Latest news with #Whalley
New York Post
26-05-2025
- New York Post
Drug mule mom-turned-OnlyFans model shares warning to two young women arrested for smuggling
A drug mule mom caught smuggling more than $200,000 worth of cannabis from New York has offered a simple warning to two young women facing jail abroad for similar crimes: 'Tell the truth.' Levi-April Whalley, 31, a former nurse from the UK, was arrested in 2023 along with Sophie Bannister, 30, after the pair arrived home from New York with some 77 pounds of marijuana in their bags. The two glam drug mules told border officials at Birmingham International Airport they had been on a New York shopping spree when they were stopped, before the 70 heat-sealed packages with a value of $217,000 were found hidden in their luggage, LancsLive reported. Bannister and Whalley — who have since launched OnlyFans accounts — sobbed as they were handed an 18-month suspended sentence at Preston Crown Court in northwest England last month, the outlet reported last month. 7 Former drug mule Levi-April Whalley has issued a warning to two fellow Brits suspected of smuggling. Instagram/levi whalley Whalley has now issued a warning to Bella May Culley, 18, and Charlotte May Lee, 21, two fellow young British women suspected of being drug mules and now facing hefty prison sentences abroad. 'If I had a chance to speak to Bella and Charlotte, I would tell them to tell the truth and be honest. I hope they are OK, and I understand exactly what they are going through. I can imagine how worried they are and really hope the truth does come out,' she told The Mirror. Culley, a nursing student from northeast England, was arrested in the former Soviet country of Georgia earlier this month and is suspected of smuggling 30 pounds of cannabis in from Thailand. 7 Bella May Culley, 18, was accused of smuggling cannabis into the former Soviet republic of Georgia last month. Facebook / Bella May Culley Lee, a former flight attendant from south London, was seized in Sri Lanka earlier this month, accused of carrying a synthetic drug made of human bones from Thailand, worth an estimated $3.3 million. 7 Charlotte May Lee, 18, is accused of smuggling a synthetic drug made of human bones into Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Police Both women deny the charges against them. Whalley added that she was lucky she was arrested in the UK, as the situation could have been far worse if she had been detained abroad. 'I believe if I was caught abroad, it would have been a completely different outcome for myself. I believe I would have been in the same situation as them,' she said. 7 Whalley was arrested in the UK after smuggling 77 pounds of cannabis into the country from New York. Instagram/levi whalley While she avoided prison, Whalley described the past 16 months as 'torture,' which resulted in the loss of her career and prevented her from traveling. 'Not being able to travel and being suspended at work, having to rebuild my whole life and then also becoming a mother,' she said. 7 Whalley believes she was lucky to be arrested in the UK. Instagram/levi whalley But Whalley believes that Culley and Lee are 'victims' who were in 'vulnerable' situations similar to hers when she agreed to be a drug mule. 'I was not in a good place and could say I was somewhat vulnerable at the time. These are two young girls, and I believe that's probably the same situation for them,' she said. 7 Culley appeared in court in Tbilisi, where she told the judge she was pregnant. imedinews /east2west news Despite that, she knows how severe her crime was and accepts she was lucky to avoid a prison sentence. 'Just because I had a suspended sentence, should not set a precedent for others to do it. [This situation] shows that people don't always get the outcome we had, and should now make people aware of the actual dangers of bringing someone's suitcase back,' she added. 7 Lee faces up to 25 years in prison if found guilty. Instagram/@charlottemaylee Culley, who told a judge in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, that she is pregnant, did not answer the judge's questions regarding the allegations against her and has not entered a plea. Lee claimed she knew who had put the drugs in her bag, but wouldn't give their name. If found guilty, she faces 25 years in prison.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cameron relishing Whalley's start to the new T20 season
Whalley's new captain Tom Cameron believes enjoyment is the key to success in T20 cricket as the start of the Birtwistle Cup approaches, writes Graham Hardcastle. The Anthony Axford North West Cricket League's 20-over competition - won last year by Lostock - begins across the next two Fridays, with 25 teams spilt across four groups. Conference sides Barrowford, Feniscowles and Foulridge will join the 22 teams in the Premiership and Championship as they bid to make it through to Finals Day on July 20. The top two sides in each group qualifies for the quarter-finals. Whalley finished top of Group Two North last season, winning three of five matches. Under wicketkeeper Cameron's leadership, they reached Finals Day at Lostock, but were beaten in the semi-final by Blackrod. Cameron has since taken over full-time from Frankie Jackson. 'It's just a confidence game, really,' said Cameron of T20. 'We were struggling in a league a bit last year, but everyone could almost free themselves up a bit in the T20s, and I think everyone was more confident and just enjoyed it more. 'We strung a few results together and carried it through. 