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I was savaged with 12-inch kitchen knife & ‘scalped’ by crazed school pal in row over ex… my torment had only just begun
“I DIDN’T even know how many times I’d been stabbed because there was so much blood.”
These is how Lois Henderson describes the moment she was pinned down, repeatedly savaged with a 12-inch long kitchen knife and had her scalp cut into aged just 17.
The now 24-year-old from Lancaster became yet another young victim of knife crime when jealous former school mate Anna Dickinson entered the house she was staying in to carry out a brutal premeditated attack.
Yet Anna, who was 18 at the time, was given only 32 months in prison, and let out in half that time.
Worse still, Lois had no idea that her attacker – who had targeted her in a row over dating her ex Tyrone Baines – had been released.
Instead, she found out for herself when she saw her out and about in town, going about her life as if nothing had happened.
Now, six years on, Lois is speaking out for the first time amid the knife crime crisis currently gripping the country.
But her story also offers a unique window into the scourge of soft justice that leaves victims like her feeling as if their attackers have received nothing more than “a slap on the wrist” – and leaves the public fearful that future attacks won’t be deterred.
“I feel anger. I didn’t even feel like the victim, in a way, because of the lack of support, and how much more attention she was getting than I was,” she said.
“I just feel completely screwed over. I do not feel like justice was served.”
Tragically, Lois’ story is far from unique these days.
Offences involving a knife increased by a shocking 80 per cent in the last ten years. And every week, four people in the UK die from stab wounds.
This year alone has already witnessed a string of horrific knife attacks against – and carried out by – teenagers.
Earlier this month, 15-year old Harvey Willgoose was stabbed to death by someone the same age at his school in Sheffield.
And just last month, 12-year old Leo Ross was murdered while walking through a Birmingham park.
But both these incidents are just the tip of the iceberg.
A shocking 509 children under the age of 17 were hospitalised for injuries from knives and other sharp items between April 2023 and April 2024, according to the Youth Endowment Fund.
I was kicking my legs, and trying to protect my face, because that was all I could do
Lois
For Lois, February 19, 2018, is a date that will forever be burned into her memory.
She was round the house of her friend Tyrone when the pair were disturbed by a commotion downstairs at 2am.
Outside was jealous college student Anna, and two of her friends – one of whom brandished a replica firearm to gain access to the home.
Seconds later, Lois saw Anna on the landing, headed straight for her room and gripping on to a 12-inch long kitchen knife.
Anna launched herself towards Lois in a frenzy, stabbing her across her body five times and using a key to cut into her scalp.
Pinned down by Anna’s friend, Lois could only use her legs in vain to defend herself.
The attack came to an end when the friend shouted to Anna: “I didn’t know you were gonna stab her.”
‘I thought I was going to die’
Lois was left with a punctured lung, wounded in her shoulder and was only inches away having a critical artery severed.
“I just thought I was going to die,” she said.
“I was kicking my legs, and trying to protect my face, because that was all I could do.
“I blacked out for part of the time she was stabbing me.
“After, I could see stab wounds on myself where I was hanging open and I could actually see bubbles, like my fat.”
While her attacker was not a repeat offender, Lois was still shocked at the short sentence of 32 months she was handed.
“I was expecting multiple years, because in my eyes, it was attempted murder,” she explained.
“And even though the police knew it was a premeditated attack, she actually only ended up eventually being sentenced to wounding with intent.”
Anna was released half-way through her sentence, serving only 16 months for carrying out the savage attack that Lois was lucky to survive.
I don’t understand how a sentence like that is going to deter people from these sorts of crimes
Lois
But Lois was never told that her attacker had been released – and only found out when she saw her out in the town centre, causing her to suffer a panic attack.
Such was the anxiety Lois felt that three years ago she moved from Lancaster to Cornwall, where she now lives with her partner and two young children.
“I never felt safe knowing that she was around,” she said.
“To say that I didn’t feel safe in my home town, it’s just not right at all. I was the victim, not her.
“For me to still be walking around, looking over my shoulder all the time, it was scary. Her life just goes on.”
