Latest news with #RAR
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Moment vile woman caught kicking dog and screaming abuse in its face on neighbour's doorbell camera
WATCH the shocking moment a woman swears and screams at her dog before kicking and dragging him by the lead. Vile Lauren Leigh Barker was caught on camera physically and verbally abusing her Advertisement 6 Lauren Leigh Barker shouted at her dog Rocco to get him into the room Credit: SWNS 6 She became more aggressive with the pooch throughout the footage Credit: SWNS 6 She was shown kicking the pup after forcing him into the door frame Credit: SWNS Doorbell camera footage from a neighbour shows Barker repeatedly raising her voice and becoming increasingly aggressive with the distressed pup, shouting at him to move. She pushes him towards the door and he collides with the frame before she eventually muscles him in and shuts them both in. They disappear from view, but her shocking abuse continues behind the closed door and Rocco can be heard barking at his owner. In the footage, Barker, of Clevedon, North Somerset, bellows: "In there. Rocco don't wind me up. Advertisement Read more News "Get in. Get the f*** in. I said move. Move, move. Stay." She can be seen kicking Rocco through to the next room and the doorbell camera visibly shakes as she slams the door. Barker, who owns another dog called Iddy, was banned from keeping animals for five years after the footage was shared with the This decision cannot be appealed for at least two years. Advertisement Most read in The Sun After reviewing the footage, a vet said: "Rocco has been caused to suffer due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal behaving in an aggressive, intimidating and physically abusive manner. "Suffering will have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and possibly pain for a period of at least several minutes, possibly longer." Shock moment Royal Mail postman KICKS tiny puppy Bella after it bounded over at owner's door Appearing at North Somerset Magistrates Court earlier this month, Barker was deemed to have caused unnecessary suffering to Rocco during an incident in September 2023. She was also found to have failed to meet her dogs' needs to be protected from pain and suffering due to the infliction of physical violence and abusive behaviour for an incident in October that year. Advertisement She was sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for 18 months, and must complete 30 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR). 6 Barker has been given a suspended jail sentence Credit: BPM 6 She has also been banned from keeping animals for five years Credit: SWNS 6 The RSPCA opened an investigation after being shown the footage Credit: SWNS Advertisement Barker intends to appeal the conviction and continues to plead her innocence, arguing that she was acting in self-defence against "aggressive" Rocco. At a rescue centre, RSPCA teams carried out behaviour assessments on the pup and found he was suitable for rehoming. He was deemed to be very tolerant of vets, allowing them to perform a range of checks without needing to restrain him. RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters said: "We're extremely grateful when people report animal welfare concerns to us and share any evidence they have that can help our investigations." Advertisement
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment vile woman caught kicking dog and screaming abuse in its face on neighbour's doorbell camera
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WATCH the shocking moment a woman swears and screams at her dog before kicking and dragging him by his lead. Vile Lauren Leigh Barker was caught on camera physically and verbally abusing her pooch, Rocco. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 She shouted at Rocco to get him into the room Credit: SWNS 6 She became more aggressive with the pooch throughout the footage Credit: SWNS 6 She was shown kicking the pup after forcing him into the door frame Credit: SWNS Barker repeatedly raises her voice and becomes increasingly aggressive with the distressed pup, shouting at him to move. She pushes him towards the door and he collides with the frame before she eventually muscles him in and shuts them both in. They disappear from view, but her shocking abuse continues behind the closed door and Rocco can be heard barking at his owner. In the footage, Barker, of Clevedon, North Somerset, bellows: "In there. Rocco don't wind me up. "Get in. Get the f*** in. I said move. Move, move. Stay." She can be seen kicking Rocco through to the next room and the doorbell camera visibly shakes as she slams the door. Barker, who owns another dog called Iddy, was banned from keeping animals for five years after the footage was shared with the RSPCA. This decision cannot be appealed for at least two years. After reviewing the footage, a vet said: "Rocco has been caused to suffer due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal behaving in an aggressive, intimidating and physically abusive manner. "Suffering will have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and possibly pain for a period of at least several minutes, possibly longer." 6 Barker was convicted of two counts of mistreating Rocco. Credit: BPM 6 She has been banned from keeping animals for five years. Credit: SWNS 6 The RSPCA opened an investigation after being shown the footage. Credit: SWNS Appearing at North Somerset Magistrates Court earlier this month, she was deemed to have caused unnecessary suffering to Rocco during an incident in September 2023. She was also found to have failed to meet her dogs' needs to be protected from pain and suffering due to the infliction of physical violence and abusive behaviour for an incident in October 2023. She was sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for 18 months, and must complete 30 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR). Barker intends to appeal the conviction and continues to plead her innocence, arguing that she was acting in self-defence against "aggressive" Rocco. Whilst at a rescue centre, RSPCA teams carried out behaviour assessments on the pup and found he was suitable for rehoming. He was deemed to be very tolerant of vets, allowing them to perform a range of checks without needing to restrain him. RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters said: 'We're extremely grateful when people report animal welfare concerns to us and share any evidence they have that can help our investigations."
