logo
Cheshire East councillor cleared of strangling partner during row

Cheshire East councillor cleared of strangling partner during row

BBC News3 days ago
A councillor has been cleared of strangling his partner after a row at their home while watching television but he has been convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice.Ashley Farrall, who represents Macclesfield Central ward on Cheshire East Council, denied both offences.After an eight-day trial at Chester Crown Court, jurors acquitted Farrall of intentionally strangling his partner on 14 November 2024 but found the 43-year-old guilty of the other charge.Farrall, of Ellenbrook Road in Manchester, will be sentenced during the week commencing 29 September.
The court heard that an argument had broken out between Farrall and his partner - who had both been drinking beer and wine - while they watched Married At First Sight.The row continued upstairs as their baby son slept in the adjoining room.Jurors then heard different accounts of what happened next.
'She lunged at me'
Farrall's partner alleged he attacked her.But he denied this and said she had attacked him.He told the court: "She lunged at me... threw a glass at me... and punched me in the face."Farrall said the "horrific" difficult birth of their son had taken a toll on his partner's mental wellbeing.
The court heard that the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice related to what happened in the weeks following the argument. Farrall's bail conditions meant he was not allowed to contact his partner.But jurors heard Farrall gave her a phone on which they could communicate.They also met several times, including at Poynton Pool in Cheshire and near her mother's house in north Wales, where they discussed whether she would withdraw her statement.She told the court she had wanted Farrall to plead guilty and "admit to what he had done".Farrall refused and told the court he had "always maintained he was not guilty".
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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BBC asks police to investigate new Strictly allegations, reports say
BBC asks police to investigate new Strictly allegations, reports say

The Guardian

time13 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

BBC asks police to investigate new Strictly allegations, reports say

The BBC has asked the police to investigate Strictly Come Dancing amid fresh allegations, according to reports, after claims two of its stars used cocaine. The Sun on Sunday reported that the corporation has alerted the Metropolitan police to new allegations about the dance competition show, the details of which it does not specify. A BBC spokesperson said on Saturday the corporation does not comment on police investigations. It comes after reports in the Sun earlier this month alleged two Strictly cast members' drug use was discussed on the show, and said that the corporation had appointed law firm Pinsent Masons to lead the investigation. The show was also the subject of a review in 2024, when the BBC looked into allegations of bullying and harassment against former professional dancer Giovanni Pernice made by his former dance partner Amanda Abbington. The corporation upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made – and introduced a series of new measures aimed at improving welfare. This included the introduction of a chaperone who is present 'at all times' during training room rehearsals. EastEnders star James Borthwick was also suspended from the BBC after a video emerged of the actor using a disabled slur on the set of the dance programme. The cocaine use allegations were reportedly made in a legal submission by law firm Russells in March on behalf of former contestant Wynne Evans, who was dropped by the BBC after apologising for using 'inappropriate language' during the launch of the Strictly tour. It is understood that the BBC often appoints external law firms to help it lead investigations. The BBC spokesperson previously said: 'We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us. We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further.' The Metropolitan police has been contacted for comment.

Anti-racism and anti-immigration protesters in Falkirk face off outside asylum hotel
Anti-racism and anti-immigration protesters in Falkirk face off outside asylum hotel

The Guardian

time13 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Anti-racism and anti-immigration protesters in Falkirk face off outside asylum hotel

Anti-racism campaigners held a counter-demonstration against people protesting against 'uncontrolled illegal immigration' outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Scotland. Stand Up to Racism Scotland, Falkirk Trades Union Council and local people said they organised the gathering in Falkirk on Saturday to show that refugees are welcome in the town. Organisers described it as a 'safely stewarded community event with music, speeches from the local community, the trade union movement, local campaigns, faith groups and others'. Demonstrators held placards with messages such as 'stop the far right', 'refugees welcome' and 'migrants make our NHS'. Police said Kemper Avenue in Falkirk was closed due to protest activity which began at about 11am. The road reopened on Saturday night, with Police Scotland confirming a 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with a breach of the cordon line. The group Save Our Future & Our Kids Futures had announced plans to hold a protest outside the hotel known as the Cladhan. In a social media post the group said it was 'standing against uncontrolled illegal immigration, with people being placed in our communities without transparency, accountability, or consultation'. It added: 'This is not about hate, racism, or division. This is about safety, justice, and standing up for the people of Falkirk who deserve better.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Protesters, some waving union flags, chanted 'send them home' while anti-racism demonstrators responded with chants of 'refugees are welcome here' and 'this is what community looks like'. Similar protests have been held in recent months in Epping, Essex, near the Bell hotel which houses asylum seekers. In July, some of the demonstrations descended into violent disorder with 28 people arrested after police officers were injured. The protests in Essex started after an asylum seeker housed at the hotel was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. He is in custody awaiting further court hearings. Earlier this August, several demonstrators were detained after rival groups faced off over a hotel accommodating asylum seekers in north London. The counter-protest outside the Thistle City Barbican hotel in Islington was organised by local branches of Stand Up to Racism and was supported by the former Labour leader and Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn.

