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Ozempic and other weight loss jabs linked to TEN deaths in the UK as health officials issue urgent warning
OZEMPIC and other weight loss jabs have now been linked to ten deaths in the UK.
There have also been 7,228 reports of illness associated with the drugs, citing nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, according to the medicines watchdog.
And 68 patients were admitted to hospital over their symptoms, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said.
The reports particularly feature Wegovy and Ozempic, a “miracle” weight loss jab originally designed for managing type 2 diabetes.
They come just a few months after a doctor warned of potential fatalities as a result of the drugs, also known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), after that a young girl was rushed to hospital with life-threatening symptoms.
The reports do not prove that the weight loss jabs are solely responsible for every individual case.
But they do highlight that whoever submitted them to the agency, whether patients or healthcare professionals, had a suspicion that GLP-1RAs may have been a factor.
Speaking to trade magazine Chemist and Druggist, the MHRA reiterated that some of these reports may just be unfortunate coincidences.
However, it did admit that the drugs had unpleasant and widespread side effects associated with it.
Last week, it instructed doctors to “inform patients about the common and serious side effects associated with GLP-1RAs” and “report cases of misuse”.
The up-to-date numbers follow last week’s estimate of 46 hospitalisations connected with the drugs, as of August 16.
The agency also estimated a 48 per cent increase in reports over the past two months.
Following the findings, it reiterated that drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy should not be used for “unauthorised indications such as aesthetic weight loss”.
It also warned of a potential black market for the drugs, advising patients to make sure they are prescribed by a registered professional.
This followed health secretary Wes Streeting‘s earlier warning that GLP-1RAs are not “cosmetic” treatments – and should only be used in exceptional circumstances.
Mr Streeting, who has also defended the “game changing” potential of the drugs, added: “Weight-loss drugs have enormous potential.
“When taken alongside healthy diet and exercise, they can be game changers in tackling obesity and getting people back to good health.
“But these are not cosmetic drugs that should be taken to help get a body beautiful picture for Instagram.
“These are serious medicines and should only be used responsibly and under medical supervision.
“They’re not a quick fix to lose a few pounds and buying them online without appropriate assessment can put people’s health at risk.
“Drugs approved for weight management should only be used by those tackling obesity, where diet and exercise has been tried first, and where patients are eligible.”
Last month, Mr Streeting defended plans to roll out weight loss jabs among unemployed people to kickstart a major back-to-work drive.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS JABS
What are they?
Weight loss jabs are a hot media topic at the moment, with hundreds of success stories sharing how they helped them shed the pounds.
In March, the NHS announced it would make Wegovy, a drug made by Danish firm Novo Nordisk, available on prescription to thousands of obese Brits.
It contains the drug semaglutide, which is said to have helped reality star Kim Kardashian and Twitter boss Elon Musk lose weight.
Wegovy, which helped a third of people reduce their weight by 20 per cent in trials, will also be available from pharmacies like Boots.
Meanwhile, pharma company Eli Lilly last month announced results for its own weight loss drug tirzepatide.
The weekly injection helped overweight people drop more than two stone in 18 months.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less calories and therefore lose weight.
To do this, an ingredient found in the fat-busting drug, known as Semaglutide, mimics the role of a natural hormone, called GLP-1.
GLP-1 is part of the signalling pathway that tells your body you have eaten, and prepares it to use the energy that comes from your food.
London GP and founder of wellgoodwellbeing.com, Dr Zoe Watson, said: “Your body naturally produces an appetite regulating hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1.
“These jabs work by regulating your appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.”
Aren’t they diabetes drugs?
Both Wegovy and tirzepatide stem from drugs originally designed to treat diabetes.
Semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, was originally sold under the name Ozempic specifically for diabetes patients.
But they started noticing it helped suppress their appetites, stopping them eating as much and helping them shed the pounds.
So Novo Nordisk developed Wegovy, which contains the same chemical but at higher doses specifically to aid weight loss.
Wegovy is not prescribed for diabetes patients.
Tirzepatide is sold under the name Mounjaro for diabetes.
Can I get them?
Wegovy is offered on prescription to obese adults given specialist weight loss treatment.
The NHS currently also offers a similar drug called Saxenda, or liraglutide.
Both are only available on Tier 3 and Tier 4 weight management services, which means you have to be referred to weight management clinics led by experts.
GPs can’t prescribe them on their own either, Dr Watson said.
The jabs have to be taken as part of an overall programme to help with lifestyle changes and psychological support to get the best effect from the medication prescribed.
But despite being approved for use, the supply of Wegovy on the NHS has been postponed indefinitely because of a surge in worldwide demand.
Supply was also halved in the US because of the skyrocketing demand.
Eli Lilly said it will apply for a UK licence for tirzepatide soon, which could make it available to the NHS.
Are there any risks?
Like all medicines, the jabs do not come without side effects.
Around half of pe
ople taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, thyroid tumours, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
From scabies and syphilis to rickets – the grim Victorian diseases making a comeback
THEY are often thought to be consigned to the history books – but experts have warned a whole host of Victorian diseases are making a comeback.
Declining vaccination rates, the cost-of-living crisis, poor diets and malnutrition have all fed into the resurgence of the nasty bugs.
NHS Digital data reveals that ‘Victorian diseases’ caused almost 50,000 hospitalisations between 2018-23.
And figures from this year are unlikely to be any different, according to experts.
Here, Sun Health looks at the Victorian disease – and those that date further back – rearing their ugly heads, and share all the signs you need to watch out for.
1. SCURVY
Scurvy, first reported in Ancient Greek and Egyptian times is making a comeback, doctors have warned.
