Latest news with #Barclay
Forbes
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
The Making Of Formula Gen4, The Future Of EVs
Porsche, Jaguar, and Nissan have been fundamental in providing feedback and developing the newest ... More generation of electric race cars. The eleventh season of Formula E is set to finish with the series' traditional London season finale doubleheader on July 26 and 27. Nissan driver Oliver Rowland has already secured the driver's championship, and his team is neck and neck with Porsche for the manufacturers' trophy. While the competition on the track has been fierce, Formula E's manufacturers — Porsche, Nissan, Jaguar, Stellantis, Mahindra, and Lola — have been hard at work developing a faster, lighter, more inspirational generation of electric race cars: Gen4. Eagle-eyed racing fans will have noticed that on June 10th, Formula E released the initial statistics for its Gen4 cars. The most advanced electric racer yet will have permanent 4-wheel drive, 600kW power output, compared to just 350 kW currently and 700kW of regeneration power. According to outgoing Jaguar Racing Team Principal James Barclay, this represents 'the biggest step change in any generation.' As the cars whizz around tracks from Sao Paulo to Tokyo, they will hug the corners tighter, accelerate faster, and be even more efficient. Speaking to me via video call days after the Berlin race, Barclay said Gen4 will be 'an incredibly fast racing car,' adding it will 'take another significant step in performance in corner speed and top speed.' The challenge will be for the drivers to control the advanced machinery while securing the checkered flag. Porsche Team Principal Florian Modlinger and Nissan Team Principal Tommaso Volpe agree with Barclay. Modlinger says the car will be 'massively fast,' adding that 'cornering speed will increase, acceleration potential is higher, and top speeds are massively higher even on city tracks.' Volpe insists the cars will be so potent that in some instances Formula E will need to use different circuits to ensure proper safety and entertainment. The Gen4 car will launch in 2026 for the start of Formula E's 13th season, but work on the next generation has been underway for a while now. Gen4 was announced at last season's Monaco race in May. This was preceded by roughly 18 months of conversations between manufacturers, Formula E and FIA, motorsport's world governing body. At the season 10 series finale in London, this time last year, FIA and Formula E solidified the guidelines and regulations for Gen4, passing them on to the manufacturers. As Volpe says, 'the regulations are a product of conversations between the manufacturers, Formula E and FIA,' so the manufacturers know what to expect when they receive them. As one of the core manufacturers, Nissan (and others) recommended the permanent use of all-wheel drive, as opposed to its current use solely during 'attack mode.' With the regulations in hand, Porsche, Nissan, Jaguar, et al have been developing the powertrains that will power their cars. As Barclay says, 'We are normally working about two years ahead.' This means developing not only new, cutting-edge technology, but convincing decision-makers in huge corporations like Nissan, Porsche, and Jaguar Land Rover that there is a smart business case to be made for spending millions on advanced electric vehicle technology. The entire process, from the moment a commitment to develop a new generation of cars is made until the moment the car is racing, is roughly three years, two of which are used for research, design, testing, and further technical development. This research, design, and testing period is critical because once the car is approved under Gen4 rules and regulations, its hardware cannot be changed for two years. 'Every homologation lasts two years,' Barclay says. Software changes and time in the simulator are the only ways the drivers and the teams' engineers can improve the car once in season. While the FIA and Formula E determine the specifications for the common chassis and battery, the manufacturers can find a competitive advantage through their unique powertrain designs. Nissan is one of five manufacturers committed to Formula E's Gen4. Modlinger says that when his Porsche engineering team receives the specifications for a new Gen from the governing bodies, the first thing they look at is what they are allowed to develop. The team is looking to maximize grip, downforce, and torque, while minimizing weight and complying with Formula E's cost cap. The championship's cost cap for each manufacturer is €29 million over two years, or roughly €15 million per season. Other parameters for the new hardware include a maximum weight of 100 kgs. According to Volpe, there are two main difficulties when developing a new generation of Formula E car technology. First, he says, 'When you start the development of a car within the regulations, any decision is a compromise.' To maximize speed, you may give up some form of efficiency. Second, cars are developed without knowledge of future race formats. Certain circuits require more energy, others require