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South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Horse riding boss denies having threesome with underage girl
Horse-riding instructor Guy Simmonds, 37, allegedly engaged in the three-way sex act with the schoolgirl and fellow rider Lauren Jarvis, 26. A court heard Simmonds had a successful career in falconry working at London Zoo and even keeping falcons for the king of Saudi Arabia in Dubai before setting up his equestrian business. He also featured in a TV show for Horse and Country following his journey from Wales to Mongolia while exploring his passion for falconry and horsemanship. Cardiff Crown Court heard Simmonds and Jarvis hatched a plan to sleep with the underage teenager before agreeing a "pact of silence" in January last year. But Simmonds claims the victim lied about the encounter before creating bogus WhatsApp conversations after he rejected her. Giving evidence, Simmonds said the girl may have used a "pranking" app to create the messages or even messaged herself from another device while using his name. He said: "I believe the messages to be fake." The court heard Simmonds had messaged Jarvis to ask if the victim was at her address before saying: "I don't want to turn up at the same time that her mum drops her off." But he told the court he was only intending on having sex with Jarvis after the pair were involved in an affair – and he wanted to make sure he was not spotted. He said: "It was solely because I was cheating on my partner and I know the girl and her mum knew my partner." Simmonds told the court the girl had previously made him and his partner feel "uncomfortable" by using "inappropriate" language about sex. He said: "There were rumours that she was telling people that I had been trying it on with her. I was worried. "The horse world is very small. I wanted to keep my reputation. She was a very volatile person." Prosecutor James Hartson said Simmonds added the underage teenage girl on Facebook and said: "Thanks for accepting" before being told her age. He later dumped his mobile phone in a bin at a Tesco supermarket just days before he was arrested for alleged sexual contact with a child. Simmonds denied he was attempting to destroy evidence – and claimed the phone was broken when he was quizzed by police. The court heard he also burned or threw away a mattress from his horse box where he repeatedly had sex with the victim. Equestrian boss Simmonds told police he got rid of the mattress because it was "covered in faeces and urine from mice". The court heard Simmonds messaged Jarvis after the alleged threesome to say: "You both loved that haha" – and Jarvis replied: "Yeah, you missed round two" with a wink emoji. The court heard Simmonds answered "no comment" in police interview when he was asked to explain the messages before saying: "Everything can be taken out of context". Simmonds told police that Jarvis was a "friend with benefits" and they had sex about four times before he "thought better of it" and decided to "concentrate on what I've got with my partner". Following the alleged threesome he messaged Jarvis to say: "Hey, I have a feeling that she has said about us. If anyone asks for sake of both of us nothing ever happened that night xx." But he claimed he sent this message because the girl had been "texting everybody absolute c**p" and "being a nuisance" in a row over other females she believed were close to him. Simmonds is accused of six counts of sexual activity with a child and Jarvis faces one charge of sexual activity with a child. Simmonds, from Undy, Monmouthshire and Jarvis, from Newport, deny all charges. The trial, before Judge Lucy Crowther, continues.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Grandparents can get 13 free and cheap days out this summer while looking after kids
One venue is offering £1 annual passes to households on benefits POT OF GOLD Grandparents can get 13 free and cheap days out this summer while looking after kids Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOUSANDS of grandparents can get 13 free and cheap days out this summer. Plenty of attractions and venues across the UK offer concessions to older people whether they're on benefits or not. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Hard-up grandparents can get discounted tickets at a host of attractions Credit: Getty We've rounded up what's on offer between now and the end of August so you can keep a lid on your budget. Historic Royal Palaces Visitors to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace can get £1 day tickets if they're on a low income. The cut-price tickets can be claimed for up to six people per household with only one person needing to prove they're on a qualifying benefit. The full list of qualifying benefits is: Universal Credit Pension Credit Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Jobseeker's Allowance Cheaper £1 tickets can also be bought for Kew Gardens if you are on Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Head to the respective attractions' websites to book in your visit. Just remember, you'll need proof of benefit when you arrive. London Zoo London Zoo offers £3 concession tickets to older households on a host of benefits. The full list is: Universal Credit Pension Credit Housing Benefit Income Support income-based Employment and Support Allowance income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Tickets must be bought online in advance, and can be purchased for up to six people per household (all living at the same address). Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence Children under three go free regardless of your circumstances and you don't need to book them in. You can find out more via the London Zoo website - You need to take a proof of benefit letter with you when you visit. National Football Museum The National Football Museum, Manchester, offers £13 tickets to seniors booking online (they're £15 if buying on arrival). Tickets for adults are normally £15 and £17 respectively, so you're saving a couple of quid. Just make sure you take ID with you to prove your age. You can find out more via London Transport Museum Grandparents on three benefits can get an entire annual pass for the London Transport Museum for just £1. The full list of benefits qualifying you for the discounted tickets is: Universal Credit Pension Credit Employment and Support Allowance You'll need to take a proof of benefit with you each time you visit. Find out more via Over 60s can also get an annual pass for £24 instead of £25 full price too. The pass offers unlimited daytime entry into the Covent Garden-based museum. Eden Project The Eden Project, Cornwall, offers tickets to adults on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and a host of other benefits. This includes those on: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance Housing Benefit ESA JSA Income Support Tickets for adults cost £5 and £1 for children aged five to 16, for households up to two adults and two children. All children aged under five can go for free. The Eden Project website says tickets can be bought on the gate on the day of arrival, but strongly recommends pre-booking online. Find out more via Royal Horticultural Society gardens The Royal Horticultural Society runs garden centres up and down the UK, with some offering discounts to those on benefits. Visitors to the Harlow Carr garden centre or Rosemoor garden centre can get tickets for £1 for themselves and up to five people. The group can be a mixture of children and adults, but only one member of the group needs to be receiving benefits. You qualify if you receive the following benefits: Universal Credit Pension Credit ESA You can find out more and book tickets via Cutty Sark Take a trip to the Cutty Sark, in Greenwich, London, and get tickets for just £2 if you're on a range of benefits. You can also get discounted tickets for trips to the Royal Observatory Greenwich and National Maritime Museum. The full list of benefits that qualify you for the £2 tickets is: Universal Credit Pension Credit ESA Income Support JSA You can claim £2 tickets for up to six people per household. Tickets for kids under four and for someone accompanied by a disabled visitor are free of charge. You can find out more via York Castle Museum Take in hundreds of years of history at York Castle Museum with discounted ticket prices. Claimants on means-tested benefits like Universal Credit can get entry completely free of charge. Children under five also go free. Adult tickets usually cost £17 so a family of two children aged over five and two adults on Universal Credit could save over £50. Find out more via Coral Reef Waterworld Coral Reef Waterworld in Bracknell offers concessionary tickets to those on certain benefits like Universal Credit. Adult tickets usually costing £18.60 are worth £13.20 if you're on Universal Credit or PIP, for example - a more than £5 discount. You can buy the tickets online via Edinburgh Zoo Take in zebras and flamingos at Edinburgh Zoo without spending too much of that hard-earned cash. Reduced price tickets are open to those on the following benefits, costing from £7: Universal Credit ESA JSA Housing Benefit Income Support Tickets can be bought for households up to six with proof of receipt of the benefits as well as ID needing to brought on the day of the visit. To qualify you must have received a benefit payment in the last month. Edinburgh Zoo says you must book any tickets in advance with only full price tickets available on the gate. You can book via Standard adult tickets usually cost around £27.50, so you're saving just over £20 opting for a Universal Credit entry. National Theatre of Scotland Theatre lovers can sign up to Theatre for a Fiver to get £5 ticket deals for National Theatre of Scotland productions across Scotland. You'll need to be aged between 14 and 26 though. Once you sign up, you'll receive a regular email containing the latest offers and discount codes to access great theatre for only a fiver. The scheme is available to people on low-income benefits including: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Carer's Credit, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Tank Museum The Tank Museum in Dorset offers discounted tickets if you're on any number of benefits including Universal Credit and Pension Credit. Recipients of the following benefits get 75% off: Universal Credit Pension Credit ESA Income Support JSA Tickets cost £5.75 for adults and £3.10 for children. You'll have to take proof of eligibility of the qualifying benefits with you on your visit. Tickets are limited to six people per household (maximum two adults and up to four children) and must be bought on-site. Chatsworth House Chatsworth House, south west of Sheffield, offers cut price tickets to those on Universal Credit. Tickets give you access to the house, garden, farmyard and adventure playground and cost £3 for adults and £1 for children three to 16. Universal Credit tickets are available for those who currently receive one or more of the following: Universal Credit Pension Credit Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Jobseeker's Allowance PIP Tickets are only available to buy online in advance and proof of receipt of the qualifying benefit must be taken with you on the day of your visit.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Grandparents can get 13 free and cheap days out this summer while looking after kids
