Ian Watkins Loses 'Harsh' Sentence Challenge

Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has lost a legal challenge to appeal his 35-year sentence for 13 child-sex offences.

The disgraced rock star had claimed he was treated too harshly when he was handed a 29-year jail term and an additional six years on licence.

But judges at Cardiff Crown Court decided the former singer did not have sufficient grounds to appeal.

Sally O'Neill QC: 'A sense of proportion needs to be maintained'

Watkins, 36, originally declared he was innocent of the offences, which included the attempted rape of an 11-month old child and possession of child-abuse videos, some which he made himself, and encouraging a fan to abuse her own child.

But at the last minute he changed his plea, averting the need for a trial.

He later complained he had not realised his guilty plea would make him "look guilty".

At his original trial, judge Mr Justice Royce told Watkins: "Those who have appeared in these courts over many years see a large number of horrific cases. This case, however, breaks new ground.

"I am satisfied that you are a deeply corrupting influence, you are highly manipulative, you are a sexual predator, you are dangerous. The public and, in particular, young females need protection from you."

Watkins was told that he would have to serve two-thirds of the custodial term before he could be considered for release by the Parole Board.

His two accomplices, only identified as Woman A and Woman B, were jailed for 14 years and 16 years respectively.

Watkins' barrister Sally O'Neil said her client was not given enough discount for pleading guilty.

"This case causes a very disturbing reaction for anyone who has has anything to do with it. We accept these matters are very serious.

"But by pleading guilty my client averted the need for a most distressing and unpleasant trial for all those concerned, especially a jury.

"I am not trying to minimise the gravity of these offences, just simply make the observation that a sense of proportion needs to be maintained.

"These offences, however bad, are not the worst."

Woman B also sought leave to appeal and had her bid turned down.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prison Inmate 'Gouges Out His Eyes' In Cell

The Ministry of Justice has launched an investigation after a prisoner reportedly gouged out his eyes while in his cell at HMP Nottingham.

East Midlands Ambulance Service was called to treat the unnamed man, who is in his 50s, for facial injuries.

A Prison Service spokesperson said the prisoner was taken to hospital after "an act of self harm".

"Staff reacted quickly and paramedics attended. No other prisoners were involved," the spokesperson said.

"The prison is investigating the incident and police were informed as a matter of course."

The MoJ also confirmed there had been an incident of self harm, but refused to give further details.

The man was reportedly days away from being released.

Nottinghamshire Police were initially called in but decided no crime was involved.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wednesday's National Newspaper Front Pages

THE PAPERS' TOP STORIES

:: The Sun

European leaders have been called "utterly useless" after failing to impose any new sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the flight MH17 atrocity.

:: The Times

Divisions in Europe thwarted hopes of action as France turned on Britain for allegedly cosying up to Russian oligarchs.

:: The i

French officials have accused Britain of hypocrisy after a 50% rise in weapons sales to Moscow last year.

:: Daily Mirror

British spy chiefs are convinced Mr Putin sanctioned the killing of Alexander Litvinenko.

:: Daily Mail

David Cameron is under pressure to return a £160,000 donation from the wife of an ally of Mr Putin.

:: The Daily Telegraph

Employment Minister Esther McVey says middle-class children should believe setting up their own business is as good as going to university.

:: Daily Express

A migrant couple from Romania with 15 children say they are set to receive £55,000 a year in benefits.

:: The Guardian

New reforms to school accountability have been announced after a damning report into extremist infiltration of schools.

:: Financial Times

Standard Chartered bank has called a halt to its grand expansion after profits plunged.

:: Watch the Press Preview on Sky News every evening at 10.30pm and 11.30pm. Wednesday evening's reviewers will be former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Blair and LBC presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Peaches Geldof May Have Lied About Drug Tests

Peaches Geldof may have lied to her husband about her weekly drug tests being clear, an inquest into her death has heard.

Thomas Cohen found his wife slumped on the bed in the spare room of their Kent home in April after she failed to answer the phone.

