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Boy, 15, died after taking ecstasy with pals to celebrate his birthday

Boy, 15, died after taking ecstasy with pals to celebrate his birthday

The Irish Sun11 hours ago

A BOY died after taking ecstasy with friends to celebrate his 15th birthday, an inquest heard.
Joshua Reeson, pictured above, paid for the drug which the three pals took late at night at one of their
homes
.
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He started shaking and sweating and was told to leave by his friend's parents.
He was later found by the adults who had gone out looking for him.
Joshua, who had fallen and hit his head, was taken to hospital where he died the same day.
He had multiple organ failure from the MDMA on September 27, 2020.
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READ MORE UK NEWS
Mum Michelle said: 'One spur-of-the-moment decision, one wrong choice, and everything changed.
"
Drugs
took Joshua away from us.'
A drug-related death conclusion was recorded at the inquest at Northallerton Coroner's
Court
, North Yorks.
Alexander Payne, 20, of Middlesbrough, was jailed for 4½ years for conspiracy to supply MDMA and cocaine in December.
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Most read in The Sun
1
Joshua Reeson had multiple organ failure from taking the MDMA in 2020
Credit: North Yorkshire Police

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‘Crossbow Cannibal' smirked as I searched his house of horrors… there were things in his bathtub no one should ever see
‘Crossbow Cannibal' smirked as I searched his house of horrors… there were things in his bathtub no one should ever see

The Irish Sun

time32 minutes ago

  • The Irish Sun

‘Crossbow Cannibal' smirked as I searched his house of horrors… there were things in his bathtub no one should ever see

