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‘It annoys me people pick up on that’ – Stephen Bunting hits back over claims of ‘weird’ behaviour with Luke Littler

STEPHEN BUNTING has hit back at critics of his so-called “weird” behaviour when playing Luke Littler.

Fan-favourite Bunting, 39, faced off against teen sensation Littler during the World Darts Championship.

Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting shake hands after a darts match.
Rex
Stephen Bunting has hit back at criticism of his behaviour when playing Luke Littler at the WDC[/caption]
Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting embracing after a darts match.
Rex
Bunting said the talk ‘annoyed’ him[/caption]

The Bullet was outclassed by the Nuke in a 6-1 thrashing in the semi-finals.

However, Bunting got his revenge at the Dutch Darts Masters as he beat Littler 7-6 in the semi-finals.

But the Liverpool-supporting darts ace has been criticised by rivals for his “weird behaviour” when playing Littler after he was seen fist-bumping him several times during their clash at Alexandra Palace.

Pal Dave Chisnall had remarked: “I’m not one for gamesmanship and you won’t hear me slagging folk off, but I did think the fist bumps after every set was a bit weird.”

In response, Bunting told oche180: “He’s a 17-year-old lad who’s got the world at his feet, and he’s still learning the game.

“I’m very respectful for what he’s doing for our game and I hope he continues for a lot of years, because he’s a lot more money to our sport.

“On another note, I’ve known him personally since he was a little kid.”

Despite the criticism, Bunting is choosing to bite the bullet and see it as a positive thing that people are talking more about a fist-bump than his performance.

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He continued: “It does annoy me a bit that people pick up upon that sort of thing, that shows how well I’m playing, that they have got to pick up on a fist-bump rather than a bad performance.”

Bunting has been in electric form of late, despite losing to Rob Cross in the Dutch Masters final last night.

And he has had a legion of support backing him up.

He said of the support: “The fans are a massive part of what we do and getting them involved, the Bunting mental chants, Walking in a Bunting Wonderland, it really does help when you’re up on that stage on your own.

“It can be such a lonely place, but they get me through so many games.”

The next event on the darts calendar is the Winmau World Masters being held in Milton Keynes.

World No.5 Bunting won the title last year by beating Michael van Gerwen 11-7 in the final and will face a qualifying opponent in the opening round this year.

Littler, now World No.2, will similarly face a qualifier in the opening round.

The winner will pocket £100,000 in prize money.

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I bought Lamborghini off celeb mechanic who restored Marcus Rashford’s car… but I had no idea it was ‘UNDRIVEABLE’

A MOTORS enthusiast has claimed he was conned by a TikTok star after buying a supercar that had been stripped of parts.

Antonio Montanino purchased the Lamborghini Murciélago off celebrity mechanic Mat Armstrong.

Man with a beard holding a plush toy.
YouTube
Antonio Montanino says he is still waiting for parts for the Lamborghini Murciélago[/caption]
Marcus Rashford in a Manchester United jersey.
He said he bought the car from a celeb mechanic who worked on Manchester United star Marcus Rashford’s car
EPA
Man holding gold car rim in front of blue car.
Antonio Montanino
Antonio runs a YouTube channel fixing up cars[/caption]
Man standing by his modified Honda NSX.
Antonio Montanino
Antonio claims he’s been battling to get the parts for over a year[/caption]

Antonio, 33, from Bedfordshire, agreed a fee with the influencer for the car – which an employee of Armstrong’s told the Sun was £30,000 – before he says the star reneged on some of the deal.

Antonio claims Armstrong was supposed to provide him with dozens of key parts so he could restore the second-hand motor himself on his own YouTube channel.

He alleges Armstrong ignored the agreement before eventually offering to buy the car back at a further £30,000 profit.

Former maths teacher Antonio said he refuses to sell the car and the stalemate has now lasted over 12 months.

He told the Sun: “He’s trying to use these parts as leverage to buy my car back. I’m a person of principle.

“Even if he said £100,000 [more], I’d still say no. Categorically, I bought the car a year ago, it’s not for sale.

“It’s just a control thing. He’s trying to wave his money around… all I want to do is build my car on my channel and have done with this.”

He added: “I’m completely happy with the car, there’s no issue there – it’s all the parts that are missing.”

These include gear selectors, steering wheel cowl, interior mirrors, speaker covers, wheel arch liners, key fob and brake discs – some of which are custom made by Lamborghini.

Antonio explained the Murciélago is his “dream car” and he’d been looking to buy one for 18 months before he ended up making a deal with Armstrong at the end of 2023.

He had initially agreed to purchase it off a different dealer before Armstrong nipped in and bought it to take back to his garage in Leicestershire.

However, Antonio was able to persuade him to sell the motor onto him.

Antonio said: “When I went to view the car he said he was keeping the engine gearbox CCU (clutch control unit), but the rest of the car is going to be complete as I viewed it, which I agreed.”

He then paid that November and returned the following month to pick it up.

Antonio said: “It was quite dark and I said there’s all these bits missing. He said ‘oh yeah, I just wanted to see what was interchangeable with my car’.

