A security guard who was ‘just doing his job’ has been stabbed to death at a Milton Keynes shopping centre.

Police and emergency services were called to reports of a stabbing at the Centre MK (CMK) at around 5.10pm on Saturday.

A man has been named locally as Gary Stanley, 52, who was on duty when the stabbing happened at the shopping centre, but died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics.

Thames Valley Police has launched an investigation, and a 50-year-old man from Towcester has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Gary was described as a ‘gentle giant’ by friends and family who have paid tribute to the 52-year-old.

A member known as Bhav from the Facebook page, The Security Squad, paid tribute to Gary describing him as someone ‘you felt safe around’.

He wrote: ‘Gary had been murdered while doing his job yesterday, while protecting others. Taken in an instant.

‘Gary was a gentle giant. A man who worked hard, loved deeply, and would help anyone without hesitation.’

‘The kind of man you felt safe around. The kind you don’t replace.’

The security guard, also known by friends as Stan, is understood to have left behind his wife, son and two grandchildren.

Other tributes on social media described Gary as a valued member of the Milton Keynes community.

One post said: ‘Rest in peace to a valued member of our Milton Keynes Gary Stanley who sadly lost his life today.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and everyone affected.

‘Tonight we light a candle in his memory. Gone too soon, but never forgotten.’

Another tribute shared how they once worked alongside Gary.

‘I’m so gutted to find out the news that Gary was taken from us today,’ one tribute read.

‘I worked alongside this kind man on the doors for many years and he was always calm, fair and funny, how could anyone take your life like that while you were simply doing your job.’

Thames Valley Police officers are at the CMK shopping centre as investigations continue.

The 50-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder remains in police custody.

Chief superintendent Emma Baillie said: ‘We are in the very early stages of this murder investigation, but we have made an arrest and are we are not currently looking for anyone else.

‘There is no known threat to the wider public.

‘Members of the public are likely to see an increased police presence while we continue to investigate and we would advise anyone with any concerns to please speak to one of our uniformed officers.’

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The school wars spreading over London have reached new heights, with Operation Cedarfield being by police to clamp down on who is responsible.

Since Metro first broke the story two weeks ago, the schools across London taking part in the fights – where they are encouraged to ‘be violent’ – has increased nearly 10 fold.

The first post divided eight schools in Hackney into ‘red’ and ‘blue’ and told pupils to bring sharp objects such as compasses to harm each other.

Since then, Metro has counted more than 50 schools taking part across the capital, setting up their own ‘wars’.

These include schools in Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Croydon and Harrow.

But parents are crying out for help, with some who have already lost a child to knife crime begging for it to be stopped.

Which schools are involved?

At time of writing, Metro has counted 58 schools involved.

A somewhat-sophisticated scoring system has also been put in place, with 20 points awarded for ‘juggin them’ and 10 for ‘bangin’.

In Greenwich, this includes: Plumstead Manor, Thomas Tallis, St Paul’s Academy, St Mary’s, Woolwich Polytechnic, John Roan, Ark Greenwich School and Royal Greenwich Trust.

In Hackney, City Academy, Cardinal Pole, Haggerston School, Urswick School, The Excelsior Academy, Bridge Academy, Mossbourne Community Academy and City of London Academy Shoreditch Park are all mentioned in the post.

In Tower Hamlets, Langdon Park, Canary Wharf College, St Paul’s Secondary, Bow School. Bishop Chancellor, Stepney Green, Wapping High School and George Green have all been named.

Other posts have also called for inter-borough competitions, with the entirety of north London divided and pitted against each other.

Another has also put boroughs on the other side of the capital against each other, with Ealing and Brent at war with Waltham Forest and Southwark.

‘I dread another parent being told their child has been stabbed’

Tammy Brown, who lost her son Russell to knife crime in 2016, has called on Tower Hamlets parents to make sure they know what their children are doing.

She told Metro: ‘It totally took my breath away seeing these posts. I hate to think of another mum or dad getting that knock on the door that turns their world upside down.

‘Innocent kids could be hurt and for what? Absolutely nothing. It’s just school vs school and terrible and scary for all.’

Pupils are also at risk of being ‘jumped’ without knowing about the posts.

One grandmother, who has a grandson in year 9 in Hackney, said as Mare Street is pedestrianied children will be more vulnerable with nowhere to hide.

She said: ‘There is no hiding on that street, everything is completely open.

‘What if a pupil just happens to be walking through it and gets jumped? It’s a disaster waiting to happen.’

Who is responsible?

All of the posts are circulating on Tiktok and Snapchat by dedicated accounts.

But some pupils do not believe it is their fellow students who have the posts, but rather outsiders looking to cause trouble.

One year 10 student told Metro: ‘People are just trying to fearmonger parents. Most schools are interlinked and have good relationships.

