Harrowing 999 call captures terrifying moment a violent thug broke into his ex-girlfriend's home to beat her semi-conscious
Image by: Steve Chatterley
A harrowing 999 call captures the moment a violent thug smashed his way into his ex-girlfriend's home where he beat her semi-conscious and stabbed her with a knife.
Aaron Marsden Booth, 27, can be heard breaking through the front door of his ex-partner’s home as she screams in terror and begs for help from police.
She desperately asks call handlers: "Can I have the police please, my boyfriend is breaking in. He is kicking my door down can you hurry up?"
A loud noise of the door being smashed in can be heard in the background before the she lets out a "blood-curdling scream" and pleads: "Please, don't hurt me."
Booth can be heard telling her: "What I'm going to do...I'm going to f***ing kill you." before the phone line cuts dead.
The abusive yob then battered the beauty salon worker semi-conscious in her own home before she was able to flee from the property in Glossop, Derbys.
Booth then stabbed his victim in the street in front of police officers who were arriving at the scene before holding the blade to her throat.
Officers, armed only armed only with batons and capture spray, pleaded with him to not harm her further and he eventually walked away and returned to her address.
He then forced armed police into a three-hour standoff as his ex girlfriend was rushed to hospital following the shocking incident in February this year.
Booth went on to plead guilty to wounding with intent and was jailed for 14 years as his victim, now 31, bravely watched on from the public gallery at Manchester Crown Court
Shocking injury pictures released by Derbyshire Police after the case also show the victim, who the force have not named, with horrific facial bruising and swelling.
Judge Richard Mansell QC praised her in helping bring Booth to justice and ensuring that others would not become a victim at his hands.
He told her: “You have been brave in the extreme. You have not just protected yourself; you have protected other women.”
The victim said Booth was "charming" when they first met in 2017 and, despite warnings from pals about his previous behaviour, began a relationship with him the following year.
She came to realise why her friends were concerned as his abusive behaviour came to the fore in May 2018 when he began drinking to excess and taking drugs.
Sentencing, Judge Mansell added: “When at home, you would bully and degrade her by spitting, flicking cigarettes or throwing household items at her, as well as calling her names.
“You pursued her by turning up at her home and the beauty salon where she worked and contacting her friends, but then left her alone for about a month.
“However, you met up with her in July 2018 and persuaded her that you would change and so she agreed to start seeing you again.
“Very soon you reverted to the same kind of behaviour.”
In the September of that year Booth threatened to kill his victim before wrapping both his hands around her neck as if to strangle her.
His victim tried repeatedly to break of their relationship. But each time Booth would bombard her with calls and texts and force her, through emotional blackmail, to retract her complaints made against him.
The evening prior to the assault, Booth’s victim had been enjoying a night out with her friends - during which he was caught on CCTV following her from pub to pub.
In the footage Booth could be seen becoming increasingly angry as the night went on, before finally his victim had to lock herself in a toilet to get away from him.
After Booth, of Glossop, was ejected from the pub, his victim left the bar and went home to bed before he turned up at her front door demanding to be let in.
His victim called police as he attempted to kick the front door down.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Judge Mansell said: “She was crying and pleading with the operator to hurry up because you were trying to break in.
“After a few moments, there is a huge bang and she lets out a blood-curdling scream of terror as you smashed a window and climbed into the house.
“You immediately set about beating her up, knocking her to the ground and punching her repeatedly about the face.
“All that could be heard was her moaning in pain.
“This was a sustained and brutal assault on a defenceless woman.”
Leaving her in a semi-conscious state on the floor with multiple fractures to her face, Booth grabbed a knife from the kitchen.
Realising he had a knife in his hand, his victim managed to run from the house but Booth caught up with her stabbing her repeatedly in the legs and side.
Police officers witnessed the stabbing and urged Booth to put the knife down – instead he grabbed his victim, holding the knife to her throat and telling officers he would kill her if they came any nearer.
Eventually the officers managed to talk Booth away from the woman – and he walked back to the house in Sumners Place, Glossop.
Locking himself in the property - armed officers were forced into a three hour standoff before he eventually threw his weapons out of the window and was arrested.
After being charged with attempted murder, Booth went on to plead guilty to a section 18 assault – wounding with intent.
He must serve at least nine years in prison before he can apply for parole and once freed must serve six years on licence.
He was also handed an indefinite restraining order which prohibits Booth from contacting his victim.
Detective Constable Graham Millar, of Derbyshire Police, said after the case: “I would first like to praise the bravery shown by his victim.
“The incident in February was the culmination of months of physical and mental abuse by Booth.
