Latest news with #JohnHarris
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Will Labour's spending squeeze kill its big housing promise?
Labour's pledge to build 1.5 million homes is reportedly under serious threat. What's gone wrong? And what happens if the government breaks its promise to tackle the housing crisis? John Harris talks to the political correspondent Kiran Stacey and social affairs correspondent Jessica Murray. Plus, will the chancellor's charm offensive ease concerns about the huge spending cuts expected next week? And, could Labour learn something from Robert Jenrick's social media success?
Daily Record
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Paisley man jailed after woman opened letterbox and asked passer-by to call cops
John Harris admitted breaching a bail order on two occasions at Paisley Sheriff Court. A petrified woman was forced to open her letterbox from inside her house and ask a stranger who was passing by to call the cops. The woman, who was the ex-partner of John Harris, alerted the man who was walking past her house in Paisley's Bankfoot Road on May 6. Harris had been made subject to a bail order at Paisley Sheriff Court on November 15, 2024, with conditions not to approach or communicate with his ex-partner or to enter Bankfoot Road. The 51-year-old, however, breached this order on May 6 – for the third time. The procurator fiscal depute told Paisley Sheriff Court: 'Around 2.15pm on May 6, the witness was walking past the home of the female victim when he saw her open the letterbox and asked him to call the police. 'Police attended immediately and the woman opened the door to them when they arrived. She appeared nervous and spoke loudly as if she was making it known to someone. 'She was reluctant to speak about earlier events and so she was spoken to in the living room of the property where she stated that a passer-by may have heard loud voices coming from the property. 'Officers carried out a search and observed an Ottoman-style bed. They lifted the mattress and found the accused lying within. 'The accused was shaken and when officers asked why, he stated, 'I'm scared, I've got conditions not to be near her'. Harris was arrested and taken to Greenock police station.' Harris admitted he breached his bail order and that he was subject to four bail orders when he committed this offence. The town's court then heard how out-of-control Harris also breached the court order on April 25 and April 26. The fiscal depute explained: 'Around 6pm on April 25, the accused attended uninvited to the female's home and let himself in. 'She was in the bedroom at the time and noted he appeared intoxicated and he fell asleep on the bed. She was scared to contact police in case it escalated things and she then left the house hoping he would leave by the time she got home. 'She returned at 9pm and found the accused in the bedroom. 'Both went to sleep and at 11am on April 26, she locked herself in a room and sent a Facebook message to a family member informing them Harris was within the house and they contacted police. The accused was arrested.' Defence agent Charlie McCusker told the court Harris has known this woman 'all their lives, since they were 14 years old'. He added: 'That is his property in Bankfoot Road and now accepts that the bail order means he can't go back there. He's remanded on this matter and he understands why. He is an addict, he's been on methadone for 35 years. It's an entrenched drug habit.' Sheriff Clare Arias said: 'What I see from your record is your last three convictions are the same type of offending and are a breach of the same bail order. You know what your record is, it is an extremely poor record. 'The social work department has concerns and reservations about your ability to do unpaid work due to your substance addictions. Over a period of a short few months, you breached this order repeatedly. 'There is no alternative than a custodial sentence.' Harris, of Kirklandneuk in Renfrew, was jailed for 12 weeks with his sentence being backdated to his date of remand on May 7.
CBS News
29-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Smokey Robinson files $500 million defamation lawsuit against accusers
Smokey Robinson and his lawyers filed a $500 million countersuit accusing four former housekeepers, who sued him for sexual abuse earlier in May, of defamation, among other allegations. In the complaint filed against Robinson, the four women, identified as Jane Does, alleged that he repeatedly sexually assaulted them at his Chatsworth home. They also accused Robinson's wife Frances Robinson of failing to take action to prevent the allegations. "We believe that Mr. Robinson is a serial and sick rapist, and must be stopped," attorney John Harris said on May 6. "I will not describe the details of the sexual assaults and rapes because they are too graphic and disturbing for this news conference." The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department launched an investigation into the allegations against Robinson after his accusers filed a report. "It is clear to us what is happening here," Robinson's attorney Christopher Frost said. "Plaintiffs filed a police report only after they filed a $50 million lawsuit. This means only that the police are now required to investigate. We welcome that investigation, which involves Plaintiffs who continue to hide their identities, because exposure to the truth is a powerful thing." Robinson's lawyers described the lawsuit, which seeks $50 million in damages, as an "extortionate plan" in their cross-complaint, which also accuses the women of elder abuse, civil conspiracy and emotional distress. "Unfortunately, the depths of Plaintiffs' avarice and greed knows no bounds," Robinson's lawyers wrote. "During the very time that the Robinsons were being extraordinarily generous with Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs were concocting an extortionate plan to take everything from the Robinsons ... and wrongfully destroy the Robinsons' well-built reputations." The Motown legend's legal team also filed a motion to dismiss the women's initial lawsuit. His attorneys argued that the women filed their complaint "under a fictitious name." Smokey Robinson performs on stage during Summer Night Concerts at PNE Amphitheatre on August 23, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. Andrew Chin / Getty Images The women's attorneys, Harris and Herbert Hayden, described the countersuit as "an attempt to silence and intimidate