‘These people like to create fear and worry that is already in our communities. But any teenager with common sense would not meet somewhere where the police have been told about and bring a weapon.’

Operation Cedarfield

The Metropolitan Police is now ramping up efforts to find out who is responsible.

They have named the task Operation Cedarfield, with headteachers across London urging students to go straight home after school.

Commander Neerav Patel said: ‘We’re aware of social media posts circulating and are in close contact with schools across several London boroughs to offer reassurance.

‘Officers will maintain a strong, visible presence around schools, and will respond firmly to any reports of violence or disorder.

‘We continue to closely monitor online spaces and have worked with platforms to request a dozen social media accounts to be disabled where threats or violence were planned or encouraged.

‘I would like to remind young people of the serious consequences of getting involved in matters like this.

‘An arrest, charge and conviction for violence and carrying weapons could mean imprisonment with a significant long-term impact on future opportunities.’

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This is the first picture of a man who was fatally stabbed in the centre of Wimbledon in south west London at the weekend.

Luke Brereton, 40, from Mitcham, was on a night out on the busy high street when he was attacked shortly after half past midnight.

Police were called to the scene at 12.37am on Sunday, February 22 after they received reports of a stabbing on The Broadway, Wimbledon.

Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and found Luke at the scene.

Despite best efforts from the paramedics he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

His devastated family lay flowers at the spot where he collapsed yesterday afternoon. They declined to speak.

The Met said his family are aware and continuing to receive support from specialist officers.

Yesterday afternoon Amar Zafar, of Cambridge Grove Road, Kingston, was charged with murder and possession of a bladed article. 

Forensics officers have been trawling for clues at the scene while police have obtained CCTV footage of the incident with detectives examining the images. 

Yesterday, local businesses and residents laid floral tributes at the scene, which is near a number of bars and restaurants.

Several were open at the time of the incident and have been cooperating with police during their investigation, it is understood.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said: “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family. We understand the impact this will have on the local community

‘We still need anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to come forward. No detail is too small.’

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting CAD 244/22FEB. To remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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The killing of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader, ‘El Mencho’ has sparked unrest, fires and chaos across tourist hotspots in Mexico.

‘El Mencho’, whose real name is Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, was killed in the western state of Jalisco.

His death triggered unrest and hours of roadblocks, with vehicles set ablaze across the state, including in the tourist hot spots of Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic.

Burning vehicles and setting up roadblocks are commonly used by cartels to block military operations.

El Mencho was wounded during an operation to capture him in Tapalpa but died while being flown to Mexico City for treatment, the Defence Department said.

The chaos which unfolded in the aftermath of his death, however, prompted major airlines, including Air Canada, to suspend flights to Puerto Vallarta and urge customers not to go to the airport.

What is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel?

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is one of the most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organisations in Mexico and was born in 2009.

The Jalisco cartel has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military – including on helicopters – and is a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines.

In 2020, it carried out a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles in the heart of Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force and now federal security secretary.

The DEA considers the cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s most infamous criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 US states.

It is one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the US market and, like the Sinaloa cartel, earns billions from the production of fentanyl and methamphetamines.

Who is ‘El Mencho’?

Oseguera Cervantes has been significantly involved in drug trafficking activities since the 1990s.

He was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in the US District Court for the Northern District of California in 1994 and served nearly three years in prison.

Following his release from custody, Oseguera Cervantes returned to Mexico and reengaged in drug trafficking activity.

Since 2017, Oseguera Cervantes has been indicted several times in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

What have Mexico and the US said?

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, like her predecessor, has criticised the ‘kingpin’ strategy of previous administrations that took out cartel leaders only to trigger explosions of violence as cartels fractured.

But since US President Donald Trump took office a year ago, she has been under tremendous pressure to show results against drug trafficking.

Earlier today, it was revealed that US intelligence helped aid Mexico in the raid that killed El Mencho. It comes just a year after the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organisation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: ‘President Trump has been very clear — the United States will ensure narcoterrorists sending deadly drugs to our homeland are forced to face the wrath of justice they have long deserved.’

The US State Department warned US citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon states to remain in safe places because of the ongoing security operations.

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A predatory taxi driver has been jailed for raping a sleeping passenger after carrying her to bed.

Dominic Dalton took advantage of his victim after she fell asleep in his cab, a court heard.

The woman had been picked up along with a friend following a night out in Aberystwyth, Wales, on February 25, 2024.

Dalton, 30, of Pencader, Carmarthenshire, dropped off the friend before turning off his meter and taking the sleeping woman home and putting her to bed.

She later woke to find him raping her.

The woman managed to grab a knife from the kitchen and screamed at him to leave her house.

When he refused, she ran outside barefooted at used the knife to slash his tyres before seeking refuge at a neighbour’s house, where she alerted the police.

Dalton eventually left the property in his car and parked up nearby.

The predatory cabbie then flagged up another taxi, claiming that his tyres had blown out.

