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    Footballer, 21, who groomed girl, 14, on Snapchat before raping her is jailed

    A FOOTBALLER who groomed a teenage girl on Snapchat before raping and threatening to blackmail her has been jailed.Barton Rovers player Kieran Hamilton, now 21, added the then 14-year-old victim on Snapchat in December 2018 before convincing her to send him explicit pictures.
    Kieran Hamilton scored a goal for his club the day after he was convictedCredit: Bedfordshire Police
    Barton Rovers terminated Hamilton’s registration when they learned of his convictionCredit: Getty
    Hamilton, who was 17 at the time, used these images as leverage over the victim and forced her to meet up with him.
    The victim, who felt suicidal, told police that she felt she had to do what Hamilton wanted so he would not share the photos of her.
    Hamilton, of Chesford Road, Luton, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
    After a trial in April he was found guilty of raping the girl in February 2019 and cleared of raping her in January.
    Barton Rovers terminated Hamilton’s registration when they learned of his conviction.
    He scored a goal in a 1-1 draw at Walthamstow the day after his conviction.
    In an impact statement read out in court, the victim shared how the incident has left her feeling scared and anxious, and the impact the assault had had on her future.
    She said: “Right after it happened, I was scared of being alone, I’d cry if I was on my own, and I couldn’t sleep alone.
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    “I felt anxious all the time, nauseous and I stopped eating, and I started getting suicidal thoughts.
    “I lost a lot of my friends, in school I would disassociate myself and I would not pay attention to my lessons.
    “I would blame myself a lot for what happened, because I feel like I could’ve stopped it.”
    Judge Alan Blake, who sentenced Hamilton to five years in prison, said to him: “You displayed callous behaviour.
    “This was controlling and coercive behaviour to try and control two young teens. The fact you didn’t use physical force does not make it consensual – you knew she wasn’t giving genuine consent.
    “There was a significant level of harm experienced. Your messages portray manipulation and exploitation leaving the complainant feeling trapped.
    “Your attitude and behaviour make you a risk to young women.”
    Detective Constable Hayley Carroll from Bedfordshire Police’s cyber hub said: “Hamilton’s despicable and predatory behaviour saw him use explicit images as a means of controlling his victim for his own sexual gratification.
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    “It is absolutely vile and completely wrong. We have a clear focus on tackling any perpetrators of violence against women and girls and putting them behind bars.
    “No matter when an offender abused or exploited you, we want to know about it. We will listen and put these people behind bars so they cannot hurt any one else.” More

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    Harry Maguire’s Mykonos retrial date revealed in potential blow to transfer away from Man Utd

    HARRY MAGUIRE’S retrial date has been set for February 7 in Greece, nearly three years after convictions of assault and attempted bribery were quashed.The Manchester United captain, 30, was arrested while on a family holiday in Mykonos in August 2020.
    Harry Maguire was found guilty three years ago but appealed and saw the charges quasedCredit: AP
    Maguire has been linked with a move away from Manchester United this summerCredit: Getty
    He was initially found guilty of assaulting police, resisting arrest and attempted bribery and punished with a suspended jail sentence of 21 months and 10 days.
    Maguire’s brother, Joe, and friend, Christopher Sharman, were also handed suspended sentences of 13 months.
    The England international swiftly appealed and saw the conviction quashed.
    That meant a retrial would automatically be heard at a higher court.
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    The retrial was first postponed due to the Covid pandemic.
    It was then due to take place earlier this month, before Maguire’s legal team requested it be pushed back.
    If found guilty, he will not be able to receive a more severe punishment than his original sentence.
    And while Maguire is not expected to attend the trial in person, it is not an ideal position for the ex-Leicester man to be in as he heads off on his summer break.
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    After starting England’s two Euro 2024 qualification wins, he will now enjoy some downtime.
    But he will continue to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford – four years on from his £80million arrival.
    Tottenham, Aston Villa and West Ham have all been mooted as potential destinations for the centre-back.
    However, fans may be concerned about his new court date being right in the middle of next season. More

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    Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann charged by cops after ‘taking CHAINSAW to neighbour’s garage’ in long-running row over lake

