Ravi Yadav sentenced to nine years for rape and abuse of wife Gurwinder Kaur
The sentencing took place at a UK court on May 1, after a jury found him guilty based on evidence, including a voice recording Gurwinder made on 19 March 2020 capturing the assault.
Gurwinder died of cancer before the trial concluded.
RAVI YADAV has been sentenced to nine years in prison for raping his wife Gurwinder Kaur, and for subjecting her to financial abuse and coercive control during their marriage.
The sentencing took place at a UK court on May 1, after a jury found him guilty based on evidence, including a voice recording Gurwinder made on 19 March 2020 capturing the assault.
The court heard she had been called upstairs under the pretext of a financial discussion.
The recording included her pleas for him to stop while their children were nearby.
Gurwinder died of cancer before the trial concluded.
The case is one of the rare instances where a rape conviction has been secured after the victim’s death.
The Crown Prosecution Service initially declined to proceed but reversed its decision following pressure from Southall Black Sisters (SBS) and community members.
Ms Recorder S Wass KC sentenced Yadav to eight years for rape under Category 2B, with an additional 12 months for aggravating factors.
She rejected arguments to reduce the sentence, citing his lack of remorse, the impact on the family, and his financial control despite owning three properties. The victim surcharge will apply.
Gurwinder had reported the rape in January 2020. Yadav was arrested in August 2020 and later released on bail.
SBS supported her in obtaining legal orders to prevent further contact. Evidence from Gurwinder and her children played a key role in the conviction.
A MAJOR public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks will investigate why police failed to conduct drug tests on killer Valdo Calocane following his deadly rampage, the government has confirmed.
The 33-year-old fatally stabbed university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both aged 19, along with school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to murder three others in June 2023.
Despite being charged initially with murder, prosecutors accepted a manslaughter plea based on diminished responsibility due to Calocane's paranoid schizophrenia. He received an indefinite hospital order but victims' relatives have consistently questioned the absence of toxicology testing.
The Ministry of Justice announced on Thursday (22) that the inquiry's scope will include examining "any assessment of medical and mental health issues and drug testing, and provision of appropriate medical support" during Calocane's detention, reported The Telegraph.
Fresh details have emerged about Calocane's movements before the killings. The previous evening, he travelled to London where he attended a gathering with a violent, cannabis-using criminal. He then returned to Nottingham by train, wearing all-black clothing and carrying a double-edged knife, before launching his attack in the early morning hours of June 13.
Following his arrest, Calocane refused permission for blood or urine samples to be taken. Crucially, officers also failed to collect hair samples for analysis, despite this being standard procedure.
The inquiry will scrutinise Nottinghamshire Police's forensic approach, including "the lack of toxicology and decisions made with regards to taking samples". It will also examine whether sufficient information was gathered before accepting the diminished responsibility plea.
During sentencing proceedings, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, Grace's father, challenged the absence of drug testing immediately after the murders. Medical experts maintained there was no indication that substance abuse contributed to Calocane's deteriorating mental state.
Senior retired judge Deborah Taylor, who previously sentenced former tennis champion Boris Becker for financial crimes, will lead the investigation. The inquiry is expected to conclude within two years with recommendations to prevent similar tragedies.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct previously found that officers inadequately investigated an earlier assault by Calocane on warehouse staff, which might have prevented the later murders.
The inquiry will also examine alleged unauthorised access to victims' medical records by healthcare workers, which families described as "sickening" and "inexcusable". Three police officers faced disciplinary action for improperly viewing case materials, whilst staff from prison services and court systems also allegedly breached data protection rules.
Lord chancellor Shabana Mahmood said, "The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific incidents were able to happen. I know her honour Deborah Taylor will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts to prevent tragedies like this happening again."
As the second anniversary approaches, victims' families plan to return to Nottingham to commemorate their loved ones.
Barnaby's mother, Emma Webber, criticised local authorities' lack of support, saying: "Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, we will ensure justice is served, and all of those who failed will be held fully to account."
Hundreds of Heathrow workers assisting passengers with restricted mobility will intensify their strike, if the unequal pay issue remains unresolved, warns a union.
The members of Unite are paid 10% less than the Wilson James staff at the Gatwick Airport. Employees who manage between 4,000 and 6,000 passengers each day are upset regarding this bias.
Around 800 members of Unite employed by Wilson James are taking industrial action now, which could add to further walkouts, said Unite.
Protest also took place outside Heathrow’s head offices on Thursday, demanding the intervention of airport’s management in the issue.
“Wilson James can well afford to put forward an acceptable offer. Heathrow bosses need to tell the company to do just that, otherwise these strikes will continue to intensify with Unite's full support”, said Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary.
The industrial action began with around 500 workers on April 9, later joined by more than 300 colleagues. The latest walk out was held on Monday and Tuesday, followed by the strike yesterday.
The union announced that the strikes shall intensify over the summer, if a resolution is not made.
Wilson James achieved a gross profit of £35.4 million in July 2024, with a 17.7% hike in overall turnover. On the other hand, Heathrow Airport Limited reported pre-tax profits around £1 billion in 2024.
"We are disappointed that Unite members within our Assistance Service have chosen to take industrial action again, despite ongoing efforts to resolve concerns collaboratively. Our priority remains delivering a safe and reliable service for passengers, especially those who rely on our support”, stated a Wilson James spokesperson.
"We have implemented contingency measures to minimise disruption at Heathrow and continue to value a constructive and respectful dialogue with our colleagues and their trade union representatives," the spokesperson added.
