Mallorca Olive Press Issue 116

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October 8th - October 21st 2021

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Hot on the trail

Olive Press Editor Jon Clarke crisscrossed Spain and Portugal in his unrelenting search for prime suspect in the Maddie McCann case, Christian Brueckner. Read how he traced him to a hippie enclave hidden in the Granada mountains See page 10

FLAT WRONG!

Expats slam rental agency that ‘misleads’ prospective tenants at a steep price of €390

Portals Nous, 07181, Mallorca.

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FINAL ROUND - To the bloody feud that killed 18 people?

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Your expat

voice in Spain

August 27th - September

Phew! We survived the heatwave with a bit of help from our friends....

A ROW over a bill has with a British tourist ended up er in hospital sufferingand a waitfrom stab wounds.

Both needed stitches after the pair got into a fight over a meal at Don Denis restaurant, in Can The scuffle broke out Picafort. tourist complained aboutafter the his steak and refused to pay the bill.

After heated words between the waiter, 60, and the Brit, said to be in his mid-40s, the argument turned nasty.

Waiter

It is unclear who grabbed a knife first, but both are being treated for stab wounds, one at Son Espases hospital and the other at a nearby clinic.

The holidaymaker is reportedly being treated for leg, stomach and arm injuries.

The waiter suffered a his hand, according deep cut to to Cronica Balear.

A spokeswoman at Santa Margalida police station confirmed to the Olive Press that an investigation had been launched.

The Don Denis restaurant 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor has a with 236 traveller reviews rating it as

See page 3

National court probe launched after €600,0 from tourists after FOUR 00 years of fake rentals stolen scams

STOP FAKING IT!

CAMPAIGN: How the OP has reported on lettings scams

“You pay an up front €390 agency fee and then sign a contract, which they can’t give you a copy of because they say it’s ‘private for the company’,” she said.

She added they send you viewings spontaneously, but give you little time to get to appointments and don’t send photos.

“As a result, there is a big chance you will be running around to visit some horrible flat which is far from your requirements,” added Su, from Taiwan.

She continued that after the viewing, clients are instructed to call back to the office or send an email and advise whether or not they like the property - but no one ever picks up the phones.

“The only time you are allowed to call is from 4 to 8pm. 80% of the time all lines are busy and it is impossible to reach them,” she continued.

“If you send an email there is still no reSee page 9 sponse after days, weeks.”

Su claims she is still ‘homeless’ and is deter-

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HUNDREDS of new British residents have registered to live in Spain.

The number of registered UK nationals has zoomed up despite the spectre of Brexit.

In Mallorca there were 119 more Brits registered at the end of last year compared to 2017.

And the numbers are expected to have risen further over the last quarter, believe experts.

“I think many people are worried, so that has increased registrations,” Anne Hernandez, president of national support group Brexpats in Spain told the Olive Press.

“And a lot of Brits are currently moving to Spain, because they don’t want to leave their dream move any longer.

Untitled-1.pdf

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Vol. 3 Issue 53

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A BRITISH TV star has slammed a Kent, revealed that when his family bogus Palma based travel company arrived this month, the owner, who that stole ₤5,000 for a non existent gave his name as Klaus, was comrental. pletely baffled and knew nothing Professional chocolate taster Angus about the rental or website.

Kennedy lost Kennedy told the Olive Press they the money when had chosen the seven-bedroom villa his family dis- in Arta out of 780 different homes covered a Ger- for rent on the site. man man living But he only realised they had been at the Mallorcan scammed when an airport pick-up villa they had never arrived, and they caught a taxi booked through to the €600-a-night property to find Untitled-1.pdf 1Dream 16/06/2017 15:36 the bewildered German.

Villas Spain.

“I was determined to get to the See page 32 Kennedy, from house and immediately contacted

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the press” Angus told the Olive Press.

“I think many more have been duped and the scam could be worth millions.”

Sadly this seems true, after we exposed a string of fake holiday websites duping tourists coming to Spain two years ago and again last year.

In a series of investigations we

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By Elena Gocmen Rueda holiday rental scam. of a long-term At least 300 tourists have been conned be based by the phantom rentals on mainland Spain, pockscheme eted at a r o u n d Most ofleast €600,000. the money came from Spain over posits paid dethe last few unsuspectingfor holiday rentals when punters visited bogus years. websites set up by the conmen.

The ma- On some occasions, as reported by the j o r i t y Olive Press, were tour- their holidayvictims even turned up at homes to discover they ists from had been duped. n o r t h e r n They included E u r o p e , international British rugby league Dean Schofield and wife with at Gemma who together with a group of least 100 pals forked cases tak- for a six out an incredible €50,000 ing place in lorca. bedroom luxury villa in Malthe Balear- Gemma told the Olive Press: ics alone.

“We were very In total, the It was a angry when we found out. scammers, not knowhorrible moment and we did believed to Another what to do.” victim was Lucia Myers.

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One of Spain’s most cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, Santa Catalina is a true melting pot for foodies and people watchers, writes Jon Clarke and Gillian Keller

DESCRIBED by locals as ‘the village in the city’ Santa Catalina has the same charming ed over the last few years. feel of Montmartre in Paris or Hampstead in There has been a huge influx of expat buyers, in particular Scandinavian over recent years, London.

At the same time Palma’s trendiest neigh- and Santa Catalina today is vastly different bourhood has the sort of hip locals you would to the area that Palma residents remember more normally expect to find in Ibiza or New a decade ago.

“It’s amazing how much it has changed in York’s Greenwich Village.

With the city’s best food market, some of such a short time,” explains estate agent its most exciting restaurants and, bit by bit, Miguel Llinas, from First Mallorca. some of the coolest shops, it is little surprise “We have seen houses selling there for up to that this achingly cool barrio has become - by two million euros and it is not just the interthe square metre - one of the most expensive national market that loves Santa Catalina.

We are increasingly getting local Mallorquins places to buy in Spain.

The area may be small - only seven streets also looking to buy,” he explains. wide, stretching from Feixina park to busy This is perhaps no surprise, as the suburb Calle Joan Crepsí - but it has literally explod- increasingly becomes THE place to eat in Palma and more and more hip and trendy

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found dozens of tourists had been scammed out of millions of euros from various sites, which illegally uploaded villa photos from legitimate sites.

Among those scammed were British Rugby Union star Dean Schofield, who lost €50,000 on a fake villa in Mallorca.

This time, the website used to book the trip, dreamvillasspain.com, was remarkably similar to those created before.

Among its claims is the goal to ‘cre-

CASES of ‘werewolf syndrome’ grown after have contaminated16 children were given medication del Sol. on the Costa Infants developed hypertrichosis cessive body - exomeprazole hair growth - after taking which had been nated by minoxidil contamidient for alopecia – the active ingreSome 13 babies medication. had initially nosed with been diagmore cases the condition before three linked to the were discovered tainted drugs Officials believeearlier this month. the could have affected up contamination cian pharmacies to 30 and more Andalubatches of the than 50 drug.

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He claims Maia is not only able to learn to attending school and is with the choir, whichplay the organ and sing is ‘hardly an appropriate syllabus’.

Local vicar Knut Bjune insisting local teachers denied this however, were coming to church to give her lessons ‘almost all the time’. the “Socially she is not conditions are good,”isolated and their living “We are not hiding he told the Olive Press. information and we made it clear this cannot have WISHES: On Maia’s In the one, heartrending be long term.” birthday this week which Shepherd taped phone call to Maia - A Norwegian - the tearful youngster Supreme Court will can be heard telling Bjørnsen’s probe her brothers she wants return to Spain. to Bjørnsen’s asylum claim this month. lawyer, Vidar Helgheim, Shepherd’s Norwegian that claimed firmed this week: “A lawyer Sol Elden, con- case,‘new information’ had now ‘changed’ the but refused church is not a place withdraw yourself from to “The (original) to disclose it. legal responsibilities. case was based on It is an abuse of church very little information. You have “It is her duty to now asylum. to go deeper and ask why she ended bring the girl back Spain after the final to A Norwegian up in this situation,” he said. police spokesperson Shepherd has now court ruling.” told the Olive Press ernment minister written to Norwegian gov- remainedthey would not intervene while Maia in the church. ing help after local Solveig Horne demand- “The police will not enter Maia’s case, saying child services dismissed someone a church and arrest no further action would who has requested be taken. protection,” Ingar Boen, Chief of Police District Møresaid Romsdal. og

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May 9th - May 22nd

The British Brexit and expats who are proproud SEE PAGE 7

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OLIVE PRESS

The Olive Press action followinghelps victims take skyrocketing reports of holiday rental scam

Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca

Introducing News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt

Contact them with stories or news any on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es (Personal contacts on page 6)

VOX’S top candidate for Benidorm mayor has after revelations been replaced a two-year prison he received A BRITISH expat is being domestic violence sentence tigious for THE Olive Press in February British gong handed a is helping mother 2018. services to victims take tourists inby the Queen forpresto lung cancer a THE socialist David Perez Brigido Candida Wright her Alicante. few against a holidaylegal action years ago. will hold ned party was her charitable will receive banrental com- “My (PSOE) on to from the an MBE pany that scammed government the Valencian election,thedespite work as nephews and nieces largest for two an in the upcoming were regional two-year years ago sentences sometimes makers thousands holiday- really looking forward May 16. hospital in the interpreter in elections, from the Marina Alta, dor to Spain. being waived to a market The 58-year-old, British Ambassavillas on the Costa for rental they have never been to it as in Spain on Though research according if the Sigma Dos accused abroad,” volunteered known has no previous It comes as the Blanca.

Deleslie told the revealed company.

Candida she is a professional with HELP as ‘Candy’, has take between Olive Press. na AltaconPSOE victions. interpreter, of since contacted by new paper was “I spent two years violence often represents victims 29-30 seats, will le the Popular During that it launched in Denia & Mariin Spanish Perez Brigidowhiof sexual as offering 1984.

Dream Villas Spain,victims of for this trip, and saving up time she courts for Party was found see its representation through (PP) will to have financial has helped free, as well we just following afford cancer, bereavement, ‘repeatedly charity. support through 31 seats last issue’s report cy and expats fall abused’ to pay for new can’t his ex-wife, court battles. from on the plight The “One of the after he ‘shoved bureaucraher But withto 22-23. of the Bolton family, the president kids are devastated.”villa. SCAM: and As threw ne comes hardest things her totalground, Valencia’s the to the the help desk of the charity, Dream Villas Spain is when someoseats inpulled €2,000 on a Moraira who lost We helped the died and to the desk saying her hair at the Marina PSOE will Generalitat she runs family make site conned Brits in Denia. rental. and punched I don’t know ‘my husband at 99, Petra Deleslie, a police denuncia, which ‘general manager’ her “The Salud hospital lained Candy, abroad coalition again face’. what to form a in the Theneed most exciting judge Ro- returns from her Spanish who lives in to do’,” expalso found contacted us 42, has now leslie said she will after De- sella Alba Gutierrez majority to reach the vitation the card absolute 2014 to 2017. dis- I was thing was the Ondara with graced 35 and 25, husband. Her seats. far-right politician The poll of 50 €6,000 booking after losing than €12,000’ as lose ‘more Spain’s Companieshas shut There BP (Buckingham posted with pink in- respectively. live in Madrid two children, suggests had a villa in Mo- already flights were and frequently House numberis no availablemake phone the theand raira later this year Olive‘dea pact withthe PSOE‘insulted’ and reveals that While she booked will (the one on the Press. Palace),” Candidawords tal procedures, Compromis meaned’ Valencianist “I thought helps withValencia web- (17-18 told she’s the woman, tended family of for her ex- were unable toand her bank Spain, which is Dream Villas site has been who was it meant hospileft-wing 18. often calledburials and repatriation, disconnected) registered as claim their Digital first.” seats)post-traumatic left with British Petroleum she joked. and We agreed to help money back. and the name hand’ upon Dream SL, (6-7 seats). populist stress The expat, Podemos Rosella disorder. at “You’reto someone in to just be a ‘helping who has told us she was after she She showed the porated in 2014 was incor- Gutierrez appears need.

The Alba years, received regional lived nowhere who are sometimes dealing elections on May in for a break after ‘desperate’ emails asking Olive Press cessing and web for ‘data pro- the list of employees. a ‘Points in Spain for 45 will 26 of Light’ Dream hosting’. losing her llas tions, andcancer patients, or with people European the same day as fall award Another it just gives need amputaSpain for a refund, Vi- Based in Carrer de the eling to think la Fe, in ve Press victim told the Oli- elections. you a wonderful after Palma, Mallorca, ‘I really helped this week she See feit filed tax booked them today’.” hadour election guide a villa in Marbella MEETING as on page 6 a surprise getaway QUEEN: for four Candida friends and five 18-year-old daughters as a post-A Levels CON present. artists have scammed a Sarah Adam, based British in Lon- after pensioner out of €300 don, told us she pretending she has also beenis convinced cover money leftto help him rescammed. at a cashpoint THE owners in Javea The company has appealing bike shoplast Saturday. not res-forof aBrian ponded to email theft are Stokes, requests was approaof for witnesses of a 77, comment. just one €40,000ched by two British of stock ‘20-something’ families in Meanwhile, DarrenThe theftminute! Spanish -men thousands outside Coombes at Xabia’s scammed the SaMoraira from Alicante-based Bikes bank saw ninebadell in on Cabo de la Nau from out of Dream bikes Villa Spain told the at 4am Pla stolen hefake claiming last Wednesday had leftholiday Olive ning. Press €20 in EXCLUSIVE the fraudsters are One morthe cashpoint.

