Latest news with #OldBailey
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Steve Wright denies attempting to kidnap woman in Felixstowe
Steve Wright has denied attempting to kidnap a woman as she walked home from a nightclub more than 25 years woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was in Felixstowe, Suffolk, when the alleged attack took place on 18 September Wright, 67, appeared via video link at the Old Bailey accused of acting "unlawfully or by force" to carry out the is due to stand trial on 2 February 2026, where he also faces charges of kidnapping and murdering another woman - which he denies. That related to the death of 17-year-old Victoria Hall, who disappeared while on her way home from a night out in Felixstowe in the early hours of 19 September body was found 25 miles (40km) away by a dog walker in a ditch in Creeting St Peter, near Stowmarket, five days later on 24 Wright, formerly of London Road, Ipswich, spoke only to enter a not guilty plea to the attempted kidnap on was alleged he "unlawfully and by force attempted to take or carry away [the woman] against her will".Mr Justice Bennathan said a pre-trial review would be held in October. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Shaun Wallace's life away from The Chase from private romance to huge salary
Shaun Wallace, who is better known as The Dark Destroyer on ITV's The Chase, has had an impressive career both as a barrister and television personality - but little is known about his personal life. Shaun Wallace, fondly known as The Dark Destroyer on ITV's hit quiz show The Chase, has become a familiar face in many homes. He shares the spotlight with host Bradley Walsh and a team of knowledgeable quizzers. The programme made its debut in June 2009, with Shaun and fellow quizzer Mark Labbett being part of the original line-up. They remain key figures on the show today, alongside Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan and Darragh Ennis. Before his rise to TV fame, Shaun was a practising criminal barrister, appearing in hearings at both the Old Bailey and numerous magistrates' courts across England, Wales and Scotland. His life took an exciting turn in 2004 when he clinched victory in the BBC general knowledge quiz Mastermind, choosing FA Cup Finals as his specialist subject. This triumph caught the eye of Bradley Walsh and his production crew, leading to Shaun being recruited by ITV as the inaugural chaser on The Chase. His popularity on the show paved the way for a host of other opportunities, including hosting quizzes on cruise ships, writing his own autobiography Catching A Dream, and making countless other TV appearances, according to Bristol Live. Despite his public persona, little is known about Shaun's personal life. Here, we delve into his life away from the cameras. Huge salary In a recent chat, Shaun unveiled his impressive dual income, revealing that he now commands a hefty six-figure salary for his work as a barrister and TV star. Mastermind champion Shaun Wallace has credited his quiz show triumph for a dramatic boost in his wealth. Chatting about his financial status to The Times, the quizzing whizz gave a wry response: "A lot. That's all I'll say. How many zeros?" Although he remained coy on exact figures, Shaun opened up about his considerable financial leap: "Well into six-zero territory and my earnings have increased massively since I've started working in TV. I got paid well as a barrister but I'm now earning about ten times the amount I was before," revealing that television had significantly multiplied his income. Despite becoming a household name on television, Shaun hasn't entirely left the law behind as he said: "I still practise, though, so I have a dual income. Probably 70 percent of my income comes from my TV work and 30 percent from the legal side. Everything changed when I won Mastermind in 2004. Not just my finances, my whole life." Private romance When it comes to matters of the heart, Shaun, affectionately dubbed The Dark Destroyer on The Chase, tends to keep the cards close to his chest regarding his love life. Nevertheless, during his chat with Loose Women's Kaye Adams on the How To Be 60 podcast, he intriguingly hinted at his love life. He cryptically said: "I suppose I'm married to my career. Put it that way. I like that. I prefer that and I'm happier." When pressed about having someone special, Shaun simply stated: "Yes, I'm in a relationship." Family admission At 64, Shaun has consistently kept his private affairs out of the limelight, resulting in scant public knowledge of his personal endeavours. However, in an unusual move, the recognisable ITV personality shared insights into his home life on a recent podcast. Addressing whether he has ever had children, Shaun revealed: "No, I have never had a child." He justified his lack of fatherhood with reference to his past struggles as a budding barrister, claiming that the demands of his early legal career didn't align with responsible parenting. Shaun recounted on the podcast: "It was a conscious reason when I was a young struggling barrister. I didn't think it would be right to bring up a child when you're trying