more raw power. A manufacturer may design what they believe to be a perfect car, only for it to underperform depending on the type of race. The manufacturers and Formula E all have a stated commitment to improving electric racing technology and transferring it to regular EVs down the line. The vast improvement in speed, energy regeneration, and most notably charging from the current Gen3 Evo to Gen4 is expected to deliver transformational performance on both track and road. Volpe says the constant improvement of the efficiency of the cars is 'what is helping the future development of EVs,' adding 'efficiency leads to greater adoption.' This is born out by the fact that as battery life has become more reliable and driving range has increased, consumer purchases of EVs around the world have gone up. Meanwhile, Barclay notes that to drive the use of EVs and thereby increase transportation sustainability on a global scale, 'firstly, you have to inspire.' Sports are one of the few industries that can draw out people's passions and convince them to invest in a certain idea or product. Barclay recalls growing up in South Africa in 1995 and seeing the Springboks win the Rugby World Cup, transforming the nation under Nelson Mandela. Formula E's Gen4 cars are unlikely to drive the sort of overnight change that saw the Springboks unite the Rainbow Nation, but through impressive performances on the track, they may convince the next generation of drivers to go electric as opposed to buying a traditional internal combustion engine. By September of this year, each manufacturer will have the first draft of their Gen4 car. They will test them from September into 2026 and finalize them before the 2026 racing season. In just over a decade, Formula E cars have shifted from vehicles that needed to be swapped mid-race to the most efficient racing vehicles in the world. In just over a year, we will see the dawn of a new age in electric racing, with some predicting such high performance that people will never go back to traditional gas-powered engines.
Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Anita Rose killer was free to roam streets before beating dog walker to death
Roy Barclay was found guilty last week of murdering 57-year-old Anita Rose, who died in hospital from her horrific injuries after being attacked in Brantham last July Police left a "violent" killer to stroll the streets for two years despite him breaching his licence. Roy Barclay was found guilty last week of murdering 57-year-old dog walker Anita Rose, who died in hospital from her horrific injuries in Brantham, last July. Jurors were told that Barclay was on the run from police when he attacked Ms Rose, having previously been jailed 10 years for a committing grievous bodily harm with intent. He had been living in makeshift camps, which breached his licencing conditions, that stated he should live at a fixed address. The 56-year-old was jailed following an attack on pensioner Leslie Gunfield, then 82, after he told Barclay he would inform security about him going through rubbish bins at a Co-op supermarket in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. He was later released on parole in 2020. But despite not living at a fixed address, Barclay was able to use his bank cards to order items online, and left dozens of reviews on Google Maps, showing his location was in Suffolk and Essex. Police failed to arrest Barclay for the breach for two years. Ex-Met Police officer Peter Bleksley told The Sun:"This was an utterly avoidable and preventable murder. "He clearly should have been a priority. His previous violent offending - not only should he not have been released halfway through his sentence, I think he pulled the wool over the eyes of the Parole Board - but a man with that kind of violent history, should be a priority. "These people should not be walking the streets of Britain. Proper analytical examination of his postings, of his behaviours, his lifestyle, should have meant he could have been found." At court, jurors had heard evidence that injuries to Anita's brain were similar to those inflicted by 'high speed car crashes'. Barclay opted to give no evidence in his defence, a move the prosecution said saw him maintain a 'wall of silence' throughout his trial. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said Barclay made internet searches after Ms Rose was attacked which included 'Can barbed wire be swabbed for DNA?' and 'How long does DNA last at a crime scene?' The prosecutor told jurors: 'Roy Barclay made that search on barbed wire because he killed Anita by the barbed wire fence. These internet searches alone are evidence enough for you to be sure of Roy Barclay's guilt.' Mr Paxton said Barclay also read numerous press articles relating to the attack on Ms Rose. He added: 'While for the next four days Anita fought for her life – Roy Barclay stalked and followed every twist and turn of the news. He did so because he is Anita's killer. 'He was looking and relishing in what he had done.' The prosecutor said Barclay had kept a 'treasure trove' of Ms Rose's items including her jacket and phone.
