South London man, 20, charged with stabbing Julian Ebanks-Ford to death

Detectives investigating the death of Julian Ebanks-Ford in Lewisham have charged a man with murder. Ismaiel Kallon, 20, of Kender Street, SE14, was charged on Friday, August 11.

He will appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Saturday, August 12. Police were called just before 1am on Friday, August 4, to reports of a stabbing in Kender Street, at the junction with Queen's Road.

Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. Julian, aged 20, was found with stab wounds. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died later that afternoon.

READ MORE:South London teenager who killed 16-year-old on Brixton Victoria Line train with hunting knife jailed for six years

Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command continue to support his family and they have been informed of the latest development. A post-mortem examination on Saturday, August 5, confirmed Julian died as a result of a single stab wound.

Two other people have been arrested as part of the investigation. On Saturday, August 5, officers arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of murder. He was subsequently released on bail.

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On August 7, a 19-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. She was later released with no further action.

Following the incident, Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, leading the Met’s South East Command said: "I know that local people will be shocked by this incident and I would like to reassure the community that, alongside our Specialist Crime colleagues, we are working hard to establish the full facts of this incident and to identify those responsible."

He added: "I am saddened to see another young life lost needlessly to knife crime in our city, another family devastated by loss - my thoughts are with the young man's loved ones."

Anyone who can help the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 265/04Aug. You can also report information online and tweet @MetCC. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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'The Amazon cat basket and scratching post with 10,000s of five star ratings reviewed by my cat - and he loves it'

Cats are notoriously hard to please and none-so more than my Theo. One day he won't touch his dry food and the next I'm having to wrangle it away from him because he ate a daily allowance in two minutes. So trying to find a cat basket on Amazon was like trying to decipher the Enigma Code.

That's until the Amazon Basics cat condo tree tower caught my eye. Two things appealed to me: the low price and how incredibly cute the little cat in the image looks. Theo, being much cuter, would reach some form of adorable nirvana sitting in the little hammock. I just needed to get it for him.

I went with the beige colour, because you can take the man out of Essex but not the Essex out of the man. This was £25.59 when I bought it but the price has increased to £40.80 since then. However, the one marked grey (but looks black in all the review pics...) is £21.14. I'd probably have gone with that one if it was available at the time.

READ MORE: 'My indoor cat tested Amazon's pet toys from laser pointers to ball rollers and he has a definite favourite'

The product also boasts are 4.7 rating out of 46,828 reviewers, with people praising its sturdiness, stability and ease of assembly. The latter point I cannot give you a fair review of as I invited my hyper-competent friend round and left the unassembled bits in front of her. It took her about 30 seconds after noticing said bits before she did it all for me. However, she didn't struggle.

As long as my little best friend is happy, I'm happy (Image: Tom Capon/MyLondon)

Once up it now came down to getting the cat in the thing. Theo loves using the carpets in our bedrooms and my flatmates actual bed as his scratching post, so we needed to tempt him over. Also, he will often pick the least comfortable spot in the living room to sit rather than all the beds and sofas open to him.

However, with a sprinkling of cat nip (I actually got this from Amazon too - it says extra strong but feels normal strength, he loves it though and made it into a tea for him once that he dipped his entire face into) he jumped in, rubbed his face in and... laid down. Fully in. His big boy cat bum smoothing into the gap. Within a couple of days the spot became his favourite, where he could jump in and do his 12-year-old cat daily activity of staring at me and then trying to snatch all of my food out of my hands whenever I eat.

The two scratching posts made me feel a bit sceptical. He's not a Maine Coon by any standards but he could take most cats in a fight, so they seemed a bit on the small size. Have they stopped him from using the carpets and bed as a scratching post? No. He's a cat, thus he knows exactly what annoys me and does it anyway. But does he use it? Yes. So mission mostly successful.

He has gone off it as the weather's got warmer as the material stores a bit of heat, but this also means its perfect in the colder months. My main issue is that when he's in that basket, he gets The Devil In Him quicker, which is what I call the demonic state he enters where he grabs my hand with his paws to put into his mouth, where he proceeds to chomp.

It will fit into the aesthetic of most homes with cats and if you can't afford the massive trees, this is a good alternative. Our kitty has lots of vertical space to jump around the flat so this is a good compromise. Both Theo and I would heartily recommend this.

You can get the Amazon Basics Cat Condo Tree Tower in beige for £40.80 and in "grey" for £21.14.

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'Defenceless' puppy beaten so badly he goes blind in 'horrendous act of cruelty'

A puppy was beaten so badly in North West London last week it went blind, the RSPCA has said. The animal welfare charity is now investigating after a member of the public brought a 12-week-old Cane Corso puppy with severe injuries into a veterinary practice in Hendon on August 2.

The poor puppy had been beaten nearly to death, and was in a collapsed state and couldn't open his eyes. The puppy, named Caine, was badly bruised, had neurological damage, couldn’t walk and was unable to see.

Following vet treatment the dog is now able to stand up but is still completely blind. Caine is continuing to receive urgent veterinary attention and once recovered the RSPCA will be able to rehome him.

