Latest news with #Paterson
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Two evil knife thugs who carried out unprovoked horror attacks on four strangers in Glasgow jailed for 14 years
A PAIR of knife thugs guilty of "gratuitous violence" on four strangers in less than two hours have been jailed for a total of 14 and a half years. Declan Fulton, 27, and Brandon Paterson, 22, struck late at night in Glasgow city centre last July. Advertisement 2 Brandon Paterson was subject to five different bail orders at the time of the crimes Credit: Spindrift 2 The pair were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow Credit: Getty One man was left with a horror facial wound for not having cigarettes to give them. Paterson was subject to five different bail orders at the time of the crimes. The pair were today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow, having earlier admitted their guilt. Fulton was jailed for eight years, with Paterson locked up for six and a half years. Advertisement The duo will also be supervised on their eventual release. Fulton already had previous for violence, weapons, disorder, theft and breaching court orders. Paterson was also a known offender. He flouted five separate bail orders - one for a drugs charge imposed just a week before these crimes. Explaining these attacks, prosecutor Neil McCulloch told the court: "This case relates to four incidents which took place in Glasgow city centre between 11.20pm on July 8 2024 and 1.30am on July 9. Advertisement Most read in The Scottish Sun "This was the assault of several people - who are not known to Fulton and Paterson - at various locations." Gregor McHarg was first targeted while out walking his dog in Sauchiehall Street. Tourist caught filming small child in Scots park tells court he meant 'no harm' One threatened: "I will slit your dog's throat." Mr McHarg initially questioned them before both claimed they were armed with blades. Advertisement The thugs stated: "Do you know who we are?" Fulton initially slashed at Mr McHarg and tried to stab him. The man branded them "cowards". Mr McHarg - bleeding from a wound to his elbow - then tailed the pair after they casually walked off. He approached them in nearby Bath Street where Fulton knifed him in the chest and Paterson hurled a traffic cone at him. Advertisement Mr McHarg ended up needing hospital treatment, including for a punctured lung. You are both violent thugs, and I will protect the public from you Lord Mulholland Mr McCulloch said there was a "potential" threat to his life. He is also permanently scarred. The next victim was then set upon in a "seemingly unprovoked" attack in Buchanan Street about an hour later. Robert Anderson was punched by Fulton before Paterson joined in. Advertisement After an attempt was made to smack him with a glass bottle, Fulton then slashed the man twice with a black-handled blade across the face. Mr Anderson ended up needing a total of 19 stitches for two wounds. Around 1.20am, Sergi Avila was walking with a friend in Dundas Street when the assailants asked for cigarettes. They did not have any to give. Mr McCulloch: "As a result, one of the pair began challenging Sergi Avila to fight before he approached from behind and slashed him to the right side of his face." Advertisement One of the victims called you cowards, which is a good description of what you did... you will pay a heavy price Lord Mulholland This caused a nasty, disfiguring wound from this victim's mouth across his cheek to his ear. Fulton and Paterson fled the scene. After getting help from a nearby motorist, Mr Alva was taken to hospital for his injuries. The court heard, like the other men, he is also scarred for life. The final victim was Just Eat delivery driver Saoud Abdullah, minutes later. Advertisement He was struck in Sauchiehall Street, having initially given an associate of the pair some water. Fulton went on to yank open the man's Just Eat bag and demanded his phone. Mr McCulloch: "Fulton slashed him on the left hand, causing it to bleed heavily." You pleaded guilty to a series of appalling assaults using weapons on innocent members of the public Lord Mulholland Mr Abdullah also ended up in hospital, having gone to a nearby hotel for help. Advertisement During a probe to catch the attackers, Fulton was arrested later that day. It was almost a fortnight before Paterson was traced in Glasgow city centre. The pair admitted in court to being involved in three of the aggravated assaults, with Fulton alone pleading guilty to attacking Mr Abdullah. Sentencing, Lord Mulholland ordered one of the thugs to "be respectful" by taking his hands out of his pockets and standing up straight in the dock. Advertisement The judge went on: "You pleaded guilty to a series of appalling assaults using weapons on innocent members of the public going about their business. "One of the victims called you cowards, which is a good description of what you did. Read more on the Irish Sun "This was gratuitous violence, and you will pay a heavy price. "You are both violent thugs, and I will protect the public from you." Advertisement
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Two evil knife thugs who carried out unprovoked horror attacks on four strangers in Glasgow jailed for 14 years