“I didn’t think anything of it at the time. He said ‘just make a list of the parts and I’ll get them for you and you can come and collect them’.”

Antonio said the next day he sent Armstrong a list of the parts he needed.

However, he claims after some back and forth Armstrong eventually went silent.

After multiple attempts to reach out to him, Antonio said Armstrong told him in June last year he had the parts requested.

However, Antonio said he struggled to set up a specific time to go and collect them before one of Armstrong’s assistants said the influencer wanted to buy the car itself back in November.

“I said ‘it’s not for sale’. He let slip he’d bought another car and basically wanted to do up another Murciélago on his channel.”

Antonio gave the assistant the number of someone else he knew who was selling the same model.

Antonio went to collect the parts – of which there are around 30 – last month.

He made the two-and-a-half hour journey with his girlfriend in the days before Christmas but said Armstrong only had two parts to give him, as the others had been “lost”.

“I said ‘no, you don’t just lose Lamborghini parts… you’ve obviously got them.”

Antonio said when he asked how long it would take to get the other parts, Armstrong joked “it might be a few years”.

“He started laughing in our faces. When they did that it ticked me off the wrong way, as it would,” he explained.

Antonio’s girlfriend began recording Armstrong and his assistants, who then also started recording them, he claims.

Eventually, Antonio left with the two parts, but said during the meeting Armstrong “kept trying to offer to buy the car back when I told him it wasn’t for sale”.

He theorised: “They’d already planned to keep my parts and buy my car back. It was like his programmed setting, but it’s not going to work with me.

“The way I feel is if he wants to offer £30,000 extra than what he bought the car for, which is obviously not for sale, why doesn’t he just give me the money for the parts?

“I gave him the number of a guy who has the car he wants, and he didn’t buy that one. So why does he want my car so badly?

“He’s got the money, go and buy another one. There’s plenty more available.”

Antonio also claims Armstrong removed all the centre caps off the car’s wheels before selling it to him, for reasons he doesn’t understand.

He posted a video about the standoff on his own YouTube channel last month and said he’s received private messages claiming Armstrong has done similar to other customers.

“I’m happy to know I’m not the only one being screwed,” he said.

Antonio claims last month he received a “prank” call from someone laughing at him and on Christmas Day was sent an abusive Instagram message from a new anonymous account.

He said of Armstrong: “He just needs to sort it out as a man, but no, he’s playing these little child games. He’s basically just hoping it goes away.”

LAUGHED OFF

Armstrong laughed off the allegations when the Sun approached him at his unit in Mallory Park, Leicestershire.

A friend filmed him under the bonnet of another Lambourghini, as he said: “We did offer to buy it back off him to sort it all out.

“It is not something we would really want to talk about.”

Asked about the prank call and abusive messages, he laughed and went inside.

A colleague explained: “Look, we are on about paying him an extra £30,000 because the parts aren’t there.

“We sold the car for £30,000 to him. We have said to him we will buy it back for £60,000 because he is not happy with what he’s received.

“There is no profit for us, we are taking a £30,000 loss. We feel that is a fair solution to the problem.

“He is trying to make a big deal out of it but we are trying to offer him a solution.”

The Sun has contacted Armstrong for further comment.

Screengrab of YouTuber Mat Armstrong inspecting a damaged Rolls Royce Wraith.
MAT ARMSTRON YOUTUBE
YouTuber Mat Armstrong[/caption]

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Love Island’s India reveals she secretly fancied another All Star but was put off by his age

LOVE Island’s India has revealed that she secretly fancied another All Star but was put off by his age.

India Reynolds was brutally dumped from the island last weekend, with fans left devastated by the dumping.

India Reynolds from Love Island All Stars.
India Reynolds was dumped from the island last weekend
Eroteme
Luca Bish of ITV2 Love Island All Stars.
India had a secret crush on hunky Brighton boy Luca Bish
Eroteme
Grace Jackson and Luca Bish sharing a kiss on a couch.
Luca is now coupled up with Grace Jackson
Eroteme
India Reynolds in a green swimsuit for Love Island All Stars.
ITV
India’s Love Island: All Stars stint was short-lived[/caption]

During Sunday night’s episode of Love Island: All Stars, new bombshell Tina Stinnes shocked viewers when she stole Scott Thomas from brunette beauty India.

India was told by host Maya Jama that she should pack her bags and prepare to leave the villa immediately, with the star now speaking out following her axe.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun about the hunky guys in the villa, India revealed who she secretly fancied – and shared why she never made a move.

“I think if Luca was a bit older then maybe Luca,” India spilled when asked if any other Islanders caught her eye.

She added: “I did think he was really funny. He’s gorgeous, but he is very young.”

India then added: “I think Luca was struggling because obviously last time he went in, everyone was a similar age to him, so this time maybe it was a little bit harder for him.

Luca is now coupled up with newcomer Grace Jackson, but India told us how she thought he might be suited to Tina.

When asked if she thought her ex Scott could go the distance with Tina, she said: “I personally think that maybe she was more suited to Luca, but they had a kiss last night, so who am I to judge, maybe.”

When Tina stole Scott from India, social media erupted because viewers were so angry with the way in which she was dumped in such a brutal way.

