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BIG CASH PRIZES 27 MAY 2021 ISSUE 21

£1.10

All your fave puzzles!

The original real-life mag

TRUE CRIME Mum kept her kids in the freezer

My mate did

THIS OVER A FEW QUID MEET THE LOVE SCAM DETECTmIanVEce? Ready for ro Read my story first!

SERIAL KILLER ON THE LOOSE

Did he murder Shannan?

HELLO SUNSHINE! 22 sizzling style ideas

HUBBY’S LOVER

MOVED INTO OUR BASEMENT! The REAL reason I agreed he could bed-hop between us

Come on in!

Welcome to this week’s Chat...

A

p12

s a shy soul myself, I always admire anyone who puts themselves out there.

Especially if they’re only six years old! It wasn’t long ago that Vitoria used to hide herself away. Now she’s a global superstar (p34). What an inspiration.

Samantha’s story shows the darker side of online life (p30). If you’re using dating apps, or have friends that do, hers is a must-read.

Plus we’ve got one-pot dinners, easy-to-wear fashion ideas, garden bargains and all the FAB prize puzzles you love.

Stay y safe and well this week!

K Williams, Editor Kate

p40 40

p29 p34

Contents On the cover

More true stories Your favourites

Get puzzling

6 My mate did this over a few quid 12 Hello sunshine! 22 sizzling style ideas 16 Serial killer on the loose 24 Hubby’s lover moved into our basement 30 Meet the love scam detective 54 Mum kept her kids in the freezer

10 My impossible dream 19 The woman in the picture 20 Patient casebook: Spot of bother 27 Crime map: Glasgow 34 My beautiful face 37 One year to live 44 A danger in disguise 58 A letter to… The girl who thought all was lost

8 8 8 15 18 23 23 23 23 28 28 28 30 32 32 36 36 46 56

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Picture perfect Just genius!

Health news Ask Dr Martin Best outdoor furniture Ask Aunty Nelly Cash smart One-pot wonders Telly week Your stars You little beauty Holidays: Malta

GET IN TOUCH! EMAIL chat_magazine@futurenet.com FACEBOOK facebook.com/ChatMagazine POST Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP

Number jig Pieceword Three in a row The biggie Spot the difference Over to you Chain words In the grid Skinny one Arrow word Sudoku Wordsearch Little one Fill me in Circle time Code cracker Word jumble The big quiz Enter our comps here 57 What’s the answer?

57 We won!

CHAT MONTHLY SPECIAL OUT NOW 3

Picture perfect Remembering the good

times...

My daughter Violet has recently welcomed a new guest into her tent. My sister’s dog Perdie loves nothing more than curling up in there with her to chill out. It’s so adorable to see.

Meg Pattison, Shrewsbury I may have needed my coat that day, but during my recent visit to Morecambe I remembered the song Bring Me Sunshine as I stood with the late, great Eric. Roll on, summer!

Adrian Grove, Lytham St Annes

Here’s one of Chat’s youngest fans! It’s my 6-year-old son Daniel, having a go at the Circle Time puzzle in the magazine while out enjoying the sunshine.

Michelle Bird, Stourbridge

I love this picture of our bulldog Leo dressed as the Caped Crusader.

While he may look the part, he’s certainly not the most intimidating superhero!

Les Lloyd, Runcorn

£25

for any photos that we use on Picture Perfect. They

must not have been sent to any other publication and you must include written permission from a child’s parent/s or guardian/s. Post to Picture Perfect, Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP, or email chat_magazine@futurenet.com Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a SAE. And please don’t forget to include your full address and a contact number.

4

Here I am with my husband Simon, enjoying one of our cycle rides near Deal. We cycle daily and cover a distance of up to 15 miles.

Debra Stapley, Whitfield

IS YOUR MAG! We pay £££ for your photos, tips and real-life stories.

Get in touch!

My daughter Ellen, 6, is always kept busy taking care of her beloved strawberry roan pony Tony. It reminds me of the happy days I spent caring for my own strawberry roan pony when I was younger, too.

Tessa Roberts, Rhydtalog

Email chat_magazine@futurenet.com

BEATEN TO A PULP

All this,o a few qu I thought we were so close... but he showed me exactly how little our friendship was worth

Once so supportive...

Stephen Bell

Kathy Ellis, 48, Windsor niffling as another tear fell, I looked up with bleary eyes to see my friend Stephen Bell.

Taking my hand, he wiped a drop from my cheek.

‘It’ll be OK,’ he soothed.

‘I can’t believe she won’t be coming home,’ I sobbed in his arms.

It was August 2018 and I’d just been told my mum Rita, then 67, was dying.

She’d been suffering from severe diabetes complications.

Stephen had driven me to hospital to be by her side to say my goodbyes.

My rock.

We’d met through mutual friends a while earlier, quickly bonded through our silly sense of humour.

He’d become like a brother to me.

After drying my eyes, Stephen drove me home.

‘I’ll check on you tomorrow,’ he promised.

The next few days and weeks were a blur.

After Mum’s funeral, the grief hit me hard, but

WORDS: KAREN PASQUALI JONES, BESS BROWNING. PHOTOS: TRIANGLE NEWS

S

6

Stephen was always there.

One day, in March 2019, he was round like usual.

‘What’s going on with you, anyway?’ I asked, sipping tea.

I knew something was up.

‘I need somewhere else to live,’ he shrugged.

Well, that’s easily solved.

‘Live with me!’ I beamed.

My son Kallum, 18, had moved in with his girlfriend and we’d agreed his room would always be his.

‘But sleep on the sofa until you’re back on your feet,’ I suggested.

‘Are you serious?’ he asked.

He’d helped me so much.

‘Of course,’ I smiled.

Weeks later, as planned, there was a knock on the door. Stephen.

‘Welcome home,’ I beamed.

Only, I noticed the tower of bags surrounding him.

‘I know it’s a lot,’ he said, looking bashful.

Biting my tongue, I shrugged and helped him in.

After all, it was only temporary.

But over the next few days, I noticed something

I arrived home to find Stephen in a mood...

different about Stephen.

He was lazy, hadn’t organised his bags after a week.

Some had to go in Kallum’s room.

And he was often grumpy.

I reminded myself I was helping out a friend who’d been so supportive.

Then, on 8 April 2019, I arrived home to find Stephen in a mood.

‘Everything OK?’ I asked.

He just grunted and nodded as I went to bed.

Only, the next morning, around 8am, I was woken to Stephen shouting my name.

‘Kathy!’ he shrieked.

‘Get down here now.

We need to talk.’

I shot out of bed and scrambled for my clothes.

‘I’ll call the police if you don’t come here right now,’ Stephen screamed.

He sounded furious...

Why would he call the police?!

My I still get nightmares

mind whirred as I raced downstairs and found him on the phone.

Reaching the lounge, my mouth fell open.

Stephen’s belongings were strewn across the lounge, like we’d been burgled.

‘Where are they?’ he demanded.

At 6ft to my 5ft 4in, Stephen loomed over me.

‘What are you talking about?’ I asked, feeling

over uid

So shocked when I looked in the mirror

I was left black and blue

!

EDIT WAR OR’S NING He stamped on my chest

absolutely gobsmacked.

He was scaring me.

‘My grandma’s coins!’ he yelled. ‘Where are they?’

He’d told me before about three old £1 coins he had.

They were an heirloom, worth around £17,000, passed down from his gran.

‘They’re probably with your stuff upstairs,’ I said.

Truthfully, I didn’t know.

But with clenched fists, he was getting angrier.

‘Where are they?’ he growled again.

This wasn’t the Stephen I knew. It was terrifying.

Backing into the kitchen, I grabbed my mobile and rang my best friend Julie, blurting everything out.

She knew Stephen, too.

‘Let me talk to him,’ Julie said.

Suddenly, Stephen came crashing into the kitchen.

‘Where are they?’

he roared, eyes popping.

He stormed towards me.

Terrified, I backed away but he grabbed my wrist.

‘Let go!’ I screamed, before feeling a blow to my head.

I fell to the floor, head spinning from the impact.

Then, he kicked me in the stomach again and again.

Even when I was sick, he didn’t stop.

Curling up into a ball, I thought I was going to die.

Suddenly, I felt another searing blow to my head.

Everything went black.

When I came round, I was sprawled on the floor covered in blood and vomit.

Thankfully, Stephen was gone.

‘Oh, my God,’ I groaned in agony.

Blood was pouring out of my ears and cuts on my face.

Crawling to my phone, I dialled 999 and was rushed to Leighton Hospital.

‘You’re lucky you haven’t

suffered brain damage,’ a doctor said later, looking at my MRI results.

‘But you have a broken jaw, nose and wrist, as well as heavy bruising along your torso, including your right breast.’

Nothing sunk in until I saw my reflection.

My face was purple and swollen, my eyes tiny slits.

Doctors needed to drain my right breast of fluid.

Pulling up my hospital gown, I gasped at my black, bruised boob.

Shocking.

Stephen had stamped on my chest.

A police officer said it was the worst assault he’d seen.

Luckily, they arrested Stephen.

I was relieved he wasn’t waiting to finish me off.

Back home with painkillers and only able to eat soft food, I grimaced as I washed my splattered blood off the kitchen cupboards.

The landing was smudged with Stephen’s

bloody footprints.

Turning into Kallum’s old room, I gasped.

Stephen had turned it upside down.

His bags were still there.

Reaching inside one, my fingers fell on a small box.

Opening it, I gasped.

His coins.

They had images of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Queen Victoria on.

But they can’t be worth £17,000, I thought.

A quick search on eBay told me they were actually worth a measly £3 each.

My head spun.

I’d been left broken, black and blue for pocket change?

In June 2019, Stephen James Bell, 41, was sentenced to 12 years – including four on licence – after admitting grievous bodily harm with intent.

But while my injuries did heal, I was traumatised, needed counselling.

I feel sick thinking about what he did to me.

Struggle to trust people, suffer with flashbacks.

I was helping a friend in need and was beaten to a pulp in my own home.

All for a few quid.

If you’ve been a victim of assault and need support, call the Victim Support helpline for free 24/7 on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit victimsupport. org.uk for a live chat.

7

£500 cash!

NUMBER JIG hat do you get if you multiply the number of the motorway from Blackpool to Preston, by the number of the National Cycle Route known as the Preston Guild Wheel?

Fit these numbers into the grid. One number doesn’t fit. This is the prize answer.

W

3 digits

4 digits

159 228 352 521 531 598 746 797 900 908

1187 1778 2031 2520 3191 3349 4027 4808 5554 6151 7019 8241 9008

WIN0

£25

Puzzle 1

71323 77250 83950 86255 89804 92500

6 digits 322365 374252 567852

7 digits

5 digits

4719792 7875990 8156984

11510 28410 29153 34210 53031 53178

41973297 53956647 81552871 95939811

8 digits

Your answer:

SPIRAL XWORD n T. S. Eliot’s Macavity: The Mystery Cat, what Muslim holy man would be impressed by the cat’s ‘powers of levitation’? The answer to each clue begins with the last letter of the preceding answer.

The shaded squares will spell out the answer.

I

Your answer: 8

WIN0

£15

Puzzle 2

1 Beer mug (7) 2 Being lost in thought (11) 3 Star system such as the Milky Way (6) 4 Annually (6) 5 Shouts (5) 6 Drive-through zoo (6,4) 7 Southern African desert (8) 8 Unrealistic, visionary (10) 9 Lightweight anorak (7) 10South American country whose capital is Quito (7) 11 Wartime food restriction system (9) 12 Clark _, late Hollywood actor (5) 13 Spring religious festival (6) 14 Extremely hungry (8) 15 Hairdressing parlour (5) 16 Work of fiction, book (5)

THREE IN A ROW Yankee dryer fitted with a doctor blade is used to make what type of paper? Make three nine-letter words using all of these three-letter sections and enter them in the grid as the starter letters indicate. Then make an anagram of the letters in the yellow squares to form the answer to this question.

A

TIC SID ARC

FEN IBU ENT

ANT PRE PRO

Your answer:

TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles

W4INx

£25 Puzzle 3

Just

Genius Your tips are the tops!

£25

What a corker

Picture perfect We had decorated our living room and there were a lot of offcuts of wallpaper left over. With them, I recovered an old canvas and personalised it with some wedding pictures. It’s a perfect match to the room and didn’t cost me a penny.

Karen Dirs, Kegworth

For every photo tip that we print

I’ve read that natural cork is a perfect deterrent for flies, as it absorbs some of the moisture given off by ripening fruit and activates a fragrance from the cork that fruit flies aren’t too pleased about.