One man was left with a horror facial wound for not having cigarettes to give them 'COWARDS' Two evil knife thugs who carried out unprovoked horror attacks on four strangers in Glasgow jailed for 14 years A PAIR of knife thugs guilty of "gratuitous violence" on four strangers in less than two hours have been jailed for a total of 14 and a half years. Declan Fulton, 27, and Brandon Paterson, 22, struck late at night in Glasgow city centre last July. Advertisement 2 Brandon Paterson was subject to five different bail orders at the time of the crimes Credit: Spindrift 2 The pair were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow Credit: Getty One man was left with a horror facial wound for not having cigarettes to give them. Paterson was subject to five different bail orders at the time of the crimes. The pair were today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow, having earlier admitted their guilt. Fulton was jailed for eight years, with Paterson locked up for six and a half years. Advertisement The duo will also be supervised on their eventual release. Fulton already had previous for violence, weapons, disorder, theft and breaching court orders. Paterson was also a known offender. He flouted five separate bail orders - one for a drugs charge imposed just a week before these crimes. Explaining these attacks, prosecutor Neil McCulloch told the court: "This case relates to four incidents which took place in Glasgow city centre between 11.20pm on July 8 2024 and 1.30am on July 9. Advertisement "This was the assault of several people - who are not known to Fulton and Paterson - at various locations." Gregor McHarg was first targeted while out walking his dog in Sauchiehall Street. Tourist caught filming small child in Scots park tells court he meant 'no harm' One threatened: "I will slit your dog's throat." Mr McHarg initially questioned them before both claimed they were armed with blades. Advertisement The thugs stated: "Do you know who we are?" Fulton initially slashed at Mr McHarg and tried to stab him. The man branded them "cowards". Mr McHarg - bleeding from a wound to his elbow - then tailed the pair after they casually walked off. He approached them in nearby Bath Street where Fulton knifed him in the chest and Paterson hurled a traffic cone at him. Advertisement Mr McHarg ended up needing hospital treatment, including for a punctured lung. You are both violent thugs, and I will protect the public from you Lord Mulholland Mr McCulloch said there was a "potential" threat to his life. He is also permanently scarred. The next victim was then set upon in a "seemingly unprovoked" attack in Buchanan Street about an hour later. Robert Anderson was punched by Fulton before Paterson joined in. Advertisement After an attempt was made to smack him with a glass bottle, Fulton then slashed the man twice with a black-handled blade across the face. Mr Anderson ended up needing a total of 19 stitches for two wounds. Around 1.20am, Sergi Avila was walking with a friend in Dundas Street when the assailants asked for cigarettes. They did not have any to give. Mr McCulloch: "As a result, one of the pair began challenging Sergi Avila to fight before he approached from behind and slashed him to the right side of his face." Advertisement One of the victims called you cowards, which is a good description of what you did... you will pay a heavy price Lord Mulholland This caused a nasty, disfiguring wound from this victim's mouth across his cheek to his ear. Fulton and Paterson fled the scene. After getting help from a nearby motorist, Mr Alva was taken to hospital for his injuries. The court heard, like the other men, he is also scarred for life. The final victim was Just Eat delivery driver Saoud Abdullah, minutes later. Advertisement He was struck in Sauchiehall Street, having initially given an associate of the pair some water. Fulton went on to yank open the man's Just Eat bag and demanded his phone. Mr McCulloch: "Fulton slashed him on the left hand, causing it to bleed heavily." You pleaded guilty to a series of appalling assaults using weapons on innocent members of the public Lord Mulholland Mr Abdullah also ended up in hospital, having gone to a nearby hotel for help. Advertisement During a probe to catch the attackers, Fulton was arrested later that day. It was almost a fortnight before Paterson was traced in Glasgow city centre. The pair admitted in court to being involved in three of the aggravated assaults, with Fulton alone pleading guilty to attacking Mr Abdullah. Sentencing, Lord Mulholland ordered one of the thugs to "be respectful" by taking his hands out of his pockets and standing up straight in the dock. Advertisement The judge went on: "You pleaded guilty to a series of appalling assaults using weapons on innocent members of the public going about their business. "One of the victims called you cowards, which is a good description of what you did. "This was gratuitous violence, and you will pay a heavy price. "You are both violent thugs, and I will protect the public from you."
ITV News
15 hours ago
- Health
- ITV News
Who is Ian Paterson the butcher surgeon and what did he do?