It’s a condition caused by a lack of vitamin C found in fresh fruit and veg.
The condition is typically associated with sailors enduring long voyages during the Middle Ages.
But doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports have suggested it’s now re-emerging.
Doctors say it’s “eminently” treatable, but because it’s a disease associated with the past, it could be mistaken for other conditions.
For example, it can be confused with inflamed blood vessels (vasculitis), putting people at risk of fatal bleeding if left untreated.
Signs can appear as early as a month after a daily intake of less than 10mg of vitamin C.
Dr Helen Wall, senior GP partner from the NHS Oaks Family Practice in Bolton, tells Sun Health: “Scurvy is caused by not having enough vitamin C in your diet over a long period of time.
“One of the key things that is unique to scurvy is developing red or blue spots on the skin, usually the legs and feet.”
According to the NHS, scurvy symptoms can include:
- Feeling very tired and weak all the time
- Feeling irritable and sad all the time
- Joint, muscle or leg pain
- Swollen, bleeding gums (sometimes teeth can fall out)
- Developing red or blue spots on the skin, usually on the legs and feet, although this may be less noticeable on brown or black skin
- Skin that bruises easily
2. RICKETS
Rickets, once synonymous with poverty and poor diets, was diagnosed in 28,379 Brits from 2019 to 2023, according to an FOI to 78 hospital trusts by the Liberal Democrats.
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust, reported 580 cases in 2023, a 380 per cent increase on the 122 cases in 2019.
Rickets affects bone development in children, causing pain, stunted growth and soft, weak bones that can lead to deformities.
It is mostly caused by a lack of vitamin D, which is created by the body in response to sunlight but is also in foods such as fish (salmon, mackerel), red meat and egg yolks.
The life-saving vaccines you need at every age
EIGHT WEEKS
- 6-in-1 vaccine
- Rotavirus vaccine
- MenB vaccine
12 WEEKS
- 6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose)
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose)
16 WEEKS
- 6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose)
- MenB vaccine (2nd dose)
ONE YEAR
- Hib/MenC vaccine (1st dose)
- MMR vaccine (1st dose)
- Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose)
- MenB vaccine (3rd dose)
TWO TO 15 YEARS
- Children’s flu vaccine (every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school)
THREE YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS
- MMR vaccine (2nd dose)
- 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine
12 TO 13 YEARS
- HPV vaccine
14 YEARS
- 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine
- MenACWY vaccine
65 YEARS
- Flu vaccine (given every year after turning 65)
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Shingles vaccine (if you turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023)
70 to 79 YEARS
- Shingles vaccine
Source: The NHS
Signs and symptoms of rickets can include:
- Delayed growth
- Delayed motor skills
- Pain in the spine, pelvis and legs
- Muscle weakness
Because rickets softens the areas of growing tissue at the ends of a child’s bones (growth plates), it can cause skeletal deformities such as:
- Bowed legs or knock knees
- Thickened wrists and ankles
- Breastbone projection
3. SCABIES
Meanwhile, the Royal College of General Practitioners has warned people not to ignore an itchy rash, which could be caused by the contagious skin condition scabies.
There are three cases in every 100,000 people living in England, according to the group, which is double the five-year seasonal average.
The condition is caused by a mite that burrows into the skin to lay eggs.
A pharmacist can recommend a treatment but if the rash persists, see your GP.
Scabies are particularly difficult to get rid of and spread easily between people living together.
Deep cleaning of bedding, furniture and carpets is required.
The symptoms of scabies are:
- Intense itching, especially at night
- A raised rash or spots
4. TB
Tuberculosis is a bacterial bug that killed at least one in seven people in England at the beginning of the 19th century.
But a recent report released by the World Health Organisation warned that millions are still dying of the disease.
About 8.2 million people across the globe were diagnosed with TB in 2023.
According to the WHO, this is the highest number recorded since it began global TB monitoring in 1995.
New figures from the UKHSA in February showed an 11 per cent rise in TB cases in England in 2023, with 4,850 cases diagnosed.
Today, less than six per cent of those with TB die from the disease.
But it’s still a serious disease of the lungs that leaves people feeling exhausted, unwell and with a lack of appetite leading to weight loss.
Treatment is at least six months of antibiotics.
Symptoms of TB disease include:
- A chronic cough
- Fever
- Chills
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Haemoptysis (coughing up blood from the lungs and bronchial tubes)
5. 100-DAY-COUGH
Whooping cough used to affect tens of thousands of people before a vaccine was given routinely in the 1950s.
But the uptake of jabs, now offered to pregnant women to protect their unborn babies, has fallen in recent years.
More than 12,000 cases of whooping cough were confirmed in England in the first seven months of the year compared to 856 in the whole of 2023, and nine babies died.
The condition is nicknamed the ‘100-day cough’ because it can last so long.
The first symptoms are similar to a cold before severe coughing bouts kick in.
After about a week, you or your child:
- Will get coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night
- May make a “whoop” sound – a gasp for breath between coughs (young babies and some adults may not “whoop”)
- May have difficulty breathing after a coughing bout and may turn blue or grey (young infants)
- May bring up a thick mucus, which can make you vomit
- May become very red in the face (more common in adults)
The cough may last for several weeks or months.
6. SCARLET FEVER
Another disease rife in the Victorian era was scarlet fever – and parents should still be wary today.
Anyone can catch the bug, but it most commonly affects children under the age of 10.
There was an unusual surge of cases in 2022/2023, along with Strep A and iGAS – all of which are caused by the same bacteria.
