Blogs

A FORMER EastEnders star is planning a huge pop career – months after leaving Albert Square.

Shona McGarty played popular Whitney Dean from 2008 until leaving in 2024.

Instagram

EastEnders’ Shona McGarty gave fans a look into her music career[/caption]

Instagram

She described working with record producer Steve Anderson as an “absolute dream”[/caption]

BBC

She played Whitney Dean for 15 years[/caption]

Taking to Instagram, the star posted a photo of herself alongside musician and record producer Steve Anderson.

She captioned: “My happy place! Working with @mrsteveanderson is an absolute dream, we got so much accomplished in our studio session yesterday, and I feel it is all coming together nicely.

“Do you guys want a little sneak peek at something we recorded?”

One fan commented: “No way! This is awesome x.”

Another wrote: “Sneak peak pleaseeee! You’re looking beautiful girl so proud of you girl.”

A third added: “Yes can’t wait to hear your music Shona.”

While a fourth shared: “So happy for you! You deserve every bit of happiness and success.”

Through the production group Brothers in Rhythym, Steve has worked with artists including Kylie Minogue and Westlife.

As for Shona, the actress first announced her decision to leave EastEnders back in 2023.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, Shona said: “I have decided to spread my wings and will be leaving EastEnders. I have loved my years in the show.

“I have been trusted with some incredible storylines and have made amazing friendships — and family — which will endure.”

Whitney’s final storylines built towards her wedding with fiancé Zack Hudson.

It saw her adoptive mother – and show legend – Bianca Jackson make a comeback to the Square.

However, Whitney was left devastated upon learning Zack cheated on her on her wedding day and furiously called the whole thing off.

She told Zack: “It’s OK that you didn’t love me enough. Maybe I didn’t love you enough either, because if I did then maybe I wouldn’t have lied to you about Britney? 

“I feel that love for Peach, we both do. But do you think maybe that love and that pain kept us together for longer than it should have. 

“It gave us Dolly though and I’ll never regret the time we had together but it’s over.”

After cutting ties with Bianca – who’d kept quiet about Zack’s infidelity Whitney left alongside Britney and Dolly for a new life in Wakefield.

While she got a prestigious Julia’s Theme send-off, viewers weren’t too pleased with Whitney’s exit.

One wrote: “#EastEnders this is possibly up there with the worst ending especially for Whitney. I wish her and Jay got together had a baby and left the square happily ever after.”

Another added: ”Shona McGarty’s final episode might quite possibly be one of the worst episodes I’ve ever endured. That’s exactly what it felt like. I had to endure it.

“I never wanna hear the names Whitney, Britney or Peach & the phrase ‘what’s best for my daughters Zack’ ever again. #Eastenders”

A third remarked: “Worst exit story ever, Whitney deserved better after all the trauma they put her through on this show. Logging out until Christmas, what a disappointment #Eastenders.”

EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.

BBC

Whitney’s exit involved wedding day drama[/caption]

A YOUNG woman has revealed that when she was just 17, she “snuck out” and got a matching tattoo with Harry Styles. 

Savannah Phillips, a young woman from the United States, has gone viral online after opening up about the tattoo story and is now the envy of every One Direction fan.

tiktok.com/@thatsavchick

A woman has revealed that just a couple of weeks after meeting Harry Styles at a hotel when she was just 17, she got matching tattoos with him[/caption]

tiktok.com/@thatsavchick

Now, Savannah Phillips has sent One Direction fans wild as she showed off her tattoo, which was his sketch[/caption]

Rex

Posting on social media, the blonde beauty shared a snap of her and Harry Styles, 31, from back in 2012, and claimed that Harry had sketched a heart for her, which she got tattooed on her ankle.

After being bombarded with hundreds of questions from desperate One Direction fans who were eager to know more on the backstory, soon after Savannah uploaded a follow-up clip, whereby she explained how her friendship with Harry started. 

Savannah claimed that she first met Harry, who was recently spotted snogging a mystery woman at Glastonbury, and the rest of the One Direction band in Los Angeles, whilst out for her aunt’s birthday at the W Hotel. 

Whilst eating lunch, Savannah and her family soon noticed that One Direction were sitting next to them and they eventually got talking. 