Tina’s close pal from the 2016 series of the show then spoke out about how she would have been feeling “so bad and guilty” for dumping a girl from the island.

Olivia Bowen, who starred alongside Tina in their series of Love Island back in season two, took to Instagram and said: “Honestly, I know Tina will be feeling so bad and guilty sending someone home.

“When I tell you she wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s literally a little dot.”

She then gushed over Tina’s increased confidence this year, saying: “I loveeee seeing her confidence this season though. She’s grown so much since season 2!

“Excited to see what happens next for her. With Scott or Luca.”

Love Island All Stars 2025 official line-up

Love Island All Stars is back on TV for season 2.

Here we take you through the line-up of all the Islanders who are in the villa so far.

Bombshells

Each series brings with it a string of hot single bombshells making their epic entrance into the villa.

Here’s who has joined the villa so far:

Tina first entered the Love Island villa as a bombshell on day 20 of the 2016 series.

The then 21-year-old was then dumped on day 40 after Adam Maxted decided to couple up with Katie Salmon.

Since entering the 2025 All Stars series, Tina has been branded “unrecognisable” because of how different she looks after almost nine years since her first stint.

Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/REX/Shutterstock (15107809ah) Tina Stinnes 'Love Island: All Stars' TV Show, Series 2, Episode 7, South Africa - 19 Jan 2025 A Firepit Game Has Casey in Hot Water with Tina Stinnes and Kaz Scott's Got a Newfound Ick for India as Tina Stinnes Leaves Him Blushing Is Luca Leaning into the Love Triangle? Ekin-su Gives Some Bombshell to Bombshell Advice and Has Some Observations for Olivia Maya Jama Surprises the Islanders and Asks Them to Gather by the Firepit Where Tina Stinnes Has a Decision to Make
Tina stole Scott from India
Shutterstock
Maya Jama hugs a contestant on Love Island.
Eroteme
India was dumped from the island on Sunday night, with her having to say goodbye to Scott, who she was coupled up with at the time[/caption]
Scott Thomas and Tina Stinnes on Love Island: All Stars.
Scott and Tina are now in a couple

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Audi створила позашляховик із портальними мостами

Німецький бренд Audi перетворив електричний Q6 Sportback E-Tron на всюдихідний позашляховик. Ні, ці зображення не розроблені програмою штучного інтелекту. Audi дійсно створила божевільний позашляховик на основі одного зі своїх численних простих електричних позашляховиків.   Концепт  Цей дивний унікальний концепт розпочався як Q6 Sportback E-Tron, а потім отримав повне оновлення, яке передбачало додавання портальних мостів.   […]

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Загоряння автомобілів спричинило вибух на нафтобазі в Казахстані (ВІДЕО)

На території нафтобази у місті Жезказган у Казахстані стався вибух і обвалення ангара, унаслідок чого постраждали шестеро людей. Про це повідомляє Tengrinews, передає Укрінформ. Зазначається, що на території нафтобази зайнялися три автомобілі спеціального призначення. До прибуття пожежників стався вибух газоповітряної суміші та обвал ангара. Виникла пожежа на площі 100 квадратних метрів, її вже загасили. Унаслідок пожежі були госпіталізовані […]

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Alison Hammond pays sweet tribute to late mum who inspired new BBC travel show saying ‘I’m following in her footsteps’

ALISON Hammond has admitted her brand new travel show is inspired by her late mum.

The This Morning star, 49, has headed to sunny Florida for her new series on BBC Two and has been joined by her son, Aidan.

Alison Hammond and her son Aidan in front of an RV with a piñata.
Rock Oyster Media
Alison Hammond’s new show Florida Unpacked will pay tribute to her late mum[/caption]
Alison Hammond and her mother.
Collect
Alison’s mum passed away in 2020[/caption]

In the show, the duo will show viewers how they can take on Florida on a budget – something she used to do as a child with her own mum.

Alison opened up to The Sun’s TV Mag about her travels with her mother Maria, who passed away in 2020, and the reason as to why travel has always been in their DNA.

In an exclusive interview, she said: “For years, I worked as a tour rep, following in the footsteps of my dear, lovely mum – a hard-working, no-nonsense travel agent. Travel’s in my blood.

“Thanks to Mum’s money-saving tips, we managed to budget our way to a place that totally captured our heart – Florida.

“What you experience as a child, you naturally want to pass on to your own children, and Florida was such a big part of my life, so of course I want to share that with Aidan. 

“We’ve always been together and travelled together. Usually when we go to Orlando, it’s theme parks or bust, but this time we’re doing things a little differently…”

Across the 10-part series, viewers will see Alison and Aidan hitting the road and exploring the sunshine state on a shoestring budget, visiting beautiful parks and making priceless memories by taking part in activities such as canoeing and paragliding.  

“This trip was eye-opening,” smiles Alison. “We visited some stunning, historical places that I never knew existed. And the natural beauty is unbelievable.

“As we were canoeing through the natural springs, we saw monkeys and all sorts of wildlife.

“My mum wasn’t there this time, so that was sad, but it was still lovely because we could reminisce about the things we used to do together.