Let off lightly
Lois’s experience of feeling abandoned by the justice system is one repeated up and down the country.
In September this year, more than 1,700 prisoners in England and Wales were released early in order to ease overcrowding in prisons.
Yet despite domestic abusers and sex offenders being among those let back out onto the streets, dozens of victims were given no warning that they were released.
Given the brutal impact of the attack, it is little surprise Lois feels both anger and confusion at the short sentence her attacker received.
“One of the things that angers me the most to this day, is that I feel like she got away with it almost, to be honest,” she said.
“I was glad that she was being given some form of punishment, but I still didn’t feel like she was suffering for what she’d done. I still felt like she’d got away with it – like she got a slap on the wrist.
“It’s one of the things that gets me down the most. I don’t understand how a sentence like that is going to deter people from these sorts of crimes.”
In the aftermath of the attack, Lois was left feeling scared and vulnerable, and still fights anxiety and PTSD to this day as a result.
But she didn’t hear back from the police once after Anna was sentenced.
“It’s something you see on the news and stuff, but you never actually expect it to happen to you,” she said.
“It’s been six years since it happened, but it takes up a massive part of my brain.
“I would have really liked to receive some form of ongoing support. But there was nothing whatsoever.
“I’ll wake up in the night from a bad dream and feel like I was being pinned down and feel like it was happening again. My body is just on red alert all the time,” she added.
“My physical scars head over time, but the mental ones, I don’t think they will ever go away.”
How Danny Dyer’s decision to ditch EastEnders put his career back on track and now Hollywood is calling again
DANNY Dyer might have shocked EastEnders fans when he quit playing miserable landlord Mick Carter, but this is the best decision he’s ever made.
The actor has now risen from the Albert Square ashes and gone back to what he does best – being a movie star.
Before life as a pub landlord in dreary Walford, Danny was well known for his hard-hitting films like Football Factory and The Business.
In fact, Danny enjoyed a very successful career as a film star, appearing alongside great British actors like Ray Winstone and John Simm.
However, despite stating he wouldn’t do EastEnders until he was “fat, bald and fifty”, he headed to serve pints behind the bar at Ye Ole Queen Vic.
Despite spending seven years in the comfortable role, the actor made the huge decision to quit the soap in 2022 – and as the old saying goes, “fortune favours the bold”.
This in hand turned out to be the best decision Mr Dyer could have made, as he’s back in the movie business.
Hollywood had almost forgotten the shining star he once was, as he swapped Tinsel Town for Albert Square.
But well done to Danny for being brave and not becoming a soap star that just sticks around for the pay cheque (I could name a few).
His bold step has certainly paid off and he is now one of the most sought after British actors and the jobs are pouring in.
Fans could not get enough of him as Freddie Jones in the Disney+ smash hit series, Rivals.
Who would’ve though the former film hardman turned Queen Vic landlord would be the breakout star of a Jilly Cooper romper – but he was.
With his fake moustache and wig, Danny charmed the pants off us all as the reluctant hero of the bonkbuster.
The role showed a more softer, gentle Danny and in turn proved he shouldn’t always be typecast as the gruff hardman.
The actor has even admitted he loved playing “gentle soul” Freddie, and enjoyed being “more versatile” with his acting.
Reflecting on the role, Danny told Rivals The Official Podcast: “For me, I was certainly looking to do something different… Fred, is such a lovely, gentle soul, really.”
Fans were impressed with the outcome, and I certainly have to agree with one viewer who said: “Danny Dyer is a way better actor than people give him credit for – the warmth and nuance he gives to his character in Rivals is gorgeous.”
This role was enough to get Hollywood on the phone and Tinsel Town quite literally called.
Leaving his soap star life well and truly in the past, Dan the man is now rubbing his shoulders with the A-list, hoping he can soon be on it.
This week I loved seeing Danny back in the movie business and shooting a film with none other than Rebel Wilson.
He was spotted filming the upcoming festive flick, quite aptly called Tinsel Town.
The boy’s done good, as he is joined in the cast by Hollywood heavyweight Kiefer Sutherland.