    ARSENAL legend Jens Lehmann has been charged after allegedly damaging his neighbour’s property with a chainsaw.Lehmann has reportedly engaged in a long-running feud with his neighbour that has resulted in several charges being brought against him.
    Jens Lehmann has denied any wrongdoingCredit: Getty
    The public prosecutor’s office in Munich has charged Lehmann with property damage and two cases of fraud, according to Suddeutche Zeitung.
    The dispute reportedly arose due to Lehmann being unhappy with his neighbour’s garage extension.
    The Arsenal Invincible took exception to the construction as it blocked his view of Lake Starnberg, and he is alleged to have used a chainsaw to severe the roof beams.
    Lehmann believes the new garage has been built on his land.
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    He has owned his property on Lake Starnberg for 15 years, buying it for around £4.2million in 2007 while he played for the Gunners.
    It is also claimed Lehmann attempted to switch off a surveillance camera in order to go undetected, but was filmed throughout the incident as the camera continued to run on battery power.
    Police even investigated whether Lehmann was responsible for cutting his neighbour’s internet cable.
    While the fraud charges relate to an unpaid parking ticket according to Lehmann, who denied any wrongdoing.
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    He said in a statement on Twitter: “The allegations made against me are not correct.
    “The fraud allegations made against me concern an unpaid parking ticket over €90. The damage, as always, is the enormous damage to reputation and disregard for privacy.” More

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    Fulham player Issa Diop released without charge after being arrested over secret ‘death threat’ recordings against ex

    FULHAM star Issa Diop has been released without charge after he was arrested following allegations he was making ” death threats” to his ex-partner. The 26-year-old defender was arrested at the Pullman Hotel in his home city of Toulouse on Sunday evening.
    The footballer was arrested on Sunday
    Diop was accused of making threats against his ex-wifeCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    The Fulham player was detained in the Jean-Jaures area following claims of “repeated death threats” to his former partner, 29, over “alimony payments” for their child.
    An official source told the local La Depeche newspaper: “He is suspected of having repeatedly threatened his partner, aged 29, whom he is separating from.
    “Their divorce, which began months ago, is taking place in a climate of conflict.”
    But on Monday afternoon a spokesman for Toulouse prosecutors said: “The suspect has been released. There is no case to answer.” 
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    The alleged victim is said to have claimed “large sums of money that Issa Diop would not be ready to pay her”.
    La Depeche reported that “the situation is so tense” that Diop “would have mentioned the possibility of getting rid of her indefinitely.”
    The newspaper noted that Diop “has already acknowledged some of the facts, stating that his words and threats were not serious.”
    The woman filed a complaint last week, but investigators had to wait until the weekend to arrest Diop, when he arrived from the UK.
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    A local police spokesman said Diop, who used to play for Toulouse and West Ham, was in custody at the city’s Central Police Commiserate.
    Another investigating source told La Depeche: “In recent months, Issa Diop and the woman decided to split after having maintained a long relationship, during which the footballer become a father.”
    She is said to have demanded “a five-figure monthly payment” to look after the child, but Diop refused to pay it. 
    During a trip to Senegal in June, Diop left voice messages about the situation with friends, including ex-teammate Zinedine Machach, who currently plays football in Greece. 
    “On one of these recordings, the Fulham player explained his recent problems with his ex-girlfriend,” the source told La Depeche.
    “Above all, he confessed that he was thinking about making her disappear permanently to save money.”
    This conversation, which was meant to be confidential, was finally discovered by his former girlfriend last week. 
    Diop told police that he only said the words once, after “yet another argument,” according to the source.
    According to a police source in Toulouse, Diop was recorded by his ex-girlfriend saying: “She winds me up, I’m going to finish her!”
    He thought he was solely saying the words to relatives in the southwest city – not to the woman herself – and they were not meant to be taken seriously, he has told officers. 
    The telephone recording of Diop’s words was the main evidence against him, but his defence lawyers said it should be ruled inadmissible. 
    The recording was made without his consent, and was just banter with a family member, they said.  
    While Diop has mentioned being “married” in the past, the source said there was no record of a formal marriage anywhere. 
    Instead, the couple had been together for many years, and the woman believed she was owed alimony following their split earlier this year. 
    Diop, who earns more than £3million a year playing for Fulham, was in France on holiday at the weekend.
    The police source told the Franceinfo news outlet: “The pro footballer made death threats to some of his friends, after hearing how much was being claimed by his ex. 
    He said: “She winds me up, I’m going to finish her!’ while talking to the relatives, and not knowing his ex-girlfriend was secretly recording him. ”
    Diop signed a five-year contract with Fulham last August.
    The £15m move from West Ham to Fulham was completed after negotiations that lasted a month.
    A Fulham spokesperson said in a statement: “We are aware of reports emanating from France this morning regarding one of our players, Issa Diop.
    “We are currently liaising with the player’s representatives to establish the facts.”
    Diop was born in France to a Senegalese father and a Moroccan mother. 