By Joshua The A cashing thieves BRITISH of the in then on his credibility was bikes, claimed Parfitt family a Trek they couldn’t a week’swithdraw who booked worth €13,000. and drawing holiday on users from his legitimate cash LR10, “Two thieves villa, in Blanca were themselves the and asked pro- broke shocked Costa ferring Moraira, before just a minute perty business website. their villa Stokes in andtoin re-insert the deposit. transsee She advertised nine bikes,” andwhich card, astoavailable on his a half they has stole stole.

40, co-ownerMartin Stadlhofer, her familynow confirmed website. a completely

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MYSTERY surrounds apparent the suicide derly British of an resident elthe Costa on Blanca.

The 84-year-old threw herself expat from a bridge in Javea ‘pacing after being seen railings. frantically’ by the A neighbour, who asked not to be Olive Pressnamed, told the man ‘peeringhe saw the woover the after squeezing edge’ fence and between a a steel pillar at one end support dge. of the briIt was about an hour re police befosuicide were alerted to attempt dry Gorgos over thea riverbed children while football played on a nearby “She waspitch. paper bag holding a white in the bag and kept looking over the and then leaning bour told edge,” the neigh“I wantedthe Olive Press. she was to ask her what rried she doing, but I wonish and spoke only Spaassumed feeding stray she was cats.”

different that told the Olive of Xabia’s Bikes, over the have been scammed Susan Bolton, Quickly holiday Press.

61, soon “I’m not she had Just after realised “We were this due for June. close to they weresure they knew for our sit when lost the ₤1,300 depoanother 7pm last Tuesday leaving Dream Villas ked over doing as they what based Spanish existed,” holiday that ness revealed knocin a bike worth Spain, Press. never Bolton told eyewitand didn’t contact. Mallorca, shut off €12,000 the Olive SCAM: the woman she had seen take it—which all “I knew great for The Brit family jump from us.” eastern is West mother-of-two He told caught when I we had been conned the of two bridges from Midlands the Olive by fake the Avenida had chosen had spent the ding an contacted them ks finding villa website Press they de Augusta. on airport regar- different “I was walking wee- no the villa the perfect tations’. response. pick up and got holiday homes for out of 780 The to Mercadona when It made me site. me suspicious.” rent on the scam beco- They her shoes,I saw her take years sincecomes almost She added only realised off climb the two and the company been scammed exclusively the Olive not responding they is Press told no more,” the railing, to any callsnow port pick-up when an had fake holidayexposed a string emails. woman the air- tourists of happenedOlive Press. or and he websites never arrived, Meanwhile, duping coming to so quickly.”“It all celebrity property caught a taxi to Three police In te taster Spain. chocolato find the the we a series of investigations cars red German. ambulance ₤5,000 Angus Kennedy found bewilderaced to and an had been dozens of tourists covered when his family lost “What was ne to retrieve the a German scammed dis- case different the body. sceeuros from at the Mallorcan Police confirmed man living millions is I was determined in our of of the various to the house, booked which illegally villa they the death as to get uploaded sites, spokesperson suicide, cause Spain. through Dream had ted the press”and then contacphotos from Villas Olive while legitimate villa Angus told Kennedy, Among for the Towna Press.

Hall said the British those scammedsites. the “I think many that whenfrom Kent, revealed were sh and had lady was BritiRugby more duped and Dean this month,the family arrived Union star of flats next lived in a block the scamhave been €50,000Schofield, the owner, worth millions.” gave his who could be many years’. to the river completelyname as Klaus, who The website llorca. on a fake villa in lost ‘for Ma- Neither police baffled and was the he used Spain Dream nothing to book knew com, trip, dreamvillasspain. or the town hall would website. about the rental rate as Digital Villas, who claims its ope- suggesting reveal her or te your goal is to Dreams clined to SL, de- problematic it was name, ‘creadream holiday rience and proving JWe werecomment. to contact exceed your expe- anyone unable to next her expeccontact Noneof kin in the at UK. as we wentDream Villas Spain of the residents to press. area

A BRITISH dogs chainedexpat called in police in an abandoned Roger Ballantine after finding house without a group the dogs contacted of Ballantinewhile out walking the Guardia Civil food. after finding ‘pungent had decided to near Orba. investigate Inside he smell’ coming from the ruin. when he noticed kept on found scenes worthy a short chains of a horror excrement. surrounded “It was despicable,” by trash film with dogs and their clear that own farmers Ballantine told have chained the Olive Press. “It these four is dogs.”

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JAVEA Town Hall legal proceedings has begun the Town Hall began proceowner of a propertyagainst the edings after learning that the public access to who cut off owner had intentionally a heritage fishing ground in Balcon med the stairs, closing reforaccess The unknown owner, al Mar. to the ancient site from Calle who has Samuel a luxurious four-storey Adler. overlooking Cala Ambolo, villa “These works represent a very built serious attack a ‘stone staircase’ on railings’ that cut with ‘metal that corresponds a heritage access to the said to Llavadora del Pinet a spokesperson forus all,” Jávea Oceanographic Research Councillor Isabel fishery.

Bolufer said tute Insti(IROX).

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Vol. 4 Issue

SEEN THEM:Van Brueckner, or believed paedophile Christian to have taken Maddie?

voice in Spain

- June 25th

EXCLUSIVE: Did Maddie kidnapper in his distinctive Valencia her van tobring restaurant? this in, Page 2

2020

Closing

INTRIGUING:

2019

Vox 4 blocked www.theolivepress.es

Olive Press an campaign this extensive AT LAST: Dreamvillasspain.com year.

Scammers Dreamvillasspain.com countless tales was behind Press campaign (inset left), of heartbreak seduced holidaymakers nailed after while (right) as it It soon Olive victim Angus chasing villa dawned on and family rentals that into pur- his €5,500 Angus he’d isted. lost fielding never explace to stayand urgently needed The first case a rentals calls concerning with bogus from Tenerife, Olive Press was reported by the young children. his wife and five and to Marbella achs lurch as they Moraira.

April when to the Guardia Civil in “I think many read of the breaking wasOne of the most heart- tactics of dreamvillasspain.com more have scam taster Angus professional chocolate duped and the scam been from could be worth 42, and the collapse Petra Deleslie, the Olive Press. in millions,” Angus a villa he had Kennedy turned up The way the of month-long told this paper scam operated villa rental her €6,000 prospective He was met paid for in Mallorca.at the time. at Blanca, with bewildered With renters would was that booked for this on the Costa an man owner, Untitled-1.pdf email from Ger- made mounting cases, this receive The October. ‘general manager’ 1 who knowledge of Klaus, a collective paper set mum-of-two from Kent 16/06/2017 Rosella Alba had no denuncia at to travel with ever putting Gutierrez offering up for rental. the his house15:36Guardia Civil in Moraira 18 extended was all counts of UK-based on behalf members for a ‘much-needed family spectivefor up-front payments disfollowing the on revillas.

Soon after, victims. break’ death of her the Olive mother to But once paid, Gutierrez Press was lung cancer. off all contact, would shut “My nephews as it turned and nieces company’s out the ally looking were re- For monthsphone was a fake. to it as they forward til a major nothing was heard - unhave never UK been abroad,” touch saying news network got in told the Olive Deleslie shut down. the website had been “I spent two Press.

The Olive ing up for thisyears sav- second site Press can also reveal I just can’t trip, and a separate - named and shamed a article - is also in pay for a new afford to live. no longer villa. The kids are devastated.”

Travelvacationtour.com Deleslie added with exactly operated the same layout mulative loss the cu- houses as dreamvillasspain.com, and would cost of flights and scammed €12,000 in her family out of €5,500 Brit Donna Archer for a Tenerife Then there total. villa was Sarah booked as a post GCSE Adams, who son and gift to Find out more a surprise booked It is not his best mate in May. her yet clear if legal on page XX to Malaga getaway been taken against the action has friends and for four as both companies, their jointare listed five daughters as ‘active’ Spanish on as a Guardia Companies House. post-A Levels Civil Both Deleslie present. before we wentcould not comment to press. ams felt theirand Adstom-

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Demands victims from holiday as convicted conman rentals

A BRITISH avoids couple conned €2,800 prison AND site havethrough a fake holidayout of back stolen paying webSpanish turned detective and had fees However,fraudster convicted. a are now the angry holidaymakers conman demanding action with Valencia after the return their money, links failed to order. despite a court The couple, Lucia and both 54, Peter Myers, from London, that Alvaro Lopez Uribeare furious one installment SCAMMED: after being out of an only paid Brit Lucia rate scam. found guilty of agreed 11, Myers had the elaboA Spanish Uribe (right) suspended six months court sentenced convicted re-paid the the term on condition jail for ruining Uribe to over luxury day in Mallorca But Uribe couple. he “I villa rental thought last year their holi- insolvent has now declared that the (above) and then have and the lockdown but now fore declared court hashimself ment been why we have might conman for months, the case therewarned.“It had is ‘bankrupt’ over. email informing but then no pay- mers turned out and free these scamwas now us that theI got an from had simply stolen the internet matter bank account the pictures told the ended,” IT specialist site,” Olive Press and in Valencia also used this week. Lucia moneyLucia explained. set up a fake She and by the same that “The authorities to be returned scammers.was runs a husband Peter, there to take this in Spain computer who Lucia were no funds was refused had handed don’t seem as tinued. very seriously,” business, in the managed over the “But to my a bank transfer couples to find account. she concash crime. who one-week to pay forvia scam. One had fallen fortwo other stolen How much mind this is a big money has the same a Mallorca of them from ket villa stay at an upmarturned up been While Uribeinnocent people?”

But just near Palma, in 2017. find they with their two UK BASED claimed had nowhere children in guilty and were due the day before other shadier he was not to behind to stay. figures were the scam, told the to fly out, they they should pay were she available.villa was no longer Dossier for the crimebelieves he he is convicted.

Determined The couple, for which “This puts that no-one fall who were ling with travel- to victim to the site, else should have gone us off visiting have it closed Julia, 15 their two children, Spain. We she managed past few to Corfu instead for Spanish down the time, and Alicia, nine an not good years. Scams like for the at Sheofficial complaint. after making another were forced to residents also went ties shouldfor Spain – the this are book villa.

Incredibly, to the Guardia which eventually harder for realise this and authorion an www.globelink.co.uk search Civil, and with Lucia conmen make it took internet for a last to work easier for twice flying on the case, rental they ness to Granada. online minute people to money out as a actual villa were offered get their wit- A homeback.”

“The court the paid the and told by the real owners I think

by Uribe address given to expenses, that they 96 626 5000 the victims the surprisedthe defendant’s but ty this in Granada had of a classic been turned appeared court to see me. lawyer was week. that has +44 (0) empNeighbours 1353 699082 up, that If I hadn’t over the caught hundredsscam would have told had not last few been the seen himthe Olive Press they Olive Press years, as out end of the case,” An official for the During the she said. has frequently address ‘some time’. lettings she compiledtwo year investigation for empty business’ turnedhis ‘holiday a huge formation out to be – includingdossier of in- they hadwith local businesses never heard details of a of him. saying Opinion Page 6

exposed many more

Of hypertrichosis

for Spanish residents

2017

From front page

19/3/19 16:51

UK BASED

TRAVEL INSURANCE

www.globelink.co.ukCMY

June 9th - June 22nd

STOP THE SCAMMERS

A RISING is one of at football star Health authorities least 51 customers are reportedly heavy sanctions been poisonedbelieved to have preparing for failures food and ‘structural at restaurant in the handling raised when in Mallorca. a Japanese deficiencies’.

A top scorer of Real Mallorca 19-yearB footballer old Baunbag was in his club and standing Baunbag is Carlos Mora Victor de last year tipped at 6ft English Premier fallen ill this among the dozens entered to be signed 2, on Sushi on week after eating atto have In November, League club Liverpool. by e m e r g e n the Calle Blanqerna Dragcy The Cameroonian 19-year-old’s agents from the in Palma. room the morning forward, born drid, is one land and madequalities ‘could fit Reds said the after eating However it well’ in Engat the restaurant. it known that tested positive of many who have in Maing him.

Dragon Sushiwasn’t until two days they were trackalready for Salmonella found in uncooked was closed The rising later that tors, who ordered star will now by food safety meats and - the bacteria while he recovers seafood. be firmly inspecWhile the current tests to be performed. from sickness. off the pitch The alarm number of 51, authorities of the Salmonella victims stands much higher. believe that figure outbreak was at first until the case The restaurant will could climb remain closed is complete.

and husband Peter forked €3,000 to a fake website out nearly a villa rental in Mallorca. last year for detective in a bid to get Lucia turned and traced the paymenther cash back to a bank in Granada, eventually identifying ro Lopez Uribe as the recipient Alvaof the money. He was eventually sentenced to six months jail after tiple trips to Spain to she made multestify against him.

She told the Olive Press: ities in Spain don’t seem“The authorto take this very seriously. To my mind this is a big crime. How much money stolen from innocent people?”has been As in the Myers’ case, a group of hackers managed to clone the several travel agencies websites of to undertake the latest scam.

They often took the details of individual homes and hijacked contact numbers.

Using a series of websites, including Palmasur and Mallorca Letting, they cleverly seduced clients into parting with large sums See page 5 & 14 of money as deposits for holidays.

The money was sent to series of bank accountsa in Valencia, Madrid and 96 626 5000 +44 (0) 1353 699082

Rent rage

Ave de Gabriel

Still a be-leaver!

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Rental websites which scammed British holidaymakers out of thousands FINALLY shut down following Olive Press exposes

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Malaga-based pharmaceutical pany Farma-Quimica comSur found to be the source of SL has been The affected the batch is batch.