There were almost 60,000 cases of scarlet fever and 516 deaths from iGAS, of which 61 were children, across the UK, more than double what is considered normal.
The signs typically include:
- High temperature
- Sore throat
- Swollen neck glands
- Rash 12-48 hours after initial symptoms. This usually starts on the tummy and then spreads
- White coating on the tongue
- Red cheeks
7. MEASLES
There have been 2,601 cases of measles in England in 2024 so far, up 38 on this time last year.
While many of the other Victorian diseases have in fact always been present in the UK, measles was largely contained for years thanks to the MMR vaccine, which was introduced in 1988, despite millions of deaths worldwide every year.
But lower uptake in recent years means the deadly virus, mostly affecting children, has returned to levels above ‘elimination status’.
At the start of the school year, the UKHSA issued an urgent call to parents to ensure their children catch up on missed vaccinations after a surge in measles was seen in October 2023.
The first signs of measles include:
- A high temperature
- A runny or blocked nose
- Sneezing
- A cough
- Red, sore, watery eyes
7. SYPHILIS
Syphilis is one of the oldest known sexually transmitted infections.
Once thought to be in decline, it is now resurging at an alarming rate.
In 2022, the UK saw syphilis cases reach their highest level since 1948.
And it is not something just happening in the UK.
There were 7.1million new cases of syphilis globally in 2020 according to WHO data.
Previously, men who have sex with men have historically been most affected by syphilis.
But infections in heterosexual men and women have more than doubled since 2019, with congenital syphilis also on the rise.
Congenital syphilis is syphilis that occurs when a mother passes the infection to her baby during pregnancy or at birth.
This form of the disease can have devastating consequences including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature births, low birth weights and the death of a baby shortly after birth.
Symptoms of syphilis include:
- Small sores (ulcers) on your penis, vagina, or around your bottom (anus) – these are usually painless and you may only have one of them
- Sores in other areas, including in your mouth or on your lips, hands or bottom
- White or grey warty growths most commonly on your penis, vagina or around your anus
- A rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet that can sometimes spread all over your body – this is not usually itchy
- White patches in your mouth
- Flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches and tiredness
- Swollen glands
- Patchy hair loss on the head, beard and eyebrows
It can take three weeks or more for the symptoms of syphilis to appear after you’re infected.
Sometimes the symptoms can improve or go away completely, but if you have not been treated the infection is still in your body.
This means you can still pass it on and you’re at risk of getting serious problems later on.
Potential complications include:
- Heart problems like angina, aortic aneurysm and heart failure
- Brain problems like fits (seizures), memory problems, personality changes and dementia
- Nerve problems like shooting pains, pins and needles, joint pain and gradual damage the joints
- Problems with the skin, bones, testicles, liver and any other organ
Affordable European Christmas market where it’s still t-shirt weather in December
EVERY Christmas an island in Europe is transformed into a festive paradise – but you won’t need your thick coat to explore it.
While most Brit holidaymakers head to Malta during the summer months, it’s also a good wintertime destination.
The weather in Malta in December reaches highs of 17C during the day, which is firm t-shirt and short weather for Brits.
And throughout December, Malta is home to several Christmas markets, transforming the Mediterranean island into a yuletide paradise.
One of the Christmas markets, Villa Rundle, runs from the end of November until just before Christmas Eve, making it the island’s longest-running Christmas Market.
Located in the Villa Rundle Gardens, the Christmas market is home to wooden stalls selling handmade gifts like soaps, candles, toys and sweets.
Meanwhile, Malta Artisan Christmas Market at Palazzo Pariso lasts for just one day.
This year, the market, which will be situated in Victory Square, will be decorated in twinkling fairy lights with live performances by musicians also taking place.
Given its name, you can expect local artists and creatives who will be selling handcrafted gifts and treats.
There’s also Fairyland in Valletta, running from December 10 until January 7, 2025.
Located right outside the City Gate, mulled wine and mince pies are sold at market stalls, with live performances also taking place on stage.
Another Christmas market is Christmas at Fort St Elmo in Valletta.
Running for two days in December, Heritage Malta organises family-themed events inside the Christmas village.
This year, there will be an interactive children’s area where kids can meet the big man himself and post a wish list to Father Christmas.
There are plenty of other draws to Malta too.
Valletta, the capital, has stunning Baroque architecture, museums, and the majestic St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
The country has a stunning coastline too, with a popular beach being Golden Bay.
While it might be the perfect temperature for Brit holidaymakers to wear their summer wardrobe, locals will be wrapped up in their winter gear.
Temperatures will also drop to 11C at night, so be sure to pack a jacket too.
Direct flights operate from UK cities like Manchester, London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Edinburgh.
Return fares start from as little as £37 in December.
What's it like to visit Malta?
THE Sun’s Mia Lyndon recently visited Malta – here’s what she thought.
I’M gazing up at a swirling, gold-leaf ceiling that took one man five years to paint.
Surrounding me are oil paintings, marble sculptures and an altar so bejewelled that I almost reach for my sunglasses.
No, I’m not at the Vatican or Versailles – I’m in Malta, in Valletta’s 450-year-old St John’s Co-Cathedral, which took artists more than a century to decorate.
This fortress-like building is set in the beating heart of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s smallest capital cities.
After my spiritual experience, there’s time to dip into nearby Stephen Cordina Aroma & Therapy shop to buy a heavenly lavender and bergamot room diffuser, £14 (Stephencordina.com), before climbing the cobbled streets to Upper Barrakka.
This quaint, leafy park is nestled between limestone fortress walls and is the perfect spot to snap pictures of the glistening Grand Harbour.
