John Higgins names his favourite to win the World Snooker Championship

John Higgins names his favourite to win the World Snooker Championship
Johnstone's Paint Masters - Day Five
John Higgins fancies the defending champion at the Crucible (Picture: Getty Images)

John Higgins thinks history could be made at the World Snooker Championship this year, backing Zhao Xintong to break the infamous Crucible curse.

Zhao became China’s first world champion when he beat Mark Williams in the 2025 Sheffield final, having downed Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semis.

Now the Cyclone faces the Crucible curse as no first time world champion has ever defended their title at the Sheffield theatre.

Kyren Wilson was the latest to fall to the curse last year, but he is in good company as every modern great has been struck by the hex on the venue.

Higgins, who has won the World Championship four times, reckons Zhao can be the man to break the curse, believing his break-building prowess could fire him to the trophy again.

The Wizard of Wishaw was beaten by Zhao in the Players Championship final in February and labelled the Chinese superstar a ‘genius’ on the table.

Asked who is favourite for this year’s World Championship, Higgins said: ‘I think Xintong, the way he plays and how easy he wins frames, and just the way he goes about the patterns he’s got. I think Xintong is favourite.’

SNOOKER-WORLD
Zhao Xintong breezed to the World Championship title last year (Picture: Getty Images)

Pushed on whether the power of the curse will be a problem, the Wizard of Wishaw said: ‘No, I don’t think so. He’s that special a player, I think.’

Zhao is the only player who has won two ranking titles so far this season, with the trophies dished out to a wide array of cueists.

Barry Hawkins was asked the same question on Crucible favourite and the recent Welsh Open winner could not settle on an answer.

‘It’s so wide open,’ he said. ‘Who won the last tournament? Oh, Thepchaiya, I wouldn’t make him favourite, no.

‘It’s so hard. You’ve got [Judd] Trump. He’s been there or thereabouts all year, won a tournament.

Welsh Open 2026 - Day 7
Barry Hawkins enjoyed a great run to the Welsh Open title last month (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Ronnie looks like he’s playing well, Xintong, if anyone’s going to break the curse, it could be him, there’s so many good players.

‘Mark [Selby] has got a chance. Looks like he’s been playing well most of the season, he’ll be grafting. I wouldn’t like to guess, to be honest. It’s too wide open.’

Hawkins wasn’t putting himself in the conversation, though, saying of his own chances: ‘Oh, mate, I just want to win the first game. I don’t fancy my chances at the moment, no.

‘I just want to get there and feel part of the tournament. It’d be nice just to get through that first hurdle. I think I’ve lost three first rounders the last four years. So first thing’s first, win that first game.’

The World Championship is set to stay at the Crucible until 2045, following last week’s announcement that the venue will be renovated and its capacity increased by 500 seats.

The reaction to the news has been largely positive, but the Hawk suggested it might not be enough of a boost to the numbers and the event could have moved elsewhere.

‘It’s great that snooker is staying there,’ said Hawkins. ‘I was one of the people that thought it needed a bigger and better venue. The tournament is too big for it, we can outsell that tournament three, four times over I think.

Halo World Snooker Championship 2025 Media Day
The Crucible is set to be renovated and expanded in 2028 (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Do I think 500 seats is going to be enough? I don’t think it will to be honest with you.

‘It will be interesting to see what it looks like when it’s all done. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it will be good.

‘I wanted it to stay in Sheffield, but a bigger and better venue, we’ll see.’

Higgins and Hawkins are both looking to add another title to their collections before they head to Sheffield, competing at the Tour Championship this week.

WST World Grand Prix 2026
Mark Selby awaits Higgins in the Tour Championship quarter-finals (Picture: Getty Images)

In a repeat of last year’s final, which Higgins won, the Scot takes on Mark Selby in the quarter-finals over two sessions on Thursday.

There is enormous respect between the two four-time world champions, with Higgins saying of Selby: ‘I think every single player that holds a snooker cue knows how great a champion he is.

‘That’s all you should really be bothered about. You shouldn’t be bothered about the wider public and what they say about you or whatever. Every snooker player that plays the game knows what an unbelievable champion Selby is.

‘One of the greatest players that’s ever held a cue.’

Sportsbet.io Tour Championship 2026 - Day 2
Higgins got the better of Mark Williams on Tuesday night (Picture: Getty Images)

Higgins beat another of the greatest to ever do it in his opening game in Manchester, downing fellow Class of 92 legend Mark Williams 10-8, which he feels will be a big boost for his confidence.