The Star
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Malaysian teen with Down syndrome aims to run 84km to raise RM50,000 for charity
Alexander Wilhelm, 15, picked up running as a hobby during the pandemic and since then, the activity has become second nature to him. To date, he has completed 17 'fun runs', covering distances between 2km and 5km. Now, Alexander, who has Down syndrome, is lacing up his shoes for a greater cause. Running teaches Alexander important life lessons like perseverance. In January, he and his father, Bruno Wilhelm, launched Run Alex Run (RAR) – a fundraising initiative in support of the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation National Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The centre holds a special meaning for the family as it was where Alexander received early intervention and support during his formative years. To encourage his fundraising efforts, Fitness First Malaysia has pledged RM10,000 to the centre if Alexander runs the equivalent of a full marathon distance of 42km by June. In the last five months, Alexander has already clocked a total of 30km, with another 12km to achieve by next month. But that's not all. Alexander aims to go beyond that and complete 84km by December, and raise RM50,000 for the foundation. Plans are underway to start a public crowdfunding campaign to help reach this target. Fostering inclusion Through RAR, Wilhelm, 52, wants to create awareness, inclusion and hope. 'We want to break the taboo around disability and show that children with Down syndrome are capable of contributing meaningfully to society. 'Traditionally, people see disability as a burden, but Alexander proves otherwise. He is fit, determined and he is running to make a difference,' said Wilhelm, a businessman, in an interview in Kuala Lumpur. Alexander also bakes breads and muffins to raise funds for different organisations. Photo: Ashley Pang Wilhelm, a Swiss national who has been living in KL for over two decades, also wants to encourage parents by showing that children with special needs are capable of reaching greater heights. 'Society often assumes that people born with disabilities can't reach the same potential as neurotypical individuals. But we hope the public will start seeing people with different abilities as part of the community, just like anyone else. 'My wife and I also want to create awareness of the importance of inclusion and early intervention programmes. Our goal is to transform our society,' says Wilhelm, who accompanies Alexander on his runs. The father of two has seen many positive transformations in Alexander since he started running. For example, his coordination and stamina have improved a lot. Wilhelm says what matters more are his son's self-esteem, and the endurance training he does for each run. 'It is not easy even for a typical youth, what more for a special needs youth like him. Running gives him a goal to achieve. Running teaches him to never give up no matter how difficult it is until one arrives at the final destination. This is a very important life lesson too. He understands this and is using it in his daily life. His motto is 'Better Every Day'. 'Alexander says running helps to keep him fit and he gets to run at different places. The music, warm-up dances, ambience and friendly runners of each race make it fun and special for him.' To build his stamina, Alex-ander trains at the gym and runs around their neighbourhood in KL. Wilhelm adds that his son works with a personal trainer to strengthen his endurance, mobility and agility. 'To keep him motivated, I take videos and pictures of him, documenting his whole race. I will then compile it into a video clip for him. He loves it very much. After each run, I'd take him for a nice breakfast. 'Tell me how not to be motivated?' he quips. Giving back This isn't the first time Alexander is doing something for charity. During the pandemic, his mother, businesswoman Ashley Pang, 49, started Project Kindness, a pay-it-forward initiative. She set up Alex's Bakery, a home-based effort where Alexander bakes breads and muffins to raise funds for different organisations, including welfare homes, children's hospice, soup kitchens and non-profit schools. Pang (top) is proud of her son's dedication to the disabled community. Photo: Ashley Pang Wilhelm said the aim of Project Kindness is to connect people for a common cause. Through this simple project,the family has been able to spread the ripples of kindness, love and hope within the community. 'We completed 38 projects from 2021 to 2024. We are very fortunate to have very kind and supportive patrons. When we were raising funds, we received good responses. When we were collecting pre-loved books and clothes for welfare homes, many dropped off boxes for us. 'We have created a network for a kinder and caring community. This is our mission,' says Wilhelm. As recognition for his contribution and positive impact to society, Alexander was given the 2024 Tuanku Bainun Young Change-makers Award under the 'individuals aged 13-18 category'. 'This recognition is very important for him and the special needs community,' Wilhelm adds. Through the Project Kindness initiative, Wilhelm hopes to inspire parents of special needs children by showing that with patience and consistency, children of all abilities can shine in their own unique way. 'Some of them become our family friends and some become our big supporters. 'Our message to them is, 'You are not alone. Let's walk together hand in hand in the journey of creating a better and kinder world'.'
