Police were called to a Church of England primary school after parents allegedly threatened to stab each other in front of young children. The group of mothers and father were seen screaming at each other in the brawl at St John's C of E primary school in Dorking, Surrey. They were then heard to make the alleged death threats by a mother who was dropping off her terrified children. Police were called toSt Johns C of E primary school in Dorking,Surrey after parents threatened to stab each other in front of young children . One mother, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said: 'They were shouting and screaming at each other, with bad language and threatening to stab and kill each other.' Surrey Police confirmed it had received reports of 'an altercation' at the school just before 9am on Wednesday. A spokesman said today: 'Officers attended and the matter is being investigated. No arrests have been made at this stage.' But the witness, who was not involved in the fracas,  said it's not the first time police have been called  to the school over parents' fighting. 'It's disgusting....it's a primary school, this should not be going on,' the mother added. 'I don't want to send my kid there in that environment, and I am not the only parent that has complained, but I can't get him in any other school as they are all full. 'I don't want him subjected to it. But if I take him out we will be done for absences. 'Sooner or later someone is going to get hurt. It's beyond unbelievable what happens. Surrey Police confirmed it had received reports of 'an altercation' at the school just before 9am on Wednesday. 'The police will soon have to start being there for morning drop-offs. Enough is enough, kids are picking up bad behaviour. 'It's not the school's fault, but it is their fault for not acting. It's not them, it's parents, but it's going on in school premises in front of children. 'These parents were threatening to kill each other in front of their kids and other people's children.' St Johns C of E has denied violence involving parents is a regular occurrence, and claims 'only one other incident in the past few months has involved police'. A spokesman said Wednesday morning's incident happened outside the school gates, not in the playground, and was 'a private matter'. He added 'It is completely unacceptable behaviour by parents, and I am concerned that other parents and children witnessed it. 'This incident is being dealt with by the police, because the issues over which the argument took place were private issues, happening outside the school. 'We are liaising with the police, and assisting them where possible to make sure that this does not happen again. 'I am very sorry that this has happened, and I am also very keen to make sure that the school environment is kept safe for everyone, particularly the children.' The school was put into special measures in February 2013 and became an academy in November 2013, sponsored by the Guildford Diocese. St John's has 164 children on roll and last month it received a 'satisfactory' report following its Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools report. - Did you witness this incident? Call Hannah Parry on 0203 615 3423 or email hannah.parry@mailonline.co.uk .

Officers were called to a fracas at St Johns C of E primary school, Dorking . Group of parents were seen screaming and threatening to kill each other . Brawl took place as others dropped their young children off at the school . Did you witness this incident? Call Hannah Parry on 0203 615 3423 or email hannah.parry@mailonline.co.uk .

, in Wythenshawe, Manchester.
At least five parents could be seen trying to restrain one man, while others screamed profanities at each other while their children are at the school gates.
According to Sky News, a 51-year-old mother, who was holding a child, is seen screaming "I will f***ing stab you in front of your child!" at 41-year-old dad who then appears to slap her as the altercation gets heated.
This video has been viewed nearly 11 million times on Twitter
The school said in a statement -
"The school became aware that parents had been arguing in a car park outside the school while some of our children were going home.
"The headteacher and her deputies tried to ensure that everybody was safe, but we are aware that this incident was witnessed by some of our children."
"The police were notified, and we also notified the Department for Education as a result of the incident. We have made the decision to take disciplinary action against the parents involved with the incident, and will now take all the necessary steps to ensure that this does not happen again."
The man in this video has just been sent down for threatening to stab someone in front of her child— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 23, 2019
An Ofsted report published this summer found that the school has made "excellent progress" since it was put into a "special measures" category in 2013.
According to Mirror, St John's, which has around 230 children at the school, is a Church of England primary in Wythenshawe.
It has been rated "outstanding" for the impact it has on children with special educational needs.
The school was placed into "special measures" in 2013 because of an inspection in 2011. However, it has seen "significant improvements" and was last rated "good" by Ofsted at its 2018 inspection.
The 2013 inspection report said the school was "failing", adding: "The headteacher's lack of management and organisation has prevented good teaching and learning from taking place."
The 2018 inspection report however, had a different story to tell, which read: "The headteacher and his deputy have maintained the rapid pace of improvement.
"As a result, the school has rapidly made significant improvements in all areas."
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(CNN)Two extremists who attacked a landmark museum in Tunisia, killing 23 people, got weapons training at camps in Libya, an official said Friday. The suspects were activated from sleeper cells in Tunisia, Security Minister Rafik Chelly said. He did not say which group activated them, or with whom they trained. "They left the country illegally last December for Libya, and they were able to train with weapons there," he told private broadcaster AlHiwar Ettounsi TV. Like Tunisia, Libya saw its longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi ousted during the regional wave of revolutions known as the Arab Spring. But unlike its neighbor to the west, Libya has been fraught with more instability and violence -- much of it perpetrated by Islamist militants, like those behind the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. Such violence has been rare in Tunisia, at least on the scale of what happened Wednesday at the Bardo Museum in Tunis. Still, it is not a total shock, given that up to 3,000 Tunisians have left to fight as jihadists in Iraq and Syria, according to the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization in London, not to mention others who have joined radical groups closer to home. Already, authorities have arrested nine people in connection with the attack, including four directly linked to it, according to a statement from Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi. And in an audio message posted online Thursday, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said targeted "crusaders and apostates" with  "automatic weapons and hand grenades." CNN cannot independently verify the legitimacy of the audio statement. That bloodshed is "just the start," the ISIS message warned -- a threat that may or may not be hollow, but nonetheless adds extra urgency for Tunisian investigators. The nation's security forces are working to break up other cells like those behind the recent Bardo Museum attack. But that's not necessarily going to be fast or easy. "We know they can launch operations, but we must piece together clues in order to conduct an arrest," Chelly said. As investigators continued their work, Tunisians turned out Friday to mark the North African nation's independence from France. Those commemorations were more somber this year, but they were also in many ways more significant. "I'm here to celebrate 59 years of our independence," said Adib Adela, 38, a school inspector in Tunis. "The most important thing now is to properly investigate and to find those responsible." Tunisia has been shaken by the terrorist attack, though it was foreigners -- 19 of them tourists who'd been on two cruise ships that docked in Tunis -- who made up the vast majority of victims. Fifteen victims' bodies are at a morgue in the capital, a forensic official said. Some of them haven't been identified two days after the attack, according to the official, and all are foreigners. The fear is that many other tourists won't come back. Already, the parent companies of the two ships that had most of the victims, Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises, have announced the cancellation of all scheduled stops in Tunis for 2015 and substituted them with other ports. That means some foreigners won't be coming to Tunisia as once expected. But it doesn't mean all tourists will stay away -- as illustrated by a movement online of people vowing, "I will come to Tunisia." Beyond tourism, Tunisians also hope to get support from other countries as they fight terrorism. "I hope other countries will support Tunisia, like they supported France after Charlie Hebdo,"  said Amir Foudieli, 33, who works for an export company, referring to the January massacre at the satirical magazine's offices in Paris. "We are Tunisian, this is our country. Not theirs, they (the terrorists) are bastards of children. We have centuries of history." CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali, Victor Blackwell and journalist Yasmine Ryan contributed to this report.