Carol Adams, Halesowen

Hot tip

On a roll

If your curling tongs are covered in hair products, apply a bit of toothpaste to your cool tongs and rub it in.

The sticky gunk will loosen and can be easily wiped away with a damp cloth.

Beverley Lindfield, Hextable

Store headphones and mobile phone chargers in a toilet roll to keep them tidy, and to stop them from getting knotted. If your wires all look similar, this makes it easy to label them, too.

Mick Knowles, Worksop

Nice and tidy

Super-seed

I wanted an organiser that matched my sofa, but couldn’t find one in the shops. So I looked through my cupboards, found some leftover material and made my own. It holds my TV remote, glasses and – most importantly – my weekly Chat magazine.

Valerie Porter, Bristol

I didn’t have a watering can with a sprinkler to water newly planted seeds, so I took an empty squash bottle and punched holes in the base using a needle. With the top closed, water will stay in the bottle and if you loosen the lid it will pour out.

Paul Gage, Westonsuper-Mare

Tips must be your own idea, and not appear in other mags. If published, we pay £25 for tips with photos.

Send tips, photos, name and full address to: Tips page, Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP or email us at chat_magazine@futurenet.com. Remember, these are YOUR tips – we haven’t tried them ourselves

9

GIFT OF LOVE itting in the GP’s surgery, I stared at my doctor in shock.

‘You may not be able to conceive, or carry a baby,’ he explained.

All my life I’d had heart problems, including a hole in the heart and an enlarged aorta.

I’d been through countless surgeries as a child.

But most of the time I was like any other kid.

Had the same dreams.

I’d loved playing dollies with my big sister Ebony.

Just under five years apart, we’d push prams around the garden.

Giggling while we dunked our ‘babies’ in the bath.

Even back then, I’d wanted to be a mum.

I’d met Michael in 2010.

We discussed having children early on.

But now, sitting in the doctor’s office in early 2014, before we were due to get married that May, my plans had been upended.

‘I can’t imagine never having a baby of my own,’ I cried to Ebony, then 32, when I next saw her.

‘It won’t come to that,’ she said, but it was hard to believe her.

I loved being an aunty to Ebony’s children, Tegan, then 5, and Sonny, 2.

Throughout her pregnancies, we’d shopped for baby clothes, played music to her tummy and decorated the nursery.

Now I wasn’t sure I’d ever have that myself.

In the months that

WORDS: KARA O’NEILL, TIFFANY WALLIS

S

10

My impo dream Could my sister really make it come true?

Lauren Hooper, 34, Okehampton

followed, Michael and I visited cardiologists and fertility doctors.

But my heart problems were so complex and rare they didn’t know how my body would react to pregnancy.

Ebony was my shoulder to cry on throughout.

Then, one day when we were at our mum’s house, Ebony turned to me.

‘I’ll carry your baby for you,’ she said.

‘Thank you, but you don’t need to do that,’ I said firmly.

What she was offering was unbelievably selfless, and I was still convinced my body was up to the challenge.

Yet when we visited more doctors later that year and they told us how a difficult

pregnancy could affect our baby, I had to rethink.

The drugs I’d need to stay alive could cause permanent brain damage to our child.

Even starve it of oxygen in the womb.

‘I’d never let our child go through that,’ I said, and Michael agreed.

My biggest dream really was impossible.

Feeling lower than ever, I thought about Ebony’s offer.

‘Maybe my sister being our surrogate would work?’ I said to Michael one evening.

After much talking, we decided we’d ask her about it.

In summer 2015, I invited Ebony out for coffee.

‘What you said

If we were going to do this, we were all in it together

Little Rae, in the womb and with Ebony

about carrying my baby, did you really mean it?’ I asked.

‘Of course,’ she replied.

But I asked her to discuss it with her partner Gavin and their kids.

If we were going to do this, we were all in it together.

A few days later, Ebony said she wanted to go ahead.

Michael and I were thrilled.

We began IVF, so my eggs and Michael’s sperm could be harvested and fertilised, before an embryo was implanted in Ebony’s uterus in April 2016.

Sadly, two attempts ended in early miscarriages.

I was heartbroken, and even more anxious for Ebony.

‘I want to keep trying,’ she insisted.

So, after fundraising for another round of IVF, we tried again.

By then we were down to our last viable embryo.

I’d all but given up.

But when Ebony took a pregnancy test two weeks later in December 2017, we cried tears of joy.

It was positive.

Michael and I were with Ebony for every scan and appointment.

I watched in awe as she looked after our growing baby.

There were some funny moments.

Like when Ebony took Sonny to the supermarket and a

ossible Michael, Rae and me, a family

man asked him if he was having a brother or a sister.

‘The look on his face when Sonny told him Mummy was having his cousin!’

Ebony laughed, filling me in.

At 37 weeks, we had a hospital appointment to turn the baby to the right position as the head wasn’t properly engaged.

‘I’m so sorry,’ I whispered, knowing being on bed rest in hospital, 25 miles from her family, was tough for Ebony.

But she never let me feel guilty.

‘It’ll all be worth it when the baby is here,’ she said.

A week later, Ebony was induced and, on 24 July, she gave birth to my little girl Rae, with me, Michael and Gavin by her side.

‘I’ll never be able to thank you enough,’ I cried to Ebony as I gave Rae her first cuddle.

Ebony was exhausted.

But I could see how happy she was for us.

Taking Rae home was

amazing, yet strange.

Ebony had been there for the whole journey, but now we were going home without her.

‘The baton has been passed on,’ she joked. ‘You’re in charge now.’

Rae is 2 now, and developing such a confident personality.

Ebony, now 38, says that she’ll be my surrogate again, and I always imagined I’d have a big family.

But I’ll never ask her to go through that again.

It took a huge toll on Ebony’s body, especially all the failed attempts.

Instead, I thank my lucky stars I have a beautiful daughter, and an incredible sister who enabled me to fulfill my dreams – to become a mum.

Me and my incredible big sis Ebony (left)

‘IT FELT NATURAL’ Ebony Hutt, 38, says, ‘Surrogacy felt so natural, even for my partner, but it goes without saying that it was emotional. I don’t think any of us realised the full impact until Rae was born. But the love we felt seeing Lauren and Michael hold their baby girl for the first time was indescribable.’

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13

£1,001 cash!

nya Taylor-Joy’s first acting audition was for what role? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the two-word prize answer.

A

WIN1

£1,00 Puzzle 4

THE BIGGIE

DOWN 1 Get bigger (6) 2 Hint, indication (10) 3 Natural material used to make shoes (7) 4 Medical procedure (9) 5 Made to feel special (9) 6 Minute particle (4) 7 Sir Isaac _, physicist (6) 8 New York rock band, _ Boys (7) 9 Romantic novelist, _ Steel (8) 10 Drowsy (6) 19 Dispatched (4) 21 Percussion instrument (4) 23 Loudest (8) 25 Musical dramas (6) 26 Biologist, for example (9) 27 Passionate (9) 30 Courage, audacity (5) 31 Liberated (8) 33 Fusilli, for example (5) 35 Fictional detective, Miss _ (6) 38 County in south-east England (4)

41 Places of learning (10) 42 Pavement edge (4) 43 Or else (9) 44 Not busy, accessible (9) 46 Follower (8) 49 Jason _, Australian actor and singer (7) 50 Mass of frozen water (7) 51 Harvested (6) 52 Postage tokens (6) 54 Dried grape (6) 57 Authentic (4)

PHOTO: GETTY

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Your answer:

TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles

15

LOST GIRLS

A family trag

With one sister found dead, another went on trial for killing th hannan Gilbert, 24, was the oldest of four sisters.

Along with Sherre, Sarra and Stevie, she’d had a turbulent upbringing.

All the girls spent time in foster care. Still, Shannan remained close to her mother Mari Gilbert.

By May 2010, Shannan was living in New Jersey, US. Yet, while trying to make it as a singer and actress, she’d signed up to an escort agency, became a sex worker.

Only, when she didn’t show up for a family dinner, Mari called the police. p Shannan had vanished, yet Mari and her daughters had to push the police to investigate properly.

And, as the months rolled on, a disturbing story

S

emerged. Shannan had last been seen heading to a client’s house in Oak Beach, a gated community on Long Island, New York.

But just a few hours later, she’d made a desperate emergency call.

‘They’re trying to kill me!’ she’d told the operator.

Bodies dumped Seven months later, in December 2010, as police searched for Shannan, they made a grim discovery.

They found 10 bodies – many of whom were female sex workers – dumped p along g scrubland near Gilgo Beach, close to where Shannan had last

been seen alive.

Yet Shannan’s body wasn’t amongst them.

Police believed a serial killer was at work.

Mari met with families of the girls murdered by the so-called ‘Long Island serial killer’, called out apparent victim-blaming surrounding her daughter’s case.

Shannan was a sex worker, but that didn’t make her disappearance less tragic.

She deserved justice.

While Mari fought for Shannan, she noticed her third daughter, Sarra, was struggling. gg g Sarra had suffered sexual abuse as a child, then domestic violence after the birth of her son in 2009.

And, as the months passed without any sighting of her older sister, Sarra’s mental

Stevie, Sarra and Sherre behind their mum and lawyer John Ray

Press conference Mari & her daughters 16 16

health deteriorated.

Then, in December 2011, Shannan’s body was found in a marsh half a mile from where she was last seen.

Tragic.

The findings of a postmortem were inconclusive.

But Suffolk County Police deemed the cause of death to be drowning.

They theorised that she’d run off into the night for some unknown reason, and got lost in the marsh.

Downward spiral Mari, however, firmly believed her daughter had been murdered by y the same unknown serial killer connected to the 10 bodies by the beach.

As Mari battled with detectives for justice, the trauma was too much for Sarra, who suffered a mental breakdown.

She started having delusions, convinced her loved ones were possessed by demons.

Sarra would insist that Shannan wasn’t dead, and that she could tell by someone’s eyes if

gedy

heir mother… r…

Delusions take hold Devastated, Mari scooped up Sarra’s son and called the police. Once again, ag Sarra was commit committed to a psychiatric hosp hospital.

When she was d discharged, she discovered her son had been placed in Ma Mari’s care.

With her son no longer at

The marsh where Shannan’s body was found

YOU’RE

Mum Mari battled for justice

home, government support to help pay bills was withdrawn from Sarra.

She was angry, refused to take her medication.

On the morning of 23 July 2016, Sarra texted her sister Sherre to say she was hearing voices again.

Sherre told her to call the emergency services.

‘Or call Mom for help,’ she said.

Mari rushed over. But Sarra became convinced her mother wasn’t coming to help, and she stuffed a 15-inch kitchen knife under a pillow on the sofa.

At 10.30am, Mari arrived.

‘Are you an evil god?’

Sarra asked her mother.

Mari tried to reassure her daughter, but Sarra saw red, and plunged the knife into her mother’s chest as they sat on the sofa.

Before falling to the floor, Mari pleaded with her daughter to stop, tried to escape under a coffee table.

But Sarra pulled her mother out, straddled her and stabbed her 227 times.

Picking up a fire

What happened to 24-year-old Shannan..?

THE JUDGE!

hard to prove.

Sarra suffered delusions, schizophrenia. Yet, to acquit, the jury would have to accept she’d no concept of right and wrong.

Prosecutor Emmanuel Nneji argued that, for years, Sarra had done the school run, cared for and extinguisher, she struck fed her son, paid rent.

Mari over and again, How could she do so if sprayed foam into her mouth. she didn’t know right from Unable to get hold of her wrong? Instead, Mr Nneji mum, Sherre called police, argued Mari’s death was who found Sarra, soaked in blood, lying in her bedroom, a crime of passion.

That Sarra hadn’t listening to music – and Mari dead in the next room. forgiven her mother for past ‘I am under arrest!’ Sarra mistakes, wanted payback for her chaotic childhood. declared as police piled in.

Her sister Stevie took the stand, testified drug Insanity defence In spring 2017, Sarra abuse plus jealousy and Gilbert appeared at Ulster rage over Mari having County courthouse, charged custody of her son were with second-degree murder. Sarra’s motives. She called Her lawyer John Ray the killing ‘the result of mounted a defence of long-term hate and not insanity. He called Sarra a mental breakdown’. a ‘broken, poor, psychotic So, was Mari’s death little girl’, claimed mental another chapter in the illness was the obvious Gilbert family’s tragic explanation for Mari’s death. tale? Or was it coldMr Ray said, ‘Two hundred blooded murder? and twenty-seven stab It was up to the jury wounds. Does that sound like to decide… something that somebody is Guilty or not? responsible for?’

Turn to find out But an insanity defence is

17

WORDS: SASKIA MURPHY. PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, SIPA USA/PA IMAGES, NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT

they were possessed. She claimed she was a god, and her job was to defeat evil gods.