“Both Aidan and I have so many memories with my mum, and this trip was a beautiful time spent with my son.”

Even though many teenage boys might think it’s uncool to holiday with their mum, Alison insists that she’s Aidan’s number one travel buddy.

“He absolutely loves it. He’s always asking: ‘Can I come?’” she smiles.

“The other day, he was saying how much fun we have together – I bring the LOLs, I am the life and soul, and he realises that. He’s been on plenty of trips with his friends, but he always says he has the best time with me!”

Alison Hammond's rise to stardom

SHE graces our televisions every Friday, as she co-hosts This Morning with Dermot O'Leary.

But just how did Alison Hammond first find fame?

2002 – Alison competed in Big Brother, and was the second housemate to be evicted . She won over viewers with moments such as when she broke the table in the garden by jumping up and down on it.

It was this year that she also started presenting for This Morning in a guest capacity.

2003 – Alison had a small acting role on TV drama Doctors.

2004 – This was the year that Alison returned to reality television, starring in shows including Celebrity Fit Club and Celebrity Stars in their Eyes – for which she performed as Nina Simone.

2010 – After several years of presenting gigs and reality show appearances, Alison was signed up to appear on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! She came in 10th place.

2014 – This was a busy year for Alison as she competed on both Celebrity Masterchef and Strictly Come Dancing, coming in 10th in the latter.

2020 – Alison appeared on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off – her first, but not last, time in the famous tent.

2021 – Alison co-hosted This Morning for three episodes alongside Phillip Schofield.

It was later announced that Alison and Dermot would be replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford as presenters of This Morning on a Friday.

2023 – Alison was announced as the new co-host of The Great British Bake Off, replacing Matt Lucas to present alongside Noel Fielding.

2024 – Following the death of Paul O’Grady, Alison stepped in as host of For The Love of Dogs.

2025 – An eight-part series titled Alison Hammond’s Big Weekend will premiere on BBC one next year, as she spends 48 hours with a celebrity in a bid to really get to know them.

Two people holding multiple containers of popcorn.
PA
Florida Unpacked will follow Alison and her son around the sunshine state[/caption]
Photo of Alison Hammond with her mother and another woman.
Instagram
Alison has always been close to her family[/caption]
Alison Hammond on the "This Morning" TV show holding a cake sculpted in her likeness.
Rex
It is the This Morning star’s latest gig[/caption]
TV Magazine cover featuring Michael McIntyre; exclusive interview.
Alison spoke to this week’s TV Mag

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Moment Mikel Arteta gives Michael Oliver ‘death stare’ after shaking his hand following Lewis-Skelly red card blunder

ARSENAL fans have spotted the moment Mikel Arteta shot Michael Oliver a “death stare” after the ref’s red card blunder.

The Gunners boss was left “absolutely fuming” after Myles Lewis-Skelly was dismissed in the 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta speaking with a referee after a soccer match.
PA
Mikel Arteta was livid with ref Michael Oliver following his team’s 1-0 win at Wolves[/caption]
A soccer referee shows a red card to a player.
PA
Oliver sent off teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly during the first half at Molineux[/caption]
Soccer players and referees on the field after a game.
X
Arteta was filmed shaking hands with Oliver following the game[/caption]
Soccer players and officials on a field.
X
But he was spotted throwing him a ‘death stare’ before going to celebrate with the Arsenal fans[/caption]

Oliver gave the teenager a straight red after he felled Wolves defender Matt Doherty on the counter.

The decision has since been called out by Arteta, Match of the Day pundits and even the former head of the PGMOL Keith Hackett.

Footage has now emerged following the contest in the West Midlands, showing Arteta shaking hands with Oliver after the final whistle.

The Arsenal boss moved away to go celebrate with the travelling support from North London.

But just as he went to do so, Arteta stopped in his tracks and looked directly back at the 39-year-old whistler.

The footage quickly went viral on X, where it was viewed over 325,000 times.

One fan wrote in response: “I would REALLY like to know what Michael Oliver said to Arteta here. That pause and look back, he was evaluating his next move.”

Another said: “Always fear the Arteta death stare.”

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While a third commented: “Why did he shake his hand in the first place? Seriously.”

And a fourth added: “No Arsenal player or official should ever shake Oliver’s hand, the man should be left with no doubt about how the club feel about him.”

Arteta attempted to hold his emotions in check following the narrow win on the road.

But he still let his feelings be known in a tense post-match interview with Sky.

Arteta raged: “It is that clear and I will leave it to you guys.

“I am absolutely fuming. But I will leave it with you, it is that obvious that I don’t think my words are going to help.

“[Lewis-Skelly] is really happy now that the team won and found a way to win it.

“He is very worried about what’s coming next because he’s strongly feeling that there was nothing to do with the action.”

Soccer game in progress, players in motion.
Lewis-Skelly was sent off for bringing down Matt Doherty, a challenge that was deemed serious foul play

MARK HALSEY: Questions have to be asked of VAR after Lewis-Skelly sending off... here's what SHOULD have happened

By Mark Halsey

VAR Darren England should have recommended a review as soon as referee Michael Oliver showed Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly a straight red card for his challenge on Wolves’ Matt Doherty.

