Fraudster jailed after scamming London renters out of £77,000

13 June 2026 at 17:38

Frederic Priestley, 34, falsely advertised property he did not own for rent on Facebook, obtaining payments and deposits

A man has been jailed after defrauding more than 30 people out of more than £77,000 in a rental scam, police said.

Frederic Priestley, 34, from Southwark, London, falsely advertised a property for rent on Facebook between April and September last year.

Derbyshire police officer investigated over AI-generated ‘evidential material’

The Guardian - World news

By: Nadeem Badshah

12 June 2026 at 21:12

Unidentified officer removed from frontline duties in the first known case of its kind in the UK

A police officer is under criminal investigation over the alleged use of artificial intelligence and has been removed from frontline duties in the first known case of its kind in the UK.

The officer, who has not been named, is being investigated over allegations of using the technology to “create evidential material in a number of cases” and perverting the course of justice.

Pro-Palestine activists sentenced as terrorists over damage at Israeli arms factory in UK

The Guardian - World news

By: Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent

12 June 2026 at 20:56

Four found guilty get tougher conditions as judge says actions were ‘designed to intimidate the UK government and a section of the public’

A judge has imposed lengthy custodial sentences on four Palestine Action activists who smashed up drones and other equipment at an Israeli arms manufacturer’s UK factory after ruling that there was a “terrorist connection” to their offending.

Charlotte Head, 30, and Leona Kamio, 30, were each jailed for five years and Fatema Rajwani, 21, was sentenced to four years and 8 months for criminal damage in relation to a 2024 break-in at the Elbit Systems UK site in Gloucestershire. Samuel Corner, 23, who was additionally convicted of grievous bodily harm without intent for striking Sgt Kate Evans with a sledgehammer, was sentenced to seven years and eight months. Each will also spend an additional year on licence and be subject to 15 years of terrorist notification requirements.

Framing David Hockney’s Greatest Art

NYT - Top Stories

By: Holland Cotter

12 June 2026 at 19:33

Whether in Los Angeles, in his native England or traveling the world, the artist always reinvented the world he saw, with psychological insight.

Asylum seekers removed from Essex hotel targeted by far right as Home Office ends contract

The Guardian - World news

By: Ben Quinn Political correspondent

12 June 2026 at 18:59

Bell hotel in Epping was scene of violent protests after asylum seeker living there sexually assaulted girl and woman

Asylum seekers have been removed from the Epping hotel that became a flashpoint for anti-immigration protests across England last summer as the Home Office terminates its contract with the establishment.

The hotel on the outskirts of the Essex town was the scene of increasingly large protests after an asylum seeker who was living there sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and a woman.

British man jailed for goading American to kill himself on video call

The Guardian - World news

By: Raphael Boyd

12 June 2026 at 18:46

Dylan Phelan, 21, of Leeds, sentenced to more than six years for encouraging the suicide of 21-year-old Travis Dyer

A Yorkshire man has been sentenced to more than six years in jail after admitting encouraging a US citizen to kill themselves while on a video call.

Dylan Phelan, 21, was sentenced on Friday at Leeds crown court after previously pleading guilty to intentionally doing an act that was capable of encouraging the suicide of another person.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org

Record number of young people fear long-term unemployment

The Guardian - World news

By: Heather Stewart Economics editor

12 June 2026 at 00:01

Report says confidence among 16- to 21-year-olds has fallen sharply as they doubt hard work will be rewarded

Young people in England are increasingly “losing faith in their futures” according to a report, as record numbers fear long-term unemployment.

Analysing survey data, including from the Office for National Statistics, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said 16- to 21-year-olds were less confident about being successful than a decade ago.

Girl, 14, charged in connection with triple stabbing at school in Manchester

The Guardian - World news

By: Morgan Ofori and Nadeem Badshah

11 June 2026 at 23:35

Suspect detained under Mental Health Act, as police confirm counter-terrorism unit is leading investigation

A 14-year-old girl has been charged in connection with three stabbings at a school in north Manchester, police said.

The girl was charged with three charges of attempted murder and two charges of possessing a bladed article on school premises over the incident on Tuesday.

Natural history GCSE to teach teenagers to plant wildflower-friendly gardens

The Guardian - World news

By: Pippa Neill Environment reporter

11 June 2026 at 22:30

Long-awaited course to examine human effects on natural world and explore everyday ways to aid biodiversity

School pupils will learn how to plant a wildflower-friendly garden, according to long-awaited plans announced on Thursday for a natural history GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Campaigners have for more than a decade called for the study of biodiversity loss and global heating to be introduced as a dedicated subject in classrooms across the country, but despite a curriculum being previously drawn up, its launch has faced repeated delays.

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