‘I’ve beat a lot of great players this year, but I’ve been losing games against them as well,’ he said. ‘So when you beat those sort of guys, it gives you an inner confidence, because I’ve been losing a lot of those matches, to a lot of them.

‘It’s special [to beat Williams]. Especially in the last two or three years, because we have played in such big events. He’s just always managed to pip me at the post and do great breaks, and it was good to get one back on him there. So it’s a great win for me.’



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Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City? Joe Cole reveals his pick to win the FA Cup

Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City? Joe Cole reveals his pick to win the FA Cup
West Ham United v Manchester City - Premier League
Manchester City are Joe Cole’s pick to win this year’s FA Cup (Picture: Getty)

Ex-England and Chelsea star Joe Cole says he has a ‘sneaky feeling’ Manchester City will go all the way in this year’s FA Cup to lift the trophy for an eighth time.

City secured the first piece of silverware of the season courtesy of a Nico O’Reilly-inspired victory over Arsenal in last month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

And while Pep Guardiola’s men were denied a place in the Champions League quarter-finals by Real Madrid, they remain in the mix in both the English top flight and in the FA Cup.

It would require a stunning nine-point swing in order for Guardiola to be crowned a Premier League champion for a seventh time in his illustrious City career.

But victory over Arsenal at the Etihad on April 19 may have some Arsenal fans fearing the worst after what has been a painful 22-year wait for the title, stretching back to Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles.

In the cup, meanwhile, City have been handed a tough quarter-final draw at home to eight-time winners Liverpool, a year after Erling Haaland and Co fell at the final hurdle at the hands of Crystal Palace.

Elsewhere, Arsenal and Southampton do battle at St Mary’s for a semi-final spot, while Chelsea play host to League One outfit Port Vale and West Ham entertain Leeds in an all-Premier League affair at the London Stadium.

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Newcastle United v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
Guardiola’s men saw off Newcastle to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)
Crystal Palace FC v Manchester City FC - F.A. Cup final
Palace stunned City to win the cup last season (Picture: Getty)

Ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, Joe Hart, Glenn Hoddle and Cole sat down with TNT Sport’s Darren Fletcher to discuss their thoughts after a rollercoaster few months in English football’s most famous competition.

‘I’ve just got a sneaky feeling for Joe [Hart]’s mob [Manchester City],’ former Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham winger Cole said.

In response, ex-England and Manchester City goalkeeper Hart chimed in: ‘To add to that, the way Pep was reacting and with how invested he was… people think he’s got one toe out of Manchester City.

‘But there was no sign of that, was there? He was ready to scrap, he was fighting, he was living and breathing everything they were doing.’

FBL-ENG-LCUP-ARSENAL-MAN CITY
Arsenal lock horns with Southampton for a place in the semi-finals (Picture: Getty)

Irrespective of which clubs make it to this year’s final, Cole is anticipating an ‘incredible’ showpiece at Wembley.

‘Nostalgia is a big thing in this current age,’ the ex-England international – who won two FA Cups with Chelsea – explained.

‘There’s always been people harping on about the good old days, but now, music, fashion and football, all three things go hand in hand and the FA Cup encompasses all three things.

Everton v Chelsea - Premier League
Chelsea face League One outfit Port Vale in the quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)

‘I think there has been a big push back and this year’s FA Cup final, something incredible is going to happen, it has to.’

According to Hart, Palace’s historic victory over City last year will have ‘given hope to everyone’ of upsetting the odds and getting their hands on the trophy.

‘You look at the achievement of Palace last season, they beat Manchester City and, of course, I wanted Manchester City to win,’ the 2011 FA Cup winner said.

‘But it united them, gave them their medals and their flowers and that badge of honour that they had worked so hard for.

‘It was an incredible performance and that can only give hope to everyone left in the competition.’

Ex-England manager Hoddle agreed, adding: ‘That performance has given hope to everyone: if they can do it against the odds, against the very best, then we can do it.’

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Arsenal fans beg Mikel Arteta to ‘free’ Myles Lewis-Skelly after superb England U21 performance

Arsenal fans beg Mikel Arteta to ‘free’ Myles Lewis-Skelly after superb England U21 performance
England v Moldova - UEFA U21 EURO 2027 Qualifier
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly caught the eye in the England U21s’ clash with Moldova (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly sent Mikel Arteta a timely reminder of his undoubted quality with an eye-catching performance in the England Under-21s’ 4-1 win over Moldova evening.

It’s proven a tough year for Lewis-Skelly after what was a phenomenal breakout season for the 19-year-old in Arsenal’s first-team last term.