An official has to decide whether the challenge was careless or reckless — careless is a free-kick only, reckless is a yellow card — or worthy of a red card.

When a player lunges at an opponent with one or two feet from the front, the side or from the back which endangers the player’s safety with excess force or/and brutality, it must be sanctioned with a red.

I saw it as a reckless challenge worthy of a yellow, not a red.

So why did Darren not recommend a review? Once the red card was shown, the VAR should have intervened.

If Michael had the opportunity to view the challenge again, I’m sure he would have changed his mind, cancelled the red card and issued a yellow.

As for Arsenal fans’ views that Michael is biased against them, I’m not buying into that. You can never question the integrity of a match official and Michael is one of our best referees.

Officials cannot get everything right and that is why we have VAR to help. So questions have to be asked of Darren.

With the second yellow for Joao Gomes after catching Jurrien Timber on the ankle, you could argue that was a worse challenge than the Lewis-Skelly one.

Lewis-Skelly will face a three-game ban for receiving a straight red card.

But former ref Hackett – who was a top whistler between 1981 and 1991 – believes it is Oliver who needs time away from the field.

Speaking on TalkSPORT’s Sunday Edition with Shaun Custis and Henry Winter, Hackett said: “I’d be admitting this morning that this is a major error, that you don’t expect the alleged number one referee to make.

“He’s on top of the incident. I think he’s too close and so I think he requires operational advice.

“I’d be saying to Michael Oliver, I think you need a rest and I think you’re not going to see another game in the Premier League for a couple of weeks.”

Arsenal player ratings: David Raya saves all three-points for Arsenal but Trossard’s woeful deliveries an issue again

ARSENAL finally won a match with ten-men after Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off.

It was the Gunners’ fourth sending off this season and they had not won any of their matches without 11 players this term.

But Arsenal showed their character and battled past Wolves 1-0.

Here is how SunSport rated the players’ performances.

DAVID RAYA – 8/10

Very little to do until the 63rd minute when he brilliantly tipped a deflected Matheus Cunha effort wide. He then stopped Rayan Ait-Nouri in a one-on-one in the 84th minute.

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 6

Was having another fine game before being the victim of one of most ludicrous red cards in Prem history. His cynical trip was worthy of a yellow and nothing more.

WILLIAM SALIBA – 7

Arsenal just look so solid with him in this backline. A welcome return from a minor hamstring injury. Kept Cunha at bay.

GABRIEL – 7

Led from the front and put his body on the line. Constantly headed away from danger.

JURRIEN TIMBER – 6

Hit with some nasty challenges that required treatment – including one that had Joao Gomes sent off – but carried on playing and was resolute.

DECLAN RICE – 7

More of a goal threat than in recent weeks and stood up when Arsenal needed him.

THOMAS PARTEY – 7

Steady Eddie for most parts back in his favoured midfield position after spells at right-back this season. Displayed his importance to this side once more.

ETHAN NWANERI – 6

Unfortunately made way at half-time as a sacrificial lamb following Lewis-Skelly’s sending off. Was a lively, creative spark in the first-half.

LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5

In the absence of Bukayo Saka, the Belgian is on corner-taking duty, but his deliveries were woeful. A quiet afternoon that sums up why he is in and out of the team currently.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 6

Was lacking that clinical edge in the first half, but came up with the cross after the break that led to Arsenal’s vital opener.

KAI HAVERTZ – 7

Missed two glorious first half chances with his head and another in the second half, but worked tirelessly on his own – especially with Arsenal down to ten.

SUBS:

RICCARDO CALAFIORI (NWANERI, 45) – 8

The sort of goal that keeps title dreams alive. Added real height and danger aerially, as well as a sweet volley from a tough angle.

KIERAN TIERNEY (MARTINELLI, 87) – N/A

Hackett was also speechless that Darren England – who was on VAR during the Wolves vs Arsenal game – had been allocated a spot on the official’s list for Sunday’s clash between Crystal Palace and Brentford.

He continued: “Darren England’s allocated a game this afternoon at Crystal Palace. 

“So as VAR, he would not be on that game.

“I’m quite clear that there needs to be seen to be a level of accountability.”

The Premier League has since issued its own statement defending Oliver and VAR for the decision made on Saturday.

It read: “The referee’s call of a red card for Lewis-Skelly was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed his challenge to have been serious foul play.”

The statement came after scathing criticism of the decision across the media.

BBC 5Live pundit Pat Nevin said labelling such a challenge serious foul play was setting “a bar so low even a limbo dancing snake couldn’t get under it”.

While former Tottenham star Jamie O’Hara wrote on X: “I’m all for Arsenal having a beast but that is never ever a red card, one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.”

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I was forced into porn by sinister sex-trafficking cult after joining UK yoga class…sick guru vowed to bed 1,000 virgins

STANDING naked before a small, dishevelled 67-year-old man, in his dirty dressing gown, Miranda felt scared and vulnerable, knowing what was about to happen. 

But brain-washed, she felt compelled to let Gregorian Bivolaru, who she had been conditioned to believe was ‘God on Earth’, have sex with her to receive a higher spiritual awakening.

