A boy thought to be the youngest person in Britain to be accused of rape appeared yesterday at Bromley youth court, south-east London. The youth, now 14, from West Wickham, south London, is alleged to have attacked a girl when when he was 10. He will next appear in court on March 21.
Murder suspect extradited
A man arrested in Munich in connection with the suspected murder of the Earl of Shaftesbury in France last year is to be extradited to France next week. Mohamed M'Barek is the brother of the earl's wife, Djamila M'Barek, 37, who was arrested in Cannes last month and placed under investigation.
Resort to host gay ceremonies
Brighton and Hove plans to be the first city in the country to perform "gay marriages", it said yesterday. Its register office has selected three couples to take part in a joint ceremony one second after midnight on December 21, the first day that such civil partnerships can be formed.
Policeman on perjury charge
Pc Gareth Phillips, 26, of Cambridgeshire police is due at Bedford magistrates next Monday charged with perjury.
Leisure centre death inquiry
The Health and Safety Executive has launched an inquiry after a 12-year-old boy died following an incident at a leisure centre in Grays, Essex, on Saturday.
Civil servants vote to strike
Northern Ireland's public servants union has voted to join a nationwide strike on March 23 against plans to compulsorily increase the public sector retirement age from 60 to 65.
Names for the driving game
Darrens drive Ford Escorts and so do Waynes and Traceys, it was revealed yesterday in a poll of 500,000 car drivers by Churchill insurance. If you are called Adam, Matthew and Alexander you are likely to own a Renault Clio.
