Latest news with #Pontypridd
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Fighter jets scrambled to Brit TUI flight to Lanzarote after terrifying bomb threat note is found in toilet
HOLIDAYMAKERS were left terrified after a bomb threat note was found on a Brit TUI flight from Cardiff to Lanzarote - forcing fighter jets to scramble. Cheryl Sainsbury, 43 and her pals, from Pontypridd, were all smiles en route to the Canaries - until the pilot made a chilling mid-air announcement. 6 6 6 While flying over Portugal on Thursday morning, Welsh pals Cheryl, Leanne Thomas, Cherie Gurner and Tara Pumford were stunned when the pilot announced the plane must land urgently due to reports of a "device" on board. Cheryl said: "We were sort of looking at each other thinking 'what's he on about'? "We were all scared but there was no sense of panic as such on board. Everybody seemed to come together and just looked out for each other. We all wanted to make sure everyone was ok." Everyone was told to remain in their seats. The crew searched under the seats and in the overhead lockers to check that all the luggage was accounted for. Cheryl said: "I think they were looking for a black rucksack." Passengers reportedly tried to message loved ones to tell them what was happening as they anxiously waited for updates from the cabin crew. The group initially thought someone had phoned in a bomb threat - only later did they learn a handwritten note was found by a crew member in one of the aircraft's toilets. The pilot then announced a risk assessment had been done and the threat was deemed low, meaning the plane would no longer be landing earlier in Portugal. But for everyone's safety, two Portuguese fighter jets escorted the plane to its destination of Arrecife in Lanzarote. 6 6 Harrowing moment plane comes terrifyingly close to helicopter as it takes off at airport Cheryl said: "Once we landed on the ground, it was the biggest celebration and sense of relief. "We were taken to a remote part of the airport and there were police and fire engines surrounding the plane. We had to get off one-by-one." The group then had to wait for the emergency services on the ground to check through the luggage before they were allowed to leave. Cheryl explained: "We had to stand on the tarmac with all the luggage but we weren't allowed to touch of any of it. "They brought sniffer dogs and the bomb squad so we just had to stand their and watch before they let us on the bus. "We got taken to some form of compound where there were no refreshments and just one toilet. "We just had to wait their until they had approval from the police to let us go to get back to the normal part of the airport where we could go through immigration and collect our cases." The friends are now unwinding in Lanzarote with a drink or two to help 'settle their nerves' after the ordeal. They are due to fly back home on Sunday - and are hoping that flight will be less eventful. Cheryl said: "It was such a weird experience especially as I'm a quite anxious flyer so I don't know how we did it. Even though we were all scared, we just stuck together and tried to keep it calm." She added that the cabin crew from TUI remained calm and were "brilliant" with all the passengers. Specialists from the GEDEX (Explosives Deactivation Group), the Fiscal and Border Section, investigation units and citizen security patrols all intervened, as reported by The Sun on Thursday. The inspection found no explosive device on board. Flight BY6422 landed at Lanzarote airport at around 10.55am on Thursday. A spokesperson for Cardiff Airport said: 'We are aware of an incident involving flight TOM6422 from Cardiff to Lanzarote on 19/06/25. "The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. No concerns or suspicious activity were raised prior to departure.' Spain 's Civil Guard has launched an investigation to determine who wrote the note. The force stressed that this type of act is a serious crime, as it causes alarm, compromises public safety and forces specialised resources to be used. TUI has been contacted for comment. 6
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Kimberley Nixon feels 'lighter' after ADHD and autism diagnosis
A Welsh actress says a "huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders" after being diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Kimberley Nixon, star of Channel 4's Fresh Meat, developed perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), after giving birth to her son during the 2020 said her worries about her baby's well-being escalated into intense anxiety, with symptoms lasting around two and a half years. As she began to recover, other lifelong patterns started to make sense, prompting her to seek a diagnosis. Following a series of in-depth assessments and standard diagnostic tests, she was formally diagnosed with autism and ADHD on an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Nixon told presenter Behnaz Akhgar: "We all know what the NHS is like when it comes to waiting lists, so it's taken a while. "The assessments are incredibly thorough - they dig into every little nook and cranny of your life and your past."The actress, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, known for her roles in Wild Child and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, said she now feels "lighter" and is "kinder" to herself, which she described as "really lovely."Reflecting on the diagnosis, she said: "It's that square peg in a round hole feeling. "I've realised it's not that my brain is wrong - it's just different. "I don't process or interpret things the same way others do. "That always felt like a problem. "But now, it just feels like a difference." Nixon also spoke about her experience of being diagnosed with perinatal OCD, which is when you experience OCD during pregnancy or in the first year after giving is a mental health condition characterised by intrusive thoughts and compulsive years of IVF, she gave birth to her son during the 2020 pandemic, which she described as the "big catalyst" for her struggles."I went through a really tough time postpartum," she said. "Eventually, I was diagnosed with perinatal OCD - which I didn't even know was a thing. "Once you start looking into it, you realise it's actually quite common."Nixon said the condition did not present in the typical ways people associate with OCD. "I'm not a neat freak, I don't tick the usual boxes - but with perinatal OCD, I absolutely did," she said. "It involved really distressing intrusive thoughts, repetitive thinking, and punishing compulsions - just to relieve the anxiety."Last year, she told BBC Radio Wales' Books That Made Me with Lucy Owen: "I was just convinced that I wasn't doing things right. "I wasn't feeding him right. What temperature is he supposed to be?"Every time he cried I was just sort of shaking - I just got really hyper vigilant and terrified."Since learning more about the condition, Nixon has made it a priority to speak openly about it, saying it's "not as widely recognised as postnatal depression". In Thursday's interview, Nixon also spoke about her latest role in the ITV series Shardlake. She plays the character Joan in the four-part drama, which is based on CJ Sansom's historical mystery first season adapts the book Dissolution. The story follows lawyer Matthew Shardlake as he investigates a murder at a remote monastery during the reign of Henry a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, said the series was filmed in Budapest and it felt like "a little Hungarian Welsh college reunion", as fellow cast members Arthur Hughes and Anthony Boyle also trained at the same institution.
Wales Online
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as Welsh rugby legend to be knighted and Leigh Halfpenny starts new job
Today's rugby news as Welsh rugby legend to be knighted and Leigh Halfpenny starts new job These are the rugby stories making headlines on the morning of Tuesday, June 10. New Wales coach Leigh Halfpenny (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) These are your headlines on the morning of Tuesday, June 10. Welsh rugby legend to be knighted Rugby legend Billy Boston will be knighted today at Buckingham Palace as part of the King's birthday honours. The 90-year-old grew up in Tiger Bay in Cardiff and is widely regarded as one of the best rugby league players of all time. Often referred to as a "codebreaker", Boston has previously revealed his heartache at never representing his country. He said he had wanted to play for Wales "with all his heart" while representing Neath and Pontypridd in the 1950s. Article continues below But faced with no interest in his services he headed to league and Wigan where he scored 478 tries in 487 appearances and became one of the sport's greatest ever talents. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "I used to catch the bus from Cardiff's ground to play for Neath," he said two years ago. "Cardiff didn't want to know. And I wanted to play for Wales with all my heart. But it wasn't to be' A statue of the legend was erected in Cardiff Bay - in Landsea Square, Mermaid Quay - to acknowledge what he has done for the sport and area. A knighthood was long overdue, David Baines, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary rugby league group and MP for St Helens, said. He told The Times: 'Billy Boston is an absolutely perfect first knight for rugby league given everything he has achieved, overcoming racial and class prejudice as well as his achievements on and off the field of play. 'But this has to be the first rugby league knight not the last, and Kevin Sinfield must be the next in line. He would have been knighted years ago had he grown up playing rugby union. 'I raised it in Parliament earlier this year pointing out that in 120 years of rugby league it has not had a single knight or dame. It is beyond reasonable doubt that a certain level of class prejudice did exist because the players come from working-class backgrounds, didn't go to the right schools, and didn't mix in the right social circles.' Halfpenny gets straight to work Leigh Halfpenny has got straight to work in his new role with the Welsh rugby team. Last week it was confirmed Halfpenny was joining Matt Sherratt's coaching ticket for the two-Test tour of Japan this summer. 