A partially censored photo of a man and a woman.
EuroPics - CEN
Gregorian Bivolaru used a disgusting sex ‘routine’ to initiate women[/caption]
A topless woman performs on a table in front of a seated audience.
EuroPics - CEN
Nudity and group sex were encouraged at the retreats[/caption]

“I thought, ‘I don’t want to do this.’” says the 30-something-year-old woman from Oxfordshire, who is not being fully identified. “He looked so much older and frailer than I had imagined.

“I was physically repulsed by this person. I was shocked because we had been told so much about how this was a perfect living example of a tantric master.”

What followed in the dirty bed in his squalid two-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of Paris was both sickening and bizarre.

Closing her eyes, Miranda recited the ‘consecration ritual’ she had been taught – “Lord God, I offer up to you, here and now, totally and unconditionally, all the fruits of this action.”

The sexual routine followed rules – 40 minutes of foreplay that only he could perform, then penetrative sex in seven different positions, each supposedly relating to the seven tantric chakra points of energy around the body.

Miranda adds: “I went into autopilot, feeling completely disconnected and repulsed. After three of the positions he said, ‘You have lost your erotic energy. We are going to stop.’”

Miranda’s journey to this degrading point began in the most ordinary way possible when, two years before, as an English teacher living in London, she joined a yoga class.

Her remarkable story is told in the BBC Radio 4 podcast World of Secrets: The Bad Guru.

It follows how Miranda, a respectable, educated woman was lured into a sex cult that would place her at the centre of an international trafficking and sexual exploitation ring, in the bed of the movement’s so-called guru, becoming a topless masseur and being put to work as a sex cam girl.

Miranda was finding her job as a teacher in London stressful when, in an effort to find some spiritual and mental wellbeing she joined the Tara Yoga Centre near Old Street in 2017.

Group of women in downward-facing dog yoga pose.
Getty
A seemingly innocent yoga class proved a gateway to the sect[/caption]
Black and white photo of Gregorian Bivolaru speaking into a microphone.
The centre promoted the teachings of Gregorian Bivolaru

The centre promoted the teachings of Romanian-born Bivolaru, and was part of the the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (MISA) it had various branches in the UK and 28 other countries.

She says: “It felt a really safe and welcoming space. People in the reception were smiley and friendly.”

As well as basic classes, it offers tantric yoga – a spiritual aspect encompassing love and relationships.

For weeks, Miranda attended a one-hour tantric class, which she says made her feel “good” and “amazing”.

In the spring of 2018, she was invited to attend a weekend retreat in a beautiful country house in Somerset, organised by the Centre.

She explains: “The course was called ‘The Polarity Retreat’. Polarity is one of their tantric theories that there is a very binary concept that men and women have very different needs, qualities  and energies and that by separating them, as much as possible, you increase the magnetism between them.”

At the house, the men and women were split into separate groups – a tactic to ” increase the magnetism between them.”

After some meditative yoga with the women’s group, Miranda was surprised when things took an overtly sexual turn – learning about make-up, clothes and how to look sexy.

“We were encouraged to dance very sexually to a song,” she says.

Later, they were told to surprise the men by doing the sexy dance for them they had learned.

She says: “Some of the teachers wore just their underwear or took their underwear off when they were in there. I wore a short skirt and a top.

“I danced close to my tantric teacher from London and I remember him looking directly at my crotch.

“I was shocked because it was very much in conflict with everything we had been taught about spiritual sexuality where teachers, in particular, were on a higher level and understood women and worshipped them and didn’t sexualise them.”

Group sex

Although she felt uncomfortable with the sexual part of the course, Miranda felt the retreat gave her “new levels of confidence because I got used to being outside my comfort zone.”

In the summer of 2018, she was excited to be invited to a yoga festival in a coastal resort in Romania for two weeks.

By now, she was getting used to the movement’s unorthodox ways and accepted supplying a half-naked photograph of herself prior to the event.

This was so that the great and mystical Gregorian Bivolaru – who wouldn’t be attending the event in person but was there in spirit – could “read her aura.”

At the reception, Miranda was asked to leave her passport and mobile phone which would be returned on departure.

She adds: “The women then pulled out a bible, placed my hand on it and gave me a sheet of paper to read out words vowing that I wouldn’t tell anyone about what happened inside the villa and that if I did I would face the spiritual and health consequences of my demonic action.”

What was going to happen in this villa to warrant this demonic vow?

There were around 150 women staying there and thousands of others attending. In the centre of the complex was a huge marquee pumping out dance music and inside, people sat on wooden benches, silently meditating.

“The music involved certain sexual noises and moans and it was set to a compilation of soft porn videos as part of a programme of sexual boundary stretching”, she says.

The evenings were given up to the bizarre Miss Shakti competition. Shakti is a tantric word for femininity.

I went into autopilot, feeling completely disconnected and repulsed

Miranda

Miranda says it was “a kind of hyper-sexualised Miss World.” She watched, wide-eyed as things became increasingly sexual with bikini parades, nudity and even simulated sex.