HE was a PhD student by day, and a sadistic 'Crossbow Cannibal' by night - a monster hiding in plain sight. But few know the horrors committed by Advertisement 16 Stephen Griffiths brutally murdered three women in cold blood 16 His final victim was Suzanne Blamires, whose attack led to his arrest 16 The evil murderer was caught on camera launching an attack on Suzanne Credit: Amazon Prime Between 2009 and 2010, the sick monster - now aged 55 - killed three sex workers operating close to his flat on the edge of Bradford's red light district, cannibalising and dismembering them. But the self-styled 'Crossbow Cannibal' - who fantasised about becoming a serial killer - saw his twisted spree come crashing down when chilling Advertisement In May 2010, Griffiths was caught on film with a crossbow in hand, attacking a woman who had followed him into his flat in Bradford. The grainy footage showed her trying to flee, with Griffiths chasing her down. It was a scene so disturbing that the caretaker who discovered it immediately called his manager and then the police. One of the officers brought in was Damian Sharp, a former firearms tactical advisor, who was urgently called to one of West Yorkshire Police's major planning stations. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, as part of our Meeting a Monster series, Damian recalls: "Whatever that security man's motives were for checking the footage, it's extremely good he did because it probably saved the lives of a lot of women. "In regards to the woman in the footage, when we got the call, we had to make the assumption that she was still alive. Advertisement "She was dragged back into the flat and is essentially a hostage, and has been rendered unconscious. "It was not a good situation at all, especially with the crossbow. We treated it as a hostage situation, but we were dealing with what we call a collapsing timeframe. "We had to keep the wheels turning because every second counted. A hostage situation can turn fatal very quickly." 'Crossbow Cannibal' who dismembered and ate his victims 'is attacked in prison AGAIN The tactical plan was clear - surround the building, box Griffiths in, and storm the flat before he had a chance to act again. Tasers were drawn, and officers prepared to strike. Advertisement "The officers barged in and he was in bed", Damian recalls. "He didn't know what was going on. "The preemptive Taser was taken out because the officer thought there was no requirement for that. He was clearly not a threat. "He was cuffed, and then he changed from being compliant to a bit cocky almost and almost abrasive. "And obviously, there was an immediate search of the apartment. Unfortunately, no female was found." 16 Griffiths' first known victim was Susan Rushworth, who he killed in June 2009 Advertisement 16 Shelley Armitage went missing in April 2010 - parts of her body were later discovered dumped in a river 16 Griffiths used his crossbow to carry out some of his twisted crimes In that moment, the team's worst fears were confirmed. The woman in the footage was gone. Griffiths had Damian says during the search of the blood-smeared apartment, his team came across 'unsettling' items in places like the oven, which gave credence to Griffiths' cannibal nickname. Advertisement He says: "There were things in the bathtub and they were not nice. There was an awful smell in the apartment. "The environment was unsettling. Enough to make the hair at the back of your neck stand up." In their investigation, police discovered that Griffiths tried unsuccessfully to get a second female into the apartment that same night, indicating that the incident caught on CCTV was not just an isolated case. 81 different body pieces Investigators quickly pieced together that the woman in the film was Suzanne Blamires, 36, a sex worker who had a "promising life" but fell in with the wrong crowd. A court later heard how 81 different pieces of Suzanne's body were eventually found in or by the River Aire in Shipley. Advertisement She was Griffiths' final victim, having already murdered 31-year-old Shelley Armitage in April 2010 and Susan Rushworth, 43, in June the previous year. Damian, who has dealt with some of the UK's most evil criminals, says: "As far as what he did to those girls, the Crossbow Cannibal is right up there. I don't think it gets much worse than what he did. "He showed no remorse for what he'd done. He bragged about it. He was quite pleased with himself." Sister's horror Now, a new Amazon Prime documentary, The Crossbow Cannibal, examines Griffiths' heinous crimes and the vile way he gained his moniker. In the film, his estranged sister Caroline breaks her silence for the first time to talk about her brother's actions, suggesting she had long sensed he was hiding a darkness. Advertisement Describing the gut feeling she had when a news report talked about a killer, she says: "I was enjoying my fish and chips and the BBC news was on. "It came on that a 40-year-old man from Bradford. Arrested. Body parts [were] found in a river. As far as what he did to those girls, the Crossbow Cannibal is right up there. I don't think it gets much worse than what he did. He showed no remorse for what he'd done. Damian Sharp "I made this funny noise - kind of sucked air through my teeth. And I just said, 'My brother. I bet you that's my brother'." She adds: 'I watch true crime and I think that's terrible. But then I also think my brother did worse than that. "You hear about people chopping people up, and you think it's awful, and then the words 81 pieces come into your head. Advertisement "And you never really come to terms with it. But it's real. It happened." Sickest crimes 16 During his police interrogation, Griffiths said he had 'killed loads' 16 His home near the red light district was described as a slaughterhouse Credit: NB PRESS LTD 16 Police discovered the crossbow he used in the attacks during a search of his home After Griffiths' arrest, he was quickly linked to Susan and Shelley's disappearance, as cops feared another case of the Yorkshire Ripper, who Advertisement His first kill came in June 2009 when he targeted Susan. In the film, Christa Ackyord, a Yorkshire-based journalist, says: "I know mutual friends. I've talked to her brother. She literally went down the wrong track. It was all going so well for Susan. "She was married, she had children, she was also a grandma." But Susan's life fell apart when her marriage failed, and she turned to drugs and prostitution. She tried to get things back on track, but fell back into addiction. She was last seen walking near the red light district in Bradford, where she'd sometimes sold sex to fund her habit. Advertisement That morning, Susan told a friend she was "just going to see a punter" - unaware she was about to walk into the hands of a cold-blooded killer. Her client was Stephen Griffiths. He had spotted her before and lured her in under the guise of paying for sex. Once inside his flat, Susan was never seen alive again. Sickening spree There were multiple police appeals and efforts to locate Susan. Exactly what happened inside remains unknown - her body was never found. Susan's family were left devastated. Her daughter described her as a "kind, caring woman" who had struggled with addiction but was "trying to turn her life around". Her death marked the start of Griffiths' sick killing spree - and for police, the nightmare was just beginning. Advertisement Shelley Armitage was just 31, and described as bright, ambitious, and dreaming of modelling and a life beyond Bradford's streets. Friends say she "could have been a beautiful model" and had a bubbly personality. But a spiral of heroin and alcohol addiction drew her into sex work. On April 26, 2010, she was last seen on CCTV walking along Rebecca Street in Bradford's red light district . She disappeared after leaving her flat in Allerton with a friend and never returned home . Her boyfriend, Robert Preston, filed a missing persons report two days later. Advertisement Again, several police appeals were launched with investigators pleading with the public for help to locate Shelley. Griffiths had lured Shelley to his flat under the pretence of sex, then tied her up in his bathtub while filming the ordeal on his phone, police later revealed. Mobile phones retrieved from his home showed images of Shelley's naked, dead body with the words: "My sex slave" written on her. Another video showed a nude body that had been bound. Griffith provided vile commentary describing himself as a "bloodbath artist". The murderer showed no remorse when detectives sat him down in the interview room. Advertisement He was calm, collected and even smug as he detailed his horrific crimes. He confessed that Susan was killed with a hammer. He then dismembered her body with machine tools, he said. 16 Police divers in the River Aire made several gruesome discoveries Credit: Amazon Prime 16 Human remains belonging to Suzanne and Shelley were found in the water Credit: Amazon Prime Griffiths also claimed he cooked and ate part of her flesh. In one shocking moment, he described eating the flesh of his victims as "part of the magic". He admitted to killing Shelley with a crossbow and dismembering her in the bath. He informed detectives that they would find traces of her body on the cooker in his home. Advertisement He recalled butchering Suzanne Blamires with a crossbow. After divulging the information, he stopped talking to the cops, letting them know that to become a serial killer, he only needed to kill three people. Investigators quickly started piecing together a sinister motive - Griffith was after notoriety and infamy. He wanted to surpass his idol, serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper. In the documentary, his sister says: "He once told me as well that if he couldn't be famous, he would be infamous. And that if I was famous and was more famous than him, he would find me and kill me." Crossbow Cannibal 16 When asked his name in court, Griffiths chillingly said he was the 'Crossbow Cannibal' Credit: Amazon Prime 16 Griffiths was given a whole life order in December 2010 Credit: Amazon Prime Advertisement When Griffiths first appeared in Bradford Crown Court on June 25, 2010, the room fell into stunned silence. He stood in the dock, unshaven, wearing a grey prison sweatshirt. When asked to confirm his name, he chillingly replied: "I am the Crossbow Cannibal." It was the first time the public heard the nickname, a vile moniker he had clearly chosen for himself, designed to terrify. Griffiths showed no remorse throughout the proceedings. The evidence against him was overwhelming, with CCTV footage and forensic evidence from his flat playing a crucial role. Cops also had the phone video he filmed of himself tormenting Shelley Armitage in the bath, and remains recovered from the River Aire. Advertisement He once told me as well that if he couldn't be famous, he would be infamous. And that if I was famous and was more famous than him, he would find me and kill me Caroline Griffiths In addition, blood samples from all three women were retrieved from his apartment, which was called a slaughterhouse in the media. He was charged with three counts of murder and pleaded guilty to each one. At his trial, the court heard how he had targeted vulnerable women working in Bradford's red light district, luring them into his home before murdering and dismembering them. In December 2010, Mr Justice Openshaw, sentencing Griffiths to a whole life order, told him: "You are a very dangerous man and in my judgment you should never be released from prison." Griffiths showed no reaction. He stood still and silent, not even looking at the victims' families who sat weeping just metres away. Advertisement He was sent to In November last year, Griffiths 'Worst fears' 16 Suzanne was from a good family, but turned to drugs and prostitution after falling on hard times Credit: 16 Shelley's family says she was on the verge of turning her life around before the murder Credit: Today, Griffiths' sister only has one question - why. Advertisement She says: "I just want to ask him why, probably. Why did he do this, and who are you? I'd probably tell him that I loved him as well. People might be shocked to hear that, but he's my brother. My big brother." Christa Ackyord says the attention must always be brought back to Griffiths' victims and their families. She explains: "For their families, they were people that they loved. People that they tried to help. People that they were desperately worried about. And their worst fears came true. "And they ended up meeting a psychopath. A cold-hearted killer who wanted to be famous." 16 Stephen Griffiths killed his victims in an attempt to be as infamous as the serial killers he idolised Credit: Amazon Prime Advertisement