to climb to the top of that greasy pole." Though he hasn't experienced parenthood himself, Shaun has played a significant part in guiding several children as a godparent. Shaun freely admitted: "And I've never regretted that decision. I've got 15 godchildren. Two of them are called Shaun and I'm the best godfather in the world. I probably would have been a great dad but I've got no regrets in relation to that." The TV star also treasures his involvement in his ex-partner's child's life, considering it an exceptionally rewarding experience. He beamed with pride as he noted that she is akin to his own daughter, and affectionately calls him 'dad'. Reflecting on her accomplishments, Shaun said: "I watched her grow into a lovely young lady. She got a first-class honours degree recently and she got her doctorate the other day and I was there." Retirement plans Quiz master Shaun Wallace recently celebrated his 64th birthday, sparking curiosity among fans about whether he plans to retire from his famous role as The Dark Destroyer on Bradley Walsh's smash-hit quiz show, The Chase. Even though Shaun has been a constant fixture on The Chase since its inception in June 2009, he shows no signs of slowing down or retiring any time soon. In an exclusive chat with the New Zealand Woman's Weekly, he affirmed his commitment to continuing his vocation without interruption. Expressing his passion for his work and quizzing, Shaun bravely disclosed: "I'm celebrating 40 years in the job this year and I have no plans to retire at 65 - I love it. I love quizzing too, so I will be doing that for as long as I can." Shaun humbly shared his down-to-earth perspective on the show's impressive run. He confessed: "I never take being on The Chase for granted. I know it could all end tomorrow, and I still pinch myself that we are celebrating our 15th anniversary this year." The Chase is available to watch on ITVX.
Edinburgh Live
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Inside The Chase star Shaun Wallace's life from retirement plans to family admission
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Shaun Wallace, fondly known as The Dark Destroyer on ITV's beloved quiz show The Chase, has become a familiar face in many homes. He shares the spotlight with host Bradley Walsh and a squad of quiz whizzes. The programme made its debut in June 2009, with Shaun and fellow star Mark Labbett being part of the original line-up. They remain key figures on the show today, joined by Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan and Darragh Ennis. Prior to his rise to TV fame, Shaun was a practising criminal barrister, appearing in hearings at both the Old Bailey and numerous magistrates' courts across England, Wales and Scotland. His life took an exciting twist in 2004 when he clinched victory in the BBC general knowledge quiz Mastermind, choosing FA Cup Finals as his specialist subject. This triumph caught the eye of Bradley Walsh and his production crew, leading to Shaun being headhunted by ITV to become the inaugural chaser on The Chase. His popularity on the show paved the way for a host of other opportunities, including hosting quizzes on cruise ships, writing his own autobiography Catching A Dream, and making countless other TV appearances, according to Bristol Live. Despite his celebrity status, little is known about Shaun's personal life. Here, we delve into his life off-screen. Seven-figure earnings (Image: (Image: ITV)) In a recent chat, Shaun unveiled his impressive dual income, revealing that he now commands a hefty six-figure salary for his work as a barrister and TV personality. Mastermind champion Shaun has credited his victory on the popular quiz show for a significant boost in his bank balance. In a chat with The Times about his financial situation, Shaun coyly hinted at his increased earnings with a playful comment: "A lot. That's all I'll say. How many zeros?" He revealed that he is now: "Well into six-zero territory and my earnings have increased massively since I've started working in TV. I got paid well as a barrister but I'm now earning about ten times the amount I was before." Despite his rise to TV fame, Shaun also mentioned maintaining his career in law: "I still practise, though, so I have a dual income. Probably 70 percent of my income comes from my TV work and 30 percent from the legal side. Everything changed when I won Mastermind in 2004. Not just my finances, my whole life." Private romance (Image: Instagram: @theshaunwallace) Regarding his private life, Shaun, who is better known as The Dark Destroyer on The Chase, tends to keep details of his romantic encounters under wraps. During his candid chat with Loose Women's Kaye Adams on the How To Be 60 podcast, Shaun unexpectedly disclosed some personal updates about his romantic life. Carefully playing his cards close to his chest, he quipped: "I suppose I'm married to my career. Put it that way. I like that. I prefer that and I'm happier." When pressed about a significant other, Shaun simply stated: "Yes, I'm in a relationship." Never raising children (Image:) The 64-year-old typically reticent about his private affairs, offered insights into