Two cruise ship companies cancel 2015 stops in Tunisia after the Bardo Museum attack . The museum attack suspects were activated from sleeper cells in Tunisia, security minister says . Tunisians gather to celebrate independence day .

 said a third man was detained in Tunisia for his links to the attack. He said the extremists' plan was to attack an air force base in Tunisia. They never made it there, according to police. Instead, they headed to the Bardo museum. "This cell was trying to organize an attack outside the country but decided to attack the Bardo Museum because they think that Tunisians would feel less secure, and that the attack would be seen less," Chelly said. Two of the attackers were killed in Friday's assault. Tunisia's president said the attackers carried a Tunisian and Libyan identity documents. Two of the attackers who escaped, the minister said, were identified as 37-year-old Abdelmajid B. (B. and C. are the first names of the attacker's parents), and Houssem A. (A. and H. are the first names of the attacker's father and mother). The attackers took two Kalashnikov assault rifles and an arsenal of ammunition with them when they left the museum, Chelly said.
Libyan connection
A day after the gunfight, police in Benghazi, Libya were looking for an alleged accomplice of the gunmen, Ali A. Abou el-Fetouhi. "Al-Fetouhi was one of the suspects and a planner who was supposed to participate in the attack, in Tunisia," Chelly said, speaking in Arabic. "He left Tunisia a month ago." Chelly said the Tunisians had been trained in Libyan camps. "They were recruited in Libya and were trained in arms and explosives from July 2014 to March 2015 in the city of Ubari," the minister said. "They left for Tunisia on March 17. They took two Kalashnikovs." El-Fetouhi, a Libyan, was identified as someone who gave them arms and explosives, according to Chelly. There were 2.5 kg of explosive in each attacker, he said, 10 rifles, 60 rounds of ammunition and five grenades, he said. The explosives had been hidden, Chelly said. "The explosives were made from TNT and ammonium nitrate. (The material) was not smuggled through the border with Libya, but through Turkey and Greece." The attackers planned to use four cars to reach Tunisia's national museum in Tunis, he said. Chelly said he did not


(CNN)Newly released al Qaeda documents, including letters to and from Osama bin Laden in the year or so before his May 2011 death, show an organization that understood it had severe problems resulting from the CIA drone program that was killing many of the group's leaders in Pakistan's tribal regions bordering Afghanistan. As a result of this pressure, al Qaeda officials were seriously considering relocating elements of the organization to other countries such as Afghanistan or Iran. They also entered into ceasefire discussions through intermediaries with elements of Pakistan's intelligence service, ISI, although the documents suggest that nothing came of these discussions and there is no evidence in the documents indicating that the Pakistani government had any clue about bin Laden's location or presence in Pakistan. CIA efforts to spy on the group and kill its leaders were so effective that in June 2010 an al Qaeda official urged bin Laden, "You should have fewer exchanges of correspondence with us during this period. Make the period between contacts longer and further apart. Take excessive caution and care, especially this year." This was wise counsel. Within a few weeks of this letter being written, the CIA would track bin Laden's trusted courier to his longtime hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and on May 1, 2011, a U.S. Navy SEAL operation ordered by President Barack Obama killed al Qaeda's leader. The new al Qaeda documents are part of a trove of many thousands that the SEALs recovered at bin Laden's compound. Several were released during the Brooklyn trial last month of al Qaeda operative Abid Naseer. Seventeen of these documents had also been released around the first anniversary of bin Laden's death. It's long past time for the government to release more of these thousands of captured documents -- with any necessary redactions for national security purposes -- as they help us to understand better what precipitated the decline and fall of the terrorist group that once dominated the attention of the world, just as ISIS does today. The documents show how al Qaeda's 9/11 operation unleashed so much force against it, including the CIA drone program, that it had to hide in the shadows and couldn't pull off any successful operation in the West for many years before the death of bin Laden. The documents demonstrate that almost a decade after 9/11 al Qaeda was struggling to get any kind of operation going against Western targets. In a report on "external operations," an al Qaeda official explained that a plot to attack the U.S. Embassy in Russia had fizzled and that despite sending al Qaeda members to the UK to hit "several targets" these operations had also come to nothing. Al Qaeda had also sent "three brothers" on a terrorist mission to Denmark, a country that bin Laden loathed because of the publication by a Danish newspaper of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, but had "lost contact with them." Given all the problems the group was having, an al Qaeda strategist suggested refocusing efforts on carrying out terrorist attacks using the "simplest things such as
household knives, gas tanks, fuel, diesel and others like airplanes, trains and cars as
killing tools." 2011: U.S. offers details about bin Laden raid . A major theme of the documents is how much punishment the CIA drone program was inflicting on al Qaeda. Al Qaeda officials considered moving to Nuristan, a remote mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, or to other parts of Pakistan such as Sindh or Balochistan and even to Iran, which had been a key sanctuary for a number of al Qaeda's leaders after the fall of the Taliban in late 2001. Al Qaeda mulled opening an office in Iran, but "we backed off this idea due to financial costs and other considerations." In a letter to bin Laden, an al Qaeda official provided a vivid description of the death by drone of Mustafa Yazid, then the No. 3 leader of the group, on the night of May 22, 2010. The al Qaeda official wrote that Yazid was staying at the house of a "well-known" supporter of al Qaeda when a drone started making "distinctive loops that we all know and all the brothers have experienced. They all know that if a plane starts doing these turns, it is going to strike." Yazid and his wife and three daughters and granddaughter were all killed in the drone strike, according to the official. The official lamented that drones are "still circling our skies every day" and the only relief from them came when weather conditions worsened and there was cloud cover. The official wrote but "then they come back when the sky is clear." Al Qaeda had tried to use jamming technology and to hack into the drones "but no result so far," according to the al Qaeda official. Underlining al Qaeda's weakness, during the summer of 2010 the group was contemplating some kind of ceasefire with the Pakistani government and had entered into negotiations with it via intermediaries to explain that al Qaeda's battle was "primarily against the Americans. You became part of the battle when you sided with the Americans. If you were to leave us and our affairs alone, we would leave you alone." Highlights of bin Laden documents released in 2012 . The documents show that such a ceasefire was purely tactical rather than the beginning of some kind of rapprochement between al Qaeda and the Pakistanis. At one point an al Qaeda official referred to "bin Laden's call to jihad against the apostate government of Pakistan." Apostasy is a grave crime in Islam and punishable by death in the eyes of members of al Qaeda. According to the documents, Pakistani intelligence officials "reached out to" al Qaeda through longtime jihadist sympathizers who had formerly held positions in the Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, as well as the leaders of militant groups such as the Haqqani Taliban faction that have contacts with the ISI. The documents suggest that nothing came of these discussions, and there is no evidence in them that the Pakistanis had any idea that bin Laden was in Pakistan or indeed was even alive. Bergen in 2013: Bin Laden's life on the run . Moreover during the course of reporting the book "Manhunt," about the CIA's long search for bin Laden, I spoke to several senior U.S. officials who said that the U.S. intelligence community was covertly monitoring the communications of Pakistani army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI director Ahmed Shuja Pasha the night of the bin Laden raid and they were both surprised about him being in Abbottabad. The documents did show one area of real success for al Qaeda, which was kidnapping for ransom, a tactic ISIS has been using so effectively. In 2008, al Qaeda had captured Afghanistan's former ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Khaliq Farahi. After two years of negotiations he was exchanged for $5 million. An al Qaeda official told bin Laden that some of this money would be a "gift" to him "from all the brothers." Bin Laden cautioned al Qaeda's leaders to be careful with the ransom money, as it might have to last the terrorist group several years. The documents show that al Qaeda's leaders were in contact with Tayeb Agha, a close aide to Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. Agha has met with U.S. officials on a number of occasions to discuss peace negotiations. 2011: How U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden . Far from the image of the isolated man in the cave that was prevalent before he was killed, the documents portray bin Laden as a hands-on manager of al Qaeda. In a 10-page letter that bin Laden wrote in August 2010, he had reams of advice for the al Qaeda-aligned group Al-Shabaab in Somalia, ordering that the group not attack Sufi Muslims in Somalia and also suggesting a plan to assassinate the President of neighboring Uganda who had sent his troops to fight Al-Shabaab. Bin Laden gave detailed notes about how Al-Shabaab could raise its agricultural output by using small dams for irrigation, and he suggested planting palm olive trees imported from Indonesia. He also advised Al-Shabaab against cutting down too many trees because it is "dangerous for the environment of the region." Bin Laden had lived in nearby Sudan in the mid-'90s, establishing a number of business and farming enterprises. Bin Laden, something of a micromanager, told his top lieutenant to "send us the resumes of all the brothers who may be nominated now or in the future for important management positions." He also cautioned against sending any emails, including even encrypted ones, urging that hand-delivered letters were the only safe method of communication. Bergen on 2012 documents: Seized documents show delusional leader and micromanager . Bin Laden also ordered that some of the tens of thousands of documents leaked by U.S. Army Pvt. Bradley Manning to WikiLeaks in 2010 be translated so that al Qaeda could better understand "the enemy's policies in the region." And he suggested that his lieutenants reach out to Ahmed Zaidan, an Al Jazeera reporter based in Pakistan who had interviewed bin Laden in the past, so that he could have plenty of time to prepare a report to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Bin Laden said he didn't want Zaidan to interview any members of his family, but he told his team to get in touch with the reporter "promptly" to get a sense of the questions he wanted bin Laden to answer. Bin Laden was killed four months before the 10th anniversary of 9/11. As the new al Qaeda documents make clear he died knowing that his dream of another terrorism spectacular in the West was just that: a dream. And the organization that he had founded was in deep trouble because of the CIA drone program. Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said bin Laden had lived in Somalia.