In January 2014, Sarra was hospitalised.

Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, she was prescribed d antipsychotic medication. dication.

But soon, Sarra was failing to comply with her treatment, using illegal drugs – and, in February 2016, she drowned her puppy p ppy in the bath.

When Mari rush rushed round, Sarra blamed her for what she’d done.

‘You’re the reaso reason the dog had to die!’ Sarra screamed. s

Cash!

Sarra: jailed and receiving care

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

1

2

THE ?

T C I D R VE n summer 2017, Sarra Gilbert, 28, was found guilty of the second-degree murder of her mother, after the jury rejected the defence’s claim of insanity.

Sentencing her to the maximum of 25 years to life in prison, judge Donald Williams said the long sentence was motivated by ‘an overwhelming desire to protect other people by taking you off the streets for as long as I can’.

Sarra is currently serving her sentence in Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, New York, and reportedly also receiving care for her mental health.

Her sisters Sherre and Stevie, along with

PHOTO: ELLENVILLE POLICE DEPT

I

18

GUILTY lawyer John Ray, continue to fight for their sister Shannan’s death to be reinvestigated.

They remain convinced her death is connected to the 10 bodies discovered along the beach, and that Shannan was the victim of the ‘Long Island serial killer’.

Netflix film Lost Girls, released in 2020, depicts the events that followed Shannan’s disappearance.

Actor Amy Ryan takes on the role of Mari Gilbert as she fights for the truth.

Mari is credited with giving vulnerable victims like Shannan a voice, for not allowing authorities to overlook the disappearances and murders of sex workers purely because of their profession.

It’s thanks to her mum that Shannan will never be forgotten.

3

4

1

2

3

4

WIN0 £3

5xPuzzle 5

Look closely at these two pics – there’s a difference in 5 squares.

The 5 grid references (eg, 1A, 2B, 2C, 3C, 4D) is your prize answer.

Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details

PHOTO: GETTY

S ’ T A H W

INSPIRATION

The woman in the picture Could I be that happy again?

Glowing on my big day

Caraldine Nolan, 35, Dublin he woman in the photos beamed in her figure-hugging cream gown. She’d just married the love of her life, was looking forward to the future.

Hard to believe that used to be me, I thought, looking down at my saggy jeggings and baggy top.

Marrying Declan, 42, in July 2007, had been one of the happiest days of my life.

I’d bought my dress online for less than £75 – but I felt like a princess. At 23, I was a size 10, weighed 10st 4lb.

‘You look beautiful,’ Declan told me as he’d spun me round on the dance floor.

I’d felt it, too.

But not any more – after almost a decade of highs and lows, life had taken its toll.

I’d had three kids – Laoise, now 15, Dylan, 12, and Declan, 10, and each time, there were complications with the births.

It culminated in me having my womb removed in 2012, and I was left with an ileostomy bag.

My mental health suffered, and eventually I was

WORDS: FRANCESCA WOODSTOCK, LUCY BRYANT. PHOTOS: SWNS

T

In 2016: out of shape…

prescribed antidepressants.

Gradually, I began to feel better. But I gained 5st in just three months, and my weight shot up to 15st 10lb.

I felt so out of shape – no more dance floors for me. These days, I couldn’t even walk far without getting so breathless.

After all we’d been through, I loved Declan more than ever. But, with our 10-year anniversary coming up, I wished I could go back to the glowing, hopeful young woman that

I set my target as my weddingday weight

I was in my wedding snaps.

So when a friend asked me if I’d join a WW (formerly Weight Watchers) meeting in September 2016, it seemed as good a place as any to start.

I set my target as my wedding-day y weight. We’d booked a trip p to Lanzarote to celebrate our anniversary, y, and it seemed a perfect goal. l.

The WW plan is sed diet, a points-based but it also puts a heavy focus cus t. on mindset.

It helped me understand d when ally I was actually hungry and nd when I was as just bored or fed up and d comfort eating. ating.

With a few changes to my daily meals, als, I dropped 5lb in my first week.

I don’t t! believe it!

Small targets …and 2019: helped keep me feeling great! k, and on track, as the weight dropped, d, my bubbly

personality resurfaced.

Losing a few pounds a week, by July 2017, I was thrilled to reach 10st 4lb on the day that we flew to Lanzarote.

‘I did it,’ I grinned.

Ditching the jeggings, I packed my y suitcase with colourful size-10 dre dresses.

Declan was so proud of me, gl glad to see me happy.

Amazed at how good I felt, I rea realised that I wanted to keep going and I’ve now lost 7st in ttotal.

In 2019 2019, I joined W WW full time as a coach coach.

I still attend atten week weekly meetings, meet and I’m now 8st 12lb and a si size 8.

M My health and happiness are happin back on o track.

And these t days, I have loads of o happy, hopeful snaps hopefu of myself to enjoy!

19

Health The advice you need

Spot of bother Wearing PPE caused my face to erupt Pearl Davison, 30, Leeds lancing in the mirror before work, I was happy with the face looking back at me.

I’d always been lucky.

Even in my teens, I wasn’t plagued with pimples.

I felt sorry for my pals as they tried to cover up blemishes with make-up.

In 2012, I’d joined Leeds General Infirmary as a mentalhealth nurse.

I loved my job but, as I went to work that day in February 2020, there was only one subject everyone was talking about.

‘Have you heard about coronavirus?’

By the following month, the hospital was admitting COVID-19 patients and my ward turned into a cohort unit, isolating patients with the infection.

And this meant we had to keep ourselves safe.

‘You’ll all need to wear full PPE – personal protective equipment,’

G

True-life

PATIENT

– I knew, deep down, I wasn’t getting the expert advice I needed and the cream our manager said. eventually just As well as aprons, gloves made my skin worse. and visors, we needed a After trying a few tight-fitting mask over different ones, with our mouth and nose. no success, I started I didn’t mind. I wanted me to research online. and my patients to be safe.

That’s when, in June 2020, But, as the weeks went I came across Dermatica on, I felt a tingling under – expert dermatologists my mask. offering prescription Ripping it off medication online. after a shift one By now, I was desperate. evening, I looked The hot, sunny days really at my chin. aggravated my mask acne I noticed fiery, and my self-confidence bulbous mounds had plummeted. deeply rooted ‘You can hardly notice it,’ into my skin friends tried to reassure me. and I felt a dull aching, too.

But it was all I could see Spots! I messaged my pals. when I looked in the mirror.

Must be the mask, At work, I was pleased they suggested. to cover up my spots with a They were right. Over the mask. But I knew the PPE next weeks, the blemishes was just making it worse. got worse, terrible acne now So, when I came across speckled my once-clear skin. the Dermatica website, In the middle of a I was intrigued. pandemic, I didn’t want to First, I had an online bother my GP with a facial consultation with an outbreak, so, naively, I opted experienced dermatologist. for over-the-counter creams. Then they put together a Back home, as I carefully personal treatment plan applied the cream, I winced especially for me – it all

CASEBOOK

WORDS: BESS BROWNING

Terrible acne now speckled my onceclear skin

20

I’d always had a good complexion

The break-outs were red and sore

seemed so professional.

When I received my cream a few days on, I knew it wouldn’t be a quick fix…

But, as a few weeks went past, I noticed a difference.

My spots became less painful and noticeable.

After three months using the cream, my skin was clearer than ever. And my self-confidence soared.

Now, I’m still using the cream. It might not be for everyone, but it’s keeping my spots at bay.

Acne can pop up at any time, but masks – though vital – are a terrible trigger.

Don’t let acne kill your confidence... Find a solution.

More info?

For more on Dermatica and its services, visit dermatica.co.uk

Do dairy daily

FOCUS ON… Superfoods for stronger bones What should be on your plate to keep your skeleton healthy? Check out the wonder-workers

WORDS: ROSE GOODMAN. PHOTOS (MAIN POSED BY MODEL): ALAMY, GETTY.

Eat your greens ...and reds, and oranges.

Essential for good all-round health, fruit and veg are also crucial for strong bones, thanks to their levels of other bonebuilders, such as potassium and vitamin C, plus calcium, protein and magnesium. Studies have shown that people with higher vitamin C intake have a lower risk of fracture.

Maximise magnesium Many of us have low levels of this mineral, which we need to regulate vitamin D for strong bones. ‘The body is only able to absorb around 50% of the

Milk and more Milk, yogurt and cheese are rich in calcium, a mineral vital for supporting bone structure – almost all (99%) of your body’s calcium is stored here. Sardines and pilchards are a good source of calcium, too. Dairy foods also contain bone-strengthening protein and vitamin K. Also eat eggs – the yolks are rich in vitamin K2. Other sources include organ meats, such as liver, and oily fish like salmon.

Think zinc

Leaf it IN!

magnesium from food,’ says nutritionist Rob Hobson, ‘which is why it’s so important to include plenty of foods rich in this mineral.’ Good sources include dark, leafy greens, seeds and nuts – especially cashews and Brazil nuts – plus squash and avocado.

Research shows that zinc is an essential nutrient needed for normal skeletal growth. It also appears to promote bone healing after a fracture. Foods to eat include lean meat, such as skinless chicken and turkey, chickpeas, plus nuts such as almonds and cashews.

Cashews are zinc-rich

The D factor

Pop some fish on the BBQ

WE PAY

CASH

Our body bo needs vitamin D to absorb and use calcium to ma make bones hard and strong. But your diet isn’t the be best source of this vital vitamin. Sunshine is important, so it’s likely you may be deficient in the impor winter. Fill up on oily fish, egg yolks and fortified winte foods such as cereals and spreads.

Simply eggs-cellent!

Protein power Protein is essential for your bone structure and important as you get older to help connecting muscles stay strong. ‘Muscle mass starts to diminish after the age of 30,’ says Rob Hobson. ‘And during the menopause, women can experience a quicker rate of loss.

Good sources include milk, fish, eggs, dairy foods, nuts, seeds, pulses, soya and cereals.

We’ll pay cash, or mention a charity of your choice, if we print your health story. Write to Your Health, Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP or phone 020 3148 6150. You can send your story or email the Doc at chathealth@futurenet.com. Always consult your pharmacist or GP before using any over-the-counter or prescription remedies, and read the packet carefully.

Turn over for more health 21

ASK

Dr Martin

Dr Martin Edwards is a family GP whose advice you can trust

Should I get a check, too?

My husband’s had an appointment for a routine aneurysm check. I’m the same age, don’t I get one, too?

Denise, Hinckley No, I’m afraid that you don’t get one as well!

This is the routine NHS test for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) which is offered to all men aged 65 in England. AAA is a widening of part of the aorta – the main blood vessel running through your chest and abdomen – and can be dangerous or even fatal, as there’s a chance that it could burst.

Spotting AAA means a surgeon can fix the problem before this happens. The test uses ultrasound, similar to that used for pregnant women to check their baby, and is quick and painless. But it isn’t offered to women, simply because you’re at far less risk of AAA in the first place.

Your husband can help to keep his own risk down by not smoking, checking his blood pressure and keeping fit.

A

Sometimes my jaw joint clicks and hurts.

What’s wrong with it?

Kelly, Colne

Q A

This sounds like it could be temporomandibular disorder (TMD) which affects your temporomandibular – jaw – joint. Besides pain, there might be clicking or grinding, and your mouth may not open fully or might even lock.

TMD is common in women and can be the result of an injury, a tooth problem putting uneven strain on the joint, muscle tension due to stress, or grinding your teeth, often at night. Usually,

symptoms will settle, but it helps to stick to soft food, take painkillers, and avoid opening your mouth wide or clenching your teeth.

Your dentist can check for an

uneven bite or prescribe a night guard to prevent grinding. Your GP might suggest jaw exercises or relaxation techniques. Rarely, an injection or surgery is needed.

Alarmed by my baby’s skin My baby’s face is covered in horrible blisters but my midwife says they’re baby spots and there’s no treatment...

Lisette, Wrexham

Q

The medical name’s erythema toxicum neonatorum, so you can see why they’re better known as baby spots or milk spots!

Up to half of babies have them, usually appearing in the first few days of life as red spots and

A

yellow-green blisters on the face which might spread to the chest, arms and legs.

Baby spots can look alarming and sometimes a GP may need to rule out other causes, such as infection, but they’re harmless and get better on their own, with no scars or after-effects.

No-one’s sure of the cause – it could be an effect of your sex hormones, minor skin damage during birth or a form of allergy.

Do I still need a smear test?

As a trans man, should I still have smear tests?

I haven’t been offered one since I transitioned.

