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Jasmine is in so much pain she can hardly get out of bed.

She’s clutching a hot water bottle and taking morphine, a strong painkiller which she says turns her into “a zombie”.

“It’s like there’s like a ball of acid in the middle of my torso and it’s burning its way through each of my organs. And it feels like that 24/7,” said the 23-year-old.

The pain Jasmine is describing is caused by endometriosis, a debilitating condition where cells similar to the ones lining the womb are found elsewhere in the body.

This can lead to inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue.

“It feels like there’s just searing, stinging, burning pain constantly. And that’s not even the worst of it,” she tells me.

She said symptoms started when she was about 12 years old and have worsened as the years have gone on.

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For years she has had appointments, consultations and surgery on the NHS. But her experiences have left more than physical scars.

“I’ve been made to feel like I’m taking up their time. I’ve been made to feel like I’m not important and that my issues should just be medicated and that’s it.”

Read more: The search for a cure for endometriosis

Jasmine waited a year and seven months for an operation, but only after surgery was cancelled six times.

“There was never really a good explanation as to why the surgery was cancelled. I’d just get called up by someone and told it wasn’t happening.”

Jasmine, who is suffering with endometriosis, hugs her boyfriend Alex
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Jasmine with her fiance Alex

7.5 million waiting for treatment

Jasmine is one of millions of patients waiting months, sometimes years for NHS treatment. And the numbers have soared since the pandemic.

The number of people waiting for treatment on the NHS has doubled to 7.5 million and even though targets state that 92% of patients should begin treatment within 18 weeks, that target has not been met for nearly a decade.

Which is why the NHS will be one of the big issues for voters in the general election.

Labour said it will cut NHS waiting times with 40,000 more evening and weekend appointments each week, paid for by cracking down on tax avoidance and non-doms.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives and Lib Dems have also promised to cut waiting lists by pouring an extra £1bn into the NHS.

Endometriosis

Tackling waiting lists is also the public’s top priority – the highest number of those polled, 39%, say reducing them is the thing they most want the next government to deliver for the NHS, followed by 26% saying making it easier to get a GP appointment.

Endometriosis

Twenty-five per cent who responded said the NHS is completely broken, with 61% saying it’s in a poor state and parts of it are broken. Only 1% of people said the NHS is healthy and has very few problems.

Endometriosis

Thirty-two per cent of people said they most trusted Labour to reduce waiting times, with just 9% saying they trust the Conservatives most to do it.

Most tellingly, just over a quarter of those who responded, 26%, said no party can be trusted to solve the problems with the NHS.

‘Life seems quite bleak now’

It currently takes an average of eight years and 10 months to get a diagnosis of endometriosis, according to the charity Endometriosis UK.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, gynaecology waiting lists have increased by over 60%, the biggest increase in any specialism. In England alone, there are nearly 600,000 people on gynaecology waiting lists.

An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS takes endometriosis very seriously and it is essential that staff support women experiencing cyclical pain as well as the psychological effects associated with their symptoms.

“The health service is committed to meeting women’s individual healthcare needs and is rolling out dedicated pelvic health clinics – bringing together specialist healthcare staff – to provide further support for women living with endometriosis, as well as supporting all local areas to develop a women’s health hub, to help deliver better menstrual health services and improve women’s health outcomes.”

Jasmine is still waiting for her operation to ease her symptoms of endometriosis.

“It has taken a massive physical toll. But I suppose mentally maybe worse. Life seems quite bleak now. I used to have a lot of dreams wanting to travel the world. But I don’t have the energy for that anymore.”

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Jasmine, who is in bed with endometriosis, speaking to her boyfriend Alex.

She says she hopes whoever wins the general election focuses more on the NHS.

“I’d like to believe that there was some sort of superhero to swoop in and save the NHS but I don’t feel in this current climate that that’s even remotely possible.

“I think the current government have run the NHS into the ground, but I don’t have much faith in any of the other parties to do much better.”

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

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Inside the cannabis farms being set up in rented homes

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Inside the cannabis farms being set up in rented homes

Organised criminal gangs are increasingly using rented houses and flats to operate illegal cannabis farms – and police say it is putting the lives of innocent neighbours at risk.

The gangs often use crude methods to bypass electricity meters to avoid paying for the high levels of energy the farms require, creating an increased fire risk.