    He started his football career at Toulouse FC, before signing for West Ham, and then transferring to Fulham.
    While at West Ham in 2020, he sparked a desperate search after losing his wedding ring during a Premier League clash with Fulham.
    Diop reportedly claimed his threats “were not serious”Credit: Rex
    The Fulham player has allegedly made “repeated threats” over “divorce payments”Credit: Getty More

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    Premier League boss quizzed by cops over ‘rape of teenage girl who was attacked when she applied for job’

    A BOSS of a Premier League football club has been quizzed under caution over a historical allegation of rape, we can reveal.The well-known football figure raped a teenage girl a number of years ago, it is being alleged.
    A Premier League boss has been quizzed under caution over a historical allegation of rape
    Met Police detectives first received a crime report about the claim 21 months ago.
    The Prem boss named over the attack voluntarily attended a police station with his solicitor on Monday.
    He was interviewed under caution but not arrested.
    Further enquiries are being carried out before a decision is made whether to charge him or take no further action.
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    The Met Police said: “On Thursday, September 23, 2021, the Met received a crime report regarding an historic rape allegation.
    “On Monday, June 12, a man was interviewed under caution at a police station.’’
    The Sun is unable to identify the man for legal reasons. It is understood he denies the rape claim.
    One source told The Sun: “He is shocked by the allegation and totally refutes it.”
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    The accused man is said to have met the complainant when she applied to work for an organisation he was involved with at the time.
    The source stressed it had no connection to the Premier League club the man is currently involved with.
    They added: “The allegation goes back quite a few years when the complainant met the suspect after she applied for a job at a place he was involved with.
    “She was a teenage girl at the time and is now a mature woman.”
    Former Met Det Supt Michael Hames, a specialist sex crimes investigator, said: “With historic complaints in general, you lose potential evidence which could have been obtained earlier.
    “Very often it becomes one person’s word against another’s.” More

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    Mason Greenwood case means all Premier League clubs ‘need to do more to stop “terrifying” domestic abuse’, expert says

    THE Premier League should do more to fight domestic violence in light of Mason Greenwood’s suspension, Women’s Aid has said.The 21-year-old striker has not played for Manchester United since he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault in January 2022.
    Mason Greenwood was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault in January 2022Credit: Reuters
    All charges against him were dropped in February this year, but he remains the subject of an internal process being conducted by United.
    While there has been speculation about whether he will ever play for the club again, he is still under contract until 2025.
    Now Women’s Aid has argued all clubs should “work with specialists” to understand “the dynamics of domestic abuse”.
    The charity also called on Premier League clubs to “develop” domestic abuse policies and procedures.
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    A Women’s Aid spokesperson: “Regardless of the outcome in this case, it shows why it is essential that all football clubs have domestic abuse policies and clear safeguarding processes in place.
    “Domestic abuse and rape are terrifyingly prevalent across society, many women who are abused will never see the perpetrator convicted, and clubs need to work with specialists in domestic abuse – like us at Women’s Aid – to ensure there is full understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse within the club, and develop relevant policies and procedures for a range of different potential situations.”
    The Red Devils said in February that it would conduct its own process before determining next steps.
    There has been no further official communication over Greenwood’s position, other than his inclusion on the retained players list, which was published on the club’s website on Friday.
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    The case against him was discontinued because of a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light.
    It meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction, the Crown Prosecution Service said in February, adding that it had a duty to keep cases under continuous review.
    It comes as The Sun revealed manager Erik ten Hag is willing to bring Greenwood back into his squad.
    And most of his team-mates at Old Trafford would welcome him back into the dressing room if the club agrees.
    Greenwood, who hit 36 goals in 130 games for United, still has two years left on his £75,000-a-week contract. More

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    Manchester City fans smash up cop van and clash with riot police after side wins Champions League and completes treble