After finding out that it was one of One Direction’s first times in LA, Savannah recommended they go to In-N-Out Burger – and before long, they were all there together. 

Not only this, but the lads then invited Savannah and her family to one of their concerts.

Savannah and Harry in particular stayed connected through texting and just a few weeks later, when Savannah was only 17 at the time, she found herself in her car with Harry.

They went to her house where they tucked into shrimp tacos and Harry shared his desire to get a tattoo that evening, as she explained: “Harry kept mentioning throughout the night, ‘I wanna get a tattoo’.”

Savannah claimed that she had always wanted a tattoo, but her mother wouldn’t allow it.

Despite this, the pair soon found themselves in a tattoo parlour, as Savannah confessed: “He goes and grabs a big piece of paper and a pen and he’s just drawing something for like five, 10 minutes, and then he walks up to me with a piece of paper and is like ‘get this’.” 

Savannah confirmed that Harry had called her mum from the shop to get her approval and just minutes later, she had his sketched heart inked onto her ankle.

Savannah beamed: “I got it done and it didn’t hurt, because I think my adrenaline was pumping so hard.”

It was a very strange, surreal and sweet chapter of my life that I am very grateful for

Savannah Phillips

Savannah later confirmed that Harry also got inked whilst with her that same night. 

Reflecting on her friendship with Harry, Savannah acknowledged: “People ask if we’re still in touch and, no, I haven’t been in touch with Harry for a very long time, but I know if I run into him on the street, he would give me a hug, it’d be like no time had passed.

“I still do keep in contact with some of the crew and the band members – we all have very different lives now, it was a very strange, surreal and sweet chapter of my life that I am very grateful for.”

Harry Styles’ fans gasp

The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @thatsavchick, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly gone viral and racked up 1.6 million views, 250,800 likes and 1,797 shares. 

Fans of Harry Styles were gobsmacked by Savannah’s story and many raced to the comments to express their jealousy. 

I will peel your skin off and wear it myself

TikTok user

One person asked: “How does it feel to live every One Directioner’s dream?” 

Another added: “You’re everything I ever wanted to be….”

A third commented: “I’m not a jealous person but that changes today.” 

Someone else revealed: “Teenage me would have been jealous of you.”

Whilst one avid Harry Styles fan wrote: “I will peel your skin off and wear it myself.” 

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club

Love Island fans have been left fuming after the latest bombshells were revealed – insisting bosses have failed to provide a potential romance for one of the girls. 

Tonight’s Love Island will see the arrival of Bilikis Azeez and Ryan Bannister, who will attempt to turn the Islanders’ heads. 

ITV

ITV

Eroteme

But fans have raged that the new lad isn’t a possible match for OG girl Alima Gagigo, demanding to know why she’s not being considered. 

Commenting on social media after the latest stars were revealed, one wrote: “can they please bring in someone for alima oh my god.”

Another said: “Some good guys need to be brought in for Alima.”

And a third added: “No bombshell for Alima?”

Alima was in a romance with Remell Mullins, but swiftly ended things after learning of his behaviour during a sleepover with Poppy Harrison. 

Remell was sent packing in brutal double dumping alongside Megan Forte Clarke last week. 

Alima is also caught up in drama between Shakira Khan and Helena Ford tonight, as the fall-out from the Heart Rate Challenge continues. 

Shakira is coupled up with Harry Cooksley, but that didn’t stop Helena from telling him “I want to f*** you” during the racy game. 

Tonight,  Alima tells Shakira: “Helena whispered on his ear, ‘I can’t wait to f*** you’ and I think that’s the reason why his heart went like that.

“He knew that she whispered that and I think he should have told you last night…”

Yasmin Pettet then adds: “He replied something back to her.”

Confirming this, Toni Laites reveals Harry said, “Do you still wanna f*** me?”

A raging Shakira is then heard saying to her friends: “Now I know why everyone’s f**king whispering and laughing and expecting me to kick off at him. Helena can f**k off!”

DOMINIC SOLANKE enjoyed “the best holiday ever” during his stunning honeymoon with wife Erica.

The Tottenham striker and his beau spent their first away trip as a married couple across breathtaking locations in East Africa.