Rival gangs also carry out raids on each other’s farms – a practice known as ‘taxing’ – carrying out “significant violence” to anyone who gets in their way, police say.

Greater Manchester Police detected 402 cannabis farms between May 2024 and April 2025, and Sky News was given access to an operation by its officers at a semi-detached house in a quiet suburban street in Wythenshawe.

Inside, officers found one room full of cannabis plants and another ‘drying room’ with the drug packaged up and ready to be distributed. The street value was estimated in the tens of thousands of pounds.

Cannabis farm
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This home on a quiet street was filled with cannabis plants

Cannabis farm Milam package

Outside, officers found evidence that the electricity meter had been bypassed. ‘Abstracting’ is the offence of dishonestly using, wasting or diverting electricity. One person inside the property was arrested.

“The electricity gets bypassed in order to avoid big electric bills,” Inspector Bree Lanyon said.

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“Because a substantial amount of electric is required to run the lights, the ventilation, the heat, everything else that’s required in the cannabis farm, the abstract is done in a haphazard way and it can cause fires within the properties.”

Cannabis
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Officers found bags of the drug ready to be distributed

She continued: “We’ve seen a lot of fires recently in premises that have been set up as cannabis farms, because of the way the electricity is set up. It’s not safe and the neighbouring residence could be at risk if that property is burning down.”

The risks posed by cannabis farms were highlighted by the death of seven-year-old Archie York in 2024. He was killed when chemicals being used in a cannabis factory caused an explosion in the family’s block of flats. The drug dealer responsible was jailed for 14 years.

Archie York still from Greg Milam package
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Archie York

Archie York aftermath
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The aftermath of the explosion which killed the seven-year-old

Police say gangs employ low-level operatives, known as gardeners, to manage and protect farms, who will often plead guilty to drug offences and accept the punishment to keep police off the trail of those controlling the operation.

The use of rented properties – sometimes through rogue landlords – also makes detection more difficult.

Read more:
The ins and outs of UK cannabis law
What are cannabis stickers?

“The vast majority are organised crime gangs,” said Detective Inspector Paul Crompton, from GMP’s serious and organised crime group. “It infuriates me when we take action against these farms and people say ‘It’s only cannabis’.

“What we see with cannabis farms is that rival organised crime groups will actively target those and break in and take the products by force. You’ve got a risk of potentially people being kidnapped or killed without us knowing anything about them.

“Make no bones about it, there’s massive amounts of money to make and they would rather just go and take that cannabis and sell it for themselves. They’ll do significant, violence against anybody that gets in the way, whether that’s the gardener, the police or residents who might get in the way.”

 Cannabis farms Milam
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Police check an electricity meter for evidence of ‘abstracting’

Police say landlords need to be aware of the risks and even the chief executive of the British Landlords Association has fallen victim.

One of Sajjar Ahmad’s properties was badly damaged by those using it for an illegal cannabis farm. “I can only explain it as horrific,” he said.

“Our members, when they’ve experienced the problem with the cannabis farm, they are shocked. They didn’t know it could happen. They are not aware of the telltale signs.

“They have the same regrets as what I experienced – you need to carry out regular inspections and, if somebody is offering you a larger rent, then you should question that.”

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Personal trainer jailed over ‘first date’ chase that ended in crash involving five police cars

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Personal trainer jailed over 'first date' chase that ended in crash involving five police cars

A personal trainer who admitted dangerous driving on a first date that ended in a police car pile-up has been sentenced to one year and two months in a young offenders’ institution.

Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, was taking a woman home in the early hours of 9 April when his driving triggered a car chase and eventual crash involving five police cars.

Mazyar Azarbonyad. Pic: Northumbria Police
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Mazyar Azarbonyad. Pic: Northumbria Police

Seven officers ended up in hospital, and one of their cars had its roof torn off in the dramatic collision that left debris strewn across the A1 near Newcastle.

Northumbria Police said while three officers have been able to return to duty, four remain off work.

Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

At Newcastle Crown Court in April, Azarbonyad admitted a series of driving offences, including driving without insurance several times after the crash, and failing to stop.

Northumbria Police said officers attempted to stop his powerful BMW in the Whickham area of Gateshead due to its speed and defective headlight.