Refugee who stabbed youth footballer Kiyan Prince to death has been deported to Somalia
Refugee who stabbed youth footballer Kiyan Prince to death has been deported to Somalia

The Irish Sun

time10 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Refugee who stabbed youth footballer Kiyan Prince to death has been deported to Somalia

A SOMALIAN refugee who stabbed youth footballer Kiyan Prince to death outside a school has been deported. Hannad Hasan was given sanctuary in 2001 after fleeing the war-torn African nation. Advertisement 2 Kiyan Prince was stabbed to death with a penknife in May 2006 Credit: Adweek magazine But just five years later, the thug teen killed Hasan, 17, got Kiyan in a headlock and stabbed him through the heart with a penknife in a May 2006 murder in Edgware, north-west London, which horrified Britain. Hasan was handed a minimum of 13-years behind bars and was denied The now 35-year-old was flown to Advertisement Read More on UK News Queens Park Rangers called their ground the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in 2019 after a fan vote over naming rights. The West London championship club reverted to their Loftus Road name three years later. When Hasan was jailed, Judge Paul Worsley said: 'Taking the life of another is always a terrible thing - taking the life of a talented, popular 15-year-old schoolboy who was known to you and who had done you no wrong and had everything to live for defies description.' After the verdict, Mr Prince said the family was 'ecstatic, over the moon' at the sentence. Advertisement Most read in The Sun A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that we will do everything to make sure they are not free to roam Britain's streets, including removing them from the UK at the earliest possible opportunity. 'Since the election we've removed 4,436 foreign criminals, a 14% increase on the same period 12 months prior.' Not-for-profit KPF is committed to using Kiyan's legacy to combat knife crime and other forms of youth violence. Kiyan Prince's family hail FIFA 21 tribute to QPR teenager on 15th anniversary of tragic death 2 Somalian refugee Hannad Hasan, who stabbed youth footballer Kiyan to death, has been deported Credit: PA:Press Association Advertisement

Boy, 15, died after taking ecstasy with pals to celebrate his birthday
Boy, 15, died after taking ecstasy with pals to celebrate his birthday

The Irish Sun

time11 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Boy, 15, died after taking ecstasy with pals to celebrate his birthday

A BOY died after taking ecstasy with friends to celebrate his 15th birthday, an inquest heard. Joshua Reeson, pictured above, paid for the drug which the three pals took late at night at one of their homes . Advertisement He started shaking and sweating and was told to leave by his friend's parents. He was later found by the adults who had gone out looking for him. Joshua, who had fallen and hit his head, was taken to hospital where he died the same day. He had multiple organ failure from the MDMA on September 27, 2020. Advertisement READ MORE UK NEWS Mum Michelle said: 'One spur-of-the-moment decision, one wrong choice, and everything changed. " Drugs took Joshua away from us.' A drug-related death conclusion was recorded at the inquest at Northallerton Coroner's Court , North Yorks. Alexander Payne, 20, of Middlesbrough, was jailed for 4½ years for conspiracy to supply MDMA and cocaine in December. Advertisement Most read in The Sun 1 Joshua Reeson had multiple organ failure from taking the MDMA in 2020 Credit: North Yorkshire Police

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