Their blissful honeymoon comes hot on the heels of a memorable period for the England international, who recently helped Spurs win the Europa League in May.

Weeks later Solanke tied the knot with Erica in a lavish ceremony in Lake Como, Italy in front of family and friends on June 17.

And now, Solanke has shared untold dazzling snaps from their post-nuptial vacation in paradise on Instagram.

The loved-up couple travelled to Kenya’s famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

A night in a honeymoon suite can range from $1,000 to $2,000 (about £727 – £1,455)

The 27-year-old shared 20 PICTURES in one post, showing videos of the beautiful Safari desert at sunset, as well as close-up visuals of lions and elephants.

In one heart-warming clip, the Spurs frontman signed a football for two excited local fans.

The smitten couple then enjoyed a jumping dance show, called the ‘Adumu’, from the Maasai people.

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And online fans were seriously impressed, with one writing: ” Nice to see a footballer go somewhere other than Dubai or LA!”

The incredible pictures even left one Arsenal rival jealous, with Declan Rice liking both posts.

It’s unclear how they met and got together, but Solanke popped the question while on holiday in the Maldives in November 2022. 

They announced that they were expecting their first child together in May 2023, and shortly after hosted a gender reveal party for family and friends. 

Erica, who measures up at a tiny 5ft1, shares regular snippets into lavish “baecations” and date nights with 6ft3 Solanke.

After writing that he’d had the “best holiday experience to date”, Solanke and his wife jetted more than 1000 miles to the Seychelles Island for a low-key beach holiday.

The former Liverpool star then shared another 20 pictures in a second post, captioned: “Pt.2”.

The happy pair were spotted winding down a couple of glasses of wine at a sunset dinner on the beach, and by the pool.

Other snaps showed a white sandy beach with crystal clear water, while they also spent time in the gym together.

Spurs team-mate James Maddison, who is expecting a second set of twins with partner Kennedy Alexa, commented: “Nice dump Dom.”

While his Liverpool rival and England pal Curtis Jones simply put: “Very nice.”

Meanwhile, Tottenham target Justin Kluivert replied: “Life ”.

Solanke, who joined Spurs from Bournemouth in August 2024, was also spotted at various locations in Nairobi earlier this week.

He is enjoying a well-earned break across the continent before returning to North London for pre‑season training under new boss Thomas Frank.

Spurs, who finished 17th last season, host newly-promoted Burnley in their first game of the season on August 16.

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday filed a bill that seeks to impose stricter regulations against online gambling. “Many families have had their futures destroyed because of online gambling, which are made easier by e-wallet … for instance, Scatter,” he said in a press briefing. READ: Public warned against illegal offshore gaming sites

A PARTIAL verdict has been reached in the federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Judge Arun Subramanian received a letter from the jury at around 4:40 pm informing the court that the jury has reached a verdict on some of the charges.

Reuters

Getty Images - Getty

Reuters

Sean Combs huddled with his defense team in court on June 30[/caption]

Reuters

Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura sobbed on the stand during her testimony, which went on for four-days[/caption]

In closing arguments, prosecutors described Combs as the “leader of a criminal enterprise” who used his expansive “wealth, power, violence, and fear to get what he wanted.”

“He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law,” Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said.

“It was his kingdom. Everyone was there to serve him.”

The core evidence of the prosecution’s case was the disturbing and graphic nature of the drug-fueled “freak-offs” that at times Combs allegedly coerced his ex-girlfriends to participate in with male escorts.

Slavik described to jurors how Combs forced his former lovers Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura and “Jane” into participating in the punishing sex marathons and with the help of an inner circle of “loyal lieutenants” covered up the alleged crimes.

Ventura and Jane were sometimes required to perform the lewd acts, which were also called “hotel nights and wild king nights,” while they were hurting from urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to prosecutors.

Ventura testified that the choreographed encounters, which she said were directed by Combs, could last days, with the longest she ever participated in being four days.

On the other hand, Combs’ defense team slammed the prosecution’s case as an attack on “your bedroom” and one’s sex life.

“They go into the man’s bedroom. They go into the man’s most private life. Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life. That’s the crime scene,” Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ lead defense attorney, said during closing arguments.

