Keir Johnston: Man behind ‘dress that broke the internet’ craze jailed for attack on wife
The man behind the viral “dress that broke the internet” craze has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for violently assaulting and strangling his wife.
Keir Johnston, 38, pinned partner Grace to the ground, choked her and brandished a knife at their home on the Isle of Colonsay, Inner Hebrides, in March 2022.
Lady Drummond told the High Court in Glasgow that Johnston strangled his wife for around 20 seconds.
The judge said: “Initially she was able to scream. She feared for her life and believed you intended to kill her.
“You were very forceful. The strangling lasted about 20 seconds. She did not lose consciousness but felt very close to doing so.”
The couple previously hit headlines across the globe in 2015 when a picture of a dress worn by the mother-of-the-bride at their wedding sparked an online debate over its colour.
Some saw the #thedress as black and blue, which was correct, while others saw white and gold.
The black and blue Roman Originals dress, alongside an ivory and black version. Pic: PA
Nicknamed “the dress that broke the internet”, millions of people across the world got involved in the debate – including celebrities.
The likes of Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato and Justin Bieber saw black and blue, while Anna Kendrick, Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian saw white and gold.
The Johnstons even appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the US, where they were handed $10,000 and a luxury trip to Grenada.
However, the court heard that Johnston had a history of abusing his wife.
‘My husband is trying to kill me’
On the day of the attack, Johnston had been drinking at a pub quiz while his wife was elsewhere.
Prosecutor Chris Macintosh said Mrs Johnston received text messages from her husband, complaining that she did not do enough to support him.
Mrs Johnston, who had days previously visited the mainland for a job, returned home to find her husband asleep.
On waking, he told her that he was going to leave her.
The pair ended up outside, where Johnston pinned his wife to the ground with his knees on her arms. He then began to strangle her with both hands.
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A witness heard her screams and tried to pull Johnston away. He initially stopped but returned and was seen clutching a knife.
Lady Drummond said: “You came back outside and threatened to finish her off.”
Johnston was also heard saying “somebody is going to die”.
Mrs Johnston messaged friends pleading for help, but eventually dialled 999 and told the operator: “My husband is trying to kill me.”
Mrs Johnston suffered visible bruising to her neck as a result of the assault.
Defence argued ‘love kept them together’
Johnston last month pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife to her injury and the danger of life.
The petrol station attendant, of Moffat in Dumfriesshire, had been remanded in custody by Lady Drummond ahead of his sentencing on Thursday.
Johnston was supported in court by his family and friends, including his mum and new partner.
Defence solicitor advocate Marco Guarino urged Lady Drummond to “go out on a limb” as he appealed for a non-custodial sentence for his client, suggesting a community payback order with “lengthy supervision” alongside a restriction of liberty order.
Mr Guarino said: “Two people who were clearly in love with one another could not exist with each other.”
He added: “It became apparent that their lifestyles were diverging.”
The lawyer said the pair “should have parted” instead of struggling on, adding: “It was probably their love that kept them together.”
Mr Guarino said Johnston had made “no attempt” to shift the blame over the attack and understood the negative impact his actions had made on all those affected.
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Effects of strangulation will ‘last forever’
Lady Drummond acknowledged the character references provided and accepted that Johnston had made “positive contributions” to his local community.
The judge also noted that Johnston had worked hard previously, had no other convictions, and suffered from an acute stress reaction and adjustment disorder.
She added that he had taken steps to address his behaviour, including voluntarily attending therapy, and had “shown remorse and insight” when discussing what happened with professionals.
However, Lady Drummond said Johnston had been violent towards his wife before – including attempting to strangle her previously.
The judge said: “It is recognised medically that external pressure applied to the neck by strangulation may lead to unconsciousness, decreased brain function and ultimately asphyxia and death.
“Applying low pressure can cause unconsciousness within five to 10 seconds. Death can occur within a few minutes.
“Strangulation is an inherently dangerous and life-threatening act.”
His victim was said to have suffered “emotionally, psychologically and financially”.
Lady Drummond said: “She states that the effect of your actions will last forever.
“The only appropriate sentence for a crime of this gravity is imprisonment.”
As well as the 54-month jail sentence, Johnston was also handed a non-harassment order prohibiting him from contacting the complainer for 10 years.
Britain should have access to the EU’s rearmament fund before the end of the year but “wounds of Brexit” mean some member states want it to be limited, the bloc’s foreign affairs chief has said.
Kaja Kallas told Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby that the “technical details” of Security Action for Europe (SAFE) still need to be sorted out.
SAFE is a €150bn (£126bn) fund to provide loans to EU nations and other participants to bolster their defences.
Politics Live: Starmer says EU deal ‘win-win’
As part of Sir Keir Starmer’s new reset deal with the EU, a new defence partnership was struck that will allow the UK to access it.
Asked when this might be, Ms Kallas said: “The SAFE instrument has just been finalised between the institutions but it also needs approval from the European Council. And when that is done, we also move on with the implementation of that, and that is in the coming months.”
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Who wins from the UK-EU deal?
