News in Brief

A prisoner serving one of the new indefinite jail terms after being convicted of robbery was found hanged in his cell. Nicholas Laidlaw, 48, was discovered at Frankland Prison, Co Durham. Prisoners sentenced to indefinite prison terms are kept in custody until they are no longer considered a risk.

‘Cannibal’ jibe

Papua New Guinea’s High Commissioner has demanded that Boris Johnson, the Tory MP, apologise for linking her country with “cannibalism and chief-killing”. Mr Johnson’s comments came in a newspaper column while discussing the Labour Party leadership. Jean Kekedo said she was “taken aback” by the remarks.

Terror questions

Police have been given more time to question nine men arrested a week ago in a counter-terrorist operation targeting the alleged recruiting and training of potential terrorists. Two suspects can now be held until Monday, one until next Wednesday, four until Friday and two until a week today.

Hirst saint shown

A new work by Damien Hirst has been unveiled to mark the opening of an exhibition of sculpture by Sotheby’s at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. Hirst’s over-life sized sculpture of the martyr St Bartholomew skinned alive was described by the artist as having “a feel of a rape of the innocents about it”.

Mature swimmer

A retired surgeon has become the oldest Briton to swim the Channel. Roger Allsopp, 65, completed the swim in 15½ hours despite poor weather conditions and him suffering seasickness during the crossing. Mr Allsopp said he was spurred on by a commitment to raising money for breast cancer research.

Porn-star images man sent to jail

A computer expert who altered top-shelf pictures of naked women to make them look like children was jailed indefinitely yesterday.

Stafford Sven Tudor-Miles, 38, from Eston, Middlesbrough, scanned photographs of adult porn stars into his computer and used digital equipment to manipulate the pictures into images of young girls, Teeside Crown Court was told. He admitted making indecent pseudo-photographs of children, possessing the images and breaching a sex offenders order.

Judge Tony Briggs recommended that he serve at least 15 months in jail.

Mother’s duty

Two teenage brothers who were reported by their mother after they robbed a woman aged 75 in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, were sent to a youth offender institution. Bristol Crown Court sentenced Christopher and Shane Young, aged 16 and 15, to five years and two and a half years respectively.

Dead couple

An elderly couple found dead at their home in the village of Brenchley, Kent, were named as Albert and Audrey Sprigins. A post-mortem examination confirmed that Mr Sprigins, 82, died of natural causes. The pathologist could not say what had caused the death of Mrs Sprigins, 71, but police are not treating it as suspicious.

Teacher jailed

A married French teacher who had a relationship with a 17-year-old pupil was jailed for four months and banned from working with children. Sebastian Rougerie, 30, of Poole, admitted abuse of trust. The girl had sent him text messages and a picture of her in underwear, Bournemouth Crown Court was told.

Caravan kingdom

Countries where knighthoods are sold and the currency is based on the value of dough are featured in a new book. The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations tells of tiny places where home rule has been declared, such as the Copeman Empire, a caravan in Sheringham, Norfolk, ruled by a self-styled King Nicholas.

Molly ‘will not be deported’

Police in Pakistan told a court that they had no plans to detain or deport a British girl at the centre of an international custody dispute.

Misbah Iram Ahmed Rana, also known as Molly Campbell, 12, travelled to the country to live with her father after leaving her mother’s home in Stornoway, in the Hebrides, more than two weeks ago. The civil court in Lahore awarded Sajad Ahmed Rana, Misbah’s father, temporary custody because her mother, Louise Campbell, failed to appear at the hearing. Misbah’s family in Pakistan had sought the guarantee that she would not be deported. Misbah has said that she does not want to return to live with her mother, with whom she was given residence last year.

Cliff man rescued

A local resident who slipped as he climbed a 200ft (61m) cliff near Hastings, East Sussex, was stranded out of sight for more than 24 hours with an injured leg. Coastguards say that the 39-year-old father of two, who was wearing light clothing, could have died if the weather had not been so mild.

£6.9bn giveaway

Britons save £6.9 billion a year with giveaways, a survey suggests. About three quarters of people surveyed by Orange Broadband took advantage of offers such as free CDS and free text messages, leaving them an average £150 a year better off. Scots were the most enthusiastic about freebies, the survey said.

Duchess’s hike

The Duchess of Cornwall will hike for ten miles around Loch Muick on the Balmoral estate in Scotland on September 20 as part of a week of special Big Bone Walks in aid of the National Osteoporosis Society. She is the charity’s president. Her mother and grandmother both suffered from the disease.

Betjeman engine

A Class 90 locomotive has been named Sir John Betjeman in a ceremony at Liverpool Street station in London. The locomotive is run by the train company one, which provides services from the capital to Norwich. Betjeman’s poem A Mind’s Journey to Diss reflects on views during that journey.

Love letter hoax