Home

Scotland Yard is to review hundreds of rape, child abuse and sexual assault cases after a second prosecution collapsed in a week due to an evidence blunder. Isaac Itiary, who was charged with the rape of a child under 16, was told he would face no further action yesterday after his case was reviewed in the wake of last week's scandal. Incredibly, his prosecution involved the same officer as the case of Liam Allan (right), which collapsed last Thursday when it emerged he had failed to disclose thousands of damning text messages. The detective constable in question, Mark Azariah (left), is still working at Scotland Yard's sexual offences unit and has not been suspended.

A suspected Islamist Christmas bomb plot was foiled yesterday when armed police swooped in co-ordinated pre-dawn raids. Fearing they had found a possible bomb factory in a flat over a fish and chip shop (pictured top right and inset), counter-terrorism officers urgently evacuated dozens of neighbours from their homes. Police dragged a 31-year-old man from his bed and led him away wearing only his underwear. He was named last night as Andy Sami Star, 31, an Iraqi national who is understood to be the owner of the chip shop and to live in a flat above with his brother. At the same time armed officers stormed into three properties 15 miles away in Sheffield by blowing off the front doors (left). Police raided a flat at the back of the Fatima Community Centre (bottom right), a building used as a mosque and for teaching Arabic to children.

Crown Princess Victoria, 40, has released a very festive Christmas card and video shot at Haga Palace with her husband Prince Daniel and children Oscar, 19 months, and Estelle, five (top left). The fun images show (clockwise from top right) decorating a tree, enjoying games by the fire and sledging, in stark contrast to William and Kate's more formal offering, which was released yesterday (inset).

Drug dealer Arthur Collins (left, with McCann) squirted an unknown acid across a packed east London nightclub dancefloor, scarring 22 clubbers, during tit-for-tat gang war. Lauren Trent (right, with friend Sophie Hall) was one of those injured and gave an emotional account of how her birthday night out turned to horror in court today. Fellow victims Phoebe Georgiou (inset, top) and Sophie Hall (inset, bottom) also gave emotional victim impact statements. Collins is expected to get a lengthy jail term later today.

Donald Trump has told British prime minister Theresa May (inset, left) he will visit Britain in the new year - but will not meet the Queen, it emerged Tuesday. The president and the prime minister discussed a 'working visit' to London, which is pencilled in for late February. He will use the trip to open the new US embassy in London (bottom right), while he is also expected to hold talks with the Prime Minister in Downing Street.

After the announcement that Princess Charlotte will be attending Willcocks nursery (top left) near Kensington Palace, SARAH VINE explains why both royal children should go to state schools. Princess Charlotte will attend a £3,000 a term nursery, despite William's declared intentions of bringing up the children, as he told an American magazine last year, 'with more simple aspirations'. Meanwhile Prince George (right, on his first day of school) attends St Thomas's school in Battersea (bottom right).

They have found themselves at the centre of speculation they are romantically linked.  And appearing to fuel the romance rumours, Dakota Johnson and her 'beau' Chris Martin have been pictured for the first time, as they made their way through the Charles de Gaulle Airport on Tuesday, after spending a few days together in Paris. The Fifty Shades Darker star, 28, cut a chic figure as she made her way through departures in a pair of leopard print boots and a tailored coat, as she and the Coldplay singer appeared to arrive using the same security escort. 

Harvey's Weinstein's estranged wife may have had her heart broken, but she isn't broke. The luxury label fashion designer and ex-Hollywood studio head's humiliated wife, Georgina Chapman, could pocket nearly $12million if the couple divorce within the next 12 months. The once-happy family 'celebrated' 10 years of marriage Friday - marking a new milestone in the couple's multi-million dollar prenup, in favor of Chapman.

Elliott Sailors (bottom right), based in New York City, is one of 10 models who recounted being told to strip during photo shoots or physically assaulted by industry professionals in a new clip. She explained how a photographer once asked her to do several demeaning things she didn't want to do, and kept taking pictures of her even after she broke down. Tonya Pittman (top left), another New York City model, recounted being physically assaulted by an industry insider. Kalae Hassel (top right) told how she was abused even with her mother at a short distance. Among the group, Audra Callo (bottom left) detailed the isolated feelings she wrestled with after facing abuse. Sara Ziff (center), an advocate for models' rights in the workplace, emphasized how hard it can be for models to advocate for themselves when they experience harassment and assault at the hands of those in power.