This new movie gig only proves my point further, quitting EastEnders was the best thing the actor could’ve done, and he never needs to look back.
It’s great to see Danny back on top form and making movies, just as he should be – and NOT serving gin and tonics in the Vic.
Danny Dyer's career so far
Danny Dyer has played several film and TV roles across a three-decade acting career.
Here’s a look back at some of his most memorable performances.
- Prime Suspect (1993): Danny made his screen debut in an episode of the long-running ITV police procedural. He appeared as a character named “Martin Fletcher”.
- Human Traffic (1999): Danny’s debut film saw him portray “Moff”, a dealer. Directed by Justin Kerrigan, the coming-of-age comedy drama also featured John Simm, Andrew Lincoln and Richard Coyle.
- Mean Machine (2001): An adaptation of The Longest Yard, this sports comedy also featured Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham. Danny played “Billy the Limpet”.
- The Football Factory (2004): Loosely based on the novel of the same name by John King. Danny led the cast of this sports drama, directed by Nick Love. He portrayed “Tommy Johnson”.
- EastEnders (2013-2022): Danny appeared in the London-set BBC soap opera for almost a decade. He played Queen Vic landlord “Mick Carter”, opposite Kellie Bright as his on-screen wife Linda.
- Rivals (2024): The actor was among an all-star ensemble cast in this Disney+ series based on Jilly Cooper’s novel. Danny played the role of “Freddie Jones”.
Genius hack you need to try when painting your ceilings – it stops annoying drips & gets the job done in minutes
A WOMAN has been praised after sharing a genius hack to stop annoying drips when you’re painting the ceiling.
As well as getting aching arms, having a paint-splattered carpet once you’ve finished the job is part and parcel of the task at hand.
However, Em has come up with an idea to stop that from happening once and for all – and she took to her TikTok page to share it with others.
In a clip on the social media site, she showed how she’d attached the long roller handle to an umbrella.
Then, when she was ready to paint, she opened up the umbrella – which formed a protective basket around the bottom of the roller.
In doing so, Em was able to stop any paint from making its way onto her floor.
“#1 best hack for painting ceilings,” she captioned the TikTok video.
Her video has been so popular among people on social media that it’s been viewed a whopping three million times.
But while Em’s tip will help prevent any annoying paint drips, it doesn’t help when it comes to another big downsides of using paint indoors – the smell.
One of the main reasons paint smells is because of the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) – chemicals that evaporate from the paint into the air.
They’re often used in paint to help with a smooth application and reduce drying times, but the majority of interior paints these days have a ‘low’ or ‘minimal’ VOC.
You can check the amount in yours by looking at the VOC Globe on the back of the tin – the lower the percentage, the less likely the paint is to emit a high odour.
But if you want to get rid of the smell quickly after painting, there are a few other hacks you can try.
The first is baking soda – which you can pick up for as little as 65p from the supermarket.
“Simply pour several tablespoons into bowls or plates and leave these around the room overnight to absorb the smell,” Ronseal paint expert Jimmy Englezos suggested.
“It can also be sprinkled onto soft furnishings such as carpets and sofas and then hoovered up the next day.”
An expert's guide to removing mould and repainting walls
Not only does mould look ugly, but if it’s not treated properly it can impact your health.
Ronseal shared its guide to removing, fixing and preventing mould infestations.
You should only remove mould if it’s caused by condensation and covers an area smaller than one metre squared. If the mould is caused by sewage or contaminated water, call in a professional.
Before you start, wear goggles, long rubber gloves and a mask that covers your nose and mouth to protect you from the mould spores. Open the windows for added ventilation but keep the doors shut to avoid spores spreading.
How to remove mould from walls:
- Fill a bucket with water and mild detergent like washing up liquid. Or use a dedicated mould remover to make quick work of it.
- Dip a cloth in water and wipe the mould off the wall. Don’t brush it as this can release mould spores.
- Once you’ve removed the mould, use a dry rag to remove the rest of the moisture.
- Throw away the cloth and vacuum the room to make sure you’ve removed all of the spores.