The inquest heard the 25-year-old TV presenter was a heroin addict who had been taking the substitute drug methadone in the two-and-a-half years before her death. 

She had been having weekly drugs tests which she told her husband were negative but, even though he had not seen her take drugs, he became concerned that she might be, the hearing in Gravesend was told.

In February, he found texts suggesting she was taking drugs again and after speaking to her about it, she retrieved heroin from the loft of their Wrotham property and flushed it down the toilet.

Peaches Geldof with her husband Thomas Cohen

Police called to the address on the day she died found 6.9g of "importation quality" heroin with a street value of up to £550, along with drugs paraphernalia including syringes and burnt spoons.

Analysis of the brown powder concluded it had a purity of 61%.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham, who led the investigation, said it "far exceeded" the 26% purity usually found at street level.

He told the inquest that forensic scientist Emma Harris found a high level of morphine in Ms Geldof's blood, suggesting she died "shortly after taking heroin" and that it was "likely" the substance played a role in her death.

In her report, Dr Harris said: "Persons taking heroin on a regular basis develop a tolerance to the drug, and such individuals can use doses that would be toxic, or fatal, to people with no tolerance.

"However, tolerance to heroin and other opiate drugs appears to be lost fairly rapidly when users cease to use the drug, and deaths commonly occur in people who have previously been tolerant and have returned to using heroin."

Det Insp Fotheringham also told the inquest there is an ongoing police investigation into who supplied the drugs to the mother-of-two, but so far there had been no arrests.

The coroner Roger Hatch, who found the model's death was drugs-related, said the purity of the heroin had been a factor.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boa Constrictor Warning: Snake On The Loose

Parents have been warned to be on the lookout for an 8ft (2.4m) boa constrictor which could pose a risk to small children.

The reptile was reported missing from an address in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, on Tuesday evening.

Heavy-bodied boa constrictors, which kill their prey by wrapping themselves around it, pose a potential risk to children and animals as they might coil around them seeking warmth.

They can also deliver a nasty bite if they feel threatened.

However, they are not venomous or normally aggressive towards humans.

The snake kills its prey by coiling around it. Pic: File

Sky's Becky Johnson, reporting from Skelmersdale, said the snake might have slithered down the toilet and be hiding in the drains.

"The neighbours didn't even know they had an 8ft boa constrictor," she said.

"It could come up the drain at one of the neighbour's houses, it could also be in the attic.

"Lancashire County Council have been out searching drains, but so far there is no sign of it." 

Experts said the boa constrictor was likely to be sleeping somewhere warm.

Inspector Mark Porter, of Skelmersdale Police, said: "While we do not believe the snake is aggressive or would attack anybody, there is the potential for risk to small children or pets from the animal seeking warmth.

"I would urge anyone who sees the snake to get in touch so that it can be recovered safely."

The police warning came a day after two boa constrictors were found near a children's play area in an east London park.

Police officers removed the snakes with a litter grabber and brown bags.

:: Anyone with information about the disappearance in Bearncroft, Skelmersdale, should contact police on 101, quoting log number 1586 of July 22.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Adele's Son Wins Damages For Paparazzi Photos

Singer Adele's son Angelo Adkins is to get a five-figure sum in damages at the High Court over paparazzi photos.

The case was brought against Corbis Images UK Ltd by the singer and her partner, Simon Konecki, over photographs of his "milestone moments".

Adele's lawyer said she was determined her two-year-old son was not and must never be "public property".

"It is a matter of profound sadness that many of his milestone moments, such as his first family outing and his first trip to playgroup, were photographed and published worldwide expressly against his family's wishes," solicitor Jenny Afia told Mr Justice Bean in London.

"Adele and Simon never encourage such photos. Quite the opposite.

"The parents' view is that these images were of routine, everyday family occasions which the paparazzi has no right to intrude upon, profit from and file away in picture libraries for future reference and use."

Corbis will pay damages and legal costs and has agreed it will not use the photos again, Ms Afia added.