ITV News
04-05-2025
- ITV News
Witnesses recorded the defendant's aggressive behaviour
A Sussex man who was recorded shouting and being aggressive towards his six large dogs has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years after a prosecution by the RSPCA. 29 year old James Thorogood of London Road, St. Leonard's-on-Sea, was convicted of three offences of failing to meet the needs of the dogs under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The trial at Hastings Magistrates' Court also saw him placed under a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and undertake 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days. Luna, a Turkish Kengal dog, American bulldogs Magnus and Nala, Staffie Emma, an Asian Shepherd dog called Freya and a Doberman called Jolly were taken into the care of the RSPCA because of concerns over their welfare. The animal charity had received multiple audio recordings from witnesses which were taken from the defendant's property on different dates, which highlighted the defendant's aggressive behaviour towards the animals. There was no video footage of any physical abuse. The court was told the defendant accepted he would shout and scream at the dogs and when he was angry he 'punched walls and broke items within the flat', but he denied ever physically assaulting any of the dogs. RSPCA officers went to the defendant's home, accompanied by police, and seized the dogs. One inspector said in a statement: 'There were six dogs inside the very small flat and walking up the stairs to the flat there was a very strong, pungent odour which got worse the closer you got to the door. The smell of urine and faeces was very strong and repulsive.' A vet said in a report that as a consequence of shouting and banging in the home the dogs were caused to suffer fear and distress on a number of occasions. In mitigation, the court was told the defendant, who was also ordered to pay costs of £2,250 and a victim surcharge of £114, suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, autism, anxiety and depression.
Fox News
20-04-2025
- Fox News
Hackers using malware to steal data from USB flash drives
Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to steal your data. As people become more aware of common threats like phishing links, fake websites, fraudulent emails and impersonation scams, attackers are becoming more creative in their approach. One of the newer methods they are using involves targeting USB flash drives. It may seem surprising that they would focus on something as simple as a flash drive, but the data it holds can be valuable. Plus, flash drives can be used to spread malware to other devices. USB drives are ubiquitous in workplaces, especially in environments with air-gapped systems or restricted internet access, such as those in government and energy sectors. This makes them an easy target for data theft and malware propagation. Often, these drives store sensitive files that are not available on networked systems. When infected, USB drives can spread malware not just within a single organization but also across multiple entities if shared. These attacks don't rely on network vulnerabilities, allowing them to bypass traditional security tools. As reported by Kaspersky's Securelist, a cybersecurity research platform, hackers are using USB drives to spread malware in ways that can easily bypass traditional security systems. One group, known as GOFFEE, kicks off its attacks with targeted phishing emails. These emails often carry infected RAR files or Office documents with harmful macros. Once opened, they install sneaky programs like PowerModul and PowerTaskel on the victim's system. These tools don't just sit around. They lay the groundwork for more attacks. PowerModul, in particular, plays a big role. It's a PowerShell script introduced in 2024 that talks to a command-and-control (C2) server. From there, it can download and run other tools, including two especially dangerous ones, FlashFileGrabber and USB Worm. FlashFileGrabber is made to steal data from USB drives. It can either save stolen files locally or send them back to the hacker's server. Then there's USB Worm, which infects any USB drive it finds with PowerModul, turning that drive into a tool for spreading malware to other systems. What makes this method effective is that USB drives are often shared between people and offices. That physical movement allows the malware to spread even without an internet connection. The malware hides original files on the USB and replaces them with malicious scripts disguised as normal-looking shortcuts. When someone clicks one of these, they unknowingly trigger the infection. 1. Don't plug in unknown USB drives: It might sound obvious, but this is one of the most common ways malware spreads. If you find a USB drive lying around or someone gives you one you weren't expecting, avoid plugging it into your system. Attackers often rely on human curiosity to get the malware onto your machine. 2. Be extra cautious with email attachments: GOFFEE's campaigns often begin with phishing emails carrying malicious RAR files or Office documents with macros. Always double-check the sender's address and never open unexpected attachments, especially if they ask you to "enable macros" or come from unknown contacts. When in doubt, confirm through a different channel. 3. Avoid clicking on suspicious links and use strong antivirus software: Many attacks like GOFFEE's start with emails that look legitimate but contain malicious links. These links might lead you to fake login pages or silently download malware that sets the stage for USB-targeting tools like PowerModul. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 4. Scan USB drives before use: The USB Worm infects USB drives by hiding original files and planting malicious scripts disguised as shortcuts, which trigger PowerModul when clicked. FlashFileGrabber also steals files silently from USBs, often going unnoticed. Always scan USB drives with updated antivirus software before opening any files. Use a reputable security tool to check for hidden scripts, unusual shortcuts or unexpected executables. If files appear renamed or hidden, don't click them until verified safe. Cybercriminals thrive where convenience meets oversight. However, it's worth considering why USBs remain such a soft target. They're not just storage but a cultural artifact of workplaces, especially in high-stakes sectors like energy or government, where offline data transfer feels safer than the cloud. But that trust is a blind spot. Attackers like GOFFEE don't need zero days because they can exploit human habits such as sharing drives, skipping scans and clicking without thinking. How often do you plug in a USB drive without scanning it first? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