At Upper Barrakka Kiosk, I sample traditional pastizzi – flaky, clam-shaped pastries stuffed with peas, 85p each, washed down with a can of Maltese Kinnie, £1.70, a zesty, Negroni-like soft drink, before I find family-run Trattoria da Pippo and my friends, who’ve been saving the table!
We tuck into large, sizzling pans of delicious Fillet Tartuffe, a creamy mushroom pasta, and Marina, a tagliatelli loaded with prawns and calamari, £17 per person for two sharing dishes
Here are other Christmas markets to visit in Europe.
And these are the European Christmas markets Brit holidaymakers can reach by taking a ferry from the UK.
How celeb sex therapist was thrown from balcony by jealous ex – and syringe filled with mysterious liquid was vital clue
POSING in front of the flashing cameras and showing off her Hollywood smile on the red carpet, Amie Harwick was having the time of her life at a glitzy awards bash.
Little did she know that that night IN January 2020? she would end up back in the clutches of her stalker ex-boyfriend who would go on to murder her in the most brutal way.
Just a month later Amie, 38, was thrown off her Hollywood Hills balcony by her former lover, Gareth Pursehold, 45,while her flatmate was downstairs sleeping.
Now four years on, her friends and family have spoken on Hayu’s A Plan To Kill how the celebrity sex therapist – who worked with a host of A-list clients – feared for her life before the savage attack – and how police did little to stop it.
“She always wanted to help people, that was ingrained in her very being,” a heartbroken friend of Amie’s, Grace Stanley, revealed.
Celebrity sexpert
Amie was born in Pennsylvania and was adopted at a young age to a ‘good family’ who she was very close to.
But friends say she always knew she was destined for bigger things than her small-town life and she headed off to LA working as an actress or any other gig she could get her hands on.
“She was just a go-getter,” said Grace.
While working acting jobs and hosting parties to pay bills, Amie went back to school to get her PHD to become a family and sex therapist.
With hard work and dedication Amie went on to open up her own practice, and became a celebrity in LA providing therapy for adult stars working in the area.
Amie Harwick and Gareth Pursehouse dated from 2009 until 2011. They met at a Hollywood party where she was working as a hostess to pay her way through school to become a therapist.
“He was very loud, fun, smiley,” said Grace. “He was one of the night life photographers. It was very clear that he was taken by her. Because he would always want to take a lot of pictures of her.”
He wanted to know where she was at, at all times. Who was she with? He was always checking her phone.
Marcy Mendoza
But red flags soon began to develop in their relationship with friends spotting he was possessive of the brunette beauty.
“Amie and Gareth lived together, and he was very possessive over her,” said Marcy Mendoza, Amie’s friend. “He wanted to know where she was at, at all times. Who was she with? He was always checking her phone.”
The relationship quickly turned abusive too, with Amie filing a police report in 2011 claiming Gareth had choked, suffocated, kicked, punched and pushed her, as well as slamming her head into the ground.
It wasn’t long until Amie had enough of the sick abuse by the hands of her partner and the relationship ended with the therapist obtaining a restraining order against him lasting for five years, said Victor Avila, deputy district attorney for the L.A. County DAs Office.
HOW YOU CAN GET HELP:
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Amie did everything right – ending the relationship, switching her phone number and moving to a new apartment.
But his warning to stay away from Amie did little to deter him – and he soon broke into her new apartment just a month after she had moved in.
The attack was specific, smashing photo frames and wiping her laptop clean – filled with hard work to become a therapist and she knew exactly who was behind it.
Terrified, Amie went to the police but as there was no evidence he was behind the break-in, they could do nothing to protect her.
She warned her friends that if anything bad happened to her – it was probably her ex-boyfriend.
Amie had moved on with her life and things seemed normal again, she had a happy relationship with Drew Carey, presenter of The Price is Right until 2018 when they called off their engagement.
Eight years on from her relationship with Gareth, she went to the XBIZ 2020 awards ceremony, where adult stars gather to celebrate their profession.
Amie, who worked with a non-profit providing therapy for women in the industry, went along to support them and be recognised for her work.
Wearing a classic little black dress and old-hollywood style curls, Amie posed for the flashing cameras on the red carpet until her eyes met with Gareth, who was taking photos at the event in a bizarre chance encounter.
“Amie hadn’t seen Gareth in eight years. And when she was on the red carpet, she noticed him taking photos,” Coshland said. “When he saw her, he made a beeline for her, and started yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs, ‘You ruined my life!’”
Even though she’d changed her phone number, the next day, Gareth began contacting Amie again.
“He kept texting her. He left voicemails. Like just crying,” Grace said. “And eventually she just had to block him. And again, she was fearful for her safety.”
It’s believed Amie blocking Gareth pushed him over the edge – making him snap and plot her murder.
“All these actions show he was going to, in a way, punish her for rejecting him. And that he thought about how to do it,” revealed the LA detective Victor.
A COLD AND CALCULATED PLAN
CCTV from her neighbour’s house saw Gareth act out his violent plan – heading to the crime scene with gloves to cover his fingerprints and turning cameras away from the house and jumping over the fence in his premeditated attack on his ex lover.
After knocking on the door to get no answer, he kicked down the glass in the window and made his way into the home to confront Amie.
It was Valentine’s Day evening, and Amie had gone out with friends. Gareth sat on her bed and waited to plunge at her with a needle filled with liquid nicotine—a poison that’s difficult to detect.
When she entered the bedroom, Gareth tried to follow out his plan – but Amie wasn’t planning to go anywhere without a fight.
She left bruises, scratches and bite marks over his upper torso – but Gareth’s cold-blooded instincts fuelled his violent temper.