Asked about reports that some member states think there should be a limit on what the UK can access, she said: “ Of course these discussions are there. We have the wounds from Brexit very clearly.
“I mean you wanted to exit the European Union and then there are many voices who say that you shouldn’t have the same benefits from the European instruments that the European Union countries have.”
According to The Times, France is pushing to freeze the UK out of 85% of the fund.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs. Pic: Reuters
Asked if Britain’s access should be higher, Ms Kallas said her personal view is that given the current climate “we should do both. We should invest more in European industry. But we should also cooperate with our outside partners like the UK”.
She added that the EU hasn’t had discussions in terms of percentage, because the fund is “down to the capabilities”.
“That is, I think, more important than numbers,” she said.
The UK government has said accessing SAFE will support thousands of British jobs.
Defence was one of the many areas that has been agreed as part of the new UK and the EU trade deal struck by Sir Keir Starmer – five years after Brexit kicked in.
A key part of the deal involves giving European fishing boats a further 12 years of access to British waters.
In return, there will be increased access to EU eGates for British passport holders in Europe, no health certificates every time pets travel to Europe and the removal of red tape from most UK food and drink imports and exports.
UK
‘I recognise the error and upset caused’ – Gary Lineker releases statement as BBC departure confirmed
Gary Lineker has confirmed reports he is leaving the BBC after this season’s Match Of The Day and will no longer present its World Cup coverage.
It comes after the 64-year-old “apologised unreservedly” for sharing a social media post illustrated with a rat – which has been used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda, including Nazi Germany.
In a statement on Monday, Lineker said: “Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio.
Read more: A history of Gary Lineker’s most controversial posts
“I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.
“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
Lineker has fronted Match Of The Day since 1999. PA
Lineker said he deleted the post when he learned about the rat’s symbolism, adding that he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic”.
In a video posted to Instagram, the pundit added: “I’ve stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor.
“There’s no place for it and never should be.”
He went on to thank the “brilliant, talented” people he has worked with and described his relationship with the BBC as “long and wonderful”.
He added: “But it’s the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways.”
Lineker’s last appearance on the BBC will be on Sunday 25 May, the final day of the season.
‘A defining voice in football coverage’
Also confirming Lineker’s exit, BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.
“Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond.
“We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.”
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will share the role of presenting Match of the Day. Pic BBC/PA
The former England star announced in November he would step down from Match Of The Day this year, but was set to return to front the World Cup in 2026, as well as FA Cup coverage.
The presenter was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then Conservative government’s asylum policy.
He will be replaced on Match Of The Day by Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman, who will share the presenting role from the next Premier League season.
Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day since 1999 and has been the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent for seven consecutive years.
He is also the co-founder of podcast producing company Goalhanger, which makes the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money.
Lineker parting ways with the BBC also includes the licensing deal for Goalhanger podcast titles on BBC Sounds which ends this year, the PA news agency reported.
A “significant amount of personal data” of people who applied to the Legal Aid Agency – including criminal records – was accessed and downloaded by hackers, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said.
The group that carried out the cyber attack says it accessed 2.1 million pieces of data, but the MoJ has not verified that figure, it is understood.
The government became aware of the incident on 23 April, but realised on Friday it was more extensive than first thought.
An MoJ source put the breach down to the “neglect and mismanagement” of the previous government, saying vulnerabilities in the Legal Aid Agency systems have been known for many years.
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA), is an executive agency, sponsored by the MoJ, which is responsible for administering legal aid funding – around £2.3bn in 2023/24.
The data accessed affected those who applied for legal aid in the last 15 years, and may include contact details and addresses of legal aid applicants, their dates of birth, national insurance numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments.
The MoJ has urged anyone who applied for legal aid since 2010 to update any passwords that could have been exposed, and be alert to unknown messages and phone calls.
The organisation’s digital services, which are used by legal aid providers to log their work and get paid, have been taken offline.
‘We needed to take radical action’
Legal Aid Agency chief executive Jane Harbottle has apologised for the breach and acknowledged the news would be “shocking and upsetting”.
“Since the discovery of the attack, my team has been working around the clock with the National Cyber Security Centre to bolster the security of our systems so we can safely continue the vital work of the agency,” she said.
“However, it has become clear that, to safeguard the service and its users, we needed to take radical action. That is why we’ve taken the decision to take the online service down,” she said.
Ms Harbottle said contingency plans are in place for those who need legal support and advice.
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Retail disruption to ‘last months’
The Law Society, an organisation representing solicitors across the UK, blamed the attack on Legal Aid’s “antiquated IT system”.
“The incident once again demonstrates the need for sustained investment to bring the LAA’s antiquated IT system up to date and ensure the public have continued trust in the justice system,” said a Law Society spokesperson.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it is working with the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre to investigate the data breach.
The National Crime Agency said it was aware of the incident and was working closely with the MoJ to “better understand the incident and support the department”.
It comes after retailers Co-op, Harrods and Marks & Spencer were hit by cyber attacks, although there is no suggestion that they are connected to the incident at the LAA.
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