An ITV documentary, Bodies of Evidence: The Butcher Surgeon, uncovers the shocking story of Ian Paterson and his victims. Paterson, who was based in Birmingham, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for his crimes, after carrying out needless operations over a 14-year period. While working as a breast surgeon consultant, he was diagnosing cancer when there wasn't any and cutting patients open for no reason. He was found guilty in 2017 of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding. This film from the ITV Exposure strand talks to victims, fellow doctors and a key whistleblower to tell the extraordinary story of how the system allowed Paterson to perform unnecessary and damaging surgery on so many for so long. Here's a guide to who Ian Paterson is and how he performed damaging surgeries: Who is Ian Paterson? The breast surgeon, 62, is currently serving 20 years for his 14-year campaign of botched operations he carried out in the West Midlands. Paterson, who is due to be freed in 2027, was jailed in 2017 for wounding with intent and unlawfully wounding nine women and one man he treated between 1997 and 2011. He convinced cancer patients to undergo operations in NHS and private hospitals by inventing or exaggerating the risks of tumours to earn extra cash and maintain a successful reputation. Where did Ian Paterson work? Paterson was a consultant breast surgeon in the West Midlands, working in both NHS and private practice at Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Spire Hospital Parkway and Spire Hospital Little Aston. When was Ian Paterson suspended? Ian Paterson was not suspended from carrying out his NHS or private work until 2011. Whistleblowers said they reported concerns about Paterson years before this. What is the Paterson inquiry? The Paterson inquiry investigated how the surgeon was able to carry out unnecessary surgeries undetected for so many years. In 2020 it found "patients were let down over many years" by the NHS and private hospitals and opportunities to stop Paterson were "missed, time after time". Inquiry chairman the Rt Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, said there was a culture of "avoidance and denial", which allowed the breast surgeon to carry out unnecessary and botched operations on hundreds of women. The inquiry recommended that the NHS Trust, which employed Paterson, and private health firm Spire Healthcare recall all of Paterson's patients. How many victims did Ian Paterson have? A total of 675 out of 1,207 women who underwent the unregulated treatment had died by 2017. More than 750 victims have already successfully claimed after receiving unapproved and life-threatening surgery from Paterson, who treated more than 11,000 patients. Will they get compensation? Public and private hospitals Paterson worked for have already paid out millions of pounds to those he operated on and their families. Spire Healthcare, which runs the private hospitals where Paterson operated, has paid out £13.1 million in compensation and set aside an additional £4.6 million for "future costs". Spire Healthcare told ITV News: 'An additional £4.6m has been set aside to complete the ongoing patient reviews and settle future claims and costs. Spire continually reviews the level of the fund's provision, which is dependent on the amount and size of claims received and any new information gained.' The latest investigations Five investigations into Patterson's practices have been conducted following two independent reports, a criminal trial, and one government inquiry. The most recent, which has been suspended, is examining the deaths of 62 women who were operated on by Paterson and later died of breast cancer. How much will it cost? Despite the fact that the inquests are due to finish in 2026, the Birmingham City Council is allocating funding until 2028. More than £2.5 million has already been spent. The costs all relate to the administration of the inquests, including fees for the coroner, legal counsel, solicitors and legal teams representing the NHS. What has happened at the inquests into the deaths of his patients? Ian Paterson refused to attend the first of more than 60 inquests touching on the deaths of his former patients because he believes the coroner's investigation is "biased", the court has been told. The breast surgeon was ordered by coroner Richard Foster to appear remotely at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court to give evidence at the inquest of Chloe Nikitas, who died at the age of 43 in April 2008. Mr Foster issued a ruling on the 21st October saying he could 'find no reason' why Paterson could not attend the inquest and give evidence remotely from prison, and said it was 'disappointing' to the families of the victims that he had decided not to appear. Paterson had been accused of attempting to delay the hearings after lodging an application to have his witness summons revoked the day before the first inquest was due to start on October 10. He cited health concerns, a lack of legal representation, and 'inadequate facilities to prepare.' The first inquest into the death of one of Paterson's patients heard on the 22nd October that a mother who was given a "cleavage-sparing" mastectomy then had her breast cancer return. Chloe Nikitas, an environmental consultant from Tamworth, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and was treated by the West Midlands"butcher" surgeon. He told her he could perform a mastectomy, which would leave some skin behind to ensure her cleavage would look normal. She then discovered a lump in the same breast in 2005, which was the same type of cancer she had three years earlier. That cancer diagnosis was terminal, and she died at the age of 43 at the Priory Hospital in April 2008. The inquest into the death of Ms Nikitas is the first of 62 into the deaths of Paterson's former patients scheduled to be heard at Birmingham and Solihull Coroner's Court over the next eight months. The second inquest into the death of another of Paterson's victims opened on the 29th of October. Elaine Turbill, who was 63 and from Solihull, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy carried out by Paterson the following month. The inquest in Birmingham heard that Elaine, who worked as a legal secretary, had been married for 40 years and had two children. In a statement, her daughter Gemma said her mother was a "kind, loving and friendly person whose smile lit up a room. She enjoyed going to church, cooking and gardening and loved family trips to Mablethorpe to "smell the sea air". Elaine Turbill died in 2017. Her daughter said seven years on, the pain never goes away. She said she feels her mother's death could have been prevented, which would have given her the opportunity to see her second grandchild. These inquests are currently suspended, and not a single inquest has been heard so far this year, with several hearings cancelled. Birmingham City Council has been contacted for a response.
