Latest news with #OldhamCouncil
ITV News
3 hours ago
- ITV News
'Jealous' husband stabbed wife as she walked baby after stalking her, court told
A 'violent, jealous, controlling' husband stalked his estranged wife to a women's refuge before stabbing her to death as she pushed their baby in a pram, a court has heard. Habibur Masum, 26, launched a 'ferocious' knife attack on Kulsuma Akter, 27, after confronting her on a street in Bradford, Bradford Crown Court was told. The jury heard Ms Akter had fled her home in Oldham to a hostel in Bradford 'to escape his violence, jealousy and controlling behaviour'. Masum, from Burnley, had previously been arrested over claims he had threatened to kill Ms Akter and was banned from contacting her when he attacked her on 6 April last year. Opening the case on Monday, prosecutor Steven Wood KC said Masum had tracked Ms Akter to Bradford before trying to trick her into leaving the hostel by pretending to be from a GP's surgery and offering her fake appointments. The court heard he confronted Ms Akter as she walked with a friend while pushing the couple's seven-month-old son in a pram. Mr Wood said she was shocked Masum was there as she believed he was in Spain at the time. CCTV footage played in court showed Masum walking alongside Ms Akter before he stopped her, spun her and the pram around and pulled a knife from his jacket. He then stabbed her. Mr Wood said Masum launched a "ferocious and deadly attack" on his wife as she lay on the ground. 'When the defendant had finished stabbing her, as a final act of sheer gratuitous violence, he kicks Kulsuma before moving away, but not before ensuring that he disposed of the knife,' he said. The court heard Ms Akter suffered multiple stab wounds to her body and face, including a wound to the neck which partly cut her windpipe and severed her left jugular vein. Mr Wood told jurors: 'The [prosecution] say this was cold-blooded, calculated, pre-meditated murder. 'Why would the defendant take a knife with him to meet his estranged wife unless he planned to use it?' Previous threat to kill The court heard Masum had previously threatened to kill Ms Akter and in November 2023 attacked her over a 'completely innocuous' message she received from a male colleague. 'In what you may think was a chilling prediction of what he was to do in April of the following year, he told Kulsuma, 'I am going to murder you, and the police will be taking me',' Mr Wood said. The next day he threatened her with a knife, prompting a female family member to call the police. Masum was arrested that night, jurors heard. The court heard Masum was charged with two offences of assault and one of making a threat to kill. Jurors heard Ms Akter told a social worker from Oldham Council she 'believed that one day her husband would kill her', asking if her son could stay with her sister-in-law and brother 'when this day comes'. She was moved to accommodation in Bradford in January 2024, but the court heard Masum contacted her on Snapchat, threatening to kill her brothers. The jury was told the refuge contacted the police but Masum sent her a video the next day of Bradford railway station, with a message saying he had 'come to her town'. He later sent her a photo of the refuge with a message saying: 'I know that you are living in this place. I knew from the first day you moved here. 'If I had any wish to kill you, I could have from the first day. You do not know what you have lost but one day you will understand. Nobody will love you like I do.' Ms Akter's social worker arranged for her to be rehoused and she was due to move on 8 April but died two days before the transfer. After stabbing Ms Akter, Masum left her and his son at the scene and got on a bus, Mr Wood said. He later travelled almost 200 miles south to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and was arrested in the early hours of 9 April in a car park near Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he had attended to be treated for 'lock jaw'. Masum denies murdering Ms Akter but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a knife. He also denies two charges of assault, one count of making threats to kill and one charge of stalking. The trial continues.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Historic theatre's reopening delayed until 2026
A historic theatre which is being refurbished after a long campaign to save it will not reopen in time for the 2025 panto season as planned, a council has confirmed. Oldham's Coliseum theatre is undergoing a £10m revamp and was due to throw open its doors again in December. Coronation Street actor Julie Hesmondhalgh was among those who joined the campaign to save the 135-year-old venue after the Arts Council withdrew funding in March 2023. But Oldham Council has now said unexpected extra work could delay the reopening until well into 2026. However, Hesmondhalgh, a member of the Friends of the Coliseum group, said the group was "relieved and happy" with the postponement as it would give them more chance to prepare. "Better to return with a beautiful, bold and glittering bang than do something half-baked in a building that isn't yet ready," she said. Arts Council England withdrew funding for the theatre on Fairbottom Street amid concerns over the theatre's management. But after the campaign it U-turned on its plans to replace it with a brand new building and pledged a £10m spend to reopen the Coliseum. Contractors Tilbury Douglas started work on the theatre earlier this year. More work to remove asbestos from the walls and roof has led to the postponement, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Council leader Arooj Shah said: "It's disappointing not to be reopening for Panto 2025 as it's such a special part of Oldham's festive season, but unexpected bumps in the road often happen with a project of this scale. "Rather than rush to open before the building is ready, our decision to extend the construction period gives us the time needed to get the details absolutely right." Martina Murphy, CEO of the the Coliseum production house, said she was "gutted" by the delay, but was confident the theatre would be "back with a bang" in 2026. Oldham Coliseum's production house will still be putting on shows around the area in the meantime. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Historic theatre finds way to keep show on the road Historic theatre saved after closure U-turn Oldham Council