11072/10/42 from called while and most have been lot being trackedany missing packets reare Parents have down. medical help been advised to seek if their child given the formula has and check with been pharmacy if their affected lot. they have purchased Hypertrichosis, an ‘werewolf syndrome’, known as is a rare condition characterised growth anywhere by excessive hair on a person’s Those with body. the condition cally been subject have historiin somes cases to great interest travelling circusesforced to performand Spanish authoritiesand freak shows. in have said this cident is isolated inand that adults to children’s formula sules should taking omeprazole capnot worry about oping symptoms. develWhen the children stopped taking A FRAUDULENT the prescription hair growth their site that villa rental subsided. webtricked British makers out of thousands holidayOpinion Page has finally 6 shut down following

CMY

BLOODY SCENE: Stab victim is attended to

paper

Howler!

A

Is this Mallorca’s

Brexit

“Some of them just say they ‘want to escape the UK’.”

By the end of 2018 there were 10,315 British nationals registered in Mallorca, compared to 10,196 in 2017.

The drop of expat numbers mostly happened since 2013 due to the deep six-year recession, which was the worst in Spain’s history.

This now looks to be in reverse in Spain as a whole, despite Brexit.

“I know many British people who are continuing to move to Spain,” said British councillor in Malaga Dean Tyler Shelton.

“At the same time I think Brexit has been a factor in pushing more Brits to register in Spain. Most have no intention of going back,” he added.

There are 330,911 Brits registered as living in Spain. Alicante has the highest number with 69,289 registered in 2018, up from 66,397 in 2017.

Last month, a royal decree was passed giving Brits living in Spain until December 31 2020 to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card, granting TM after them legal status in the country Brexit.

Page 15

ken to his daughter “It’s morally wrong,just once since. seeking asylum to the law. avoid “My lawyer said if a legal problem ran everyone in Norway with law we better start to a church to escape the building more churches,” he continued.

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osta de la Luz

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Welcome to Tarifa, the wind and kite surfers’ paradise that is unique in Andalucia (and pretty much Spain) for its hip, international vibe and deep layers of history.

The star of the Costa de la Luz - or Coast of Light - that stretches from here to Cadiz (and technically all the wa

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For relief from the hot and busy summer, switch to the Costa de la Luz (or Coast of Light).

It’s a complete breath of fresh air, writes Laurence Dollimore

We’re here to stay!

Did it all begin in Spain?

WARNING: Olive Press string of fake investigation holiday rental discovers customers sites conning this summer

2

England rugby international and friends fury at €50,000 holiday scam

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Fake news

another email to say he had given me the wrong bank account number.

“I immediately felt very fortable. I believe he uncomEXCLUSIVE was going to hit me twice. I phoned

By Joe Duggan brother and said. ‘I think my this is RUGBY star Dean a scam.’”

Schofield is urging action after Anne phoned both hers and the mauled in a sophisticatedbeing recipient’s bank and her money holiday shakedown. was returned four days later.

Wasps international “I can’t stand the (right) and wife Gemma, Dean families heading to thought of both 38, were set to take their children to finda villa with they have break to Spain with a dream nowhere to stay.” celebrate the Englandfriends to While she got her money international’s retirement. she was forced to apply back, for a But the vacation turned new passport after into a nightmare after the a copy of her passportsending to the 16 from Cheshire group of fraudsters. unwittingly booked via a fraudulent This week, an Olive property rental website. holiday porter, posing as Press rea holidayIn total, scammers maker, enquired about ment and deposit took payan exclusive property renting of €5,700 (£5,000) holidaysvillas.com. with rentand €11,400 (£10,000) respectively ‘Flavio’ offered us bedel Sol and in Mallorca fore swiping another £3,850 a week, plus a price of €29,800 manding legal action are de(£26,000) for the stunning count for full paymenta 10% disvilla own properties were after their in Mallorca, which is requesting a passport up front, taken and owned by copy and offered to rent at much a wealthy foreign owner. full address. cheaper prices.

The group only rumbled When asked why he needed the SCAMMED: Holiday We have discovered scam, via rentholidaysvillas. this, ‘Flavio’ replied: that the group and (right) photo of Davila com, the day before fake site with profile we make the contract, “When they flew. we need still get the flight over. stolen from Oz agent a photograph of(left) is actually “We were very angry to be sure of your passport But what an deestate agent, whom Australian found out,” Gemma when we if we were from a normal fam- “I must confess we did think put tails.” we are not naming, for legal reasons.

Olive Press this week.told the ily and couldn’t afford to come? it was a bit cheap for where it they your trust in us’ and that One genuine property ‘believe in honesty’ Another British victim a horrible moment “It was We were at least able to salvage was, and it in fact rents for a lot scammers site, who asked to remain rental the more,” admits Gemma. anonhave stolen photos site, pensioner Anne of the weren’t sure what to and we the holiday.” ymous, expressed her Landon, from hundreds of do.

Thankfully, the group The group had come said she became suspicious “We started Googling properties the negative impact ‘regret at of eight across across the this could ter booking a break through afother stories came up. it and stunning eight-bedroom villa adults and eight children - who Greece Spain, Portugal and have on holidaymakers the and has a series of fake site and transferring emailed the person When we with a huge pool and grounds are still on holiday on the is- testimonials have paid their deposits.’ who into one of their UK £4,600 from ‘happy’ clidealing with at the we’d been and got in touch with the web- land - are now trying to reclaim ents “We are deeply shocked bank acsite called site via email. at the bottom. their money as the booking and counts.

‘Flavio’ he sent an abusive saddened,” she said. was There are 18 “This is exmade via a credit card. email The website looked properties “I take back. tremely clever criminal on the Costa del Sol for rent holiday my grandchildren on credible and even hadextremely The website meanwhile “Luckily we were in every summer and was and 38 in and we will always do activity is still a photo live, despite getting pretty desperate being reported to Mallorca, as well as 38 in Ibiza position where we a fortunate of its alleged owner, Flavio Herto help people who our best trying and 21 on the Algarve, its web hosting company to find somewhere,” range an alternative could ar- nandes Davila, who did the netreated in this way.” have been in Porsaid Anne, villa and gotiating.

Olive Press and to UK by the tugal.

74.

Helle Heredia from Various Despite boasting that police.

“The price was very based holiday propertyMalaga‘you can we have genuine rental firms reasonable spoken to on the Costa rental and I was so excited. firm Novasol, said: mediately after bookingBut imabout these types of “We hear he sent scams all the time and the name has been mentioned ‘Flavio’ several times by guests that Rentholidaysvillas.com have been scammed before reaching is hosted by US-based enforcement on alleged to us for help. fraud and server GoDaddy, “My advice for holiday which for taking have processes was warned as makers, action. If is to book with well-known as April of the long ago one believes they anyhave scam by been established holiday rental and a leading holiday defrauded companies, check there site in Spain. When rental should contact law they is a valid phone number, always enasked forcement.” why it was still credit-card when you use a week, GoDaddy live this Contact your local booking, Google the make a poCrimes boss Ben Digital lice and Action Fraud first to check if they websites explained: “We Butler, and email newsdesk@ reported for scams have been nicate regularly commu- theolivepress.es if you’ve with law been always remember ifbefore and scammed. too good to be true it sounds – it probably is!”

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July 5th - July 18th 2018

homes since 1958

2017

FLASHBACK: Our first exclusive Three Lions ELprobe AVISO into the pub scams was in June, 2017

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Geldof weds

CATCH TH SCAMMERE S!

THE rights EXCLUSIVE Brits living of 1.2 million

By Joe Duggan three millionin the EU and EU citizens the UK appears in THE Olive to be inching closer. ing action Press is demandThe initial fake holidayagainst a string of will be on focus for Brexit rental sites ly advertising expat rights, falsenancial settlement a filuxury villas across the Balearic and ‘other separation Islands.

It comes after issues’, it was confirmed we reported last issue that after the first of negotiations scam site Rentday villa rental holidaysvillas.com At the joint in Brussels. company Bonder was conand Co. ning British press conference on Monday, tourists Both fake thousands websites Spainviof euros eachout of vis and Michel David Dapholidays.com In total, British year. said the issue Barnier also and BalearicVillaEscapes.com €8.16 million victims lost travel in Ireland of common in holiday are ing the same scams last was important. properties, listthe same year rise of year, a year-onuse with both website template, Association 20%, claims the of British having the website domains Agents (ABTA).

Travel Future fication key.same Google veriIn one of the "We've laid solid foundaAn IT expert reported last worst examples, tions for issue, rugby told the Press that Dean Schofield star sions and future discusthis was a Olive and friends case of ‘domain shelled out classic achievable an ambitious but nearly €50,000 COPIED: timetable," criticised Googlefarming’ and for a fraudulent How genuine Davis, Britain's said villa break for not takSpain VIP ing the sites site was scammed Mallorca.

Brexit minister. in Holidays down immediately. by We have Davis insisted All three scam many other now discovered that talks about trade websites running NEWS websites are massively hosted by US-based similar fraudulent parallel’, butwould occur ‘in lure victimsreduced prices to firm Goschemes, Daddy, which Barnier said including they would panies you in. also hosts RenHelle Heredia, have never holidaysvillas.com. capes.com, balearicvillaessecond phase.start only in a about. Don't heard The Luxurydreamsca-based rental from Mallorvillas.com let scammers UK’s Action First, ‘significant ruin your holidays.” and www.digfirm NovaFraud consol, said she firmed it is italdreamsholidays.com. progress’ would need The fraudsters, now investigatto be made to 30’ recent had heard of ‘25 ing rentholidaysvillas.com, Photos of an who are very the EU's priority difficult to on cases of people eight-bedroomed being scammed although at Mallorca property, tably the rights issues, novery good track down, are but believed advertised there were to press had the time of going from €800 of expatriate citizens and ‘many more’. profiles and,at creating fake “It’s so scary our enquiries.not responded to fourth site per night on a as revealed cial accounts.a settling finanissue, the photo last GoDaddy sites - they with these scam com, have spainvipholidays. for the agent EU negotiators ‘Flavio’ for was made one purpose,pop up with just of Rentholidaysvillas.com’s genuine USbeen lifted from a aware that current have insisted las.com was rentholidaysvilcitizens’ rights ple of their of robbing peofraudulent Untitled-1.pdf treats.com. website luxuryreshould remain tralian estate actually an Ausactivity in 1 16/06/2017 important money in the most but the site, unchanged.

On the genuine April, time of everyone’s We have now agent.

15:36 site Asylum drama and the three year the actual Top-end properties others, are price is from a photo of discovered that the whole of around said. - their holidays,” still live. €2,930 a night.

A GoDaddy Spain are being Balearicvillaesshe capes marketed by ‘property “Just ensure told the Olive spokesperson the scammers Portillo Olivares agent’ Alba not to be temptat ed by fantastic Digital Crimes Press: “Our is actually stolen photo offers by comUnit still have a not received er, director of Paloma Bondany inquiries of top Ibiza requests from or luxury ment law enforceon these websites.”

C

M

Continues on Page

Voted BEST expat paper in Spain

Suits EU, ma’am

THE Queen fit looked a of England's outlittle familiar some as she to FREE Vol. 1 Issue opened parliament yesterday.

5 As she spoke of making Brexit ‘successful’, became abuzz social media with how her blue and ‘blatantly’ yellow ensemble imitated the flag.

EU “Is it me or ing a Euro is her Maj sportone viewer flag on her head?” said.

While the Queen ficially neutral remains ofon political topics there has been debate since the referendum her view. about Our exclusive look One person at Pixie Geldof’s Mallorca remained vinced on connuptials the issue, “I always knew saying: she was a rePage 2 mainer.”

Expats’ rights closer

Parfitt

CATCH THE SCAMMERS!

9th 2021

ANIMAL MAGIC SPECIAL

By Fiona Govan

Pic by Joshua

Dream Killas

Tel: 952 147 834 TM

m

The

ated a Facebook post about OPAU to explain why their trust in the business has collapsed.

Estate agents OPAU, has franchise offices in Murcia, Valencia and Alicante but the complaints are centred on its Malaga office. It’s staff are accused of lying, dodgy dealing and bringing misery and stress to renters across the south of Spain.

Expat Joyce Su, who first raised the alarm, said she was determined to speak out in a bid to drive out the rogue estate agents.

The former fashion student, who studied in Milan, said OPAU frequently gives misleading information about properties, and accused the firm of purposefully taking ‘agency-fees’ from house hunters to line their own pockets.

The 33-year-old said: “If you are looking for flats, please avoid an agency called OPAU. They have many nice flats on Idealista to lure you in, but mostly are not available.”

She went on to accuse the company of ‘playing games’ by not answering phone calls, always being unavailable and sending clients on wild goose chases to find properties.

m

TWO

EXCLUSIVE

By Kirsty McKenzie

CA*

THE Olive Press has uncovered ANOTHER rental scam that has been plaguing expats in Spain.

In the past few years we have exposed many fraudsters who have targeted holidaymakers in Mallorca with fave adverts, often fleecing innocent people out of thousands of Euros.

The problem got so bad that a local hoteliers’ association on the island started offering free accommodation to holidaymakers who arrived to find their ‘dream villa’ didn’t exist.

But now we have uncovered another scam that targets expat residents in Spain.

Victims are now calling for authorities to clamp down on ‘ s c a m ’ e s t a t e agents after expats rallied together to share their experiences of one cheating business.

They cre-

Discover hassle-free currency transfers

2 147 834

voice in Spain

G FOR TIN T

Opinion Page 6

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TURN PAGE TO 11

Scrutiny

In total, around 600 Spaniards are now under scrutiny after being named in the Pandora Papers leak, which was compiled by over a dozen media groups around the globe.

The papers also put the spotlight on Russian oligarchs and godfather Amato, who used offshore companies to amass wealth and assets in Spain.

A series of well-known expats, such as pop star Shakira and Nobel-Prize winning author Mario Vargas Llosa, appear to have broken tax rules.

The use of off-shore companies is not illegal or evidence of wrongdoing, but the papers show how the super-rich can amass wealth in ways that are not easy for tax agencies to detect.

Spain’s tax agency Hacienda confirmed it would be examining the data dump of 11.9 million records.