West Australian
a day ago
- Business
- West Australian
Anthony Albanese says he's open to negotiating with Coalition on $3m super tax
Anthony Albanese has indicated that he will work with the Coalition to pass Labor's proposed tax to hit super balances over $3m with a 30 per cent tax. Speaking from Perth on Tuesday, the Prime Minister conceded that Labor doesn't have 'majority in the Senate' and said 'we obviously work with different parties'. 'If the signal from the Coalition is across the board – I'm not talking specifically here – that they will be more constructive and not just be part of a no-alition with the Greens Party, then that would be welcome,' he said. 'I think people in the last term of parliament saw a Coalition that was just committed to blocking everything – housing investment, support for further investment in education,' he continued, adding that he hoped the Coalition will support Labor's push to cut all HELP debts by 20 per cent. While Labor has continued to face questions over its plans to double earning tax on superannuation balances over $3m, the Greens have given the policy in-principle support. This would negate the need for Labor to seek bipartisan support in the Senate. However the minor party has argued for the threshold to be lowered to $2m, with indexation requirements that would result in the threshold increasing over time. Although the Coalition has indicated that it is open for negotiations, this is contingent on the inclusion of indexation provisions, and excluding the tax on unrealised gains, like property. On Monday, Coalition finance spokesman James Paterson accused Jim Chalmers of being 'in hiding' due to the controversy over the super tax. Senator Paterson said the Coalition was 'very proud to oppose it because we think it is bad tax law'. 'He's barely been seen or heard from since the election. He's letting other ministers like Amanda Rishworth front the Sunday shows to try to explain his complicated, confused, and contradictory policy,' he said. Senator Paterson has also This is due to carveouts for people on defined benefit pensions, who won't have to pay the tax until after they retire, while people with normal super funds and self-managed funds will be liable during their working years. This includes long-serving politicians who entered parliament before 2004, and include Mr Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Sussan Ley. 'I think he (the Treasurer) should front up today and explain the rationale for this dodgy exemption that he's given his boss and whether or not Anthony Albanese participated in the decision to grant that exemption.'
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
'Where is Jim Chalmers': Coalition accuses Treasurer of going into 'hiding' as opposition to unrealised gains tax ramps up
The federal Coalition has accused Treasurer Jim Chalmers of 'hiding' from media scrutiny amid growing opposition to Labor's plans to tax unrealised gains in superannuation accounts. The Albanese government has proposed doubling the tax on superannuation accounts with a balance over $3 million. The tax would also apply to unrealised capital gains, which critics claim will set a dangerous precedent as it taxes perceived wealth rather than actual income. The legislation has also raised questions about fairness, with Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth admitting on Sunday that politicians on defined benefit schemes – such as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - will be 'treated differently'. Speaking to Sky News Australia on Monday, newly appointed shadow finance minister James Paterson questioned why the Treasurer was leaving it to other ministers to explain his policy. 'I've got to ask the question… where is Jim Chalmers? He's barely been seen or heard from since the election,' Senator Paterson said. 'He's letting other ministers like Amanda Rishworth front the Sunday shows to try to explain his complicated and confused and contradictory policy, and he's in hiding.' Senator Paterson said different treatment for politicians grandfathered into the now-abolished defined benefits pension scheme showed how the legislation was going to be a 'mess to legislate and to implement and to administer'. 'I think he should front up today and explain the rationale for this dodgy exemption that he's given his boss and whether or not Anthony Albanese participated in the decision to grant that exemption,' he said. The legislation for the new tax scheme was introduced in 2023 and has already passed the lower house of parliament. The Coalition has come out strongly against certain elements in the proposal, specifically the tax on unrealised capital gains and indexation of the threshold. However, shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien and the shadow finance minister have flagged there is scope for a deal with the Coalition. Mr O'Brien told The Australian the opposition was willing to engage with Labor on the proposed super changes if the government ditches the two controversial elements. Yet the tax barely featured a mention during the last election campaign – a fact many Liberals are citing as one reason for the Coalition's historic election defeat. On Monday, Senator Paterson admitted that under the leadership of Peter Dutton, the Coalition had failed to put forward an economic platform which was consistent with Liberal values. 'We must be consistent with our values,' he said. 'I think our values are timeless and that past elections have earned the overwhelming support of the Australian people, but some of the policies that we took to the last election were inconsistent with those values.' The Victorian Senator pointed to the decision to oppose Labor's tax cuts as one major error. 'Even though Labor's tax cut was meagre and miserly and wouldn't have made much of a difference, it doesn't matter. The Liberal Party should never oppose a tax cut,' the shadow finance minister said. 'We should never go to an election proposing to increase taxes. And we should never allow Labor to make the audacious claim that they are the party of lower taxes. 'That is core to who we are. It is core to our DNA as a Liberal Party and our National Party colleagues as well. 'And in the next election, we must take a bold, ambitious economic policy that gives people hope for the future. That gives people the hope that their lives and their personal circumstances will be better off if they vote Liberal and National.'