READ MORE: Motorcyclist rushed to hospital after driving into parked car in North London street

(Image: RSPCA)

RSPCA Inspector Nicole Broster said: “This is an example of horrendous cruelty carried out against a very young, defenceless puppy. He is so loyal and trusting that despite the terrible ordeal he has been through he is still very sweet and loving towards those now caring for him.

“Sadly as a result of the beating he is still blind. It is possible he may fully recover, and we hope that eventually he can be rehomed."

The RSPCA has launched a Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse and to raise awareness about how to stop cruelty to animals for good.

They say incidents where animals have been beaten increased by 22 per cent last year - from 9,658 beatings in 2022 compared to 7,857 in 2021. They have noted incidents tend to peak in the summer months.

RSPCA Inspector Broster added: “Cases like this one highlight why we have launched our Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, beatings are all too common and it’s disgusting what some people do to defenceless animals. We want to help as many animals as we can, with the public’s help.

“Anyone with information should contact us in complete confidence on 0300 123 8018.”

Got a story for us? Email anna.willis@reachplc.com.

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Teacher at Prince George's London school jailed for paying £65,000 for children to be sexually abused in India

The former deputy head teacher of a school Prince George attended has been jailed for paying teenagers to sexually abuse children in India. Matthew Smith, 35, from East Dulwich, will will 12 years behind bars after investigators found he had spent £65,000 for abuse material on the dark web.

The court heard that Smith was online at the time of his arrest in November last year. The 35-year-old was speaking to a teenage boy living in India and asking him to send sexual images of a younger child, in return for money.

He also had dark web sites and forums open on his computer which were dedicated to child sexual abuse. National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators looked through chat logs and financial transactions and were able to establish that Smith had paid that same teenager, and another also based in India, a total of £65,398 to abuse children over a five-year period.

READ MORE: Oxford Street 'riot' planned on TikTok with Sadiq Khan worried young people will be sucked into crime nonsense

In total officers recovered more than 120,000 indecent images of children which Smith had saved on his laptop.

The chat logs showed that Smith would instruct the young men to perform sexual acts on boys and would send them images and videos as examples of ones he would like to receive in return. He also gave one of them advice on how befriend children and build their trust with a view to abusing them.

Smith was living in Nepal and working at a school for the majority of this time. Prior to this, he spent various periods working in orphanages and NGOs across India between 2007-2014.

Investigators found evidence of potential offending by Smith against children while he was working in India. The NCA shared information with the Indian authorities and continues to work with them in order to identify and safeguard victims.

He moved back to the UK in July 2022 and began working at Thomas's Battersea in September, where he was a deputy head teacher and head of pastoral care. That summer, Smith posted an online advert looking to secure a flat share, in which he said he was a primary school teacher and could assist with childcare.

He was arrested before he could be taken up on his offer. There is no evidence to suggest he committed offences against children based in Nepal or the UK.

Smith pleaded guilty to 22 counts, including encouraging the rape of a child under 13, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and arranging the sexual abuse of a child. He was sentenced today (Wednesday, August 9) at Southwark Crown Court to 12 years in prison. He is also subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and has been placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Helen Dore, Senior Officer of the National Crime Agency, said: “Matthew Smith is a prolific offender and master manipulator, who coerced young men into abusing children on his behalf. He constantly sought out opportunities to gain access to children, but was adept at hiding his sexual interest in them. He conducted his offending while working as a teacher and head of pastoral care – a deep betrayal of the trust placed in him.

“It’s clear Smith has absolutely no empathy for his victims and the harm he has caused them. He presents a very real and significant risk to children, but this investigation has ensured he will spend a long time in prison. The NCA is committed to operating online and overseas, working with global partners to ensure that children are safeguarded and offenders like Smith are brought to justice.”

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First British Museum crime scene pictures as man knifed outside tourist spot

The first pictures have emerged from the scene of a stabbing outside the British Museum in Central London, with police arresting one man on suspicion of Grievous Bodily Harm this morning.

The photos show a large number of police officers on the scene this morning with crowds surrounding the crime scene and a blue forensics tent erected on a pavement.

Police were called to the scene of the attack at the junction of Russell Street and Museum Street around 10am today (Tuesday August 8).

READ MORE: Absolute chaos as yobs throw eggs at passers-by before punching woman in the face

A man was treated for a stab wound to the arm at the scene and taken by London Ambulance Service to hospital. His condition is still being assessed by medics.

Police say the incident is not being treated as terror related and was an isolated incident with no outstanding risk to the public.

The British Museum has also reportedly been 'evacuated' as a result of the stabbing, with crowds pouring out into the streets.

A crime scene is expected to be in place for the rest of the day in the Holborn area as a result of the attack.

Anyone with information or footage which could assist the police investigation is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CADF 2184/08AUG, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Amazon has £80 off a PlayStation 5 but you can get it even cheaper

Amazon has a deal on a PlayStation 5 with £80 knocked off the asking price. The discount applies to a brand-new PS5 with one controller.

The PlayStation 5 usually costs £479.99 on Amazon. However, it's currently reduced by 17 per cent, making it £399. The same reduction has been applied to prices at Currys and Argos.