New documents show al Qaeda's desperate straits in Osama bin Laden's final years . Peter Bergen: Drone program took severe toll; terror group unable to mount major operation .

 its top commanders.
The documents -- nearly 70 of them -- show how bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders had lost faith in their leaders, had doubts about their ability to keep al Qaeda alive and understood the need to do a better job. One of those leaders was Ayman al Zawahiri, the group's second in command. The files also suggest that the leaders of al Qaeda's Yemeni affiliate were becoming impatient with the group's leaders in Pakistan.
The newly declassified documents give an insight into the thinking of the top members of the terror network just months before it launched a mass assault on US targets in the summer of 2011 that killed bin Laden in a CIA raid. That attack prompted President Barack Obama to order the organization's elimination -- a pledge that is on track to be fulfilled, at least as far as bin Laden and Zawahiri are concerned.
There are no signs, however, that Obama is inclined to take the same approach toward the terror group's Yemeni branch, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is seen as one of the most dangerous offshoots, not just for its ability to plot attacks, but for its use of operatives in the United States and other Western countries.
The declassified documents, some of which CNN obtained from the Combating Terrorism Center at the US Military Academy at West Point, have been turned over to Congress, as well as to members of the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees.
A CIA official who has read the declassified documents said that the documents "show the internal discussions by al Qaeda about how to deal with the US drone campaign" -- and that "as we look to the future, it shows how al Qaeda is going to respond."
The official said the group had "internal discussions about how to respond."
But the official added that it was not known "whether they actually developed plots against us. These discussions show how al Qaeda will respond," the official said.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has already shown that it is prepared to respond. In December, the Yemeni branch claimed credit for a near-miss of a cargo plane, telling the Yemeni military that it had used a shoulder-launched rocket to down a US C-17 Globemaster III that was heading from Kuwait to Afghanistan.
US officials have said that the missile fired by AQAP was likely a Chinese-made, Russian-designed MANPAD, a portable surface-to


A woman has told how she went under the knife and had her cup size enhanced after being teased over her padded underwear. Chelsey Dunn, 26, was mortified when her partner compared her underwear to that of cross-dressing nanny Mrs Doubtfire. She had long considered a breast augmentation and says the unflattering comparison was the final straw. Chelsey Dunn, pictured after her breast enlargement, went under the knife her partner, Ross Stephens, left, jokingly compared her padded underwear to Mrs Doubtfire's . Months after the remark, she was boosted from a 34A to a 34DD at a cost of £5,500 and is now delighted to have been able to throw away her old underwear. Miss Dunn, who is now engaged to marry her partner after he proposed following her surgery said: ‘It was just a joke to make me laugh but I had to admit it was true. 'I wanted to be able to wear nice lingerie and backless clothes but I couldn’t because I felt out of proportion without my padded bra on.' Chelsea, pictured at a 34A, had long considered a breast augmentation and says the unflattering comparison was the final straw . She underwent the operation in January last year and was boosted to a 34DD . Miss Dunn, from Rhyl, South Wales, had been teased over her lack of curves at school and was unkindly nicknamed the ‘ironing board.’ She says she longed for her bust to grow and hoped she was just a late developer, but by her early twenties she was used to concealing her bust. She said: ‘I would buy the thickest padded bras I could find. My friends all joked that they looked like mattress padding. 'For some reason thick padded bras are always beige. They are the most unattractive garments but without them I felt self-conscious.' Months after her operation, her boyfriend proposed in the Disney Princess Castle while the couple were holidaying in Florida and Miss Dunn accepted . It meant she was limited to clothing that she could wear to conceal the bras. She said: ‘Holidays were tricky because I couldn’t wear my padded bra under bikinis and longed to wear strapless and backless dresses like my friends but it was impossible. It was when she was undressing in front of her boyfriend that he teasingly asked her if Mrs Doubtfire wanted her bra back soon that she decided it was time to do something about it. She said: 'It was really funny because I was the first to admit my padded bras were not sexy in the slightest. But it did also make me think enough was enough. My chest had always bothered me why not do something about it?’ She booked a consultation with Transform and her surgeon agreed to boost her from an A to a DD cup. Chelsey, who works as a beautician, was mortified when her partner compared her underwear to that of cross-dressing nanny Mrs Doubtfire . Miss Dunn, pictured before her operation, had been teased over her lack of curves at school and was unkindly nicknamed the 'ironing board' She underwent the operation in January last year and could not wait to ditch the padded bras. She said: ‘My surgeon  answered all my questions and put me at ease. I was really happy with the care and thought my new breasts looked very natural and in keeping with my frame, which is just what I asked for.’ Months later her boyfriend, delivery driver Ross Stephens, 29, proposed in the Disney Princess Castle while the couple were holidaying in Florida and Miss Dunn accepted. She said: ‘I would never have been able to wear a dress like it before and I cannot wait.’

Chelsey Dunn went under the knife to boost her 34A breasts to 34DD . Had always hidden her lack of curves in thickly padded beige bras . Partner jokingly asked if Mrs Doubtfire wanted her underwear back .

btfire.
The office worker, from Bristol, had spent years feeling conscious of her B-cup breasts. She decided to investigate cosmetic surgery and decided to undergo a breast implant.
She underwent the breast enhancement procedure at a clinic in Spain but said she was shocked to discover she was too young for the implant.
Doctors had told Chelsey she did not need the breast enhancement surgery because she was “too young,” as she was only 26 years old. The procedure was a boob-job, and cost Chelsey £5,400.
She said: “I started shopping around for a breast enhancement after my partner and I started to watch a movie where he compared my underwear to a costume that Mrs Doubtfire wore. He said he liked my underwear but not my boobs.
“I had been conscious of my breasts for so long as they were small, even when I was breastfeeding I would use a bra to make my breasts look bigger.
The 26-year-old, of Bristol, went to a clinic in Valencia, Spain, where she had a boob-job costing £5,400
”I knew that the implants would work, I just had to find the right doctor to carry out the procedure. I searched on the Internet and I found a clinic that specialised in breast enhancement surgery. I had booked an appointment with the clinic but it was so expensive I wanted to make sure that it was worth it.
“When I went to the clinic, I was a little nervous but I was confident that the doctors would tell me if I wasn’t ready for the procedure.
“I was told by the doctor that I was too young to be implanted but I would benefit from a fat transfer to the breasts. The procedure costs more than the breast implants but is a cheaper way to improve the size of your breasts.
“The doctor explained that fat from another part of my body was used to fill my breast, she also said the size of the breasts would be similar to the shape of a B-cup.”
Chelsey underwent a breast enhancement at a clinic in Spain costing £5,400
Chelsey went for the procedure in February this year and is still waiting for her new, bigger boobs. She said: “The clinic is in Spain so the procedure is more affordable.
“Although I wasn’t sure about having the procedure at first, I’m pleased that I went ahead with it. I had never really thought about cosmetic surgery before but