We catch up with one of Britain’s most successful expats and get the lowdown on his next big venture

The

NAMED: Schiffer & Guardiola A HOST of Spanish gangsters, oligarchs and celebrities have been caught up in a giant offshore tax scandal.

Former king Juan Carlos, football manager Pep Guardiola and singer Miguel Bose, are among the biggest Spanish names stung in the so-called Pandora Papers.

But it is the Italian gangster Raffaele Amato, who was arrested in Malaga, model Claudia Schiffer, who has a home in Mallorca, and Julio Iglesias, who lives in Marbella, that will be of most interest locally.

All of them have been exposed as having offshore accounts alongside at least five Spanish politicians in the giant trove of documents released this week.

www.theolivepress.es

Your

ATS OF MALL EXP OR HE

The box is open

Vol. 5 Issue 116

OLIVE PRESS EXCLUSIVE

fraudsters TRAVEL INSURANCE

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transfers mined to get a refund for the agency Tel: 952 147 834 fee she paid in good faith.

952 147 834 Dozens of expats shared similar experiences, complaining about poor value for money, gazumping, unnecessary delays and failure to communicate.

One, Anna Indricane, said: “After the whole September spent with OPAU looking for a long term apartment, it has been a waste of time and money.”

Portals Nous, 07181, Mallorca.

SP18206EN - Front page

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Warnings

Tom Stenberg called OPAU a ‘scam’, while Don Simon Bolivar, from Bristol, said: “I’m amazed that they are still in business. There are many warnings about them.”

Sheila Almas said: “We were lucky that we left the ‘nice looking’ office and said we are going to think about it. But I never got back to them after seeing many posts and stuff about them on the internet.”

The Olive Press has tried to get in touch with OPAU, but the phone went unanswered and emails have not been replied to.

2

CRIME

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF Tragic accident A MOTORCYCLIST, 58, is in a serious condition after crashing into a car at an access to the motorway in Marratxi. He was stabilised and rushed to Son Espases.

MONK IN CELL Irish gangster remanded in custody by Irish court

Bricking it A BRICKLAYER has been sentenced to six months jail and two months of community service for swindling a family out of €700 by taking the cash for work he never completed.

Coke chase A 45-year-old Spaniard who was driving without a licence, accompanied by a weeping passenger and under the influence of cocaine and heroin was arrested in Son Oms after being chased for eight kilometres.

Bad review A 30-year-old local Spaniard has been sentenced to 35 days community service after he posted negative reviews of a lawyer on Google and sent insulting emails.

October 8th - October 21st 2021

CAUGHT: Hutch

IRISH gangster Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch appeared in a Dublin court after the Irish Air Corps laid on a plane to literally bring him to justice.

He was flown back under the tightest security from Madrid and formally arrested on the runway after the plane touched down.

The 58-year-old was charged with the murder of David Byrne during a boxing match weigh-in at

Scales of justice POACHED fish can come with a hefty price tag, as a Palma restaurant has discovered.

In this case it’s not about the cooking method and menu price though.

Inspectors found a selection of illegally harpooned fish - complete with entry and exit holes where the weapon had struck - on sale to diners.

The fish were seized as a potential health hazard and the restaurant owner now faces a fine.

In the Balearic Islands, breaking maritime fishing, shellfish farming, and aquaculture legislation is taken very seriously, and the restaurant could face fines of up to €30,000 for each violation.

Having found eight fish the potential penalty could be €240,000.

town’s Plaza de la Constitucion next to the main church in the heart of the Dublin's Regency Hotel in busy resort.

David Byrne, was shot February 2016.

Hutch had been detained dead when a five-strong as he browsed a menu and squad stormed a boxing prepared to order lunch in weigh-in at the hotel. It a restaurant in Fuengirola is thought to have been part of a feud between the on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Hutch and Kinahan gangs.

Spanish police had lost his Hiding trail when he disappeared He had been hiding out from Lanzarote where he in a spacious flat in the had been hiding out for a number of years.

Police finally tracked him down by focusing on known associates in the hope that they would lead them to his A POTENTIAL disaster was bolthole. averted when a pair of hikers spotted two arsonists pour petrol onto scrubland then strike a Traced match.

He was finally traced As flames started to rise, the hikto the apartment alers - who have not been named legedly owned by a by police - called emergency sercriminal associate and vices then dashed to the fire in arrested at a local cafe. an attempt to put it out.

Spanish judges refused Their quick action helped contwo appeals against extain the fire until firefighters tradition on a Europearrived who extinguished the an Arrest Warrant, but blaze in Sa Talaia de Sant Antosaid that should he be ni (Ibiza). convicted, he should Now police are hunting for the be returned to Spain to arsonists, who had fled the serve his sentence as scene. he has residency here.

By Dilip Kuner

Have a go heroes

Unwanted record

THE Balearics have an unwanted top spot - that for the number of domestic violences in Spain.

During the second quarter of this year, the region registered the most number of gender violence incidents per 100,000.

According to the Observatory against Domestic and Gender Violence, the body that undertook the study, there were 1,574 reported cases, all of which were made by women.

This is an increase of almost 15% from the first quarter of the year and 12.1% more than the same period of 2020.

It comes weeks after Spain’s government allocated over €650,000 to the Balearics to spend on initiatives to fight gender violence.

Scooting off POLICE have been doling out fines to riders of ‘silent menace’ electric scooters.

Officers set up a checkpoint on the Paseo Mallorca in Palma and stopped 25 riders. Many were breathalysed and fines were doled out to those who were wearing headphones and to riders not wearing high-viz jackets.

One scooter was confiscated after it was discovered to have been modified to travel quicker than the speed limit.

In September alone, 87 riders out of 170 checked were fined.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

October 8th - October 21st 2021

3

OLIVE PRESS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

What Charlie did next Charlie Mullins was the Mr Big of plumbing and now has his heart set on becoming the next big musical mogul - watch out Simon Cowell IT used to be that Charlie Mullins was best known for his plumbing. And it’s true to say that the 60-something Londoner first came to international attention for making the blue-collar job sexy in the city, with smart uniforms, liveried vans and a touch of lavatory humour - plumbing-themed number plates (LAV 1, F1USH).

Over 40 years on, he still knows his way around a lavatory.

But after selling the company he founded 42 years ago to a

US-based home services provider in a multimillion pound deal, Charlie tells the Olive Press he’s pleased that he ‘won’t have to clean any more toilets’.

Britain’s richest plumber was in high spirits when we chatted to him from his plush La Cala pad shortly after he sealed the deal to sell Pimlico Plumbers to US company Neighborly, owned by the private equity firm KKR, with his son Scott remaining as CEO and retaining a 10% share in the company.

The press initialTHUMBS ly reported that UP: Good selling off the news for plumbing and Charlie electricals business will have netted him a profit of around £110million, but the holder of the first OBE ever awarded for services to plumbing, tells us it is much higher.

“The lawyers are still working it out but the deal is going to make me much more than those reports claimed,” he says with characteristic candour while

FORMER Marbella resident Sean Connery has been named as the people’s favourite James Bond.

As Daniel Craig hands back his licence to kill with the release of No Time to Die and speculation mounts on his replacement, jewellers Angelic Diamonds decided to find out how Craig measured up to his predecessors.

Pretty well, it turned out as he came in at number two. But the top Bond of all time is the man who defined the role - the late Sean Connery. Pierce Brosnan came in ahead of Roger Moore at number three.

Research from data com-

By Kirsty McKenzie

sunning himself at his home on the Costa del Sol. “The company was always going to be worth more than that. Ballpark I think it will be between £125 to 145million.

“I’m delighted. Pimlico has been my life for the last 40 years, handing it over to my son Scott, I couldn’t be happier, I think they are well set to take it international.

Cowell

“It was getting to the point where I was thinking how we were going to expand it over the next ten year and whether that was something I wanted to do.

Now Scott can build on what I started - and I can focus on other things.”

Namely, becoming Spain’s answer to Simon Cowell. Yes, really.

“I’m going from plumbing to pipes!” he hollers down the phone, cackling madly. “I know common sense and business and I think why not? I’ve always been into my music.”

Indeed tinkering with music management might not be as mad as it sounds. Charlie, a council estate lad who left school at 15 with no qualifications, has always been strategic.

Double 0 top piled from monthly Google searches, Instagram hashtags, and Wikipedia page visits revealed the controversial Scotsman to be top.

Fond for his love of golf in and around Marbella, Connery eventually left Spain in the 1990s, dismayed at the number of new properties being built in the area.

He famously quipped: “These people are not going to see me in my underpants, I am leaving Marbella.”

He may have passed away in 2020, but Connery lives on in the memories of legions of 007 fans.

ESTUCO INTERIORS

SUCCESS: He enjoys the good life Friends liken him to a great pool player: as he lines up one shot, he’s making sure he’s set up for the next.

But despite his success and reputation as a ballsy and bullish business tycoon, Charlie is the first one to pull somebody’s chain.

“I can’t even sing in the shower,” he jokes. “But I know talent.

Who knows, maybe this will be the first step at a talent management company along the Costa del Sol.” His first client is Rara, a Cheltenham-born singer who has recorded with the legendary David Bowie producer Tony Visconti. Her songs and vocals have featured on albums including Dean Street Studios, Beach Grooves and Perfect Havoc and Charlie is certain she’s destined for big things.

“I see her at the top of the charts. Her next single Bad Boys is going to be huge.”

Charlie and Rara first became friends after he spotted her on the entertainment circuit on the Costa del Sol, and he said he knew instantly she would become a star.

“There’s always been something about her. I predict she is the next Amy Winehouse.”

Like Rara, Charlie loves being in the limelight - “It’s just good business sense. I worked that out 30 odd years ago” - with

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former clients including the Dames (Judy and Helen) Chris Tarrant, Hugh Grant and Joanna Lumley “She did our ads for us,” he says.

“Never met her, but I absolutely adore her. My engineers always told me everything and she’s known for being very, very nice.”

Life

Another big move ahead is securing a permanent home in Spain. He’s got his lawyers working on securing him dual citizenship so he - a firm Remainer - can enjoy life on the Costa regardless of what Brexit throws at him. He has his eye on building his property portfolio down the coast. The next stop?

“It’s got to be Marbella doesn’t it?”

Charlie is 68 – he’ll be 69 next month - and he isn’t showing any sign of scaling down his professional endeavours. Might he ever retire? “I don’t really understand the concept,” he says.

“I’m very permanently in Spain now and there are plenty of great singers on the Costas. I am just here to give them the right advice and point them in the right direction,” he laughs.

“And have a good time.”

Nothing gets in the way of Charlie having fun, or – you sense – in the way of making millions.

WAGS ON TOP WHEN it comes to WAGS, Barcelona resident Shakira reigns supreme.

The singer, who is married to Spanish footballing legend Gerard Pique, beat off competition from Victoria Beckham and Perrie Edwards to score first place and be named the most successful soccer WAG in the world, scoring 99 out of 100.

The word itself - which stands for footballers’ wives and girlfriends, came to prominence during the mid 2000s when strikers wanted to pose on the cover of Hello! with streaky tans and a Hermes clad spouse.

But WAGS have always been more than arm candy - and now we have the stats to prove it.

The data analysis team at SlotsUp have crunched the numbers to show that the wives and girlfriends of football's most popular players are successful in their own right.

Shakira definitely fits the bill.

The 44-year-old is even more successful than her famous footballer husband with a predicted net worth of €296,399,800 and a social media following of over 122 million.

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NEWS

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NEWS IN BRIEF Bodies’ mystery POLICE are investigating after three unidentified bodies - two men and a woman - were found floating off Mallorca in the space of 11 days. Missing persons reports are being examined for clues.

Pet training A DRAFT national animal protection law would force potential pet owners to complete a training course and allow the removal of pets from owners not providing adequate care.

Strike off AN ambulance strike that was to begin this week in the Balearics has been called off after employers and unions reached an agreement for negotiations.

Cash back SPEEDERS snapped by two new cameras in Palma may be able to claim back half of what they paid after penalty notices were sent out too late for the 50% early payment discount to apply.

October 8th - October 21st 2021

Platform leaked

DAME ON PARADE

THE ever-glam Dame Joan Collins graced Palmanova with her presence whilst taking a break on the island.

Despite her recent candid comments about weight where she claims to be ‘a bit overweight’ at present, she looked as stunning as ever in a large floppy hat and dark sunglasses in her Instagram picture taken recently at Canblanc Beach bar and restaurant.

Critical of her appearance, the 88-year-old actress said she prefers her cheekbones when she is a bit

slimmer.

"They're better when I'm thinner, because I'm a bit overweight now," she said during an interview with Daily Mail's Weekend magazine.

"I've got very thin legs and arms and shoulders but I put it on here, around the middle, which is why I'm wearing this loose top," she went on to explain.

The former Dynasty actress also revealed that she wants to drop a couple of pounds before filming starts on her secret project.

CHEERS: Glamorous Joan

Party time!

Nightclubs reopen after two years IN an unexpected twist of fate, nightclubs across the Balearic Islands have been given the go ahead to reopen.

After more than two years of being forced to close under the coronavirus restrictions, clubs have been told by the Balearic government that they can throw open their doors from today (October 8), under certain conditions.

These include revellers having to show proof of

By Isha Sesay

their COVID-19 certificate which is only granted once an individual has been given two doses of the vaccine.

Limit

The capacity limit will also be capped at 75% with all attendees having to wear a mask at all times and remaining two metres from

on up t r ffe tes l o the a i g ec Sp ishin fin &

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4

another person while on the dancefloor.

The consumption of beverages will also be strictly prohibited in any other place but at a table.

Trolled over THE Olive Press has won a victory against ‘evil’ online trolls who have attacked the family of missing Madeleine McCann for the last 14 years.