The lawyer told the judge that the singer accepted and enjoyed her public profile as a world-famous singer and songwriter.

"She is extremely grateful to the public and press for their support in helping her achieve international acclaim," she said.

As a result of Corbis agreeing the payment, Adele and Mr Konecki have withdrawn a claim against other defendants in connection with photos taken of their little boy.

Ms Afia said: "Adele and Simon are pleased this matter has been resolved. They continue to do all they can to protect Angelo's rights in relation to the paparazzi, including taking legal action where necessary.

"They will be holding the damages on trust on behalf of the claimant for this purpose.

"They will also continue efforts to improve the laws relating to paparazzi and children generally, building on the successful campaign Adele helped fund in California resulting in far stricter harassment laws."

Later, the lawyer said the case showed taking photographs could be as intrusive as publishing them.

"This case also emphasises a dividing line between celebrities who strive to keep their children out of the spotlight and those who make them part of their brand," she said.

"The children of famous parents are not celebrities. The law can, will and should protect them."

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt Accused Of Russian Arms Double Standards

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The UK Government has been accused of double standards over its continued arms sales to Russia.

It is still exporting £132m of weapons to Russia despite the shooting down of flight MH17 and previously promising to cancel all arms-related contracts to Moscow.

As of May, there were 285 outstanding licences allowing UK companies to export arms either to Russia or another country which might then in time sell weapons to Russia.

The Government responded by saying the licences were only weapons for civilian uses such as clay pigeon shooting.

However, Sir John Stanley, the chairman of Arms Exports Controls Committee, said details showed UK firms were selling missile parts.

William Hague said extant licences would be suspended

When asked on Sky News whether it was certain the arms were not sold for Russian military use, Sir John, a Tory MP, said: "No, I don't think that is an assumption you can make.

"If you look in detail - and we have published the entire list of the exports that are extant to Russia - if you go through the entire list I don't think that components for air to air missiles, components for air to ground missiles, components for missile launchers ... are going to go to any civilian organisation in Russia.

"They must be going to the Russian security services and defence forces."

He has written to the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, asking whether the government plans to revoke the remaining licences.

In March, his predecessor, William Hague, promised "the UK will now, with immediate effect, suspend all extant licences and application processing for licences for direct export to Russia for military and dual-use items destined for Russian armed forces".

Sir John has written to Philip Hammond

However, to date, only 34 of the 285 contracts have been cancelled and the list of arms and parts UK companies still sell to Russia includes sniper rifles, body armour, assault rifles, communications equipment, small arms ammunition and night sights.

In response to the figures, the Foreign Office issued a statement saying the "majority of export licences that remain in place for Russia are for commercial use but we are keeping all licences under review".

"This Government has not approved any licences for the export of rifles or ammunition to the Russian military," the statement added.

On Tuesday, France accused the UK Government of hypocrisy for putting pressure on them over a £1bn arms contract with Moscow.

There were further questions raised for David Cameron over double standards when Labour released figures which it claimed showed the Conservatives had benefited from £1m of donations from Russian firms and individuals.

Of particular note was an alleged £160,000 payment from Lubov Chernukhin, whose husband was finance minister in Vladimir Putin's first administration, for a tennis match between the Prime Minister and Boris Johnson, with Tory strategist Lynton Crosby as ball boy.

It was an auction prize at a fundraising event.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Russian Donor Row: Boris Could Scratch Match

Labour Lists Tory 'Russian Donors'

Updated: 1:58pm UK, Wednesday 23 July 2014

Labour has released a list of donations it claims the Conservative party has received from those with links to Russia, or who may be hit by the sorts of sanctions David Cameron says must be imposed.

