American woman denies Birmingham shopkeeper murder plot
Betro, originally from the US state of Wisconsin, had been extradited from Armenia after being arrested there last summer.The conspiracy charge covers a period ranging between 21 August and 10 September 2019, while the firearms offence is alleged to have been committed on 8 September of the same year.The ammunition smuggling charge relates to a period between 12 September and 23 October.Ms Betro, wearing glasses and a striped casual long-sleeved top, appeared sitting behind a desk in a prison video booth during the 12-minute hearing.She was remanded into custody ahead of a pre-trial review hearing set for 3 April.
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Spectator
6 minutes ago
- Spectator
The state will do anything but fix the migrant crisis
Migrant hotel protests are erupting across the country, as 'tinderbox' Britain catches fire. What began with a series of protests in Epping, Essex, over the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl by a recently arrived Ethiopian migrant, has now spread, as Brits air long-standing grievances about asylum seekers they have been forced to host in their own communities. A powerful tendency now exists in the British state towards displacement activity Demonstrations have so far been reported in Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth, Norwich, Leeds and Wolverhampton, Sutton-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, Altrincham and even at Canary Wharf in London. With years of unaddressed anger rapidly making themselves felt, the police, pulled in all directions, are struggling to keep up. 'Local commanders are once again being forced to choose between keeping the peace at home or plugging national gaps', admits the head of the Police Federation. Still, it seems there is one thing the government is more than happy to devote resources to: trawling the internet for anti-migrant sentiment. The Telegraph reports that an elite team of police officers convened by the Home Office is set to monitor social media to flag up early signs of unrest. Working out of the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) in Westminster the new National Internet Intelligence Investigations team will 'maximise social media intelligence' gathering in order to 'help local forces manage public safety threats and risks'. If this new division was just about intelligence-gathering that would be one thing. It's true that social media is in invaluable resource for following events on the ground at such gatherings, while local Facebook groups are often where grassroots protests are organised. Yet we know that when it comes to the British state and social media, censorship and punishment for online speech is never far behind. Ever since Sir Keir Starmer repeatedly linked the Southport unrest last year with social media, the idea has firmly taken root in Whitehall that the best way to stop unrest is to aggressively police the internet. Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, already takes this view, and the link has even been drawn in Department for Education guidance on how to talk to schoolchildren about the Southport disorder. In a recent report, the police inspectorate said that that forces must be 'better prepared and resourced to monitor, analyse, use and respond to online content', which it argues was a risk to public safety. This general zeal for social-media policing is why Big Brother Watch believes the new unit is very likely to infringe on free speech. The investigations team is 'Orwellian' and 'disturbing', says interim director Rebecca Vincent, creating the possibility that it 'will attempt to interfere with online content' as other government bodies are known to have done during Covid. As if there weren't enough threats to free speech already. This week age verification provisions in the latest stage of the Online Safety Act (OSA) kicked in, meaning that some footage of protests is now inaccessible on social media for many users. Not even parliamentary privilege is safe from the censorship regime. Katie Lam's searing April speech on the rape gangs, in which she quoted court transcripts and survivors, could not be watched on X without age verification. We are beginning to look like North Korea with rainbow flags: for the public's 'safety', footage exposing grievous failures of the British state now cannot be viewed in the UK. Little wonder, given the OSA explicitly earmarks content relating to 'child sexual abuse' and 'illegal immigration and people smuggling' as the 'kinds of illegal content and activity that platforms need to protect users from'. The Conservatives, who bequeathed us this blank cheque for digital authoritarianism, certainly need to take a long, hard look at themselves. The claims that the OSA is merely about restricting access to pornography has been exposed as a mere fig leaf. And still things could still get worse. As the Free Speech Union has noted, shortly after last year's riots, the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a pro-censorship lobby group with ties to Morgan McSweeney, 'hosted a closed-door meeting under the Chatham House rule to discuss the role of social media in civil unrest'. In attendance were officials from the Home Office, the Department of Science, Information and Technology, Ofcom and other organisations. The CCDH proposals that emerged included amending the OSA to 'grant Ofcom additional 'emergency response' powers to fight 'misinformation' that poses a 'threat' to 'national security' and 'the health or safety of the public''. 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Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots Madonna tribute act stalked her estranged husband and his new partner for a year