Agnifilo summarized the seven-week trial as a “tale of two trials,” arguing one side is the one told by the evidence of the case, by witnesses, videos, and text messages, and the other was a “badly, badly, exaggerated” story told by prosecutors.

The defense attorney argued the sexual encounters involving Combs, Ventura, “Jane,” and male escorts were consensual, and called the “freak-offs,” which were sometimes video recorded, “homemade porn.”

“You want to call it swingers, you want to call it threesomes, whatever you want to call it, that is what it is – that’s what the evidence shows,” Agnifilo told the jury.

“He did what he did. But he’s going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn’t do,” Agnifilo told the jury.

Read our live blog of the verdict of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial…

LOVE Island fans have been left fuming at ‘gaslighter’ Harry and called for him to be axed from the villa.

Viewers weren’t impressed by Harry’s conversation with his villa partner Shakira.

ITV

Love Island fans were left unimpressed with Harry following a chat with Shakira[/caption]

ITV

He hid key details of the saucy Heart Rate Challenge from his villa partner[/caption]

ITV

Furious fans claimed he “gaslit” Shakira[/caption]

During the steamy Heart Rate challenge, it turned out fellow Islander Helena’s routine got Harry’s heart racing more than any other girl.

In the saucy challenge Helena made her desire for him clear when she whispered in Harry’s ear: “I want to f*** you.”

He immediately told Tommy to pass it on to the boys afterwards, and Dejon was left open-mouthed.

During his go, Harry whispered “do you still want to f*** me?” in Helena’s ear.

However, when discussing the results with Shakira afterwards, Harry neglected to tell her what had happened.

Fans were left unimpressed, as one wrote: “Shakira deserves so much better than Harry, casa amor please save her asap.”

Another added: “they all gaslight shakira??? how is helena saying it’s not deep knowing what her and harry whispered to each other??????”

A third wrote: “Harry mugging off shakira.”

While a fourth remarked: “shakira now we can dump harry you’ve given him enough chances.”

Harry and Helena struck up a connection early on, however, the playboy couldn’t help but keep his options open and things fizzled out as quickly as they started.

Having switched his attention to Shakira, after a snog-filled terrace trip with Yasmin, Helena was reluctant to be friends with him.

But her stint in the second villa for the Sleepover, which saw the arrival of four bombshells, made her realise she still had feelings for Harry.

It comes as viewers predicted Shakira could couple up with another villa boy.

She shared a steamy smooch with Irish rugby player Conor during a challenge called Snog, Marry, Pie.

Islanders had to kiss who they fancied the most, propose and marry the Islander they most thought of as marriage material, and pie the Islander who they didn’t fancy or had any previous issues with.

Since the pair shared a steamy smooch and Conor declared Shakira as the “fittest girl in the villa”, fans have predicted their blossoming romance.

One person wrote: “Conor and Shakira? I could see that.”

Another said: “Anyone else think shakira and Conor might couple up at some point or is that a stretch?” 

While a third wrote: “Hear me out… shakira and Conor,” 

Love Island airs on ITV1 and ITVX.

Eroteme

A PARTIAL verdict has been reached in the federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Judge Arun Subramanian received a letter from the jury at around 4:40 pm informing the court that the jury has reached a verdict on some of the charges.

Reuters

Getty Images - Getty

Reuters

Sean Combs huddled with his defense team in court on June 30[/caption]

Reuters

Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura sobbed on the stand during her testimony, which went on for four-days[/caption]

In closing arguments, prosecutors described Combs as the “leader of a criminal enterprise” who used his expansive “wealth, power, violence, and fear to get what he wanted.”

“He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law,” Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said.

“It was his kingdom. Everyone was there to serve him.”

The core evidence of the prosecution’s case was the disturbing and graphic nature of the drug-fueled “freak-offs” that at times Combs allegedly coerced his ex-girlfriends to participate in with male escorts.

Slavik described to jurors how Combs forced his former lovers Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura and “Jane” into participating in the punishing sex marathons and with the help of an inner circle of “loyal lieutenants” covered up the alleged crimes.

Ventura and Jane were sometimes required to perform the lewd acts, which were also called “hotel nights and wild king nights,” while they were hurting from urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to prosecutors.