“His behaviour ground down a strong, independent, young woman – causing her to lose more than two stone in weight as Booth’s campaign of abuse continued.
“This all came to a head in February. In what should have been a place of safety, she pleaded for her life as he beat and stabbed her.
“Anyone hearing that call cannot help but feel a part her terror as he smashed his way into the house.
“It is testament to her bravery and strength that was able to bring charges against Booth.
“She showed that same strength, dignity and bravery throughout the court process – even when it appeared she may have to give evidence against Booth – and ended in her sitting in court watching him be jailed for 14 years.
“I hope the sentence handed to Booth brings a degree of closure to this chapter in her life.
“I would also like to take this moment pay tribute to the officers who were first on the scene that night.
"Armed with only their batons and captor spray they were faced with a situation that could easily have led to a far more tragic ending.
“Their actions on that night were, quite simply, incredible. They are an absolute credit to the force and I am proud to call them fellow Derbyshire Constabulary officers.”
Following the case, victim Zahra Rechelle took to social media to thank well-wishers for their support and shared the shocking video released by police.
She wrote: "I obviously knew and agreed to this being shared, but only this!
"I know it’s horrific to hear and he’s evil.
"But the police saved me, my eyebrows still look delightful in them awful pictures, we now live by the beach with the best family and friends and he has to do a minimum of 9 years in prison!
"Thank you to everyone’s messages, so overwhelming makes me cry."
Pal Leah Mae Rudge replied:" This literally broke my heart. I love you babe, I’m so glad you’re safe and the other side of all this now xxxxxxxxx"
Summer Coppock added: "I've never heard anything like this.. not even on a horror movie! Its actually made me cry. You're such a strong woman Zahra Rechelle and I'm so glad you're okay now."
Emma Charles wrote: "Unreal, what an amazing woman you are for standing up to him and sharing this to try help others. Love and hugs."
Video by: Steve Chatterley
More than 130 seal pups born in River Thames over last 12 months
Image by: Steve Chatterley
It may look like a scene from the Antarctic, but these amazing pictures of a large seal colony were taken on the Thames Estuary.
More than 130 seal pups were born in the River Thames over the last 12 months, according to new figures.
Harbour seals bred 138 newborns in the once filthy river, which is now also home to sharks, seahorse and eels.
Conservationists say it proves the Thames’ ecosystem is now “thriving” after being declared “biologically dead” 60 years ago.
The pictures of the seal colony were taken on the Thames Estuary near Herne Bay in Kent.
Conservation biologist Thea Cox, of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) which conducted the survey, said: “We were thrilled to count 138 pups born in a single season.
“The seals would not be able to pup here at all without a reliable food source, so this demonstrates that the Thames ecosystem is thriving and shows just how far we have come since the river was declared biologically dead in the 1950s.”
ZSL has estimated Thames seal populations annually since 2013. The most recent results, from 2017, recorded 1,104 harbour seals and 2,406 grey seals across the estuary.
The pioneering pup-count was an attempt to understand why seal numbers in the river are increasing.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Scientists are unsure whether the numbers are rising due to resident seals having pups or because adults are migrating from other regions where colonies are known to be dwindling.
The ZSL team analysed hundreds of photos taken during the seal’s summer pupping season as part of UK-wide seal monitoring initiatives.
They took photos from a light aircraft as the seals rested on the sandbanks and creeks below, making it easier and more accurate to count the constantly moving, playful creatures.
The Thames is home to both harbour seals and grey seals, but only the former breed there.
Project manager Anna Cucknell, who leads ZSL’s Thames conservation, said: “Incredibly, harbour seal pups can swim within hours of birth which means they are well adapted to grow up in tidal estuaries, like the Thames.
“By the time the tide comes in they can swim away on it. Grey seals, on the other hand, take longer to be comfortable in the water, so breed elsewhere and come to the Thames later to feed.”
“The restored ‘Mother Thames’ - as we call her - is an essential nursery habitat and home to many animals including more than 100 species of fish, including two species of shark, short-snouted seahorses and the Critically Endangered European eel.”
ZSL is launching its virtual reality experience ‘Thames Safari’ as part of the Totally Thames Festival later this week.
It will allow explorers to learn about the animals - including seals - as they journey through one of London’s most important wildlife habitats.
Video by: Ashley Moran
PUT HIS FOOT IN IT - Footage shows a man allegedly on the run from police hiding in an attic - before falling directly onto a waiting officer
Image by: Matty Walsh
This funny video shows the moment a man who was allegedly hiding from police in an attic fell through the ceiling - leaving his leg dangling inches above a waiting officer.
Matty Walsh, 24, was at a party with some friends when he heard a banging at the door and someone shout "police" - at which point one of the group vanished.
