attacks on Sir Keir and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips. It followed the Government's decision to decline a request from Oldham Council for a Whitehall-led inquiry into child sexual abuse in the town. The Government later commissioned a 'rapid' audit by Lady Casey into the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse, which had been due to take three months but was delayed.
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Keir Starmer in another U-turn with PM set to launch full national inquiry into grooming gangs after months of pressure - as Labour leader admits 'it's the right thing to do'
Sir Keir Starmer has revealed he will launch a full national inquiry into grooming gangs after resisting pressure for months. In a major U-turn, the Prime Minister said setting up a statutory investigation into the scandal was the 'right thing to do' despite previously insisting it would take too long and that local reviews were sufficient. He dramatically changed his mind after reading 'every single word' of the report he commissioned into the exploitation of thousands of girls across the country, due to be published next week, which is said to explicitly link it to men of Pakistani origin. The audit by Whitehall troubleshooter Baroness Casey is understood to have recommended that a new national inquiry be established in order to look at the race of perpetrators. It is also expected to warn that white British girls who were exploited in towns across the country were 'institutionally ignored for fear of racism'. Speaking to reporters about Lady Casey's review, Sir Keir said: 'Her position when she started the audit was that there was not a real need for a national inquiry over and above what was going on. She has looked at the material she has looked at and she has come to the view that there should be a national inquiry on the basis of what she has seen. 'I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation. That is the right thing to do on the basis of what she has put in her audit. 'I asked her to do that job to double-check on this; she has done that job for me and having read her report, I respect her in any event. I shall now implement her recommendations.' Asked when it would start work, the PM replied: 'It will be statutory under the Inquiries Act. That will take a bit of time to sort out exactly how that works and we will set that out in an orderly way.' He insisted that he had never ruled out a national inquiry although he previously wanted to focus on implementing recommendations made in earlier reports. 'From the start I have always said that we should implement the recommendations we have got because we have got many other recommendations. I think there are 200 when you take all of the reviews that have gone on at every level and we have got to get on with implementing them. 'I have never said we should not look again at any issue. I have wanted to be assured that on the question of any inquiry. That's why I asked Louise Casey who I hugely respect to do an audit.' But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who has repeatedly demanded the PM launch a full inquiry, said: 'Keir Starmer doesn't know what he thinks unless an official report has told him so. Just like he dismissed concerns about the winter fuel payment and then had to u-turn, just like he needed the Supreme Court to tell him what a woman is, he had to be led by the nose to make this correct decision here. 'I've been repeatedly calling for a full national inquiry since January. It's about time he recognised he made a mistake and apologise for six wasted months.' She went on: 'But this must not be the end of the matter. There are many, many more questions that need answering to ensure this inquiry is done properly and quickly. Many survivors of the grooming gangs will be relieved that this is finally happening, but they need a resolution soon not in 10 years' time. Justice delayed is justice denied.' Since 2010 there have been a string of trials of grooming gang members for sexually exploiting young girls while landmark official inquiries into Rotherham, Telford and Rochdale have revealed the huge numbers of those abused. However demands for a new national inquiry began growing at the start of this year, fuelled by tech tycoon Elon Musk's attacks on the Government. Initially ministers said they wanted to focus on implementing recommendations from the wider Jay report into child sexual exploitation but under mounting pressure Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a series of new local probes in January as well as the audit by Lady Casey. The calls kept coming for a full national inquiry with former Reform MP Rupert Lowe vowing to set up his own investigation. Opposition leader Mrs Badenoch has raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions, even suggesting the PM was 'dragging his heels' because he did not want 'Labour cover-ups exposed'. In January he told the Commons: 'There have been a number of inquiries, both national and local, including one covering Oldham. Reasonable people can agree or disagree on whether a further inquiry is necessary. 'This morning, I met some of the victims and survivors of this scandal. They were clear with me that they want action now, not the delay of a further inquiry. The Jay inquiry, the last national inquiry, was seven years. A further inquiry would take us to 2031. Action is what is required.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Tragic TV star Paul Danan was 'found dead by partner on sofa with TV still on' after taking cocktail of drugs including cocaine and heroin