THOUSANDS of grandparents can get 13 free and cheap days out this summer. Plenty of attractions and venues across the UK offer concessions to older people whether they're on benefits or not. 1 We've rounded up what's on offer between now and the end of August so you can keep a lid on your budget. Historic Royal Palaces Visitors to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace can get £1 day tickets if they're on a low income. The cut-price tickets can be claimed for up to six people per household with only one person needing to prove they're on a qualifying benefit. The full list of qualifying benefits is: Universal Credit Pension Credit Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Jobseeker's Allowance Cheaper £1 tickets can also be bought for Kew Gardens if you are on Universal Credit or Pension Credit. Head to the respective attractions' websites to book in your visit. Just remember, you'll need proof of benefit when you arrive. London Zoo London Zoo offers £3 concession tickets to older households on a host of benefits. The full list is: Universal Credit Pension Credit Housing Benefit Income Support income-based Employment and Support Allowance income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Tickets must be bought online in advance, and can be purchased for up to six people per household (all living at the same address). Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence Children under three go free regardless of your circumstances and you don't need to book them in. You can find out more via the London Zoo website - You need to take a proof of benefit letter with you when you visit. National Football Museum The National Football Museum, Manchester, offers £13 tickets to seniors booking online (they're £15 if buying on arrival). Tickets for adults are normally £15 and £17 respectively, so you're saving a couple of quid. Just make sure you take ID with you to prove your age. You can find out more via London Transport Museum Grandparents on three benefits can get an entire annual pass for the London Transport Museum for just £1. The full list of benefits qualifying you for the discounted tickets is: Universal Credit Pension Credit Employment and Support Allowance You'll need to take a proof of benefit with you each time you visit. Find out more via Over 60s can also get an annual pass for £24 instead of £25 full price too. The pass offers unlimited daytime entry into the Covent Garden-based museum. Eden Project The Eden Project, Cornwall, offers tickets to adults on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and a host of other benefits. This includes those on: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance Housing Benefit ESA JSA Income Support Tickets for adults cost £5 and £1 for children aged five to 16, for households up to two adults and two children. All children aged under five can go for free. The Eden Project website says tickets can be bought on the gate on the day of arrival, but strongly recommends pre-booking online. Find out more via Royal Horticultural Society gardens The Royal Horticultural Society runs garden centres up and down the UK, with some offering discounts to those on benefits. Visitors to the Harlow Carr garden centre or Rosemoor garden centre can get tickets for £1 for themselves and up to five people. The group can be a mixture of children and adults, but only one member of the group needs to be receiving benefits. You qualify if you receive the following benefits: Universal Credit Pension Credit ESA You can find out more and book tickets via Cutty Sark Take a trip to the Cutty Sark, in Greenwich, London, and get tickets for just £2 if you're on a range of benefits. You can also get discounted tickets for trips to the Royal Observatory Greenwich and National Maritime Museum. The full list of benefits that qualify you for the £2 tickets is: Universal Credit Pension Credit ESA Income Support JSA You can claim £2 tickets for up to six people per household. Tickets for kids under four and for someone accompanied by a disabled visitor are free of charge. You can find out more via York Castle Museum Take in hundreds of years of history at York Castle Museum with discounted ticket prices. Claimants on means-tested benefits like Universal Credit can get entry completely free of charge. Children under five also go free. Adult tickets usually cost £17 so a family of two children aged over five and two adults on Universal Credit could save over £50. Find out more via Coral Reef Waterworld Coral Reef Waterworld in Bracknell offers concessionary tickets to those on certain benefits like Universal Credit. Adult tickets usually costing £18.60 are worth £13.20 if you're on Universal Credit or PIP, for example - a more than £5 discount. You can buy the tickets online via Edinburgh Zoo