But Lewis-Skelly looked well and truly back to his best in England’s UEFA U21 Championship qualifier tonight, showcasing the kind of confidence and precocious ability that earned him a first senior call-up 12 months ago.

Lee Carsley gave Lewis-Skelly the nod at left-back at Carrow Road in an England team also boasting the likes of Jobe Bellingham, Josh Acheampong and Ethan Nwaneri.

Nwaneri stole the limelight with the opener after only 11 minutes in Norwich, but it was Lewis-Skelly’s exquisite play in the build-up that led to England’s early breakthrough.

The versatile Arsenal full-back – who found himself in midfield for large parts of tonight’s clash – spun on the turn smartly before dancing around a Moldovan defender and unleashing a shot with the outside of the boot at Artur Nazarciuc’s goal.

Nazarciuc managed to get a firm glove to Lewis-Skelly’s strike, but the rebound fell directly into the path of Nwaneri, who cooly slotted home to the goalkeeper’s left.

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Just 14 minutes later, Lewis-Skelly added another moment to his impressive highlights reel, beating two Moldovans in some style before finding Nwaneri again with an audacious flicked pass.

Nwaneri let himself down with his finish on this occasion and the Arsenal forward – who is currently on loan at Marseille – was duly punished for his wastefulness as Moldova equalised through Vasile Luchita at the start of the second half.

The hosts restored their lead on the hour-mark, though, as Archie Gray found the corner with a well-taken effort from the edge of the box, before Nwaneri added his second of the night – assisted by, you guessed it, Lewis-Skelly – in the 73rd minute.

Second-half substitute Romain Esse increased England’s advantage in the closing stages and Carsley’s men held firm to tighten their grip on top spot in Group D of qualifying.

Lewis-Skelly has made just one start across Arsenal’s entire Premier League campaign having started 15 times across his extraordinary debut season with the Gunners last term.

In recent days, he has even been linked with Manchester United as a possible escape route out of Arsenal, where his first-team minutes have been severity limited.

As clips of Lewis-Skelly’s performance for the England U21s began doing the rounds on social media this evening, some Arsenal fans began calling for Arteta to unshackle the youngster.

‘FREE MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY MAN,’ one Gooner wrote on X.

Arsenal FC v FC Bayern München - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5
Lewis-Skelly has struggled for regular game-time under Arteta this season (Picture: Getty)

Another said: ‘Lewis-Skelly has been horribly under utilised this season, hope the rumours of him potentially leaving in the summer are nonsense! Top player.’

‘Arsenal fans don’t understand what we have in Lewis-Skelly,’ a third wrote.

‘So so good from Lewis-Skelly in the build up. Give him more minutes!’ said another supporter in response to Nwaneri’s 11th-minute goal.

Asked about Lewis-Skelly’s reduced involvement prior to Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 tie with Bayer Leverkusen, Arteta said: ‘Every season is different.

‘He had very good moments in this season. He had other moments when he hasn’t played in that much.

‘Obviously, a few days ago, in the FA Cup, he was suspended and he could not play. So, there are various reasons. Sometimes, as well, the good form of your teammates.

‘There’s a lot of factors that contribute to that. But he’s doing well.’

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Bea reveals she wants to kill EastEnders character as dark story escalates

Bea reveals she wants to kill EastEnders character as dark story escalates
Bea Pollard looking at annoyed at a table while holding a credit card in EastEnders.
Bloodthirsty Bea? (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

Bea Pollard (Ronni Ancona) claimed that she wanted to kill an EastEnders character but was taken aback to learn that such a thing would not be possible because said character was already dead.

The newcomer, as viewers know, has proven herself an expert at manipulating the situation to her advantage, plotting seeds of doubt in people’s heads in order to get what she wants.

Well-meaning and kind-hearted Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) remains in the dark about her true nature, unaware that Bea has become obsessed with her, doing whatever she can to remain under her roof.

Billy (Perry Fenwick), however, knows that there’s something not quite right and has been incredibly wary around Bea, who he feels is getting too comfortable in their home.

The situation escalated earlier this week when Bea discovered that Billy had cheated on Honey with Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) a number of years ago.

Under instruction from Honey, Billy went out of his way to be nice to Bea, complimenting her new do after a trip to the salon.

Bea hugs Honey in EastEnders
Bea has become obsessed with Honey (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Bea, however, made it clear that she wasn’t in the best of moods with Billy, who worried he’d done something to offend her.

Billy shared his theory with Honey, who subsequently confronted Bea on her behaviour around him, prompting the newcomer to reveal that she knows about Tina.