 What IS feminism? I realise that simply by asking that question as a man, I will be instantly accused of 'mansplaining' by hordes of enraged women. But just as I occasionally comment on the weather without ever having been to the Sun, I see no reason why I should not also be permitted to express an opinion about this subject given its relevance and prevalence in modern society. My fresh interest was sparked by Emily Ratajkowski, the American model and actress, writhing semi-naked in spaghetti, complete with copious quantities of tomato sauce and various vegetables.

Los Angeles-based model Lauren Wasser, 28, lost her leg in 2012 and said she will 'inevitably' lose the other in the coming months. She now is an advocate, raising awareness about the dangers of tampons to women and young girls.

Emmerdale's Leah Bracknell has said she refuses to treat this Christmas as her last after she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The 53-year-old actress is having a low-key festive period with her husband Jez Hughes, pictured left, and two daughters, vowing to keep things 'exactly the same' as they always have been. Leah - who plays Zoe Tate on hit soap Emmerdale - was diagnosed with the illness in October 2016 and feared she would die within a year of receiving news. Then in August this year, she was told the NHS treatment had stopped working leaving her reliant on on alternative treatments such as plant-based healing oils and sessions in an infrared sauna.

JANET STREET-PORTER: The big let down in any funeral is the moment when the ugly wooden box with metal handles appears. Even if the deceased has opted for an eco-friendly wicker basket, you can't stop thinking about what's inside. Why do funerals need a body at all? The person who is dead couldn't care less. There's a growing movement in favour of liquidising the corpse (pictured top left) - instead of burning a huge amount of energy to incinerate us (hardly very green) - there's a process which 'cooks' cadavers in chemicals and water at around 160 degrees Centigrade (bottom left). Doesn't that sound attractive? It does to me.

Somewhere in this herd of reindeer there is a single brown bear - but only the most eagle-eyed viewers will be able to find it. The festive scene is the latest creation from Hungarian artist Gergely Dudas, better known as Dudolf, who is responsible for a string of viral brainteasers. He became an online sensation when his puzzle of a panda lost among a group of snowmen went viral two years ago.

A new version of the London Tube map was issued today to mark a year from the opening of the new Elizabeth line. The line will stretch more than 60 miles and stop at 41 stations. There will be 10 new stations built while 31 others will be refurbished. Farringdon (ringed, inset left and right) will be one of the busiest stations in the country when Crossrail opens, connecting with Thameslink and London Underground to provide links with outer London, the home counties, the City, Canary Wharf and three of London's five airport.

With their soulful eyes and shiny coats, you'd think these rescue dogs would be just one wag of a tail away from finding their forever homes. But these cute pooches have been passed over time and time again. Why? Because they're all 'oldies'. RSPCA figures show that while puppies stay in UK sanctuaries for barely a fortnight, those over seven years old can languish for many months. It's heart-breaking both for the dogs, and those who look after them. Olive Armstrong, regional co-ordinator of The Oldies Club, a specialist website set up to re-home Britain's elderly dogs, says: 'We may have less time with them, but they tend to be house-trained, easier to deal with and you know their character - if they're good with children or other dogs.'

Christmas can be a costly time of year - especially if your loved ones have a taste for the finer things in life.But if you are among those who have left it to the last minute, we can reveal you may be better off. High street chains have cannily produced their own versions of designer favourites, from dresses to sunglasses. The sought-after Jimmy Choo glittered clutch has been replicated by Accessorize for a fraction of the price (pictured) while Aldi's version of the popular the KitchenAid mixer (pictured) could save you £300.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a blast in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, at about 10.50am this morning - shortly before the scheduled unveiling of the kingdom's budget. A Saudi-led coalition is battling the armed Houthi movement in neighbouring Yemen and this morning the Shiite rebels said they were targeting a meeting of leaders at Yamama palace.

