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A video shared by the Metropolitan Police shows the shocking moment that a man who kidnapped and sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl on her way home from school was caught. Adam Ballie targeted the girl on her way home from school on April 19, 2024. He kidnapped her and then sexually assaulted her. She was able to escape the nightmare and alert neighbours to what had happened and then managed to help police to identify 39-year-old Ballie's property, which ultimately led to his arrest. Ballie, of Spring Way, Harrow , was found guilty of of kidnapping and sexual assault on October 16, 2024, at Harrow Crown Court. He was also convicted of kidnap of actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of ten years for the horrific crime. Now, a video from the Metropolitan Police service shows the moment that Ballie was arrested for his crimes. It shows police arriving at the property and telling him to show him hands, before cuffing and arresting him. ...

A teenager has been raped in a park by a man she had met hours earlier, according to police. Thames Valley Police is investigating a rape that happened in Banbury , a town in Oxfordshire, in the early hours of this morning (Sunday, March 30). A woman in her late teens, had earlier met a man at a venue in Banbury town centre. They left the venue and the man took the victim to People’s Park in Banbury, where he then raped her. The incident took place between 2.30am and 3.30am. The victim is being supported by specially trained officers. Officers have arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of rape and he remains in custody at this time. Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Christopher Bennett of Oxfordshire CID based in Banbury, said: “We are carrying out a thorough investigation following this concerning incident. An arrest has been made and we continue to support the victim. “We are asking anyone who may have seen anything around 2.30am to 3.30am in People’s Park to please com...

A Met Police officer who fondled a colleague's breast then told her 'I'm only an old p**f' has been sacked. Police Sergeant Sidney Rogers, who is gay, was off duty at The Bull pub in Wanstead, East London, when he reached over and grabbed his colleague's chest over her clothing, telling her 'you straight people' before making the 'p**f' comment when she protested at his grope, a tribunal heard. PS Rogers - who was separately accused of sexual misconduct by another officer but had no case to answer - was said to have consumed 1/2 a glass of prosecco and 5 single vodkas with lemonade over the course of the evening, which began at another nearby pub, The George. Other officers who gave witness evidence described Rogers as 'extremely' or 'very' drunk, and 'obnoxious'. The panel found the victim, Officer A, more credible than Rogers, an LGBT advocate in the force, who claimed his memory of events had improved with time. Office...

No police misconduct took place in the death of a man, 41, who fell into the Thames after being Tasered by police on Chelsea Bridge, the Independent Office for Police Misconduct has ruled. Oladeji Omishore , aged 41, died on June 4, 2022 after he fell into the River Thames following his interaction with the two police officers. The hearing could not conclude the death of Mr Omishore, who was suffering a mental health crisis, was ‘probably caused’ by the police officers, a jury found at the Inner West London Coroner’s Court on Monday (March 24). Mr Omishore , who was holding a long-nosed metal and plastic lighter, was Tasered multiple times by one of the officers, for a total of eight-and-a-half seconds. He died from complications from drowning after falling into the Thames while jumping over the bridge railings. No indication that either officer committed a criminal offence or in a way that justified disciplinary proceedings was found by the IOPC. The investigation looked into t...

A man has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed in South London. The incident took place on Parry Place in Woolwich earlier today (Thursday, March 27). The stabbing took place on the Greenwich road shortly before 1.30pm, with the London Ambulance Service (LAS) being called to the scene following the incident. Paramedics reportedly arrived at the scene within four minutes of being contacted, where the man was treated for injuries he had sustained. An LAS spokesperson told MyLondon: "We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and a paramedic from our tactical response unit." The London Ambulance Service was called to the scene following the incident (stock image) (Image: Getty) The victim was reportedly treated at the scene before being taken to a major trauma centre as a priority. MyLondon has approached the Met Police for further information. Have a story you wan...