The Irish Sun
19-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Cops' shocking blunder left monster free to murder innocent gran on dog walk – he had all the traits of a serial killer
"LAZY" police made a shocking blunder which allowed an evil monster to murder a grandmother while she walked her dog, a top cop claims. Advertisement 17 Roy Barclay during his arrest at a library months after the killing Credit: PA 17 Anita Rose was beaten to death as she walked her dog Credit: PA 17 One of the makeshift camps Barclay was staying in Credit: Crown Prosecution Service Ex-Met cop Peter Bleksley told The Sun: "This was an utterly avoidable and preventable murder." Barclay, 56 - who was He had been jailed in 2015 for the violent, unprovoked assault on 82-year-old Leslie Gunfield in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, before being released on parole in 2020. Despite his nomadic existence, Barclay left a sizeable digital footprint, including using his bank card to order items online, and leaving hundreds of reviews on Google Maps, showing he was in Suffolk and Essex. Advertisement READ MORE NEWS But, crucially, police "He clearly should have been a priority," continued Mr Bleksley. "His previous violent offending - not only should he not have been released halfway through his sentence, I think he pulled the wool over the eyes of the Parole Board - but a man with that kind of violent history, should be a priority. "These people should not be walking the streets of Britain." Advertisement Most read in The Sun Barclay stalked Anita, 57, on the morning of July 24 2024 before kicking and stamping on her so viciously her injuries were akin to the victim of a head-on crash. He fled the scene, leaving loyal dog Bruce by his owner's side. She died in hospital four days later. First pic of 'superyacht slasher' accused of murdering stewardess in £9.5m vessel engine room days before 21st birthday Mr Bleksley said: "This man could and should have been arrested. With the right amount of officers, with the necessary experience and expertise, this should have taken days and not weeks because he was leaving a significant footprint." He went on to say: "It is possible to find and arrest virtually any wanted person, so long as sufficient resources and expertise are deployed." Advertisement He added "the harsh reality" is that so many more people are being released early from prison or given non-custodial sentences "that huge numbers" are breaching orders and probation. But overrun forces are simply kicking the can down the road, in the hopes such people turn up after committing further crimes, preferably in other force areas, he claims. Mr Bleksley said: "Wanted people are not pursued like they should be. The files are put away, they're put on the police computers and left to collect dust in the hope they are picked up for a lesser crime. That's the reality. "That's what a current working detective told me just days ago." Advertisement He added: "That is the harsh, contemporary reality because of resources and such like. "The harsh reality of increasingly dangerous and lawless Britain, and women are losing their lives." 17 Barclay posted about Flatford shortly before he was arrested Credit: GOOGLE 17 Barclay was convicted of murder earlier this month Credit: PA Advertisement 17 Barclay left a massive digital footprint - the red dots show all the locations he reviewed and photographed between 2022 and 2024 Credit: GOOGLE He compared Ms Rose's murder to that of 35-year-old Zara Aleena, who was sexually assaulted and murdered by Jordan McSweeney as she walked home in Ilford, East London, in June 2022. In 2010, when he was a teenager, McSweeney was convicted over an attack on a young woman he had left with a swollen eye. Eleven years later, he was made the subject of a restraining order that barred him from contacting another female victim, but breached his probation and was not picked up before attacking Ms Aleena. Advertisement "With the right resources he would have been picked up quickly, and Zara Aleena would be alive today, just like Anita would be alive today," Mr Bleksley said. He went on to explain an analyst would be able to "pinpoint" the areas Barclay was active in without much issue - as happened once he became a suspect in Ms Rose's murder. "Proper analytical examination of his postings, of his behaviours, his lifestyle, should have meant he could have been found. "Like he was eventually, sadly, once he's committed murder and sufficient resources were deployed to it. Advertisement "Once you put the resources into it, you find these people. "Tragically, it took a woman's life to be taken before resources were deployed." Mr Bleksley said various police services clearly prioritise "where they see fit", adding: "Policing is a numbers game, to a certain extent. 