Totaling just under £1m (£910,000), the donations allegedly come from people including:

:: George Piskov, who Labour claims is close to the Conservatives and the Russian regime. In 2007, he allegedly joint hosted a party at the House of Lords, inviting guests to savour 'the spirit of Russia';

:: Alexandre Germanovich, who is said to have donated £10,000 to Conservative Campaign Headquarters, also known as CCHQ, in 2007. Labour says he is an executive board member and director to the Russian Direct Investment Fund, a $10bn (£5.87bn) fund established by the Russian government; and

:: New Century Media, which allegedly donated £91,000 to the Tories. Labour said it believes the company, which it said has been working closely with organisations such as Positive Russia that seek to portray Putin and Russia in a positive light, invited Vasily Shestakov and billionaire Andrei Klyamko to the Tories' summer ball in 2013.

Here is the list, as released by the Labour party:

George Piskov

:: George Piskov has donated £17,378 to the Tories, including a £10,000 donation direct to CCHQ in 2012.

:: Piskov is a Russian banker, chairman of the board of directors of Uniastrum Bank and of Protobase Laboratories, a money transfer company.

:: Piskov sold an 80% stake in Uniastrum Bank for £295m to the Bank of Cyprus in 2008. However, the deal has come under scrutiny and was referred to regulators in October 2013. There are questions surrounding the acquisition with board members apparently failing to act upon advice received, and Piskov has categorically denied allegations of kickbacks to grease the deal.

:: George Piskov is close to the Conservatives and the Russian regime. In 2007 he jointly hosted (with the Conservative Peer Lord Northbrook) a party at the House of Lords, inviting guests to savour 'the spirit of Russia', also attended by the ambassador of the Russian Federation, Yuri Viktorovich Fedotov.

Lev Mikheev

:: Hedge fund manager Mikheev has donated £96,000 to the Conservative party, either to CCHQ or Westminster local associations, between 2010 and 2012. 

:: Formerly of Moore Capital, he set up his own hedge fund, Salute Capital, which specialised in trade in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

:: The fund was liquidated following poor results and Mikheev returned to his previous role.

Alexandre Germanovich

:: Germanovich donated £10,000 to CCHQ in 2007.

:: On LinkedIn, he describes his specialities as including "Government relations".

:: Is executive board member and director to the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which is a $10bn (£5.87bn) fund established by the Russian government.

:: Member of the board of directors and chairman of the strategy committee to State Transport Leasing Company, which is a wholly government owned company providing leasing services to the transport industry. 

:: As part of his work for Severstal he "managed lobbying assignments" to the Russian government.

:: He started his career as a journalist covering the Kremlin, where he "contributed over 400 stories on Vladimir Putin's administration, participating in all foreign state visits and personal briefings with the Russian president, (and) conducted first ever exclusive interviews with Russian Prime Minister and President Dmitry Medvedev".

Alexander Temerko

:: A former vice president of oil giant Yukos, Temerko fled Russia and received British citizenship after being charged for fraud.

:: He is a director of Offshore Group Newcastle (OGN), which specialises in offshore wind and gas and oil platforms

:: He has personally donated £259,230 to the Conservative party, either to the central office or to local associations.

:: OGN has also donated £185,325 to the Conservative party.

:: Temerko is a member of the exclusive 'leaders group' of donors, who are invited to private events and dinners at No 10, attended by the Prime Minister and other key cabinet members.

:: Temerko reportedly bought a bust of David Cameron for £90,000 at the Conservative summer ball. He reportedly donated this to the Carlton Club, another high profile Conservative donor.

:: OGN has also benefited from millions of pounds in grants from the regional growth fund, as well as the increase in the 'strike price' paid for offshore wind power.

Lubov and Vladimir Chernhukhin

:: Lubov Chernhukhin reportedly paid £160,000 at the most recent Tory summer ball for a game of tennis with David Cameron.

:: She had previously donated £5,500 to the Conservative party.

:: She is also married to Vladimir Chenhukhin, former deputy finance minister of the Russian Federation.

:: Chenhukhin was a director of Aeroflot, JCS Russian Agricultural Bank, Vneshekonombank and Polyous Gold International Limited until April 2014.

:: He famously bought the former Midland Bank building in the City for £72m, with the aim of turning it into a six-star hotel. However, he has since defaulted on payments and administrators have been appointed.