Their aggressive campaign to destroy a new book on the mysterious disappearance and its links to prime suspect Christian Brueckner has taken a hit.

Their so-called ‘trolling’ aimed to influence buyers of the book by Olive Press editor Jon Clarke on Amazon, by giving it one-star reviews.

Partly spearheaded out of Spain by a retired British detective, the group have long claimed that Kate and Gerry McCann were to blame for the death of their three-year-old daughter, in Praia da Luz, in Portugal, in 2007.

An alarming 27% of all Amazon reviews were for just one star, many by ‘reviewers’ who had not even purchased the book.

After removing nearly 20 reviews, Amazon told the Olive Press the company will now be considering ‘legal action’ against those that violate Amazon’s policies.

The company’s Dagmar Wickham said: “We have clear policies that prohibit abuse of our community features, and we suspend, ban, and take legal action against those who violate these policies.”

Announcing the reopening of the sector on Monday, Balearic health minister, Patricia Gomez, said that a request to the Superior Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands (TSJB) had been made to allow only people with a COVID certificate entry into the premises.

Earlier this month, the Association of DJs & Producers had publicly vented their anger over the closure of nightclubs in Ibiza, the epicentre for clubbing in the world.

Demonised

Releasing a video to criticise the Balearic government over their safety measures, they said that they ‘did not understand the reasons why the island’s nightlife was being demonised when it could open under the necessary security measures’.

A DATA leak from Amazon-owned streaming platform Twitch has revealed that a Mallorca video gamer is in the top 100 world-wide for cash earned.

Alejandro Fernandez, known as Alexelcapo, is ranked 96th on the list of the highest paid streamers, according to the recent hack.

The data leak revealed streamers' earnings from August 2019 to October 2021, during which Fernando earned €790,000 for playing video games online.

But that is small beer compared to some other Spaniards. Top Spanish streamer was Auronplay who pocketed € 2 . 6 4 million a n d placed him 19th in the world.

Tragic toddler A 14-month old girl who was struck by a falling roof tile after her family took shelter from the rain on Friday has died.

The Dutch girl - who was on holiday with her family - passed away on Saturday morning in the paediatric intensive care unit of the Son Espases hospital.

It is understood that the freak accident happened around noon when the family sought refuge from the rain in the porch of the Green Garden Aparthotel in the resort of Cala Rajada.

A piece of broken tile came crashing down during the torrential rain and hit the child on the head. Paramedics treated her at the scene before rushing her to hospital.

The Guardia Civil have launched an investigation into the incident.

Change for the better THE Balearic government has vowed to make a more concerted effort to fight climate change.

This week, the minister for energy and climate change, Pep Malagrava, travelled to the Seaenergy conference in Nantes, France.

Here, he reaffirmed the Balearics commitment to the environment and set out to capture the attention of international entrepreneurs in the hope that they would invest in renewable energy in the Balearic Islands.

He explained that over €450 million had been allocated from public funds and private investors for the creation of 60 state-of-the-art solar panel parks.

It comes as Mallorca is set to invest €54.6 million in five new electric trains as part of a green strategy for the island.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es WHEN Victoria Jenkins’ partner Lee did a runner leaving her and their son in Spain, she didn’t think life could get any worse.

But the expat family have been evicted after their €320,000 home was sold at auction without their knowledge over an unpaid property tax.

The Essex mum from Chelmsford had moved to Mijas (Malaga) with her partner when their child Samuel was four-yearsold.

But when he left to go on a business trip to Indonesia some years back, she never heard from him again.

Her nightmare got worse when it took an incredible three years of court appearances to win full custody of Samuel, now 14, with a judge finally ruling she could stay in the family home until her son turned 18 in 2026.

“I gave up any hope of child support because Lee simply vanished into thin air, but although our home was in his name, it was paid off and I was assured we could stay in it until my son reached his 18th birthday,” she told The Olive Press.

“I just got on with things and

October 8th October 21st 2021

5

HEARTLESS EXCLUSIVE

By Fiona Govan

tried to bring up my son as best I could,” she said.

Then in November 2020, there was a knock at the door and she was given an eviction notice.

“It turns out that my ex had a €4,000 debt of unpaid ground tax with the town hall so they put a forced sale on it and someone bought it at auction for €25,000.”

Amazed that the house her husband paid €320,000 was sold off for so little, she immediately went to the court to find out how it happened without her knowledge.

“I was told it was a done deal and that this final eviction notice was definitive and that my time to defend it had passed because I had ignored all the previous legal notices.

“I took a private lawyer with me to the court to demand my case file and discovered that all the previous legal notices had been

Bars’ hope THE Balearic government has hinted that it will relax the coronavirus restrictions currently enforced in bars and restaurants.

It is expected that the capacity limit indoors will be increased to 75% with limits of people per table likely to be scrapped.

Previously this was set at eight indoors and 12 outdoors.

This week, the Confederation of Business Associations (CAEB) and the Association of Small to Medium Sized Businesses (PINEM), the two unions representing the sector, had pleaded with the government for normality to return to bars and restaurants.

Expat mum and teenage son lose home after courts send legal notices to wrong address despite earlier family court ruling

OVER 250,000 PROPERTIES FROM 2,000+ AGENTS

HOMELESS: Victoria and Samuel and (above) the urbanisation they lived on sent to the wrong address.

“My lawyer said I could appeal because of this but a year later and still no one will listen to me.

I keep being told that I am too late. But how can I be too late when I was never informed in the first place?”

She was told that she must vacate the property by October 5 this week, but can launch an appeal in Madrid.

Legal

That however will take many months and up to 14 weeks alone just to get a legal aid lawyer assigned to her case.

“The judge said I was out of time and that the eviction must go ahead,” she said, sobbing.

“I’m packing up our stuff and have no choice but for us to go and stay on a friend’s sofa.”

And so it came to pass when yesterday the previous court order allowing her to stay in the home was completely ignored with the duo being evicted.

“Two court officials, two police officers, the two new owners, a locksmith and some other guy showed up, eight in total, all to make sure that we left the premises,” she added.

“I had my stuff packed up and met them at the gate and was told to go to court tomorrow to get the paperwork if I want to launch an appeal. It was horrible,” she added.

Opinion Page 6

www.thinkSPAIN.com

6

NEWS FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION HEARTLESS SYSTEM OUR story of the eviction of a mother and her teen boy from their own home over a paltry €4,000 debt shows Spanish bureaucracy – and its legal system- in the worst possible light.

Papers served to the wrong address meant that Victoria Jenkins had no idea that her €320,000 house was at threat over unpaid property taxes.

Her local council then took her to court – without papers ever having been served on her and without her knowledge – and got an order against her.

The house was then sold at auction for the ridiculously low amount of €25,000 and the new owners have secured an eviction notice against Jenkins.

An appeal will be a long drawn-out process, and in the meantime Jenkins and son Samuel will have to rely on friends until they can find a better alternative.

Such a situation can only be described as one thing while, possibly, the letter of the law was followed, it has exposed the legal system as heartless.

BITTER TASTE THE Pandoras Papers leak of records – while proving no criminality – has uncovered the murky world of offshore financing.

From politicians to business magnates, pop stars to footballers, the lid has been lifted on just how many famous names in Spain have stashed wealth overseas.

An investigation is being launched, which for some of those named may be an uncomfortable experience. Even if they have done nothing wrong by the strictest legal definition, some 600 wealthy Spaniards and famous names are now being associated in the same group as tax-dodging oligarchs, gangsters and fraudsters.

In a time when many people have been struggling financially through no fault of their own, the fact people with unimaginable wealth have been hiding it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

For many years Spain used Gibraltar’s finance industry as a stick to beat the Rock with – largely unfairly.

Well maybe those Spanish commentators should have been looking a little closer to home at its own citizens and residents.

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Getting out of Dodge SARAH O’Neill has travelled for most of her adult life and was living in Malawi, Africa, in the three years running up to the referendum.

So to see her country suddenly wrenched from the bulk of Europe

by Brexiteers who had been fed so many lies was extremely upsetting.

“I was devastated by the 2016 result,” explains the 49-year-old charity worker, originally from London.

“I came back to the UK in August 2017, hoping to return to the charity/non-profit sector, but there was nothing.

“No-one knew what was going to come with Brexit, and there was belt-tightening and freezing of employment everywhere.”

A family apartment in Nerja (Malaga) was her one golden opportunity to ‘get out of Dodge’.

“I moved in May 2018 to get all my ducks in a row before the Brexit deadline.

“I learnt Spanish, obtained my residency and swapped my driving license over.”

She continues: “Before Brexit, I came and went as I pleased, and I had plenty of visitors from all over Europe.”

“But then of course, COVID happened, and then the true outcome of a hard Brexit.”

It has certainly not been a bed of roses, she insists, however.

“I have often wondered if I’ve done the right thing. Life here is not easy, and the earnings are much less than the UK, employment is scarce, and the TEFL industry (Teaching English as a First Language) is particularly awful.

“We have sunshine, of course, but I do miss my friends and family.”

Brefugees Simon Wade speaks to the real Brexit leavers, on why they decided to escape to Spain, and whether they have any regrets

B

RITISH expats living in Spain watching events unfold in the UK in recent days may be forgiven for feeling a certain Schadenfreude as critics of the government lay the blame with Brexit.

As British petrol pumps run dry and with the threat of empty shelves

by Christmas, The Olive Press sought out the views of those who made the move to Spain as Brexit loomed.

Hate what the UK has become DAVID Waters doesn’t mince his words. “I hated what the UK had become after the Brexit vote, particularly as we lived in an area where the majority were Brexiters,” the retired policeman explains from his new home in the Canary Islands.

Citing a lack of freedom of movement in Europe and a weak withdrawal agreement, he and his wife Anne

couldn’t ‘wait to get away’.

“We sold up, lock, stock and barrel and moved to Lanzarote” he continues.

While the Lancashire couple couldn’t move until the end of the transition period, they had to get visas which are reviewed every two years until they’re both accepted as permanent residents.

The 64-year-old, who is now writing a blog about

his experiences, adds: “Although it wasn’t an ideal time for us, we thought ‘if not now – when’?”

WORRY FREE LIFE AS A PENSIONER HELEN Singh made the incredibly brave move from Yorkshire to Spain after the Brexit result.

The Remain voter, from Harrogate, took the decision after seeing what was happening to the UK, post-Brexit.

“I always wanted to live in warmer climes, [and] the Brexit result was a decisive moment.”

She eventually moved and gained residency in 2019: “I sold up, moved to Mazarron (Murcia) alone and have never

looked back.”

Now retired and ‘living life to the full,’ she continues: “I would never have had a life as a pensioner in the UK.” “Here I have made friends and can afford a worry free life - I definitely made the right choice.

“I knew I would never go back, it depresses me to see a government that is destroying my country and I cannot forgive them for that.”

FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS EXCLUSIVE: Expats rights are ‘really important’ to the British government, UK’s Europe Minister tells Fiona Govan

T

HE UK’s Europe Mi- working very closely with nister has told the them and with the Spanish Olive Press how she authorities to work throuhas been liaising gh the details,” she told with expat groups before the Olive Press at the Brisitting down with the Spa- tish embassy. nish government.

“Citizens’ rights continue Wendy Morton met a num- to be really really imporber of campaign groups tant to us,” continued Morin Madrid prior to a series ton, 54, who has been a of key meetings with the Conservative MP in the West MidSpanish government to lands since ‘iron out’ is- ‘Citizens’ rights 2015 and sues that have joined Boris continue to be Johnson’s caemerged under the Brexit binet in Fereally really bruary 2020.

Withdrawal important to Morton acAgreement. knowledged Chief among us’ the ‘challenthe concerns ges of worraised by Bremain in Spain, Brexpats king though bureaucracy’ and EuroCitizens were faced by many expats in continuing problems with Spain and said she would driving licence exchanges be raising issues with the and residency applications Spanish government. being rejected.

“We are working towards “These groups provide a a long-term solution for vital communication chan- the exchange of driving linel with the expat commu- cences,” she said, adding nities in Spain and we are that the deadline had al-

ready been extended to October 31 for those who had registered their intention before the December 30 cut off point last year.

“Whether it is MET: Wendy Morton and Gonzalez-Barba an extension of that dead- ble approach’. line, or a bi-lateral agree- Since Spain introduced ment, this is a live issue the new residency card for that causes concern and Brits in Spain, the TIE, on we are working on the de- July 6 last year, 168,700 tails,” she explained. applications have been reFor those who have had ceived. their residency applica- Spanish authorities report tions rejected by the au- that 2,400 applications thorities and believed they have so far been rejected. met the criteria the minis- The British government ter said: “Our advice is to does not agree with peoseek proper legal advice.” ple being sent notices teBut she did say that she lling them to leave the would be raising the issue country within 15 days. during talks with Spain’s “It does not agree with the Secretary of State for the 15-day time limit and we EU Juan Gonzalez-Barba will be bringing it up with and was working on ‘the the Spanish authorities,” possibility of a more flexi- she said.

October 8th - October 21st 2021

www.theolivepress.es

7

You need to know!

Y

OU picked up this newspaper for free and we at the Olive Press are committed to continuing to provide free editions every fortnight.

But between print editions you can find articles posted on our website every day where not only do we cover breaking news as it happens but also accurate and up to date, need to know, information about the areas that you live in.

You will also find longer reads that we don’t have the space to publish here on the pages of this newspaper.

Plus interviews, videos, picture galleries and explainers delving behind the daily issues that are important in Spain.

We highlight interesting places to visit in Spain, going off the beaten track to discover corners that you won’t read about in the guide books. Plus all the latest on newest hotels and restaurants that you will want to visit.

BREXIT

WANTED FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ESSEX couple Ian and Eve Honeywood, from Chelmsford already had their ‘small but sufficient property’ that they used as a holiday home, so making the jump wasn’t so huge.