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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
People say I'm setting women back, but they're mums relying on boyfriends or benefits says Bonnie Blue in shocking chat
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 'DON'T stand too close to me, you might catch something,' quips Bonnie Blue as we pose for pics. As The Sun's Sexpert, there's not much that shocks me. I've been to swinging parties, witnessed 50-strong orgies and even taken part in an orgasm contest in New York. 5 Bonnie Blue is the disturbing reality of what happens when pornography and the world of 'influencers' collide Credit: Olivia West 5 Bonnie's controversial bonkfest during Nottingham Freshers' Week made headlines Credit: Tim Stewart 5 Bonnie has been branded as dangerous for women as toxic masculinity influencer Andrew Tate Credit: Instagram You could say I'm unshockable, and I'd have agreed with you — until Bonnie burst on to the scene. I've covered the industry long enough to know what's what, and I count porn stars, escorts and OnlyFans models as friends. But such is Bonnie's determination to perform the most degrading stunts imaginable, she's a tough one to defend. Her shock claim to fame — bedding over 1,000 men in 12 hours — and filming sex content with 'barely legal' students saw her accused of 'setting women back 100 years'. She has even been branded as dangerous for women as toxic masculinity influencer Andrew Tate, not least for referring to herself as a 'slut'. 'I love sex with public' So today, I'm sitting down with the 26-year-old to find out what really drives her — and maybe even get under her skin. Readers will know that The Sun does not make a habit of interviewing porn stars. But Bonnie is more than that. She is the disturbing reality of what happens when pornography and the world of 'influencers' collide, just as much a staple on the unregulated social media pages your kids scroll through as she is on adult sites. Bonnie is riding a new wave of anything-goes promiscuity that's genuinely worrying — and that's coming from someone who has built a career on being 'sex positive'. Real name Tia Billinger, she grew up in Draycott, a village between Derby and Nottingham, and was virtually unknown until she catapulted to fame in October last year. Bonnie Blue CANCELS disgusting 'petting zoo' event after extreme backlash, but reveals 10 THOUSAND men applied Her extraordinary story is laid bare in new fly-on-the-wall Channel 4 documentary, 1,000 Men And Me: The Bonnie Blue Story, airing tomorrow. With immaculately blow-dried blonde hair and a preppy style, she's far from the stereotypical porn star. There's an old-money vibe about her — part of her appeal no doubt, and the shock factor. I ask her about being permanently banned from adult platform OnlyFans last month, after inviting men to have sex with her in a twisted so-called 'petting zoo'. Claiming to be inspired by David Blaine, she wanted to tie herself up inside a glass box in the centre of London, which would be 'open for the public' to do 'whatever they want' with her. 'It's frustrating, I've never broken a single f*g rule,' she fumes. 'I went from earning £2million a month to zero. It makes me look like I lie to my fans. "They [OnlyFans] would prefer me to do a cooking show or a dog's yoga retreat, but it's a sex site. People say I'm setting women back, but when I check their profiles, they're often stay-at-home mums relying on a boyfriend or benefits. Bonnie Blue 'I love having sex with the public and that is not going to stop. OnlyFans has tried to cancel me, but it's done the opposite.' So does Bonnie think she's setting women back with such degrading behaviour, teaching young men that it's OK to treat them as objects? 'I say I'm not a feminist, but a lot of my views are,' she says. 'I believe in equality, women being in control and not feeling intimidated by men. I do what I want, when I want, and I feel safe doing it. 'People say I'm setting women back, but when I check their profiles, they're often stay-at-home mums relying on a boyfriend or benefits — and I think, hang on a second.' Bonnie's controversial bonkfest during Nottingham Uni Freshers' Week, which saw her have sex with 150 18-year-olds — many of whom she claimed were virgins — made news. But it was her stunt in January that really caused outcry, as she claimed to have slept with over 1,000 men in 12 hours, working out at less than 45 seconds per fella. 5 Bonnie's shocking claim to fame was bedding 1,000 men in 12 hours Credit: bonnie_blue_xox/Instagram 5 A young Bonnie with with her ex Ollie Credit: Facebook She later revealed she was left covered in bruises and bite marks from the sex marathon and issued a thank-you to 'all the barely legal, barely breathing and the husbands'. One of the first things that strikes me about Bonnie is how tiny she is. When I go to give her a hug, she's so delicate and pint-sized I worry I might crush her. I can't help but think about her being thrown around in her infamous gang bangs and wonder how she wasn't seriously damaged. I imagine my young kids — already exposed to social media — stumbling across her content and shudder. I'd be heartbroken if my three-year-old daughter ever thought this was inspirational, and asked Bonnie what led her down this path. 'Everyone wants me to say I've been through something traumatic in my past,' she says. 'But it's not true. They just can't accept that I want to do this because I enjoy sex.' I enjoy sex, too, but I find it hard to believe anyone could genuinely enjoy a 1,000-strong orgy. I ask her if she actually orgasms during these stunts and how her body felt the next day. 'Oh it's completely hit and miss,' she explains. 