New Century Media

:: New Century Media, which reportedly had a table at the Tory summer ball, list as one of their specialisations: "We have particularly strong credentials in Russia and the CIS, providing strategic advice to governments, major companies and high profile individuals doing business in or with Russia and other central and eastern European countries. New Century has an established office in Moscow which ensures the seamless delivery Russian corporate services offering."

:: New Century Media has donated £91,000 to the Conservative party.

:: Run by former Member of Parliament, David Burnside, New Century is believed to represent a number of high profile clients with links to the Russian Federation.

:: New Century is believed to represent Ukrainian billionaire Dimitry Firtash, who has been indicted on corruption and bribery charges in the US.

:: It is believed that New Century Media, which has been working closely with organisations such as Positive Russia, which seeks to portray Putin and Russia in a positive light, invited Vasily Shestakov and billionaire Andrei Klyamko to the summer ball.

:: Klyamko owns Ukraine's Smart Holding Group, Regal Petroleum and has large stakes in Iron ore companies Metinvest and Yuzhny GOK.

Waterford Finance

:: Described as a "financing boutique", Waterford Finance has donated £63,000 to the Conservative party between 2010 and 2013.

:: Since its incorporation, Waterford has been successful in raising finance, managing asset portfolios and directly investing in counties within the Former Soviet Union (including Kazakhstan), the Middle East, and South America, primarily in the oil and gas upstream sector and in gold exploration and production, during which time it has build partnerships with large number of multinational conglomerates and financial institutions, as well as with the players with detailed local knowledge such as Soyuzneftegaz in Russia and Kazkommertsbank in Kazakhstan.

:: Business in Russia includes a 25% holding in Astrakhan Oil Corporation, a private oil exploration and production company.

:: Waterford has a number of Russian directors.

:: Yuri Shafranik, the former Russian energy minister, is/was previously on the board of Waterford (2011). He has been described as "Vladimir Putin's pathfinder in oil markets".

:: Michael Kroupeev

:: Alexei Kroujikov

:: Another director, Vasili Evdokimov, set up law firm called Laptev & Partners in London to specifically cater for Russian clients.

Xenon Capital

:: Xenon Capital partners are a leading Russia-based investment and advisory firm.

:: Xenon donated £10,000 to the Conservative Party in 2010.

:: It has particular interests in the energy market:

:: Xenon acts as the Investment Advisor for Rusenergo Fund, Russia's largest utility fund, which is invested in significant minority stakes across a broad range of Russian electricity generation, transmission and distribution companies.

:: It lists Lord Clanwilliam or Patrick Gillford as a senior advisor, who was recently listed as attending the summer ball.

:: He has donated £10,000 to the Conservative party and also donated £3,200 to David Cameron's leadership campaign.

:: He was previously on the board of Polyous Gold, which also boasts Vladimir Cherhukhin as a former director.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

MP's Gaza Tweet 'Incites Terrorism', Police Told

The Israeli ambassador has urged Nick Clegg to take "forceful and immediate" action against a Lib Dem MP who posted an "abhorrent" tweet about the bloodshed in Gaza.

It comes as it was disclosed David Ward has been reported to the police for allegedly inciting terrorism through Twitter posts, in which he said: "The big question is - if I lived in #Gaza would I fire a rocket? - probably yes."

It was the first of two messages posted by the MP for Bradford East, the second of which read: "Ich bin ein #palestinian - the West must make up its mind - which side is it on?"

Israel has been engaged in a two-week offensive in Gaza, which it says was launched in response to rockets fired across the border by Hamas militants.

The comments were made on Mr Ward's Twitter account

The remarks from Mr Ward, who has previously been disciplined by the Lib Dems for voicing his opinions on the situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, drew widespread condemnation.

Daniel Taub, Israel's ambassador in London, wrote to Mr Clegg to voice his "shock and disgust" and said: "Mr Ward has, in the past, made hurtful and shocking statements regarding Israel and the Holocaust, but there surely has been none so abhorrent and damaging as his latest statement justifying these attacks."

