Hero officer tackles man with lighter and stops petrol station explosion

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Shocking footage has shown the moment a police officer tackled a man threatening to set himself on fire with a lighter at a petrol station.

Sgt Charlie Thompson wrestled the unnamed man to the ground after he had doused himself in petrol in October last year.

The man was just inches away from the pumps at the Tesco petrol station forecourt, running the risk of a ‘catastrophic’ explosion.

Footage from the tense stand-off shows the man demanding to speak to several people, including the mayor.

He could be heard threatening to ignite himself and gave emergency services ’15 minutes’ to act.

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Sgt Thompson could be heard pleading with the man, asking him to come and talk to the officers.

Sgt Thompson has been nominated for a bravery award (Picture: SWNS)

He tells him: ‘I will try and do what I can. I won’t talk to you while you are holding a lighter. I will talk to you, but not here.

‘We need to get you away from here. Tell me what’s going on. You don’t need to be doing this. What is this about? You need to be very careful.’

The man then poured more petrol over his head before quick-thinking Sgt Thompson dashed at him, risking his own life before tackling him to the ground.

Other officers pile on top while firemen hose the man down with foam to prevent the risk of a fire.

Sgt Thompson has now been nominated for an award at the Police Federation National Police Bravery Awards 2026.

Another rescue worker sprayed him with a fire extinguisher to prevent any potential fire (Picture: SWNS)

Acting Chief Constable David Gardner, of Warwickshire Police, said: ‘We are extremely proud of Sgt Thompson, who demonstrated incredible fortitude, empathy, and quick-thinking in his actions that day.

‘It is thanks to him, and the other officers on the ground, that there wasn’t a tragedy that day in Stratford-upon-Avon. He is more than worthy of the Bravery Award.’

Sgt Thompson said: ‘I couldn’t have done it without the team behind me – we co-ordinated, we worked together, and it was together that we stopped what could have been a terrible loss of life.

‘I’m overwhelmed to have been nominated for a Bravery Award – it’s always a good day when our hard work in the police is recognised like this.

‘I hope that the chap I tackled is doing better now – it will have been a very low moment for him, and we hope he’s managed to pick himself back up and get the support he needed.’

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Andy Burnham cruises through Labour leadership contest and apologises for Gaza response

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Prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham has distanced himself from Sir Keir Starmer’s response over Gaza as he awaits being crowned leader of the country uncontested.

A total of 322 Labour MPs have formally backed Burnham to be the next party leader on the first day of nominations.

The former Manchester mayor, who returned to Parliament winning a by-election in Makerfield,is expected to become prime minister on 20 July.

As the deadline passes for other candidates to challenge him, he will be declared Labour leader at a party event at the end of next week.

He took the opportunity to back deeper sanctions against Israeli figures involved in settler violence as he apologised for Labour’s initial response to the country’s actions in Gaza.

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Andy Burnham is on course to become Labour’s new leader, with no other candidate running against him.
(Picture: AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

The likely next prime minister said the UK should be ‘clear in our criticism of what has happened in Gaza’, while also condemning Hamas’s attack on October 7 2023 and subsequent acts of antisemitic violence in Britain.

In a video posted to social media, he said: ‘I know many people feel that at the start of Israel’s military action in Gaza, my party didn’t get it right and I am sorry about that.

‘The response has too often not been good enough. We need to do better.’

Palestinian children watch on as families dig through the rubble after an Israeli strike
(Picture: EPA)

While he acknowledged Labour had subsequently recognised a Palestinian state, imposed restrictions on arms exports and sanctioned some Israeli ministers, he suggested a government under his leadership would go further.

Mr Burnham said: ‘Let’s be honest, the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire and we must now do more to strengthen our approach.’

He added that action would include ‘looking at further sanctions, both on those involved in the violence in Gaza, but also looking at measures to ban trade in goods with illegal settlements’.

But he stopped short of accusing Israel of perpetrating a genocide against Palestinians, as some Labour MPs have demanded Sir Keir Starmer should.

Mr Burnham said there was ‘increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed’, but added it was ultimately a matter for international courts rather than politicians to determine.

He said he was ‘appalled by what I have seen and read about the destruction of Gaza’, describing the experience of Palestinians in the territory as ‘a scar on our collective conscience’.

