A pub boss died after an “unsurvivable” punch to the neck, a murder trial has been told.

Matthew O’Gara, who ran The Plough pub in Huddlesford, Staffordshire, died in hospital two days after the incident at the Ricco and Loren bar on Market Street, Lichfield, on 24 May.

Billy Allison, who has admitted manslaughter but denied murder, delivered a “very, very hard” punch with the “stance and skill of an experienced fighter”, the jury at Stafford Crown Court heard.

The 36-year-old also admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm against another man, Adam Cooper, during the incident, but denied doing so intentionally.

The court heard how O’Gara, 44, suffered a “full force” punch which broke several bones in his neck and split an artery which provides blood to the brain. He never regained consciousness after the attack.

“It caused an injury that was unsurvivable,” said prosecuting barrister Tim Hannam KC.

The force with which it landed made a noise loud enough to be heard over the sound system in the bar, he added.

Hannam told the jury Allison, of Cropthorne Road in Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, had been visiting Lichfield with a group of friends including his girlfriend Charlotte Dean and friends Ryan Bridge and Ben Cullen, and had been drinking throughout the day before the attack on the two men, who he did not know.

Cooper, who was part of a group at the bar with O’Gara and others, suffered a fractured eye socket as well as a fractured nose and damage to a dental implant, the court heard.

CCTV footage shown to the court on Wednesday showed Allison take three steps towards Cooper, before striking him twice.

Later footage from a courtyard at the back of the bar shows Cooper receiving help in a wooden shelter and Allison leaving through a gate.

The jury was told how after he left the scene, Allison swapped t-shirts with Cullen, and had tried to pull the top over his head to conceal his face from a camera.

At about 03:00 BST on 25 May, the pair went to a hotel where Cullen was booked to stay, despite Allison being booked into another hotel in the city. He was arrested at 05:00 by police.

The court heard the group they were with had been drinking at various venues around the town from about 15:40 until around 23:20.

Allison, who was described as 6ft 5in (195cm) and “muscular in build”, took cocaine on the day, Hannam said, adding that witnesses had described the group as becoming “increasingly loud and obnoxious”.

Hannam said that at 23:17 O’Gara and Cooper and their group made their way to the small dance floor area in Ricco and Loren, close to where Allison and his group already were.

Allison had a “physically controlled, steady poise” in the moments before the attack the jury was told.

Hannam said Allison came at O’Gara from behind, meaning he was “oblivious” to the impending attack and was therefore unable to defend himself.

Allison subsequently failed to help O’Gara and instead left the bar through a back entrance with Cullen.

He alleged Allison was “thinking rationally” and was “entirely in control” of his actions at the time of the incident, adding that the jury was entitled to consider his size, strength and obvious skill as well as his actions before, during and after incident.

“[O’Gara] died because the defendant decided to punch him as hard as he could in the neck, and he died because of the serious damage caused by that punch,” he said.

“He died because of the serious damage caused by that punch. This, the prosecution say, is not a one-punch manslaughter.”

The trial is expected to last for 10 days.

BBC News

A man has admitted throwing a petrol bomb at a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Islington, north London.

Mark Neville, 65, who pleaded guilty to attempted arson when he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday, was captured on CCTV carrying out the attack at Thistle City Barbican in Dingley Road on 24 September 2025.

The fire was discovered shortly before 23:00 BST and was put out by security guards. It did not cause any injuries.

Det Ch Insp Paul Ridley said the attack was “designed to terrify residents and the local community”, and that Neville had been “motivated by hate.”

Neville was identified on CCTV throwing the petrol bomb at the hotel before returning to the door of his flat on Pear Tree Street.

A London Fire Brigade forensic dog also discovered a glove with Neville’s DNA in a bin close to the hotel.

Police said analysis of his computers showed internet searches on far right activism and asylum seekers.

In a police interview, Neville stated that his friends had often sent him articles about immigration and that he had attended anti-immigration marches, including one outside the hotel he had targeted.

Various CCTV cameras captured Mark Neville leaving the scene of the crime and tracked him walking all the way home to his front door

Neville initially denied petrol bombing the hotel, claiming he was visiting a friend who had been diagnosed with dementia, but after being confronted with the evidence, he admitted he was the person in the footage.

Ridley said his actions could “easily have caused horrific injuries”.

“Police will relentlessly pursue those who seek to cause fear and harm, bringing serious offenders to justice,” he said.

The hotel no longer houses asylum seekers.

Neville pleaded guilty to attempted arson being reckless as to endanger life, possession of a bladed article and possession of a prohibited weapon (a stun gun) in a private place.