Ventura testified that the choreographed encounters, which she said were directed by Combs, could last days, with the longest she ever participated in being four days.

On the other hand, Combs’ defense team slammed the prosecution’s case as an attack on “your bedroom” and one’s sex life.

“They go into the man’s bedroom. They go into the man’s most private life. Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life. That’s the crime scene,” Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ lead defense attorney, said during closing arguments.

Agnifilo summarized the seven-week trial as a “tale of two trials,” arguing one side is the one told by the evidence of the case, by witnesses, videos, and text messages, and the other was a “badly, badly, exaggerated” story told by prosecutors.

The defense attorney argued the sexual encounters involving Combs, Ventura, “Jane,” and male escorts were consensual, and called the “freak-offs,” which were sometimes video recorded, “homemade porn.”

“You want to call it swingers, you want to call it threesomes, whatever you want to call it, that is what it is – that’s what the evidence shows,” Agnifilo told the jury.

“He did what he did. But he’s going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn’t do,” Agnifilo told the jury.

Read our live blog of the verdict of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial…

COCO GAUFF caught the attention of the Wimbledon crowd and the tennis fans watching at home with her impressive outfit for her first round match at the All England Club.

Gauff, 21, suffered a first-round defeat to Dayana Yastremska, bringing her Wimbledon journey to premature end.

Getty

Tennis fans loved Coco Gauff’s outfit for her first round match at Wimbledon[/caption]

Getty

The all-white ensemble had some impressive designs[/caption]

Getty

AFP

Gauff was beaten in the first round, heading home after a 7-6 6-1 defeat to Dayana Yastremska[/caption]

But despite not putting on her best performance, losing 7-6 6-1, the US tennis star still looked stylish as he gave it her best shot.

Ensuring not to break Wimbledon’s strict all-white dress code, Gauff managed to sport something different than the rest of the players – wearing an embroidered top with her skirt.

The detailed top, made by her sponsor New Balance, appeared to have nods to Wimbledon on it with embroidered strawberries and butterflies across the front.

And fans loved her nod to the historic competition and her outfit overall, taking to social media to react.

Wimbledon 2025 LIVE – follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19

One wrote: “Just seen Coco’s outfit and I am in love”.

While another added: “Coco’s outfit is so cute!”

A third commented: “Coco Gauff’s outfit is too cute for her to go home in R1”.

And a fourth gushed: “Coco’s outfit deserves more than one match. Damn it!”

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Gauff exited the tournament in the first round despite being the No2 seed coming into the Grand Slam.

Her opponent, Dayana Yastremska, is currently ranked outside the top 45 – making her victory one of the greatest of her career.

Yastremska will now face Anastasia Zakharova in the second round to try and keep her Wimbledon journey alive.

While Gauff waved goodbye to the chance at a third Grand Slam, as well as the extra £33,000 she would have banked by advancing to the next round.

EPA

Dayana Yastremska stunned Gauff with her first round victory[/caption]

STEPHEN IRELAND was a popular LGBT activist, who co-founded Surrey Pride and held the important position of its head of safeguarding.

But he will now spend the next 24 years in prison after raping an “extremely vulnerable” 12-year-old boy in April 2024.

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Stephen Ireland, who co-founded Pride in Surrey in 2018, raped a 12-year-old boy he met on dating app Grindr[/caption]

Surrey Police

Ireland was sentenced to 24 years in prison[/caption]

I was in Guildford Crown Court on Monday to watch Judge Patricia Lees hand Ireland, 42, his sentence, which included a further six years on extended licence.

His 27-year-old boyfriend and flatmate, David Sutton, was jailed for four and half years for his part in the sickening ordeal.

The boy — referred to in court as Child A — who had been reported missing at the time, had been lured to Ireland’s home in Surrey after meeting him on the popular gay dating app Grindr.

In a carefully calculated move, Ireland provided the boy with a set of instructions and a key code to his flat, to avoid being seen together in public.

The boy, tired and hungry, was given a bong to smoke, which was later found to be laced with methamphetamine, while pornography played on a laptop.

Then he was raped by Ireland and the assault filmed, for the sadistic enjoyment of their cohorts.

The four-week trial followed an extensive investigation by Surrey Police’s Complex Abuse Unit.