A couple who kept dozens of animals in such squalid conditions that two of them had to be put down have been jailed for a total of six months. June Harding, 46, and husband Paul, 45, of Montacute, Somerset, kept their 31 dogs, seven cats and four guinea pigs to sleep in such filthy surroundings that RSPCA officers were overwhelmed by the stench of ammonia and had to call off the visit. Their water supplies were so dirty they had turned black and many of the animals suffered infected eyes, rotting teeth and ulcers as they lay in their own feces. Scroll down for video . June Harding, 46, and husband Paul, 45, of Montacute, Somerset, left their 31 dogs, seven cats and four guinea pigs to sleep in such filthy surroundings that RSPCA officers were overwhelmed by the stench of ammonia and had to call off the visit . Police who visited their home had to abandon the search because of the overbearing stench of ammonia and RSPCA inspectors described the conditions as 'appalling'. They managed to save 40 of the animals but every single animal rescued had respiratory problems due to the lack of ventilation and vets recommended two were put down. The pair were each sentenced to 12 weeks in prison at Taunton Magistrates Court in Somerset after pleading guilty to a total of 28 charges of animal neglect. Sentencing, Chair of the Bench Clive Powell said it was the worst case he had seen in 30 years. 'My stomach churned when I saw the pictures provided by the RSPCA,' he said. 'It is the court judgment that the totality of the offending and culpability mean that nothing sort an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate. Their water supplies were so dirty they had turned black and many of the animals suffered infected eyes, rotting teeth and ulcers as they lay in their own faeces . 'Between us we have 60 years experience, 30 years myself. 'I don't recall in that near?y 30 years any office as serious as this involving so many animals in such a poor state.' The court heard how police officers first visited the couple's home in Montacute, Somerset, on May 6 last year. Matthew Knight, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: 'Mr Handing was reluctant to let police into the property. 'The officers noted the poor quality of the house and abandoned their search on health and safety grounds.' Police returned with the RSPCA on June 30 and found similar conditions. 'In general the interior was filthy,' said Mr Knight. 'There was an overpowering smell of ammonia that is a product of wee. 'A number of officers had to leave the property due to the smell. The hallway of this property was was covered in dirt, hair and faeces. 'The living room - little natural light with puddles of urine on the floor. 'There was a very small window ajar. This seemed to be the only form of ventilation. The pair were each sentenced to 12 weeks in prison at Taunton Magistrates Court in Somerset after pleading guilty to a total of 28 charges of animal neglect . 'There was a room at the back called the cat room. 'Six cats were found. They seemed frightened and lived inside old chairs. 'The windowsill was covered in faeces.' However, during interview Mrs Harding said she believed the animals were 'fit and well'. Clive Rees, mitigating, said that Mrs Harding genuinely thought she was looking after the animals while Mr Harding had tried to distance himself from the situation. He said: 'The pair did not inflict anything on the animals that they did not inflict on themselves. 'Clearly they were having to live in the premises and were blind to the fact it was in such a mess. 'Their intention was to look after the animals but the care of the animals was not adequate.' Mr Harding was found guilty of all 16 offences on February 11 - 13 of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and three of failing to meet needs of the animals. Mrs Harding pleaded guilty to 12 charges on December 16 - nine of causing unnecessary suffering and three of failing to meet the needs of the animals. The couple were also banned from keeping animals for life and also banned from contesting the order for 10 years. Many of the animals have since been rehomed thanks to the RSPCA. An appeal against the sentence has already been lodged but bail was denied while it is processed.

June Harding, 46, and husband Paul, 45, of Montacute, Somerset, kept their 31 dogs, seven cats and four guinea pigs to sleep in filthy surroundings . Animals suffered infected eyes, teeth and ulcers as they lay in own faeces . The pair were each jailed to 12 weeks at Taunton Magistrates Court .

 Taunton, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to five animals and two were condemned to death by veterinary examiners.
The court heard that the 15-year-old mother and daughter pair had taken in animals from around the county without asking permission from councils. They allowed dogs in their kitchen, leaving them to bark and chew up things. They had three rabbits, a ferret, a guinea pig, a hamster, an American bull dog and a cat in the house, but had not provided them with water and bedding.
Their home, which had been fitted with a burglar alarm, had just one door and no escape, while the animals, many suffering from fleas, lice and ticks, were kept in cages. Judge David Ticehurst jailed Harding for three months and Paul for three months for a total of six months, suspended for 12 months. They also had to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work, were made subject to an indefinite restraining order banning them from keeping animals and were each fined a total of £800.
The RSPCA received four complaints about the animals and was called in after the dogs, the bull dog, the American bulldog and an eight-week-old Staffordshire bull terrier were found locked in crates in the garage. They were taken to the vets, and while some needed treatment, one was found to be dangerously underweight and in bad condition. It was also found there had been a number of other animals at the property since 1990.
While the Staffordshire bull terrier was put down, the rest, a female pit bull terrier, a male Staffordshire bull terrier, and two female bulldogs were taken to a veterinary surgeon. Two of them, the pit bull and the Staffordshire bull terrier needed urgent treatment for flea infestation, malnutrition, ear and skin infections. The dogs were taken to the vets after a RSPCA inspector attended after a report of animal cruelty by a concerned member of the public in April 2004.
The Staffordshire bull terrier had to be put down after it could not be treated and the two pit bulls were given intensive care but had to be put down after they failed to improve. The other two bulldogs were given a clean bill of health. The dogs were too scared to be examined and needed to be sedated before any checkup could be carried out.
The bull dog was extremely ill and was only able to be given painkillers. However the Staffordshire bull terrier died from its treatment.


An own goal and late strike from Dominic Solanke booked Chelsea a place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Youth League as Atletico Madrid were swept aside at the club’s Cobham training base. John Terry stayed behind after training to watch on the sideline as the teenagers showed Chelsea’s first team how to progress in Europe ahead of their Champions League last-16 second leg match at home to PSG on Wednesday. Adi Viveash’s team could now face an intriguing all-English last four encounter with Manchester City at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, if Patrick Vieira’s young charges win away to Roma next week. John Terry (left, next Steve Holland) was among the crowd to watch Chelsea Under 19s take on Atletico . Andreas Christensen keeps posession under pressure from Atletico Madrid's Andres Mohedano . Jeremie Boga (right) and Tete Morente tussle for the ball in midfield during the game on Tuesday . Boga can't manage to nip the ball away from Mohedano in a niggly exchange at Cobham . Chelsea U19: Collins, Dasilva, Aina, Christensen, Tomori, Clarke-Salter, Boga, Colkett, Abraham, Brown, Solanke . Subs: Thompson, Suljic, Musonda, Sammutt, Palmer, Ugbo, Kiwomya . Goals: Manzanara (OG), Solanke . Atletico Madrid U19: Marín, Hernandez, Otia, Diedhiou, Mohedano, Manzanara, Afagh, Mendiondo, Morente, Nunez . Subs: Perez, Rodriguez, Montoro,  Spoljaric, Prieto, Altamirano, Gama . Goals: Nil . After a tight opening half, the Blues finally broke the resistance of their Spanish opponents after 38 minutes when defender Fran Manzanara could only guide Izzy Brown’s effort into the net. They then mounted a Jose Mourinho-esque rearguard action to keep their opponents at bay through the second period before Solanke struck on the counter-attack to settle it two minutes from time. Atletico had eliminated Arsenal in the previous round and arrived in sunny Surrey seeking to pile the misery on another English opponent. Viveash was taking no chances, fielding a full-strength team containing Brown and Solanke, both tipped by Mourinho for bright futures, the talented Frenchman Jeremie Boga and England under-19 star Charlie Colkett. Charlie Colkett (left) finds himself shielding the ball from Saeid Ezatolahi Afagh . After a quiet start in which both teams tested one another out, Chelsea had the first chance on 25 minutes when Boga sent a free-kick spiralling over Carlos Marin’s crossbar. Just when it appeared the opening 45 would end without score, Brown broke free down the left channel and outpaced the Atletico defence. Colkett found him with the ideal through ball and Brown directed it past the goalkeeper. With Andreas Christensen charging in to make sure, the under-pressure Manzanara got an unfortunate final touch to help it in. Brown will certainly want to claim the goal, his third goal of this season’s European campaign. Atletico were much improved after the break, dictating the tempo and starting the create opening. Amath Diedhiou, who scored the last 16 winner against Arsenal, fired in a near post effort that Bradley Collins diverted around the post. Victor Mendiondo (left) wins a header for the Spanish side, while Dominic Solanke rose highest (right) Shortly afterwards, Matija Spoljaric sent a bouncing shot narrowly wide as Chelsea’s goal came under threat. But their defence refused to be breached and, in classic Chelsea style, they grabbed a second on the break in the dying moments. Christensen, playing in midfield rather than his normal defensive position, showed his creative instincts with a fine pass to Solanke and the England under 18 international applied the finish. Remarkably, it is his ninth goal in the Youth League this season. Chelsea are the first to book their place in the semi-finals, which take place across the road from UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon on April 10. The final will be staged at the same venue three days later. Terry high-fives Didier Drogba as the Chelsea veterans share a laugh during training on Tuesday . The Chelsea defender stretches out as his side prepare for their second leg last-16 Champions League clash .