He will be sentenced on 8 December.

BBC News

Daily Mail reporters and their families fled homes after far-right activist targeted them over coverage

The far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been found guilty of harassing two journalists to the point where it caused them fear of violence.

Journalists from the Daily Mail and their family members fled their homes after “bullyboy, intimidatory tactics” were deployed by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, his trial was told.

Robinson had shared pictures of the family of one of the journalists online and said he had “tagged and bagged” all three reporters who worked on an article about the 2024 Southport murders. The charges related to only two of the journalists.

Robinson was found guilty on Wednesday by a jury at Southwark crown court after a week-long trial.

The Guardian

A councillor has spoken of his “shame” after being convicted of injuring a Jarrow barman.

A South Tyneside councillor has expressed his regret following an altercation in a Jarrow pub that resulted in a barman being injured.

Cllr Alex Barr, of the Primrose ward, admitted to common assault at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 21.

The 57-year-old appeared in court for throwing a bottle in the Lord Nelson pub, on August 9, which caused a head injury to a staff member.

The councillor, who is from Jarrow, was also attacked during the incident by other customers and has since required extensive medical treatment.

‘I lost control and it’s my mistake’

In the days after the incident, Cllr Barr voluntarily resigned from South Tyneside’s Reform UK group and has now expressed remorse for his actions following the conclusion of legal proceedings against him.

He said: “I had too much to drink, I lost control and it’s my mistake – I wanted to reach to out to the guy in the bar straight away but wasn’t able to due to the legal process.

“What I did was wrong and he shouldn’t have got injured, I threw the bottle at the bar and unfortunately it hit him.

“Some people think I’ve gone and smashed a bottle over his head, which isn’t true – I know that I shouldn’t have done what I did.

“The whole thing was caught on CCTV so when I was shown the video in the police interview, I was embarrassed and know that I’ve brought shame to myself and family.

“I’m not playing the victim here but I was taken to hospital in an ambulance and have since had no less than 15 appointments, as well as surgery to fit a metal plate in my eye socket.

“I’ve been told I need further surgery and could have permanent disfigurement.

“My family has been harassed and I’ve just had to take it on the chin.

“At the end of the day, I made a mistake and the whole thing has been a very unfortunate affair.”

Embracing political life

Cllr Barr also highlighted that he stepped back from Reform to ensure that he could focus on helping his constituents and his given an insight into the future of his political life.

He added: “I didn’t expect to be elected but I was over the moon and I’ve embraced it wholeheartedly.

“I’ve been accused of working away and not being there for my constituents so I want to clarify that I’ve not worked away for 15 months.

“I’ve had other parties having a go at me and the pressure has been incessant, yet they are the same parties who accused the wider media of leading to the death of Jason Arday – there has been a lot of hypocrisy.

“It was my choice to leave Reform – I needed to leave the committees and other duties so I could focus on the council’s enquiry system.

“I’ve continued to do my bit with the council and support residents via the online system throughout of all of this.

“I haven’t stepped away from my constituents but I am going to dust myself down and make a decision on my future.

“I’m 50/50 and there are still a few little challenges to get through but at the moment, I remain as an independent councillor.”

Shields Gazette

A 16-year-old boy who stabbed a girl in a Norfolk school has been warned he faces a “considerable” sentence after being found guilty of attempted murder.

The youth, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has been on trial at King’s Lynn Crown Court after denying intending to kill the 15-year-old fellow pupil when he stabbed her at Thorpe St Andrew School in Norwich on March 11.

The jury of eight men and four women took three hours and 54 minutes to reach their verdict.

Judge the Hon Mr Justice Lickley told the boy he faced a “considerable” custodial sentence because of the seriousness of the offence, before he adjourned sentencing until December 18 for reports.

As the trial began prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC detailed the boy’s “obsessive and dangerous interest in killers and killing,” citing notes expressing “hatred for women” and a desire for violence.

Evidence included a self-generated video glorifying serial killers and a handwritten list labelled “victims”.

In another note, Mr Paxton said the boy wrote: “My whole life I’ve felt an attraction to violence.

“I don’t know the reason. My brain clicks at the thought of chaos. Of blood. Of murder.

“I’ve seen killers being admired. I want admiration.”

Mr Paxton told jurors: “We the prosecution say his intention is made plain not just by those moments of the stabbing, but made plain by his notes and his obsession with killing and being fuelled by hatred.”

It had also been heard by the jury that the boy searched the internet for a man considered to be an early adopter of incel and manosphere culture.