When she was asked if she would like to meet Bivolaru at some time in the future, she jumped at the chance.

As the festival came to a close, guests staying at the women’s villa took part in an organised love-making ritual.

Miranda says: “The windows were closed, curtains drawn. They put down a lot of black tarpaulin with mattresses on top of that. 

“Three women stood there naked, painted in gold. They were playing evocative meditative music and then the ritual started.” 

Sinister initiation

Photo of a shirtless man with two women; faces are pixelated.
EuroPics - CEN
Miranda started noticing the increasingly sexual nature of the centre’s teachings[/caption]
Gregorian Bivolaru sitting cross-legged.
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She met Gregorian Bivolaru and felt compelled to have sex with him[/caption]

Now, seeing her family and friends less frequently, Miranda was still absorbed by the movement back in London.

She even worked alongside her tantric teachers at a topless massage parlour, six minutes away from the Centre.

“I didn’t like using body parts, especially breasts, to massage guests but there was an ecstatic sense of overcoming something that you were nervous about that we were told was good for us on a spiritual level,” she says.

In June 2019, Miranda got word that Bivolaru, was ready to meet her and there would also be something called “an initiation.”

Around the same time she learned he had been sentenced to six years in prison for having sex with an underage girl in Romania.

Agnes Arabela Marques, 33, would later reveal she was one of the underage girls he abused, when she was 15, and she revealed he believed he could achieve a high level of spirituality if he slept with 1,000 virgins.

She said: “Bivolaru claimed that, if I had sex with him as a yoga master, I could achieve superior levels of tantric spirituality.”

Portrait of Gregorian Bivolaru.
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Bivolaru was dishevelled and dirty when Miranda met him[/caption]
Woman in a white sports bra and patterned leggings at the gym.
EuroPics - CEN
Agnes claims she was abused by the guru at 15[/caption]

But at the time, Miranda was told by other followers that he was facing political persecution in Romania. 

She was unaware that he in hiding and was wanted in Finland on five charges of aggravated trafficking of human beings and four charges of sexual abuse.

Miranda found herself being driven across Europe with three other women, and made to wear dark glasses and a hat over her eyes so she wouldn’t see where she was going.

Help after rape and sexual assault

IF you’ve been sexually assaulted it’s important to remember that it was not your fault. Sexual violence is a crime, no matter who commits it or where it happens. Don’t be afraid to get help.

There are services that can help if you’ve been sexually assaulted, raped or abused.

You don’t have to report the assault to the police if you don’t want to. You may need time to think about what has happened to you.

But you should get medical help for any injuries and because you may be at risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you want the crime to be investigated, it’s best to have a forensic medical examination as soon as possible.

Try not to wash or change your clothes immediately after a sexual assault. This may destroy forensic evidence that could be important if you decide to report the assault to the police (although you can still go to the police even if you have washed).

Where to get help

Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. SARCs have specially trained doctors, nurses and support workers to care for you.

Other places you can get help include:

They were taken to a three-storey ‘holding house’ where they waited with various other women for the guru to contact them, while being made to watch streamed porn.

After two and a half weeks, she and two other women heard that Bivolaru was ready to meet them.

“We were told to shower and shave all of our body hair, not use any deodorant, perfume or creams, and to pack a toothbrush and a couple of changes of underwear”, she says.

Blindfolded, they were taken to an apartment block where the women slept in the second bedroom until Miranda finally was called into Bivolaru squalid bed, surrounded by fairy lights.

After the sexual initiation, she was taken to another holding house in the city to record a naked testimonial video for others to watch.

Miranda also signed a declaration saying she had never been raped by Bivolaru or any other person or been trafficked or psychologically manipulated.

She was then taken to another house in Prague, for what Bivolaru had called The Garden of Miracles, where huge transformations will take place.

It turned out to be women performing as cam girls – live feeding themselves in lingerie, dancing, stripping and touching themselves provocatively for the camera to paying customers.

Miranda worked on the webcam into the early hours in a basement room of the villa. 

She says: “If you were not smiling or active enough, one of the coordinators would come in and tell you off. And there were fines.

“Leaving the fridge open was a ten euro fine, an unwashed plate was 25 euros, leaving a tissue in your pocket when you gave your laundry to them to do was a 150 euro fine and being late to work, even by one minute, was 500 euros.”

Interpol Red Notice for Gregorian Bivolaru, wanted by Finland.
AP
Bivolaru on an Interpol wanted poster[/caption]

Despite this, she still felt she was doing the right thing in order to reach heightened spirituality.

After six months there she visited her parents in Oxfordshire. They had been concerned about her but mum Penny says: “she seemed happier.”

Miranda was beginning to have doubts but it wasn’t until she began talking to a man at the Oxford branch of the Tara Yoga Centre that her eyes were fully opened.

“He said, ‘You know it’s a cult, right? You know that you are brainwashed?’ I was extremely angry at first and I didn’t talk to him for a few days but on some levels I was ready to hear it. And over the next few months I thought about it.”

On New Year’s Eve, Miranda was at her parent’s, in her old bedroom watching a TV programme about cults.