Chelsea legend John Terry on the sideline in support of the young Blues . Fran Manzanara's own goal and Dominic Solanke's late strike sealed result . Chelsea U19 now face Manchester City or Roma in the semi-final . Terry watched after training ahead of Chelsea's last-16 clash with PSG .

 the Chelsea Under-18s on Tuesday night and it looks as though the club’s longest-serving player is heading for a long goodbye.
The Champions League holders and Premier League runners-up, playing a friendly against their London rivals, looked in no danger of being eliminated by a Chelsea second string when Solanke put them two goals up inside the first half-hour.
In truth, the Chelsea under-18s were far sharper throughout. They made it a more one-sided affair midway through the first half when substitute Armando Broja headed their third with 11 minutes remaining and then struck again in stoppage time to ensure that there would be no Atletico revival.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was in attendance and watched first-hand why he might have been tempted to give youth a chance.
A first goal on English soil
Broja had headed Chelsea ahead in the 11th minute after his marker failed to challenge and the Serbian-born Albanian midfielder, on loan at Vitesse from Red Star Belgrade, looked to be on course to score his second before being fouled by an Atletico defender. Broja had taken just 21 seconds to score on his debut in the competition against Sevilla.
When asked afterwards about the match, Broja told the club’s website: “I’m very happy for my first goal and happy for the win as well.
“The gaffer just said to be clinical on the ball. The gaffer told me to use the (left) wing a lot. I’m not sure if it was the right or left wing – I just wanted to score a goal for the team.
“It was a good feeling,” the 17-year-old added, when asked whether he thought his first Premier League goal was better than his first Under-18s goal. “I didn’t have time to think. I was just happy and relieved because it was a great goal for the team. It was the start of many goals to come.”
“The manager [Lampard] didn’t [look that happy],” Broja said with a smile, when asked what Chelsea’s manager had said to him. “The gaffer was just like, ‘that’s a really good goal from you, go and enjoy the rest of the game.’
“He knew it was only the first half. But I’m just happy he was happy. We’re going to enjoy


Apology: Police officer David Duckenfield today said sorry for failing to admit that he ordered the gates at Hillsborough to be opened . The police chief on duty during the Hillsborough disaster today apologised for lying to officials about ordering the gates to the stadium to be opened, leading to a deadly crush which killed 96 Liverpool fans. As the disaster unfolded, David Duckenfield told officials from the Football Association that 'some fans have got in through a gate' - which he admitted today was a 'terrible lie'. The former officer said that he 'apologised unreservedly' for failing to confess that he had personally ordered police to open the gates in order to relieve overcrowding at the turnstiles of the Sheffield stadium. After the gates were opened fans rushed into the terraces, causing dozens of people to be crushed under the weight of bodies. Mr Duckenfield was the officer overseeing the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Notthingham Forest on April 15, 1989, even though he had been promoted just two weeks previously and had never been in charge of policing a football match before. Yesterday he told the inquest into the fans' deaths that he was 'not the best man for the job' given his inexperience, and today he gave evidence about his decision to open Gate C eight minutes before kick-off. After the gate opened an estimated 2,000 fans poured in, heading straight for a tunnel leading directly to the already-packed central pens three and four, behind the goal. Mr Duckenfield, 70, today recounted a conversation he had with FA officials Graham Kelly and Glen Kirton minutes after the match was abandoned amidst the chaos. He denied the suggestion that he had said the gates were 'stormed', and claimed he told the men 'something like, "Some fans have got in through a gate."' He continued: 'I was pointing out that fans had gained unauthorised access to the ground. What I didn't say to Mr Kelly, I didn't say, "I have authorised the opening of the gates," I didn't tell him that.' Christina Lambert QC, counsel for the inquest, asked: 'Do you consider now that you told them a lie?' Mr Duckenfield replied: 'Yes, ma'am. I certainly now appreciate it was wrong and completely open to misinterpretation.' He added: 'I was probably deeply ashamed, embarrassed, greatly distressed and I probably didn't want to admit to myself or anyone else, what the situation is. 'What I would like to say the Liverpool families is this, I regret that omission and I shall regret it to my dying day. 'I said something rather hurriedly, without considering the position, without thinking of the consequences and the trauma, the heartache and distress that the inference would have caused to those people who were already in a deep state of shock, who were distressed. 'I apologise unreservedly to the families and I hope they believe it is a very, very sincere apology.' Evidence: Mr Duckenfield pictured in the dock, where he talked about his actions on April 15, 1989 . Relatives: Campaigners Margaret Aspinall, left, and Jenni Hicks, right, pictured outside the inquest . Asked if he was trying to hide the truth because he was responsible for the tragic events, Mr Duckenfield said: 'I think in a crisis, and probably in this shock and in stress, I said something I deeply regret. 'I'm a very honest person. I don't tell lies. I don't mislead. I set very, very high standards, not only in myself, but my colleagues in the service and my family. 'No one, but no one can understand my behaviour that day - least of all me. That was a terrible lie, in that everybody knew the truth.' Earlier Mr Duckenfield said he now realised 'in hindsight' the 'most likely' route fans would take once Gate C was open was to go down the tunnel facing them and in to the central pens. Miss Lambert said: 'You say in hindsight you recognise that's where a number of fans might have gone. Do you think as a match commander the consequences of the decision you made, and in particular thought as to where the fans might go, is something you should have considered?' Mr Duckenfield replied: 'I think it is fair to say that is arguably one of the biggest regrets of my life, that I did not foresee where fans would go when they came in through the gates.' The commanding officer, who was stationed in the police control box with a bank of CCTV monitors, said he was 'shocked' at the request to open the gates from Superintendent Roger Marshall after police became 'overwhelmed' by the number of fans gathered at the turnstiles. Crush: 96 Liverpool fans were killed by being pressed up against the ground's perimeter fence . Mr Duckenfield said: 'I don't mind telling you I was shocked and taken aback by it and thinking, "Where are these people going to go if I open the gates?"' He said another message then came through on the police radio from Mr Marshall saying: 'If we don't open the gates someone's going to get killed.' The witness continued: 'That really was a shocking, terrifying moment to feel you had got to that situation.' Another officer in the police box, Bernard Murray, then said to him: 'Are you going to open the gates?' the jury heard. Mr Duckenfield said: 'I remember saying to him quite clearly, Mr Murray, if people are going to die I have no option but to open the gates. Open the gates.' He said he was left 'no option' and thought fans would feel 'relief and comfort' in being released from the crush of the turnstiles on to the concourse. Mr Duckenfield added: 'I think it's fair to say I was overcome by the enormity of the situation and the decision I had to make. 'And as a result of that I was so overcome, probably with the emotion of us having got into that situation, that my mind, for a moment, went blank.' Mr Duckenfield said there was 'every possibility' that he panicked, and accepted that it was a mistake not to have taken steps to close the tunnel leading to the central pens. Chaos: Fans flooded onto the pitch in the aftermath of the disaster after climbing over perimeter fences . The gate remained open for five minutes, allowing fans to flow into the ground, but the officer said today that he did not think about where those supporters would go. He admitted: 'It certainly was a mistake and an oversight. Under the circumstances, with my limited ability, I accept it was a mistake - a mistake I shouldn't have made, a mistake I regret bitterly. 'It was a grave mistake and I apologise profusely.' At 2.59pm, when the match kicked off, Mr Duckenfield said he looked towards the Leppings Lane terrace and had seen 'nothing untoward'. Miss Lambert suggested that it might have been 'obvious' that fans were climbing out of the pens because of the number of people entering through Gate C. 'It was not obvious to me,' Mr Duckenfield said. 'I thought there may have been some crowd disorder or some problem and I was awaiting information. I didn't know what to think. I was looking and waiting for information.' Asked when he had realised that something was badly wrong, the officer said: 'I have a recollection that a young man came from the perimeter track behind the goal and either collapsed or fell down. 'He was hobbling, I remember seeing him hobbling, and there was a sudden realisation that this was not a pitch invasion, this was a serious situation.' The hearing continues tomorrow, when Mr Duckenfield will be questioned by a lawyer representing victims' families. 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David Duckenfield, 70, was in charge of the stadium on the day of disaster . He ordered gates to be opened to relieve overcrowding, but this led to thousands of fans flooding on to the terraces causing a massive crush . Officer told FA officials the fans had 'got in through a gate' Today he admitted that was a 'terrible lie' and apologised for his actions .