17 Ms Rose seen leaving her home moments before she was attacked Credit: PA Advertisement 17 Police at the scene in Brantham, Suffolk Credit: East Anglia News Service 17 Barclay is seen stalking along the road before committing the murder Credit: Suffolk Police "Many chiefs argue for more funding, and they do have a point." He compared UK policing to Italy, where he recently visited, saying: "It's got 10 million less than the UK but twice as many officers and half the amount of crime. It's basic, simple numbers." Advertisement Three months after the Ms Rose murder, Barclay's final few Google reviews were about Flatford, a historic area on the Essex-Suffolk border famed for inspiring iconic paintings. He was camping just a mile away from the murder site. Mr Bleksley said he was essentially goading cops. "By the time he started putting those posts, after this dreadful murder, he clearly thought they're not going to find me." Advertisement He said the descriptions of Ms Rose's murder are "particularly galling", and added he believes Barclay would certainly have killed again if he wasn't caught. He said his "trademark" of leaving a dog lead wrapped around the victim's leg was also done in his previous assault offence. Asked if he could have become a serial killer, Mr Bleksley said: "Of course, without any doubt whatsoever. "He takes trophies, he leaves trademark wrapping of the leads twice round the leg, he attacked an elderly vulnerable man beforehand. Advertisement 17 Ms Rose with her dog Bruce was completely unawares Credit: Suffolk Police 17 A handout issued by Suffolk Police showing the map and timeline of events Credit: PA 17 Anita is a gran of 13 Credit: Facebook "This is an absolute monster and danger to the elderly, a coward because he picks on the elderly. Picks on a lone female. Absolutely revolting waste of space." Advertisement He went on to say: "The cases that grab people's attention and frighten them to their very core are when the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and that is exactly what happened in this case. "This wonderful woman, mother of six, grandma of 13, much loved partner, should of course have been free to walk her dog as she chose." Asked why someone like Barclay would target random strangers, Mr Bleksley continued: "It is often a complete and utter waste of time trying to rationalise the workings of an irrational mind. "That said, his similar behaviour in the past went some way in helping to convict him. Advertisement "As for his mentality, deal with what's in front of you, and there should have been plenty in front of detectives to have arrested him before he murdered and not after he'd murdered. "That didn't happen. It's 2025 we're talking about, when analysis, geographical analysis, geographical patterns, the science is so far advanced, crimes these day are solved by mobile phone evidence, digital footprints, CCTV. "These things could quite easily have been utilised to find him, they weren't and a woman is dead as a result, needlessly." Mr Bleksley added: "There'll be more cases. In the current situation, if this is allowed to go on, there'll be more and more cases. Advertisement "There are too many dangerous people out there and not enough prison places for them." 17 Officers scouring the area near where Anita was found Credit: East Anglia News Service 17 Police an and around Rectory Lane in Grantham Credit: Darren Fletcher 17 CCTV grabs released by police after Ms Rose was killed Credit: PA Advertisement A chance meeting with a Suffolk Police officer near White Bridge, between Brantham and Manningtree, finally led to Barclay's arrest in October last year. Barclay gave the officer, Det Con Simpson, a fake name, coming across as "quite nervous and quite anxious", the detective said. Six days later, at Ipswich County Library, Barclay was arrested and was subsequently charged with Anita's murder, which he denied. After his conviction, the Crown Prosecution Service described Barclay as "an individual that… has a history for acting violently so we knew that this was somebody that could act unprovoked in a very violent manner". Advertisement Assistant Chief Constable Alice Scott said: 'Following the conviction resulting from the trial of Roy Barclay for the murder of Anita Rose last summer, a voluntary partnership review will now be conducted under the MAPPA* process involving the police and the probation service. 'It will look closely at the information sharing processes and how the organisations collaborated in terms of Barclay who was wanted on recall to prison when he murdered Anita. 'This review will be a thorough assessment and scrutiny of the processes concerning Barclay. "It will be expedited as soon as possible so we can provide clear and definitive answers for Anita's family. Advertisement "Our thoughts remain with Anita's family and friends as they reflect on the past year, and our force Family Liaison Officers will continue to remain in close dialogue with them as the review progresses.' A Suffolk Police spokesperson told The Sun: "As this review is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further." Do you know more? Email 17 Barclay had previously been jailed for a sick attack Credit: East Anglia News Service Advertisement 17 Ex Met detective Peter Bleksley Credit: Peter Bleksley