Mike, south London

Q

Computer systems in the NHS flag you as female or male. If you transition, your file will be changed to the gender with which you identify. As a woman who’s transitioned to male, you’re a man as far as the NHS is concerned, and so you won’t receive routine

A 22

smear recalls. But if you still have a cervix, you’re entitled to regular smears, and should have them.

This should be a simple matter of calling your GP surgery – but, understandably, some trans people are anxious about this. Remember, everything you say is in confidence.

If you’ve had hormone therapy, it could shrink your cervix and vagina and make the test uncomfortable.

Discuss this with the nurse, who might use a smaller speculum and more lubrication.

Want Dr Martin Edwards’ advice? Write to chat_magazine@futurenet.com. Sorry, he can’t reply personally

PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): GETTY

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO SUBSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED ON AS HEALTH OR PERSONAL ADVICE. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING IT. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR GP FOR GUIDANCE. IN AN EMERGENCY, CALL 999 AND SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IMMEDIATELY

Q

I’ve got jaw ache!

£375 cash!

OVER TO YOU an you set a puzzle in this format? Send it, with a photo of yourself, to the address on p3. There’s £20 for every one we use!

C

This week’s puzzle was compiled by Rachel Howlett, Biggleswade, Beds

W5INx

£25 Puzzle 6

1

2

3

4

2

3

ACROSS 1 Large waste container 2 On one occasion 3 Physical or emotional sensation 4 Examination DOWN 1 Not hard 2 Leg joint 3 Decorates a cake 4 Animal skin

4

Your answer:

IN THE GRID hich comedian hosted the CBBC panel show The Dog Ate My Homework until 2019? Hidden in this grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally, are 10 items beginning with I, one for each of the subjects given below. Find them all and the remaining letters will spell out the two-word prize answer.

W

CHAIN WORDS

SKINNY ONE

WIN

agique, a starshaped imp, was the mascot when Puzzle 9 the Winter Olympics were held in which Alpine town?

To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, Delete = ERSE + A = ERASE. Write the added letter in the space provided.

Read down the added letters to spell out the prize answer.

M

£50

Delete Scottish clothing items Wide

hat is the name of Britney Spears’ most recent studio album, rereleased in 2020? Get from Start to Finish, making words by joining two boxes together as you go, eg: SCA + LE, LE +… you decide! When you reach Finish, two unused boxes join together to give you Puzzle 7 the prize answer.

W

Pull

WIN0

Type Measure of volume Guarantee

£10

Film Jewellery

PHOTO: GETTY

Fire

Floating mass of ice Standard of perfection Worship Picture, photograph Notoriety Container for writing fluid Coloured part of eye Your answer:

Your answer:

Strong string

Sarcasm Line of equal air pressure Irritation on skin

WIN0 £10

Puzzle 8

Your answer:

TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles

23

FAB FOUR

We’re bed-ho I fancied my best friend’s hubby, and that wasn’t all…

Elizabeth Harris, 36 licking his thumbs on the control pad, my hubby Jason, then 35, focused on the TV screen.

‘Turn it down,’ I said, grabbing the remote.

It was February 2020 and we were relaxing at home.

Jason had always loved playing video games, while I preferred to read

F

Trish and I can natter for hours

24

a book quietly.

Proof opposites attract.

We’d been dating since our teens, married in 2005 and had our son three years later.

Despite our different interests, we were the perfect family.

Then, one night in summer 2010, we invited a couple over for dinner.

While we drank wine, played cards, the night took an unexpected turn.

I drunkenly kissed the wife – and her husband.

‘It’s actually a turn-on,’ Jason admitted.

One thing led to another, and the four of

us ended up in bed.

Next morning, we passed it off as a fun, one-off event.

Only, as years went on, we became honest about what we wanted from our relationship.

And more curious.

In 2019, we decided that, although we loved each other, we should branch out.

Have sex with other people.

Provided we treated it as purely physical, we felt we wouldn’t get jealous.

‘You’re still the only woman for me,’ said Jason.

Over the next year, we enjoyed liaisons with couples we met on a website for married couples.

Being satisfied sexually by new people while having unconditional love from Jason was incredible.

The best of both worlds.

Most of the time, we were just like any other couple.

Arguing over the TV, taking turns to cook and do housework.

Only, at night, the babysitter was booked so Jason and I could go out to meet other couples.

In February 2020, we’d arranged to go on a swinging speed-dating night.

Putting on a dress, curling my hair, I felt the same flutter of excitement I’d had in my teens when getting ready for a date.

Then, when

I saw Jason in his smart shirt, I got a rush of pride.

‘You look handsome,’ I beamed.

And later, moving from table to table at the bar, it felt great to be out with my husband, flirting with other people.

When we sat opposite Steve, then 35, and Trish, 34, I felt a rush of lust.

Married for 10 years, they were a gorgeous couple who seemed fun and confident.

Steve was shy, but cute.

Trish was stunning with her dark, red-coloured hair and brown eyes.

As Jason and Steve chatted about the video game World of Warcraft, me and Trish hit it off, too.

And as we left their table, I squeezed Jason’s hand.

‘They were great,’ I smiled.

‘Really great,’ he grinned.

Later, we swapped numbers and started chatting online regularly.

A few months later, we invited Steve and Trish for dinner.

It was clear how much Jason and Trish fancied each other.

And the sexual chemistry between Steve and me, and me and Trish, was electric.

Eventually, after three months of dating, we had a foursome.

It felt different.

More than just a physical connection.

We met regularly, around lockdown restrictions.

Jason and Steve would

I felt the flutter of excitement I’d had in my teens

opping BFFs!

WORDS: FRANCES LEATE, KATIE TREHARNE. PHOTOS: HOTSPOT MEDIA

Jason, me, Steve and Trish: it’s more than just sex...

cook, while me and Trish gossiped.

We’d become like any other pair of best mates.

Only, after eating and drinking wine, we’d go to bed.

‘I’m developing feelings for Trish,’ Jason admitted one night.

Rather than feel hurt, I was relieved.

‘Me, too – and for Steve,’ I confessed.

That night, we video-called them, nervously confessing how we felt.

‘We’re falling in love with you both,’ Trish grinned as Steve smiled beside her.

Quickly, our relationship progressed and we became a polyamorous quad.

Creating a four-way

consensual relationship.

I’d still sleep with Jason, but also separately with Steve, and with Trish.

Meanwhile, Jason and Trish enjoyed nights alone together, too.

Sometimes, we’d have a foursome.

It was more than just sex.

Jason finally had someone to play computer games with, and me and Trish could chat for hours.

In October 2020, Steve and Trish and their daughter moved in with us.

We all pitched in when it came to childcare.

The men cooked, me and Trish cleaned.

We extended our basement, created a fourth bedroom, and now bedhop

Jason has someone to play computer games with

between rooms, depending on who’s with who that night.

I’d be lying if I said life as a poly-quad wasn’t challenging at times.

Me and Steve can be sensitive, easily upset.

While Jason and Trish are headstrong.

When something involves all of us, we sit down and talk it through.

If one person feels that they’re not getting enough attention, we make time for them so we all feel as loved as each other.

I sometimes get a flicker of jealousy when I watch Trish play-fighting with Jason on the sofa.

In the throes of that early passion.

It’s been years since me and him were like that.

But I have my own relationship with Trish

to get excited about.

She’s my lover, as well as my best friend. I love both her and Steve very much.

Swapping husbands just makes us closer.

Our son, now 12, and their daughter, 4, have adapted to the arrangement well.

‘I love Steve like I love your dad,’ I explained to my son.

‘That’s cool,’ he replied, totally unfazed.

He understands family isn’t always a blood relation, and enjoys having more people around.

Trish and Steve’s daughter calls me her stepmum – she’s a lovely little girl.

Raising two kids with four adults means we still have time to live our own lives.

Being in a poly quad isn’t for everyone.

If you think being in a relationship with one person is hard, try doing it with three!

But it works for us – and all four of us know how lucky we are.

‘I’VE NEVER FELT MORE LOVED’ Trish, 35, says, ‘If you’d asked me last year if I ever saw myself in a polyamorous relationship, I probably would’ve laughed. But now I’ve found this new life, I can’t imagine it any other way. The four of us are stronger together, lifting each other up any way we can. We support each other and pick up slack when needed. I love these people with every fibre of my being. I have never felt more loved in my life.’

25

CRIME MAP STABBED 61 TIMES n 19 March 2016, at 8.21am, 15-year-old Paige Doherty visited a delicatessen on her way to her weekend job at a hairdresser’s.

When Paige failed to arrive at work, a frantic search was launched.

The last sighting of her was on CCTV at the deli, owned by 32-year-old married father of two John Leathem.

Paige’s body was found on the roadside near Glasgow’s Great Western Road, two days later.

She’d been stabbed 61 times, mostly to the head and neck, and suffered 146 injuries.

Leathem later admitted Paige’s murder and was jailed for life, with a minimum of 23 years, but his motive has never been revealed.

Kriss: stabbed and burnt

TEEN MURDERED

riss Donald, 15, was abducted, stabbed, doused in petrol and burnt to death by burn ag group of men on 115 March 2004.

His murder was apparently w in revenge for an earlier incident at earl a Glasgow club, in which Kriss had w no involvement. n Faisal Mushtaq, Zeeshan Shahid, Ze and d Imran Shahid (pictured top to (p bottom, left), b were found guilty w of the racially o motivated murder mo and sentenced s to life.

K

GLASGOW Paige: killed

by Leathem

ICE-CREAM WARS

A

n the 1980s, turf wars broke out between rivall ice-cream vendors using g their vans to sell drugs, with innocent vendors caught up in the trouble.

Violence peaked on 16 April 1984, after Andrew ew Doyle, 18, refused to distribute drugs from hiss van. That night, six of the Doyle family died in a d house fire. Joe Steele and Thomas Campbell got life e for the murders. But after a

I

HOTEL HORROR t around 12.50pm on 26 June 2020, Badreddin Abadlla Adam, 28 (right), went on a frenzied stabbing attack at the Park Inn hotel.

Six people, including a police officer, were seriously injured. The attacker was shot dead by the police.

The hotel had been

housing a number of asylum seekers and refugees during lockdown. It’s thought Adam was suffering mentalhealth issues, made worse

by COVID-19 isolation.

GLASGOW’S CLAIMS TO FAME Actor John presenter Barrowman, pr Lorraine Kelly and singer Lulu are all egians. proud Glasweg

Tartan army

WORDS: KARA O’NEILL. PHOTOS: ALAMY, PA IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK SHUTT

O

Beautiful buildings

d i and hi t ric f ll off histo Not only is Glasgow full beautiful architecture, but this year it was voted the world’s friendliest city in a Rough Guides online poll, beating off tough competition from the likes of Dublin, Tokyo and Montreal.

20-year court battle, the convictions were quashed.

No one else was arrested, but there are claims a gangland figure made a deathbed confession to the killings.

In 1872, England and Scotland football teams played against each other at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow. It’s regarded by FIFA as the first international football match ever to take place in the world.

It kicked off here

27

£1,110 cash!

W, IN00

ARROW WORD

£1 0

Puzzle 10

hich herb derives its name from the Latin for ‘sea dew’? Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer.

W

Your answer:

SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle and the numbers in the highlighted squares will give you the prize puzzle answer.

WIN

£60

PHOTO: GETTY

Puzzle 11

Your answer: 28

WORDSEARCH

WIN

£50 Puzzle 12

ritish scientist Richard Dawkins was born in which city? The answer is the one missing from the grid.

B

ACCRA ALGIERS CAIRO FEZ GIZA

KAMPALA KINSHASA LAGOS NAIROBI ORAN

Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles

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29

FAKING IT

LITTLE ONE he Te Matatini is a biennial competition and festival for performers of what dance? Solve the crossword, then read down the yellow squares.

The yellow shaded squares will spell out the competition answer.

T

The love detective

I’ll hunt down the hoaxers who are out to steal your heart, as well as your cash...

Samantha Cooper, 52, London

ACROSS 1 Nocturnal insect (4) 5 Songbirds (5) 7 Actor, _ Pitt (4) DOWN 2 Paddle (3) 3 _ Dark Materials, BBC series (3) 4 Fight _, film starring 7 Across (4) 6 Young goat (3)

WIN

£50 Puzzle 13

Your answer: TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes. com/puzzles

30

utting down the phone, I sighed and began typing.

‘Definitely a scammer,’ I muttered.

Convinced I’d find proof the tearful woman I’d just been speaking to was the victim of a nasty con.

As a private investigator, with my own company, Rogue Daters, I was dedicated to uncovering romance fraud.

And my new client’s story was all too familiar.

She wasn’t elderly, vulnerable or someone easily manipulated.