A huge family-friendly Eid ul-Fitr event is returning to East London next week. The 1Eid Festival will take over Ilford's Goodmayes Park for two days between March 30 and April 1, depending on when Eid falls, to mark the end of Ramadan . Now in it's 18th year, the popular event is jam-packed with things to do and see. There will be a petting zoo, circus performers, fire jugglers, axe throwing, sumo competitions and over 30 funfair attractions for adults and children of all ages to enjoy. Part of the park is also being transformed into a market selling artisan products, toys, clothes and home décor. Of course, no event is complete without food so there'll be plenty of stalls serving up cuisine from around the world, plus desserts and soft drinks. Guests can expect a carnival atmosphere with plenty of games, food and stalls (Image: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) A mass prayer is also planned for 10am on Eid, as well as a 30-minute fireworks show at around 9.30p...

A passenger on a London tram died earlier this month after falling while on the service earlier this year. The incident took place on January 14 while the tram was passing Reeves Corner in Croydon. Transport for London (TfL) confirmed in a recent report that the passenger died in hospital on March 8. The information was revealed in a document pack for a meeting of the transport authority's board on March 26. The report included a summary of notable incidents on the capital's transport network in recent months. Other examples of accidents included a car colliding with a 308 bus on February 8 on Lea Bridge Road in Clapton, resulting in the driver dying while in hospital due to their injuries. The incident occurred while the tram was passing through Reeves Corner in Croydon (Image: CC/ Peter Trimming) Another example involved a car hitting a 395 bus that was stationary at a bus stop on Bessborough Road in Harrow. The incident happened on February 24 and led t...

A City of London Police Constable has been dismissed following a string of sexualised comments and behaviour towards female students he was training. PC Mathieu Merenda was found to have engaged in behaviour including sharing details of him cheating on his wife, standing close behind a young officer and touching her hip, and inappropriate communications with a trainee such as asking if she wanted to go for a drink. Panel Chair Commander Umer Khan wrote in the misconduct hearing report that PC Merenda was responsible for his students' learning and wellbeing and that his actions had 'caused significant distress'. PC Merenda joined the force in 2014 having previously been a police community support officer. In January 2022 he was convicted of driving a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention after being involved in an incident in June two years' prior. He subsequently accepted a role as a tutor for the learning and development department at the City of...

More migrants have been brought ashore at Dover after crossing the English Channel in small boats. A total of 241 people made the crossing on Saturday March 22 in four boats according to the latest figures from the Home Office. This brings the total this year up to March 22 2025 to 5,512, according to analysis of the Government figures by the PA news agency. This compares to 4,306 by the same date in 2024 and 3,683 in 2023 while in 2022, 3,836 had crossed by March 22. The highest number arriving in one day this year so far stands at 592 people, crossing the Channel in 11 boats on March 2. Among those being brought ashore at Dover by a Border Force vessel on Sunday were men and women, all wearing life jackets and some wrapped in blankets in the rainy conditions. The French coastguard confirmed two migrants died in two days attempting to cross the Channel on Wednesday and Thursday. One person died after being pulled from the water while the other person died after trying to cross in ...

A man from South East London has been charged with smuggling 30kg of cocaine from France to Essex. Errol Weir, of Shifford Path, Lewisham, as well as Anastasios Balian, of Milton Court, Cheshunt, were arrested on Thursday, March 20 when Border Force officers stopped a plane arriving into North Weald airfield, near Epping Forest. A search of the plane uncovered bundles of drugs hidden underneath a seat, with the haul estimated to have a street value of more than £2m. The pair, aged 49 and 52, respectively, were taken into custody whilst a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation was completed. They have since been charged with the important of Class A drugs and are expected to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today (March 22). The drugs could be sold for more than £2m (Image: NCA) NCA branch operations manager Paul Orchard said: “This was a significant quantity of cocaine with a likely street value in excess of £2 million. In making this seizure we have d...

A school has confirmed three pupils were attacked on their way home, with two of them understood to have been stabbed. The shocking violence happened in Bonnygate Park, off Daiglen Drive, in South Ockendon - just over the East London border into Essex, at about 4.20pm on Thursday (March 20). As reported by Essex Live , two people were reported to have been stabbed in the park in a 'serious incident', with a third also injured in the incident. Al three are taken to hospital and thankfully none are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. Police have not said if any arrests have been made. Harris Academy Ockendon, which is a five minute walk from the park, has confirmed the three individuals are all pupils at the secondary school and sixth form. A spokesperson said they were attacked while 'on their way home from school'. The spokesperson for Harris Academy Ockendon said: “All of us in the academy are shocked by this incident and our thoughts are ve...

