Feminists accuse pro-trans activists of ‘intimidation’ on Scottish march

Feminists protesting against the new Scottish hate crime law have hit out at “abusive” placards displayed by pro-trans activists.

Women marching in Edinburgh against Humza Yousaf’s legislation, which critics including JK Rowling have warned could criminalise airing gender-critical beliefs, criticised the pro-trans protesters for “harassment and intimidation”.

Pictures from the march showed demonstrators draped in the trans pride flag holding abusive placards.

One sign read “trans dogs bite terfs”. The term “terfs” is used by transgender campaigners to describe women who oppose the view that gender is unfixed and can change according to how people self-identify.

Another sign suggested that lesbians are attracted to the male genitalia of transgender people, and another that they are attracted to transgender breasts.

Women Scotland, a campaign group, told The Telegraph that banners held by pro-trans activists were 'deliberately going out to cause upset'© Provided by The Telegraph

Women Scotland, a campaign group, told The Telegraph: “It’s pure harassment and intimidation. They are deliberately going out to cause upset.

“Women are trying to talk about their lives and are being subject to torrents of sexist and homophobic abuse.”

The march was organised by Kellie-Jay Keen, a gender-critical campaigner who has led a number of Let Women Speak rallies around the world. Many of those events have attracted counter-protests by pro-trans demonstrators.

Ms Keen said her purpose was to “test the law” on the march to see how the police would handle gender-critical chants in light of the new legislation, which took effect on April 1.

Rafael Nadal reveals mental health struggles as injury delays retirement

Rafael Nadal admits he is struggling with his mental health as his abdominal injury continues to derail his plans for a farewell tour before retirement.

The Spanish tennis legend, who turns 38 in June, has spoken openly about hanging up his racket and 2024 was set to be his final season in the sport.

Nadal has massively struggled to keep fit, though, and has been unable to feature in a competitive match since the Brisbane International back in January.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion, one of the best and most loved tennis players of all time, will be desperate to play the French Open one last time in May.

Nadal, dubbed the ‘King of Clay’, is the most successful player in Roland-Garros history across the men’s singles and is hoping to say goodbye to his fans in Paris.

But Nadal’s participation at his beloved Grand Slam is up in the air after he was recently forced to withdraw from the Monte-Carlo Masters.

It was the third time this year Nadal has failed to make a return to the ATP Tour, with comebacks in Qatar, California and now Monte-Carlo all falling through.

Rafael Nadal has opened up about his abdominal problems (Picture: Getty)© Provided by Metro

‘Many people have mental problems, and I also have them when in my work I can’t manage to fight for my goals,’ Nadal told Movistar.

‘But, no, it’s physical, I have abdominal problems since I returned from Australia. We are trying things. We are going day by day.’

Nadal added: ‘My body won’t let me. It’s getting difficult for me. It’s been a difficult year and a half, I’m trying every day.

‘I have things to solve, and the reality is that at the moment I’m not being able to put myself in a position to compete. It’s hard.

‘On a personal level everything is good; on a professional level, it is difficult, and you also have to weigh the bad moments and those that you would never have imagined experiencing.

‘I don’t rule out anything, not even being in Barcelona or Madrid, but at the moment, I am not being able to get there due to physical problems.’

TV star sheriff accused of stealing $5m in taxpayer money and blowing it on vacations, luxury cigars and plastic surgery

A former TV star sheriff from southern Indiana is facing 25 felony charges after he was accused of stealing taxpayer money and blowing hundreds of thousands of dollars on vacations, luxury cigars and plastic surgery.

Jamey Noel, 52, and his wife, Misty, 50, and daughter, Kasey, 27, were charged after authorities found that they had spent as much as $5 million on credit cards Mr Noel had opened in the name of the nonprofit fire agency he ran.

Search warrants revealed the trio had blown more than $300,000 on vacations and travel, $200,000 on tuition and college expenses, $56,000 on cigars, and $25,000 on a small plane. Also, they are accused of spending money on cosmetic procedures, tanning, clothing, and vape products.

The three family members are also accused of receiving more than $3.5 million in income, merchandise and services not reported on their tax returns over five years.

Mr Noel is facing additional individual charges for allegedly buying more than 100 luxury cars using public funds and selling them at a personal profit, as well as using his former deputies as personal errand men and handymen on his private properties during work hours.