She was a successful businesswoman, a middle-aged divorcee, and very intelligent.

She’d been speaking to a man for about four months after meeting through a popular online dating app.

‘He said he was a doctor, working abroad,’ my client told me.

After messaging constantly and speaking over the phone with one

P

another, he’d professed his love.

‘I really like him,’ she confessed.

‘He seems to really care about me.’

Yet, sadly, I knew that, chances were, he only cared about the contents of her bank account.

Spending months laying the groundwork for what I call ‘the money bomb’.

‘He messaged saying he’d been arrested, imprisoned, his work visa had expired and he needed to borrow £500,’ she’d told me.

She’d asked why his employer couldn’t pay the money.

But he claimed it’d been his own fault for not renewing his visa months ago.

‘He said he was deeply embarrassed for asking, but he had no-one else to turn to,’ she said.

It’d seemed a small price to help the man she loved.

She’d lent him the money that very night.

Then she sent the man a further £750 a few days later, so that he could pay

He only cared about the contents of her bank account

Fraudsters use the internet to their advantage

for the new work visa.

That’s when she’d contacted me.

Suspicious, yet desperate for reassurance.

Only, I winced, knowing she was unlikely to see that money again.

And, if she carried on with her romance, she’d lose much more.

I was honest.

‘The man you love probably doesn’t exist,’ I’d said.

Explained that often it was several people working together.

But she’d seen photos of him, he’d talked about his family, his work abroad…

Although he never had good-enough internet to do a video call, they’d been speaking on the phone several times a week.

In the end, I matched his photos to a model abroad.

And after contacting him, he said he was aware his

e scam e It’s my job to flush out the catfish

I was appalled by some of his stories.

I wanted to protect people before they got conned, and I knew that it was something I would find challenging but rewarding.

Since I set up my company

in 2018, I’ve dealt with men and women who’ve parted with thousands.

Lockdown has left people feeling lonelier than ever and fraudsters are using this to their advantage.

COVID-19 restrictions

How are fraudsters so convincing?

What’s the lasting damage?

So what are the red flags to look out for?

They’re the masters of manipulation and know exactly how to get what they want – by showering victims in attention and making them feel special, wanted.

Then they will soon find themselves in some unforeseen ‘emergency’.

They say that they need to pay for some treatment for their sick child, they’ve been arrested for something they didn’t do and need bail money or they need to renew their visa, get a new passport and book a flight home. The list is horribly endless.

Around 200 cases of romance fraud are reported every month, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

And the harm done is not just financial. These con men and women leave behind untold emotional damage, as well. Victims are left struggling to form attachments with people in the future, unable to trust them, yet they also avoid having counselling or speaking to even friends and family about what happened because they feel so embarrassed and ashamed.

Show who you’re connecting with to someone you trust, as they’ll give you an honest opinion. Beware if someone gets full-on very quickly, or asks about your family set-up, whether you have kids or live alone. Scammers will make excuses not to video call, and remember that any photographs can be doctored.

Look them up on social media, has their profile been created recently? And if they send any requests for money, no matter how convincing their sob story…run.

WORDS: FRANCES LEATE. MAIN PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GETTY

photos had been used on dating sites, but had never given permission.

I also discovered the profile the hoaxer used on the dating app had been used to scam other women out of thousands.

‘Report this to the police,’ I urged my client.

But, feeling embarrassed and foolish, she said she’d rather forget all about it.

And the harsh reality is, she’d got off lighter than most.

Between January and November last year, 6,000 British daters reported losses of £63 million to the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Action Fraud.

That’s a lot of money.

And a lot of broken hearts.

I became a private investigator after being inspired by a close friend.

As a single mum working in the beauty industry,

postponed traditional first dates and public meet-ups.

Daters were forced to rely on technology to get to know each other.

And while there are thousands of genuine people looking for love out there, there’s also hundreds more just looking for one thing.

Your money.

31

£200 cash!

N I W £100

FILL ME IN

Puzzle 14

hat animal is represented by the three ‘loggerheads’ on the county of Shropshire’s coat of arms and flag?

Solve the puzzle by following the arrows and writing in your answers. Then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the prize answer.

W

Your answer:

CIRCLE TIME laias and paipos were objects used in pre-modern Hawaii to perform what action? Fit the words into the grid, then read down the letters in the shaded circles.

PHOTO: GETTY

A

Your answer: 32

3 letters CAT EAT HOB JAB JAM JOB SIT SOB TOO

4 letters AJAR ALSO ASKS BLOB SWAN TUNA 5 letters BLADE

ROUGH THEFT TUBES 6 letters SPLASH TEAPOT THUMBS TWITCH

7 letters BOUQUET CHATEAU

N I W £100 Puzzle 15

TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles

ASK

Aunty Nelly tells it how it is

I’m dating a crybaby I’m seeing a girl and on our first date she broke down telling me about her dad who had died six months ago.

I listened and wrapped my arms around her.

But she cried again on our third date after losing her phone in a pub garden.

Believe it or not, we’re a year in and she’s still crying about everything.

She even cries if I disagree with her, so I’m agreeing all the time for a peaceful life.

I want to end things, but I don’t want to be the reason she will cry forever.

Q

Should I walk away?

Please tell me – what do I do, Nelly?

Bobby, 27 Oh dear me!

Some people are more emotional than others.

It sounds like she isn’t a horrible person, but maybe doesn’t know how to deal with things. Talk to her, ask her why she cries and what you can do to help.

Can she speak to her GP? Is

Q

A

her mental health OK? You haven’t known her for long and it could be anything.

If it’s a case that she’s naturally sensitive and emotional, then maybe she isn’t the one for you.

Neighbour’s place stinks!

unbearable. I’m exhausted with it all. What else can I do?

Sherri, 42

I’ve reported my neighbour to the council because she’s really untidy.

I think she’s a hoarder. She piles things in her front garden and it stinks. I no longer open my windows as the smell comes in.

I lied to the council and said I’d seen a rat, so they put some bait down, but the rubbish is still there.

They’ve done a bulky furniture collection now, but it’s still

I feel for you, flowerpot – this is in the top 10 of ‘neighbour issues’.

Every council does things differently. It helps to get evidence, so take photos and speak to them again. Most offer mediators – but, hopefully, it won’t turn into a dispute.

Have you tried knocking on your neighbour’s door? Maybe there’s a bigger problem here, and in the long run you’ll be helping them out.

Q

I started a new relationship for the first time since my husband died of cancer 10 years ago.

My new partner is 58 and we met 11 months ago, but now he’s been diagnosed with cancer, too.

I’m petrified and, although I care for him, I don’t want to be a carer. I did that for my husband until he passed, I do not have it in me to do it again.

How do I walk away without feeling guilty for turning my back on him?

Ange, 52

A

This is going to sound brutal, but this is not about you, but him.

I understand it must be overwhelming, but you need to be honest as soon as possible.

Gently explain what you went through, and that you’re unable to provide that again.

Offer your friendship and support, but say you can’t give him a relationship.

This isn’t about walking away, but about showing empathy to someone who is poorly.

A

She’s making me look bad I’m really unhappy at work because a colleague keeps taking time off constantly.

I get the flack from our boss when she calls in sick. She makes sarcastic comments about my friend letting us down.

But how is it my fault? I’m also the one who gets landed with all her work. Should I tell my boss I’m fed up or put up with it?

I like my job as it fits around my kids and the money is good...

Debs, 34

Q

What you need is a one-toone with your boss. Make it clear you love your job.

But be honest about the sarcastic comments, and how they feel like an attack. If your boss has issues with your colleague, it’s between them and should be dealt with behind closed doors.

It’s unprofessional of your boss to be saying these things. Explain you do all your work, and more, and the constant comments are making you uncomfortable.

A

Want Aunty Nelly’s advice? Send your problems to chat_magazine@futurenet.com

33

FACEBOOK.COM/ANTONELLAUNCENSORED. INSTAGRAM.COM/ANTONELLAUNCENSORED. NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. AUNTY NELLY PHOTO: PHILIPPA GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): ALAMY, GETTY

Our Antonella

O weekly Our kl showcase h off th the wonderful world that is Truly.

This issue, Rose Vasconcelos tells us why she’s proud that her daughter is an inspiration to the world...

Six-year-old Vitoria confidently poses for the camera

My be face W ith a dab of eyeshadow, a slick of lip gloss and a smattering of powder, Vitoria Pipoquinha, 6, is ready for her close-up.

‘I need light over here, please,’ she calls, posing confidently for the camera.

While many her age would be playing with dolls and blocks, this youngster from Brazil has become a social-media hit.

Her TikTok videos and make-up tutorials have gone viral.

Yet it wasn’t long ago that Vitoria tried to hide her face.

She’d been born with a haemangioma – a benign tumour on her cheek.

‘It was a surprise to us all,’ says her mother Rose.

‘The paediatrician said that my daughter had a deformity on her face and they didn’t know what it was. Then they asked if I wanted to see her.

‘At that moment, I looked at the doctor and I said it didn’t matter if she was upside down, she’s my daughter.’

Vitoria’s haemangioma

tumour is congenital.

Rose says, ‘In reality, her haemangioma is superficial, so it’s just an aesthetic condition. It doesn’t affect Vitoria’s cognitive skills at all.’

But as she got older, Vitoria began to realise that she looked different.

‘Mum, why don’t my friends have a cheek like mine?’ she’d ask.

It started to affect her self-esteem, until she told her parents that she didn’t want to go out any more.

Rose says, ‘She started to see that she was different from her school friends, too.

‘And then there was a point where she didn’t want to look at herself anymore.

‘I’d say, “Vitoria, let’s go down the street...”’ ‘“No I don’t want to.”’ “‘Vitoria, let’s go play with some toys...’” ‘“No, I don’t want to.”’ “‘Vitoria, my daughter, go play...” ‘“No, Mum, I don’t want

PHOTOS: KADEH FERREIRA/BARCROFT STUDIOS/FUTURE PUBLISHING

‘I want to influence children, tell them it’s normal’

34

eautiful to go play.”’

‘It made me panic. What do I do now? How am I going to help my daughter?’

It was then that Rose and Vitoria’s dad Leonam turned to social media to encourage their little girl out of her shell.

‘We started making TikTok videos.

‘She was seeing herself in another way. And that started improving her self-esteem.

‘After a while, my stepdaughter shot a make-up tutorial with Vitoria, and she decided she was going to post it on her Twitter page.

‘She posted the video at night. The next morning, we were shocked. The video went viral,’ says Rose.

‘After she started shooting her videos, doing her make-up, she became much more confident, much more

outgoing,’ adds Leonam.

Vitoria has since embraced everything that makes her unique.

She loves making her videos, has her own Instagram account – @vitoria_pipoquinha – and dreams of being an influencer when she gets older.

Vitoria says, ‘I have a lot of fun. My cheek, my nose, my mouth is beautiful. My beauty is my face.

‘I want to influence a lot of children and tell them it’s normal to have a cheek like this.’

But her mum says she’s already an inspiration.

Rose adds, ‘Vitoria changed our whole family. She changed me. I hope she will make a difference.’

ce Trul leb y is wo ratin the nd g d hom er iff e a e Se nd corenceof Am yo arch nfron , mai azing utu ‘t ting nta Tru be ruly the ining e Sto .co ’ a ext a s rie m t rem ense s – e. o f

Her family wanted to help her

Vitoria hopes she has a career in social media

35

£600 cash!

N I W W £500

CODE CRACKER

hat does British comedian Gina Yashere have a phobia of seeing?

To find out, solve the puzzle...

Fill in the grid. Each letter of the Puzzle 16 alphabet has been replaced by a number from 1 to 26. When you’ve completed the grid, the shaded squares will spell out the two-word prize answer. We’ve given you five letters to start off.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Your answer:

WORD JUMBLE hat seabird derives its name from the Old Norse for ‘foul gull’, a reference to its habit of vomiting its stomach oil in response to threats?

Unscramble each group of letters to discover six types of seabird. Now fit them across the grid and you’ll spell out the answer to the question.

W

1 NIFF UP 2 LATE UK 3 GLUM ELIOT 4 NORM ACTOR 5 GET ANN 6 PELTER

N I W £100

PHOTO: GETTY

Puzzle 17

Your answer: 36

TO ENTER Turn to page 56 for details or visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/puzzles

ON BORROWED TIME

One year to live

My bloated tum had slowly been killing me Jessica Horton, 31, Godalming ucking my tummy in, I sighed at my profile in the mirror.

Why do I still look bloated?

I thought, frustrated.

I’d recently lost a stone but could hardly do up my jeans.

I’d hide my rounded tum in floaty tops.

I wasn’t pregnant, but I certainly looked it.