'Hopefully we can do that again this year. I want everyone to express themselves, and hopefully that gives us that bit of momentum.' Whalley are in Group Two North again this year. They are placed alongside Barrowford, Baxenden, Cherry Tree, Feniscowles, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel and Salesbury. They begin their campaign tomorrow night away at Baxenden (6pm). Cameron believes Whalley, who have lost two and won one in the Championship so far this season, are a stronger proposition than last year, including being sharper in the field. That's partly due to a new overseas Australian batter Luke Reynolds, added to domestic signings Jamie Pilling (opening batter) and Josh Dentith (spinner). All-rounder Levi Wolfenden remains as professional. 'I'd say we've added experience more than anything,' said Cameron. Whalley's group is a particularly interesting one given it includes two Conference sides in Barrowford and Feniscowles. The former reached last year's quarter-finals, while the latter won the last ever Ribblesdale League T20 title in 2022. 'It's a very interesting group, obviously, because of that,' Cameron continued. 'They're a bit wild cards, like we saw with Barrowford last year. They could almost have any sub professional, really. 'But we're positive and hopeful that if we play like we did last year, we can get out of that group.' Cameron is a 20-year-old who is a Whalley lad through and through. He captained the club in junior cricket and started playing first-team cricket at the age of '13 or 14'. 'Just doing the T20s last year, I almost did the fun bit,' he said. 'But I'm definitely enjoying doing it full-time so far. I've got loads of senior players around me like Richard Palmer and Levi, who has been with us for three or four years as pro.' So being one of Whalley's own, what would it mean to Cameron if they were to go a couple of steps further than last year's semi-final finish and win the Birtwistle Cup? 'That would be really nice, yeah,' he added. 'It would definitely mean a lot, and there's no reason why we can't.' n Tomorrow's fixtures: Group Two North - Baxenden v Whalley, Cherry Tree v Barrowford, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Salesbury.
CTV News
07-05-2025
- CTV News
1 in critical condition after stabbing
A man is in critical condition after a stabbing in Surrey's Whalley neighbourhood Tuesday afternoon.
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- News.com.au
Risk of ‘catastrophic consequence' in response to Bondi attack probed in inquest
The declaration of Westfield as a 'hot zone', which could have had 'a catastrophic consequence' in the fatal Bondi attack, is being probed, with questions raised about the adequacy of communications between police and ambulance. Joel Cauchi, 40, killed six people and injured 10 during a stabbing rampage at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney's east on April 13, 2024. Dawn Singleton, Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Ashlee Good, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia were all killed in the attack. Inspector Amy Scott, working alone, shot Cauchi dead during the incident and is credited with saving multiple lives as a result. A five-week coronial inquest into Cauchi's 'state of mind' both before the fatal attack and on the day, including whether he may have targeted any particular individuals or groups, began on Monday. A senior police officer who attended the shopping centre following the attack, NSW Police Chief Inspector Christopher Whalley, was questioned about the communications between the police force and NSW Ambulance on the day. Counsel assisting NSW state coroner Teresa O'Sullivan, Peggy Dwyer SC, suggested inter-agency communication could be improved going forward, with the court told police believed as of about 4.27pm there was only one armed offender. However, just a minute earlier a NSW Ambulance directive was issued declaring the whole of Westfield was a 'hot zone'. Under the directive, paramedics were ordered to leave the centre and 'stand down'. While it is 'not suggested that there was any loss of life as a result', it is a learning exercise for any future mass tragedy, Ms Dwyer told the court on Monday. 'If there had been any severely injured individuals in need of urgent medical attention, any form of lockdown or restriction on access by first responders would obviously have the potential to compromise care and could've had a catastrophic consequence. Fortunately it did not,' she said. Ms Dwyer questioned whether news there was just one offender should have been shared with NSW Ambulance earlier, potentially through a mechanism that allowed police radio messages to be provided to NSW Ambulance dispatches. 'I think there's the capacity for that to happen,' Inspector Whalley told the court. 'I'm also aware that Triple-Zero operators across the state were inundated with information in relation to this particular incident... but certainly yes, there's opportunity for that information to be shared, yes.' The coroner then directly asked Inspector Whalley what he thought the best way to convey that information to NSW Ambulance at the 'earliest opportunity' would be. 'I think this incident, Your Honor, is very unique,' Inspector Whalley replied. 'There's possibilities... or rather opportunities, for information to be shared at various points.' Cauchi was shot dead at about 3.38pm. The court was told on Monday police radio broadcasts at 3.52pm and 3.58pm suggested police believed there may be a second offender, with the public order and riot squad acting on 'intelligence which suggested that there might be a possible offender on the rooftop car park' at about 4.15pm. However, Ms Dwyer earlier noted the 'confusion' didn't appear to affect the 'survivability' of anyone. Inspector Whalley arrived on the scene about 3.54pm that day, about 15 minutes after Cauchi was shot. He told the court he met with Inspc Scott, and was 'satisfied that in her was one offender'. Witnesses from NSW Ambulance are expected to be called to give evidence on Wednesday.
