January 22, 2024

H&M Withdraws School Uniform Ad Amid Sexualisation Claims

H&M has pulled an advertisement for school uniforms amid accusations of sexualising young children. The campaign featured a photo of two primary school-aged girls with the slogan: “Make those heads turn in H&M’s Back to School fashion.” The ad, which was exclusively running in Australia, has been withdrawn, and H&M issued a public apology.

Mumsnet founder and Chief Executive, Justine Roberts, expressed strong disapproval, stating that the advert “should never have been created in the first place.” Social media erupted with criticism, with individuals labeling the campaign as “vile” and “disgusting.”

H&M responded with a statement, acknowledging the offense caused and expressing deep regret: “We are deeply sorry for the offense this has caused and will look into how we present campaigns going forward.”

Justine Roberts highlighted the ongoing concerns of Mumsnet users regarding the sexualisation of children. She referred to Mumsnet’s Let Girls Be Girls campaign, launched in 2010, which calls on retailers to commit to not selling products that play upon, emphasize, or exploit children’s sexuality.

Roberts commented, “It’s disappointing to see that, 14 years later, retailers are still creating inappropriate adverts that prematurely sexualize young girls.” While acknowledging H&M’s decision to remove the advert, she stressed that it should never have been created in the first place.

This incident follows a broader trend of increased scrutiny on advertisements that may sexualize children. Last year, online retailer Temu faced consequences when the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned one of its adverts for portraying a girl aged between eight and 11 in a bikini pose deemed “quite adult for a girl of her age.” The ASA also banned four other adverts for showing sexual images and pictures that objectified women.

Deceptive Burglar Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

A burglar who deceived an elderly man in his 80s has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. Darryl Smith, a resident of Berecroft in Harlow, pretended to have been assaulted when he knocked on his victim’s front door. Taking advantage of the man’s kindness, Smith was allowed into the property to use the bathroom and change his clothes. However, while inside, Smith stole the man’s wallet and bank cards before making his escape.

Following the incident, Smith, 37, used the stolen cards to purchase approximately £120 worth of cigarettes, alcohol, and scratchcards. However, his crime spree was short-lived as he was apprehended three days later. Police looking at CCTV footage from the establishments where Smith made his purchases, as well as fingerprints from the victim’s home lead to his arrest. These crucial pieces of evidence resulted in Smith being charged with burglary, two counts of fraud, and possession of a Class B drug on September 14, 2023.

In court on January 12, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to the burglary charge, having already admitted guilt to the other three charges. As a consequence, he was sentenced to 18 months behind bars. Detective Inspector Karen Knibbs expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “The custodial sentence for this crime reflects the severe impact burglary can have on victims, regardless of the monetary value of the stolen items. Smith took advantage of his victim’s kind nature, deceiving him to gain entry and burgle his home. The dedication of our team ensured that Smith had no choice but to admit guilt, sparing his victim the ordeal of a trial.”

Network Rail Scotland Shuts Down due to Storm Jocelyn

In response to the impending arrival of Storm Jocelyn, Network Rail Scotland has announced a proactive measure to “shut down” all passenger and freight trains starting at 19.00 GMT on Tuesday. Anticipating severe weather conditions, including winds reaching 60-65mph and heavy rain, the decision aims to prevent further disruptions after Storm Isha wreaked havoc on the railways just a day prior.

National Rail Scotland reported an “extraordinary number of incidents” caused by Storm Isha and emphasized the need to safeguard passengers and railway personnel. Trains still in operation at 7 pm will continue their journey at a reduced speed, and lines will remain closed on Wednesday morning. Engineers will inspect tracks for damage, fallen trees, or debris before resuming services.

The integrated control team at Network Rail Scotland explained, “Our decision is paramount in keeping passengers and our people safe during these adverse weather conditions.”

In the aftermath of Storm Isha, all trains in Scotland were initially cancelled as crews worked to address the aftermath. Around 11.00, Network Rail Scotland announced the resumption of some services on five routes. However, with the looming threat of Storm Jocelyn, the company predicts disruptions to continue on Wednesday, resembling the challenges faced today.

Bromley Drug Dealer Jailed over Text Adverts for Cocaine and Heroin

A drug dealer from Bromley who sent mass texts advertising crack cocaine and heroin has been jailed.

Dean Beason, 41, of Lincombe Road, was part of a county line which pedalled drugs in Gravesend.

After Kent Police were informed of the messages officers were sent to Erith to catch the person responsible for the ‘Jeff Line’.

This led them to Corinthian Road in Erith on October 11 last year, where they stopped a Peugeot 206.

Beason was driving the vehicle and the phone which had been sending the texts was also inside.

Officers also found two more phones and a wrap of crack cocaine.

Beason was arrested and a search of his home recovered 20 deals of crack cocaine, eight wraps of heroin, electronic scales, £450 in cash and a booklet with details of drug deals.

He was later convicted of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, and two counts of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

On Thursday (January 18) was jailed for four years by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court.

Detective Constable Michael Nolan said: “Our investigators will go to great lengths to stop these dealers travelling into Kent with class A drugs. In this case, we worked out who held the phone and where they were likely to be found.

“Our proactive officers were then sent into south London at which point it was only a matter of time before their target was tracked down and arrested.

“Subsequent enquiries led the constables to recover sufficient evidence to help us send the man to jail.

“Any others seeking to emulate this criminal can expect to receive similar attention from our dedicated enforcement teams.”