Skywatchers will have the chance to witness a rare event that is not set to happen again for another eight years. Venus will be visible in the night sky until March 21 both before sunrise and after sunset. Known as dual visibility, no special equipment is required to see it, although anyone with a telescope should enjoy a spectacular view as it comes close to the Earth. Venus is the brightest planet in our solar system, earning the nicknames 'evening star' and 'morning star', depending on when it appears. In fact, due to its shifting position in the sky, Venus was once thought to be two distinct stars—one appearing at dawn, the other at dusk. Many early astronomers were unaware that the morning and evening stars were actually the same object. The dual visibility phenomenon can generally be seen from latitudes of London, UK, or further north. It will not happen again until 2033, so make the most of it. Look west in the evening low down in the sky after sunset. To see...

Roadworks and closures can be a huge inconvenience for drivers - particularly in London, with commuter traffic galore. Thankfully, National Highways publishes scheduled closures with plenty of notice, so that drivers can plan their journeys accordingly. Drivers in and around Hillingdon will have 13 National Highways road closures to watch out for in the next couple of weeks. Five of them are expected to cause delays of between 10 and 30 minutes. The latest expected works list, with notes from National Highways, shows that five closures already in place are expected to carry on this week: You may want to factor extra time into your journeys (Image: Kypros via Getty Images) • M25 , from 9pm March 17 to 5am March 24, slight delays (under 10 minutes): M4 clockwise, junction 4 Roundabout, Lane closures for traffic signal upgrading. • M4 , from 10pm March 17 to 5.30am March 24, moderate delays (10-30 minutes): M4 clockwise, junction 4, Roundabout closure for traffic sig...

The £200,000 deal to allow new homes to be built on a North London park has been 'called in' for a special review, after hundreds signed a petition demanding the decision be overturned. Campaigners have been left feeling 'angry and ignored' by the agreement concerning Barham Park in Sudbury, which the council claims will benefit the park and residents via 'improvements over the coming years'. Last month, the trustees of Barham Park – five members of Brent Council's Cabinet – agreed a deal with a local funfair owner and property developer to change a long-standing agreement that prevents further homes being built within the park grounds. The decision will be reviewed by the Scrutiny Committee next month after opposition councillors officially challenged the decision. The two existing houses on the site were auctioned off in 2011, after they were deemed to no longer be needed, and bought by fun fair owner George Irvin. Brent Council's Planning Commit...

Homeowners could remortgage their properties with new lenders or reduce their mortgage terms more easily under plans to 'cut the red tape. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is speaking to various regulators to ensure they run more efficiently and 'cut red tape'. The details will depend on feedback received, but some ideas in the works have been revealed. Among others, Reeves is reportedly looking into making it easier for homeowners to get a mortgage. In May, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will launch a consultation proposing early ideas to simplify rules, to make it easier to access options such as remortgaging with a new lender and reducing a mortgage term, reports PA news agency. In May, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will launch a consultation proposing early ideas to simplify rules Then in June, the FCA will open a public discussion on the future of the mortgage market. This will involve considering what the market needs to deliv...

A useful trick that allowed pubgoers to nab a takeaway drink from their favourite bars is set to disappear from next month. The crafty loophole arose during the pandemic as a way for pubs to maintain a level of income as the hospitality industry struggled. A ban on indoor gatherings meant businesses were allowed to serve punters drinks to-go through hatches. The rules were extended in 2023, with CAMRA chief executive Tom Stainer saying: "It's a good sign that the Government has listened and decided to backtrack on their plans to end the automatic permission for pubs to make off-sales." The chief executive also hoped that tax rules on takeaway drinks would be relaxed, claiming such restrictions restrict pub owners from selling drinks to-go. However, the regulations for this practice are set to expire on March 31 following a consultation from the previous Government last year. The British Beer and Pub Association said it was 'incredibly disappointed'...

