Hunt for man after women followed in London linked to Uber driver stabbing
The stabbing of an Uber driver and several dangerous approaches to women may be linked, “extremely concerned” police have warned.
One suspect has been connected to several reports of women being followed in the early hours of the morning in southwest London in recent days, according to the Metropolitan Police.
He is also being sought after an Uber driver was stabbed twice in the chest.
Police released a photograph of the man, who is described as being between 25 and 30 years of age, and of slim build with short blond hair.
He was first spotted by a woman on 17 November at around 4am who noticed that a man with a knife was following her along Sisters Avenue, in Clapham.
As he got close, the woman shouted and the suspect ran away.
CCTV footage from 17 November. Pic: Met Police
The second incident took place on Sumburgh Road, in Balham, on 19 November at around 1.40am. The man approached a woman and grabbed her, but she managed to escape.
An Uber driver was then stabbed twice in the chest on Nightingale Lane in Clapham on 23 November, at around 12.20am.
The driver’s condition was not life-threatening and he has since been released from hospital.
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Pic: Met Police
At around 2.50am on 23 November, the suspect was spotted at Clapham Common near the Holy Trinity Church November and chased by officers, before running off in the direction of Clapham Common West Side.
He was later chased again after being spotted on a red bicycle at 4.45am the same day, but officers lost track of him on St John’s Road.
“We are extremely concerned about this man and we need to find him as soon as possible,” Detective Superintendent Dan O’Sullivan, said.
“We know this will cause community concern and we will be carrying out extra patrols at key times.”
Members of the public have been warned not to approach the suspect and to call 999 straight away if they see him.
The FA has launched an investigation into allegations that suspended Premier League referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card ahead of a match.
Mr Coote booked Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski during a match against West Brom in October 2019.
The Sun claims that the day before, he discussed carding the player with a Leeds fan he had met online, then after the game messaged him saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.”
Mr Coote insists nothing improper took place.
He said in a statement: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations.
“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field.
“I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”
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The previous comments Coote made about Liverpool
An investigation has now been opened to get to the bottom of the claims surrounding the already-suspended referee.
Previously, a video emerged showing Mr Coote snorting a white powder.
That came after another video showed Mr Coote in a foul-mouthed rant about Liverpool FC and their then-boss Jurgen Klopp.
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After the most recent allegations, a spokesperson for Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) told Sky Sports News: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations.
“We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis.
“PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven.
“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA.”
It added: “We will be making no further comment at this stage.”
Davina McCall has said she is feeling “stronger and stronger” every day after having brain tumour surgery.
In an update posted to Instagram, the TV presenter emphasised the importance of sleep during her recovery after having a benign brain tumour, known as a colloid cyst, removed.
Sporting a bruised left eye, McCall said she is being “brilliantly” looked after by her boyfriend, hairdresser Michael Douglas, and stepmum Gabby and is “just trying to sleep a lot” and “get better”.
Earlier this week, the star said she was suffering with short-term memory problems, due to the operation. But on Wednesday, she said that her memory is now “improving”.
“My short-term memory is really improving a lot every day,” she said, adding: “It has been an example to me of how much sleep helps me recover from everything.
Pic: Instagram/Davina McCall
“If I feel a bit confused or I’m struggling to concentrate, I just got to sleep, and I wake up just completely renewed and refreshed.
“I know that my brain needs lots of sleep.”
The 57-year-old ended the update by thanking fans for their “ongoing support”.
‘Out of the woods’
Speaking during a livestream on Tuesday, McCall’s partner Douglas said the star is “definitely out of the woods” during her recovery.
McCall with her partner Michael Douglas and her daughter Holly Robertson. Pic: PA
“She’s quite tired at the moment. She sleeps really well at night and goes to bed at 10pm and has a nap in the morning, and sleeps for two or three hours in the afternoon,” he said.
He added that the presenter is off work until mid-January and has “a lot of time to relax and recuperate”.
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Douglas told fans: “It’s been a very, very emotional and quite an incredible experience. We’re definitely out of the woods.”
McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.
She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and together they present a weekly lifestyle podcast called Making The Cut.
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