It was October 2019 and for over a year, I’d been struggling with cramps and constipation.

My GP had prescribed mild laxatives but they hadn’t worked.

I’d tried ditching carbs, switching to a high-fibre diet of healthy veggies.

Tried exercising more.

‘I don’t get it,’ I sighed to my boyfriend Rob, then 41.

‘Me neither, you’re so healthy,’ he replied.

It was true.

Despite being constipated, I never felt sluggish Had bags of energy.

I’d go to the gym before work, run at lunchtime.

A few weeks on, I was in bed, resting my hand on my tummy, when I felt something hard.

A lump.

I prodded it carefully.

It was huge, easily the size of a grapefruit.

‘Rob, something’s not right,’ I said, placing his

WORDS: TRACY GAYTON, BETHAN KING

S

They’d just keep me comfortable as I neared the end

The cancer was advanced

hand on my belly.

‘It’s definitely a lump,’ he worried.

And, after an ultrasound and CT scan, a specialist broke bad news.

‘We suspect it’s a cancerous tumour,’ he said.

‘And it’s spread to your liver, lungs and bones, too.’

‘Cancer?’

I asked overwhelmed, tears welling up in my eyes, ‘How will I tell my mum and dad?’

My mum Claire and dad Simon would be devastated.

Rob looked distraught.

I was referred to the Oncology department at Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford.

Tried to stay upbeat

through the barrage of tests, scans and a biopsy.

One night, Rob took my hand as we sat on the sofa together.

‘Marry me?’ he asked.

‘Yes!’ I whooped.

After my shock diagnosis, it was something to look forward to.

Mum came with Rob and me for the biopsy results.

I hoped the doctor would say it was all a mistake.

But he didn’t.

‘You have neuroendocrine cancer, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands,’ the oncologist told me.

‘I’m afraid it’s inoperable.’

Mum and Rob sobbed, but I just stared, shocked, as the oncologist explained to me that my tumour had been growing for years.

It had caused my adrenal glands to flood with adrenaline, meaning my body was in constant flight or fight mode. That

Mum and Rob sobbed.

I just stared, shocked...

explained my boundless energy, the constipation.

‘Why can’t you operate?’

I asked.

The tumour was too close to critical arteries, the cancer too advanced.

‘How long do I have?’

I stammered.

‘A year,’ he replied.

Tears finally came.

I was 30 years old with terminal cancer.

Chemo wouldn’t work, all doctors could offer was end-of-life care, to keep me comfortable during my last months.

Rob, my parents and I were all plunged into grief.

Life went on around me, I even carried on at my job for a travel company.

But, deep down, I was a mess.

Until, in January 2020, I had a phone call out the blue...

You should SEE ME NOW 37

MEDICAL MIRACLE Continued from previous page

My second cha ch ance A nswering the call, I heard a voice say, ‘I’m calling from King’s College Hospital in London.’

A top surgeon from Australia had seen my file, wanted to meet me.

‘I think I can remove the tumour,’ he said, as I sat between Rob and Mum at the hospital.

My jaw dropped.

Is it possible?

Could I live?

Rob and Mum were both just as stunned, while I stared at the surgeon in disbelief.

‘I thought it was too risky?’ I asked.

I’d spent weeks sobbing, mourning the life I’d never get to live.

Now the surgeon explained that, while the tumour was close to critical arteries, there was a good chance he could still operate successfully.

Then I could start radiotherapy infusions to slow and manage the spread of cancer.

There were risks.

I could have a stroke or heart attack during surgery.

And there was a 10% chance of dying on the operating table.

But there’s 100% chance of dying before the end of the year.

I liked the new odds!

‘I’ll do it,’ I grinned.

Two days later, I was

wheeled down to surgery.

‘I love you, see you soon,’ I promised Rob and my parents.

We were all wrecks.

No other surgery had been scheduled that day, as my op was so complex.

Rob was at my side when I came round hours later.

Grinning!

‘They got it out!’ he beamed, and I burst into happy tears.

Later, the surgeon held my hand.

‘The tumour is completely gone,’ he confirmed.

I cried for 15 minutes, but haven’t looked back since.

A week on, I came home.

When I was strong enough to start radiotherapy, it helped to slow the cancer spreading in my lungs, liver and bones and prevent nt new cancer cells growing.

Almost overnight, my

I was mourning the life I’d never get to live

38

Running to raise money and awareness

The surgeon removed all of the tumour

prognosis went from one year to 10 years.

Making plans finally felt possible.

I started running and exercising again.

Last year, Rob and I bought a house and got our labradoodle puppy Remy.

And last September, while COVID-19 restrictions allowed, we married in front of 30 guests at a country hotel.

It was all the

more special knowing Rob and I had a future together.

My recovery hasn’t always been easy.

The intense radiotherapy affected my ovaries, catapulting me into early menopause.

But it’s a small price to pay for another decade.

To raise awareness about neuroendocrine cancer, I ran the 10-mile 10 mil Great South Run last October – a year after my 12-month death sentence. sentenc Raised £14,000 £14,0 for Neuroendocrine Neuroendo Cancer UK. It felt like such su a great achievement tto be able to help others like me. lik II’m so very grateful ver to h have a sec second chance.

To live the T life I wanted.

A And now, I’m determined to m make the most of every single eve Just married! minute of it. mi

MONEY MATTERS

CASH

SMART We help you make savvy choices, so your hard-earned goes that bit further

ways 1 to...

Keep track of old

3

workplace pensions One in eight people don’t know how many old workplace pension pots they have, according to a poll by interactive investor (ii.co.uk).

Take action before you retire

‘The mystery of missing pensions is one you definitely want to solve as, over the years, investment growth – even for pots you haven’t been contributing to – can add up to thousands of pounds,’ says interactive investor’s Becky O’Connor. ‘That is money few of us can afford to ignore in retirement. So

Go green, save cash Reduce how frequently you need to wash your clothes – and cut energy and water usage – by using Fabulosa’s Spray & Wear (250ml), available for £1 at B&M, which claimss to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and comes in a range of fragrances. find out where your old pensions are: go through your old files or emails and if this fails, contact the HR departments of old employers.’

2

If you hit a dead end

‘If you’re struggling, for example, if you can’t find your former employer’s contact details or if the company doesn’t exist any more, you can try using the Government’s free Pension Tracing Service (gov.uk/ find-pension-contact-details) to help you track down the contact details of your old workplace pension scheme,’ Becky says.

SAVING

WORDS: REBECCA GAMBLE. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): ALAMY, GETTY

OF THE WEEK

3

Avoid future problems

‘With more of us signing up for workplace pensions than ever before and with the average person having more jobs – and therefore more pensions – throughout their working lives than they used to, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of your pensions in the future,’ says Becky. ‘So if you move house, make sure that you always inform your pension providers, both past and present, of your new address. And it’s also a good idea to register for your pension provider’s online service rather than relying on paper.’

Bargain beauty

You can get £10 off your first orderr p with Porto (portoapp.com), an app (available on iOS and android) that at sells make-up, hair and beauty products from brands including Caudalie and HD Brows. Use offer code PORTO at the checkout until 25 May 2021. New customers rs only. This code cannot be combined with other codes. Free delivery over £100.

Your questions answered I’ve heard about people being Q offered the chance to make easy money by being a ‘money mule’.

I’ve never heard of these. What are they?

T. Jones, Manchester.

The pandemic has seen a surge in criminals trying to lure people into becoming money mules, often through

A

‘get rich quick’ job offers on social media.

Money mules are used by criminals to transfer illegally obtained money between bank accounts.

They’re usually promised payment in return. But it’s a serious crime that could land someone in jail for up to 14 years. You’ll find more info at westyorkshire. police.uk.

39

NO-FUSS FOOD

One-pot

wonders

Minimum washing up, maximum flavour with these easy meals from the Test Kitchen

Top tip You can use this recipe as a risotto base (minus the bacon) and add other ingredients like mushrooms or prawns.

Bacon and pea risotto Fast, easy and fab. Just the job for a great-value weekday meal with the family.

SERVES 6 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOK TIME 25 MINS

O 1-1.2ltr vegetable stock O 1tsp dried thyme O 400g frozen peas

O 1tbsp olive oil

O 50g cheese, grated

O 200g bacon lardons

O Knob of butter

O 1 onion, chopped O 2 garlic cloves, crushed O 400g arborio risotto rice

40

1

Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the bacon for a few

mins to lightly brown. Add the onions and cook for a few more mins to soften.

Stir in the garlic and risotto rice and cook for 1 min to toast the rice. Pour in half the stock and thyme, stirring occasionally, for 10 mins.

2

Gradually add the rest of the stock, stirring from time to time until the rice is tender with a saucy consistency.

Add the peas, cook for 1 more min. Remove from the heat, add the cheese, butter and plenty of seasoning.

3

4

Top tip Top with some sliced mozzarella if you want to add a little indulgence.

One-pot Mediterranean-style chicken For those evenings when you can’t be bothered to cook, but you want to eat well.

SERVES 4 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOK TIME 25 MINS O 2tsp olive oil O 4 chicken breasts, skin on

O 240g jar mixed pitted

Kalamata olives, drained O Salt and freshly ground black pepper O 400g spinach leaves

2

O 400g can

chopped tomatoes O 1 red onion, finely chopped O 100ml chicken stock

Heat oven to 200°C/ Gas 6. Heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the chicken

1

breasts, skin-side down, for 5 mins.

Transfer the chicken breasts to a roasting tin and add the chopped tomatoes, red onion, stock and olives. Season well with the salt and freshly ground black pepper, then roast in the

oven for 20 mins.

Remove from the oven and scatter with the spinach leaves. Cover with foil and leave to stand for 2-3 mins, to allow the spinach to wilt. Stir in the spinach and serve immediately.

3

Speedy veg jalfrezi Pack the veg into your dinner with this simple and aromatic curry.

SERVES 4 PREP TIME 5 MINS COOK TIME 45 MINS O 1tbsp sunflower oil O 1 red onion, chopped O 2 garlic cloves, crushed O 1cm root ginger, grated O 1tsp chilli powder O 450g jalfrezi sauce O 650g butternut squash, chopped O 1 cauliflower, broken into florets O 200g frozen peas O 1tbsp coriander

Heat the oil in a large casserole dish.

Fry the onion for 5 mins to soften, then add the garlic, ginger and chilli powder and cook for 1 min. Pour in the jalfrezi sauce and tomatoes, then add a can full of water.

Tip in the butternut squash and the cauliflower, season and stir to combine. Cover and simmer gently for 30 mins until the vegetables are tender.

Stir in the peas, cook for 2 mins and serve with the coriander. This tastes great with toasted naan bread.

1 Top tip Stir grated cucumber into Greek yogurt and serve it alongside the curry as a cooling raita.

2 3

INGREDIENTS WE LOVE Cypressa Kalamata olives, Asda Risotto Arborio Rice, Patak’s Jalfrezi Cooking Sauce

41

COMPILED BY: ROSIE BENSBERG. PHOTOS: FUTURECONTENTHUB.COM

O 400g can chopped tomatoes

’ This week s TV Our top telly picks – you’ll kick yourself if you miss them

WORDS: MICHAEL DARLING. PHOTOS: ABC, BBC, C4, GETTY, PA IMAGES, NEW REGENCY TELEVISION INTERNATIONAL/SCOTT FREE

Eurovision Song Contest BBC1 It’s the Grand Final of the world’s biggest music competition, which this year is being broadcast live from Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

As usual, Graham Graham Norton Norton will provide returns to host commentary on the evening’s proceedings which will include James Newman representing the UK with his song Embers.

Among the favourites to win are Malta’s Destiny with the seriously catchy Je Me Casse, France’s Barbara Pravi with her ballad Voilà, and Italy’s Måneskin with their hard-rock song Zitti E Buoni.

DON’T MISS

DON’T MISS

James Newman (main) will be up against France’s Barbara Pravi (top) and Italy’s Måneskin

Cook Clever, Waste Less C4 If you buy food that ends up in the bin, Prue Leith and Dr Rupy Aujla are on a mission to help you save money and reduce waste in this four-part series. Each week, they will challenge families to change their eating habits with lots of tips on how to prepare and plan meals.

On the hunt: Cush Jumbo

Rebel

The Beast Must Die BRITBOX After her son is killed, grieving mum Frances (Cush Jumbo) is determined to avenge his death in this five-part thriller set on the Isle of Wight. The only thing keeping her going is the desire to hunt down and kill the man who she believes is responsible for

42

Katey Sagal takes the lead

killing the six-year-old boy.

Meanwhile, as the newlyarrived DI Strangeways (Billy Howle) is tasked with reinvestigating the tragedy, he soon begins to question his predecessor’s handling of the case… Geraldine James, Jared Harris and Nathaniel Parker also star.