Oodie fans can bag a bargain this weekend after the retailer launched a huge Mother's Day sale. Whether shoppers are eager to treat themselves or the mum figure in their lives, the new sale offers savings of 30% on cosy dressing gowns and blankets . With Mother's Day set for Sunday 30 March, the timing is perfect to buy a present and ensure it gets delivered in time. Shoppers have been heaping praise on the Oodie dressing gowns in particular, with the brand's offerings being described both as 'a long-lasting essential' but also 'irresistably snuggly' by fans. As reported by the Mirror , the brand's Fluffy Dressing Gown comes in 'really pretty' colours, including lilac, pink, white, and sage green. It usually retails at £65, however it can now be snapped up for £45.50. READ MORE: M&S shoppers snap up 'comfortable' but 'dressy' trousers that 'don't crease' READ MORE: 'I'm an OAP and I'm genuinely s...

Plans for a new 885-home development in North West London have been approved, which means the construction of seven tower blocks up to 29 storeys high will go ahead. Those opposing the scheme raised concerns about its impact on GP surgeries and schools, as well as a lack of affordable housing numbers and the loss of a gym, whilst supporters claimed it will 'restore pride' in the area. Atlip House Ltd, alongside developers KM-DC, have been given the go ahead to redevelop the Atlip Centre - a multi-purpose building comprising retail outlets, a banqueting hall, and a gym situated opposite Alperton Tube station - after plans were approved by Brent Council. The council's Planning Committee approved the plans unanimously, with the first homes set to be delivered by 2028. The applicant, whose family also built the Atlip Centre, said the development - named Atlip Gardens - 'demonstrates our latest commitment to the borough' and claimed the 'high quality architec...

A man has been arrested after allegedly jumping in front of oncoming traffic on the North Circular Road amid a police chase. Shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, March 12 the Metropolitan Police tried to stop a car on the busy road near Chingford. Officers say the man was wanted by police, so a chase began after he failed to stop. When he reached the Crooked Billet Interchange he reportedly stopped and tried to flee the area on foot before falling from a wall. The man was arrested by police and remains in police custody. London Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics treated two people for injuries and took one of them to hospital after it was called to reports of a man injured on the North Circular Road. The North Circular was partially shut until 7pm while emergency services responded to the incident. This led to severe delays across Chingford, Walthamstow and Edmonton. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "At around 4.05pm on Wednesday, March 12, police attempted to stop a ...

The family of a North London man who was stabbed to death have pleaded for witnesses to come forward. Gregory Castillo Volquez, 36, was killed in an alley near Tiverton Road, Haringey shortly before 5am on Monday, January 13. Two men - Benito Ramirez Kones, 19, of Fermain Court East in Haggerston and Gabriel Francisco Pineda Gonzalez, 20, of High Trees in Tulse Hill - have been charged with his murder. The trial will begin at the Old Bailey on October 20. Despite the charges, Metropolitan Police detectives need more information to help their investigation. The force said there may have been people in the area who saw the attack, and visited the scene of the alleged murder today (Wednesday, March 12) to encourage people to come forward. Gregory Castillo Volquez was described as 'a much-loved son, father and friend' (Image: Met police) Gregory's family said in a public statement: "Gregory was a much-loved son, father and friend, and his family is ...

Concerns have been raised at City Hall as data suggests only 1,131 Londoners, businesses and charities have applied for discounts to drive through the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels. Low-income Londoners in boroughs near the soon-to-open Silvertown Tunnel and the neighbouring Blackwall Tunnel are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on the charge to cross the river. Small businesses, sole traders and charities are meanwhile entitled to get £1 off the tunnels' off-peak charge. But according to data published by Sir Sadiq Khan's office, only 904 residents and 227 businesses and charities had applied for the discounts, as of February 17. The application window to 'pre-register' for the discounts opened on January 27. Hina Bokhari, the London Assembly's Liberal Democrat group leader, said the "low take-up" was "very worrying", and urged the Mayor to "ensure local people are fully aware of the discounts available to them". The Mayor'...