While Gareth carried out his cold-blooded attack and Amie struggled for her life, her flatmate Michael Herman, who had been asleep downstairs was awoken to her screams of terror as he ran out of the house and frantically called 911 off a passerby’s phone.
“Somebody just attacked my roommate,” he can be heard saying on the 911 call.
“I was downstairs, I heard screaming.
“I know she’s being attacked. I heard her going to the ground.
“You guys need to get a cop here quick.”
Seeking ‘revenge’
What is usually a sleepy neighbourhood quickly awakened with patrol cars swarming the flat to find a frantic Michael outside, also fearing for his life from the attacker.
When they made their way to the back of the house, Michael broke down as he saw Amie’s body lying on the ground below.
A picture of the pool of blood from the crime scene where Amie’s body lay was taken and detectives revealed her arms were covered in bruises and scratch marks – as she fought for her life with Gareth.
It didn’t take long for Amie’s friends to figure out who was behind her murder – Robert Coshland immediately told police it was probably her ex-boyfriend.
5 must-watch Hayu true crime shows
- Deadly Cults – In this series, investigators uncover and expose the dark world of cults that kill. Each episode focuses on a different cult, looking at the behaviour of their leaders and followers.
- Snapped: Killer Couples – Each episode reveals the shocking story of a couple who have committed murder together. A spin-off of series Snapped, which chronicled lives of women who lost control and were charged with murder, the show has aired 17 seasons, each with ten episodes.
- In Ice Cold Blood – Hosted by Ice-T, this series exposed outrageous tales and shocking true stories involving sex, money, murder and sometimes a fatal cocktail of all three.
- Charmed To Death – A series following the true stories of manipulative and deceptively dangerous criminals who use their charm to cheat, steal and lure unsuspecting victims into romantic relationships, ultimately leaving a wake of devastation and death.
- The Girl In The Box – Colleen Stan relives what it was like to be kidnapped, imprisoned in a box, and how she bravely escaped. The 20-year-old’s ordeal all started when she accepted a ride from Cameron Hooker, and she was kept captive for nearly a year…
Just 14 hours later, Gareth was arrested for the crime, detectives soon pieced together the crime that unfolded.
The syringe found at the crime scene matched ones found in Gareth’s house after detectives searched the place – proving he brought it to her house.
Police construed that his plan was to inject her with the poison that’s hard to detect in the body and nobody would know she was murdered.
Gareth’s plan to poison Amie had failed, an autopsy showed she wasn’t injected with the liquid, so he decided to strangle her then pick her up as she fought back at him and drop her off of the balcony.
Gareth was sentenced to a life sentence with parole.
“I think Gareth decided to do this on Valentine’s Day on purpose,” deputy district attorney Catherine Mariano said. “I think Gareth decided to kill Amie Harwick on a day that symbolises love and couples. And I think it was poetic justice in his opinion.”
Huge high street retailer launches 20% off closing down sale ahead of shutting store for good before Christmas
A HUGE high street retailer has announced a 20% off closing down sale ahead of shutting a shopping centre site for good.
Game has more than 200 stores across the country, including in cities such as Brighton, Glasgow and London.
It sells everything from big-name games consoles like Playstation and XBox to popular board games.
But shoppers in Bradford will soon need to find an alternative retailer as Game is set to shut its store in The Broadway, Bradford.
It will open for the final time on November 9, according to local news reports, meaning shoppers only have a few days to stock up before Christmas.
Shoppers have flocked to social media to share their sadness over the decision to close the site.
One Facebook user said: “Yet another one closes.”
Another added: “RIP Bradford.”
Game has also launched a 20% off closing down sale on all full-price items for shoppers looking to get last-minute bargains.
A sign put up in-store reads: “Closing sale 20% off all full-priced items. Exclusions hardware and digital).
The latest GAME closure comes after the retailer, operated by the Frasers Group, shut a number of other branches across the UK.
Almost a dozen GAME branches have closed in England and Wales since last October.
A branch in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, shuttered in November, while a store in Witney, Oxfordshire, closed in January and one in Plymouth, Devon disappeared the following month.
A number of other retailers have shut up shop in Bradford in recent months too.
Outdoor clothing chain Trespass launched a closing down sale at its branch in The Broadway Shopping Centre last month.
Meanwhile, posh food and clothing retailer M&S shut a branch in the same shopping centre in May.
Flannels, also run by Frasers Group, closed its branch in Bradford in December – despite opening just three months before.
Why are retailers closing shops?
EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre’s decline.
The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors.
In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping.
Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed.
The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing.
Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns.
Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead.
Boss Stuart Machin recently said that when it relocated a tired store in Chesterfield to a new big store in a retail park half a mile away, its sales in the area rose by 103 per cent.
In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Wilko, Debenhams Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Paperchase to name a few.
What’s increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online.
They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places.
DOWNFALL OF GAME
Game was bought out by billionaire businessman Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group in 2019 as part of a £52million deal.
But by January 2020 it had announced plans to close 40 of its more than 300 stores across the UK.
As of today, there are roughly 240 Game stores nationwide.
It comes as sales of physical video games have fallen majorly since Game’s peak in the early 2000s.
Digital sales accounted for almost nine out of every 10 video games sold in the UK in 2022, according to trade body the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA), reported the BBC.
What else is happening on the high street?
Shoppers have faced a swathe of closures on their local high streets in recent years as many of their favourite chains shutter sites.
The cost-of-living crisis has meant households have less money in their pockets and so are cutting back on their spending.
As a result, high street shops have seen lower footfall and less money landing in the tills.