He said that he had no idea who the man was, how he got there, or where he went when the police knocked on the door in Rochdale, Manchester.
But he said police came in and declared they were looking for an alleged suspect - before there was a loud creak from the ceiling.
A hole appeared in the roof and plaster rained down on the police officer as a man's leg appeared through the ceiling.
Matty, from Rochdale, Manchester, said: "We heard a cracking and the police said, 'who's in the roof'?
"The next thing a foot comes in and the plaster comes down and almost hits the copper on the head.
"There was no way out and he came down when they went to get him, there was no way out so he just gave up.
"We were all having a laugh about it, I don't know what the coppers thought of it."
As Matty filmed the two officers interviewing a party goer on the sofa on the opposite side of the room, a loud creak can be heard coming from the roof.
Matty, a builder, said he realised what was happening and filmed the incident on May 31, to put on Snapchat.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a man had been arrested at the party following an earlier domestic assault
They said: "Shortly after 02.00am on Saturday, June 1, officers responded to reports of a domestic assault in Rochdale.
"A male was detained at a nearby house in Ennerdale Road and arrested on suspicion of assault and breaching a restraining order."
Video by: Matty Walsh
14-year-old has become the youngest Brit to fly solo in a powered aircraft - three years before he's even allowed to DRIVE
Video by: Ellis Wylam 
Image by: Jon Mills
A 14-year-old schoolboy has become the youngest Brit to fly solo in a powered aircraft - three years before he's even allowed to DRIVE.
Junior aviator Maksim Ferguson bypassed British laws - which will not allow him to get his wings until he is 16 - by travelling to Canada for the privilege.
Canada is the only country in the world where a 14-year-old is allowed to fly on their own.
Teenager Maks received a certificate after he took to the skies at Burlington, Ontario, Canada, on Monday April 15 at age 14 years, one month and 28 days old.
He was joined by dad, Vincent Ferguson OBE, 54, who runs his own ecological incineration business, on a two-week mission to get him in the air.
Despite being challenged by typical Canadian weather, which saw high winds and even snow, Maks, from Mawdesley, Lancs., managed to cram in as many lessons as possible to achieve his dream.
For his first ever flight Maks took off alone in gusty conditions in a Piper PA-28 single engine, four-seater aeroplane, ascending to 1,000 ft.
In 15 minutes he navigated the chosen flight path and communicated with Canadian air traffic control, before successfully touching back down at the airstrip.
Maks said: “I wasn't expecting to go solo when I did.
“They had cancelled nearly all the flights as the weather was so bad and I thought that any opportunity to fly had gone out the window.
"Then we got a call from the Chief Flying Instructor saying let's head out, who then said I was ready and I could go solo.
“It all happened so fast and I was so nervous sitting there on the runway in the plane by myself.
"It also didn't help that my dad and all my instructors were stood right beside it filming me and taking pictures."
Over the next couple of days, with improved weather, Maks went up again, totting up over two hours' solo flying time.
Maks' UK flying instructor told him that, as he had been taking almost weekly lessons since he was eight-years-old, he was experienced enough to fly solo by the time he was 12.
Maks and his dad had originally planned for him to fly to Australia to when he was 16 so he could fly solo 12 hours before he would have been able to in the UK.
But when they found out about Canadian law they set new plans in motion.
Before Maks could fly he had to pass a Class 3 Canadian Medical Certificate, which he did in the UK.
He had to reach the minimum ten hours' flying time in Canadian skies, which includes performing stalls, spins and spiral dives - not allowed for safety reasons in the UK.
He also had to pass an aviation exam, the PSTAR Examination, and the ROC(A) and English Proficiency Test to correctly communicate with Canadian air traffic control.
The high-flying teen hopes one day he will be an RAF pilot or commercial airline pilot.
“The funny thing is, my dad was once terrified of flying, but he overcame his fear and got his pilot licence when I was really young," said Maks.
"I'd grown up around planes because of my dad and absolutely loved flying from my very first lesson."
Maks' father went with Maks on his own. Mum, Victoria, who is 38 and works for the family business, and little sister, Charlotte, 11, were too scared to go along.
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
Vincent said: “I still remember the day I took the stabilisers off Maks' bike when he was a little boy and I felt that same anxiety as when he went cycling away from me all those years ago, albeit on a far greater magnitude.
"I was petrified, it was two weeks of hell for me, but Maks took the whole thing in his stride and flew like an absolute professional. I am so proud of him."
Maks has loved flying since he was five-years-old but took his first official flying lesson at ANT (Air Navigation & Trading) in Blackpool, Lancs., when he was eight.