West Australian
29-04-2025
- West Australian
Risk of ‘catastrophic consequence' in response to Bondi attack probed in inquest
The declaration of Westfield as a 'hot zone', which could have had 'a catastrophic consequence' in the fatal Bondi attack, is being probed, with questions raised about the adequacy of communications between police and ambulance. Joel Cauchi, 40, killed six people and injured 10 during a stabbing rampage at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney's east on April 13, 2024. Dawn Singleton, Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Ashlee Good, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia were all killed in the attack. Inspector Amy Scott, working alone, shot Cauchi dead during the incident and is credited with saving multiple lives as a result. A five-week coronial inquest into Cauchi's 'state of mind' both before the fatal attack and on the day, including whether he may have targeted any particular individuals or groups, began on Monday. A senior police officer who attended the shopping centre following the attack, NSW Police Chief Inspector Christopher Whalley, was questioned about the communications between the police force and NSW Ambulance on the day. Counsel assisting NSW state coroner Teresa O'Sullivan, Peggy Dwyer SC, suggested inter-agency communication could be improved going forward, with the court told police believed as of about 4.27pm there was only one armed offender. However, just a minute earlier a NSW Ambulance directive was issued declaring the whole of Westfield was a 'hot zone'. Under the directive, paramedics were ordered to leave the centre and 'stand down'. While it is 'not suggested that there was any loss of life as a result', it is a learning exercise for any future mass tragedy, Ms Dwyer told the court on Monday. 'If there had been any severely injured individuals in need of urgent medical attention, any form of lockdown or restriction on access by first responders would obviously have the potential to compromise care and could've had a catastrophic consequence. Fortunately it did not,' she said. Ms Dwyer questioned whether news there was just one offender should have been shared with NSW Ambulance earlier, potentially through a mechanism that allowed police radio messages to be provided to NSW Ambulance dispatches. 'I think there's the capacity for that to happen,' Inspector Whalley told the court. 'I'm also aware that Triple-Zero operators across the state were inundated with information in relation to this particular incident... but certainly yes, there's opportunity for that information to be shared, yes.' The coroner then directly asked Inspector Whalley what he thought the best way to convey that information to NSW Ambulance at the 'earliest opportunity' would be. 'I think this incident, Your Honor, is very unique,' Inspector Whalley replied. 'There's possibilities... or rather opportunities, for information to be shared at various points.' Cauchi was shot dead at about 3.38pm. The court was told on Monday police radio broadcasts at 3.52pm and 3.58pm suggested police believed there may be a second offender, with the public order and riot squad acting on 'intelligence which suggested that there might be a possible offender on the rooftop car park' at about 4.15pm. However, Ms Dwyer earlier noted the 'confusion' didn't appear to affect the 'survivability' of anyone. Inspector Whalley arrived on the scene about 3.54pm that day, about 15 minutes after Cauchi was shot. He told the court he met with Inspc Scott, and was 'satisfied that in her was one offender'. Witnesses from NSW Ambulance are expected to be called to give evidence on Wednesday.