How to paint over mould:
Never ever paint over mould without killing it first. It won’t tackle the source of the problem and will make it look worse.
Once you’ve treated the affected area, use a specialist anti-mould paint to finish the job.
Damp stains can be painted over with a suitable paint like Ronseal’s 6 Year Anti Mould Paint, so long as the damp has dried and the source has been treated. Some damp sealants can be applied directly onto a wet surface, so check the instructions before you begin.
While another idea is to use activated charcoal.
“Charcoal filters can be picked up from hardware stores or charcoal powder can be purchased online,” Jimmy added.
“Like with baking soda, leave it in small bowls around the room to soak up the paint odours overnight.”
Jamie Theakston issues health update as star says he needs to see his surgeon every month after cancer treatment
JAMIE Theakston has issued a health update after undergoing cancer treatment, revealing he needs to see his surgeon every month for check-ups.
Heart Radio presenter Jamie, 54, announced he had been diagnosed with with stage 1 laryngeal cancer in September 2024, taking time away from his breakfast show hosting duties.
The star’s initial procedure, performed privately at the Princess Grace Hospital in London, successfully removed his lesion.
However, biopsies could not confirm with complete certainty that all cancer cells had been eliminated.
While he is free from the disease now, with odds of it returning “very low”, he is still under instruction to see his surgeon every month.
In a new interview with The Times, Jamie spoke of his “scanxiety”, explaining the intervals between appointments will lengthen to three and then six months after a year.
He said: “I was given the option of radiotherapy, but we decided that surgery was a better option. I had to go back for a second operation and have more tissue removed. That reset my recovery right back to the beginning.
“I was frustrated because I just wanted to get back to work. I remember reading an interview Amanda [Holden] had given saying, ‘We hope to have him back by Christmas.’ I had thought, way before Christmas! So the second operation put us back a bit.
“And then we found that during the healing process, some scar tissue was touching the other vocal cord. So I had to go back and have a third surgery.
“We were happy that the cancer was clear but to allow my voice to operate, they had to remove the scar tissue, which unfortunately had formed in a place where we didn’t want it forming.”
Jamie recently told fans that there was a time where doctors warned him that he could lose his voice forever.
He underwent multiple rounds of surgery after the first operation was not as successful as doctors hoped.
The presenter said the consultants’ potential warnings came as an “enormous shock.”
Jamie said: “I’ve had ‘scan-anxiety’ – everyone who has been through what I’ve been through will know you just get a barrage of statistics.”
“There’s a one in ten chance you won’t survive it, and you kind of go ‘Oh, OK’ I’ll take that.”
As he went through more treatment, he admitted that he became more worried with each statistic.
“I had to do several surgeries, and the first surgery wasn’t as successful as we hoped.
“Then there was a second surgery, and then a third, and each time I was doing more and more damage to my vocal chords.”
He added: “By the third one they said, well you’ve got a one in six chance that you might not be able to talk again.
“I thought OK, that’s like rolling a dice, I’ll take that, It’s just statistics after statistics.”
Jamie made an emotional announcement when he first revealed the news of his shock diagnosis last year.
Addressing fans, he told them: “Hi folks, as you know – I recently had an operation to remove a lesion from my vocal cords.
“The biopsy has identified this as Stage 1 Laryngeal cancer.”
Key symptoms of laryngeal cancer
THERE are six key symptoms of laryngeal cancer to look out for according to the NHS:
- pain when swallowing or difficulty swallowing
- a lump or swelling in your neck
- a long-lasting cough or breathlessness
- a persistent sore throat or earache
- a high-pitched wheezing noise when you breathe
- in severe cases, difficulty breathing
Other signs also include: bad breath, unintentional weight loss, or fatigue (extreme tiredness).
You should see your doctor if you notice you:
- have a hoarse voice for more than 3 weeks
- have lost 4 to 5 kg (10lbs) or more in a short time and you are not dieting
- are short of breath or have a cough that doesn’t go away, or your breathing becomes noisy (stridor)
- have pain or difficulty swallowing
- have any other symptoms that are unusual for you or that don’t go away
Toby Carvery angers customers with takeaway rule blaming greedy diners for taking too much food
PUB giants Toby Carvery have sent a reminder to staff that they can refuse customers from taking leftovers because they say some are swiping too much grub.