Maks' flying instructor, Russell Whyham from ANT, said: “Maks is by far the youngest pilot we've ever trained in our 70+ year history.
"He's been obsessed with aeroplanes since his first lesson and he'll hopefully one day join the elite list of ANT student flyers who go on to become commercial airline pilots or similar.
“His level of training, skill and dedication has meant that he's been ready to fly solo for a number of years now and the only thing that's held him back is his age.”
Sadly Maks will not gain a place in the record books, as the World Guinness Book of Records does not recognise achievements with an age limit.
In January 2019 this year, Ellie Carter was named the UK's youngest pilot when she flew a powered aircraft on her 16th birthday.
Image by: Jon Mills
Hilarious moment a three-year-old girl gave her baby brother a TOWIE-style makeover with cosmetics - to 'look just like you mummy'
Video by: Catherine Carr 
Image by: Catherine Carr
A three-year-old gave her baby brother this hilarious TOWIE-style makeover with cosmetics - to 'look just like you mummy'.
Mum Catherine Carr, 24, thought she'd grab a quiet moment to sort some washing and left daughter Tiffany downstairs watching TV with snoozing sibling Frankie.
But Tiffany then decided to use her mum's make-up to paint her bro's face - leaving him a deep brown colour.
The younger used a brush to cover him with bronzer, gave him red lips with lipstick and drew on eyebrows with eyebrow pencil.
Her mother came down to find Frankie fully made-up - and was even more gutted when Tiffany explained she wanted him 'to look like you mummy'.
Catherine, of Harrogate, Yorkshire, said: “I left him fast asleep and she was sat quietly watching her tablet.
“It was all so nicely peaceful until Tiff shouted 'mummy come downstairs – I made Frankie look like you'.
“She'd basically piled as much as bronzer onto his face as possible and covered him in highlighter cream.
Image by: Dan Rowlands SWNS
Image by: Dan Rowlands SWNS
“She'd also put my lipstick on him and done quite a good job drawing on his eyebrows with my eyebrow pencil.
“She seemed to think he looked exactly like me – I couldn't see it to be honest.”
But far from getting a telling-off, Tiffany's make-up job had her mum in stitches.
“I was mortified, but I couldn't tell her off – it was just too funny,” Catherine explained.
“Some would have told her off, but she's always doing hilarious things like this, she's a little legend.”
And she said Frankie seemed perfectly happy with his makeover as well.
She said: “He loved his new look. He was fast asleep when I left him but I came downstairs and he was sat on the floor smiling his head off.
“He looked like a doll, she'd put that much make-up on him.”
Catherine shared snaps of Frankie and his sister on a Facebook parenting group, with thousands of mums and dads liking it in just hours.
She wrote: “I don't know what's worse, the fact she she thinks I look like that or the fact that she's done his eyebrows quite good.”
Image by: Dan Rowlands SWNS
A woman describes horrific story after her hand was bitten off by rescue dog
Video by: Tom Maddick SWNS 
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
A woman yesterday told how she had her hand bitten off by a huge rescue dog which savaged her in attack which 'seemed to last for hours.'
Sue Scarlett, 64, was savaged by the 90kg - 14 stone - cross-bred beast while cleaning its kennel and looked down to the ground see her 'right hand on the floor.'
The care home nurse was set up by the dog last October when the animal locked its teeth around her right arm.
Despite two people trying to get the dog off her hand, the male dog gripped on to her wrist with his teeth and wouldn't let go.
The grandmother, who described the dog having a grey and black brindle coat with paws the size of her hand, said: "I shouted to him to let go but he just held on tighter.
"After what seemed like hours my husband heard me and tried to pull the dog away but was unable to do so.
"I remember thinking that I would have a few broken bones when he finished.
"But at that time I looked down and saw my right hand lying on the concrete in a pool of blood."
The kennels which had a run outside where caged - the dogs slept in the kennels and were able to have water in the run before running outside into a surrounding field to play.
As Sue let the dog out of the kennels to go into the field to clean the room and change the water in the run.
But the dog put his head partially into the run of out of the kennel and grabbed her right arm.
Sue, who is a nurse at Ashlynn Grange care home, in Peterborough, Cambs., shouted at the dog to let go but he continued to "gnaw" at her arm.
She said she had to go on her knees to push the kennel gate against him because she "knew that if he got into the kennel he would kill" her.
Sue screamed for her husband, who was also helping to look after the other dogs, to call for an ambulance and police as her friend tried to get the dog off her arm.
After a couple of minutes, the dog eventually let go in which they were able to isolate him back into the kennel.
She added: "As I looked up I saw him looking at me and there was blood all round his mouth.
