Latest news with #Randall
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Newport thug pleads guilty to flashing and assaulting PCs
Thug Wesley Davies, 34, from Newport, who has 83 previous convictions for 164 offences, committed the offences after being released from prison for a serious assault. He was jailed for 13 months in May last year for splitting a nurse's head wide open with a single punch. Davies' latest offences were committed on July 11 and July 12 in Newport and Cwmbran. He admitted assaulting a police officer, exposure, assault by beating and damaging a Gwent Police vehicle. The defendant was remanded in custody at Newport Magistrates' Court and is due to be sentenced on July 30. Davies was locked up last year for attacking Kevin Randall. The victim had been out with family and friends watching the British and Irish Lions rugby Test match against South Africa. He punched the consultant emergency nurse outside the Esso petrol station on Cardiff's Newport Road at around 9pm on Saturday, July 31, 2021. An argument had broken out between the strangers after the groups Mr Randall and Davies were with had rowed over a taxi. Matthew Comer, prosecuting, said: 'The victim's head hit the floor and he was knocked unconscious.' CCTV footage capturing the assault was played to the judge, Recorder David Warner. He said to Davies: 'You joined in and took up a provocative position before I accept returning to the taxi. 'There's then a further exchange of words, we can see that between the female members of your group, and then you got back out of the taxi, went straight up to Mr Randall and punched him. 'You punched him so hard that he fell unconscious on the floor with the back of his head split wide open. 'The offence to which you have pleaded guilty is a cowardly and unpleasant one with significant consequences for your victim.' Mr Randall was taken to the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff in an ambulance and 21 surgical staples were needed to close the deep wound. In a victim personal statement he revealed how he suffers from ongoing 'memory loss and psychological harm'. He was off work for four weeks as a result of his injury and had to miss a family holiday. 'I'm aware that the attack that night could easily have killed me,' Mr Randall said. Davies pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of a machete in public are among his previous convictions. Joshua Scouller said in mitigation: 'He regrets enormously the injury that he caused. 'The defendant is a man who has had problems with alcohol and has sought to become sober.' His barrister added that the lengthy delay in the case coming to court was not the fault of his client and the prosecution could offer no explanation for the slow progress.
Western Telegraph
5 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Pembroke man jailed for sexually abusing step-daughter
The man – who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the victim – appeared at Swansea Crown Court charged with sexual activity with a child. Prosecutor Helen Randall told the court that the man had been giving his step-daughter – who was 17 at the time – cocaine 'three to four times a week' in mid-2021. He also sent her a picture of himself naked. For the latest crime and court news for west Wales, you can join our Facebook group here. The defendant, then aged 45, and the girl were taking cocaine together on June 5, 2021. Ms Randall said that, despite the victim protesting and trying to push him away, the man took her clothes off, sexually assaulted her, and then masturbated himself. The court heard the defendant replied 'Sorry x' when the victim messaged him about the incident. The victim disclosed what happened to her partner on June 10, but the police weren't contacted until she told family members in January this year. The defendant was arrested shortly afterwards. 'It has left me traumatised,' the victim said in a statement read out by Ms Randall. 'I wish it would stop and get better.' She added: 'I want to be more than just an abuse victim.' The defendant, now 49, initially denied the offences, but on the day of trial pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual activity with a child. The court heard he was previously of good character. Jon Tarrant, in mitigation, said the defendant 'came to his senses' and pled guilty, but this plea had possibly been delayed due to the social impact and psychological impact of accepting what he had done. 'There was a fair degree of emotional turbulence going on in his life,' he said. 'It was wholly inappropriate and wholly wrong. 'He accepts he must face direct and immediate prison for that.' Judge Huw Rees described the defendant's offending as 'vile', and added that it was 'deplorable' that he had been plying a 17-year-old with cocaine in order to commit the offence. The defendant was jailed for six years and four months. He must register as a sex offender for life, and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely. Judge Rees praised the victim's character in overcoming what the defendant had done to her, and granted her a life-long restraining order.