Prue Leith and Dr Rupy Aujla are on the case

DISNEY+ Inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich, this drama follows Annie ‘Rebel’ Bello (Katey Sagal), who will do whatever it takes to fight injustice, especially when it comes to people falling victim to the greed of America’s biggest corporations. Andy Garcia also stars.

21-27 May 2021

Coming soon...

Your STARS

What’s in store in the months ahead...

Apocalypse Wow

New celeb game show

Chat astrologer Sally Morgan reads your week ahead

Trisha shares her top tips

You Are What You Eat CHANNEL 5 Look out for the return of the show previously hosted

by Gillian McKeith. This time it’s being hosted by chat show queen Trisha Goddard, who will be helping people to ditch their bad eating habits for a healthier diet and lifestyle.

Countdown C4 The quiz show that kicked off the launch of C4 back in 1982 will welcome its first-ever female presenter to the helm when Anne Robinson replaces Nick Hewer in the hot seat, following in the footsteps of previous hosts Richard Whiteley, Des O’Connor and Des Lynam.

Patricia Hodge stars

All Creatures Great and Small

Anne Robinson’s in the hot seat

CHANNEL 5 Patricia Hodge will star in the drama based on the books by Yorkshire vet James Herriot when it returns for a second series.

She will take over the role of eccentric dog owner Mrs Pumphrey, who was played by the late Dame Diana Rigg in the first series.

Aries

Libra

21 March-20 April

24 Sep-23 Oct

You expect the same commitment to a project from others as you give.

They don’t deliver because people don’t understand your work ethic.

You’re working overtime and getting neglected areas of your life completed. You may run into an unexpected snag that keeps you from where you want to be.

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Taurus

Scorpio

21 April-21 May

24 Oct-22 Nov

This is a great time to change direction or job.

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You dream about one kind of person, but actually need another. Let the universe put you on the right path and bring the right relationships into your life.

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Gemini

Sagittarius

22 May-21 June

23 Nov-21 Dec

Fun, play and laughter all make romance feel more light-hearted, but you might be looking for more passion within your relationship. If so, enrol in a tango class.

Look online for a course you’ve always wanted to do. Follow your aspirations, reach for the stars, no-one has achieved anything without first taking a leap.

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Cancer

Capricorn

22 June-23 July

22 Dec-20 Jan

Past partners are asking for second chances while you’re left wondering what’s going on. Rather than spend life alone, they’re looking for renewed affection.

It’s always good to try new health regimes. Make notes of any benefits that you feel as this could certainly be of use when you are extremely busy again.

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Leo

Aquarius

24 July-23 Aug

21 Jan-19 Feb

Sometimes it’s nice to talk about anything and everything without feeling you are working on issues or trying to transform your relationship.

Trust your creative abilities.

Be optimistic and focused, then the rewards will come pouring in. You have the knowledge and ambition to succeed in life.

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Virgo

Pisces

24 Aug-23 Sep

20 Feb-20 March

Roll up your sleeves, this extra energy is going to come to your rescue, you are working hard and achieving your goals faster and more efficiently.

If you’re reacting in an emotional way, hold off making a decision. Write a letter to yourself, reading it through will help you see what’s happening.

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ITV2 Set in a secret underground club, this bizarre new game show will see Scarlett Moffatt lead groups of celebs as they take part in a series of ludicrous challenges where they face some terrifying opponents, including one of the world’s strongest men, Master Enormo!

Ask Alexa, ‘What is my horoscope today?’

BROKEN TRUST

A dan in disg

I was looking for a father figure, Leigha Cummins, 22, Nottingham

I was only 14, vulnerable...

s my best friend raced upstairs, I followed, lugging a heavy suitcase.

‘Come on, slow coach!’ Sarah, then 14, shouted.

At the top, a scrawny man with scruffy hair appeared from one of the bedrooms.

Sarah’s stepdad John, then 27.

‘Thanks for letting me stay,’ I said.

‘You’re part of the family now,’ he winked.

It was October 2012 and John and Sarah’s mum Heidi had let me move in after my dad was called away for work.

I was sad, as it’d just been the two of us since I was 12.

But at 14, there was nothing more exciting than going to live with my best mate.

‘We’re going to have so much fun,’ I raved to Sarah.

I immediately felt at home.

Heidi served up homecooked meals, and we sat around the table like one big family.

But, between forkfuls,

‘SARAH’ AND ‘HEIDI’ ARE NOT THEIR REAL NAMES, WORDS: KATIE TREHARNE, FIONA KINLOCH. PHOTOS: HOTSPOT MEDIA

A

44

Sarah came home.

I felt too embarrassed to mention what’d happened.

After all, I was their guest.

Plus, I hoped John’s kiss was a one-off.

I often caught John’s stares.

Days later, he brought me I thought nothing of it. breakfast in bed again.

Only, in January 2013, ‘I think I love you,’ he said.

I was trampled by a group Suddenly, he kissed me of pushing school kids again. I felt powerless to walking between classes. his advances.

I suffered internal ‘We don’t have to tell bleeding, was diagnosed anyone,’ he suggested. with an acute kidney injury.

After that, John came into Doctors recommended my room every morning a few weeks after Sarah of bed rest. left for school.

John looked He seemed after me while caring and I felt Heidi worked like I could and Sarah went confide in him. to school.

‘People bully That first day, me about he brought my weight,’ me breakfast.

I told him.

‘How you feeling?’

‘But you’re beautiful,’ he asked me, perching on he said. the bed.

No boys had ever paid ‘Better, thanks,’ I grinned. attention to me before.

Then, out of nowhere, he And John made me feel leant in and kissed me. so special.

I froze.

Then, one evening, in It was all so wrong.

February 2013, we were Moments later, John in the kitchen when John pulled away. squeezed my bottom.

‘I fancy you,’ he stammered.

Embarrassed, I flinched.

Mortified, I stayed silent.

Thankfully, Heidi and And, eventually, he left Sarah didn’t see. the room.

Later that evening, My mind was spinning.

I cornered John upstairs.

Hours later, Heidi and ‘What if people find out?’

Out of nowhere, he leant in and kissed me

I hissed to him.

‘It’s our secret,’ he smirked back.

At first, John’s attention made me feel good.

But I quickly began to feel ashamed.

But knew if I spoke up, it’d break up their family.

So I remained silent, hoping John would soon get bored.

Months passed and his behaviour continued.

He’d rifle through my drawers and select silk pyjamas for me to wear.

But when I wore thick jumpers instead, he couldn’t wipe the disappointment from his face.

Then, in September 2013, I went to visit my nan, then 60, for a holiday.

But during my stay, Sarah called.

‘I’m sorry, Mum and John can’t afford to look after you any more,’ she said.

A way out.

Still, I was devastated to lose what I’d come to know as home.

I moved in with Nan, but John texted constantly.

You’re beautiful. I miss you, he wrote.

Two weeks later, John asked me to meet him.

I took a train, we went shopping then to a pub.

‘This is my girlfriend,’

nger guise

, but he had other ideas John grinned, introducing me to the barman.

I was floored by his bold assertion.

Yet I enjoyed being treated like a grown-up.

In the weeks that followed, John continued to message me.

He’d talk about running away together when I was 18.

Getting married, having kids.

That October, aged 14, I told Nan I was staying with an old school friend, but instead, I met John at a relative’s house.

‘They’re on holiday,’ John smiled, letting me in.

John immediately started kissing me.

‘Let’s lie down,’ he suggested, pulling me into the bedroom.

Nervous, I sat on the bed.

John pulled down my trousers, began fondling me between my legs.

He made me touch him, too.

The next morning, I felt sick.

I had dozens of missed calls from Nan and school friends.

You’re not at school. I’ve called the police, Nan texted.

Seeing that, John’s face

turned white.

‘Pack your bags and go,’ he barked, pushing me outside.

I was heartbroken how quickly John was able to cast me aside.

I thought he loved me.

Returning to Nan’s, the police were waiting.

She’d discovered I’d been

Trying my best to move on with my life

John Gow: he ruined my childhood

staying with John after he rang her pretending to be my friend’s dad, to tell her I was OK. ‘We’re worried you’re being abused by John,’ an officer probed.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I lied.

The police tried to persuade me to make a statement.

But I felt too embarrassed about it all.

Over the months that followed, I replayed in my head everything that John had done.

And I realised that I’d been groomed.

So, in February 2014, I finally made a statement.

In July 2015, at Maidstone Crown Court, John Gow, then 30, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child under 16 years.

He was jailed for three years and four months.

But it didn’t feel like long enough.

Then, when he

was released from prison, I was devastated.

He now lives just an hour away.

And I’m constantly living in fear I’ll see him again.

Looking over my shoulder while out in town or in the shops.

The older I get, the more I understand how sick it was what John did.

What I needed was a father figure, but he wanted to be my boyfriend.

He preyed on me when I was vulnerable, ruined my childhood.

But he’s also ruined my future.

I’ve been left with trust issues. And I continually have nightmares about what I’ve been through.

I’m trying to get on with my life as best I can with my new husband and my son, 6, and daughter, 2.

But while that man is free to roam the streets, I’ll never feel at ease.

If you’ve been victim to any form of abuse, visit victimsupport.org.uk for help and support.

45

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he answers to all but one of these quiz questions can be found hidden in this wordsearch grid, reading forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally. To help you, we’ll tell you that the answers are in alphabetical order in each section.

However, one answer can’t be found in the grid. This is your prize answer. See page 56 for entry details.

T

THE SILVER SCREEN – BOB What type of animal was Bob, who became a companion to busker James Bowen, played by Luke Treadaway in the 2016 biographical film of James’ book? (3) Which Bob was the subject of Martin Scorsese’s 2005 documentary film No Direction Home? (5) The late Bob Hoskins received a BAFTA,

PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY

1

2 3

a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for his role as George in which 1986 crime drama film? (4,4) WHERE IN THE WORLD? FRINGE The singer songwriter Sia, who sometimes wears a face-concealing long-fringed wig, comes from which country? (9) Which city’s famous Fringe festival has launched TV comedies such as Fleabag, Taskmaster and The League of Gentlemen? (9) Which English county completes the title of the Oklahoma! song The _ with the Fringe on Top? (6)

4

5

6

DREADLOCKS The term dreadlocks may have originated from British soldiers who met Mau Mau warriors sporting such hair in which African country in the 20th century? (5)

7 4 Where is longfringed Sia from?

46

Your answer:

Which Red 8 Dwarf character,

The 12 rishi knot or

played by joora is Craig Charles, a hair bun wore a worn on leather jacket, the top of deerstalker the head hat and underneath dreadlocks? (6) a turban by 14 Ab Fab star No Woman, boys and men of Joanna Lumley No Cry is the which religion? (7) second track on which Bob Marley & The Wailers album, HAIRSTYLES which takes its name from What fishy name a Rastafari term referencing is given to a hairstyle their hairstyle? (5,5) sported in the 1970s and 1980s by Jason Donovan, BUN David Bowie, Rod Stewart Which 2003 comedy, and Fun House presenter starring Julie Walters Pat Sharp? (6) What is the first and Helen Mirren as WI name of Joanna members, features the line, Lumley’s beehive-sporting ‘Lawrence, we’re going to best friend to Jennifer need considerably bigger Saunders’ Eddie in the buns’? (8,5) sitcom Absolutely Which area of London Fabulous? (5) can precede bun, boot or pensioner to make three For what does perm well-known terms? (7) stand in the context of the hairstyle? (9)

9

13

10

14

11

15

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YOU LITTLE BEAUTY

LOOK GREAT TODAY

Your questions answered, plus our pick of the products

I hate the feeling of sticky body creams. Are there any non-greasy body lotions that are quick and easy to apply?

Sally Penfold, 67, Sussex

COMPILED BY: EMMA NORTH. PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GETTY

Q

Not everyone loves a thick ick body cream or sticky body ody oil. They can leave skin feeling tacky, greasy and uncomfortable – especially in warm weather.

If you still want to moisturise your body, try using a lighter formula like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream, £4.99, Boots. This gel-like hybrid iss full of hydrating hyaluronic aacid, soaks into thee sskin quickly and nourishes dry areas without nou leaving a sticky film.

Alternatively, CeraVe Moisturising Lotion, £9.50, lookfantastic. com, is a fab, no-frills lotion that does exactly what it says on the tin.

It won’t leave a sticky

LETTEeR of th ! week

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If time is of the essence, a quick way to hydrate is to try a body spray lotion like Lacura Aloe Nourish Care & Repair Spray

Moisturiser, £1.49, aldi.. co.uk. The lightweight mist is quick to rub in, which is great when you’re in a hurry, and leaves skin soft and supple.