"As a nurse I knew that I was in big trouble so told my husband that he needed to put a tourniquet - compressing device - above the wound, which he did using his jacket.
"My friend and my husband held my arm in the air to try and prevent more blood loss and continued to do so until a paramedic took over."
The East Anglian Air Ambulance arrived at the scene a long with two doctors, a paramedic and police.
Sue said: "I don't remember much else about the journey or going into the hospital or the emergency surgery which was needed to save my life.
"But what I know is that without a shadow of a doubt is that without the swift action and interventions of the East Anglian Air Ambulance crew I would not be here today.
"I might have lost part of my arm but I am alive and will always be grateful to the crew".
The dog was put down after the attack.
Since the attack Sue as thanked East Anglian Air Ambulance service after their life saving efforts.
An East Anglian Air Ambulance spokesperson said: "The Anglia Two team of Doctor Pam Chrispin, Doctor Antonia Hazlerigg, CCP Mark Milsom and Pilots Rosh Jaypalan and Martin Polding were tasked at 12:24 and arrived on scene in Wisbech at 12:46.
"The clinical team provided IV Access and haemorrhage control, dressing and splintage to Sue’s arm.
"They administered pain relief and antibiotics at scene before packaging Sue and flying her to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, arriving at 13:39."
Sue is now volunteering to help raise funds "that are needed to keep these heroes and horoines in the air" for East Anglian Air Ambulance, which is not government funded.
She will be taking part in the Big Leeap, the tandem skydiving event in May.
Sue was forced to give up for the last six months while recovering from her injuries.
DON'T LOOK DOWN, BOY! - Meet Britain’s paragliding DOG that takes to the skies with his owners
Video by: Joe McCarthy 
Image by: Joe McCarthy
Meet Britain’s paragliding DOG - that regularly takes to the skies with its owners.
Henry the three-year-old cockapoo has flown more than 20 times over the hills of west Wales - and even in the Alps.
Owners Amy Jones, 38, partner Joe McCarthy, and Amy's dad Rob, 67, leap off mountains and hills with the dog strapped on their laps.
Weather conditions must perfect to paraglide - and Henry flew this weekend as it was dry with low winds.
Video footage shows Henry looking relaxed as he flies with Rob, 67, over hills near his home in Tywyn, west Wales.
The pooch also enjoyed a bird’s eye view of his favourite beach on Boxing Day as he swept along the Dyfi Estuary.
He started high on the hills above Aberdyfi before paragliding down to the seafront - enjoying panoramic views across the stunning landscape.
He hops up onto the pilot's knee and is “ready to go as soon as he gets his harness on”.
Image by: Joe McCarthy
Image by: Joe McCarthy
Amy, who runs a roofing firm with dad Rob, said: “Henry is hilarious - his expressions are very funny because he is always so happy.
“We go over to the Alps every year in a VW campervan and Henry comes with us and flies.
“As soon as he gets his harness on to paraglide you can tell he wants to go - as soon as it is on he’s ready.
“But Joe and I are very active and he does everything with us.
“We take him to Lake Annecy where he flies, swims and cycles in the trailer - it’s great.
“Passersby expect it to be a kid in the back but then they see his little head. People think we are bonkers but it’s so funny.”
The little dog also paddleboards with Amy, travels in a trailer with her on long bike rides and enjoys long walks up Cadair Idris mountain in the snow.
Henry’s love for the outdoors is a trait mirrored by Amy and Joe who met three years ago when he was a puppy.
He often flies with Amy’s dad, Rob, who has over 30 years of paragliding experience and was one of the sport's pioneers.
Amy says playful Henry is small and will often disappear into the snow during walks on Cadair Idris. She added that Henry has flown “20 to 30 times” in total.
Partner Joe, a commercial photographer and videographer, described Henry as “so calm” as he flies.
Henry spends his time at home in Bryncrug, Gwynned, Wales napping and eating so he is ready to go outdoors.
Joe, who met Amy in a paragliding class, added: “Cockapoos are really lovely natured, gentle and caring dogs.
“He doesn’t shed so is a brilliant house dog but loves to go out. When I’m working he will nap, then he eats and is ready to go out again.”
Image by: Joe McCarthy
MUM IN A MILLION - Meet the young woman who has become 'mum' to her five siblings at the age of 21 - after they lost their mother to a sudden illness
Image by: Shannon Ellis
Meet the 23-year-old who has become mum to her five siblings as well as her own two kids - after her mother's sudden death.
Shannon Ellis was just 22 when she stepped up to care for the brood of seven after her mum Shelley, 39, died in January this year.
This Mother's Day she received handmade cards, boxes of chocolates and bouquets of flowers from her brother and sister.