And he stressed his condemnation of both the October 7 attacks by Hamas and antisemitic violence in Britain, saying: ‘We must continue to stamp out antisemitism across the UK.’

Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, including resisting demands to call for an immediate ceasefire, drew strong criticism from some of the party’s supporters, with the issue driving a significant shift of particularly younger voters towards the Green Party.

Andy Burnham has said Labour “didn’t get it right” in its initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, and signalled a shift in the UK’s approach including further sanctions and a possible ban on trade in settlement goods.

Responding, Karla McLaren from Amnesty International said: ‘These violations require urgent responses from the UK government, so we agree the UK should, at a minimum, end trade in settlement goods without delay and impose further sanctions on the Israeli officials most implicated in abuses.

‘Mr Burnham’s words point in the right direction, now we need to see this translated into action.’

Burnham has offered some other details for what his premiership could look like in a speech in Manchester last week.

He plans to establish a new No 10 unit in the north which will be tasked with handing local government more control in areas including housing and transport.

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He also pledged to give all parts of the UK ‘greater public control’ of the water and energy sectors but other details remain scant.

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What Queen Camilla told Arthur Fery after his stunning Wimbledon quarter-final win

Queen Camilla during Arthur Fery’s Wimbledon win (Picture: Getty)

Arthur Fery has revealed he shared a ‘special’ exchange with Queen Camilla after his stunning Wimbledon quarter-final win.

Britain’s new number one, who received a wildcard to play at his home Grand Slam, thrashed Flavio Cobolli to storm into the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Fery, 23, had to overcome two five-set battles in the previous two rounds but blew away Cobolli, the world number 10, winning the final set to love.

Queen Camilla was a guest in the Royal Box on Centre Court on Wednesday and bumped into both Fery and Cobolli as they prepared to walk onto court.

The Queen was keen to personally congratulate Fery after the one-sided quarter-final and told the 23-year-old to ‘keep going’ ahead of his semi-final against French Open champion Alexander Zverev.

‘We were getting ready to come on and she came to say hello, she introduced herself to both me and Flavio,’ Fery said in his post-match press conference.

‘It’s obviously an honour to play in front of her and it was great to meet her. She had some really kind words to me at the end, as well.

British wildcard Fery stormed into the semi-finals (Picture: Getty)

‘So yeah, playing in front of tennis legends and now the Queen… it’s really special.’

Asked what the Queen said to him after the biggest win of his career, Fery added: ‘She was waiting for me at the end of the match and she congratulated me.

‘I told her how much of an honour it was for me to play in front of her and she said, “congratulations, keep going!”

Fery produced an inspired performance on Centre Court (Picture: Getty)

‘I told her it was my birthday on Sunday, so it would be great to play the Wimbledon final on my birthday.’

Fery had never gone beyond the second round of a Grand Slam before his remarkable run at the All England Club.

But a straight-sets victory over Cobolli, who competed in the recent French Open final, saw Fery become the first men’s wildcard to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for 25 years.

It's not every day Her Majesty The Queen sneaks up on you…😅👑 pic.twitter.com/CRgVG7NUAj

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 8, 2026

‘I felt emotions that I’ve never experienced before in my life in that last game, and I’m sure it is the same up there [in my coaching box],’ Fery said in his on-court interview.

‘I don’t know what I’ll do over the next couple of days, I’ve never been in this position before! I guess we will figure it all out as we go.

‘I’m just going to keep going. I’ve been doing a great job for the past 10 days, so I’m just going to do the same thing and see where that takes me.’

Fery will face world number four Zverev for a place in the Wimbledon final after the current French Open champion beat Taylor Fritz in straight sets.

‘Zverev is a step up again,’ Fery admitted. ‘But I’m ready for it. I have nothing to lose.

‘I’m just going to go out there and, yeah, just put my game on the court, do what I’ve done, believe in myself. We’ll see where that takes me.’

Defending champion Jannik Sinner faces seven-time winner Novak Djokovic in the other Wimbledon semi-final.

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Sex offender leads police on 85mph chase without ever dropping his vape

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A criminal led police on a high-speed helicopter chase along windy country roads and then a daring foot chase – all without letting go of his Lost Mary.

Sex offender Jordan McGrath-Culstock is seen racing away from police at 85mph in Cuxton, Kent, before crashing into a fence.

In footage from a police helicopter, he dashes his phone but not his vape before fleeing on foot along farmers’ fields.