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Today
Judge to rule in sexual assault case that shook Canadian hockey
The courthouse in London, Canada, where a high-profile sexual assault trial involving five hockey players has been heard By Ben Simon A Canadian judge will deliver a verdict Thursday in the trial of five professional ice hockey players on sexual assault charges, in a case that has rocked the cherished national sport. The players stood trial over allegations they assaulted a woman in a hotel room following a June 2018 celebration for a national men's junior team. Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart and Callan Foote have denied wrongdoing, insisting the accuser -- whose identity is protected -- consented to a variety of sex acts. The complainant, 20 at the time, met McLeod at a bar in London, Ontario, before having sex with him. That initial encounter is not at issue in the trial, which is about events that occurred after McLeod messaged a team-wide group chat asking if anyone was interested in a "three-way." The players have confirmed participating in sex acts with the complainant and an initial police investigation produced no charges. Media investigations then revealed Hockey Canada, a governing body, used funds from subscription fees paid by ordinary families for a C$3.55 million (U.S.$2.6 million) out-of-court settlement with the woman. Public outrage forced the resignation of Hockey Canada's board, and London police, under a new chief, re-investigated the case led by a female detective with expertise in sexual assault. Western University law professor Melanie Randall, who has closely followed the case, told AFP the flawed initial investigation included an "inappropriate fixation" by the detective on the complainant's alcohol consumption. Randall added the first detective didn't apply up-to-date understandings of consent under criminal law, the issue that defined the trial. "Consent has to be voluntarily and freely given, and it has to be contemporaneous with each and every sexual act," Randall said. "You can't give consent in advance and you can't give it retroactively," she added, calling that a "powerful shift in (Canadian) law." Consent video - The trial heard that players made videos of the complainant saying she was OK with what happened. Prosecutors argued the decision to make a video indicated concern the sex was not consensual. Hart, a former NHL goaltender, testified such videos were common practice among professional athletes. Randall noted, "the idea that you could film someone afterwards and say -- 'hey, this was all consensual, right?' -- to prove that there was consent is actually completely discordant with how consent is defined (in Canadian law)." In a landmark 1999 decision, Canada's Supreme Court barred defense lawyers in sexual assault cases from a tactic it called "whack the complainant." Scholar have defined this as withering cross examination attacking a complainant's credibility through outdated stereotypes about sexual encounters. Raising their entire sexual history, alleged promiscuous behavior, or questions about why they did not resist are prohibited. For Randall, defense lawyers in the hockey case committed "a pretty egregious and blatant example of whack the victim, full force," citing "nine days of brutal cross-examination." Some commentators have rejected claims the case exposed broader issues in hockey culture, arguing the sport remains a positive force for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians despite a disturbing incident involving several players. But Simon Darnell, a professor of sport for development and peace at the University of Toronto, told AFP "it would be a problem to say that these five men were somehow bad apples and that there's nothing systemic here." Regardless of whether the judge finds the players guilty, Darnell said the conduct in the hotel room needs to be addressed. "Young, elite male hockey players grow up in an environment, where they are told both implicitly and explicitly that they are really important," he said. "They probably grew up feeling like sexual conquest was this thing that they're owed as a result of being a hockey player," he added, urging more work to foster a sports culture that emphasizes "a positive form of masculinity." © 2025 AFP
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Straits Times
Judge to rule in sexual assault case that shook Canadian hockey
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A Canadian judge will deliver a verdict on July 24 in the trial of five professional ice hockey players on sexual assault charges. TORONTO – A Canadian judge will deliver a verdict on July 24 in the trial of five professional ice hockey players on sexual assault charges, in a case that has rocked the cherished national sport. The players stood trial over allegations they assaulted a woman in a hotel room following a June 2018 celebration for a national men's junior team. Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart and Callan Foote have denied wrongdoing, insisting the accuser – whose identity is protected – consented to a variety of sex acts. The complainant, 20 at the time, met McLeod at a bar in London, Ontario, before having sex with him. That initial encounter is not at issue in the trial, which is about events that occurred after McLeod messaged a team-wide group chat asking if anyone was interested in a 'three-way'. The players have confirmed participating in sex acts with the complainant and an initial police investigation produced no charges. Media investigations then revealed Hockey Canada, a governing body, used funds from subscription fees paid by ordinary families for a $3.55 million CAD out-of-court settlement with the woman. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kick in Business Singapore's digital banks finding their niche in areas like SMEs as they narrow losses in 2024 Asia Japan Prime Minister Ishiba to resign by August, Mainichi newspaper reports World Trump says US will charge 19% tariff on goods from Philippines, down from 20% Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore 2 foreigners arrested for shop theft at Changi Airport Opinion Most companies onboard the wrong way – here's how to get it right Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving Public outrage forced the resignation of Hockey Canada's board, and London police, under a new chief, re-investigated the case led by a female detective with expertise in sexual assault. Western University law professor Melanie Randall, who has closely followed the case, told AFP the flawed initial investigation included an 'inappropriate fixation' by the detective on the complainant's alcohol consumption. Randall added the first detective did not apply up-to-date understandings of consent under criminal law, the issue that defined the trial. 'Consent has to be voluntarily and freely given, and it has to be contemporaneous with each and every sexual act,' Randall said. 'You can't give consent in advance and you can't give it retroactively,' she added, calling that a 'powerful shift in (Canadian) law'. The trial heard that players made videos of the complainant saying she was OK with what happened. Prosecutors argued the decision to make a video indicated concern the sex was not consensual. Hart, a former NHL goaltender, testified such videos were common practice among professional athletes. Randall noted, 'the idea that you could film someone afterwards and say – 'hey, this was all consensual, right?' – to prove that there was consent is actually completely discordant with how consent is defined (in Canadian law).' In a landmark 1999 decision, Canada's Supreme Court barred defense lawyers in sexual assault cases from a tactic it called 'whack the complainant.' Scholar have defined this as withering cross examination attacking a complainant's credibility through outdated stereotypes about sexual encounters. Raising their entire sexual history, alleged promiscuous behavior, or questions about why they did not resist are prohibited. For Randall, defense lawyers in the hockey case committed 'a pretty egregious and blatant example of whack the victim, full force,' citing 'nine days of brutal cross-examination.' Some commentators have rejected claims the case exposed broader issues in hockey culture, arguing the sport remains a positive force for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians despite a disturbing incident involving several players. But Simon Darnell, a professor of sport for development and peace at the University of Toronto, told AFP 'it would be a problem to say that these five men were somehow bad apples and that there's nothing systemic here.' Regardless of whether the judge finds the players guilty, Darnell said the conduct in the hotel room needs to be addressed. 'Young, elite male hockey players grow up in an environment, where they are told both implicitly and explicitly that they are really important,' he said. 'They probably grew up feeling like sexual conquest was this thing that they're owed as a result of being a hockey player,' he added, urging more work to foster a sports culture that emphasizes 'a positive form of masculinity.' AFP
Evening Standard
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Theo Randall to cook with Jamie Oliver, Angela Hartnett and more for one-off Italian feast
It was Randall who, in 1997, earned the Hammersmith restaurant its first Michelin star, steering it from neighbourhood hotspot to celebrity favourite. In the same year, a then unknown, floppy haired chef joined the brigade, working under Randall before being talent spotted for TV. This was Oliver.