‘How could he? Or her’, said Bea. ‘My ex cheated on me. I could kill [Billy]. I could kill [Tina].’

Honey told her that someone had ‘beaten her to it’.

Bea Pollard and Honey Mitchell sharing a table in the cafe in Coronation Street
Just how far will Bea go? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

As viewers will recall, Tina was murdered by Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) after working out that he killed wife Chantelle (Jessica Plummer).

Bea has demonstrated a darker side since showing up in Walford but no-one quite knows what she’s capable of yet.

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The question is: is murder a possibility?

What happened to her ex? And will she resort to dangerous methods as her obsession with Honey escalates?

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Jeffrey Epstein TV show sparks outrage with viewers labelling it ‘tasteless’

Jeffrey Epstein TV show sparks outrage with viewers labelling it ‘tasteless’
Jeffrey Epstein in a mugshot wearing a grey shirt.
A miniseries about Jeffrey Epstein is said to be in the works (Picture: AP/New York State Sex Offender Registry)

A miniseries dramatising the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein is reportedly in the works and has already prompted dismay from TV fans on social media.

Sony Pictures Television is said to be the studio behind the project, which will reportedly be ‘highly likely’ to make it to air.

Laura Dern is already said to be on board to star as a Miami Herald journalist, Julie K Brown, who doggedly reported on Epstein’s crimes over many years.

The series will reportedly be based on Brown’s book detailing her coverage, titled Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story.

Brown appeared to confirm the news, sharing a news article about the show on X with the caption: ‘Some personal news.’

Variety has reported an official description of the series, which describes it as ‘an explosive account of an investigative reporter exposing the secret plea deal between Epstein and federal prosecutors’.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Laura Dern attends the "Is This Thing On?" UK Gala Screening at Odeon Luxe West End on January 19, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Laura Dern is reportedly already attached to star in the show (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Investigative reporter Julie K. Brown is photographed July 24, 2025, in the Miami Herald newsroom. (Jose Iglesias/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Julie K Brown is best known for her relentless years-long investigation into Jeffrey Epstein (Picture: Jose Iglesias/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

The synopsis continues: ‘Drawing from Brown’s experience as a groundbreaking reporter for the Miami Herald, the book and the limited series follow her relentless years-long investigation that identified 80 victims, persuaded key survivors to go on the record, and led to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrests.’

This first dramatisation of Epstein and his high-profile sex trafficking ring will be adapted for screen by Sharon Hoffman, a writer on the 2020 limited series Mrs America. Hoffman will serve as co-showrunner with Eileen Myers, who most recently executive produced The Night Agent on Netflix.

The show will reportedly be executive produced by Adam McKay, the writer-director of Don’t Look Up and executive producer on the HBO prestige hit Succession.

Yet in spite of the pedigree involved in this nascent project, the reaction on social media to the project has been one of alarm. 

Reacting to the news on X (formerly Twitter), Tim Morrill said it was ‘too early’ for a dramatisation on the subject, adding: ‘Once a series or movie is made about a subject, the issue is forgotten because the public falsely believes that they are watching the full story.  

This undated photo in an unidentified location provided by the US Department of Justice on December 19, 2025 shows Jeffrey Epstein, a wealthy US financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking underage girls. The Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) passed by Congress and signed into law by US President Donald Trump mandated the complete release of the Epstein files by December 19, 2025. (Photo by Handout / US Department of Justice / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / US Department of Justice" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
‘Can we not do this pls’ (Picture: US Department of Justice/AFP)

‘There’s still so much more that we don’t know yet.’

Another on X described Epstein’s crimes as ‘horrifying’, rather than a source of entertainment, while Kayla simply wrote: ‘Can we not do this pls.’

‘We don’t need to make series of real life crimes and trauma to profit off of those. Not everything has to be made for the sake of entertainment. Leave the victims alone, have they not suffered enough,’ added another person, reacting to the news online.

‘Why do we have to make movies about every real life tragedy possible instead of just writing new movies for once,’ added another X user.

Mono Reichman simply commented ‘Tasteless’ in a post on the social media site.

Metro contacted Sony Pictures Entertainment and Laura Dern’s representatives for comment.