The chain, whose motto is Home of the Roast, has told staff to stop giving customers complimentary cardboard boxes for their table scraps because it is encouraging customers to overload their plates.
But some customers say they have been refused doggy bags despite not being greedy.
One customer, Nathan Perry, 22, from Chislehurst, Kent said: “I went into my local Toby Carvery and had a roast dinner and a pint of lager.
“I couldn’t finish my meal so I asked for a takeaway box and they said I wasn’t allowed.
“Staff were very apologetic but said they had had a strongly-worded email from head office saying people were troughing out on huge extra helpings.
“I was annoyed as I didn’t even go for seconds and had to leave the rest as I had nothing to take it home in.”
Last night a worker at Toby Carvery in Bromley Common, London said: “Customers are getting quite upset when we tell them they can’t have a doggy bag which is a special Toby Carvery round box.
“We have to tell them it is to stop people taking more than their fair share of food.”
Bosses say there have been occasions when customers have taken more than is acceptable and it is down to staff discretion on whether they can offer takeaway boxes.
A spokesperson added: “Our all-you-can-eat offer is designed to be enjoyed while dining in our restaurants, and for this reason, we do not offer doggy bags as standard.
“However, to help our guests reduce food waste where there is a genuine need, a container may be provided at the restaurant’s discretion.”
In 2023, one customer was disgusted when staff at a Toby Carvery wrapped up leftovers in cling film.
Every year, Brits chow down approximately 1.3billion roast dinners, with 31million customers flowing through the doors of the popular Sunday roast chain to eat 11,000 tonnes of potatoes.
In November, the owner of Harvester, Toby Carvery and All Bar One, Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), warned it will take a £100m hit as a result of the tax changes outlined in the October budget.
The pub and restaurant group said it was facing “cost headwinds” in its current financial year, which began at the start of October, because of the increases in the national minimum wage and employer national insurance contributions (NICs) announced by Rachel Reeves, which are due to take effect from next April.
Fiv fun facts about Toby Carvery
- There are 158 Toby Carvery restaurants in the UK
- Toby Carvery serves 21million meals every year
- It also serves 39million drinks
- The restaurant chain employs 4,500 staff
- It cooks more than 500,000 turkeys and half a million beer joints every year
M&B is just one of a number of chains saying they will take a financial hit due to the two upcoming hikes.
A host of pub chains have warned the extra costs will be passed onto customers in the shape of costlier pints.
In November, chief executive of pub chain Fuller’s, Simon Emeny, said the price of beers at its hotels and boozers would likely be bumped up by 10p.
The boss of the brewing giant slammed the decision to hike NICs as “counter productive to growth” and “hurting young employment“.
In its results published last month, Shepherd Neame, which runs 300 pubs and hotels across London South-East England, said it may have to raise prices.
The brewer, which claims to be the oldest in the UK, said the combined NIC and national minimum wage hikes would cost it £2.6million.
Wetherspoons also hiked prices across a range of menu items by up to 30p last month after warning its coffers would take a hit.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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Leicester vs Arsenal LIVE SCORE: Gunners travel to Premier League strugglers amid injury crisis – latest updates
ARSENAL travel to Premier League strugglers Leicester for a huge Premier League clash TODAY.
The Gunners find themselves in an injury crisis, with just three forwards fit for the clash at the King Power Stadium.
Arsenal‘s top goalscorer this season, Kai Havertz, became the latest name in the treatment room – with the German set to miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury.
Mikel Arteta looks like he will be forced to play a front three of Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard this afternoon.
The Gunners are in need of a huge three points to close the gap on Prem leaders Liverpool.
- Kick off time: 12.30pm GMT
- TV channel: TNT Sports 1
- Live stream: discovery+
- Leicester team: To follow…
- Arsenal team: To follow…
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