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Former Conservative MP Aaron Bell carried out “brazen and drunken” sexual misconduct in the parliament bar, a watchdog has found.

Parliament’s standards watchdog found that the former MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme “abused his position of power” by touching a woman “on her left thigh, waist and bottom inappropriately and without her consent” while in one of parliament’s bars in December 2023.

The panel found that had Mr Bell still been an MP, the panel said it would have considered suspending him from parliament “for a significant period”.

Mr Bell, who did not seek re-election in July and whose seat is now represented by Labour, said he was “disappointed” at the outcome of the investigation but had chosen not to appeal its findings.

“I apologise for any upset caused to the complainant and wish to make it clear that I did not intend to cause any distress,” he said in a statement.

The findings by the Daniel Greenberg, the standards commissioner who is responsible for investigating any alleged breaches of the code of conduct for MPs, came after a complaint was filed to parliament’s independent complaints and grievance scheme in February 2024.

Mr Greenberg then referred the case to the independent expert panel, which sits above parliament’s standards committee, to determine the appropriate sanction.

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The IEP sub-panel found there had been a “serious case of sexual misconduct involving an abuse of power” that had had an “enduring impact on the complainant”.

It said Mr Bell – who as a government whip was responsible for enforcing party discipline and ensuring their colleagues vote with the government- “abused his position of power over the complainant”.

“Not only was he considerably older, but he was also a member of parliament therefore holding a particularly powerful role.”

It was also highlighted how Mr Bell was an assistant government whip at the time, which it described as a role with “considerable authority” that also involved “upholding the highest standards of conduct”.

The panel added: “It does not reduce the seriousness of the conduct that it took place in a bar.

“No matter how the respondent or others may view that environment, it is in the workplace.

“Any member of parliament in that setting remains a person with particular power and authority.

“Indeed, sexual misconduct such as this, which is both brazen and drunken, makes the conduct more serious as the level of threat is increased.”

Mr Bell said the investigation was “one of the reasons I chose not to seek re-election at the general election – I have let down the loyal members of my association and thank them for the support they gave me as a member of parliament”.

“I would also like to apologise to the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme, whom it was an honour to serve.

“This has been a difficult time for my family, and I would ask that their privacy is respected at this time.”

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Lindsay Rimer: Sisters of murdered teenage girl still fighting for justice 30 years on

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Lindsay Rimer: Sisters of murdered teenage girl still fighting for justice 30 years on

Police have made a direct appeal to those involved in the murder of a teenager to finally bring her family closure, exactly 30 years after she disappeared.

Lindsay Rimer, 13, went out to buy a box of Corn Flakes late in the evening on 7 November 1994 and never returned home. Her body was found in a canal close to her home six months later.

Lindsay’s family have also marked this year’s anniversary with a renewed appeal for information from the public, particularly in the town of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire where Lindsay lived and died.

“This person should be in prison, not us because that’s where we feel we’ve been for the last 30 years,” her sister Kate Rimer told Sky News.

Juliet Rimer was just one when her sister was killed but has recently been reading letters and diaries to gain a better understanding of a life cut short.

“It’s just, it’s a bit of a horror film that we have to do this,” she said. “The fact that I had a sister that I never knew who was murdered, I just can’t wrap my head around that. It’s had a massive impact on me.”

Lindsay months before her death
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Lindsay months before her death

Kate, who played the part of her sister in a police reconstruction a year after her disappearance, says the family believes someone has information that could lead to her killer’s arrest.

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“It’s usually been my mum who does this but the emotional toll it’s taken on my parents means that they just can’t do this anymore.

“It’s incredibly emotional, it opens everything up, and it reflects back over 30 years ago and everything that we lived through then. And just the horror of a loved family member, a child being murdered, is a really bizarre situation. You live your normal life around that and then we’re opening up again to bring murder and death back into our family.”

In the years since Lindsay’s disappearance, police have spoken to more than 5,000 people and examined 1,200 vehicles. Two men were arrested and later released.

A new sighting of Lindsay after she left the convenience shop on the night she disappeared has been confirmed and police believe those in the community have vital information.

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Juliet, left, and Kate Rimer speak to Sky News this month
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Juliet, left, and Kate Rimer speak to Sky News this month

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Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle of West Yorkshire Police made a direct appeal to those who were involved in killing and disposing of her body.

“Has this been on your conscience for thirty years?” he said.