Meanwhile, court documents have accused him of having an affair, during which he impregnated Clark County Council member Brittney Ferree, who gave birth to his child.

It is alleged by prosecutors that Mr Noel used funds from the Volunteer Firefighters Association to pay his court-ordered child support.

All three family members have pleaded not guilty.

Jamey Noel and his wife Misty in court (NBC/WAVE 3)© Provided by The Independent

Misty and Kasey Noel (pictured) have been charged with several counts of theft and tax evasion (Fox/WDRB)© Provided by The Independent

In court filings, prosecutors have alleged the family has refused to cooperate with investigators.

Sheriff Noel rose to fame after he appeared on Season One of the A&E show 60 Days In, in which the Clark County prison critically examined its policies and treatment of inmates after volunteers were incarcerated undercover as prisoners for 60 days. 

He previously served as a state trooper for 22 years before becoming a sheriff in 2015, according to Inside Edition.

Mr Noel also ran the county’s Republican party in addition to the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association.

But his life as a public servant came crashing down last year when Indiana State Police investigators began seriously probing his finances, leading to his arrest last November.

He was initially charged with 15 felonies, with an additional 10 charges, for theft and tax evasion, later added.

Some 50 search warrants have been executed on the family’s home and cars throughout the probe in which police found thousands of dollars worth of designer clothes, including Tom James suits and Ferragamo shoes paid for with the fire nonprofit’s credit cards, and two handguns.

Meanwhile, in March, authorities seized 26 shipping containers filled with $7m of missing military surplus equipment, which state police believe belonged to the sheriff’s department and were hidden by Mr Noel during his time in the role.

Jamey Noel’s case is set to go to trial later this year.

Tribunal nears end for man who lost job offer over views on homosexuality

Closing speeches have been made at an employment tribunal brought by a Christian social worker whose job offer was withdrawn after a health charity discovered his views on homosexuality.

Felix Ngole, 46, claims Touchstone Leeds discriminated against him because of his religious beliefs when they refused him the job as a hospital discharge mental health support worker, based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in 2022.

He had previously won a Court of Appeal case against Sheffield University which had wanted to prevent him from completing his social work degree after it became aware of a Facebook row in which he said homosexuality and same-sex marriage were a sin.

Touchstone agreed he was the best-qualified candidate for the role but he was called back for a second interview, which he described as an “interrogation”, after management conducted a Google search and discovered the legal row about his views.

Touchstone has argued that vulnerable LGBT service-users, requiring mental health support, could be more likely to harm themselves if they found out Mr Ngole’s views about homosexuality.

Paul Wilson, representing Touchstone, in his closing speech to the panel said the use of the word “sin”, which appeared in media reports of Mr Ngole’s legal battle, “raises the suspicion that he might carry out that role in a way which discriminates against LGBTQI+ service-users or behave disrespectfully to them”.

Michael Phillips, for the claimant, said: “Touchstone has stereotyped my client into creating a caricature of him, into a monstrous bigot who would possibly cause the death of service-users.”

Mr Phillips said it was Touchstone’s case that appointing Mr Ngole could cause “significant harm” but he said that there was no evidence to support that claim.During the hearing in Leeds, which began last week, the Cameroon-born grandfather who lives in Barnsley has argued that his religious views would not prevent him from looking after an LGBT service-user or working with gay colleagues.

In his witness statement, Mr Ngole said: “As a Christian, I do not see any conflict in working with and for people from the LGBT community.

“That said, there is a distinction between respecting and loving the person and yet lovingly and respectfully disagreeing with their views and/or behaviours.”

Earlier on Monday, the tribunal heard expert evidence from Rev Dr Paul Sullins, a sociologist from the Catholic University of America, appearing for the claimant, who said there would have been no increased risk of service-users killing themselves if Mr Ngole had been employed.

The panel also heard from Dr Hercules Eli Joubert, a Leeds-based clinical psychologist who appeared for Touchstone and said service-users who had received in-patient psychiatric care were already at an increased risk of self-harm.

Mr Ngole’s employment tribunal claim for discrimination and harassment is supported by the Christian Legal Centre.

The panel will publish its judgment at a later date.