‘Keep it a secret’

It began following the reported rape, which led to Ireland’s arrest in April 2024.

A search of a phone hidden in his flat revealed indecent images of children.

Ireland and Sutton were both arrested on June 11, 2024, for distribution and possession of indecent images of children, and on August 14, 2024, charges were authorised for 44 offences (later increased to 45) relating to both, covering the period between August 2022 and July 2024.

Ireland’s full list of crimes is horrifying.

He was also convicted of three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child, facilitating a child sexual offence, six counts of making child abuse imagery, distributing pornographic images of children, and possession of one of the most serious child abuse images, involving a toddler.

Sutton, who was a Surrey Pride volunteer, was sentenced for offences including voyeurism and possession and distribution of prohibited images of children.

He was also sentenced for perverting the course of justice for disposing of a phone owned by Surrey Pride (supposedly used for Pride business only).

On a separate device, police found a message from Ireland to Sutton, telling him to wipe all the images and messages off the Pride handset.

That device has never been found.

Child A had originally told Ireland he was 17, but when he later claimed in a message that he was 13, Ireland replied: “OK — we just have to keep it a secret.”

Sickeningly, he later told the boy he found his young age “naughty and kinky”.

Other messages between Ireland and Sutton described the child as a “14-year-old baby . . . who wants to play with men’s bodies”.

Facebook

Ireland’s 27-year-old boyfriend and accomplice, David Sutton, was jailed for four and half years for his part in the sickening ordeal[/caption]

Surrey Police

Judge Patricia Lees said Ireland and Sutton, pictured, ‘fed off one another’ and had supported one another in their ‘perversions’[/caption]

Judge Patricia Lees said Ireland and Sutton “fed off one another” and had supported one another in their “perversions”.

She said: “Stephen Ireland is a man who prided himself on being versed in and highly alive to the vulnerabilities of young people linked to the Surrey Pride organisation he was at the time pivotal to.

“‘A’ was quite obviously to any adult an extremely vulnerable child who was highly sexualised.

“Any responsible adult would have quickly appreciated that there was a high likelihood ‘A’ is a young man who had been the subject of sexual grooming by adult men at a very early age and been concerned for him instead of taking advantage.”

It is clear that Ireland, who co-founded Surrey Pride in 2018, used his position to gain access to young people and children.

He was once so revered by the community, he was chauffeured around by Surrey Police in its “Pride Car”.

But some volunteers had complained after feeling uneasy about the young age of his then boyfriend.

Facebook

I was in Guildford Crown Court on Monday to watch Judge Patricia Lees hand Ireland, 42, his sentence[/caption]

Facebook

So militant were Ireland’s views on trans rights he targeted gender critical feminists, including the author JK Rowling[/caption]

One of those, Eve — not her real name — told me: “There were some volunteers that raised concerns and there was a full safeguarding investigation, which was also escalated up to Surrey County Council.

“They had a huge issue about the fact that Ireland had a younger boyfriend, but he was above the age of 18, so that was that.”

Ireland was also involved in the Pride Hub, which encouraged young people to join in-person social events.

There is video footage of him sitting with an older “trans woman” telling kids they could “have sweets and popcorn” if they came along to a film screening.

He also gave talks to schools.

Throughout his time at the helm of Surrey Pride, Ireland waged a harassment campaign against Policing and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, which included lobbying for her removal from office, and regularly referring to her as “anti-trans” and “exclusionary” in public.

So militant were his views on trans rights, he targeted gender critical feminists, including author JK Rowling, who had spoken out against transitioning children, and for the protection of women-only spaces.

X

Alamy

Campaigner Maria Esposito believes Surrey Pride should now be shut down for ‘safeguarding failures’[/caption]

In June 2020, Ireland tweeted: “How to ruin a legacy . . . Become a TERF! Very disappointing JK!”

Rowling posted on X about his 30-year sentence on Monday.

Maria Esposito, an LGB campaigner since the 1980s and an attendee of the inaugural Surrey Pride, expressed unease about how quickly Ireland appeared to embed both himself and Pride within mainstream institutions.

She said: “Watching them gain access to Surrey County Council, Surrey Police and local radio stations was deeply concerning.”

Esposito believes Surrey Pride should now be shut down.