Elderly man drives down Rome's historic Spanish steps after mistaking monument for a road
The 81-year-old, wearing a suit and tie, was seen behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz A Class sedan as it descended the 18th-century monument at dawn on Tuesday, 17 June.
Speaking to municipal police at the scene, the man reportedly said he did not realise where he was. He tested negative for alcohol, but authorities are now considering whether to revoke his driving licence.
Firefighters later removed the vehicle with a crane, while experts from Italy 's culture ministry are assessing possible damage to the landmark.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Prince Andrew should testify to US lawmakers under oath over his ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, says top lawyer
A top lawyer representing Jeffrey Epstein 's victims has demanded Prince Andrew testifies about his links to the infamous paedophile socialite. Famed lawyer Gloria Allred, 84, said the Duke of York should volunteer to speak under oath before Congress. The 65-year-old has maintained his denial of ever sleeping with Virginia Giuffre, the Epstein victim Andrew was pictured with when she was 17, with the pair standing next to jailed predator Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew's lawyers have denied that he has refused to cooperate with US Epstein investigators. Allred told The Daily Mirror: 'Now more than ever, he should come forward. He could volunteer to testify publicly. 'Is he willing to testify before Congress? Is he willing to give more information to the Justice Department? And if not, why not? 'His silence is a statement that he's not willing to help for some reason.' It came as a bombshell book called Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, by Andrew Lownie, revealed Jeffrey Epstein said of Prince Andrew: 'We are both serial sex addicts. He's the only person I have met who is more obsessed with p***y than me. 'From the reports I've got back from the women we've shared, he's the most perverted animal in the bedroom. He likes to engage in stuff that's even kinky to me – and I'm the king of kink!' The book, which the Duke and Duchess of York tried to ban, explores how the couple 'fell from grace because of the flaws in their own characters and how they were allowed to leverage their privileged position as royals for personal gain with the connivance of the institution itself.' The book also details claims of Prince Andrew's infidelity and bedroom antics - from sleeping with scores of women while on ambassador trips to making lewd comments to women he met during everyday life as the late Queen's favourite son. It said the nickname 'Randy Andy' was given to Prince Andrew while he was at Gordonstoun public school. He allegedly earned the name because he was already sexually experienced, good looking and girls were attracted to him. While he has never had trouble picking up women, a family friend said: 'He's not a hunter of women. He rather expects them to come to him. But when they do, he shows himself to be bone idle and not very socially adept at chatting them up.' The Duke of York has long faced criticism for his friendship with Epstein (pictured in 2011), which carried on even after the socialite's imprisonment for sex offences in 2008 One woman he propositioned said: 'He's about as subtle as a hand grenade. His favourite trick is to rub your knee under the table. It's pathetic.' At a wedding he was said to have asked a woman he'd not met before for a dance. When she declined, he responded, 'I suppose a b*** j** is out of the question, then?' Another of his lovers said: 'He is not a Casanova. In the bedroom department he is a bit of a let-down. He has been dumped by most of the girls linked to him because he is a bore.' Andrew is also said to have certain juvenile characteristics, such as taking advantage of his position to humiliate others who may not be able to respond. At a society event in 1992 he reportedly unzipped broadcaster Tania Bryer's evening dress the full length of her back. Then at a dinner party he allegedly sniffed the pâté served as a first course and turned to his right, saying, 'This pâté smells. What do you think?' His female companion leaned forward to smell it and he promptly pushed her face into the dish. One of his dates recalled how he always introduced himself to her friends as the Duke of York, 'even when we were dancing on tables at two in the morning at Momo.' After a house party in Dorset, one young woman complained: 'One minute you're having your bum pinched and the next minute he's reminding you he's Your Royal Highness.' The controversial prince even left an impression on former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Andrew asked to have lunch with Johnson when he was Mayor of London, turning up with a list of things he wanted to talk about. He wanted to redesign traffic lights with 'fewer red lights', thought the whole of Battersea Power Station should be demolished, including the listed towers and felt the Queen Elizabeth II Centre was too small and not fit for purpose. Johnson responded: 'Well, if it's too small, it's your mum's fault.' Andrew reportedly stuck his tongue out. Afterwards, Boris said: 'I'm the last person to be a republican but, f***, if I ever have to spend another lunch like that, I soon will be.' Before her death by suicide in April, Virginia Giuffre said she was approached by Maxwell in 2000 and eventually was hired by her as a masseuse for Epstein, who took his own life in prison aged 66 in 2019. But the couple effectively made her a sexual servant, she said, pressuring her into gratifying not only Epstein but his friends and associates. Donald Trump and his then-girlfriend Melania Knauss with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, on February 12, 2000 Giuffre said she was flown around the world for appointments with men including Prince Andrew while she was 17 and 18 years old. The men, including Andrew, denied that and questioned Giuffre's credibility. The prince settled with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, agreeing to make a 'substantial donation' to her survivors' organisation. While Andrew has long been criticised on both sides of the Atlantic, Allred, the attorney for some of Epstein's victims, also said she believes Andrew's name appears in files on Epstein held by the US government that many are asking to be made public. President Trump, who was close friends with Epstein for decades, suggested while campaigning for the last election that he would release the files. His campaign team wrote on X: 'President Trump says he will DECLASSIFY the 9/11 Files, JFK Files, and Epstein Files.' However, since his election he has backtracked. His former pal Elon Musk has criticised the Trump administration for not releasing the files. This year, Trump claimed the files were a 'hoax' and a 'scam' by Democrats who had peddled 'bulls***' to former MAGA supporters. Musk responded on X by saying: 'Wow, amazing that Epstein '' killed himself'' and Ghislaine is in federal prison for a hoax.' Then on July 15, Trump said: 'It's pretty boring stuff. It's sordid, but it's boring, and I don't understand why it keeps going. 