'To be asked to work with the men's national squad this summer is a huge honour and I'm very grateful for the opportunity,' said Halfpenny. 'I really enjoyed my experience coaching with the U20s a few years ago and I'm looking forward to continuing my development in this area over the next few weeks. Neil Jenkins has been a massive influence on me throughout my career. 'He's one of the best that there has ever been and I've been privileged to have learnt so much from him and I hope I can take that knowledge forward into this role. 'I'm still finalising my plans beyond the summer and hope to update more on that front soon. In the meantime, I can't wait to get into camp and join up with Matt, the rest of the coaching team and squad next week.' With Wales players now in camp, Halfpenny has been pictured alongside fellow coaches Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, T. Rhys Thomas and Danny Wilson, putting players through their paces. Morris signs new deal Morgan Morris has signed a new deal with the Ospreys. Morris has made 115 appearances for the club since making his debut back in 2017 and the No.8 is known for his fine form at regional level over the past couple of seasons. Despite his levels of consistency, a Wales call has yet to come, but if he continues in the same vein, that will soon change. Morris said: 'It was an easy decision for me to sign a new deal with the Ospreys. This is my hometown club and where I have spent the whole of my professional career. 'My best mates are here, players that came through a similar time to me, and we've all developed alongside each other, which is something that we will always treasure. 'We are a young team that's moving in the right direction, and we're all looking forward to pushing on and doing something special next season under Mark (Jones)." Jones said he was delighted to see Morris extend his stay in Swansea. He said: 'We're all extremely happy to have Morgan staying with the club. He is an Ospreys man through and through and is the perfect blueprint for our young players to look at when it comes to succeeding in an Ospreys jersey. 'Morgan often gets the plaudits for his hard work on the ball, but he has been working incredibly hard at improving the defensive side of his game since I joined the club, and that is something that was highly apparent in his performances last season.' New Zealand chief resigns By PA Sport Staff New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chief executive Mark Robinson has resigned and will officially leave his post at the end of 2025, the organisation has announced. NZR chairman David Kirk thanked Robinson for his 'great service' to the organisation and the sport over six years. 'On behalf of the Board, I'd like to recognise Mark for his great service to NZR and the sport,' he said in a statement. 'He has led with a passion for rugby and we thank him for his commitment over the past six years. 'Mark has driven significant change, both in New Zealand and internationally, and the Board believes the organisation is well-placed to capitalise on this. Of note was his leadership through a global pandemic that saw the game deal with an unprecedented crisis.' He added: 'Mark will continue to lead for the remainder of the year as we conclude key projects, and the Board will now commence recruitment for the new role.' In a statement, Robinson said he was leaving the role to join his wife and children, who have relocated to Australia. 'My family have been based in Australia for the last few months with all three of my children studying there,' he said. 'My wife is already there supporting them and, ultimately, I will be joining them early next year. 'The past six years have been a period of rapid change, or unprecedented challenges through the pandemic, and significant evolution across commercial, competitions and structures. I will reflect on that as I get closer to stepping away, but I firmly believe the foundations of our organisation are extremely strong and the game is well-placed for the future. 'Our vision is to inspire and unify through rugby and that opportunity has been an easy motivator for me every single day, from the community game right through to the international level.' The 51-year-old called his tenure a 'privilege' and said his focus was on 'supporting the Board and leading the organisation through a pivotal year, including ensuring the Black Ferns have the support they need to defend the Rugby World Cup in England'. He added: 'We also remain focused on implementing a new financial model for the game in New Zealand and completing the remaining work on what will be an exciting future international calendar.' Article continues below Robinson took up the role in January 2020, having previously served on the organisation's board for seven years. His playing career included nine Tests for the All Blacks between 2000 and 2002 and appearances for the Bristol Bears and Japanese side Kobelco Steelers.