ITV News
5 days ago
- General
- ITV News
Five men arrested as detectives investigate historic child sexual exploitation in Oldham
Five men have been arrested following a series of police raids as part of a major investigation into historic child sexual exploitation (CSE). The suspects, aged between 37 and 54, were detained on Wednesday morning, 4 June, during warrants executed at properties across Oldham, Tameside and Manchester. The men were arrested on suspicion of rape and remain in custody for questioning. The arrests are linked to alleged grooming and abuse that took place between 2011 and 2014 and form part of Greater Manchester Police 's (GMP) ongoing Operation Sherwood – "a complex and wide-ranging" investigation supported by Oldham Council. GMP have said the cases currently involve four survivors, one of whom recently came forward which prompted the morning raids. Officers from GMP's CSE Major Incident Team have been working closely with the survivors, gathering evidence and intelligence to build a strong foundation for potential prosecutions. Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker, GMP's lead for Protecting Vulnerable People, said: "The survivors at the centre of these cases have placed their trust in the GMP of today and have the confidence to support prosecutions, which we hold to the highest regard. "Our investigative teams are piecing together all the evidence and taking robust action as soon as we can. "Bringing child abusers to justice is why our detectives work so tirelessly day-in, day-out. It's essential we get this right.' Six other people had already been arrested as part of Operation Sherwood in earlier stages of the investigation. Those suspects have since been released on bail under strict child protection conditions while enquiries continue. GMP confirmed that while the latest group of suspects are not all believed to be directly linked, their arrests relate to ongoing support provided to multiple survivors. In a post shared on X, GMP said: "We've arrested a number of suspected child sex offenders this morning as part of an ongoing specialist GMP investigation."The action relates to alleged grooming in Oldham between 2011 and 2014. The victim supporting today's action continues to be kept updated. "Time will be no barrier to getting justice for victims of child sexual exploitation.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Second attempt to oust council leader fails
A council leader has survived a second attempt to oust her in as many years. Labour's Arooj Shah, leader of a minority administration on Oldham Council, was saved when an independent group stepped in to outnumber others who had banded together to try to overthrow the leadership. Shah said the council needs to move on from the "distraction" of "childish games" and "identity politics". Kamran Ghafood, who launched the failed takeover, has been approached for comment. Ghafood, who leads the Oldham Group, attempted to unit opposition groups but failed when 31 out of 58 voted against his leadership bid. The Failsworth Independents stepped in to give Shah the numbers she needed to survive. Shah told BBC Radio Manchester: "We are doing some important stuff and we're focusing on regeneration - what we don't need is distractions." She said the council wanted to "focus on serving the residents", adding: "What I am hoping is that they end these childish games, and that the vote has drawn a line in the sand." Shah said she hoped her opponents would "realise there are serious people in that chamber who just want to crack on with their job". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Labour narrowly retain control of Oldham Council Abuse made me more determined, council leader says Oldham Council
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Oldham Council leader survives second attempt to oust her
A council leader has survived a second attempt to oust her in as many years. Labour's Arooj Shah, leader of a minority administration on Oldham Council, was saved when an independent group stepped in to outnumber others who had banded together to try to overthrow the leadership. Shah said the council needs to move on from the "distraction" of "childish games" and "identity politics".Kamran Ghafood, who launched the failed takeover, has been approached for comment. Ghafood, who leads the Oldham Group, attempted to unit opposition groups but failed when 31 out of 58 voted against his leadership bid. The Failsworth Independents stepped in to give Shah the numbers she needed to survive. Shah told BBC Radio Manchester: "We are doing some important stuff and we're focusing on regeneration - what we don't need is distractions."She said the council wanted to "focus on serving the residents", adding: "What I am hoping is that they end these childish games, and that the vote has drawn a line in the sand."Shah said she hoped her opponents would "realise there are serious people in that chamber who just want to crack on with their job". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