That, along with ongoing restructuring plans and high rents, have forced many chains to close locations.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed almost 10,500 UK shops closed for the final time in 2023.
The 12-month period also saw over 119,000 jobs lost across the sector.
According to the centre’s data, 1,846 stores closed and 23,982 retail jobs were lost during the first six months of 2024.
November will be no different, with Co-op, Decathlon and Wetherspoon among those closing sites.
Of course, it’s not all bad news. In some cases branches will be replaced with bigger and better shops.
Retailers regularly open and close shops for a number of reasons – not just because they are struggling.
For example, they may have a store nearby that is performing better or it may be because they want to pick a spot that has higher footfall, such as in a retail park.
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TikTok’s viral ‘first love theory’ is why your boyfriend still scrolls his ex’s social media, relationship expert says
HAVE you spotted your partner lingering on their ex’s social media?
Women are apparently less likely than men to have the habit as they often process a breakup by venting to their mum or friends.
The First Love Theory has garnered over 98 million posts on TikTok with viral videos discussing the number of heterosexual men “hung up” on their first loves.
Shan Boodram, a sex and relationship expert with Bumble, told Bustle the exciting memory of a first kiss and saying “I love you” causes the feelings for a first love to linger.
The relationship often happens at a young and naive time when both people can focus on having fun together. They are carefree and don’t have stressful responsibilities such as paying bills.
It’s also easy not to be guarded because there’s no pain prior breakup experience.
What is the psychology behind the First Love Theory?
Relationship expert and founder of the dating app Wingman, Tina Wilson, said first loves can influence choosing future partners and expectations in new relationships.
“There is a lot of truth to the first love theory,” she told Fabulous.
“As our first romantic experiences, these moments, no matter how brief, can be highly impressionable on us and leave an everlasting impression.
“These never-felt-before emotions can leave us holding onto that feeling and using it as a benchmark that other relationships need to live up to, often subconsciously trying to find a version of that person in other daters or in new relationships.
“In early adult life, as we are still becoming the adults we will be for the rest of our lives, this can be self-destructive territory if you find yourself in this situation.
“Remember, whilst it is normal to have a small space in your heart for your ‘first love’ – after all, they made a huge impact on you – if those ‘ghosts’ from the past are still lingering and they are not just memories, but you are clinging to some form of hope or using them as a blueprint for your relationships now, this is holding you back.
“You are keeping yourself stuck in the past, which is not healthy if you want to progress with new relationships.”
Signs your partner is still yearning for their first love
Wilson said there are several signs that your partner may be still yearning for their first love.
These include refusing to get rid of keepsakes such as letters or gifts and dwelling on old memories.
“If you spot them looking back at old pictures on their phone or laptop, especially if you are sharing memories on their social media and the ex happens to pop up a lot in group photos, then they may be reminiscing and caught in the ‘first love theory’ trap,” she said.
“They may even continuously tell you stories of their first love then you know they haven’t moved on and maybe you should.
“Worse still, if you spot them commenting on their ex’s social media posts, yes, it could be innocent, but if these things are stacking up, this is clearly another clue they are hung up, and you can safely assume they are emotionally tied to the past.
“I would be wary if they keep in constant contact with mutual friends and happen to bump into each other from time to time.”
Wilson said it’s also a red flag if your partner shows commitment issues or avoids talking about a future together.
“They may be happy to some extent with you but subconsciously can’t think about the full future,” she said.
“They are caught up in a first love theory that either sees them wanting, deep down, to get back with their first love or that prevents them from fully opening up to a lasting relationship with anyone else because they are always looking for a version of them in another person.
“This is an unhealthy cycle and could indicate your relationship won’t last the test of time.”
Why you should never get back with an ex
…which might explain why so many of us end up going back to them. But I know from experience that you should never go back to an ex.”
Samantha Brick looks back on marrying her first boyfriend, several years after they broke up, and why it wasn’t a good idea.
“I met David* when we were just teenagers and we enjoyed a steamy on-off relationship until our early 20s, when our young love ran its course and we split — only to reconnect several years later in 2021 and then marry a year later.
Our marriage didn’t last.
The allure of an ex is so overwhelming. You forget what went wrong and focus on their good parts.
But unless you address those issues that caused you to split in the first place — then they will always be there and will break you up again.
And there is a part of all us women which remains in love with the first person we have ever told we loved (and meant it). Even more so when, like me, it is the first person I slept with.
But people rarely change and the problems that irked you the first time around never go away.”
Read Samantha’s article in full – here.
Wilson said it isn’t only your partner that’s a concern because you could find yourself daydreaming about what could’ve been with an ex.
Hoping to bump into them or asking mutual friends for updates could be considered “micro-cheating” and make it difficult to fully embrace a new relationship.
She recommends having a “relaxed and open” conversation to figure out if you’re both fully committed.
“Talking with friends about your worries can also help you get a fresh perspective and understand if you’re missing any red flags or seeing things clearly,” she said.
“We often think of our first love being something that happens when we are very young and uninfluenced by life and expectation and it’s just based on the heart.
“This is why it’s seen as a pure and genuine bond that can last a lifetime.”
‘It gives me the ick’ says Big Brother’s Aisleyne as she wades in on romance – and calls out show ‘mastermind’
BRUTAL face to face nominations rocked the house during Friday’s show, before another housemate was evicted.
Dean became the fifth housemate to leave the ITV2 show, after ‘Evil Head of House’ Emma swapped him in for nomination instead of Nathan.
Meanwhile Nathan and Baked Potato aren’t the only romance in the house, as another couple appear to be growing closer.
Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace breaks down all the latest drama, and what she wants to see happen next.