The brood will also paid tribute to Shelley by visiting the tree where they spread her ashes near the park she used to take them to.
Shannon - who was already a mum to her own children - Harrison, three, and Rowan, two - was devastated when she lost her mum.
But rather than see her siblings placed in care, Shannon volunteered to raise them as her own, under one roof.
She took them in with her partner, Kieran Ferguson, 23, at their home in Hartlepool, County Durham.
She is the legal guardian for her five siblings - Mia, 16, Neve, 15, Bracken, 13, Keevie, 10, and Blaine, eight.
Shannon, who is a full-time mum, said: "I always wanted to be a mum, but I never imagined I'd have to fill my own mum's shoes and go from a mum-of-two to a mum-of-seven overnight.
"But I promised mum I'd look after my brother and sisters.
"She'd have hated to see them split up or in care, I never would have let that happen.
"We have our moments, but we're still one big, happy family - just as mum wanted.
"Mum was just brilliant.
"She did everything to provide for us - despite being a single parent and raising us all on her own.
"She'd take us on family trips to the seaside and would muck in with us playing games. On a Saturday night she'd always rustle up a huge home-cooked feast.
"We had an amazing childhood and always felt very loved and protected by her.
"She made me want to have children of my own and she was over-the-moon when she became a grandmother to my two little boys."
Shannon was born seven years before her next sibling, so for the first years of her life, she and mum Shelley were inseparable.
“I was her mini-me,” Shannon said. “We would do everything together.
“She was both mum and dad to me as my father wasn't on the scene - but she was also my best friend in the world.
“I remember watching in admiration as she put her make-up on in the mornings and thinking, I want to be just like her when I grow up."
Image by: Shannon Ellis
For many children, the sudden arrival of new siblings after years of undivided attention would cause upset - but not for Shannon.
Sliding with ease into her role as their big sister, she doted on her younger siblings from the very first time she set eyes on them.
“I remember the first time I met Mia and mum said I could give her a kiss,” Shannon said.
“She was sleeping so peacefully and I carefully kissed her tiny face – I was so scared of breaking her, she was perfect.”
As the number of her siblings grew, the Ellis’ became one big happy family.
“We were all really close,” Shannon said.
“We’d have the odd fight as brothers and sisters do, but all-in-all we looked out for each other and mum made sure we were always happy.
“I would help her out where I could - getting my younger brother and sisters ready for school and out the door – mum couldn’t do it all by herself!”
By this time, Shelley was no longer with her partner and the father of the younger children, but the family got on perfectly fine with the help of Shannon.
They enjoyed trips to Headlands Beach or Summer Hill, near their home in Hartlepool, and caring Shelley would make sure the car was packed with everything they would need.
She helped with homework and tucked each one of her six children into bed each night, with more than enough love to spread between them all despite having barely any time for herself.
Keen to start a family of her own, Shannon fell pregnant aged 18 after she and Keiran had been dating for eight months and had two sons - who Shelley doted on.
"I remember taking the pregnancy test at home first thing in the morning before work,” Shannon said.
“I ran screaming and shouting into mum’s room, jumping on her bed and telling her she was going to be a grandma.
“Mum knew before Kieran did – that’s how close we were!
“She was over the moon and although I was nervous about being a young mum, I knew I could do it if I just followed the amazing example my mum had set.”
Harrison, three, was born in May 2015, followed by another grandson for Shelley, Rowan, two, in January 2017.
Shannon and Kieran moved just around the corner after the birth of their two boys to give the family some more space – but that didn’t mean they weren’t together all the time.
Shannon said: "Mum was an amazing grandmother - she absolutely adored the boys.
“Not a day went by where I wouldn’t see my mum.
“She helped look after the boys if we were busy and taught me the tricks of the trade.
“She was besotted with her grandchildren, the same look I’d seen when my siblings were born all those years earlier, and I was so happy to have her help throughout their early years.
"I always thought she'd be there for me to give me guidance and to watch her children and grandchildren grow up."
But the family's lives were turned upside down after Shelley was taken unexpectedly ill in January 2018 - and told she had just days to live.
Shelley was rushed to the University Hospital of North Tees, Hartlepool, where medics discovered she had a rare disease.
Shannon was told by medical staff that her mum Shelley would never be the same, and had a maximum of two years to live.
“I’ll never forget hearing those words,” Shannon said.
“I couldn’t contemplate losing her but the doctors assured that would be the case.”
When Shelley heard she didn’t have long left, she became unbelievably worried about what would happen to her children left behind.
“It was horrible seeing the worry in her face, she loved us all so much,” Shannon said.