survivors of Mr. Robinson's sexual battery and assault." "It is a baseless and vindictive legal maneuver designed to re-victimize, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward," the attorneys wrote in a joint statement. "This type of retaliatory litigation is precisely what California's anti-SLAPP laws were enacted to prevent." A SLAPP suit or Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, is a legal maneuver meant to dissuade critics from producing negative publicity, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute. "People bring SLAPP suits because they can either temporarily prevent their critics from making public statements against them or more commonly to make critics spend all of their time and resources defending the SLAPP suits," Cornell's Legal Information Institute wrote. The ACLU said SLAPP suits "intimidate the target in order to discourage them and others from speaking out." Harris and Hayden said they will file an anti-SLAPP motion against Robinson's cross-complaint.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Family carers of all ages need looking after too
John Harris rightly thanks Ed Davey for drawing attention to family carers and the need to reduce the many pressures facing them. It is important, however, that the debates about how to achieve this are placed in the context of the recent increases in the state pension age (Passed over, targeted, fined – but is the magnificence of family carers finally being recognised?, 25 May). Between 2010 and 2018, raising women's state pension age from 60 to 65 years reduced state expenditure over that period by a total of £77bn. Since then, it has risen to 66 years for all. Starting in April 2026, it will rise to 67 years. In March this year the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that this fiscal saving will be £10.4bn in 2029-30, including a net saving on pension credit and winter fuel allowance of £0.2bn. Rachel Reeves please note. Since 2010, the need to remain in paid employment to an older age has been accompanied by cuts in social care services. Meanwhile, the carer's allowance has remained the lowest benefit in the system. Nearly 30% of those whose caring responsibilities would entitle them to receive it are ineligible because of its complex interactions with the benefits received by those they care for. It is vital that this Labour government does not avert its eyes from the health and wellbeing of both young and older family LandEmerita professor of family policy, University of Bristol I am grateful to John Harris for highlighting Ed Davey's book about the huge stresses on families who care for family members with learning disabilities. In my professional life it was often brought home to me by parents almost wistfully commenting on the 'luck' of others whose adult offspring had died before them, so they no longer needed to worry about their future care. Or the parents who said that the government just wanted their children to die, so that they would no longer be a financial burden to the state. In retirement, I have friends whose grandchildren have significant needs, and I'm appalled that services have been cut back to a point where families are collapsing, with respite care almost nonexistent. Perhaps Ed Davey could introduce a family home stay scheme for politicians, so that they could at least have some experience of, for example: the permanently disturbed nights; managing on a poverty-level income; rarely having access to public toilets with appropriate changing facilities; and the uncertainty about what would happen if they were ill or injured, and unable to provide care for day-to-day needs. As budgets are being slashed, this group of people, the carers and the cared for, are too often seen as easy targets for cuts, as they are either unable, or too exhausted, to shout loudly Sally CheseldineRetired consultant clinical psychologist, Balerno, Edinburgh I have been a full-time carer for my husband, who suffered a major stroke 21 years ago. In that time we have seen our named care manager disappear, any physio support disappear, council respite homes disappear and private domiciliary care companies desperate for workers and tripling their fees. Private care homes, if they offer respite care at all, charge £1,900 per week for non-nursing care. This can seldom be booked in advance and smaller homes can't cope with powered wheelchairs. This leaves me and thousands of others with no constant support, leading to fatigue and burnout. Unpaid carers in the UK save the government £184bn a year, but we are not on their radar. Shame on you, Labour. My next vote is definitely going to Ed Davey and the Liberal Democrats, who have been consistent in their RutherfordExeter, Devon Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Courier
26-05-2025
- The Courier
Cats alerted Dundee householder to late-night break-in
A rampant criminal was caught red-handed during a Dundee break-in after the householders' cats began acting strangely. John Harris fled after being confronted by a woman who screamed when she found the crook in her living room. The 56-year-old was caught after being hunted by her partner and police officers. Harris – who was been breaking into properties for 40 years – is now facing a further stint in prison after admitting the offence at Dundee Sheriff Court. It was revealed the couple had locked all doors and windows before going to bed, with the woman still awake at around 1.30am. 'She noticed her cats acting strange and spooked by something,' prosecutor Stephanie Paterson told the court. 'A short time later, she heard a loud bang as if a door had just been slammed. 'She went downstairs to check the noise and noticed the living room light was on. 'Upon walking in, she saw the accused standing directly in front of her.' The fiscal depute said the woman 'began to scream loudly' in a panic, which prompted a bloodied Harris to flee out of the kitchen and into a neighbour's garden. Her partner raced downstairs to assist and tried to trace his stolen iPhone with an app. Harris was arrested at around 2am a short distance away, where he was found with the phone, a bank card, driving licence and alcohol. Police noted the kitchen window had been forced open, with blood visible. HMP Perth prisoner Harris pled guilty to breaking into a property in the Douglas area on May 4 this year. Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith deferred sentence until next month for a social work report to be prepared.