Take in zebras and flamingos at Edinburgh Zoo without spending too much of that hard-earned cash. Reduced price tickets are open to those on the following benefits, costing from £7: Universal Credit ESA JSA Housing Benefit Income Support Tickets can be bought for households up to six with proof of receipt of the benefits as well as ID needing to brought on the day of the visit. To qualify you must have received a benefit payment in the last month. Edinburgh Zoo says you must book any tickets in advance with only full price tickets available on the gate. You can book via Standard adult tickets usually cost around £27.50, so you're saving just over £20 opting for a Universal Credit entry. National Theatre of Scotland Theatre lovers can sign up to Theatre for a Fiver to get £5 ticket deals for National Theatre of Scotland productions across Scotland. You'll need to be aged between 14 and 26 though. Once you sign up, you'll receive a regular email containing the latest offers and discount codes to access great theatre for only a fiver. The scheme is available to people on low-income benefits including: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Carer's Credit, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Tank Museum The Tank Museum in Dorset offers discounted tickets if you're on any number of benefits including Universal Credit and Pension Credit. Recipients of the following benefits get 75% off: Universal Credit Pension Credit ESA Income Support JSA Tickets cost £5.75 for adults and £3.10 for children. You'll have to take proof of eligibility of the qualifying benefits with you on your visit. Tickets are limited to six people per household (maximum two adults and up to four children) and must be bought on-site. Chatsworth House Chatsworth House, south west of Sheffield, offers cut price tickets to those on Universal Credit. Tickets give you access to the house, garden, farmyard and adventure playground and cost £3 for adults and £1 for children three to 16. Universal Credit tickets are available for those who currently receive one or more of the following: Universal Credit Pension Credit Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Jobseeker's Allowance PIP Tickets are only available to buy online in advance and proof of receipt of the qualifying benefit must be taken with you on the day of your visit.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
First pics from set of Harry Potter TV series see cast descend on London Zoo for iconic Dudley Dursley birthday scene
The first snaps from the set of the upcoming Harry Potter TV series see the cast descend on London Zoo for the iconic Dudley Dursley birthday scene from the first book and movie. The highly-anticipated series, which is based on J.K. Rowling 's novels of the same name, was first announced in 2023, and finally confirmed in April this year. And after a long wait, the three lead child stars were announced back in May and now fans will be ecstatic to know that filming has begun. The first ever pictures from the show - set to hit our screens in 2027 on HBO - have been released. They show the scenes just before Harry sneaks off from his cousin Dudley's birthday party at London Zoo, from the 2001 movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The youngster finds out that he's got magical powers after helping a Burmese Python escape from the enclosure that it is living in. They show the scenes just before Harry sneaks off from his cousin Dudley's birthday party at London Zoo, from the 2001 movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone In the new snaps, filmed at London Zoo in Regent's Park, Harry - played by Dominic McLaughlin - can be seen rocking a blue hoodie and his iconic circular glasses. He was joined by a grimacing Dudley (Amos Kitson) and his aunt Petunia (Bel Powley) and grumpy Vernon (Daniel Rigby) in the scenes filmed by the penguin enclosure. The cast also zoomed around in green golf buggies, while members of the public were shocked as they realised who they were. Earlier this week filming of Harry Potter 's TV series continued as bosses released a first look of Nick Frost in the role as Rubeus Hagrid. Dominic McLaughlin has bagged the role of Harry Potter, with a snap on Monday showing the young actor completely transformed into the wizard. Holding a clapper board on set, Dominic was seen beaming as he looked strikingly like a young Daniel Radcliffe when he first stepped into the role all the way back in 2001. Now, comedian and actor Nick Frost looks unrecognisable as posed in full costume as beloved character Hagrid. And after a long wait, the three lead child stars were announced back in May and now fans will be ecstatic to know that filming has begun Sporting a thick long beard and locks, the 53-year-old looked just like the grounds keeper from the original movie franchise. Robbie Coltrane, who died in 2022 at the age of 72, played the character in all eight of the original movies. Nick was forced to switch off his Instagram comments when news of his casting was announced after he was trolled by trans activists. Distancing himself from Rowling's trans views, Nick told the Observer: 'She's allowed her opinion and I'm allowed mine. They just don't align in any way, shape of form.' Playing Harry's best friends are Arabella Stanton as Hermoine Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Filming has started in the UK, at Warner Bros studios in