his personal life during a recent appearance on a podcast, revealing information often shielded from the limelight. Addressing the topic of fatherhood, Shaun admitted: "No, I have never had a child." He attributed his decision not to start a family to the demands of his budding barrister career, indicating that climbing the legal ladder hardly seemed compatible with responsible parenting. Shaun elaborated on his reasoning during the podcast, saying: "It was a conscious reason when I was a young struggling barrister. I didn't think it would be right to bring up a child when you're trying to climb to the top of that greasy pole." While he has not had any children of his own, Shaun has assumed a nurturing role in the lives of many as a godfather, undertaking parental responsibilities multiple times over. Shaun expressed unwavering satisfaction with his life decisions, declaring: "And I've never regretted that decision. I've got 15 godchildren. Two of them are called Shaun and I'm the best godfather in the world. I probably would have been a great dad but I've got no regrets in relation to that." Moreover, the television presenter plays a significant part in his ex's child's life, seeing this bond as truly meaningful. Beaming with joy, he explained how she became akin to a daughter for him, with her even referring to him as dad. With a tone of pure pride, Shaun remarked on witnessing her grow up: "I watched her grow into a lovely young lady. She got a first-class honours degree recently and she got her doctorate the other day and I was there." Retirement plans (Image: (Image: ITV)) The ITV star recently marked his 64th birthday, sparking queries from devotees about whether he envisaged hanging up his The Dark Destroyer persona on Bradley Walsh's smash-hit ITV programme, The Chase. Having been an integral fixture of The Chase since its debut in June 2009, Shaun shows zero signs of wanting to bow out. During a heart-to-heart with New Zealand Woman's Weekly, he voiced his plan to carry on in his vocation. He confidently disclosed: "I'm celebrating 40 years in the job this year and I have no plans to retire at 65 - I love it. I love quizzing too, so I will be doing that for as long as I can." Shaun recognised the transient world of television and maintained a grounded perspective on the longevity of the popular quiz show. Sharing his thoughts, he said: "I never take being on The Chase for granted. I know it could all end tomorrow, and I still pinch myself that we are celebrating our 15th anniversary this year." The Chase is available to watch on ITVX.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Two boys admit murdering 14-year-old schoolboy in brutal machete attack on London bus in front of horrified passengers
Two youths have admitted murdering a 14-year-old boy in a machete attack on a London bus while he was travelling home from school. Aspiring rapper Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed 27 times as he travelled on a route 472 bus in Woolwich, South East London, on the afternoon of January 7. Emergency services were called to the scene at about 2.30pm, but Kelyan died shortly after medics arrived having suffered a severed femoral artery. In an unusual move, Scotland Yard had issued CCTV images and named two boys as part of a public appeal for information. They were arrested on January 15 after a manhunt by Metropolitan Police officers, and charged the next day. The defendants, both aged 16, appeared at the Old Bailey today for a plea hearing. The pair pleaded guilty to Kelyan's murder and having a knife on Woolwich Church Street. Relatives of Kelyan gasped and appeared tearful as they sat metres away from the dock where the two boys sat flanked by officers. Reporting of the case was briefly delayed after one of the boys' barristers had called for time to speak to his client in light of what had appeared to be an unexpected plea. Later, the youth returned to court and confirmed his guilty plea. Judge Mark Lucraft KC ordered reports ahead of sentencing on July 25. At an earlier hearing, prosecutor Tom Little KC said the victim was sitting on the back seat of the bus on the upper deck when he was attacked by two youths both armed with 'lengthy machetes'. The defendants knew in advance of the presence of Kelyan when they boarded the bus and walked directly towards him, the court was told. Mr Little said: 'It is clear this is not a form of spontaneous incident. The two defendants must have known the deceased was on the bus. 'They approach him and almost instantaneously, the two of them pull out machetes and attacked the deceased. 'He is stabbed or attempted to be stabbed on a total of 27 occasions before the defendants made their way off the bus.' One of the machetes was discarded in the River Thames but was later recovered. Both defendants remained at large for a few days before being arrested. Both had previous convictions, including for having a knife in a public place. One of them had a referral order in place at the time of the murder. The defendants cannot be named because of their ages. However, Judge Lucraft indicated he would hear a media application to lift the reporting restriction at their sentencing hearing. Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee from the specialist crime unit, who led the Metropolitan Police's investigation, said this afternoon: 'Today I wish to express my team's heartfelt sympathies to Kelyan's family. 'The brutal and senseless attack on Kelyan's has deeply impacted his friends, the wider community and everyone that has worked tirelessly to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible. 'I hope Kelyan's family can take some solace in this outcome but I know they remain deeply bereft at the waste of three young lives.' An inquest in January heard members of the public tried to help Kelyan after he was stabbed. Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee told that hearing that police were called at around 2.28pm on January 7 by a bus driver reporting a stabbing on the bus. She said police understand that Kelyan boarded the bus at 2.06pm at North Greenwich train station and then two male suspects boarded the vehicle at 2.26pm. DCI Lee continued: 'They went up to the top deck where Kelyan was sitting and they immediately attacked him. 'Members of the public who were boarded on the bus called for help and asked the driver to stop, which he did, on Woolwich Church Street, and the suspects fled the bus. 'A number of passengers tried to help Kelyan. He came down the stairs and they placed him on a seat on the lower deck.' She said the bus driver called for aid, and police and London Ambulance Service attended, but Kelyan could not be saved and he died at the scene. At a vigil held in January at a church overlooking the bus stop where he was stabbed, one of Kelyan's friends said the boy had a 'pure heart' and would 'always be there for you'.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mark Gordon assaulted police on maternity ward, court hears
Mark Gordon assaulted two female police officers on a maternity ward after the birth of his first child and had to be detained using leg restraints, a court has heard. Gordon, 50, and Constance Marten, 38, deny the manslaughter by gross negligence of daughter Victoria, their fifth child, whose body was found in a shopping bag in a Brighton shed in early 2023. They also deny causing or allowing the death of a child. The Old Bailey heard on Tuesday that Gordon left Det Sgt Delma Jones "cut and bruised" in the hours after Marten had first given birth, in 2017. Gordon later pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates' Court to assaulting Det Sgt Jones and PC Sian Beynon. Giving evidence, Det Sgt Jones said they had been called to the postnatal ward of West Wales General Hospital after medical staff raised concerns about the identity of a newborn's parents. Jones said she and PC Beynon went to a separate room with the father and asked him several times for his name and date of birth. He eventually agreed to write it in her notebook and said he was called James Amer, giving his date of birth as 31 April 1987, the jury was told. "I asked him to confirm his date of birth and he replied yeah. At this time I realised there are only 30 days in April." Det Sgt Jones said. She described how Gordon started to rock "backwards and forwards in a chair", muttering under his breath that he was "confused". When Det Sgt Jones said she wanted to do some checks on him, Gordon shouted, jumped up from his seat and started pacing backwards and forwards. "He was clenching his fists and his behaviour completely changed," she said. He then tried to leave the room, but his path was blocked by PC Beynon, the court heard. Det Sgt Jones said Gordon put his hands on her colleague, pushing her to one side. The jury heard the officers tried to restrain him, but he got out of the room and begin running towards where Marten was with their new baby. Det Sgt Jones said she went to get her radio to alert other nearby officers, before Gordon ran back towards them. They took hold of him, but Det Sgt Jones said she fell to the floor during the incident. "We were telling him to calm down, to comply," she said. "Obviously we had concerns over where we were - there were babies and other people around. We were concerned what he was capable of." PC Beynon deployed her Pava incapacitant spray "at least twice", Det Sgt Jones said. With help from a father of another newborn, the two police officers were able to successfully restrain Gordon, before their colleagues arrived to arrest him. Gordon began kicking out at another officer, and leg restraints were then put on him, the court heard. Det Sgt Jones, who has 20 years' experience of policing, said the incident - which lasted about 10 minutes - left her bruised and with cuts on her hands, adding that she remembers it "very well". Gordon, who no longer has barristers in the trial and is representing himself, asked her: "Is it true that all police officers tell the truth all the time?" Judge Mark Lucraft KC intervened, saying the question was not appropriate. The court has heard how a high profile manhunt was launched for Gordon and Marten in January 2023 after they fled their burning car near Bolton, Greater Manchester, and went off grid with Victoria. The trial continues.