HOUSE OF LOVE
Hanah and Segun sitting in the tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G. I called it, you heard it here for us. Hot off the press.
They are getting closer and closer. They’re a cute couple and I’m here for it, I want to see more of it this week.
However, Nathan dropped the L word to Baked Potato last night.
We saw him say, ‘I’m really starting to fall in love with you.’
Oh, give me the ick. What the hell, honey?
Just wait till you get outside, I’ve been in there, you start thinking the weirdest things.
You start having the weirdest emotions towards people and then when you come out, you can’t even remember their first name.
Sorry, guys.
IN YOUR FACE
The face to face nominations last night were epic.
And let me tell you, as an ex-housemate, there is nothing worse in that house than having to face to face nominate. You feel awful.
Listen, I used to feel bad enough just going into the Diary Room to secretly do it.
I’m sure if you look it up, I was probably the person that took the longest to nominate anyone, because you just feel so wretched because you’re living with these people.
You like these people sometimes, and you just feel awful because you’re you.
You could be taking away their place in the house, so, yeah, to do it face to face…brilliant for us as viewers, awful if you’re a housemate.
ONE TO WATCH
I was so shocked though, when Emma actually nominated Hanah, like I thought they were like bona fides in there.
I thought they were really good friends and then Hanah confusingly gave her a big hug and said, ‘It’s fine’.
Well, she didn’t do the same for Ali, because Ali nominated her.
It was all very confusing last night, and the dynamics of their friendship – Emma and Hanah’s – is really confusing.
I mean, is Emma playing a really good game to the point where she can nominate people and they forgive her instantly?
She’s forgiven, and it’s fine, but Ali can’t do that.
So is Emma, the mastermind of this year’s Big Brother?
I’m starting to think she is.
GROW UP
Look, I know some of you really love Lily and yeah, I’ve got to admit she is entertaining, but she is not going on a journey quick enough for me.
OK, she calmed down with the screaming and the screeching, but Big Brother’s about a journey and about learning about yourself.
Last night she really tore into Tom for his reasons for picking her and nominating her.
But really, for me, I can’t understand that as whenever I was put up for eviction, I would self reflect, I wouldn’t attack the person that put me up.
If I knew about it, I wouldn’t attack them, I’d be like, ‘Right, So I wonder why they did that? Let me self reflect. Let me let me learn something about me.’
But no, Lily wants to throw her toys out of the pram, and by the way, she doesn’t like people treating her or talking to her like she’s a little kid. Yet she wants to do that.
Throw her toys out the pram, scream all hours of the night, wake people up, steal people’s chocolates and hide it.
Honey, it’s giving bratty four-year-old behaviour and that’s why the other housemates talk to her and baby her like they do.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME
There’s only two weeks left of this year’s show, and I am so excited this week to see the bitchiness that’s gonna start happening.
It’s really already started to rear its ugly head.
But with two weeks to the final, people that weren’t in there playing a game are gonna now realise, ‘Actually, I’ve got a chance to win 100 grand here’ , and you’re gonna start seeing bitchy or strategic moves, and I cannot wait.
This is when it is the best.
Big Brother airs on ITV2 and is available on ITVX.
Primark brings back iconic Christmas boyfriend PJs & shoppers ‘buy in every colour’ as they’re the perfect comfy sets
CHRISTMAS is just around the corner and Primark has brought back its iconic festive pjs ahead of the season.
The budget retailer uploaded a video of the new ‘boyfriend’ sets, which include a shirt and trousers in numerous designs.
And the best part is they won’t break the bank at just £15.
Primark wrote: “The pyjamas everyone’s dreaming of this holiday season. Boyfriend Pyjamas.”
First up was a pair of red pjs that looked perfect for a Christmas day photo – and could be bought as matching pairs for the family.
The second pair was a grey and white striped pair and the third was a navy set with little silver stars on it.
Many shoppers seemed keen to snap them up for Christmas.
One Pirmark superfan wrote: “I have these sets in nearly every colour and love them.”
Another added: “Red for Christmas.”
A third commented: “Amazing PJs.”
And it’s not the only thing in the Primark Christmas range.
Christmas range
In a viral video, the TikTok account for the Primark Lincoln location (@prmark_lincoln) shared a first look at their new Christmas range.
If you’re in the market for some cheap and cheerful buys, head to your local Primark this festive season.
Included in the Christmas releases are festive-themed hot water bottles for a cosy night in.
From snowmen and penguins to Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas, you can select your favourite festive character to snuggle up with by the fire.
To elevate your comfort even further, you can channel your inner Grinch with a set of matching pyjamas.
For just £15, shoppers can pick up a fur-lined jumper and matching PJ bottoms with the iconic Dr Seuss character embroidered on them.
Fashion fans can complete the look with Grinch slippers and a Grinch teddy.
For anyone travelling home this festive season, you can pick up a Grinch neck pillow for your commute.
And as well as decking yourself out, you can also deck the halls with Hello Kitty-themed ornaments.
Primark customers can also find festive notebooks, socks, and advent calendars with the famous character on them.
The best Primark buys for autumn 2024
Autumn is upon us, and it's time to make some additions to our cosy wardrobes.
Here, Fabulous fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend reveals her top 5 buys from Primark this Autumn.
The Edit Overcoat, £60
I know what you’re thinking, ‘£60 for Primark?’ Yes it’s a higher price tag than we’re used to from Primark but its worth every penny.
It’s from their Edit range which is more premium than the rest of their collection and it’s made to last.
It’s a mixed wool blend which is durable and warm, plus its a timeless straight silhouette which is slightly oversized and will last you not only this season but for many after.