“But I promised her that the kids would never be alone and that I would step up to look after them.”
Shelley’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and just two days later they were told the end was imminent.
Shelley was moved to Alice House Hospice, Hartlepool, to make her final days more comfortable, and the family gathered around to make their heart-breaking goodbyes.
“I can’t thank the staff there enough, they were brilliant to poor mum,” Shannon said.
“They were so lovely and understanding and made sure she had everything she could have needed until the time came.”
Image by: Shannon Ellis
On January 25, 2018, Shelley sadly passed away aged 39 - just nine days after she first started to feel unwell.
Shannon was there when she passed, and curled up on the bed next to her beloved mum until she knew the time had come to tell the rest of the family.
“There’s nothing to describe her death other than a feeling of emptiness,” Shannon said.
“My best friend, my biggest support and my incredible mum had been taken from our lives and I felt so empty.
“But I had to be there for the kids, and we sat together sobbing for what seemed like hours.”
Having gone from speaking to her mum every single day, Shannon was left lost without her.
But she found strength in her siblings and the unity of their family.
Shannon - who was the eldest of her siblings - knew she had to keep her final promise to her beloved mum and stepped up to become the legal guardian for her five siblings.
She said: "Losing mum was horrendous - it came so out of the blue. It hit us all so hard.
"One minute she was there and seemed fit and healthy and the next we were told she had days left to live.
"When she passed away, it didn't hit me straight away. I just felt numb.
"But the one thing that kept me going was my brother and sisters and my own boys. I knew I had to get up each day to be there for them and to look after them.
“I couldn’t have done it all without Kieran – he had no experience of looking after girls, let alone teenagers. But he took my siblings under his wing and was a pillar of strength for all of us.
“Mum was always a brilliant judge of character and she adored him, so I’m glad she will have known that he will always look after us.
“I can’t believe how strong my brother and sisters have been.
“To be so young and suffer such a devastating loss is heartbreaking, but to still act as maturely as they have is amazing.
“They are coping really well and I’m really proud.
“We talk about mum all the time and constantly get photos out and laugh about the joy she brought to our family.”
The family all moved in together after the death of their mum, and Shannon and Kieran have taken them on as their own – just as Shelley had wanted.
From being a mum-of-two to a mum-of-seven overnight, Shannon says she has learnt a lot over the past year and says it gets easier every day.
“It has been hard but it’s given me more of a reason to get up and get on with every day normal life. Their strength has given me the strength to carry on,” Shannon said.
“I think she’d be smiling down at us, proud of how we’re doing.
“She will always be the head of this family, and I am trying every day to follow the incredible example of motherhood she set.”
Great-gran who risked her life for a facelift is so pleased with the results she's saving to go under the knife again
Video by: Paul Davey
A great-gran who risked her life for a facelift is so pleased with the results she's saving to go under the knife again.
Toni Goldenberg became one of the oldest people in the country to have a lower face lift, ridding her of a dreaded 'turkey neck' and making her look years younger.
The 80-year-old said it was like a dream come true when she looked in the mirror for the first time after the her three-and-a-half hour procedure and saw "the old woman had gone."
She began saving her pension five years ago for the £10,000 procedure and has already began putting money away in her giant Coca Cola bottle for an upper face lift.
Toni, from Wallington in south London, said: "I feet absolutely fantastic. It's like a dream come true.
"The old woman has gone and I hope she doesn't come back.
"When I look in the mirror, I thought I looked like a completely different person.
"But now I just see me and I forget what I looked like before.
"My neck and jowls made me look cross and miserable but now I look fresh and happy.
"You could not ask for anything better, especially at my age."
Image by: Paul Davey
Doctors warned Toni could be left partially paralysed or even die from surgery and that the risks of general anaesthetic were much greater at her age.
But she was determined to fulfil her long-held dream and told doctors "at least I would look good in my coffin."
She said: "I was told that I could die or that half of my face could be paralysed but I was willing to take that chance at my age.
"There is no use worrying if you are going to die - you go out onto the street and get run over or die at any moment.
"I understood the risks but I told the doctor 'at least I would look good in my coffin.'"
Toni, who was widowed 46 years ago, underwent extensive tests to evaluate her suitability for surgery and assessed her medical history, general health and level fitness.
She also faced a risk of poor wound healing and even tissue necrosis - where skin cells break down and die.
Toni said: "I was not really that nervous before the operation.
"When they put me on the operating table, I started to think about it all but then the anaesthetist said he was going to give me some drugs.
"I didn't have time to think or worry it and the next thing I remember was waking up in bed after the op.
"Everybody at Harley Street was fantastic, I couldn't recommend them enough."