Scottish Sun
19-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Cops' shocking blunder left monster free to murder innocent gran on dog walk – he had all the traits of a serial killer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) "LAZY" police made a shocking blunder which allowed an evil monster to murder a grandmother while she walked her dog, a top cop claims. Roy Barclay was on Suffolk Police's list of most wanted criminals but he was able to avoid being recalled to prison for two years before killing defenceless Anita Rose in Brantham, last July. 17 Roy Barclay during his arrest at a library months after the killing Credit: PA 17 Anita Rose was beaten to death as she walked her dog Credit: PA 17 One of the makeshift camps Barclay was staying in Credit: Crown Prosecution Service Ex-Met cop Peter Bleksley told The Sun: "This was an utterly avoidable and preventable murder." Barclay, 56 - who was convicted of the gran-of-13's murder last week - had been living off-grid in makeshift camps, thus breaching his licencing conditions which stated he should remain at a fixed address. He had been jailed in 2015 for the violent, unprovoked assault on 82-year-old Leslie Gunfield in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, before being released on parole in 2020. Despite his nomadic existence, Barclay left a sizeable digital footprint, including using his bank card to order items online, and leaving hundreds of reviews on Google Maps, showing he was in Suffolk and Essex. But, crucially, police failed to act and arrest him for the breach for two years before it was too late. "He clearly should have been a priority," continued Mr Bleksley. "His previous violent offending - not only should he not have been released halfway through his sentence, I think he pulled the wool over the eyes of the Parole Board - but a man with that kind of violent history, should be a priority. "These people should not be walking the streets of Britain." Barclay stalked Anita, 57, on the morning of July 24 2024 before kicking and stamping on her so viciously her injuries were akin to the victim of a head-on crash. He fled the scene, leaving loyal dog Bruce by his owner's side. She died in hospital four days later. First pic of 'superyacht slasher' accused of murdering stewardess in £9.5m vessel engine room days before 21st birthday Mr Bleksley said: "This man could and should have been arrested. With the right amount of officers, with the necessary experience and expertise, this should have taken days and not weeks because he was leaving a significant footprint." He went on to say: "It is possible to find and arrest virtually any wanted person, so long as sufficient resources and expertise are deployed." He added "the harsh reality" is that so many more people are being released early from prison or given non-custodial sentences "that huge numbers" are breaching orders and probation. But overrun forces are simply kicking the can down the road, in the hopes such people turn up after committing further crimes, preferably in other force areas, he claims. Mr Bleksley said: "Wanted people are not pursued like they should be. The files are put away, they're put on the police computers and left to collect dust in the hope they are picked up for a lesser crime. That's the reality. "That's what a current working detective told me just days ago." He added: "That is the harsh, contemporary reality because of resources and such like. "The harsh reality of increasingly dangerous and lawless Britain, and women are losing their lives." 17 Barclay posted about Flatford shortly before he was arrested Credit: GOOGLE 17 Barclay was convicted of murder earlier this month Credit: PA 17 Barclay left a massive digital footprint - the red dots show all the locations he reviewed and photographed between 2022 and 2024 Credit: GOOGLE He compared Ms Rose's murder to that of 35-year-old Zara Aleena, who was sexually assaulted and murdered by Jordan McSweeney as she walked home in Ilford, East London, in June 2022. In 2010, when he was a teenager, McSweeney was convicted over an attack on a young woman he had left with a swollen eye. Eleven years later, he was made the subject of a restraining order that barred him from contacting another female victim, but breached his probation and was not picked up before attacking Ms Aleena. "With the right resources he would have been picked up quickly, and Zara Aleena would be alive today, just like Anita would be alive today," Mr Bleksley said. He went on to explain an analyst would be able to "pinpoint" the areas Barclay was active in without much issue - as happened once he became a suspect in Ms Rose's murder. "Proper analytical examination of his postings, of his behaviours, his lifestyle, should have meant he could have been found. "Like he was eventually, sadly, once he's committed murder and sufficient resources were deployed to it. "Once you put the resources into it, you find these people. "Tragically, it took a woman's life to be taken before resources were deployed." Mr Bleksley said various police services clearly prioritise "where they see fit", adding: "Policing is a numbers game, to a certain extent. 