He later drove back to the woman’s home when he realised her phone was with him.

However, police had already arrived in the area.

This Is Not Right

On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.

With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.

You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.

Read more:

In a desperate attempt to avoid being caught, he made attempts to formulate his story, the court heard.

His phone records revealed searches including ‘have you been falsely accused of rape?’ and ‘perverting the course of justice’, ‘wasting police time in cases involving allegedly false allegations of rape’.

The taxi driver was later arrested, but denied charges of rape, telling Swansea Crown Court that the sexual activity was entirely consensual.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison on Wednesday.

A jury had found him guilty after less than two hours of deliberation.

DI Mathew Nelson said: ‘I sincerely commend the victim’s bravery and resilience in coming forward to report the heinous crime of which she had been subjected to.

‘Engaging with the Criminal Justice System as the victim has in this case takes an act of immense courage that deserves profound respect.

‘By standing up and reporting Dalton, the victim has protected other members of the community too. I hope this conviction and sentencing brings some closure to the victim after experiencing such an horrific ordeal.

‘As a taxi driver, Dalton’s job was to ensure that his passengers got home safely. He abused that position that night, exploiting the victim’s vulnerability, and later went on to lie about his actions.

‘The conviction and sentence passed serves to punish Dalton for his actions, but importantly also validate the victim’s voice.

‘I hope the outcome will give confidence to other victims, in knowing their voices will be heard and listened to.

‘I hope for the wider community, you will feel safe in the knowledge that a perpetrator such as Dalton has been dealt with robustly.’

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Two people have been charged with murder after a ‘seriously injured’ boy was admitted to hospital and later died from his injuries.

London’s Met Police launched an investigation after a three-year-old boy was admitted to hospital on Saturday, January 3 with severe injuries.

Police said they later launched a safeguarding and criminal investigation. Despite efforts of medical staff, the youngster died on Monday, January 19th.

They have named him as Isiayah Henry from Woolwich.

A spokesperson from the Met said: ‘Enquiries have been ongoing within the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. On Friday, 20 February, two people were charged with murder and causing/allowing the death of a child in connection with Isiayah’s death following an appearance at Woolwich Crown Court.’

Tanisha Henry, 28, of Woolwich and Mikael Williams, of Walworth, will next appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, 22 April.

The Met added that Isiayah’s family have been informed and continue to receive support from specialist officers.

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A new driver who killed two people in a crash less than a month after passing her test has been jailed for six years.

Liberty Mitchell had not long turned 18 when she caused the deaths of taxi driver Octavian Codreanu and his passenger Moyra Whelan in December 2022.

Mitchell, of Chipping Norton, was travelling at 96mph in a 60mph zone seconds before she hit Mr Codreanu’s taxi on the B4425 near Aldsworth in Gloucestershire.

Now 21, she sobbed openly in the dock at Gloucester Crown Court as she was sent to prison.

Mitchell was working as a cleaner at the time and had been travelling between holiday cottages in the area in order to clean them.

She had swung her Mini Cooper out to try and overtake three other vehicles at once, before aborting the manoeuvre and hitting the taxi.

Mr Codreanu and his passenger, school teacher Moyra Whelan, who was on her way to a wedding, died in the collision.

Mitchell was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and two counts of causing death by driving whilst uninsured, due to her car insurance not including use of the vehicle for work purposes.

She pleaded guilty to all charges.

The court heard injuries suffered by those in the crash included a fractured hip, broken ribs, severe abdominal wounds and shattered bones protruding through the skin.

Nicola Cooper, one of the passengers in the taxi, said: ‘The crash itself was traumatic, the impact felt endless.

‘I live with survivor’s guilt and the trauma of losing one of my closest friends, Moyra, who was sitting just inches from me.

‘I lie awake at night thinking about the “what ifs”.’

Katy-Louise Whelan, Moyra Whelan’s younger sister, said: ‘She had so much left that she wanted to experience… but the opportunity was stolen from her and we are devastated.

‘I’m still absolutely incredulous that she is not with us any more.

‘It’s like the light of the world is dimmed and we will never be able to turn it back on again.

‘One aspect that haunts me is that my sister died violently… I’m truly devastated that my beautiful, innocent sister was subjected to that.’

Simon Stirling, defending, suggested Mitchell’s actions were a result of ‘inexperience rather than irresponsibility’.

He said Mitchell had only recently passed her driving test and would not have understood the risk of the manoeuvre she was attempting.

Judge Lowe said: ‘At the time of this collision, you had held a full driving licence for less than three weeks.

‘You were, at the time, a reckless and immature young driver suffering from the, frankly common, teenage delusion that you were invulnerable and free to do as you wished.

‘The lives of all the victims and their families have been irrevocably changed.’

Mitchell was sentenced to six years and eight months in jail and must serve half of this term in custody before being eligible for release on licence.

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