Louise Redknapp was spotted with her former Strictly co-star Kevin Clifton for the first time since they were hit with claims his wife Karen took umbrage with their friendship. The 43-year-old former Eternal star, who announced her split from husband Jamie in September, was seen out with the dancer following claims his wife Karen allegedly warned Jamie to keep his wife away from him. Joined by pals, the group seemed laid-back as they sipped wine and chatted away in a London bar on Monday evening, appearing totally at ease together having formed a close friendship during their stint on last year's Strictly. 

A woman who died in a multiple hit-and-run has been identified as a 29-year-old from Poland. Justyna Kalandyk (shown left) was struck by two lorries and two cars (circled) as she used a pedestrian crossing in south London while the traffic lights were green. The drivers of all four vehicles did not stop. Ms Kalandyk was treated by paramedics at the scene in Tulse Hill (inset) but died of multiple injuries on Monday December 11. She was originally from Poland, but had been staying with family in Wandsworth, south London. The driver of the second car to hit her, a 52-year old man, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.

Mary Coll (left and far right) told how she had coffee daughter Clodagh Hawe and her husband Alan at her County Cavan home hours before he killed her and their three children (together inset), then hanged himself. Ms Coll said 'everything seemed normal' on the evening in question, and she had even wished Alan 'good luck' on his return to work as a deputy headteacher because she knew he was having difficulties. That evening he stabbed and slashed Cloudagh to death with a knife and axe, before cutting the throats of eldest children Liam, 13, and Niall, 11, then stabbing youngest Ryan, aged six.

Heather North has died at the age of 71 in Studio City, California after suffering from a long illness. The blonde actress was best known for voicing the character of pretty sleuth Daphne Blake on the popular animated TV series Scooby-Doo. North had time in front of the camera as she starred on the soap opera Days Of Our Lives.

Silent movie mogul Fatty Arbuckle (pictured top inset) was accused of assaulting a young actress named Virginia Rappe (pictured right) at the St Francis Hotel in San Francisco in 1921 (main). Rappe died from a ruptured bladder, believed to have been a result of Arbuckle crushing her during the alleged assault. Smear campaigns were launched against both parties - and three manslaughter trials of Arbuckle ended with him being acquitted, and in a rare move, was issued an apology by the jury.

Bath Abbey will undergo a multi-million pound make over now that it has replaced its pews for stackable chairs. Rev Edward Mason said the church was facing a crisis and installing these chairs would free up floor space to host popular events, making it fit for the 21st century. In 2018 the work at Bath Abbey will repair the collapsing floor and install underfloor heating.

Historian Barry West, 56, says the tormented ghost Jacob Marley - Scrooge's former business partner - was inspired by Dickens' time spent in Cornwall in the 1800s. Physician Dr Miles Marley, who died in 1854, is said to have spent St Patrick's Day with the world-famous author, who promised to make him a household name by the end of the year.

It has been called 'completely insulting' to tourists wrongly accused and jailed. The advert displays the drunken antics of an ex-pat in the UK and discourages the behavior being repeated. David Haigh, of the pressure group Detained in Dubai, said the video failed to take account of human rights violations in the UAE. He added: "Rather than spending time and energy painting UK visitors as drunken louts, the British Embassy's efforts might be better spent on helping people who have been wrongly accused of criminal behaviour in Dubai.

The bewildered elephant can be seen stumbling through the roofed rows based in a Coimbatore village, in Tamil Nadu. The giant is hunting for the fruits used as fuel for the brick burners - with the elephants finding the smell intoxicating. In this video, the animal had apparently raided the furnace hoping to get his fill of the palm crops. When his hunt failed, the tusked animal went on a rampage - especially after the worker tried to send the mammal away.

Firefighters and an RSPCA inspector were called to River Wansbeck in Ashington, Northumberland, after the adorable dog, Hardy, became trapped in the icy waters. Inspector Jaqui Miller climbed on the ice - attached to a firefighter - and used a pick to maneuver her way across the frozen rivers. A GoPro attached to Inspector Miller captured the scenes on Wednesday December 13, showing poor Hardy whimpering for help.