Former England captain Paul Ince gets 12 month drink driving ban
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The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Gunman who tried to kidnap Princess Anne claims innocence after release
The gunman who attempted to kidnap the Princess Royal in 1974 has claimed he is innocent nearly six years after his release from a secure hospital, according to a report. Ian Ball tried to abduct Anne and her then-husband Captain Mark Phillips as they were driven along The Mall to Buckingham Palace on March 20 1974. The princess kept her cool and when Ball, then 26, told her to 'come with me for a day or two' because he wanted £2 million, she replied 'not bloody likely, and I haven't got £2 million'. The Daily Mail reported that Ball was released from Broadmoor Hospital on probation in 2019 and has subsequently self-published an autobiographical novel called To Kidnap A Princess. In an interview with the newspaper, Ball, now 77, said: 'I'm an innocent, sane man because I had good reason to believe the gunpowder had been taken out of the bullets and another girl had been substituted for Princess Anne.' Discussing Anne, Ball said: 'She wasn't bothered on the night. 'I didn't scare her. I was more scared than she was.' The description of Ball's book on Amazon reads that it 'opens with the dramatic and thrilling attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne' and details the author's 'eventful and turbulent 45-year stay in Rampton and Broadmoor criminal lunatic asylums'. It adds: 'The book is an emotive read and it will make you laugh, make you cry, shock you even, but ultimately it will leave you in wonder at the indomitability of the human spirit.' Ball pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey in May 1974 to charges of attempted murder and attempted kidnap and was detained without time limit under the Mental Health Act. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Restricted patients can be recalled back to hospital if their mental health deteriorates to such a level that the risk they pose becomes unmanageable in the community.' Anne, who was 23 at the time of the attempted kidnapping, later said she was 'furious at this man who was having a tug of war with me' and for ripping her favourite blue velvet dress. Anne's father, Prince Philip, later quipped of the attempted kidnapping: 'If the man had succeeded in abducting Anne, she would have given him a hell of a time in captivity.' Ball had blocked the princess's car with his own as it drove along the Mall and fired a series of shots through the rear window as he tried to kidnap her. The princess and Captain Phillips were unhurt during the late-night ambush but Anne's bodyguard, chauffeur, a police constable and a journalist were all shot by Ball, who was armed with two revolvers. Anne's bodyguard, former Metropolitan Police inspector Jim Beaton, was awarded the George Cross after being shot three times as he protected Anne. Passer-by, former heavyweight boxer Ronnie Russell punched Ball twice in the head as he tried to kidnap the princess. For his bravery Mr Russell was awarded the George Medal by Queen Elizabeth II, who told him: 'The medal is from the Queen, but I want to thank you as Anne's mother.' Discussing the incident, Mr Russell previously said Ball was trying to drag Anne from her car while her husband was pulling her back. 'She was very, very together, telling him, 'Just go away and don't be such a silly man',' he said. 'He stood there glaring at me with the gun and I hit him. I hit him as hard as I could – if he had been a tree he would have fallen over – and he was flat on the floor face down.'
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Police worker gets misconduct warning over handling of 999 call before four deaths
A police staff member has been given a final written warning for misconduct over their handling of a 999 call made by a man before he apparently killed three family members and himself. Officers found the bodies of Bartlomiej Kuczynski, 45, his two daughters Jasmin Kuczynska, 12, and eight-year-old Natasha Kuczynska and their aunt Kanticha Sukpengpanao, 36, on January 19 2024. The four were all found inside a property in Allan Bedford Crescent in Costessey, Norfolk. Post-mortem examinations recorded that all four died of neck wounds. The deaths of the two girls and their aunt were being treated as murder, while the death of Mr Kuczynski was not being treated as suspicious. Norfolk Police said officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the killings. The force had received a 999 call from Mr Kuzcynski on the morning of January 19 but officers were not deployed to the address until an hour later when police were called by a concerned dog walker, watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said. In an audio recording of the call, Mr Kuczynski said: 'I am walking with the knife, I have just lost the plot.' Mr Kuczynski expressed concerns about his own mental state and said he was confused. The call handler advised him to seek medical advice and police did not attend the property as a result of the call. When questioned as part of the IOPC investigation, the call handler said he did not hear the word 'knife' and would have acted differently had he done so. The call handler was initially suspended but returned to work following a review and was put on restricted duties. Norfolk Police said on Friday that a member of staff had been given a final written warning following a misconduct investigation into the handling of the 999 call. The force said in a statement: 'The IOPC investigation concluded the call handler had a case to answer for misconduct based on their handling of the call and failing to record their risk assessment in their decision-making. 'The force accepted this conclusion, and a misconduct meeting was held on June 26 2025 where the chair determined misconduct to be proven and issued a final written warning for 12 months.' The misconduct meeting was not held in public. Norfolk Police said that the worker remains employed by the force as a member of police staff, and is no longer on restricted duties. A full inquest into the deaths is anticipated to take place in 2026 pending the completion of a Domestic Homicide Review.
Daily Mirror
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Lionesses star fined for driving offence days after winning the Euros with England
England and Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating has been fined after being found guilty of driving without the correct tax just days after celebrating the Lionesses' Euro 2025 win Lionesses star Khiara Keating has been fined just days after she lifted the Euro 2025 title with England. Keating was part of the England squad that retained the Euros on Sunday by beating Spain on penalties in the final. However, just days after lifting the trophy in Basel, Keating was fined for not paying her car tax. On Wednesday, magistrates fined Keating £440 and ordered her to pay back duty of £79.17 and costs of £20 after she had been stopped for driving a Volkswagen Polo without the correct tax back in December. The 21-year-old did not attend Tameside Magistrates' court and the case was heard in her absence. Just a few weeks before the Euros began, Keating was cleared of drugs charges after Greater Manchester Police dropped them. Keating and her mother, Nicola, were charged last June with possession of the Class C drug nitrous oxide. They both pleaded not guilty and the charges were dropped in June. "I'm relieved the charges have been dropped — as I've always said, I did nothing wrong," Keating told the BBC. "It's been a difficult time, but I've always known the truth. Now I'm just looking forward to focusing fully on the Euros and spending time with my family." Keating did not play at the Euros with Hannah Hampton starring as first-choice goalkeeper, but she was an important part of the squad and was part of the jubilant celebrations that took place after they returned to the UK. A victory parade took place on Wednesday in front of more than 50,000 fans, with England captain Leah Williamson stating: "I'm holding back tears. I've been crying all down The Mall. "This is unbelievable, this is probably one of the best [things] we have ever been a part of, so thank you for coming out. "There are many ways to win a football match. And we repeatedly did it the hard way, but you can see how much we care about playing for England and how much we love it." Chloe Kelly added: "It feels so good to stand side by side with each and every one of these girls. It's so ******* special. It's incredible to stand here today with a winners' medal around our necks and I'm so proud to be English."