'Even in my personal sex life, I have to remind them how I like it. "Most of these men are inexperienced, so I don't, but I enjoy giving them a good experience. My jaw hurt more than I did down there after the 1,000 challenge,' she adds nonchalantly. 'My legs were burning, too.' Some guys were just lonely and wanted a conversation, other guys wanted me to strip down within 60 seconds with a sex toy inside of me. Bonnie Blue Bonnie says she ordered a burger and watched Dexter on Netflix that evening as she was 'too excited to sleep', then treated herself to a massage and facial at a spa the next day. Another Brit OnlyFans content created, Lily Phillips, pulled a similar stunt in December, bedding 101 men in 24 hours and documenting it for YouTube. Unlike Bonnie, Lily, from Derbyshire, claims the experience left her in tears — yet she still pledged to go a step further and sleep with 1,000 men in 24 hours. But Bonnie nailed the challenge first — and in half the time. The pair previously made joint content, but Lily has since claimed their views 'don't quite align'. Last month, Bonnie sat down to debate with misogynist Andrew Tate, who described her as 'the end point of feminism'. 'I'd been called the female version of Andrew Tate for a long time,' she tells me. 'His opinion is that women have fought for years to be in control and have their say and do what they want with their bodies. I do exactly that. So if that's the outcome, so be it.' Like Andrew, she's a Marmite figure — loved by some, loathed by others — and receives hundreds of death threats a day online. 'Last time I went out by myself was six months ago,' she explains. 'It's not safe.' It's hard not to find this incredibly sad. What's the point of making big money if you can't actually enjoy it? 'I want to be the best at what I do,' explains Bonnie. 'I'm not driven by material things and would rather be at home doing a puzzle than glammed up at a red carpet event.' 'Part-time nun' When she's not filming controversial content, she spends her time fishing, surfing and doing jigsaws. She says the only time she's been hurt was when someone uploaded a photo of her late grandad and falsely claimed he had sexually assaulted her. 'My family are getting double looks in the street,' she revealed. 'It made me realise the impact I was having on my family.' So how did someone like Bonnie, who seems to have it all, end up here? 'Growing up, I loved dancing,' she explains. 'But you've got to have money to make it. All the big dance schools are in London and I couldn't even afford a train ticket there.' Bonnie was studying midwifery before she dropped out of college and worked for the NHS doing recruitment finance. She later moved to Australia in her early twenties with her ex-husband Ollie, an estate agent. 'The move really helped me become a sex worker,' she recalls. 'It got me out of that small-town mindset where you're constantly comparing yourself to others.' She was inspired by women on TikTok flaunting their sex work earnings and decided to give it a go. 'I wanted money, freedom and to feel in control,' she says. Bonnie was racked with nerves before starting, but her ex-husband was her rock. 'My palms were sweating. I had no idea what I was doing — I didn't even know all the sex terms,' she recalls. 'I had a separate laptop next to me and any time someone asked something I didn't understand, I'd quickly Google it because I was too embarrassed to admit it. They expect me to drop my pants because they're famous. Bonnie Blue 'Some guys were just lonely and wanted a conversation, other guys wanted me to strip down within 60 seconds with a sex toy inside of me.' Bonnie claims that, before she got into sex work, she'd only slept with five people and described her sex life as 'vanilla'. 'We had sex three or four times a week after watching Netflix,' she recalls. 'My friends would say they had a threesome at the weekend and I'd say, 'Oh my God that's crazy. I'd never even had a one night stand.' Bonnie separated from Ollie last year and their divorce will be finalised next month. 'I'll always love and care for my ex dearly,' she explains. 'But I didn't look at him in the end and think, 'Oh I want to have sex with you'. We became brother and sister in the end.' Bonnie tells how big celebs slide into her DMs, but she's not interested. 'They expect me to drop my pants because they're famous' she laughs. 'But unless they'll film content and be identified, I'm not going to sleep with them. I'm like a part-time nun. I'm one extreme to the next.' She would like to start dating, but it's not a priority. 'I've done what people think is happiness,' she says. 'Marriage, buying a house, a nice car, having money — and they didn't make me happy.' Bonnie struggled to conceive with her ex and isn't naturally maternal. If she decides to have kids, it would be through IVF or adoption. I like Bonnie — she's witty and self-deprecating, cracking jokes at her own expense and clearly enjoys shocking people. But I can't help wondering if it's her armour against the world. As we talk, I wonder what her life will be like five years from now. When her looks fade, will she have to go to even greater extremes for attention? 'If it doesn't make me happy, then I'll be the first to stop,' she explains. 'I'm in control.' Bonnie tells me she hopes the documentary will shift public perception — not just of her, but of the men who sleep with her. 'I want people to know these men aren't disgusting,' she says. 'They're nice people. 'I'm also happy because everyone assumes that behind the cameras, I must be crying, upset or broken — but that's not the case. 'People think I must be sick in the head to enjoy this. But I'm living a life I'm incredibly grateful for. I feel very, very lucky.' But at what cost?