He added: "I urge you to take forceful and immediate action to make clear beyond any doubt that views such as those of Mr Ward have no place in your party."

By Wednesday lunchtime, Mr Ward had issued an apology in which he condemned the violence "on both sides in Israel and Gaza".

"I condemn the actions of Hamas and my comments were not in support of firing rockets into Israel," he said.

"If they gave the opposite impression, I apologise."

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said: "This is a categorical apology from David Ward. In light of this apology, the party and the whips will decide in due course if further disciplinary action should be taken."

Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi has reported the matter to the police and asked them to investigate Mr Ward for "the offence of encouragement of terrorism".

A Labour spokesman said: "At a time when all sides should be working for a ceasefire and a peaceful settlement, it defies belief that a Liberal Democrat MP should tweet something so vile and irresponsible."

It is not the first time Mr Ward has been in trouble for posting messages about Israel on Twitter.

Last year he was involved in a lengthy battle with the Lib Dem leadership after he accused Israel of "inflicting atrocities on Palestinians".

He also called Israel an "apartheid state" and referred to Israelis as "Zionists".

The comments, which were made days before Holocaust Memorial Day, caused anger and led to a series of meetings with Mr Clegg and other senior party members.

Mr Ward was suspended over those comments in July last year and had the Lib Dem whip withdrawn until mid-September.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More

Claudia Lawrence Investigation: Man Arrested

Missing Claudia: Timeline Of Events

Updated: 3:28pm UK, Wednesday 23 July 2014

Here is Claudia Lawrence's last known movements and the investigation since her disappearance:

2009

March 18

:: 5.57am - Miss Lawrence is seen on CCTV arriving for work at the University of York's Goodricke College.

:: 2.31pm - The chef leaves work to walk the three miles to her home on Heworth Road.

A female colleague sees her as she drives past in her car and gives her a lift, dropping her off outside her house.

A short time later, Miss Lawrence leaves her house and walks past the Nags Head pub. She has a brief conversation with a woman with a pram.

:: 3.05pm - The last sighting of Miss Lawrence as she walks back to her house.

:: 8.10pm - Miss Lawrence has a telephone conversation with her father, Peter, and then another with her mother, Joan.

:: 8.23pm - She sends a text message to a friend.

:: 9.12pm - Miss Lawrence receives a text on her mobile phone but it is not known if she read the message.

March 19

:: 6am - Miss Lawrence fails to arrive for her shift at work.

:: Later in the evening, Miss Lawrence fails to keep an arrangement to meet her friend, Suzy Cooper, at the Nags Head pub.

Ms Cooper discovers her friend did not attend work and rings Mr Lawrence, who contacts North Yorkshire Police.

March 23

:: Mr Lawrence, a solicitor from Slingsby, North Yorkshire, makes an emotional appeal for information about his daughter at a news conference in York. He describes Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a "living nightmare".

:: Police say they cannot rule out the possibility that the chef has been abducted.

March 25

:: Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, leading the investigation, says he believes Miss Lawrence may have come to harm after meeting someone she knew.

He confirms around 100 police officers are involved in the search and says North Yorks Police are bringing in officers from other forces to help.

CCTV footage of the chef's last known movements is released.

March 30

:: Detective Superintendent Galloway makes an appeal for information on BBC1's Crimewatch programme.

April 7

:: Mr Lawrence holds his first weekly press conference at his home and appeals for anyone protecting his daughter's possible abductor to come forward.

April 16

:: Police say they are investigating "significant" new lines of inquiry, including a couple seen arguing near a car on Miss Lawrence's route to work the day after she was last seen and two men apparently trying the front door to her house in the week before she disappeared.

April 24

:: Detectives say they are treating Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a suspected murder investigation and Crimestoppers offers a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

Detective Superintendent Galloway also reveals new information received from members of the public. He says one witness reported seeing a man and a woman walking near the University of York between 6am and 6.30am on March 17 and March 19.