 to be opened at the stadium in Sheffield. The disaster on April 15 1989 left 96 people dead and a further 766 injured.
Prime Minister Theresa May said today that David Cameron had shown "leadership, determination and compassion".
Speaking at an event marking the 30th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, the Prime Minister also offered an apology for what happened.
The disaster on April 15 1989 left 96 people dead and a further 766 injured.
Appealing directly to families, friends and fans to forgive, she added: "The Government failed you. We are sorry. I know you want us to say sorry for the 96, and we are sorry. But today, we also have to say sorry that the 96 will not see justice. And we are sorry for that too."
But Mrs May said there was nothing to be gained from repeating what had been done before and that she wanted to draw a line under what was one of the most shameful episodes in British history.
"A public inquiry is the right course to take," she said.
"There is no public interest argument to keep the police report under embargo any longer, let alone the Football Association's report.
"I know a public inquiry will not bring those loved ones back, or relieve the injuries and trauma suffered by the survivors.
"But it can provide the truth.
"As the families' lawyer says, it can offer 'a dignified way for those responsible to do the right thing, as they should have done thirty years ago'.
"I believe a public inquiry will be the right course, I believe it is in the national interest and that it is the best way forward for those affected. That is what I have said all along."
Former Sheffield Wednesday chairman Howard Kendall said he believed there were things which could be learned from the disaster and that a public inquiry was the only way forward.
He said: "When I came into charge of Wednesday I had a big job on my hands, a club which had never won a major trophy, no European games, no cup finals, no nothing for a long time.
"They did a bit better than that this season but I never saw the club play under Graham because he was ill."
Kendall, who has been a member of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign for 30 years, said he believed there were lessons to be learned and believed that a full public inquiry would be the best option


An Indian nun who was gang-raped at a convent is praying for the attackers to be forgiven just 36 hours after the ordeal. The 71-year-old was trying to prevent six men from assaulting another woman and robbing the Christian missionary school on Friday night when she was locked in a room and raped. CCTV was released for the first time yesterday showing the suspects leaving the staff room at the Convent of Jesus and Mary School in West Bengal. A reward of 100,000 rupees (£1,075) is on offer for any leads, police said. But the victim is said to be more concerned that the men are forgiven and the students are safe. Scroll down for video . Caught: Three men suspected of gang-raping an elderly Indian nun at the Convent of Jesus and Mary School in West Bengal were pictured for the first time yesterday. The victim is said to be more concerned the men are forgiven and the students are safe . One mother, who went to visit the nun at her hospital in Ranaghat, said: 'That's the greatness of a spiritual soul like her. 'All of us want the miscreants behind such a heinous crime to be arrested and given exemplary punishment.' Atindranath Mondal, hospital superintendent, added that the nun was brought to the hospital around 7am on Saturday. 'Immediately a team of doctors attended to her and a senior gynaecologist operated on her,' he told The Times of India. Arnab Ghosh, a police superintendent, said five men had been detained for questioning. He added: 'CCTV footage showed that six men, aged between 20 and 30, scaled the boundary wall around 11.40pm and entered the school and disconnected the telephone lines.' The robbers then tied up and gagged a security guard before entering the nuns' room, where they found the women sleeping, police said. When the victim, who is the oldest nun at the school, tried to stop them taking another woman into a separate room they raped her. Suspects: The CCTV footage has  been released showing the suspects leaving the school's staff room around midnight on Friday. Five other men have been detained for questioning . Demonstrations: Prayers were said at churches across India yesterday for the victim. Hundreds of people staged a demonstration in Ranaghat, where the nun is being treated in hospital, to demand justice . Outrage: The robbers  tied up and gagged a security guard before entering the nuns' room. Furious residents and students took to the streets after the attack to demand justice . Sorrow: Nuns gather in front of the convent. Archbishop Thomas D'Souza said the sisters prayed for the victim during Sunday Mass . The men escaped with some cash, a mobile phone, a laptop and a camera. They also ransacked the school's chapel and took holy items. Footage shows books and papers strewn across the floor as the men leave the staff room. One sister, who flew in from Rome after the incident, said she had never heard of such an attack on a nun, even in conflict zones. Mr Ghosh added: 'At least two of them were armed and the rest were carrying burglary tools. In the chapel, a holy scripture was found torn and a bust of Jesus was broken.' Furious  residents took to the streets yesterday, shouting slogans demanding action and blocking off the main highway. Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister, also tweeted her condemnation of what she called a 'horrific attack' promising 'swift, strong action'. Solidarity: The nun is recovering in hospital in Ranaghat. Meanwhile hundreds of people, including schoolchildren, blocked off the main highway holding signs and candles . Defiant: The demonstrations highlighted the strength of public anger at the rape, which came at a time of great tension over the sexual abuse of women in India . Prayers: Crowds of students lit dozens of candles at the peaceful protest yesterday . Strength in numbers: Students from the convent, dressed in a smart red and white uniform, held a candle-lit vigil for the injured nun . Archbishop Thomas D'Souza has appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony in the area. He said: 'In our Sunday Mass, we prayed for the sister to recover quickly from trauma, fear and her physical injuries. We will pray for her again this evening. 'They not only committed a heinous crime, but they also vandalized the chapel. This is the first time such an attack has happened in India.' Bewildered: Indian nuns, who normally lead relatively reclusive lives, suddenly found themselves at the centre of an unfolding story of national importance . Scene of the crime: Police stand guard outside the convent school at Ranaghat,  north of Calcutta, while the search for evidence continues . The incident comes at a time of heightened sensitivity over women's safety in India, which last week saw  a documentary about the 2012 gang-rape of a student in Delhi being banned. Authorities said screening the documentary could have caused public disorder, but critics accused the government of being more concerned with the country's reputation than the safety of its women. Shocking footage also emerged this week of an angry mob stripping and slowly beating a man to death in an Indian village after he was accused of raping and murdering an 11-year-old girl. The prolonged attack on the 18-year-old was watched by a jeering 1,000-strong crowd.

Nun was also trying to prevent gang from robbing the convent . Men believed to have gagged security guard before violent rampage . CCTV footage released yesterday shows suspects leaving  staff room . Five others have been detained for questioning, police said . Victim said to be more concerned the men are forgiven and students safe . Latest in a series of violent gang-rapes that has shocked the country .

 her, but they tied her to a bed and tied a rope to her leg and pulled her along through the streets.
The nun, a member of the Salesian Sisters, a religious order dedicated to educating girls and women, prayed for the men after the attack - and also asked forgiveness from them, the New Delhi Times reported.
While the attack was reported earlier, details of the nun's plea for forgiveness emerged in media reports on Saturday.
One of the nuns, Sister Divya, told the New Delhi Times: "I was shocked and didn't know what to do, but then I prayed to Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness for the attackers.
"I didn't want to take revenge and told my attackers that I forgive them."
She had been attempting to stop the attackers from raping the other woman when they dragged her along and took her home, but they left her tied to a bed and bound her foot to a chair, before returning a few hours later and raping her too.
The woman had been a street vendor, and had worked as a domestic servant in the past.
The attack had already made headlines in India, where it took place near the capital New Delhi.
The victim told police that the six men had threatened to slit her throat if she resisted.
Sister Divya, who is from Delhi, said the rape had been terrible, and was "the worst" she had heard about for some time.
She told the Times: "There has been sexual harassment of women in Delhi and people have been raising it but I don't think the government is serious about it.
"It's getting worse day by day, and it's a problem in Delhi and it could happen anywhere."
The 71-year-old nun said she had also had problems in the past, when her car was broken into and valuables stolen.
She said she felt sympathy for the men who raped her, and added: "I do not hate anyone. I pray to the almighty for forgiveness. We don't know who these people are."
The nun said a small stone statue of Mary had also been stolen from her.
The attack has been condemned by many groups, especially women's rights groups.
Kavita Krishnan, director of the New Delhi-based All India Progressive Women's Association, described the attack as "horrendous", and urged the authorities to find the six men soon.