TRIED AND TESTED P Pantene P Pro-V Miracles Silky S & Glowing Shampoo, £4.99, g Superdrug This new shampoo, infused with biotin and silkk protein, leaves hair glossy, soft and thoroughly cleansed.

It’s my new favourite Pantene formula!

H&M Beauty Do-It-All All Stick in Golden Apricot, £8.99, hm.com Use on lips and cheeks for a perfect peachy glow w this sspring.

The stick is soo Th handy to throw ha into your int hhandbag and bblends easily with fingers. w g

P B Ps… Beach hB Bum B Body d Buff Scrub, £3, Primark An easy way to get scrubbed up and exfoliated for summer.

This body scrub smells lovely and does a top job of sloughing dead cells off for soft, supple skin.

R Revlon ColorStay EEyeliner Pencil in Bronze, £6.29, B lookfantastic.com lo m A make-up must-have for m cr creating a softly ddefined eye.

It lasts all day w without smudging and has great ff. colour pay-off.

Apply along the lash linee and use thee sponge end to blend out.

3 OF THE BEST SKIN TREATMENTS Beauty writer Emma North shares her favourite face masks

The Organic Pharmacy Honey & Jasmine Mask, £6.67, theorganicpharmacy.com Soothing, moisturising and calming – the perfect combo for tired skin that’s in need of some comfort. Slather all over the face and neck for 10 minutes to allow ingredients to penetrate the skin.

Garnier SkinActive n Anti-Fatigue Vitamin C Ampoule Sheet Mask, £3.99, Boots Loaded with skin brightening ingredients, vitamin C and pineapple extract, this sheet mask leaves you looking radiant in just a few minutes.

Dr Ceuracle Hyal Reyouth Lifting Mask, £3, kosamebeauty.com PPlump up fine lilines in a flash w with a mask full oof nourishing vvitamin B5 and hhyaluronic acid.

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HOLIDAY INSPIRATION

Travel ideas for when things get back to normal ormal

s n o s a 6 re isit... to v

Malta Coffee break in Valletta

With its stunning waterfront and fabulous climate, Malta’s capital Valletta is also rich in history

Explore the city A trip to the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens is a must.

With panoramic views over the Grand Harbour, visit in the morning before heading straight to the nearby Saluting Battery on the waterfront. The guns are fired daily at noon.

2

St John’s Co-Cathedral

Year-round sun Its position in the middle of the Med means Malta is blessed with hot, dry summers and mild winters.

Even in winter you can enjoy several hours of sunshine most days.

Whether you’re heading there with a checklist of attractions or you simply want to wander the cobbled streets, historic Valletta is a sightseer’s paradise. With delicious food, dreamy architecture and friendly locals, it’s easy to fall in love with the Maltese capital.

Historical wonders

WORDS: LUCY DEVINE. PHOTOS: ALAMY

1

50

Be sure to see St John’s CoCathedral, with its breathtaking art and architecture. Call in early to avoid the crowds. Then head to the Grandmaster’s Palace. Founded in 1566 and home to an extravagant collection of armoury, it’s now the seat of the Office of the President of Malta. Or marvel at the interiors of the 16th-century Casa Rocca Piccola.

3

Barrakka Gardens

Where to stay De Vilhena is a family-run boutique hotel, with exceptionally helpful staff and a delicious breakfast.

Rooms have a smart TV, USB ports, a coffee machine, great Wi-Fi and a proper hairdryer. Molton Brown toiletries are also a nice touch. With bars and restaurants lining the street below, ask for a room at the back. Prices start at £124 per night.

Visit devilhena.com

Take to the water

Fancy a tipple?

For a break from the hustle and bustle, take a dgħajsa (Maltese gondola) and explore the Three Cities (Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua) across the harbour. Here, you can venture out on foot or hire a Rolling Geeks electric buggy (a driver’s licence is needed).

Bars and restaurants line the romantic cobbles – so you’ll never be short of somewhere to finish the day with an ice-cold beer or a glass of white. Aperol spritz is huge in Valletta – and a lot stronger and cheaper than in the UK. For a chilled atmosphere, try Tico-Tico Bar or Cafe Society – loved for its sublime cocktails. On a budget?

Head to the Bridge Bar, where a small beer costs around €2.50.

4

6 Enjoy a ride on a dgħajsa

Delicious delights Maltese food is wonderful. Think of all the best parts of Greek, Italian and Turkish cuisine rolled into one – but with a little bit extra. Sampling the fresh seafood is a must and at The Harbour Club restaurant, it’s delicious. Hundreds of bistros line the streets, while one popular eatery is Guzé – an intimate, quirky bistro that focuses on fresh local produce.

5

The seafood is a must-try

Cocktails in the Malta sun

Always check the latest travel advice before booking a trip 51

HE BIGG CRI M E BEHIN LIVING NG G WITH THE EVIDENCE EVIDENC CE

Inside the deep freeze She seemed to be a struggling yet caring mother – but looks can be deceiving... hen 35-yearold Mitchelle Blair fell behind on her rent, it came as no surprise. Living in one of the most impoverished cities in the US, the single mum-offour was unemployed, had little education.

She’d had two daughters with Alexander J Dorsey, 35, who she’d lived with for several years. But, when they separated, Dorsey

W

showed little interest in any contact with the family, and a court would later hear he owed around $39,000 (nearly £30,000) in child support.

Mitchelle went on to have two sons with another ex-partner Steven Berry, 31, but he was in and out of prison and, according to a court hearing, he also owed around $12,000 (about £9,000) in child support.

Despite this, Mitchelle’s children were homeschooled and she was proud of their achievements, even sticking their artwork up on the living-room wall.

Pictures of a lion, a kitten and a lorry brought colour to the otherwise dingy, cramped flat.

Neighbours saw Mitchelle as a good mother. She took pride in the role, posting on her Facebook page, Loyal to my babies, and a picture with the message, There is no greater blessing than being called Mom. And although she rarely allowed guests inside her home, friends considered her a beautiful person with a good heart.

But a court order showed that she

owed thousands in rent. She’d exhausted loans from friends and relatives, and with no way left to pay, was served with an eviction notice.

On 24 March 2015, bailiffs came knocking at Mitchelle’s door.

On arrival, they found the property empty and, assuming she’d fled, entered the apartment to begin the process of removal.

A large chest freezer was pushed up against the living room wall. It was too heavy to move, so the baliffs looked inside, unaware they were about to make a horrifying discovery.

For, inside, the frozen body of a teenage girl lay wrapped in a plastic bag.

The police were called immediately and, on further inspection, the body of a young boy was found buried beneath her.

Blair was quickly located in a nearby flat, No remorse: Blair in court

‘Loyal to my babies’: Mitchelle Blair

where she was babysitting for a neighbour. Two of her own children, aged 7 and 17, were with her.

Upon questioning, it quickly became apparent the two bodies in the freezer were her other two children.

‘I’m sorry,’ she confessed to the police.

The Detroit mother was arrested on suspicion of murder. It took three days for the bodies to thaw so postmortems could be carried out.

They were identified as Blair’s 9-year-old son Stephen Berry, and 13-yearold daughter Stoni Blair.

Both had multiple bluntforce trauma injuries. The

ND N

medical examiner ruled their deaths homicides and determined they had been in the freezer at least a couple of years.

In court in June 2015, Mitchelle Blair, then aged 36, pleaded guilty to two murders.

And, shockingly, Blair told the judge that she was not sorry.

‘I don’t regret none of this,’ she said, adding, ‘I don’t feel no remorse for the death of those demons.’

She claimed to have discovered that Stephen had been sexually abusing her youngest son, though she had never witnessed an assault and hadn’t reported this to the police.

She said she hadn’t intended to kill him, but had wanted to inflict punishment on him by torturing him.

For two weeks, she’d kicked and punched him

repeatedly, placed a bag over his head until he lost consciousness, poured scalding water on him and forced him to drink window cleaner.

She also admitted wrapping a belt around her son’s neck and lifting him up, which culminated in him being choked to death on 30 August 2012.

After killing her son, Blair then callously wrapped his body in a blanket and stuffed him in the freezer.

With the child’s father absent from their lives, Blair was able to conceal Stephen’s disappearance for the next nine months by pretending that he was staying with relatives – until the evil mum struck for a second time.

On 25 May 2013, Blair claimed to have discovered that her youngest son was

Stoni, aged 13

still being abused, but this time by her daughter Stoni.

Blair claimed that, to punish Stoni, she beat her with a stick, strangled her with a T-shirt and suffocated her to death with a plastic bag.

Admitting to her two surviving children what she’d done, she sought her eldest daughter’s help to put Stoni’s body in the freezer, next to her dead half-brother.

She claimed to have wanted to turn herself in to the police at that point, but she was afraid of leaving her kids without a mother. Instead, she forced them to live with the corpses of their siblings while pretending to the outside world nothing was amiss.

Blair claimed to be homeschooling the kids, and with no system in place to alert childcare professionals to check on students who

She pretended to the world that nothing was amiss

are removed from the school system, Blair was able to get away with her sick crime for over two years.

In July 2015, at the Lincoln Hall of Justice in Detroit, Mitchelle Blair was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

She told the court she would have accepted the death penalty if Michigan had it, but Judge Dana Hathaway told her, ‘You imposed the death penalty on your own children.

‘As a mother, one of your primary responsibilities was to protect your kids, and in that respect, you failed in the worst possible way,’ the judge continued.

‘Thankfully, that house of horrors that you created is no longer in existence.’

The prosecution said that there was no evidence of sexual assault on her youngest child, but Blair continued to express no remorse and told the court, ‘As horrendous as everybody thinks I am – that’s fine.’

55

WORDS: FRANCESCA WOOD. PHOTOS: ALAMY, SHUTTERSTOCK

Stephen, 9 years old

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RESILIENCE

A letter to...

ying awake into the early hours, you went over every detail of how you’d do it.

How you’d take your own life.

‘You’re worthless and disgusting,’ you told yourself.

It was 2014 and you’d lived in misery since six years earlier when a motorbike crash had changed your life forever.

A dislocated shoulder and knock to the head were short-term injuries.

But crushed in the wreckage, the agony in your legs was endless.

Multiple drugs and spinal-block surgery to stop mising. the pain seemed promising.

But a bad reaction to the op in early 2010 resulted lted nalin an irreversible spinalcord injury.

Left you paralysed from the chest down.

An army medic of four our years, your service was as now redundant.

And your favourite things – mountain biking, climbing imbing ossible. and skiing – were impossible.

Bed-bound, you became came totally dependent on carers ed to and family who visited help cook meals, get you washed and dressed.

‘I’m a burden,’ you apologised to them all. l.

And by 2014, after

58

to live for.

In I 2016, you competed com in the Invictus Invic Games in At the 2018 Orlando.

Orland Won 10 medals Commonwealth in powerlifting, power rowing, Games track and an field. spiralling into depression, The most any competitor you were convinced there had ever won in one games. was nothing more to live for.

In 2018, you competed Then, in October, a support for Team Wales in the officer from BLESMA, a Commonwealth Games, military charity for limbless coming fourth in veterans, asked you to join para powerlifting. a skiing holiday in America.

And in 2019, you conquered ‘But I’m in a wheelchair,’ Race Across America, the ra you reasoned. so-called toughest cycle race You had no idea that in the world. specialist adaptive gear Such a buzz! made such sports accessible.

In November 2019, a Agreeing to the trip, in the member of Team BRIT, the December, you rediscovered competitive motor-racing your love team of disabled drivers, of adventure. invited you to try out.

Gliding down You’d never dreamt the slopes, you motorsport would be wondered for you. what else But trying out an was possible. the simulator and Something hand controls during a coaching session, you believed Skiing again it could – such a thrill happen.

Before

Now I’m facing life in pole position

long, you were gearing up on the chequered starting line for your first race at Silverstone.

How the crowd went wild when you finished first!

Motorsport has given you more than just a rush.

It’s given you the chance to feel like everyone else.

Coronavirus brought a sudden halt to racing.

But when it’s over, you’re determined to become the fastest driver in the world.

Thank you for finding the strength to keep going when it felt like all was lost.

There was so much more to live for. I can’t wait for whatever’s next.

Love, Nerys Nerys Pearce, 39, Ascot

Team BRIT supports and motivates those facing physical and psychological challenges through motorsport.

Visit teambrit.co.uk.

If you need someone to talk to, day or night, call Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

WORDS: FIONA KINLOCH. MAIN PHOTO: DARREN S COOK PHOTOGRAPHY

The girl who thought all l ost was To my old self, L