Still with a vape in his hand, officers could be heard in the video ordering him to ‘get it out [of] your hand.’ 

Kent Police catch up with Jordan McGrath-Culstock and his Lost Mary (Picture: Kent Police)

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The pursuit took place on April 11 after patrol officers spotted a vehicle with no tax or valid MOT.

Checks revealed it was registered to McGrath-Culstock, who was also disqualified from driving. 

When he failed to stop, officers pursued the vehicle with the help of the National Police Air Service, which tracked the car from overhead.

As part of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, the 26-year-old offender was not allowed to possess a phone without notifying the police.

Still clinging on to his vape, officers could be heard in the video ordering him to ‘get it out [of] your hand.’ 

The discarded phone was later recovered by police.

Jordan McGrath-Culstock was jailed for two years (Picture: Kent Police)

The 26-year-old, of Carnation Crescent in East Malling, was later charged with dangerous driving, two counts of failing to comply with the sex offenders register requirements, and two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on June 26 at Maidstone Crown Court for more than two years, less than six months after being released from prison.

Police staff investigator Natalie Armstrong said: ‘He showed a complete disregard for the restrictions that allowed him to live in the community and was arrogant enough to believe he could get away with it.

‘When spotted by a patrol he endangered other road users and seemed more concerned about his vape than the potential consequences of his driving.

‘It is only right he is back in jail and he will receive additional scrutiny when he is eventually released.’

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Woman slashes ex’s new girlfriend in the face with wine glass

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This is the shocking moment a female thug slashes a young woman’s face with a wine glass in a nightclub attack.

Jade Hill, 21, almost blinded victim Georgina Kilburn in the brutal glassing incident.

Miss Kilburn was left covered in blood and needed more than 20 stitches for three deep gashes on the side of her face.

A friend who tried to intervene was also attacked by Hill with the broken glass stem and needed hospital treatment for injuries to her head and face.

The violent attack happened at The Closet, a nightclub in Weymouth, Dorset, on October 12, 2024.

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Miss Kilburn is in a relationship with Hill’s ex-partner, and the defendant made a beeline for her after seeing her in the venue.

CCTV footage shows her storming over to Miss Kilburn and giving her a mouthful of abuse.

Hill launched the frenzied attack in a night club (Picture: Dorset Police)

Hill then brushes the friend out of the way before smashing the wine glass into Miss Kilburn’s face, causing shards of glass to fly into the air.

The friend then grabs Hill by the hair, and the defendant responds by violently striking at her with the broken wine glass she is still holding in her right hand.

At that point, the nightclub DJ can be heard interrupting the song “Sex on Fire” by the Kings of Leon to call for door staff to help.

Hill was detained at the scene and arrested by police while her two victims went to the hospital.

But Miss Kilburn, who has been left with permanent scarring, had to wait 20 months for justice to be served.

Hill denied the charges before being sentenced (Picture: BNPS)

Hill denied charges of causing the two women grievous bodily harm with intent, forcing them to go through a two-week trial and give evidence.

Hill, from Portland, Dorset, was found guilty and has now been jailed for four years and ten months. She has also been handed a five-year restraining order against both victims.

Afterwards, Miss Kilburn described Hill’s behaviour as vile and accused her of making up lies about the incident.

She said: ‘Jade has not once accepted her actions, apologised to me or shown any remorse. She does not care about what she has done and is only sorry now that she is in prison.

‘It was not a split-second decision. The judge referenced how I’m minding my own business, and her friend has to try to pull her away from literally coming at me with a glass.

‘She then decided to brush him off and continue to come at me, holding the stem of the wine glass and swinging it very high above her head and smashing directly into my face.

‘My friend then intervened to help me, and she then hit the brunt of the wine glass into her head two times, and then she proceeded to run out and tell security and police that she was the one attacked.

‘There is no excuse for such vile behaviour, and I deserve the justice that has been served; I do not deserve threatening messages or people claiming I’m lying.’

Detective Constable Holly Hetherington, of Dorset CID, said: ‘This was a violent and unprovoked attack using a glass, which caused the victims’ nasty injuries.

‘Officers responded quickly to arrest the defendant, and we have worked to compile evidence to hold her to account for her offending. I want to thank the victims and witnesses who gave evidence at trial and helped to bring Hill to justice.’

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