Arrest: Jefferey Williams (pictured in his mug shot) has been charged in connection with the shooting of two police officers in Ferguson last week . A 20-year-old African-American man has been arrested and charged in connection with last week's shooting of two police . officers during a protest in Ferguson, Missouri. Jeffrey Williams, who was involved in the demonstrations, is accused of two counts of assault on a police officer, firing a weapon out of a vehicle and three counts of armed criminal action in relation to the incident on Thursday. If convicted of the crimes, he faces life in prison. The shooting sent a fresh jolt of tension through a city that became a symbol of racial conflict after black teenager Michael Brown was killed by white officer Darren Wilson last summer . A grand jury later returned no criminal charges. On Sunday, Robert McCulloch, St Louis County prosecutor, said  Williams  admitted to officials that he had fired a gun. However, the suspect claimed he was trying to hit someone else with whom he was arguing, Mr McCulloch said. 'We're not sure we completely buy that part of it,' the prosecutor said at a press conference, adding there might have been other people in a vehicle Williams is accused of shooting from. Mr McCulloch also confirmed that shell casings that were found at the scene have been linked to a handgun that was taken off of Williams. At the time of the shooting there was a warrant out for the suspect's arrest after failing to show up to sessions with his probation officer. He had been convicted for receiving stolen goods. It comes as anti-police protesters have resumed demonstrations outside Ferguson police station. Many were seen arguing with pro-authority demonstrators and officials on Sunday afternoon. One masked protester even ripped up an American flag as he condemned the police force. In the shooting early on Thursday, a 41-year-old county police officer suffered a shoulder wound . Scroll down for video . Statement: St. Louis Robert McCulloch (pictured announcing Williams's arrest) said the suspect admitted to officials that he had fired his gun. However, he said he was trying to hit someone else, Mr McCulloch said . Blood-spattered: 'We're not sure we completely buy that part of it,' the prosecutor said at a press conference. Above, police shine a light on a helmet as they investigate the scene where two police officers were shot . Wounded: In the shooting early on Thursday, a 41-year-old county police officer suffered a shoulder wound. Another officer, 32, suffered a facial wound. Above, one of the officers  is seen being taken away by EMT . Meanwhile, his 32-year-old colleague from a nearby police department sustained a facial wound after a bullet tore through his skin and became lodged near his ear. Both were treated and released by a local hospital. The pair have been told that a suspect is in custody. Mr McCulloch said Williams used a 40mm handgun on the night of the shootings. Williams is being held on $300,000 bond. The north St. Louis County resident was on probation in St. Louis County for receiving stolen property, Mr McCulloch said. 'I think there was a warrant out for him on that because he had neglected to report for the last seven months to his probation officer,' he said during Sunday's press conference. It comes as anti-police protesters (pictured) have resumed demonstrations outside Ferguson police station . Many were pictured arguing with pro-authority demonstrators and police officers (pictured) on Sunday night . Opposing sides: Pro-police demonstrators protest outside Ferguson police station on Sunday afternoon . On Thursday, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said the officers could have easily been killed in the shooting, which came amid protests in Ferguson over alleged police violence. Chf Belmar also called the attack 'an ambush,' citing the two New York City officers who were shot and killed in their police cruiser in December. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement Sunday that the arrest 'sends a clear message that acts of violence against our law enforcement personnel will never be tolerated'. He also praised 'significant cooperation between federal authorities and the St. Louis County Police Department.' St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said the officers could have easily been killed in the shooting, which came amid protests in Ferguson over alleged police violence. Above, a Michael Brown supporter . Dispute: A pro-police protester, left, and counter protester yell at each other outside Ferguson police station . Tense: A Ferguson officer separates pro-police and anti-police protesters outside the police headquarters . Ongoing protests: Demonstrators confront police during the protest over alleged police brutality. The police department has been a national focal point since the fatal August 9 shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown . The police department has been a national focal point since the fatal August 9 shooting of Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, by now-former police officer Darren Wilson. Officer Wilson was cleared by the Justice Department's report and a grand jury led by McCulloch declined to indict him in November. The federal report found widespread racial bias in the city's policing and in a municipal court system driven by profit extracted from mostly black and low-income residents. Six Ferguson officials, including Jackson, have resigned or been fired since the federal report was released March 4.  An investigation into Thursday's shooting is ongoing. 'I love Ferguson': Pro-police demonstrators protest outside Ferguson police station on Sunday afternoon . One of the protesters held a sign reading 'Go home media circus', while others showed support for the Mayor . Torn up: An American flag lies in the dirt after being ripped apart by anti-police demonstrators on Sunday . Shooting: Police take cover after two officers were shot while standing guard in front of the Ferguson Police Station last Thursday .

Jeffrey Williams is currently in custody at St Louis County police station . He was at the demonstration last Thursday when two officers were shot . Prosecutors say he admitted to officials that he fired a gun on the night . However, Williams claimed he was trying to hit someone else, they say . Two officers gunned down and injured in Ferugson, Missouri, last week . Both were treated for wounds and subsequently released from hospital . Williams was on probation for receiving stolen goods at time of incident . Comes as anti-police and pro-police protesters continue to demonstrate .

 connection with the shooting of two police officers, one of whom is in critical condition, the Ferguson, Missouri police department said Sunday.
Jefferey A Williams, 20, of the 5500 block of St. Louis Avenue, is being held on charges of first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful use of a weapon, the police said in a statement.
A woman, whose boyfriend is serving in the U.S. Army, told police that Williams came to her home to retrieve a television he had left there.
At 9:38 p.m. on Friday, a police officer in the Ferguson, Missouri suburb tried to stop a vehicle driven by Williams when Williams started firing at him, the police said in a statement.
The officer returned fire, wounding Williams. Police say Williams then went to the home of his former girlfriend where he shot her and shot at her brother twice.
Williams then fled the scene, the police said, and the police pursued him, during which he shot and critically wounded the police officer.
The officer was transported to St. Louis University Hospital for treatment of his injuries. He has been identified by the police as a 28-year-old man.
The police said they believe Williams to be the sole person involved in Friday's incident and that he may have acted alone. He has also been charged with the shooting of the woman and her brother.
Police, who are looking for any video or audio evidence relating to the shooting, have released a surveillance video of Williams walking from his vehicle to the home of the woman and her brother.
The police, who are also seeking the public's help in finding a second vehicle, have appealed to anyone who recognizes Williams from the video to contact the police.
Ferguson has been in turmoil for weeks after a white officer shot and killed a black teenager, Michael Brown, on August 9.
A grand jury will determine whether to indict the officer, who has been identified by police as Darren Wilson.
The United States Department of Justice and the FBI are assisting the local authorities in their investigation.
The police have said that they are continuing to look for evidence in the case of the two officers shot while responding to a call for a possible burglary on Friday.
The two officers, one of whom is in critical condition, were not identified. Police said they shot in self-defense, and that a handgun was found next to one of the officers, although the gun