Spain was their escape from long, stressful hours working in supermarket logistics and they always planned to retire here.

“Being here in Frigiliana (Malaga) was our heaven, all our stress was left at the airport,” explains Ian. The 64-year-old knew that when Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Jacob Rees Mogg announced they were backing the leave campaign, it ‘would be riddled with lies’.

“I completely understand why the UK voted out - ‘Leave’ lied and ‘Remain’ had a poor campaign,” he insists.

“On the morning of June 24, 2016, I decided I wanted to leave the UK. “I watched the country deteriorate over a period of time and no longer wanted to live in a place I believed was sinking.

“I wanted to be European and I wanted the freedom to roam, work and live where I wanted ... within weeks we had left the UK.” They quickly settled into the Spanish way of life and gained residency after just a year.

CLIFF James vowed never to return to the UK after leaving for foreign shores following the referendum in 2016.

“The result was a huge shock, like a bereavement,” the 49-year-old from Cambridge explains.

“Overnight, it felt like the country had returned to the Dark Ages of igno-

Fascinating

Wife Eve, 61, admits: “I haven’t regretted the move for one single day. We’re the lucky ones as living here before Brexit guaranteed our right to remain.”

“I feel desperately sorry for all those people in the UK that have had a lifelong dream of moving here in retirement now become very complicated, if not impossible.”

She continues: “The rights of the young British people have been taken away and I hope things will change for them in the future.”

Not returning to the Dark Ages rance and hatred.”

He continues: “It was always clear that the basis of the debate was about racism and xenophobia, rather than economics or sovereignty.

“All this nonsense about the colour of passports and ‘taking back control’ was just an excuse to retreat to some feudal ideal of ye olde England, where power is concentrated in the hands of the political classes.”

The former journalist adds: “I had been searching for something better,

somewhere more hopeful and forward-looking, a utopia maybe.”

After travelling for a year, taking in Himalayan temples, peace projects in Israel and Palestine, and serving at refugee camps, he met his future husband, Alvaro, in Buenos Aires.

The pair are now settled in their ‘utopia’ in Fiñana (Almeria), where they run a farm, making olive oil.

His Brexit ‘odyssey’ provided inspiration for his book, Life As A Kite, a political travelogue about leaving the UK because of Brexit and looking back at the country as things went from bad to worse.

Halfway through cancer treatment SHAZ Hopson, from Nottingham, made the leap to Spain despite being halfway through cancer treatment.

The ex-public sector worker made the brave decision as she and her husband, Frank, were so sure it was the right place to live.

“I wasn’t going to let cancer stop me,” the 58-year-old insists. “I was halfway through chemotherapy treatment when we left, and Spain then took over my treatment schedule.

After two major surgeries, ra-

diotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy in Spain, she has been classed as ‘cancer free’ since October 2018.

“We knew we wouldn’t be able to do it if we waited until afterwards, so I took early retirement and we moved to Pliego (Murcia) in 2018.”

“Try doing that post-Brexit,” she quips.

Shaz now spends much of her time working as a voluntary counsellor for the MABS cancer charity, and walking her 14-year-old dog, Jess.

New job, new friends!

AMELIA still jokes that she must be the only person in the world to be thankful of COVID. She says she was ‘terrified’ living in England on her own during the pandemic, largely because of the way the UK government handled the crisis.

In contrast, she insists attitudes were so much better in Granada, where her mum Diana lived.

Just as the end of the Withdrawal Agreement was looming, the 30-year-old moved to Spain in August 2020, and started learning the language.

Despite having the support of mum, the lack of available jobs made the move difficult.

But Amelia eventually got all her papers sorted, and now lives and helps run a Dutch bar in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol. “I have absolutely no regrets, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be,” she exclaims.

“I’ve got new friends. I enjoy my work. We all have fun, we all moan, and it does get stressful.

“Yes, hard work I have never been happier. The quality of living is so different in Spain compared to the UK. “I feel truly blessed to have found an amazing job and live in a beautiful country.”

Online you will find stories such as the fascinating tale of the Malaga flamenco dancer who came from a humble background to win the heart of an Indian Maharaja.

You will discover why archers armed with bow and arrows could be the solution to Spain’s growing problem with rampaging wild boars terrorizing urban areas.

Need to know the latest on driving licence exchange rules post Brexit? Or what the most recent travel rules are? Check online and you’ll find it all there.

But in order to do this, and build our website into a valuable news source with a strong reputation for accurate reporting in English on the issues that matter to you, we have to ask for a small fee.

That way we can avoid sensationalist click-bait news and annoying pop-up adverts and make sure we focus on the issues that are important to our community.

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October 8th - October 21st 2021

YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE PAYING THE PRICE

B

LAH, blah, blah! So said climate activist Greta Thunberg when she castigated politicians as she led climate protests in Milan.

Interestingly, many politicians support her point of view that younger generations are suffering from the results of older generations’ actions.

She added: “Hundreds of millions of you are facing rising seas, failing crops, burning forests, and evermore ferocious storms - daily challenges that lead to lost opportunity. And your future is literally being stolen before your eyes.”

Even Boris Johnson agreed that the protesters have every right to be angry with those who are not doing enough to stop it.

As always senior politicians try to say the right thing. The UK prime minister is currently sensitive to this as he is chairing the COP26 conference next month in Glasgow.

WHAT IS THE COP26 CONFERENCE? The Conference of Parties was established by the United Nations in 1995.

As far as the environment goes, this meeting of world leaders is probably the most important this century. It will have a huge impact on the world’s climate control crisis. It will be held in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12.

Resolutions passed will make major changes in our everyday lives. The world is warming because of fossil fuel emissions caused by humans. The last 10 years have been the warmest since records began in 1850. Extreme weather events have been witnessed around the world heatwaves, floods, forest fires. At this conference, 200 countries are being asked to present their plans to cut emissions by 2030.

Some of the expected announcements could include: • • •

Making a faster switch to electric cars Speeding up the phasing out of coal powered stations Cutting down fewer trees, and planting millions more

Watch out - it will be all over the news. Over

Green

Matters

WALK THE WALK

By Martin Tye

It’s time to stop talking the talk and actually take action 25,000 people are expected in Glasgow and not just the world leaders, negotiators and journalists. Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to be in Scotland’s largest city.

There will be a mountain of talk about climate justice and money.

In a nutshell, the developed countries of the world have proved reluctant thus far to put their hands deep enough in their pockets. Developed countries are responsible for past emissions. Emerging economies experience some of the worst effects. And they have no money.

Huge investment is needed to help countries produce electricity from renewable technologies such as solar and wind. For example, India produces 70% of its electricity requirements from burning coal.

China’s position will be key. Apart from its obvious intentions to rule the world, it is the world’s biggest polluter and has invested heavily in coal powered stations all over the world.

We need to look past Boris’s inevitable posturing and examine the facts.

I, sadly, share the same view of many scientists that we have left it too late to avoid containing temperature increases below the 1.5C agreed by world leaders with the Paris Agreement in 2015.

It’s an old adage, but rings true… ‘No pain,no gain’ Are we prepared to make painful decisions to protect our world for future generations?

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 ( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

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PLASTIC HEROES Spain to ban fruit and veg packaging

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THE sale of fruit and veg in plastic packaging is to be banned in Spain from 2023.

A royal decree is in the process of being passed, which will ban plastic wrappings weighing less than 1.5 kg.

However, there will be some exemptions, including the packaging of food ‘at risk of spoilage when sold in bulk’, which will be put on a list to be drawn up

by AESAN (Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition).

The decree also sets specific targets to reduce the use of plastic

Birds

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THE first bird census carried out in Sierra de las Nieves, in Malaga, has confirmed the presence of 82 species.

Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this park, in the heart of the Serrania de Ronda mountains, together with nearby Sierra de Grazalema and Los Alcornocales Natural Park, forms part of one of the major birding hotspots in Spain. The most abundant bird species detected was the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), with 324 specimens, followed by the redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus).

containers and promote reusable ones.

These include halving the number of plastic bottles sold by 2023; making 100% of packaging recyclable by the end of the decade and making 50% of packaging sold in hotels, restaurants and cafés reusable by 2025.

Not everyone is convinced the legislation is the right way forward. Galician chemist Deborah Garcia Bello argues that specialists in materials science should be consulted.

She claims that the change will make the problem of food waste worse.

She said: “Food needs to be preserved and kept safe for the longest time possible, and this is very much dependent on packaging.

Tools

“The new regulations will result in companies opting for packaging made from less sustainable and non-recyclable materials, such as plasticised cartons.”

She advocates using tools such as reusable bags made of raffia, polyester or polyethylene netting, which although plastic can be reused.

Other measures being considered include finding alternatives to plastic bottles and single use plastic cups at events, and encouraging people to bring their own reusable containers to be filled in shops.

LA CULTURA Johnny cancelled

HOLLYWOOD star Johnny Depp warned that no-one was safe from ‘cancel culture’ as he collected San Sebastian’s Donostia Award in the face of criticism from women’s groups.

The 58 year-old actor was heckled during a press conference in the northern Spanish city when a recording of exwife Amber Heard was played.

Depp lost a libel battle with British tabloid The Sun that labelled him a ‘wife beater’ last year, when a London court ruled he had repeatedly assaulted his former partner Amber Heard.

Addressing the protest he said: “It’s a very complex situation, this cancel culture, or this instant rush to judgement based on essentially what amounts to polluted air.

“It’s got so far out of hand that I can assure you noone is safe, not one of you, so long as someone is willing to say one thing. It takes one sentence, then there’s no more ground,” he said as he picked up an honorary lifetime achievement prize.

9

October 8th October 21st 2021

BOLLYWOOD DREAMS

India’s hottest star heading for Spain this Autumn BOLLYWOOD royalty Deepika Padukone will be reportedly jetting into Mallorca to shoot scenes for her upcoming movie Pathan.

A source said that the aim is to make the film, which also stars Shah Rukh, a visual spectacle that no one has seen before, with its

director Siddharth Anand going out of his way to achieve this ambitious goal.

“No other Bollywood film has ever shot in these places so audiences, who haven’t been to these expensive and exquisite places, will see them for the first

time.

“Visually these settings will add grandeur and lavishness to the film,” the source was quoted as saying.

As well as a 20 day stop on the Balearic island from October 10, the crew is also set to make pit-stops in Cadiz and Vejer De La Frontera.

Born in Copenhagen to badminton player Prakash Padukone, Deepika was raised in Bangalore and made her Bollywood debut with Om Shanti Om in 2012.

Highest-paid

The star is now one of the highest-paid actresses in India with accolades that include three Filmfare Awards and in 2018, she was named as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time.

Alongside her acting career, Padukone is vocal about issues such as feminism and depression, launching the foundation Live Love Laugh to create awareness about mental health in India.

BEAUTY: Deepika Padukone

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LA CULTURA

In a third extract from his book My Search for Madeleine, Olive Press Editor Jon Clarke follows the prime suspect in the Maddie case around Granada

October 8th - October 21st 2021

GREEN AND GRUMPY IN THE GLASTONBURY OF SPAIN

I

LONG had a feeling Christian Brueckner - the current prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann mystery - would have links to Orgiva, with its little-checked, free-spirited community of international travellers tucked away in a string of hidden valleys.

The Alpujarras is a region I know well having come across the fledgling Olive Press there in its first few months, while writing a travel article for a British magazine.

An area of stunning natural beauty with fascinating local culture, I had stumbled across Issue 5 of this fine organ, while staying at an earthy guesthouse, just outside of Orgiva.

Set up by a former energy trader, Jason, who was now living off grid and Mark, a grumpy journalist, who had worked for a few years at the Mercury press agency in Liverpool, it had plenty of attitude.

Full of tales of corruption and pleas for the environment, it also turned a spotlight on the drug dealing and criminality the region had started to become known for.

I was so impressed I called the pair for a meeting to see if we might work together on a launch of a separate edition of the paper over in Malaga, which came out in November 2006.

I spent the next year driving backwards and forwards to Orgiva helping them with layout, editing and, ultimately, injecting a dose of commercial acumen.

They may not have been business dynamos, but they certainly knew a lot about the weird mix of expats and Spanish who gravitated towards this inland region.

I quickly learnt about the idiosyncrasies and oddness of Orgiva, and got used to the groups of hippies who whiled away the day sitting by the side of the road, smoking marijuana and drinking from litre bottles of beer and cider.

This intriguing make-up started brewing in the 1970s, but accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s as no less than three distinct new age settlements grew up close to the town, one called Beneficio (meaning ‘Benefits’) with as many as 1,000 residents at certain times of year.

Orgiva became famous for Spain’s number one hippie bash the free Dragon Festival – which plays a part in Brueckner’s story (see inset right) as he attended on various occasions I discovered.

The festival launched in the traveller settlement of Cigarrones in 1997 and ran for well over a decade. With only

THE DRAGON FESTIVAL - AND WHERE HE CONFESSED a vague start and finish date, usually over a weekend in March, punters often arrived a week before and left a week later, if at all.

While largely supportive (at least accepting) of this community, The Olive Press also ran its fair share of stories about the criminals, sex offenders and drug dealers that hid out in these nearby hills.

The majority of residents were not officially registered on the town’s padron, nor did they pay taxes, despite sending their children to the local schools.

Many also used false names. So I knew that finding Michael Tatschl - who was a former housemate and jailmate of Brueckner’s - or someone who knew him, wouldn’t be easy, but at least I had a head start with a photo.

Calling a few contacts en route I discovered that he was better known as ‘Micha’ and that he had returned to live

VAN LIFERS: And a novel way to walk your dog in Tablones

THE Olive Press has established that Christian Brueckner (top left) spent many months living on and off near Orgiva.

He was a frequent visitor to the nearby new age settlements, usually buying or selling drugs, and attended the famous Dragon Festival on various occasions.