Hollyoaks actor and reality TV star Paul Danan 's death was 'misadventure', a coroner ruled today. The troubled actor, 46, who played bad boy Sol Patrick from 1997 to 2001 on the Channel 4 soap, was found dead on a sofa with the TV on at his home in Brislington, Bristol, on January 15. Danan, who was later known for his reality TV appearances, including on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Love Island, died from a cocktail of drugs including cocaine and heroin. The inquest heard that Danan's girlfriend, Melissa Crooks, raised the alarm when she had not heard from him after they had been out together for a 'couple of drinks' in the early hours of January 14. A neighbour then used a ladder to gain entry to his first-floor flat where Danan was found dead, sitting slumped at the edge of the sofa with the TV still on, the inquest at Avon Coroner's Court in Flax Bourton, near Bristol, heard. Emergency services attended the scene and he was pronounced dead at 5.20pm on January 15. His body was identified at the property by Ms Crooks. A postmortem examination concluded that his death was due to combined toxicity of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine and zopiclone, contributed to by benzodiazepine use. Assistant Coroner Debbie Rookes today reached a conclusion that Danan had died by misadventure after hearing written statements from emergency services, doctors, and his mother Beverley Danan. The statement from Mrs Danan said: 'Paul helped so many people from all walks of life, but just couldn't help himself in the same way. His smiling face and love of life will always be remembered.' The coroner concluded that Danan had died from the combined effects of prescribed and illicit drugs. She told the hearing there was no evidence that Danan, who suffered an accidental overdose in May 2024, had intended to take his own life. A previous hearing was informed that Danan had not left a note. The coroner said: 'Paul Danan was clearly much loved and is very much missed. 'Mr Danan had a long history of drug misuse and struggles with his mental health. His death was caused by a combination of drugs, both prescription and illicit. 'Paul had struggled with his mental health for many years. He had taken an overdose in May 2024, but he was adamant that this was accidental and he didn't have any intention to end his life. 'Although he had occasional suicidal thoughts, he didn't have any active plans. I don't have any evidence before me that Paul intended to take his own life at this time. 'Therefore, the conclusion is misadventure.' The coroner said that none of the drugs Danan had taken were found in high levels but their combined effect resulted in 'fatal respiratory depression'. 'Paul's partner, Ms Crooks, said she had not heard from Paul since the early hours of January 14,' Ms Rookes said. 'She said her and Paul had been out together and had a couple of drinks. Since leaving Paul at his home address, she had not been able to get in contact with him.' Ms Rookes said police did not find any suspicious circumstances. Danan was pronounced deceased at 5.20pm on January 15. Danan had been due to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court on January 16 after being charged with being found in possession of cocaine and cannabis, according to court documents. He was also accused of driving while under the influence of drugs on October 2, 2024, in Warrington, Cheshire. The actor had been open about his struggles with addiction, with a stint in rehab in an effort to beat his addiction. Danan appeared on ITV's Celebrity Love Island as a contestant in 2005 and 2006, but did not win either series. He also featured in the 2006 ITV2 reality show Calum, Fran And Dangerous Danan in which he, former Westlife bodyguard and Celebrity Love Island winner Fran Cosgrave, and Calum Best travelled across the US together. Best, the son of footballer George Best, took part in Celebrity Love Island and a reality travel programme with Danan, and described him as one of the 'funniest, kindest, and most authentic people I've known'. In an Instagram post after Danan's death, he said: 'Life wasn't always easy for him, but he faced it with such heart and courage, and that inspired so many of us. 'We shared many laughs, chats, and unforgettable moments. My heart goes out to his loved ones right now. Rest easy, brother.' EastEnders actor Dean Gaffney also paid tribute, saying on an Instagram story that Danan 'had a heart of gold'. In 2017, Danan took part in Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother, when he was evicted early, and said at the time he hoped the series would give him a 'second chance' at his career. He regularly called for his return to Hollyoaks and later began the podcast The Morning After With Paul Danan, which lasted from 2019 until 2023. In 2020, he started a drama workshop, Morning After Drama, which grew from online sessions during the pandemic to workshops in London, Oxford and the South-West. His other appearances included on E4's Celebrity Coach Trip and Channel 4 sketch comedy programme The Kevin Bishop Show. Danan discussed his substance abuse and recovery on ITV's The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2019, which he said began when he was a teenager. He said he had to 'work hard at it every day to keep in recovery'. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to drugs and public order offences, and was fined £350 and referred to a drugs agency for support by Stevenage Magistrates' Court. A statement from his agents, Independent Creative Management. said: 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan at just 46 years old. 'Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many.