Leavesden, with the highly-anticipated series set to land on HBO in 2027. Meanwhile, additional cast members have also been revealed, with Rory Wilmot set to play Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser - best known for his role as Qyburn in Game Of Thrones - as Garrick Ollivander. It comes as Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby were announced the Mr and Mrs Dursley earlier this summer. The TV adaptation of J.K. Rowling's book series was first confirmed in April by the show's producers as they unveiled the new lead stars They now revealed additional cast as Rory Wilmot is set to play Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander The series is a reboot of J.K. Rowling 's seven-book series and is a full-scale, decade-long adaptation that promises to stick far more closely to the original storylines than the blockbuster films BAFTA-winning actor Daniel Rigby, 42, will play her husband Vernon Dursley, previously played by the late Richard Griffiths English actress Bel Powel has reportedly signed up to play Petunia Dursley in the TV adaption after shooting to fame in 2015 Johnny Flynn, 42, will play Draco Malfoy's dad Lucius - who was played by Jason Isaacs in the movie Emmy-nominated actress Janet McTeer (left) will take over from the late Maggie Smith (right) as Professor McGonagall in the highly-anticipated HBO adaptation John Lithgow (left) was been picked to play the new Professor Albus Dumbledore, a role originally played by Michael Gambon in the last six of eight Harry Potter films British actor-comedian Nick Frost will play half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, originally embodied by the late Robbie Coltrane Janet McTeer, known for her powerhouse performances on stage and screen, will step into the sharp heels of Professor McGonagall, while rising star Paapa Essiedu takes on the darker, more complicated role of Severus Snape – a part made famous by the late Alan Rickman. Actor and comedian Nick Frost will play legendary Hogwarts groundskeeper Hagrid in the adaption. Johnny Flynn, 42, will play Draco Malfoy's dad Lucius - who was played by Jason Isaacs in the movie. Emmy winner John Lithgow has also signed on the dotted line to play Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. It was also revealed that Katherine Parkinson, 47, will be playing Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny's mum Molly Weasley. The HBO TV show is said to be costing £75million per episode - and the three child actors taking the lead roles have been tipped to land themselves even bigger fortunes than the original stars. Producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod previously praised the 'wonderful' talent of the three young stars who will lead the series. Rowling released the first Harry Potter novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets the following year. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released in 1999, followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000. Three years later Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix was published and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2005. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released in 2007. J.K. Rowling's involvement in the series as executive producer has attracted controversy from fans over her views on transgender issues. The author, 59, who created the fantasy novels on which the show is based, previously took to X to rave about the first two episodes after confirming that while she did not pen them herself, she did work closely with the writers. She said: 'I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!'. Meanwhile, HBO previously defended Rowling's involvement in a statement, saying: 'We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter – the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Adorable penguin chicks take first dip in London Zoo's main pool during heatwave
Penguin chicks at London Zoo have cooled off in the heatwave with their first dip in the main pool. Temperatures reached 31C at the zoo in Regent's Park on Friday, according to the Met Office, and seven of the 18 Humboldt penguin chicks which hatched this summer took their first dip in the big pool. The chicks spent the first few weeks of their life at the zoo's nursery pool and have now joined the main penguin enclosure, called Penguin Beach, to have a dip in the 450,000 litre pool and join the 63-strong colony. The 11 youngest chicks are still practising their dive and penguin paddle before they can 'graduate' to the bigger pool, London Zoo said. READ MORE: Jess Fryer, section manager for penguins and flying birds at London Zoo, said: 'The 18 new Humboldt penguins here at London Zoo mark a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to protect these charismatic coastal birds, whose wild populations have been shrinking due to habitat loss, overfishing, and climate change. 'Having 18 new arrivals on Penguin Beach is so much fun, and has certainly kept us busy. 'Our special nursery pool is the perfect place for the chicks to get used to the water and learn to swim, before they head out into the main pool with the colony.' She added: 'We couldn't wait to name the new chicks, and among those graduating to the big pool this week are Dua Flipa, Toogie, Beau, Dragon, Ray and Robin. 'We feel a bit like a teacher doing the morning register when we reel off all their names.'