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Skeletor dealer unmasked as teenager importing weapons to his parent’s home

Skeletor dealer unmasked as teenager importing weapons to his parent’s home
A drug dealer who was caught with multiple weapons has been jailed after attempting to import a firearm. Nikolli holding a firearmOfficers from the Organised Crime Partnership ? a joint National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police Service unit ? investigated 19-year-old Henri Nikolli from Hertfordshire. He placed an order with an American company for a ?Canine Training Kit? in March 2025. The package was intercepted by the US Department for Homeland Security who found it contained a 9mm Forward Venting Blank Firing handgun and a firearms kit consisting of a magazine, brush and muzzle adapter. Nikolli was arrested on 10 April 2025 outside a family property in Potters Bar. A search of the property uncovered three functioning antique firearms which had been modified to accept modern ammunition. His ability to manufacture or adapt firearms and ammunition was seen in the recovery of relevant tools, as well as live and spent ammunition.
Nikolli poses with guns at his parent’s house in leafy Potters Bar (Picture: National Crime Agency)

Pictured in a terrifying skeleton mask, a weapons-obsessed drug dealer poses with a shotgun in a bid to intimidate rival gangs.

But just weeks later, he was arrested at his family’s home in leafy Hertfordshire after trying to ship more guns from America.

Henri Nikolli, 19, saw his weed farm and ‘gun shop’ raided by the Organised Crime Partnership – a joint National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police Service unit – in April last year.

It came after the teen placed an order with an American company for a ‘Canine Training Kit’ in March 2025.

The package was intercepted by the US Department for Homeland Security, who found it contained a 9mm forward-venting blank-firing handgun and a firearms kit consisting of a magazine, brush and muzzle adapter.

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A search of the home in Potters Bar uncovered three functioning antique firearms which had been modified to accept modern ammunition.

His ability to manufacture or adapt firearms and ammunition was evidenced by the recovery of relevant tools, as well as live and spent ammunition.

A cannabis farm, including a large tent and the remains of cultivated plants, was also discovered there.

Dealer ‘snap bags’ and scales showed how the product was being weighed, and several bags of herbal cannabis were found in the kitchen freezer, as well as cannabis seeds in the fridge.

Undated handout photo issued by National Crime Agency (NCA) of Henri Nikolli who has been sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Monday, to six years and three months in prison for producing and supplying a class B drug, possessing firearms, attempting to possess a prohibited weapon, possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate, having a loaded shotgun in a public place and having a firearm and ammunition in a public place. Issue date: Monday March 30, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: NCA/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Henri Nikolli has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison (Picture: NCA/PA Wire)

Nikolli’s home and car were later searched with officers recovering more ammunition, knives, phones and multiple SIM cards.

A notebook which detailed items and tools required to manufacture or adapt firearms and ammunition was among the paraphernalia.

Andrew Tickner, Senior Investigating Officer from the OCP, said: ‘Nikolli was clearly a sophisticated criminal who had amassed an arsenal of dangerous weapons to facilitate his drugs trade.

‘Despite already owning three viable antique firearms he sought to import another gun which – if he was successful – could have done significant damage.

‘Alongside partners at home and abroad, the OCP will continue to bring criminals like Nikolli to justice and in doing so tackle the threat posed by organised crime.’

A drug dealer who was caught with multiple weapons has been jailed after attempting to import a firearm. Nikolli holding a firearmOfficers from the Organised Crime Partnership ? a joint National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police Service unit ? investigated 19-year-old Henri Nikolli from Hertfordshire. He placed an order with an American company for a ?Canine Training Kit? in March 2025. The package was intercepted by the US Department for Homeland Security who found it contained a 9mm Forward Venting Blank Firing handgun and a firearms kit consisting of a magazine, brush and muzzle adapter. Nikolli was arrested on 10 April 2025 outside a family property in Potters Bar. A search of the property uncovered three functioning antique firearms which had been modified to accept modern ammunition. His ability to manufacture or adapt firearms and ammunition was seen in the recovery of relevant tools, as well as live and spent ammunition.
Weapons and tools to transform blank-diring weapons to live ammunition were recovered (Picture: National Crime Agency (NCA)

Giorgina Venturella, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Specialist, said he was happy to take Nikolli off the streets.

He said: ‘Henri Nikolli was a teenage criminal who developed a keen interest in firearms. Having obtained three viable antique firearms, he sought to import a further weapon.

‘Videos were obtained from his device showing firearms being test fired in public spaces, demonstrating a flagrant disregard for the safety of others.

‘The evidence in this case painted a picture of an organised criminal deeply entrenched in a lawless lifestyle and involved in the production and sale of cannabis.

‘Firearms, ammunition, and knives had become everyday commodities used by Nikolli in his criminal trade, posing an evident danger to local communities.

‘The CPS is committed to working with law enforcement agencies to combat all types of criminal activity and seek justice.’

Nikolli pleaded guilty to multiple charges in January 2026 at St Albans Crown Court. He was sentenced to six years and three months at the same location today.



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