Extra Large Croc Effect Shopper, £16
Big bags are back… In a big way, finally.
This tote screams luxury with its croc effect and burnt orange colour, plus its great for shoving in your laptop, lunch, spare shoes, purse – essentially everything you need for the day – all for £16.
Field jackets are on the backs of celebrities and catwalk models this season with designer brands Barbour, Burberry and Bottega all championing the utilitarian look.
They’re great for chucking over jeans or contrasting with a floral or floaty dress and are the perfect transitional jacket.
Square Neck Leopard Midi Dress, £18,
You may have seen, heard and read that leopard print isn’t going anywhere for autumn, so to encapsulate the trend this dress is a must.
Sleeves? Check. Midi length? Check. Ultra flattering square neck? Check. It’s got it all.
Pair with black knee high boots or your favourite trainers for the day and dress up with gold heels and accessories for the evening.
Barrel Denim Jeans, £16
Barrel, balloon, horseshoe – whatever you want to call them, they are the must have trouser shape of this season.
I’ve tried Primarks pair and they fit like a dream, are comfortable and flattering.
So if you think you have nothing that hits the trend mark, swapping your go-to denim for this shape will bring you bang up to date.
Watch the moment Towie’s Ella Rae Wise fights back tears after row with Dan Edgar over BLOCKING him
TOWIE’S Ella Rae Wise fights back tears after a blazing row with Dan Edgar over blocking him.
In our exclusive clip from the ITVBe show, Ella, 24, opens up about a recent fallout with her boyfriend Dan, 34, who The Sun revealed have secretly split off-screen.
She admits in the upcoming episode, “It was so awkward in the beginning. We basically got forced by other people to say hello.”
Jodie Wells, joining her at a nail salon, asks, “And it was OK?”
Ella responds, “Oh, it was fine,” explaining that she had to clarify why she blocked him, expressing her unhappiness.
“He was like, ‘Well, you should have just told me, and we could have spoken about it.’ I was like, ‘Right, OK. I did overreact a little bit, but it felt right at the time to block you.'”
Dani Imbert chimes in, admitting, “No, I was egging it on,” as Ella reflects on the aftermath.
She continues, “I went back to mine and just the same stuff. I’m like, ‘I don’t know what we’re doing. What are we?’”
Dani tries to reassure her: “I don’t think you should let this holiday completely throw you off because you were in a good place.”
Jodie adds, “He did stay with James every night. Every night, he did say that.”
Dani advises, “Don’t let it get to your head too much.”
But Ella reveals her vulnerability, sharing, “I just don’t know, like, maybe… I get in my own head about it.
“Look, I’ve been on the receiving end where I’ve been blocked and kicked out of someone’s house, not knowing why.
“I always question myself. ‘What have I done wrong?’ I feel like now it’s just going to be so hard for me to give my all to someone because I just feel like I’m going to be rejected again.’”
Dani urges her to open up: “In the long run, it’s not going to do you any favours. You need to speak to him a bit more.”
Ella confesses, “I don’t know why I don’t do that.”
“Because it’s hard,” Jodie replies, encapsulating the emotional weight of the conversation.
Just this week, The Sun told how Ella has already moved on with a millionaire’s son after her shock split from Dan.
The reality star is said to have grown close to north London lad and wealthy business owner Teddy Brunt, 21.
A source told us: “She might be dating Dan on-screen but off-screen Ella has moved and she’s secretly dating a very rich 21-year-old called Teddy Brunt.
“She has been in Dubai with him – she’s staying in his apartment out there.
“He is only 21 but runs his own business and is well known in the Essex circles – and his dad’s a millionaire.”
Ella has been keeping tight-lipped on her new romance, but she has been dropping hints about a new fella in her life.
The smitten star received 1,500 roses in the shape of a teddy bear a couple of days ago.
She then posted a photo of her boarding a yacht with a private hot tub.
This won’t come as a surprise to many Towie fans after Dan revealed his inability to commit to Ella on the latest episode.
During a chat with James “Diags” Bennewith, Dan said: “It’s not that I don’t feel like I could ever get to that place, I don’t know if I could or couldn’t.
“I just know right now at this moment, I’m not at a place where I’m thinking of this as long term thing and when I do think of it as a long term thing, I start to then close off and go back because of other previous situations.
“That’s messed me up as well with it.”
Diags replied: “Then you’ve gotta tell her that.
“Say ‘listen, I can’t give you any more assurances in the fact that I don’t know where this is going’.”
Dan said: “Do you know what’s mad about it?
“She’s someone who I, well you know full well, wouldn’t even have thought I’d never talk to again in my life to someone who I hold highly in my head.
“Do you know what I mean, as a person, I like her a lot but there is other stuff that needs to be spoke about, and I feel like before everyone gets carried away with it and before either of us get carried away, we need to have an honest chat about how we both feel.”
In that same episode, all the signs of their split became evident as Dan refused to recognise Ella as his girlfriend.
Diags, who is in a relationship with Jodie Wells, raised a toast to their ‘girlfriends’ to which Dan noticeably hesitated and said, “To our what?”
A source has confirmed to Closer that Dan has indeed got cold feet and their romance is off. “After a steamy romance which started in Bali earlier this year, the pair have decided to call time on the love affair.”
It was recently confirmed Dan will take part in the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice and the insider added Ella has gone in a very different direction.
They said: “Dan is set to focus on Dancing On Ice, whilst Ella has jetted off to Dubai for a month before filming starts for the Towie Christmas special.
“There isn’t any bad blood between the pair and it was fun while it lasted, but a long term relationship was sadly not on the cards.”