Another witness saw a man and a woman, possibly matching Miss Lawrence's description, at 5.35am on March 19 on Melrosegate on the chef's route to work.

April 29

:: Mrs Lawrence releases her first statement through police describing her daughter's disappearance as "every parent's worst nightmare"

May 6

:: Police reveal they have received more than 1,000 calls about Miss Lawrence's disappearance since March 22 and have taken 1,096 statements and reports.

Officers involved in the investigation have visually searched around 1,270 properties, including gardens and outbuildings and student halls of residence at the University of York.

May 15

:: Police release CCTV footage of a man seen near Miss Lawrence's home in the early hours of March 19.

Detective Superintendent Galloway says the number of searching officers has been scaled-down and police are now only carrying out intelligence-led searches.

June 2

:: A reconstruction of Miss Lawrence's last known movements and possible witness sightings is screened on BBC1's Crimewatch programme.

Detective Superintendent Galloway tells the show that Miss Lawrence was involved in relationships of "complexity and mystery" and appeals to anyone who had ever been in a relationship with the chef to come forward.

August 19

:: Police say an external review of the investigation by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) is "extremely positive" and the force are acting upon a list recommendations.

September 18

:: Detectives reveal they have extended their investigation to Cyprus.

2010

March 18

:: Police reveal Ms Lawrence spent the night with a mystery boyfriend just two days before she went missing. It was "critical" they spoke to the man, a detective adds.

March 24

:: Detectives search an area near York University following new information.

May 25

:: Police confirm they have spent two days searching a house about 10 miles from Claudia's home as a result of a "recent development".

July 29

:: Police confirm they are scaling back the number of officers dedicated to the inquiry.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Madgwick says 100 officers were dedicated to the investigation at its height.

A year after Miss Lawrence disappeared, this figure had dropped to about 20 to 30 and there were now 16 detectives involved. Mr Madgwick says they will be cut cut to seven officers the following month.

August 8

:: A man arrested on suspicion of burglary has been spoken to about the case, North Yorks police say.

But he is described as  "one of many people spoken to during the course of the investigation" and there still have been no formal suspects identified by the inquiry team.

September 20

:: Mr Lawrence speaks of his "devastation" after it is revealed that a cash reward for information was being dropped.

The decision means the North Yorks Police will remove their appeal posters from fleet vehicles because they refer to the reward.

2011

March 18

:: On the second anniversary of Miss Lawrence's disappearance, Detective Superintendent Galloway reveals that he could have "potentially" spoken to her killer.

December 13

:: Detectives say they are pursuing a new lead which could be "significant".

2012

March 16

:: Peter Lawrence speaks of his daily pain over his daughter's disappearance and makes a plea for anyone who may still harbour a sense of "misguided loyalty" to come forward and help with the police investigation.

July 10

:: Martin Dales, spokesman for Mr Lawrence, says a former private detective has contacted him to say he spotted someone with a striking resemblance to Claudia a week earlier in Amsterdam.

2013

February 27

:: Family and friends of Miss Lawrence make an emotional appeal for help to find her on what would have been her 39th birthday.

October 29

:: Police announce a new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is to begin as they launch a fresh review of the case.

2014

March 17

:: Mr Lawrence, speaking ahead of the fifth anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, says not knowing what happened to his daughter five years after she disappeared is like a "cancer" eating away at him.

March 19

:: Police say a new forensic examination of Claudia's house has uncovered the fingerprints of people who still have not come forward five years after she disappeared. They say they are seeking to trace two men and two vehicles seen near her home.

April 17

:: North Yorks Police say 121 people have come forward to help their inquiry since a national appeal was made to coincide with the fifth anniversary of her disappearance. They say taxi drivers may have important information about the case.

May 13

:: A 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder by detectives investigating the disappearance.

:: A police spokeswoman says Miss Lawrence has not been found and they cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests in the future.

July 23

:: A 46-year-old man from the York area is arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

23.15 | 0 komentar | Read More