'I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.' He later admitted the US attorney general had not told him the files were a hoax, but said he (Trump) 'knew' it was.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Instant karma for cocky shoplifter who brazenly helps himself to designer clothes - but reckons without the police officers lying in wait
A cocky shoplifter who brazenly helped himself to clothing before strolling out of stores has been caught by police. CCTV footage shared by the Met shows a hooded man casually giving staff a thumbs up before pulling a clothes stand and walking off the store with what appears to be a jumper. In another clip, a man with a bag calmly picks up a cream puffer jacket and exits the store without challenge. A third video shows a man in a blue beanie grabbing items from shelves in front of what looks like a stunned member of staff. When someone tries to stop him, he simply walks away. The clips, edited into a compilation with jokey background music, then cut to police bodycam footage showing officers arresting a man. It's not clear if he appears in all the shoplifting clips. He's seen being pinned to the ground and cuffed as an officer tells him he's being arrested for being recalled to prison. One policeman holds up a pair of trousers and says: 'That's got a label on it,' while another adds: 'This is nicked as well.' It comes as shoplifting continues to soar across the capital, even in its most iconic cultural hotspots. CCTV footage shared by the Met shows a hooded man casually giving staff a thumbs up before pulling a clothes stand He then walked off the store with what appears to be a jumper In another clip, a man with a bag calmly picks up a cream puffer jacket and exits the store without challenge The clips, edited into a compilation with jokey background music, then cut to police bodycam footage showing officers arresting a man Over the past week in the West End, a board game thief was caught 10 minutes after stealing as part of a £1,300 crime spree, while a masked gang was cuffed moments after stealing £100,000 of Apple products from a phone shop. And a rampant thief who stole £9,000 from stores in Covent Garden throughout February and March was caught by bobbies on the beat last month. The shoplifting crisis has seemed to reach boiling point in the West End as the Metropolitan Police has been forced to take action in a bid to contain the shameless thefts. In an attempted crackdown, the number of officers policing the district will increase by more than 50 per cent following a spate of brazen thefts. Knife crime and theft are at record levels in the city – and the force has faced accusations of failing to take the challenge seriously or to be tackling it head-on, all while trying to manage with an ever–shrinking budget. Board game thief Omar Innis, 32, was spotted by West End district coppers carrying a large number of board games and toys on July 25. Prolific board game thief Omar Innis, 32, was spotted by West End district coppers carrying a large number of board games and toys on July 25 It was the seventh time he had struck in a month and a half, nicking £1,300 of goods in total from the same shop in Covent Garden The Camden man is now behind bars after pleading guilty to thefts and receiving a 26–week jail sentence Officers had been speaking to shop owners in the area, who had informed them that board game thefts had been on the rise. Innis was 'acting suspiciously', the Met said – and it emerged he had stolen the games just 10 minutes before. In fact, it was the seventh time he had struck in a month and a half, nicking £1,300 of goods in total from the same shop in Covent Garden. The Camden man is now behind bars after pleading guilty to thefts and receiving a 26–week jail sentence.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Where is Graham Quinn now? Myleene Klass and ex's bitter war of words as he accuses her of 'bullying and abuse' while she claims he cheated on her with a celebrity
Graham Quinn has found himself back in the public eye after Myleene Klass accused him of cheating on her with another celebrity - at her own birthday party. The bodyguard, 47, started dating Myleene in 2001, having met when he worked as security guard for her pop group Hear'Say. The couple went on to welcome daughters Ava, 17, and Hero, 14, and tied the knot in 2011 after a decade together - only to separate six months later. In the years that followed, Graham - who is the brother of Keith Duffy 's wife Lisa -retreated from the limelight as he attempted to rebuild his life in Ibiza. However, this week, he hit headlines once again when Myleene claimed she walked in on him taking the clothes off an unnamed star who has built a brand on her 'family values'. And if history repeats itself, Graham will have plenty to say about Myleene, having previously accused her of 'bullying and abuse' while lashing out at her continuing to mention his name in the press. Graham has kept a low profile in recent years, seemingly deleting his Instagram profile and is no longer active on X/ Twitter. His X account was last active in 2020 and his bio simply reads: 'Living in Ibiza'. However, his last X post was a lengthy message directed at Myleene, in which he accused her of 'bullying' and 'abuse' in a sensational online statement. The rant was sparked by a 2007 interview Myleene gave to the Daily Mail, in which she discussed his past drug offences. In the chat, Myleene mused: 'Before we even considered having a relationship, he was very upfront with me about what he had done. 