Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Four convicted over roles in West Yorkshire disorder

West Yorkshire Police have reaffirmed their commitment to bringing those involved in recent disorder to justice

Four convicted over roles in West Yorkshire disorder

FOUR men from Leeds are set to be sentenced on Friday (9) after being convicted for their involvement in recent disorder in West Yorkshire. The offences include affray, racially aggravated harassment, and inciting racial hatred.

Sameer Ali, 21, from West Park Drive and Adnan Ghafoor, 31, from Spen Bank were both convicted of affray and are currently in custody awaiting sentencing at Leeds Crown Court.


Jordan Plain, 30, from Broadway, Horsforth, was convicted of racially aggravated harassment, while Jordan Parlour, 28, from Brooklands Close, Seacroft, was found guilty of publishing material intended to incite racial hatred. Both men have been remanded in custody until their court appearance.

A 16-year-old boy from Leeds, whose name cannot be disclosed due to his age, has also been convicted of using threatening and abusive language likely to incite racial hatred. He will be sentenced on 4 September at Leeds Crown Court.

In another development, two men have been brought before the court in Leeds on Thursday (8) as part of ongoing investigations into recent disturbances in West Yorkshire.

philip hoban Philip Hoban

Philip Hoban, 48, from Northcote Crescent was convicted at Leeds Magistrates Court for racially and religiously aggravated harassment.

Christopher Clayton, 66, from Station Cottages, Wakefield, also appeared at Leeds Magistrates Court. He has been charged with violent disorder in both Rotherham and Merseyside, as well as seven counts of possessing an offensive weapon and possessing an article of police uniform. Clayton has been remanded in custody.

They both are scheduled to appear at Leeds Crown Court next Thursday (15) for sentencing.

In related developments, West Yorkshire Police have charged 20-year-old Harvey Gardner from Kirkburton with encouraging violent disorder through social media posts related to unrest in Huddersfield. He remains in custody until his hearing on 28 August.

Three more men, including Kaden Smith, 19, from Manchester, and Joe Levitt, 30, from Bradford, are due to appear in court on 19 August for charges including assaulting an emergency worker and failing to comply with a police order.

West Yorkshire Police have arrested 20 people since 3 August in connection with these disturbances, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities have stated that all available resources will be used to ensure those involved face justice.

More For You

Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal recalled that in February, Narendra Modi and Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Trade talks with US moving forward positively, says Indian minister Goyal

INDIA’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that negotiations on the proposed trade agreement between India and the United States, which began in March, are progressing in a positive atmosphere and both sides are satisfied with the discussions.

He recalled that in February, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. (Representational image: iStock)

Woman raped in racially aggravated attack in Oldbury

A WOMAN in her 20s was raped in Oldbury in what police are treating as a racially aggravated attack.

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. Officers said the men made a racist remark during the incident.

Keep ReadingShow less
Baiju Bhatt

At 40, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this group, which includes figures such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. (Photo: Getty Images)

Baiju Bhatt named among youngest billionaires in US by Forbes

INDIAN-AMERICAN entrepreneur Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of the commission-free trading platform Robinhood, has been named among the 10 youngest billionaires in the United States in the 2025 Forbes 400 list.

At 40, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this group, which includes figures such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. Forbes estimates his net worth at around USD 6–7 billion (£4.4–5.1 billion), primarily from his roughly 6 per cent ownership in Robinhood.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mandelson-Getty

Starmer dismissed Mandelson on Thursday after reading emails published by Bloomberg in which Mandelson defended Jeffrey Epstein following his 2008 conviction. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Minister says Mandelson should never have been appointed

A CABINET minister has said Peter Mandelson should not have been made UK ambassador to the US, as criticism mounted over prime minister Keir Starmer’s judgment in appointing him.

Douglas Alexander, the Scotland secretary, told the BBC that Mandelson’s appointment was seen as “high-risk, high-reward” but that newly revealed emails changed the situation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shivani Raja MP leads fight to save Leicester Diwali celebrations

Shivani Raja MP

Shivani Raja MP leads fight to save Leicester Diwali celebrations

TWO Conservative MPs have launched a petition to stop Leicester City Council cutting back this year's Diwali celebrations.

Shivani Raja, MP for Leicester East, and Neil O'Brien, who represents nearby Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, started the Change.org petition on Wednesday (10) after the council announced plans to remove key elements from the October 20 event.

Keep ReadingShow less