Prince Andrew's biographer promises more shock revelations after Duke of York's friends who had refused to speak to him 'come forward in droves'
Prince Andrew's biographer promises more shock revelations after Duke of York's friends who had refused to speak to him 'come forward in droves'

Daily Mail​

time13 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Prince Andrew's biographer promises more shock revelations after Duke of York's friends who had refused to speak to him 'come forward in droves'

It is a devastating portrait of Prince Andrew which – even by his standards – contains sensational details about his relationships and finances. But historian Andrew Lownie, whose forensic biography of the disgraced Duke of York, Entitled, was released last week, has said there will be more revelations to come. The royal biographer has told The Mail on Sunday that friends of the prince have come forward 'in droves' to say they are now willing to paint the 'full picture' about his extravagant past. Many are formerly loyal associates who had originally declined to be involved in the book but have been emboldened to come forward since its publication. And so many have now offered to contribute that the historian – who spent four years working on Entitled, and interviewed hundreds of people for his research – has been invited by his publisher to produce an updated edition. Speaking to the MoS, Mr Lownie said it would be an 'entirely new book' which would be ready by next summer. 'The amazing and astonishing thing that's happened since Entitled came out is that people have come forward in droves with more stories to tell about Prince Andrew,' he said. 'Those who felt they couldn't speak to me before have now changed their mind or have realised they've been covering things up for him out of misplaced loyalty. 'A lot of respectable people who declined to be involved in the book are now coming forward, keen to unload the secrets they've been keeping for all these years. Speaking to the MoS, Mr Lownie said it would be an 'entirely new book' which would be ready by next summer. Such news will no doubt be particularly unwelcome for beleaguered Andrew and his former wife Sarah, Duchess of York 'So my Andrew book is going to have to be substantially rewritten from start to finish. It will be an entirely new book, not just a few new chapters, and I'll get it done in time for the paperback release next summer. I think my book really broke the inertia surrounding Prince Andrew.' Such news will no doubt be particularly unwelcome for beleaguered Andrew and his former wife Sarah, Duchess of York, who also receives an unflattering portrait in Mr Lownie's book. Commentators have already suggested that the claims in the book – serialised earlier this month by the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday – have sealed Andrew's fate, making a return to public life all but impossible. Any further scandal could also prove difficult for the Royal Family more widely. Mr Lownie has already alluded to the fact that the passages he was forced to remove for legal reasons were enough to bring down the monarchy. He has also admitted that the financial dealings he has reported so far – including £750,000 from Turkish millionaire Nebahat Isbilen which ended up in Andrew's Coutts account, described as a gift for Princess Beatrice's wedding and then repaid, and huge loans to Andrew from Banque Havilland, owned by the family of multi-millionaire scrap metal merchant David Rowland – are only 'the tip of the iceberg'. Mr Lownie told one interviewer: 'You know, there's money clearly from... China. There's clearly a lot of money in the Middle East.' And now the author had Philip in his sights, too By the time the book is published, it will be close to a decade since the duke's death, and Lownie believes public attitudes will have shifted yet further. 'People might be ready to hear some of the stories about his private life,' he says Commentators have already suggested that the claims in Mr Lownie's book – serialised earlier this month by the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday – have sealed Andrew's fate, making a return to public life all but impossible Author Andrew Lownie's next subject for a 'warts and all' biography will be the late Duke of Edinburgh, we can reveal. He has set aside four years for the project, in which he plans to delve into details of Prince Philip's personal life, including the discovery – hinted at in Entitled – that he enjoyed a romance with Susan Barrantes, the mother of Sarah, Duchess of York. 'I've put in all the FOIs [Freedom of Information requests] for a Prince Philip book already,' Mr Lownie says. 'I'm told a great deal of time after his death was spent by those in his employment burning all his papers, but I'm working very hard to get what I can.' One surprising early find was the late duke's school report, which was intended to be kept classified and inaccessible to the public for 100 years. 'Why they kept it classified for 100 years, I don't know,' Mr Lownie adds. 'But I've got it. It shows his recommendations for the Royal Navy, and it's now at last declassified and available. Times are changing, they do need to start declassifying more and more records for the royals. People expect more transparency from the monarchy now.' By the time the book is published, it will be close to a decade since the duke's death, and Lownie believes public attitudes will have shifted yet further. 'People might be ready to hear some of the stories about his private life,' he says. 'When I wrote about his relationship with Fergie's mother, Susan Barrantes, in the Prince Andrew book, people got very cross with me, saying, "He's not here to defend himself". 'But I am very much working on getting lots of evidence together.' Mr Lownie, who wrote a 2019 biography about Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was confronted by former Cabinet minister and now GB News host Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg over the 'unfounded allegations' about the late Queen's husband he included in Entitled. But he says: 'Jacob Rees-Mogg might want me to have got hold of a signed affidavit from Prince Philip, and we can never get hold of that, but I'm going to have a thoroughly researched piece with plenty of FOIs and evidence.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store