After being instructed to pull over, Azarbonyad initially stopped before fleeing as the officer approached his vehicle.

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The scene on the A1, which has been shut in both directions on Tyneside.
Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

The scene on the A1, which has been shut in both directions on Tyneside.
Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

The car was later spotted on Whickham Front Street where it again made off from police and drove at excessive speeds through residential streets.

Specialist officers from the force’s road policing unit were sent to the area, and at 2.25am got behind the car where it reached speeds in excess of 120mph.

Just two minutes later the collision occurred near the Denton Interchange exit in Newcastle.

Azarbonyad and his female passenger were both uninjured.

The woman, aged in her 20s, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving but was later told she would face no further action. She later received a caution for drug possession.

Mazyar Azarbonyad arrives at Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing over a multiple vehicle crash which injured seven police officers followin
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Azarbonyad arriving at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday. Pic: PA

Azarbonyad was arrested at the scene and later released on bail with strict conditions including an interim driving ban.

Days later, officers received information that he was driving a red Hyundai i10 from his County Durham home to work in Newcastle city centre.

He was arrested on a garage forecourt in Stanley on 16 April after being caught filling up the vehicle.

Appearing before magistrates the following day, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, two counts of failing to stop a motor vehicle when required by a constable, six counts of no insurance use, and six counts of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Mazyar Azarbonyad.
Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Defending, solicitor Jack Lovell had told the court the defendant, of Stanley, had shown genuine remorse for his actions.

Returning to Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, Azarbonyad was sentenced to one year and two months in a young offenders’ institution.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years and seven months. If Azarbonyad wishes to get behind the wheel again, he must also sit an extended re-test.

Five-vehicle crash involving police vehicles shuts down A1
Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Following the court case, Superintendent Billy Mulligan said: “It is sheer luck that Mazyar Azarbonyad did not kill anyone that day with his reckless actions.

“What should have been a simple stop turned into him driving incredibly dangerously in a bid to get away from officers.

“He showed absolutely zero regard for the safety of anyone else that morning, and his decision-making behind the wheel put lives at risk.”

Superintendent Mulligan praised the bravery of the officers involved in the pursuit and subsequent collision.

He added: “While three officers have been able to return to duty, four of our colleagues remain off work – and I wish them all the best in their recovery.

“They were simply doing their job, protecting the public from the actions of someone who was not even qualified or insured to drive.

“We have a zero-tolerance approach to this type of behaviour, and we are committed to bringing offenders to justice and ensuring our roads are as safe as possible.”

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Man convicted after burning Koran outside Turkish consulate in London

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Man convicted after burning Koran outside Turkish consulate in London

A man has been found guilty of an offence after burning a Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London, in a case that sparked debate over the freedom of expression.

Hamit Coskun was accused of shouting “f*** Islam” and “Islam is religion of terrorism” as he held up a burning copy of the holy Islamic text in Knightsbridge, London, in February.

He was found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence.

Delivering the verdict, district judge McGarva said: “Your actions in burning the Koran where you did were highly provocative, and your actions were accompanied by bad language in some cases directed toward the religion and were motivated at least in part by hatred of followers of the religion.”

The 50-year-old denied using disorderly behaviour “within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress”, motivated by “hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam”, contrary to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Public Order Act 1986.

He had also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of using disorderly behaviour “within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress”, contrary to section five of the Public Order Act 1986.

The charges were alternative, meaning only one or the other would apply, but not both.

Prosecutors said Coskun had written on social media he was protesting the “Islamist government” of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had “made Turkey a base for radical Islamists and is trying to establish a Sharia regime”.

Mr Erdogan, who has been in power for over 20 years, leads the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which, while created from former Islamist movements and having a strong religious base, describes itself as a conservative-democratic party and has strongly denied being Islamist.

Barrister Katy Thorne KC, defending, last week argued the prosecution was effectively trying to revive blasphemy laws, which were abolished in England and Wales in 2008 and Scotland in 2021.

Coskun, who has both Kurdish and Armenian heritage but was born in Turkey, travelled from his home in the Midlands and set fire to the Koran on the afternoon of 13 February, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard last week.

Footage aired in court showed another man confronting Coskun, allegedly holding a knife and saying: “It’s my religion, you don’t burn the Koran.”

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