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This was part of a broader emigration trend led by Indian nationals, followed by Chinese nationals at 45,000. (Representational image: iStock)
THE LATEST UK migration statistics show a significant number of Indian students and workers leaving the country over the past year, as tougher visa and immigration rules come into effect.
Figures released on Thursday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that in 2024, around 37,000 Indians who arrived on study visas, 18,000 who came for work, and 3,000 who entered for other reasons, left the UK. This was part of a broader emigration trend led by Indian nationals, followed by Chinese nationals at 45,000.
Other major nationalities leaving the UK included Nigerians (16,000), Pakistanis (12,000) and Americans (8,000). The overall result was a fall in net migration by 431,000 last year – nearly half of what it was the year before.
“Among people emigrating, Indian was the most common nationality,” reads the ONS analysis, based on UK Home Office data.
“Study-related emigration was the most common reason for the five most frequent non-EU (European Union) nationalities to emigrate in YE (year-ending) December 2024. The increase in long-term emigration of non-EU+ nationals who originally arrived on study-related visas is primarily being driven by the large numbers of Indian and Chinese nationals leaving in YE December 2024,” it notes.
Mary Gregory, director of population statistics at the ONS, said the fall was mainly due to fewer people coming to the UK to work or study, especially student dependants.
“There has also been an increase in emigration over the 12 months to December 2024, especially people leaving who originally came on study visas once pandemic travel restrictions to the UK were eased,” she said.
The UK government welcomed the drop in net migration, an issue that has drawn attention amid political pressure and the recent rise of the anti-immigration Reform party.
“Under the Tories net migration reached nearly 1 million – roughly the size of the population of Birmingham. I know you are angry about this, and I promised you I would change it,” prime minister Keir Starmer said in a social media statement.
“Today's stats show we have nearly halved net migration in the last year. We're taking back control,” he said.
Experts say the drop is the biggest for any 12-month period on record and the most significant annual fall in net migration since the early days of the Covid pandemic.
“These figures show a big increase in returns of failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders, record levels of illegal working penalties, and the asylum backlog and hotel use coming down,” said home secretary Yvette Cooper.
Long-term immigration to the UK dropped below 1 million for the first time in around three years. It was estimated at 948,000 in the year ending December 2024, down from 1,326,000 the year before.
At the same time, emigration rose by about 11 per cent to 517,000, up from 466,000 in the previous year.
Former home secretary James Cleverly, who served under the Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak, said the drop in net migration was due to policies he had introduced.
“This drop is because of the visa rule changes that I put in place,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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The British Medical Association said the offer for resident doctors was 'woefully inadequate' and announced a ballot next week over possible strike action. (Photo: Reuters)
TEACHERS, doctors, dentists, and prison officers in England will receive a 4 per cent pay rise after the government accepted recommendations from public sector pay review bodies.
Resident doctors will also get a £750 top-up, taking their average increase to 5.4 per cent.
NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts, including nurses and midwives, have been offered a 3.6 per cent rise, while civil servants are set to receive 3.25 per cent.
Armed forces personnel will get a 4.5 per cent rise, with 3.75 per cent for senior ranks.
The British Medical Association said the offer for resident doctors was “woefully inadequate” and announced a ballot next week over possible strike action.
The Royal College of Nursing described the lower rise for nurses as “grotesque” and said it would consult members on whether to pursue industrial action.
The Department for Education has allocated £615 million to support the pay rise for teachers but said schools would also need to contribute through “improved productivity and smarter spending”.
The National Education Union warned the award was “not fully funded”.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said the nurses’ pay rise was “above inflation”, but the RCN said it would be “entirely swallowed up” by rising prices.
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Charli XCX strikes a pose backstage after her big Ivor Novello win
Charli XCX, known for her music and rebellious spirit, has just been named Songwriter of the Year at the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards. Held at London’s Grosvenor House, the ceremony recognised the people behind the music, including those who write the lyrics, shape the melodies, and craft the tunes that stick with us. And this year, it was Charli’s moment.
In a cheeky acceptance speech, she quoted lyrics from her own song Club Classics: “I wanna dance to me, me, me…” and followed it up by saying, “I’m hardly Bob Dylan.” But behind the humour was a clear truth: she’s worked hard to create something uniquely her own. Her 2024 album Brat captured both chaos and honesty, mixing club-ready beats with raw questions about fame, identity, and relationships. It was not just a hit on the charts; it sparked a wider cultural moment. Even the word “brat” made it into the Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year.
Charli XCX posing after winning Songwriter of the Year at the 2025 IvorsGetty Images
The Ivors, now in their 70th year, celebrate excellence in songwriting, voted for by fellow songwriters. That makes this recognition feel especially real. Brat may not have won Best Album, that went to Berwyn for Who Am I, but Charli’s influence on pop this past year is undeniable. Her music has been everywhere, with her songs reportedly played over 50 times a day across UK airwaves.
The awards also spotlighted new and rising talent. Lola Young won the Rising Star Award, thanks to the success of her gritty hit Messy, while Myles Smith’s Stargazing took home the award for the most-played song of the year. Orla Gartland’s intimate ballad Mine was named Best Song Musically and Lyrically, and Sans Soucis won Best Contemporary Song for Circumnavigating Georgia.
Elsewhere, U2 were honoured with a lifetime fellowship, Brandon Flowers of The Killers won the special international award, and Robbie Williams was celebrated as a music icon.
As Charli XCX said herself, a good song isn’t just about melody; it’s about having a point of view. And with Brat, she’s made hers loud and clear.