“It’s perfectly possible there’s more than one person involved, its perfectly possible there’s a vehicle involved. Maybe you didn’t murder Lindsay but you know exactly who did because you were there and that’s sat on your conscience for 30 years.

“Now is the time to come and talk to us, now is the time to draw a line under this and bring that closure for Lindsay’s family.”

New posters featuring Lindsay’s picture have gone up around Hebden Bridge as part of the appeal for information and an increased police presence will be in the town.

Juliet said: “It has been 30 years but Lindsey didn’t deserve this and we owe it to her as her family to keep doing this.”

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Lucy Letby offered ‘tips’ on how to get away with murder, inquiry told

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Lucy Letby offered 'tips' on how to get away with murder, inquiry told

Lucy Letby suggested she could give “tips” to a colleague on how to get away with murder, a public inquiry has heard.

The child serial killer exchanged WhatsApp messages in 2017 with union rep Hayley Griffiths about the US legal drama How To Get Away With Murder.

The discussion took place a year after the neonatal nurse was moved to clerical duties at the Countess of Chester Hospital following concerns she may have been deliberately harming babies.

In a message to Letby, Ms Griffiths wrote: “I’m currently watching a programme called how to get away with murder. I’m learning some good tips.”

Letby replied: “I could have given you some tips x”

Ms Griffiths said: “I need someone to practice on to see if I can get away with it.”

Letby wrote: “I can think of two people you could practice on and will help you cover it up x”

Ms Griffiths replied: “Deal. I will get thinking of a plan. Get the cruise booked as our getaway.”

The pair were working in the hospital’s risk and patient safety department a year before Letby was arrested on suspicion of multiple murders by Cheshire Police.

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How the police caught Lucy Letby

Ms Griffiths said she was aware of the concerns of foul play and the connection to Letby by September 2016.

Shahram Sharghy, representing some of the families of Letby’s victims, asked: “Given the severity of the allegations that were made, and would you agree they are possibly the most serious allegations that anybody could make against a healthcare professional, were you making light of those allegations when you were referring to potentially committing a crime?”

Ms Griffiths answered: “No.”

Mr Sharghy asked: “Can you even begin to imagine and put yourself in the position of the families of the babies who were harmed when they see those messages?”

Ms Griffiths said: “I know… I am so remorseful. As soon as I saw them myself I was upset and I can’t begin to imagine… I can only apologise and say I have learned. I can’t go back in time but I have reflected absolutely on it.”

Read more from the inquiry:
‘Cold’ Lucy Letby failed final year student nurse placement
‘Breathing tubes dislodged’ during Letby shifts
Nurses who worked with Letby ‘were thinking the unthinkable’

Earlier, Ms Griffiths told counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC: “It was nothing more than a conversation. However, I truly and deeply regret having started that conservation… this is completely unprofessional, poor judgement on my behalf and completely insensitive. And for that, I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart.”

Letby, 34, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders.

She was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder six others between June 2015 and June 2016.

The Thirlwall Inquiry into the events surrounding her crimes is expected to sit until early 2015. The findings are expected by late autumn that year.

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Newcastle: Three men arrested in connection with deadly house explosion and on suspicion of cannabis production

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Newcastle: Three men arrested in connection with deadly house explosion and on suspicion of cannabis production

Three men have been arrested in connection with a deadly house explosion in Newcastle.

Seven-year-old Archie York and Jason Laws, who was in his 30s, were killed following the blast in Violet Close, in the Benwell and Elswick area of the city in October.

Police said at the time that six others were taken to hospital “with varying injuries” after the blast and subsequent fire.

Three men – two in their 30s and one in his 50s – have been arrested on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter, and the production of a Class B drug, namely cannabis, Northumbria Police said.

They all remain in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith said: “This has been a truly tragic incident which resulted in the loss of two lives.

“As a result of our ongoing enquiries, three men have today been arrested in connection with the explosion.

“Our investigation will remain ongoing as we seek to provide answers to what has happened.

“We would continue to ask people to avoid speculation surrounding this incident both online and in the community.”

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From October: Deadly blast destroys Newcastle house

The blast tore through a row of six properties divided into two flats each.

Drone footage showed how six flats in the middle of the building appeared to have been completely destroyed by the explosion and fire, while piles of debris could be seen in the street outside.

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Superintendent Darren Adams, from Northumbria Police, said on the day of the fire: “As a result of the incident in the early hours of this morning, a seven-year-old boy has sadly passed away.

“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he tragically died at the scene.

“This is a truly devastating outcome.”

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