The PS5 is Sony's newest addition to the PlayStation range. The gaming consoles have been around since 1994, when the very first PlayStation was launched in Japan.

READ MORE: Elden Ring is 40% off in Amazon Prime deal that makes it cheaper than Game and Argos

On Amazon, the PS5 has 4.8 out of five stars from nearly 20,000 ratings. One person said: "The PlayStation 5 is a gaming powerhouse that has exceeded my expectations. The graphics are stunning, with incredibly detailed and immersive visuals that bring games to life. The performance is top-notch, delivering smooth gameplay with fast loading times and minimal lag.

"Setting up the console was a breeze, and the user interface is intuitive and user-friendly. Navigating through menus and accessing games and apps is seamless. The controller is a joy to use, with its ergonomic design and advanced haptic feedback, enhancing the gaming experience even further.

The PS5 is the newest PlayStation (Image: Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

"The selection of games available for the PlayStation 5 is impressive, with a wide range of genres and titles to choose from. Whether I'm diving into epic adventures, competitive multiplayer matches, or engaging storytelling experiences, the PlayStation 5 delivers exceptional gaming experiences. The build quality of the console itself is excellent. It feels solid and well-constructed, with a sleek and modern design that adds a touch of sophistication to my entertainment setup."

Another person wrote: "Bought this on behalf of my son. He is very happy with it, hardly seen him since it arrived." However, a disappointed customer added: "So I've owned all PlayStation Consoles, each time its been a major leap forward, I waited for the price to drop but due to idiots buying them up to sell the price kept going up.

The used console comes with all the necessary equipment (Image: Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"I finally got one a couple of days ago and I'm a bit disappointed. The sound quality in my headphones is terrible, the speaker on the controller is really bad and low. The console doesn't seem any faster than my PS4. It all felt a bit of a let down and downgrade for me. Obviously new games will come which will make it feel great but for now I'd recommend to wait a bit for price drop (If it ever does) or buy 2nd hand."

While a new PS5 will set you back £399, you can get extra money off by opting for a used console. For £350, you can get a used console that comes with a controller, charging dock, and cables, but without the original box.

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‘I went to London’s best new ‘hidden gem’ wood-fired sandwich shop and it gave me delicious and expensive heartburn'

Sandwiches are having a resurgence. They're becoming increasingly gourmet, getting topped with truffles and microgreens smaller than ever before, all while costing half a mortgage.

One shop in Cambridge Heath is new to the scene and already generating a reputation as One Of The Big Boys. Started in 2019 as a restaurant pop-up by Zac Whittle and Freddie Sheen, Rogue Sarnies soon rose out of the lockdowns' ashes, now taking up the conservatory adjacent to their main restaurant, Rogues.

Suspecting these sandwiches would be the peak of Hackney hipster culture (their website includes the definition of a sandwich), I prepared for the worst as I entered their tiny courtyard. There, I joined the rather large crowd of confused lunchgoers struggling to order online.

READ MORE: ‘I tried the East London bakery hidden in a railway arch that supplies 5-star hotels and they should win awards'

While Rogue Sarnies has a counter, a menu, and a card reader, they only take orders through an online portal that lets you pre-order for a certain time. But after placing that order, you'll still have to pop inside and tell them you're there so they can dig your receipt out.

I witnessed several people give up on the system and leave, many with exasperated cries of 'they don't even have the beef one!' Indeed, their beef sarnie was sold out by noon.

The tiny shop was mostly kitchen (Image: Lea Dzifa Seeberg)

Instead, I uncharacteristically settled for the veggie option: burrata, tenderstem broccoli, and veggie 'nduja. Along with a honey drizzle and olive oil, it sounded like a strong contender to the spicy mortadella.

After 15 minutes of waiting, my name was called out from the open kitchen window as my sandwich floated down to my level. I humbly accepted the burrito-wrapped parcel from a man with a backwards baseball cap and unruly hair and prepared for greatness.

The sandwich leaked all over me the instant I tore open the foil. My first big bite revealed an uneven distribution of nduja and burrata, giving me a mouthful so spicy my nose watered instantly.

Upon the next bite, I got all burrata. While it is my favourite cheese, I should not have to rearrange the toppings in a sandwich that cost me £10.

My sandwich wasn't exactly massive (Image: Lea Dzifa Seeberg)

With all the elements united, the sandwich was delicious. Creamy burrata mellowed out the super-spicy n'duja, while the broccoli added some much-needed crunch.

But there was no revelatory moment, no lightbulb above my head as I realised this was the best sandwich in the entire world that I could never live without again. Instead, all I felt was a painful 'nduja-induced burn in my chest that desperately called for some Rennie.

The sandwich was good, sure. The toppings all went together and all tasted good, and the bread absorbed the juices well while remaining intact. But for £10, I expected to be blown away - we might be in a cozzie livs, but it's still a lot of money for a sandwich.

I'm afraid Rogue Sarnies was just as hipster-y as I expected - overpriced and underdelivering. If the price was lower, my opinion might be different. But in today's economic climate, the price is really important.

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