It was while attending one of these week-long bashes - staying in his giant Tiffin Allegro (pictured) - that he allegedly confessed that he knew what happened to Madeleine.

“He turned up in this giant winnebago and we all wondered where he had got the money from,” said his former best friend Micha Tatschl. “I now wonder if it came from his involvement in the Maddie case.”

Another former friend Helge Busching tipped off police that Brueckner told him at the festival in 2008 that he was involved in the abduction from Praia da Luz. All three of them had lived and socialised together on the Algarve, before living for years in Granada, the book My Search for Madeleine has established. in Austria some years earlier … but he was friendly and ‘fun to hang out with’. came back most years on holiday. I was He then volunteered that Micha had told he had a girlfriend, Cynthia or ‘Cyn’, lived with an English girlfriend, an artist and used to hang out at the so-called called Emma, for a number of years in Metal Bar on the edge of the town. the nearby village of Tablones.

Despite the strict lockdown in Spain at Excitedly, I headed to Tablones but disthe time, the bar somehow managed to covered nobody knew her at all. It was stay open, providing an unofficial com- a community of properties and smallmunity drop-in centre for holdings, many of them the local traveller comshacks, spread over munity. about 16km square.

The fact he was There was certainly a Frustrated, and melting collection of waifs and naked behind in the 38 degree heat, I strays at the bar and decided to take a closer on the terrace outside, three marijuana look at Micha’s photos many with dogs, when I on Facebook and spotplants didn’t arrived just before lunchted one of him standing time. even register! under a pergola of what Fortunately most of them looked like the porch of a were friendly, as was the home, clearly in southern landlord, who recognised Micha from Spain, with its line of parched hills with his Facebook photos, which is not too two fire breaks as a backdrop. The fact hard when you have a skull and cross- that he was apparently naked standing bones tattoo on your neck, your nipples behind three huge marijuana plants pierced and a girlfriend half your age didn’t even register! (see pic).

Buena suerte, as the Spanish would say The landlord described him however as – by complete chance I looked up and ‘un muy buen tio’, or decent bloke, and saw the exact same line of hills in the

GRANADA PAL: Micha Tatschl and (above) travellers in Tablones distance and, crucially, the same fire breaks.

It turned out I was standing just 200m away from the plot where he lived for many years and, after walking downhill for a minute, I met someone who knew Emma.

It turned out to be Llewelyn Graves, the grandson of I, Claudius and Goodbye to All That writer Robert Graves, who was living in some sort of commune surrounded by vans. I tried to make conversation, knowing quite a lot about his British-born, Spain-based grandfather, who has a museum in Mallorca, where he wrote the seminal books in the 1930s.

Unfortunately Llewelyn was in something of a rush, but he did at least point me in the direction of Emma’s finca.

And joy of joys I was ushered in through the house into the shady back garden porch, where a bottle of cold cider was thrust into my hand.

Sitting alongside another local expat Ben, we started chatting about The Olive Press.

Half an hour later we had ‘Micha’ on the phone and over the next hour he blew the case wide open.

FIND OUT HOW IN MY SEARCH FOR MADELEINE, AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Drunks pledge

October 8th - October 21st 2021

Sozzled Brits not wanted in Balearics

The long good chew LOVERS of Spanish nougat ‘turron’ had a treat at Alicante’s Gastronomy Fair 2021 - they had the chance to tuck into the biggest turron bar in the world which measured a massive 56 metres long.

Nougat maker Roberto Pico was in charge of making the monster bar which beat the previous record of 55 metres for the Alicante delicacy.

Pico worked for a week to make the bar which included 270 kilos of almonds, egg whites and honey.

The nougat was cut and offered as a tasting to the public attending the fair.

THE Balearic Tourism Minister has once again pledged to eradicate ‘drunken’ tourism from the islands.

Iago Negueruela admitted that although it has so far proved difficult to tackle socalled ‘tourism of excesses’, a more concerted effort would be made to ‘improve the quality of certain hotspots in the Balearic Islands’, particularly in areas populated by Brits.

Excessive drinking by holidaymakers has long been a problem in the Balearic Islands, so much so that in January 2020, a new law was introduced to stamp out anti-social behaviour in Playa

PLAN: Iago Negueruela

By Isha Sesay

DRINKERS: Drunken horseplay unwelcome

de Palma, s’Arenal and Magaluf, as well as Sant Antonio in Ibiza.

In this zero tolerance approach, the decree strictly prohibits any promotions of booze, the sale of alcohol in commercial stores after 9.30pm and the act of ‘balconing’.

Stung

Guests on ‘all inclusive’ holidays were also stung by the law, now only being allowed three free alcoholic beverages at lunch, another three at dinner, with all ‘happy hour’ offers being banned.

Police were also given increased powers to act against loud music made by nightlife venues with serious violations resulting in an establishment being shut down for a period of time.

Negueruela said that although these changes may have put off many from coming to the Balearics, it was more important to focus on the quality of the tourist rather than the number.

In the midst of the coronavirus crisis and a number of

embarrassing videos being leaked of drunken tourists, last year, the minister issued a stark message to tourists

intending to consume excess alcohol on holiday, warning that they were not welcome in the Balearic Islands.

11

SWEET SUCCESS SPANISH beekeepers care for an astonishing 3 million hives, making it the leading EU nation for honey production.

A survey by EU Agriculture designed to show the robustness of each country’s pollinators, which are vital for crops to flourish, revealed the figures for each country.

In total there are 18.9 million hives in the EU, with Spain (2.967 million) beating Romania (2.246 million) for top spot, a long way ahead of Poland (1.766 million) and France (1.751 million).

Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture has been looking to boost the nation’s honey industry by introducing new labelling laws which must show the countries of origin so that 100% Spanish honey can be clearly identified.

Blooming good show CORDOBA’S autumn patio festival is scheduled to open this October and will feature 16 venues over two weekends.

Residents in the ancient city traditionally throw open their usually private patios and courtyards to show off colourful floral displays to curious tourists.

The event will take place in October on the weekends of 16-17 and 23-24.

The first weekend coincides with the Fiesta de la Flora (which is celebrated from the 11th to the 21st of the month), an event traditionally related to botani-

cal and floral art.

The second weekend will coincide with the day of Saint Raphael Archangel, patron saint of Cordoba The opening hours to view the patios are between 11am to 2pm and then from 6.30pm to 8pm.

The 16 venues for the Autumn festival were all winners of the more famous May Courtyards Festival, which has been on Unesco’s list of Intangible Heritage of Humanity since December 2012.

HOLD ON!

‘Making Tax Digital’ for Income Tax scheme delayed until 2024 explains Emilia Carvell

F

OLLOWING an announcement made by HMRC, it has been confirmed that the mandation of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD) has been pushed back to April 2024.

Why has HMRC been delayed?

Whilst there is no single answer to this question, we can shed some light on the reason for the decision, and the factors that have led to the delay.

One of the biggest factors is pressure from accountants and accounting bodies. The accounting industry is understandably concerned about change from one annual tax return submission, to quarterly submissions - because whilst you may only have to submit for a single business, some accountancy practises may be looking at thousands of clients, with multiple self employments (not to mention property income!).

Some accountants are predicting that MTD will require 30% more effort or input per client, and so have requested a longer lead time to prepare their clients, and their practice.

The government have also stated that by pushing back the roll out date for MTD will better support businesses emerging from the pandemic - in a statement from Lucy Frazer, Finance Secretary to the Tre-

asury wrote: “The Government recognises the challenges faced by many UK businesses and their representatives as the country emerges from the pandemic over the last year. In recognition of this and of stakeholder feedback, we will now be introducing MTD for ITSA a year later, in the tax year beginning in April 2024”

So, what does this mean for you?

To be honest, probably not much! Existing Olive Press readers will already know that we think preparation is key, and that hasn’t changed - but now you just have even more time to prepare!

The purpose and functionality of MTD hasn’t changed - from April 2024 you will still be required to keep records digitally and submit quarterly updates for your property income & self employment.

You will still be required to submit your annual Self-Assessment Tax Return for tax years prior to April 2024.

The new penalty system that we wrote about in our previous article still stands but will now come into effect from April 2024.

Are there any benefits to the delay?

As much as it pains us to say, there absolutely is! Although we at APARI are super passionate about all things MTD, we are also completely aware that it is a big change for a huge number of taxpayers!

By pushing back the start date of MTD ITSA to 2024, it means that the pilot scheme can be extended, ensuring that MTD is tried and tested by even more volunteers prior to mandation - any issues or setbacks should be addressed and fixed

by HMRC during this time, meaning that the transition from SA100 to MTD should be as smooth as possible!

It also gives taxpayers longer to get to grips with digital record keeping, and MTD ready software like APARI - if you sign up for free today, then by 2024 you’ll be a digital record keeping expert!

What’s the APARI verdict?

APARI is already MTD ready, so we would of course have been thrilled for MTD to start from April 2023! However we are aiming to use this time to become even better for our users, and work towards making tax doable!

For all the latest information and advise visit www.apari-digital.com

12

FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

October 8th October 21st 2021

Off the beaten track

Looking for a destination that is picturesque but also tourist-free, well look no further, Amber Edirisinghe gives you her tips for the top five hidden destinations to visit on your next holiday...

Setenil de las bodegas, Andalucia

Setenil de las Bodegas is a white village in Andalucia that has been sculpted into the rocks, in the narrow canyon carved by the river Trejo.

This settlement is particularly unique as it was crafted from the inside of a cave network unlike the others built by the Moors which sit atop hills. Visitors can spend the night in one of the caves and visit the cave restaurants that are among some of the best in the region.

For meat eaters this town is well known for its chorizo and cured meats, it also produces delicious pastries for those with a sweet tooth.

Some of the other attractions are the Nazari Castle, which watches over the village. Built in the 12th century the castle used to have 40 towers but now only one remains.

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The Olive Press - 6/7/8 October 1/6 Page - 83 mm w x 170 mm h(all editions except Gib)

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

El Burgo de Osma, Castilla y Leon Sandwiched between Zaragoza and Valladolid in the province of Soria is the town of El Burgo de Osma.

This historical treasure trove is ideal for history buffs or those who only want to be surrounded by locals.

This municipality is home to Roman ruins, a medieval fortress, excellently preserved city walls and a stunning cathedral. What makes it even better is its pedestrianised historical centre meaning visitors can stroll the streets and grab a bite to eat without the noise and bustle of cars.

Across

7 Dismantle three-ton hoe or face a binary choice (3,2,3,5) 9 Lament (5) 10 Spent (4,3) 11 Mountain pass (3) 12 Hong Kong martial arts actor Jackie --- (4) 14 Means (7) 17 Gold-extracting chemical (7) 19 Cons (4) 22 Mutt’s mitt (3) 24 Toffee-nosed (5-2) 25 Such as a car’s coil spring (5) 26 Haphazard Peers enter run for businesspeople (13)

OP SUDOKU

Down 1 Vast (6) 2 Small white whale (6) 3 Swiss currency (5) 4 American punk-funk band, the Red Hot --- (6,7) 5 Unhorsed (6) 6 Total savages (6) 8 Duller of the senses (6) 13 “Listen!” (3) 15 Excavated (3) 16 Like Lady Luck (6) 17 Redeemed (6) 18 Keenness of vision (6) 20 Almost (3,3) 21 Form of discrimination (6) 23 Complain (5)

All solutions are on page 14

Italica, Andalucia

Zumaia, Basque Country This small town in the Basque Country is the epicentre of flysch stones, a natural phenomenon that is sure to delight the eyes of geologists and tourists alike.

In fact, some may recognise it as one of the locations in the seventh season of Game of Thrones. Covering 4,300 hectares of land and sea, it is one of the most important geological sanctuaries in the world.

It is a great destination to enjoy hiking, with great views accessed from the flysch walking trails.

D

elve into the western province of Caceres where you will happen upon the medieval town of Trujillo, in the

In spitting distance of Seville lies Italica. This settlement was the birthplace of three Roman emperors – Trajan, Hadrian, and possibly Theodosius.

As the first Roman settlement in Spain this stunning location offers many historical delights.

Explorers can marvel at the 25,000-seater amphitheatre, which was one of the largest in the Roman Empire.

There is also the temple of Emperor Trajan,the Traianeum, the Roman baths and the sophisticated aqueduct. As there has been no modern city covering Italica there are still many well preserved houses, five of which belonged to rich families that have beautiful colourful mosaics. Italica’s allure was also recognised by Game of Thrones as it was the film set for the seventh season in 2016.

TRUJILLO, EXTREMADURA community of Extremadura.

This town is a cornucopia of medieval and renaissance

architecture. In the Plaza Mayor resides a bronze statue of conquistador Pizarro and visitors are surrounded by medieval buildings, as well as historic churches.

Notable places include the Alcazaba, a medieval Moorish castle and renaissance palaces such as the Palace of the Marquises of the Conquista.

Visit on the 1st of May to catch a whiff of Trujillo’s national cheese fair, the most famous cheese competition in Spain.

HEALTH CANCER TEST HOPE

October 8th - October 21st 2021

Smoking ban

HEALTH ministers have called for smoking to be banned on terraces and outdoor restaurant seating in Spain.

The Ministry of Health wants the current law to be extended to include outdoor hospitality.

Ministers also want legislation banning smoking in the grounds of schools, hospitals and in playgrounds to come into force permanently.

The prohibition of smoking on terraces and in entrances to public buildings was introduced by most autonomous communities as part of the COVID-19 regulations.

But hospitality workers have said extending the ban would be hugely disproportionate and unfair.

The move has the backing of minister Carolina Darias who said it would denormalise smoking and protect people from the damaging effects of second-hand smoke.

Revolutionary blood test could help early detection of 50 types of cancer SPANISH eyes are on a revolutionary new blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer before symptoms appear.