Police Appeal for Information After Serious Collision in Barking

Police are seeking crucial information following a severe collision that transpired in Barking, sparking an urgent appeal to the public. The incident came to the attention of officers when the London Ambulance Service (LAS) contacted them at 9.22am on Monday, 22 January. The report indicated that a collision had occurred involving a car and a […]

Man Receives 18-Year Prison Sentence for Edinburgh Knife Murder Following Attack on Ex-Girlfriend

In a tragic incident stemming from a dispute over a former partner, a man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder of a hotel porter. Sam Atkins, 29, faced the High Court in Glasgow, where he admitted to murder and two counts of assaulting his ex-partner, Raehanna Cameron. The court heard […]

Swindon Man Pleads Guilty as Moderator of Dark Web Child Abuse Site

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Swindon, Brett Saunders, a 50-year-old man, has pleaded guilty to his involvement as a ‘Global Moderator’ on a dark website dedicated to the sharing of child sexual abuse content. The National Crime Agency (NCA) discovered the hidden site during an investigation, revealing its over 2,000 members and exclusive accessibility through Tor.

The NCA focused on a moderator known as ‘Wetty,’ who played a significant role in running the site. Wetty was responsible for enforcing the website’s rules, responding to user inquiries, and providing advice on personal security and evading law enforcement detection.

Upon further investigation, Saunders was identified as the person behind the ‘Wetty’ account. It was revealed that he had previous convictions related to the sexual exploitation of children. NCA officers swiftly arrested Saunders at his residence in Freshbrook, Swindon in August 2022. During the arrest, several of his devices, including his laptop hidden under a sofa cushion, a phone, and a hard drive concealed in an air vent, were seized.

Shockingly, the website was open on Saunders’ laptop, and he was logged into his account at the time of the arrest. In his subsequent interview with the authorities, he admitted to being a Global Moderator and confessed to uploading indecent images of children to the site. He further admitted to having a sexual interest in children, particularly girls aged 8-12.

Investigators recovered substantial evidence, including over 3,000 posts made by Saunders and private messages he exchanged with other users. These messages highlighted the crucial role he played in ensuring the site’s operation and the rapid rise in his status due to his commitment and encouragement of discussions and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

One chilling interaction between Saunders and another user revealed his response to being congratulated on his promotion to Global Moderator, where he expressed his shock and promised to continue performing his duties to the best of his abilities.

The dark website operated on a points-based system, where users earned ‘reputation points’ for adhering to the rules and sharing abusive material. Saunders was in charge of the guest portal, where new users had to accumulate at least 10 reputation points to gain entry to the main site. He had the authority to issue or deduct reputation points and decide who would be allowed through.

Disturbingly, Saunders uploaded a total of 115 images and videos of child abuse to the site. He even shared two such images of a young girl as part of a discussion around the legalization of pre-teen marriage, accompanied by a disturbing caption expressing his desire for the girl to remain at a specific age indefinitely.

Further investigations led to the recovery of 65,000 files containing indecent images of children from Saunders’ devices. Following his arrest, Saunders was charged by Wiltshire Police for breaching a sexual harm prevention order previously placed on him. He was subsequently remanded in custody and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for the breach.

More recently, Saunders faced an additional nine charges, including arranging/facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child under 13, participating in the criminal activities of an organized crime group, distributing and making indecent images of children, and possessing a prohibited image of a child. On January 19, 2024, at Swindon Magistrates Court, he pleaded guilty to all nine counts. His sentencing is scheduled to take place on March 5, 2024, at Swindon Crown Court.

Adam Priestley, Branch Commander at the NCA, expressed his dismay over the case, stating that Saunders was directly responsible for facilitating the sexual abuse of children. He emphasized the NCA’s commitment to targeting dark websites like the one Saunders operated, which play a significant role in normalizing such heinous acts. Priestley reassured the public that the NCA possesses the capabilities to identify and bring to justice the highest harm offenders who attempt to hide in these spaces.

Live Facial Recognition Used in Croydon Leads to Multiple Arrests

In response to growing concerns about street violence in Croydon, the Metropolitan Police have initiated various operations to address this issue, one of which includes the deployment of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology. On Friday afternoon, 19 January, the LFR system was used in Croydon, leading to the arrest of several individuals. The primary aim […]

Unyielding Storm Isha: A Test for UK and Ireland’s Aviation Sector

In a rare meteorological event, Storm Isha swept across the entirety of the UK and Ireland, leaving its mark with unprecedentedly powerful winds. For Chris Strong, Head of Network Operations at NATS, the challenges posed by this exceptional storm were significant.

The southern regions of England and Ireland experienced winds gusting at 70-75mph, characterized by south-westerly directions. This not only resulted in crosswinds at major airports in the south but also introduced wind shear and turbulence, adding extra layers of complexity for flight crews.

Meanwhile, in the north of the country, the winds were even more fierce, with gusts exceeding 90mph. These extreme conditions wreaked havoc not only in aviation but also across the entire transport infrastructure.

One of the most critical challenges faced by the aviation industry during the storm was ensuring the safe landing of aircraft. To achieve this, it became necessary to increase the separation between aircraft, effectively lim..

Missing Teenager Kyle: Urgent Appeal for Information

Sussex Police in Hastings have issued an urgent appeal for information to help locate missing teenager Kyle, who is just 14 years old. Kyle has also been known to have links to Chessington in Greater London. Kyle is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a slim build, and mousey […]

Day: January 22, 2024