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
Toni went under the knife at the world renowned Harley Street Skin Clinic on February 15.
While she insisted she is "too old for romance" Toni's new fresh look has done wonders for her confidence and she is set to start yoga and gym classes.
She said: "I am too old to get back in the dating game but I would consider going out for a nice meal with somebody and sharing a man's company.
"I feel much more confident and plan to go to the gym every day except for Tuesdays when I look after my great-granddaughter."
Toni, who has two great-grandchildren, saved for the £10,000 op by putting all her loose change in a giant Coca-Cola bottle.
She filled her "face lift fund" with spare pennies from her pension before starting again with pound coins and again with only £5 notes.
Toni is now saving for a £6,000 upper face lift which she expects to have before the age of 85.
She said: "I am already using my Coca Cola bottle - I was saving for some new clothes but I will have to go to the charity shop for them now.
"I look in the mirror now and I see the baggy eyes so I'm saving up again to have the area around my eyes and forehead lifted - that will be another few years.
"My friends said it's the best thing I've ever done and they have already chipped in towards my next face lift."
Six weeks on from surgery, the Harley Street team are impressed by Toni's "extraordinary" and speedy recovery.
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Paul Davey
Lesley Reynolds, co-founder of Harley Street Skin Clinic, said: "Toni surprised us all by her swift recovery from the surgery which is a testament to her tremendous energy and force of life.
"Her general health is such that she bounced back very quickly after the operation - her bruising and swelling were minimal.
"This is in part due to the skills of our surgeon Mr Hagen Schumacher and the anaesthetist, but also perhaps down to Toni's general health.
"Usually people of Toni's age have some sort of health issues that would increase the risk of a general anaesthetic to the point of it not being advisable to have cosmetic surgery."
Surgeon Mr Schumacher told Toni that the results will continue to improve over the next year.
Toni said: "After the surgery, I had a bit of swelling for a few days but no pain at all – it was brilliant.
"It will take a year for it to be completely healed so it will just keep getting better.
"The surgeon was really, really good and I would recommend him to anybody."
The great-grandmother began dreaming of having cosmetic surgery in her 20s when she noticed wrinkles appearing on her face.
She has always worked hard to maintain a size ten and had hoped she would take after her mother, who had "barely any wrinkles" before she died aged 84.
But as she grew older, Toni felt her face no longer matched her body.
She said: "I expected my skin would age in the same way as my mum but it didn't.
"I had wanted it done for decades and decades - I would read about it in the papers and I did a lot of research."
She added: "People won't tell you if they've had a face lift - they don't talk about it but I think people should.
"It has made an awful lot of difference to my confidence and I feel a lot better about myself - I don't even wear make up.
"I'm so pleased with it - it looks natural rather than having that drawn, wind-swept look.
"I can't wait to have the area around my eyes and brows lifted to match."
Giant lizard which was banned from a park is now allowed to enter on condition his owner keeps him on a lead
Video by: Ashley Moran
A dad-of-one has been ordered to keep his huge pet lizard on a LEAD while walking it in a park – after it scared other dogs.
Gary Smith, 54, was originally banned from taking his black-throated monitor called Thor out for a stroll after a string of complaints.
Dozens of dog owners and park users said they were worried the three-stone 5ft-long critter would attack their pets or even injure children.
But town hall chiefs agreed to lift the ban if Gary agreed to keep Thor on a lead while in Markeaton Park, Derby.
Gary bought Thor ten months ago to go with his collection of 31 snakes, six lizards and seven spiders which he keeps at his home in Sinfin, Derby.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
The lorry driver said: "I had reached an agreement with the council to say it's ok to walk as long as he is on a lead, just like a dog.
"I mainly walk him for exercise and fresh air.
"Also I just like to let people see him and maybe experience touching him.
"He can run really quickly and he wouldn't just run in a straight line.
"He'd be all over the place, it would be like trying to catch a chicken.
"He could do a lot of damage, his claws could slice your arm or head open.
"But that would be very out of character.
"Thor has a really cool temperament, he's not aggressive.
"When he's had enough, he'll whip his tail around.
Image by: Steve Chatterley
"Some people get scared and thing all reptiles will do is bite and scratch you.
"But I want to show that is not the case.
"I tend to walk Thor in the summer time and basically when the weather is good.
"He loves the trees and water in the park, he likes to get his claws into the trees.
"He eats braising steak about four times a week, he'll eat rats and fruit.
"He weighs about three stone and is about five foot nine inches tall.
"He's a strong lad.
"He gets more active when his temperature gets warmer, so when it's colder he's not
that active.
"He's friendly and is used to being touched and handled.”
Image by: Steve Chatterley