Sky News
04-06-2025
- General
- Sky News
Police worker jailed for passing confidential information to drug dealer boyfriend
A former member of police staff has been jailed for passing confidential information to her drug dealer boyfriend. An investigation by South Wales Police found Lucy Langmead, 44, from Pontypridd, accessed the computer system and leaked confidential information to Daniel Cozens, 37, about his associates. Langmead began a relationship with Cozens in 2020, while she was working for South Wales Police. The ex-police worker also accessed the police computer system unlawfully between May 2020 and March 2022 to get information about family members. The pair were arrested and later pleaded guilty to offences which included conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. Langmead pleaded guilty to 13 offences of securing unauthorised access to computer material, and five offences of unlawful disclosure of personal data. She resigned from South Wales Police in May 2022. Cozens, also from Pontypridd, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of class C (Benzodiazepines), being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of class C (pregablins) and possession of a controlled drug of class B (cannabis). They were sentenced to two years and 11 months and one year and eight months, respectively, at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday. Chief Superintendent Bella Rees, head of professional standards, said it was "Both a public expectation and a legal requirement that information should be treated in the strictest confidence, properly protected and used for legitimate policing purposes only". "Accessing confidential police information without a legitimate policing purpose is an abuse of position and, as this case demonstrates, will be treated robustly," she added.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Disgraced police worker who leaked confidential information to her drug-dealing boyfriend is jailed for almost three years
A police administrator has been jailed for almost three years after leaking confidential information to her drug dealer boyfriend. Lucy Langmead, 44, started a relationship with 37-year-old Daniel Cozens in 2020 while working for South Wales Police, and began providing him with police intelligence. Langmead, who is pregnant with her fourth child, accessed the police computer system numerous times to obtain information on Cozens, his family and friends, and also to satisfy her own 'morbid curiosity' about cases in the news. At Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke handed Langmead and Cozens sentences of two years and 11 months and one year and eight months respectively. A police investigation was launched after a community support officer was approached while on foot patrol in Pontypridd in 2021 by a woman who Langmead had informed of an investigation into her boyfriend. The court heard the woman told the officer she thought they were looking into him because 'I have a friend who works in the courts, and she told me he was being watched'. The woman and her boyfriend later approached another officer, questioned the number of police patrols, and mentioned information that could only have been obtained from the police systems. Langmead, from Tonteg, Pontypridd, and Cozens, from Treforest, pleaded guilty to a series of offences, including conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office between May 23, 2021, and February 25, 2022. The judge said that throughout training and every time the system is accessed, users are warned about misuse, with every access logged. Addressing Langmead, the judge said: 'From the outset you knew you were committing criminal offences and appeared to do so partly from idle curiosity and partly to elevate your status - in other words you were showing off - including to offenders. 'This was a very serious breach of trust that is placed in police employees. 'You have, by your actions, done serious harm to policing and the public interest.' She said Cozens's offending was 'significantly less serious' because he did not work for the police. The judge said there had been 'no financial reward' for either of them, but it had put them in 'good standing' among offenders they were assisting, with one disposing of drugs he was dealing after a tip-off. Langmead had also accessed records to satisfy her curiosity, including the case of Logan Mwangi, a five-year-old whose body was discovered in a river near his home in Sarn. 'Logan Mwangi was a five-year-old child who had been murdered and whose body had, at that time, recently been found in a river,' Judge Lloyd-Clarke said. 'There was a lot of publicity around his death, and you could only have been continuing to access the file to satisfy your own morbid curiosity.' Langmead pleaded guilty to 13 offences of securing unauthorised access to computer material and five offences of unlawful disclosure of personal data. Cozens pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of class C (Benzodiazepines), being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug of class C (Pregablins) and possession of a controlled drug of class B (cannabis). Both will serve up to half their sentences in prison, with the rest on licence. Langmead resigned from South Wales Police in May 2022. Chief Superintendent Bella Rees, head of professional standards at South Wales Police, said: 'Police officers and staff have access to personal and private information and it is both a public expectation and a legal requirement that information should be treated in the strictest confidence, properly protected and used for legitimate policing purposes only. 'Accessing confidential police information without a legitimate policing purpose is an abuse of position and, as this case demonstrates, will be treated robustly.' John Griffiths of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'Lucy Langmead had the complete trust of her employer in having access to sensitive information and she betrayed that trust. 'Her actions could have placed criminal investigations at risk. 'Daniel Cozens used his relationship with Langmead to try to gain an advantage over the police in his criminal behaviour. 'However, the audit trail from the police computer systems led investigators to them, and together with other evidence allowed the Crown Prosecution Service to present a strong case to the court and ensure these defendants were brought to justice.'