    MANCHESTER City fans were caught smashing up a cop van and clashing with riot police after their win in the Champions League, completing a historic treble.Thousands of fans went berserk at the match in Turkey and rocked pubs, bars and fan zones across the UK as City sent Inter Milan packing with an extraordinary 1-0 win in Istanbul.
    Fans with bloodied eyes were taken away by policeCredit: LNP
    City songs also rang out from people standing on bus stops trying to get the crowd goingCredit: LNP
    A man is pinned to the floor by cops as City celebrations escalatedCredit: LNP
    Captain Ilkay Gundogan lifted the trophy at the 74,000-capacity Atatürk Olympic Stadium thanks to a 67th-minute goal by Spanish midfielder Rodri.
    Fans not lucky enough to get their hands on a ticket were overcome with emotion inside Istanbul’s Manchester City Fan Zone.
    They were pictured screaming in disbelief and hugging each other through tears as they watched their team’s first ever Champions League title come home.
    However, on the streets of Manchester, some fans took the celebrations too far.
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    During a disorder in Piccadilly Gardens, Greater Manchester Police were forced to intervene when rowdy hooligans smashed up one of their patrol vans.
    As a City fan climbed on top of the roof, they kicked in the windscreen and blue light bar.
    Letting off blue flares, a group of young lads then all chanted from on top of the van whilst it was caving in.
    One man was arrested on suspicion of damage to the vehicle, say cops.
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    City songs also rang out from people standing on bus stops trying to get the crowd going.
    Troublemakers with black eyes and bloodied noses were also taken away by police with some being pinned to the ground.
    Riot cops with batons were called in to help with the chaos as hundreds carried on the party well into the night.
    Chief Superintendent Rick Jackson said: “This was a momentous occasion in the history of Manchester and overall, the night passed without any significant trouble.
    “The night was the culmination of a busy one for Greater Manchester Police – from gigs and festivals to protests, we have managed a large number of operations over the last 24 hours.
    “However, our officers have shown hard-work and professionalism; the last couple of days have passed relatively smoothly and it is down to their commitment.
    “While several arrests were made in Piccadilly Gardens, the minority should not detract from what was a great night for this city.”
    Carnage also exploded inside the Depot Mayfield, in Manchester, where thousands of beer-drench fans hurled pints and cried their eyes out.
    And it was bedlam at Manchester’s Love Factory as fans roared in celebration as their team secured the treble.
    A raft of celebs were also spotted celebrating – including Oasis icon Noel Gallagher and ex-boxer Ricky Hatton.
    Noel went wild at a supporters club in San Diego, California, as his boyhood team made history.
    Meanwhile shirtless Hatton was seen earlier on Saturday soaking up the rays with a table full of beer in Istanbul.
    But it was commiserations for thousands of Inter fans who looked devastated at the final whistle.
    Some fans of the Italian side were even seen weeping into one another as their side failed to overcome City’s onslaught.
    Read more on The Sun
    Manchester City’s win marks the second Treble Pep Guardiola has won in his career.
    The first came at Barcelona in 2009 – at the end of his very first season in management.
    A group of lads let off flares from the roof of a cop vanCredit: LNP
    As City fans climbed on top of the roof, they kicked in the windscreen and blue light barCredit: LNP
    Another man is pinned to the groundCredit: LNP
    Supporters of Manchester City cheer for their team as they gather in the Fan Zone in Istanbul
    Noel Gallagher went wild at a City supporters club in San Diego, California, as his boyhood team made historyCredit: Ruaridh Connellan for The Sun
    It was bedlam at Manchester’s Love Factory as fans roared in celebration after their team secured a historic trebleCredit: Reuters More

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    Update on Carl Froch’s cop quiz over former pal’s car tyres being slashed

    BOXING legend Carl Froch faces no further action over claims he slashed two tyres on a former pal’s £80,000 car.Ex-unified super-middle­weight world champion Froch was quizzed after the attack on a Range Rover Sport in Cotgrave, Notts.
    Carl Froch faces no further action after a former pal had two tyres slashed on his £80,000 Range Rover SportCredit: Splash News
    A helmeted biker on a £24,000 Ducati was seen to pull up and cut into the tyres with a knife before riding off.
    Police suspected Froch, 45, but witnesses at the scene, a golf club car park, refused to help.
    The Nottingham-born dad of two denied he was the culprit.
    Froch was said to have been handed a brand new red Ducati to test drive as part of his deal with the motor firm.
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    And he was spotted riding a similar bike.
    He was accused of owning leathers and a helmet similar to those used in the knife attack on the motor.
    Officers shelved the probe after he was spoken to further at a Notts police station.
    Froch retired in 2015 after winning 33 of his 35 fights.
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    He was floored just twice, recovering to beat Jermain Taylor and George Groves.
    Flat-earther Froch has claimed in the past that the moon landing in July 1969 was faked. More