An incel, short for “involuntary celibate”, is someone who identifies as being unable to find a romantic partner despite wanting one.

The term is also associated with online communities in which some members express misogynistic views, hostility towards women and resentment towards people who are in relationships.

The prosecution said examination of the defendant’s phone showed searches for Elliot Rodger, described to jurors as an “early influence on incel and manosphere culture”.

The victim, then aged 15, told police in a video-recorded interview played to jurors that she had seen a masked person dressed “head to toe in black, no school uniform on whatsoever”.

She said she turned away and it “felt like he touched me on the shoulder, then it felt like he punched me”.

She said the boy did not say anything to her and she did not recognise him.

The girl described struggling to open a door after “speed walking” away from the scene of the attack, adding she was “struggling because everything was going numb and feeling weak”.

She said she went into a classroom and told a teacher she had been stabbed.

Another girl who witnessed the attack said she recognised the boy.

The defendant declined to give evidence in the case. Stephen Rose KC, defending the boy described the case as “a very serious and troubling” one as he began his closing speech.

Mr Rose said the boy had admitted wounding with intent and possessing a bladed object but had not intended to kill the girl despite planning the attack at the school.

Mr Rose said the boy had accepted responsibility for his actions. But he added he had “contemplated, thought about and reflected on” a far more extensive and brutal attack, which included stabbing a teacher before turning to a list of victims he had drawn up.

“He did not cut anybody’s throat, he did not intend to,” he said. “He did not plunge the knife into anybody’s heart, he had every opportunity to.”

Mr Rose said the boy had stabbed the girl with “limited force”, adding: “We suggest, respectfully, that the wound was slight and shallow.”

He said medical evidence showed the wound could have been as shallow as 4mm and was treated with steri-strips, while there was no penetration of the lungs or heart.

“It wasn’t even, dare I suggest it, a life-threatening wound,” he said.

Mr Rose said there was “a discrepancy” between the boy’s alleged intentions and the outcome.

He said he had stabbed the girl once and would have done repeatedly had he intended to kill her, after his first blow had failed to do so.

He added instead the boy pushed her away, putting her out of reach of his knife.

The sentencing has been adjourned until December 18.
Eastern Daily Press

Ferguson, who is a convicted football hooligan, posted a ‘series of grossly offensive images’

A man has been slapped with a criminal behaviour order (CBO) after posting images on Instagram appearing to glorify Adolf Hitler and Nazism, as well as promoting attacks on police officers, Merseyside Police has said.

Ryan Ferguson, 26, of Barberry Crescent, Netherton, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing to be sent by public communication network an offensive/indecent/obscene/menacing message/matter, contrary to section 127 of the Commutations Act 2003.

Between January 12 and 15, on April 6 and on June 14 this year, Ferguson posted on Instagram stories a series of grossly offensive images. The posts featured a Swastika and inflammatory and offensive imagery of Adolf Hitler.

Ferguson was also convicted of intentionally encouraging/assisting the commission of a summary offence (battery) relating to a post in which he promoted assaulting police officers.

He appeared at South Sefton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, October 13 where he was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also issued with a GPS tag to be worn for six months.

Ferguson was handed a CBO to run until August 3, 2030. The CBO prohibits him from:

Calling 999 if it is not to report a genuine emergency or concern.

Participating in any public gathering, march or assembly where the offender engages in chanting, physical gestures, verbal expression or other conduct that incites racial or religious hatred or unlawful violence towards any individual or group.

Publishing or posting on social media any material or statements that incite racial or religious hatred or unlawful violence towards any individual or group.

Publishing or posting on social media the name or personal details of any police or probation officer.

Ferguson must also surrender his mobile phone to police for inspection if stopped by a constable of Merseyside Police and requested to do so. Breaching or failing to meet the terms of a CBO is a criminal offence for which offenders can be jailed.

Ferguson, who is a convicted football hooligan, has in recent years developed an unsavoury history of banning orders and a prison sentence for racially abusing a footballer to one of the most recognisable figures in the North West’s far-right movement.
‘The overwhelming majority will be appalled’

Detective Inspector Keith Swift said: “These posts were very clearly posted to cause deliberate offence and have no place in a civilised society.

“The overwhelming majority of people will be appalled at the language and images he chose to share.

“I have no doubt Ferguson knew the impact his posts could have, but still chose to repeatedly post imagery of this abhorrent nature on his Instagram account.

“He also promoted the assault of police. Officers come to work each day to protect the public and bring offenders to justice. Thankfully no officers came to physical harm as a direct result of his post, but Ferguson’s reckless actions clearly had the potential to cause serious harm as well as distress.