England’s National Health Service is set to trial the new test by taking blood samples from 140,000 volunteers aged from 50 to 77 at mobile clinics in business parks and other locations.

SO far 86,463 people have died from COVID-19 in Spain, according to figures released this week.

Some 4,961,128 people have caught the virus. At the moment around 1,800 new cases are being reported every day.

Melilla stands out as the Autonomous Community with the most cases, with 140 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

It is followed by Catalonia with 100, Ceuta and the Pais Vasco with 96, Cantabria with 91 and Castilla y la Mancha with 92 cases per 100,000.

By Elena Gocmen Rueda

The potential of the test has been noticed by Spanish newspapers, including ABC and El Mundo, which have published several articles on the subject, highlighting the importance of the project.

"This quick and simple blood test could mark

SAD STATS

The trend has been downwards since the last peak on July 26.

On that day Spain suffered a daily average of 25,743 reported cases, with 957 hospital admissions and 21 deaths.

On Wednesday Balearic health ministry figures showed 43 new positive cases, 31 in Mallorca, nine in Ibiza, one in Minorca and two in Formentera in the previous 24 hours.

13

Making life easier NEW simplified travel rules came into force in the UK on Monday, with the traffic light system replaced by a single red list.

Fully vaccinated travellers arriving from non-red list countries including Spain will no longer have to take a test before flying to the UK. Anyone under 18 who is resident in those countries that have an approved vaccine programme can also travel to the UK without testing.

Vaccination

GAME CHANGER: The new blood test

the start of a revolution in cancer detection and treatment here and around the world," said Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS. "We have the best chance of treating it and we can give people the best chance of survival.

So she believes that if this blood test is successful it could ‘play an important role in detecting three-quarters of cancers at an early stage’, when they are easier to treat.

Initial results from the study

are expected in 2023 and, if successful, NHS England plans to extend the rollout to a further one million people in 2024 and 2025.

Success

It is expected that the Spanish health service may follow suit if the tests are successful.

Some 300 people die of cancer every day in Spain, according to the consultancy firm Oliver Wyman.

Early detection can drastically improve prognosis.

However, those over 18 who do not have proof of full vaccination will need a pre-departure test and a PCR test on days two and eight after they return, and must self-isolate for 10 days on arrival in the UK. All travellers - except children under five years old - will still have to pay for a PCR test two days after arrival in the UK. And this must be booked in advance of travel to provide a booking code that is required on the Passenger Locator Form.

14

COLUMNISTS

REVELATIONS

I

LAID awake for several hours wondering how much of me I actually want to reveal, but seeing as I’d already had enough written in the past, maybe it was a fitting time and tribute to my son’s father to tell it how it really was.

My son’s father, Greg Miskiw,

My life with the ‘Prince of Darkness’

died recently from cancer.

The broadsheets and even some of the tabloid newspapers dubbed him the ‘Prince of Darkness’ because he was one of the former executives arrested, charged and imprisoned (very briefly) for his

October 8th - October 21st 2021

Terenia Taras

involvement in phone-hackTelling it like it is ing whilst employed at the News of the World newspaper.

But that’s not the same man money’ as the paper was noand journalist I once knew toriously bad for taking stobefore his life and career ries and not always paying was shrouded in darkness the agreed amount if they got following the phone-hacking cut, or bumped off the news investigation. list.

I first got to know Greg when I remember him saying to me, I worked as a journalist for ‘you can’t speak to me like Ross Parry News Agency in that, I’m the news editor of Leeds, covering breaking the News of the World.”

FAMILY: Greg and Terenia at Anton’s christening news stories in I didn’t care, the North.

I had a living ist I have been in a I’d done a cou- You can’t speak to make and palace with armed ple of jobs for wasn’t going guards, I’ve had a cut to me like that, to be ripped- glass bottle held to my Mazher Mahmood, the inoff. Over time throat and even been I’m the News famous ‘fake we built up a hung over a high-rise sheik’ investigood rapport balcony in London, Editor of the gative journalespecially as even before I’d startNOTW ist who’d menwe had both ed working at the tioned me to been brought News of the World. the news desk. up in Leeds. So in his dogged purI was in my mid-twenties at He grew up in Chapeltown, suit for stories, he the time and had previouswhich wasn’t the best part of knew I would be an ly worked at the Dewsbury Leeds, and me, slightly bet- asset in the murky Reporter during which I’d ter, in Chapel Allerton, which world the paper inpassed my NCTJ exams at neighboured Chapeltown. habited.

Preston University.

We both came from Eastern Even when I was It wasn’t until I’d left Ross European parents - his were pregnant there was Parry, a story sweatshop, first generation Ukrainian im- never any nepotism. and was working as a freemigrants, mine second-gen- I remember being lance journalist that I had dieration Polish. quite heavily pregrect dealings with Greg.

As a result our upbringings nant and sent out I remember pitching a story had been very similar, de- in the middle of to him and telling him ‘not spite the age gap of 22 years. the night and being to fuck me around with the As with most journalists back stranded in floods, But to then, we both loved a drink. but all that mattered to him BELIEF: Greg and Terenia fast forward somewhat after His favourite tipple Famous was me getting the story. several years living in LonGrouse, mine vodka, obvi- On another occasion, numdon together we had Anton, ously. ber two on the newsdesk at our son, and as with so many OL D HA CK IN Anyone who truly knew Greg the NOTW, told me I’d be gocouples with a newborn, TH E SU N knows that his job was his ing to Brazil to keep an eye that’s when it started to go one true love throughout his Benny Davis on the England football team. wrong.

Ramblings of an life, firstly as a journalist and But Greg soon changed that Our relationship wasn’t 80-something exp at latterly as news editor of the to a trip back North to Bradabout recreating the first News of the World. It came ford to locate a prostitute, family he messed up with IME to plac e my The world of print has before everything else, and and for anyone who knows r! pe his wife Sara and daughter nip trus ty quil l pen a s wa I ce sin ed ng cha so it needed to, for him to Bradford, that’s like finding a niSophie, despite his regrets alon gsid e the make it up the ruthless and needle in a haystack.

A stay about how little time he’d the oth er side coti ne-s tain ed gree n rge eme will y bod d, greasy tabloid lete in a five-star sad ly dep put into Sophie’s early life knowle dge aly eye shie ld and lay mild a as in g livin pole. re hotel watching allow. No futu because of his singular comjuni or , very , the m to rest in my very ble, how When Greg the England the pas t, no mat ter mitment to his career.

Es4th the Greg believed of gran dad ’s old roll -top ber mem first met me team would And so history repeated itold you are or how thin gs bur eau . Pro bab ly wor tate . you could say have been my nge d. in me as a self, or some might say karcha e hav TV’s h on ‘Hig t une tha th a fort I was already first choice!

At the ten der Tod ay, all ma. I eventually moved back ove r ed toll I f stuf Bargain journalist and I h’ 50 Shades of Tec I Anyone who 15, up North with Anton to be age of lly tota day and f****d-up, for Hun t, but I t nigh worked with closer to our family and give was plun ged needed that at the into d more than one are don ’t wan t Greg will red into London’s disappe him a greener upbringing nge plu s wa I proed nd call reason, which call one of his to spe the time than he ever would have had tem ple vac uum pit high al ’s ntu is far too long favourite reendless into London in London and Greg carried newspri nt, gres s with the eve of to go into now et. sponses ‘onh o u r s on as he always did. t Stre et, fall of Flee t Stre is as ple Flee tem h hig and I’ve also t wards and upstanding No one can discredit his stud y at As I said , my pas to chickened-out. Let’s just wards’, which he’d often use ied som e commitment and passion in of newsprint, Cou rt dea d as a Dod o, bur p Bolt leave it as a few bad things if someone moaned or comdee in, to journalism, and yes, he God-fortech nica l co- in a digi tal coff ial neeet Str happened in my earlier life et plained when a story hadn’t Fle made some bad judgement saken bog e, spe cia- in a sea of soc bab ly lleg which had set me on a path gone to plan. He was nothing calls because somewhere of a fiel d g in prin t two rkin g and pro wat lisin of self-destructive behaviour. if not tenacious. along the way he lost his as ing rest flogging inte as the For .

Over time I’d shared some of But Greg believed in me as and Alli ed Arts conscience and was never a fur it vom cat a my fait hfu l pos ses g chin I rs, my stories with Greg and he a journalist and I needed foll owi ng thre e yea one for empathy. do I s, eles erth sion s for the sake of Nev . ball seemed to understand the that at the time because my grap pled with the mys teBut he was one hell of a ll spe ay’s tod d a mis erly cou ple of a nee complete contradiction I was. self-esteem tanks were pretjournalist who got further in ries of pho togr aphy, gra- not gram mar sup por t mill ion quid . and I was fierce, but fragile.

Ambiand t ty low.

He encouraged me to prin his career than he may have phic s, com plex e a writ to gy Yes fan s - bot h of you nolo tech tious and fearless, but had a and move to London despite my ever thought possible and layo ut tech niqu es as h suc mn colu - I emb race tod ay’s ple conscience and cared. sim reluctance, as I was a true no-one can ever dispute that. the inev itab le Pitm an’s off ng tchi swi He knew as a news editor so tech nolo gy as muc h Northern girl. He also knew nd to eve ntu ally this , rtha sho now e, viril e ! onc that he could send me into some of my stories and yeah, NOW as my any job and I wouldn’t worry he held my hand in belief Yun g bud YOU CAN FOLLOW ME about my safety, and he did. which gave me the self-belief ding rite rs @tereniataras As an undercover journal- I needed. note take we wot of old hac ks are still capab abe l of.

B o w i n g Quick Crossword now. out mor e Across: 7 One or the other, 9 Mourn, 10 Laid out, 11 Col, No 12 Chan, 14 Intends, 17 Cyanide, 19 Lags, 22 Paw, 24 `Old Hac k.´ Stuck-up, 25 Helix, 26 Entrepreneurs.

Hop e I gave you a few Down: 1 Cosmic, 2 Beluga, 3 Franc, 4 Chilli Peppers, 5 smi les duThrown, 6 Brutes, 8 Opiate, 13 Hey!, 15 Dug, 16 Fickle, ring .

17 Cashed, 18 Acuity, 20 All but, 21 Sexism, 23 Whine.

BENNNYSAURUS T

SUDOKU

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The Olive Press all editions - FP_342x256 - PROMO - October 6th

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Equality protocols

FINAL WORDS

MINISTRY of Equality leader Ilene Montero has proposed a new protocol against sexual harassment in the workplace, targetting inappropriate comments, ‘sexual jokes’ and even looking at people in a suggestive way.

COVID prison EIGHT prisoners at Cordoba jail have tested positive for COVID-19, with seven of then having mild symptoms and one being transferred to Reina Sofia’s Hospital. All of the inmates are vaccinated.

Honest finder A WOMAN in Malaga who found a wallet containing €1,300 cash and two credit cards on the street handed it to police, who have returned it to its 70-year-old Venezuelan owner.

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Your expat

voice in Spain

October 8th - October 21st 2021

Shak attacked

Hopping mad Bungling robber loses false leg in botched bankjob find that brave customers and passersby had joined with staff to tackle the robber and during the struggle his artificial leg had fallen off.

Cash This meant any escape plans They had demanded cash he had were scuppered and from the teller, but the alarm all he could do was meekly was raised and police dashed sit down and wait to be arto the scene. They arrived to rested in Friday’s incident.

His accomplice meanwhile fled empty handed SPAIN is officially a nation of potty Spain is the and is still at mouths, with Spaniards using over 2 fifth sweariest large. A fake million swear words online each year, country in the gun was found according to new research. world, while the USA at the scene.

From furious four-letter tirades to came in at number seven, ItA police foul-mouthed phrases, obscenities aly was ranked eighth. Canada spokesman have become more commonplace and the UK rounded out the top 10, said: “At 2pm, than ever. in ninth and tenth place, respectively. a call was Even worse then the Spanish are the It is hardly surprising Spaniards are received reFrench who topped the list of foul- placed so highly on the ‘blue list’ - they porting that a mouthed web surfers. have a whopping 251 different explerobbery was According to research from Preply, tives to choose from. taking place A BANK robber was left without a leg to stand on after his false limb fell off during an attempted hold-up in Alicante.

The 45-year-old Italian may well have been hopping mad after brave customers and staff tussled

with him when he burst into the Sabadell branch with an accomplice brandishing a gun.

BAD LANGUAGE!

Friends.

in a bank branch of Sabadell located in Plaza America in Alicante.

“The emergency protocol was activated and a device established that frustrated the robbery and culminated in the arrest of one of the perpetrators who was armed with a pistol that was finally determined to be simulated.”

“At least one perpetrator fled from the place, more identification and location management is being carried out by the robbery squad of the Alicante Judicial Police Brigade.”

“The detainee is of Italian nationality, 45 years old and with a previous record.”

SINGER Shakira was attacked by a pair of marauding wild boars who snatched her bag while she was walking with her eight-year-old son in a park in Barcelona.

The hairy hogs ambushed her and made off with her handbag, before trying to escape with it into the woods.

Shakira let her fans know with an Instagram story. Holding up her bag that was now in tatters she said: “Look at how two wild boar that attacked me in the park have left my bag.”

The singer, who is married to Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique, explained: “They were taking my bag to the woods with my mobile phone in it.”

The 44-year-old Colombian claims she ‘stood up to the wild boar’ to snatch back her bag but unfortunately they still ‘destroyed everything’.

She isn't the first victim of a boar attack, as the pests have managed to overwhelm Barcelona in the past few years, with police receiving over 1,100 calls regarding wild boar attacks in one year alone.

Much more than four stars.

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A hotel that maximises the destination to it's full potential, thanks to it's excellent location. It offers great local experiences at any moment. With art, design, relaxation and comfort. A hotel full of life.

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