17 Ms Rose seen leaving her home moments before she was attacked Credit: PA 17 Police at the scene in Brantham, Suffolk Credit: East Anglia News Service 17 Barclay is seen stalking along the road before committing the murder Credit: Suffolk Police "Many chiefs argue for more funding, and they do have a point." He compared UK policing to Italy, where he recently visited, saying: "It's got 10 million less than the UK but twice as many officers and half the amount of crime. It's basic, simple numbers." Three months after the Ms Rose murder, Barclay's final few Google reviews were about Flatford, a historic area on the Essex-Suffolk border famed for inspiring iconic paintings. He was camping just a mile away from the murder site. Mr Bleksley said he was essentially goading cops. "By the time he started putting those posts, after this dreadful murder, he clearly thought they're not going to find me." He said the descriptions of Ms Rose's murder are "particularly galling", and added he believes Barclay would certainly have killed again if he wasn't caught. He said his "trademark" of leaving a dog lead wrapped around the victim's leg was also done in his previous assault offence. Asked if he could have become a serial killer, Mr Bleksley said: "Of course, without any doubt whatsoever. "He takes trophies, he leaves trademark wrapping of the leads twice round the leg, he attacked an elderly vulnerable man beforehand. 17 Ms Rose with her dog Bruce was completely unawares Credit: Suffolk Police 17 A handout issued by Suffolk Police showing the map and timeline of events Credit: PA 17 Anita is a gran of 13 Credit: Facebook "This is an absolute monster and danger to the elderly, a coward because he picks on the elderly. Picks on a lone female. Absolutely revolting waste of space." He went on to say: "The cases that grab people's attention and frighten them to their very core are when the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and that is exactly what happened in this case. "This wonderful woman, mother of six, grandma of 13, much loved partner, should of course have been free to walk her dog as she chose." Asked why someone like Barclay would target random strangers, Mr Bleksley continued: "It is often a complete and utter waste of time trying to rationalise the workings of an irrational mind. "That said, his similar behaviour in the past went some way in helping to convict him. "As for his mentality, deal with what's in front of you, and there should have been plenty in front of detectives to have arrested him before he murdered and not after he'd murdered. "That didn't happen. It's 2025 we're talking about, when analysis, geographical analysis, geographical patterns, the science is so far advanced, crimes these day are solved by mobile phone evidence, digital footprints, CCTV. "These things could quite easily have been utilised to find him, they weren't and a woman is dead as a result, needlessly." Mr Bleksley added: "There'll be more cases. In the current situation, if this is allowed to go on, there'll be more and more cases. "There are too many dangerous people out there and not enough prison places for them." 17 Officers scouring the area near where Anita was found Credit: East Anglia News Service 17 Police an and around Rectory Lane in Grantham Credit: Darren Fletcher 17 CCTV grabs released by police after Ms Rose was killed Credit: PA A chance meeting with a Suffolk Police officer near White Bridge, between Brantham and Manningtree, finally led to Barclay's arrest in October last year. Barclay gave the officer, Det Con Simpson, a fake name, coming across as "quite nervous and quite anxious", the detective said. Six days later, at Ipswich County Library, Barclay was arrested and was subsequently charged with Anita's murder, which he denied. After his conviction, the Crown Prosecution Service described Barclay as "an individual that… has a history for acting violently so we knew that this was somebody that could act unprovoked in a very violent manner". Assistant Chief Constable Alice Scott said: 'Following the conviction resulting from the trial of Roy Barclay for the murder of Anita Rose last summer, a voluntary partnership review will now be conducted under the MAPPA* process involving the police and the probation service. 'It will look closely at the information sharing processes and how the organisations collaborated in terms of Barclay who was wanted on recall to prison when he murdered Anita. 'This review will be a thorough assessment and scrutiny of the processes concerning Barclay. "It will be expedited as soon as possible so we can provide clear and definitive answers for Anita's family. "Our thoughts remain with Anita's family and friends as they reflect on the past year, and our force Family Liaison Officers will continue to remain in close dialogue with them as the review progresses.' A Suffolk Police spokesperson told The Sun: "As this review is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further." Do you know more? Email 17 Barclay had previously been jailed for a sick attack Credit: East Anglia News Service