She says: “I knew I had to leave and to tell people. To admit to myself and then to my mum that it was a sex cult was extremely painful and embarrassing.”

In November 2023 Bivolaru was arrested by French police and charged with human trafficking, organised kidnapping, rape and organised abuse of weakness by members of a sect.

In a raid, which also saw 40 of his followers arrested and £500,000 seized, police found 58 women living in appalling conditions in various properties, with no hygiene facilities, and many were malnourished.

The investigation continues. 

Gregorian Bivolaru, spiritual leader of the MISA sect, escorted by police.
AFP
Gregorian Bivolaru had gotten in trouble with the law on multiple occasions[/caption]
A man in handcuffs escorted by police, surrounded by reporters and cameras.
AP
A raid found 58 women living in terrible conditions in various properties[/caption]

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Call the Midwife viewers fear show exit for star after ‘disappearing’ from new series – 13 years after debut

CALL the Midwife fans have been left fearing for show star after ‘disappearing’ from the new series.

The beloved period drama returned earlier this month for its 14th season with new storylines – and of course babies.

Call the Midwife Christmas special cast at a large festive dinner.
Call the Midwife fans have been left worried as one character ‘disappears’ from the show
BBC
Max Macmillan as Timothy Turner in a scene from Call the Midwife.
BBC
Timothy Turner hasn’t been seen in the popular drama since its Christmas special in 2023[/caption]
Scene from Call the Midwife showing Timothy, Shelagh, Dr. Turner, and Magda.
BBC
The character, played by Max Macmillan, is believed to be studying at medical school[/caption]

But as viewers got caught up on the latest from Nonnatus House, they noticed one character is missing.

Timothy Turner was last seen as he departed Popular for medical school in 2021.

He briefly returned to screens in 2023 for the show’s Christmas special but hasn’t been back since.

Flooding social media with comments, worried fans begged for an update on Timothy, who is played by Max Macmillan.

One asked: “Not to worry anyone but where’s Timothy Turner? #callthemidwife.”

A second posted: “Where is Timothy Turner? I can’t even remember if he disappeared somewhere in the previous series or if something happened to him.”

“What’s happened to Timothy Turner? He wasn’t in the Xmas special and not in the new series so far,” said a third.

While a fourth wrote: “And that’s it for this week-See you same time next week for Episode 4 and a new arrival (although if Nancy, Timothy and Cyril can hurry back before this series ends that would be great) #CallTheMidwife.”

Timothy has been a part of Call the Midwife since series two, and viewers have seen him grow from a boy into a young man.

Meanwhile, show boss Heidi Thomas recently revealed the future of the hit after 14 years on screens.

Despite pulling in millions of viewers for the Beeb, Heidi revealed fans constantly assume the show will eventually have to end.

However, she reckons Call the Midwife can continue to run and run.

Call The Midwife: A breakdown

Call The Midwife first came onto the airwaves in 2012 and has been seen by millions. But what is it about?

Series one: Set in early 1957 and it explored the ‘Baby Boom generation, which included themes of poverty and post-war immigration.

Series two: Set in 1958 and it showed gas and air being introduced for pain relief for the first time. It ended with the Nonnatus House building being condemned.

Series three: Set in 1959 and it depicted gruesome conditions such as cystic fibrosis, polio and it showed the midwives in the context on prisons.

Series four: Set in 1960 under the threat of nuclear warfare and the emergency response guidelines issued by the local Civil Defence Corp. Other themes included LGBT rights, and syphilis.

Series five: Set in 1961 and it shows the care of patients with conditions such as Typhoid and strokes. We also saw the effects of thalidomide, the introduction of the contraceptive pill.

Series six: Set in 1962 and domestic violence was at the centre of the season. Other themes included FGM (female genital mutilation), mental health issues and interracial marriage. It was also notable for the introduction of Reggie, a recurring character with Down Syndrome.

Series seven: Set in 1963 and we see Nurse Lucille Anderson for the first time. We also see the show address conditions such as dementia, huntington’s disease, leprosy and meningitis

Series eight: Set in 1964 and it bravely covered the issue of abortion, which was not legal for another three years in 1967. Sickle cell disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and intersex people also featured.

Series nine: Diptheria was at the centre of the ninth instalment in 1965, and it was notable for featuring a blind expectant mother. But the role of Nonnatus House within the community also came into question.

Series ten: Set in 1966, Nonnatus House has a rival in the form of the private Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair. PKU, diabetes and the controversy surrounding abortion were central themes.

Series eleven: Set in 1967 amid the housing crisis and a scabies epidemic. The show was rocked by a train crash right next to Nonnatus House.

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“Грає в команді Путіна”: Туск про погрози Орбана заблокувати санкції проти Росії

  Прем’єр-міністр Польщі Дональд Туск відреагував на погрози угорського прем’єра Віктора Орбана заблокувати продовження санкцій Європейського Союзу проти Росії. Відповідний допис Туска з’явився в соціальній мережі Х. У ньому польський прем’єр пообіцяв “наслідки” Орбану у випадку, якщо він справді заблокує європейські санкції проти РФ. “Якщо Віктор Орбан дійсно заблокує європейські санкції у ключовий момент війни, […]

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