“Having repeatedly committed offences, he has been made subject to a lengthy criminal behaviour order. CBOs are an effective tool in tackling repeat offenders, and should Ferguson breach this order then he will be arrested and could be sent to prison.

“We will continue to take robust action when anyone uses social media to share anything grossly offensive, and I hope Ferguson’s sentencing today sends a clear message to anyone considering the same.”

Liverpool Echo

A teenage boy who stabbed a girl at a school searched the internet for a man considered to be an early adopter of incel and manosphere culture, a jury has heard.

The 15-year-old girl was knifed in the back at Thorpe St Andrew School near Norwich on 11 March.

Speaking at King’s Lynn Crown Court, the prosecution said examination of the 16-year-old defendant’s phone showed searches for Elliot Rodger, described to jurors as an “early influence on incel and manosphere culture”.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies attempted murder.

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC referenced Rodger’s name while telling jurors about online searches made on the boy’s phone for serial killers.

Incel – an abbreviation of “involuntarily celibate” – is a term used to refer to groups of men who feel that they cannot enter into sexual relationships.

The jury has been told the defendant, aged 15 at the time, was captured on CCTV stabbing the girl.

She described to police how she then told a teacher “Sir, I’ve been stabbed”.

In his closing speech earlier, Paxton said the boy had a “lust for and interest in serial killers and killing” and that “he wanted to be one”.

Jurors have heard how he wrote notes saying he hated women and Paxton said “the idea of violence makes his brain click”.

The boy has not given evidence during his trial and the barrister told the jury he had not said “one word” to deny wanting to kill and “we suggest that’s because he can’t.”

Although he has denied the charge of attempted murder, he has admitted possessing a kitchen knife without lawful authority and wounding with intent.

The trial continues.

BBC News

A man has been jailed for 18 months after he threatened to kill staff and students at Bradford College with garden secateurs during a tirade of racial abuse.

Bradford Crown Court was told David Noutch, 32, had approached students outside the college on Great Horton Road on 9 October 2025 while intoxicated. He started a fight before threatening security guards, directing racial abuse at staff and attempting to attack them with the shears.

Noutch, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in June to racially aggravated assault, racially aggravated fear of violence and threatening a person with a blade in a public place.

He was sentenced on Wednesday to 18.5 months in jail and 18.5 months on licence.

During sentencing, the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Patrick Palmer, said Noutch had been trying to start a “major incident” and described his offences as “deeply troubling”.

“These are very serious offences, indeed,” he told him.

“You took out a pair of garden secateurs and ran toward Asian members of staff as if to attack them.”

Palmer paid credit to the security guards who were attacked by Noutch and who managed to stop his attempts while being racially abused.

“Members of the public were seriously offended by your conduct, but to their credit they acted responsibly,” he said.

Two people were taken to hospital for treatment to non-life threatening injuries following the incident, police said at the time.

In a victim statement read to the court by prosecuting barrister Lydia Pierce, one of the victims, Mohsin Saghir, 37, said that as a British-Pakistani Muslim he felt “personally targeted” by Noutch’s attack and he had found it “deeply upsetting and humiliating”.

Saghir had “been internally affected by the abuse and felt it hard to ignore”, Pierce explained.

“The day after the attack, he went to the GP and was told he had experienced trauma and to take time off work.”

In his statement, Saghir added: “Racist and religious hatred has no place in our society.”

Meanwhile, Pierce said that Mahmood Hassan, who received a knee injury during the attack, had suffered sleepless nights and mental health difficulties since the incident.

“He always looks over his shoulder, feeling paranoid and stressed,” she said.

Hassan’s injury had stopped him playing football, leading to periods of depression, Pierce told the court.

“He struggles to be the same at work and suffers with anxiety.”

‘Remorseful and disgusted’

In Noutch’s defence, barrister Jeremy Barton said his client was “remorseful and disgusted when he hears and sees what he did that day”.

He said Noutch had been sleeping rough the night before the attack and had not taken medicine prescribed to him.

“The defendant accepts all the prosecution says, but did not set out that day to behave that way,” Barton said.

He added that Noutch had behaved well in prison, earning “enhanced prisoner” status, and said that his outburst that day was “not deeply held beliefs”.

Noutch – who has 37 previous convictions for 64 offences – was sentenced to a total of 37 months, to serve half in custody and half on licence.

As he has already served more than a year on remand in custody, he would remain in prison for only another six months, the court was told.

BBC News