'He was young and he got caught up in the wrong crowd. I was shocked but I also respected his honesty. He was haunted by it every day of his life and he still talks about it now.' After the interview resurfaced in 2020, Graham broke his silence on their split to attack the musician, branding her 'nasty' and 'vindictive' and accusing her of playing 'childish games. Having previously maintained an eight-year public silence on their relationship, he posted the essay on his public profile berating his ex-wife and denying longstanding allegations that he left her cash-strapped to enjoy a bachelor lifestyle. He wrote: 'So after eight years now of being separated... I've reached the end of my limit of abuse and bullying by Myleene Klass. 'For eight years you have spoken out quote after quote in all your interviews, making money from it and promoting your products and career etc. He added that the breakdown of the couple's relationship 'should have never been in the public eye'. Graham added he was perplexed as to why she continued to berate him despite the fact she was in a new, happy, relationship with Simon Motson. He wrote: '[It] must be very sad for your new partner — that the focus is still on the past? 'Everyone that knows me, knows that I'm an extremely private and loyal person. 'So please spare me the poor little victim stories.... to paint me as this horrible person - As for money or cars or houses, I've never taken a penny of your money or anything for that matter. I gave you the easiest divorce.' Addressing his drug offences, Graham added he was 'extremely proud' to have turned his life around and had 'worked hard to put it right', mentioning he had worked with a drugs charity to raise awareness about the dangers of using them. He also noted that he loved his children 'unconditionally' and advised her to 'put them first'. 'You might have stopped me seeing them all this time but the years are going fast and they will be old enough soon to come and find me and see just how much I adore them and always have,' he wrote. 'I still won't allow myself to ever stoop that low to ever say anything bad about you as I'm not that type of person and my focus will never change, it's always been about Ava and Hero who I absolutely adore and love unconditionally. 'You can't ever break that. So please put them first, stop your childish games and wasting your time being nasty and vindictive all these years later and enjoy being a new mum and focus on your new partner, not an ex of over eight years.' After his divorce from Myleene in April 2013, Graham moved on with dancer Sarah Robinson. The pair were linked shortly after Graham's marriage ended but Sarah insisted they were just friends at the time. They celebrated their engagement at a festive party over Christmas 2015 after Graham popped the question while they were on holiday in Ibiza. Their engagement party was attended by a number of Graham's celebrity pals including his Boyzone star brother-in-law Keith. Graham previously worked as a tour manager for JLS while Sarah's dancing career often required travel, meaning the couple were frequently apart. He posted on Instagram in May 2017 about his heartache of having to be apart, writing: 'Gonna miss my girl. Been spoilt having 10 days together on holiday... now off on tour again for 3 months, never easy saying goodbye'. However this relationship appeared to have soured a few months later as by October 2017, Sarah had wiped all trace of Graham from her Instagram account. Earlier this week, Myleene reflected on her relationship with Graham as she recalled walking in on him and a female celebrity taking each other's clothes off on the balcony of her own home. Refusing to name the woman, the Loose Women panelist hinted that the person in question has built a career off a 'family brand' and clarified that it was before they had got married. Speaking on Paul Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast, the mother-of-two said: 'I walked in on him with a famous person on my birthday on a balcony.' According to the TV presenter, the pair tried to claim that it wasn't what it looked like and she continued: 'I'm in my house, it's my party. They weren't having sex, but they were unzipping each other. 'It's not what you think'. But I'm like, 'It is what I think'. 'It's the first thing they both said. I kicked everyone out of the party, including his mum and dad. They went back to Ireland and his dad said: 'He doesn't get it from me'. 'I remember thinking that was quite a weird thing to say,' she told the love expert. Graham tried to blame the affair on being drunk. Myleene admitted the whole ordeal was a 'pretty big red flag' but still went through with their wedding in October 2011. Turning her thoughts towards the other woman, Myleene said: 'I've made peace with that situation now, but for a long time, it was very difficult to see their life. 'My life literally just broke apart very, very publicly and their life, they've managed to continue building a family brand on it. I have to take some accountability 'Look, you know, first and foremost to my children. My children have asked enough questions and it's never been a case of laying out my stall now. 'It's got to be as and when. But here's the funny thing - school mums, people who just want to gossip, will go to your children before anybody else.' Myleene previously recalled the twisted request the woman Graham cheated on her with asked her. Myleene said on Loose Women: '100 percent, I've been on the receiving of someone who cheated on me. I was extremely disturbed as was my family as was the ripple effect of people who have to live with those actions. 'Put it this way, one of the people that he cheated on me with asked to have a photo with me and I refused. 'One of the people that he had an affair with or a relationship with just said 'Can I have a photo with you?' 'I said 'No. I do not agree with what you stand for'. If I then put myself, If I align myself or have allegiance to you as a person, that photo is out there forever. 'I don't agree with women or men having their lives turned upside down with lies and deceit because you didn't think it was that big of a crime. 'You're messing with peoples emotions and their lives. They have permanent repercussions.' Myleene went on to meet current partner Simon in 2015, with the couple welcoming their son Apollo four years later.