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Semi-pro footballer kicked woman down stairs after drinker 'refused to apologise' for launching chair
A semi-professional footballer who left a woman seriously hurt after kicking her down the stairs of a bar is set to lose her NHS job. Lois Greenwood launched an 'extremely forceful kick' at Chloe Finnigan after a row between their friends groups exploded. The pair were both in the Barclay in Royton town centre.. Earlier in the evening, a stool had been thrown, which 'brushed' Ms Finnigan. READ MORE: 'We were at Manchester Airport for no longer than five minutes and we've been scammed' READ MORE: In photos: Red flares let off as crowds climb trees and scale fences outside Oasis concert It was said to have been thrown by a member of Greenwood's group, Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard. Ms Finnigan suffered a fractured kneecap when the kick caused her to fall down the stairs as she tried to leave. Greenwood, 25, a semi-professional footballer who held a 'responsible job' in the NHS, was hauled before the courts and handed a suspended prison sentence. The court heard is set to lose her job. Prosecuting, Lisa Boocock said Ms Finnigan was out with friends to celebrate a birthday at the Barclay in Royton, Oldham, on November 18, 2023. She said that 'for reasons unknown', a man in Greenwood's group threw a stool which 'brushed' Ms Finnigan. Sign up to the MEN Court newsletter here She was not injured, but she was concerned as she suffers from brittle bone disease. Ms Finnigan's boyfriend went over to the group and asked the male to apologise. 'Rather than apologise, the other male started an argument,' Ms Boocock said. Ms Finnigan decided she would leave to 'calm matters'. As she and her boyfriend were making their way down the stairs to leave, Greenwood and her boyfriend were coming up the stairs. An argument ensued between the men and there was a scuffle. Greenwood, who was drunk, then kicked Ms Finnigan, causing her to fall down the stairs. The judge described it as a 'deliberately aimed, extremely forceful kick', carried out 'from behind'. She was 'immediately aware' she had been injured, but was able to get to a friend's house. The police were called in. At hospital, Ms Greenwood was told she'd suffered a fractured kneecap. She had to wear a whole leg cast, from her ankle to her thigh. In a statement, Ms Finnigan said that the attack had 'completely changed her life'. She was left unable to carry out basic tasks, and needed help going to the toilet. 'This injury has completely robbed me of my independence,' she said. Ms Finnigan said she had to undergo ten months of physiotherapy. 'Even now, I don't feel the same physically,' she added, also telling of the toll her ordeal has had on her mental health. "I shouldn't have had to go through any of this in the first place,' she said. Defending, Steven Sullivan said the incident had been 'impulsive' and 'spontaneous'. He noted that Greenwood had no previous convictions, and had not been in any further trouble since the attack. Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group HERE 'She knows she can never right that wrong,' Mr Sullivan said. 'She knows she can never make up for what this complainant has suffered. She is genuinely upset by that.' Mr Sullivan said Greenwood was 'appalled by her own actions'. 'She is somebody who will learn from this,' he added. He said that her work in the NHS, a career she 'loved and coveted', will now end as 'she is going to be dismissed from her employment'. Sentencing, Judge Tina Landale said it was an 'isolated but appalling incident'. She told the defendant: 'Lois Greenwood, you attacked Ms Finnigan as she was trying to leave the Barclays pizza restaurant after she had been caught by a stool that had been thrown. The impact upon Ms Finnigan has been severe, sustained and ongoing. 'It is far more than a fractured kneecap.' The judge said she was able to avoid sending Greenwood to prison, due to her previous good character, her low risk of reoffending and positive prospects for her rehabilitation. Greenwood, of Alma Street, Radcliffe, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work and complete ten rehabilitation activity requirement days. She pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