A teenager caught with a car boot of 20 cannabis joints should not be banned from becoming a teacher or a nurse, Nick Clegg suggested today. The Lib Dem leader was challenged over his call for drug users not to be given criminal records for possessing illegal substances. He said it was ‘ridiculous’ that young people’s future careers could be ‘blighted’ by nothing more than a ‘teenage indiscretion’. Nick Clegg was grilled about how many cannabis joints a teenager could be caught with without getting a criminal record . The Liberal Democrat manifesto will commit the party to ending imprisonment for possession of drugs for personal use and ensure that those arrested with small amounts of illicit substances do not get a criminal record. But during his weekly radio phone-in, Mr Clegg was grilled about how many cannabis joints a teenager could be caught with without getting a criminal record. LBC host Nick Ferrari said: ‘I’m an 18-year-old student, I get stopped by police, I have 20 joints in the boot of my car. I subsequently want to become a teacher. Can I become a teacher?’ Mr Clegg insisted that as the law stands that person would not be able to become a teacher. But he said the law needed to be changed: ‘I think it’s completely wrong if some teenager, 17 or 18 year old, dabbles in… I don’t know whether it’s 20 [joints] or one. ‘Do I think their chances of working as a nurse, as a teacher, or a lawyer or a taxi driver should be blighted forever, of course I don’t. ‘If you are a teenager, one in five youngster use drugs, a third of adults have used drugs at some point in their life in this country. ‘What you are saying to me is someone who as a 17 or 18--year-old and has smoked some hassish, and they are caught doing that, you’re saying they should never ever… work as a nurse, as a teacher.’ Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clergg shared a platform with Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson to argue said drug users should not be given criminal records for possessing illegal substances . Yesterday's announcement follows a controversial ‘research’ project ordered by Lib Dem Home Office ministers, which used taxpayers’ money to study drugs policy around the world. Jeremy Browne and Norman Baker jetted off to examine how other countries tackle drugs. They travelled to ten countries, including the US, Portugal and Sweden, at a cost of almost £40,000. The Lib Dems seized on parts of the report suggesting decriminalisation in countries like Portugal cut the health damage caused by drugs. But critics said they ignored evidence that the number of children using drugs had risen. Pressed again on the scenario of 20 joints, Mr Clegg hit back: ‘If he has got 20 joints is he allowed to be a teacher. ‘Your fixation is whether it was 20. My fixation is whether do I think they should be ruled out forever to work as a teacher. ‘I think it’s ridiculous that we turn what might be a teenage indiscretion into a lifelong ban from public service in our schools and hospitals. ‘I think that is one of the many, many features of our approach to the so-called war on drugs which is irrational, and counter-productive.’ Mr Clegg yesterday shared a platform with Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson  who claimed that smoking powerful cannabis does not cause ‘any harm’. The Virgin tycoon shared a platform with the Lib Dem leader to promote the party’s pledge. He said: ‘Of people taking hash [cannabis], something like 99 per cent do not have a problem ... Take people taking skunk. ‘It’s slightly worse than alcohol. But there are a lot of people doing it for recreational purposes and they enjoy doing it and it’s not doing them any harm.’ However, he today sought to clarify his remarks, insisting he was talking about 'hash' and not 'skunk'. Sir Richard said in a blog: 'What I did say was that many people take hash for recreational purposes and enjoy it without doing themselves any harm. 'The same way that drinking alcohol, if you do it in moderation, is not going to do people any harm.' A study last month by Kings College London found that 24 per cent of new cases of psychosis are linked to the use of skunk. The report concluded that smoking skunk trebles the risk of someone having a psychotic episode. Last night, Mr Clegg also insisted that the so-called ‘war on drugs’ was ‘not working’, although he was later forced to concede that official figures show drug use has been falling in Britain for years. The Home Secretary Theresa May has blocked any softening of the drugs laws. The Lib Dems want to take drug policy away from the Home Office and place it in the Department of Health . A poll of 100 charities by the Centre for Social Justice last night found that 69 per cent of charities in the field would be concerned if the Government decriminalised cannabis. More than half (56 per cent) said cannabis use would increase if its use was decriminalised. Andy Cook, chief executive of charity Twenty Twenty, which works with disadvantaged young-people, said: ‘We are scared by the idea of liberalising cannabis laws. We work tirelessly to get the most disadvantaged and disengaged young people back into learning and to hold down jobs. If they are taking cannabis it makes it almost impossible to succeed – sapping their motivation and effectively tying our hands in the support we can give. ‘Cannabis is ruining the life opportunities of those we work with, so the idea that society would be better off if this stuff was decriminalised is crazy. Making it more easily available and more culturally acceptable will mean that more of our young people would take it. The result will be that more of our young people would fail to make the most of their potential.’

Nick Clegg said users should not be given criminal records for possession . He said decriminalisation would apply to 'harder' drugs such as heroin . Deputy PM's announcement publicly endorsed by Virgin tycoon Branson .

 small quantities of illegal drugs.
The call has been fiercely criticised by senior ministers and a cross-party group of MPs who fear it will let criminal gangs avoid punishment by threatening to reveal their drug use to employers. But Mr Clegg said it would enable "responsible, low-level drug users" to go on to respectable professions without having their record "haunted forever".
In a speech to the thinktank Reform, the Lib Dem leader said: "We shouldn't let the fact that you have a problem, which you need help to resolve, be held against you, and mean that your opportunities for education, and employment are permanently ruined." Mr Clegg said that, when the drugs were "only small quantities" – in this case cannabis – he did not believe they should automatically be reported to the police or recorded in any way on official files. He made it clear that he believed cannabis and other Class B drugs should remain a criminal offence, but said: "There are many low-level drug users who can safely be allowed to go off and pursue mainstream, rewarding careers, without having their past dragged up to haunt them for the rest of their lives.
"It's not fair, it's not consistent with the principles of rehabilitation that we should let drug offences haunt and haunt people. There is a better way." Mr Clegg added: "It's not just about drug dealers. It's also about those people who have a problem but know they can't seek help because of the shame of the stigma."
The speech represents a toughening up of the Lib Dem position by Mr Clegg. The party was previously committed to giving non-violent drug offenders the opportunity to attend drug rehabilitation programmes without having to face a criminal record. Mr Clegg's latest speech, on reform of the criminal justice system, was also intended to draw attention to his party's concerns about a rising prison population and to highlight problems with rehabilitation in jails.
It follows reports on Tuesday that the Lib Dems are about to make major concessions to David Cameron over the issue. Mr Clegg is reportedly ready to agree to a coalition deal that would see "sin taxes" imposed on high fat and sugary foods.
In his speech today, Mr Clegg said the Lib Dems wanted to "shake up the criminal justice system in the interests of justice and fairness and the long-term interests of the country". He said: "If we're going to


Arsenal face an uphill battle to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League when they take on Monaco but Arsene Wenger's men should take heart from some previous European comebacks. The Gunners must score at least three away goals on Tuesday as they look to overturn the 3-1 defeat they suffered at the Emirates late last month. Here, Sportsmail takes a closer look at 10 of the greatest second leg comebacks in European competition. Arsenal's players, pictured in training on Monday, are looking to overturn their 3-1 first leg defeat by Monaco . Chelsea 4-1 Napoli (Agg 5-4 after extra-time), Champions League last 16, March 14, 2012 . Chelsea looked dead and buried after a dismal 3-1 defeat in Naples but, after the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, the Blues stormed back to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Goals from Didier Drogba and John Terry had Roberto Di Matteo's men in control before Gokhan Inler's strike in the 55th minute put the visitors in charge. Frank Lampard levelled the tie with a 75th minute penalty and Branislav Ivanovic popped up in extra-time with a thumping finish to continue Chelsea's charge towards the trophy. Branislav Ivanovic celebrates after scoring the decisive goal in Chelsea's 4-1 win against Napoli in 2012 . Fulham 4-1 Juventus (Agg 5-4), Europa League last 16, March 18, 2010 . Fulham also suffered a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of this tie but the Cottagers didn't require extra-time to make it through to the last eight of the Europa League in style. David Trezeguet's goal appeared to have ended the contest early on but strikes from Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera - either side of a red card for Fabio Cannavaro - had Roy Hodgson's men back in it. Gera netted another from the penalty spot before Clint Dempsey sealed Fulham's progress with a delightful chip beyond the helpless Antonio Chimenti. Clint Dempsey's chip catches out Juventus goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti to seal Fulham's progress . American star Dempsey celebrates as Fulham fans go wild during the Europa League last 16 win in 2010 . Deportivo 4-0 AC Milan (Agg 5-4), Champions League quarter-final, April 7, 2004 . AC Milan could be forgiven for thinking this tie was as good as over after their 4-1 first leg win at the San Siro but Deportivo had other ideas. The Spanish side wiped out the visitors' advantage with first-half goals from Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron and Albert Luque, putting themselves in the driving seat on away goals. The Serie A outfit had no answers and substitute Gonzalez Fran added a fourth goal 15 minutes from the end to seal Deportivo's place in the last four. Deportivo's players celebrate after scoring their third goal against AC Milan at the Riazor stadium in 2004 . Monaco 3-1 Real Madrid (Agg 5-5), Champions League quarter-final, April 6, 2004 . Fernando Morientes mocked Real Madrid's decision to send him out on loan as he dumped his parent club out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage. After scoring in a 4-2 first leg defeat at the Bernabeu, the Spaniard struck again after goals from Real striker Raul and team-mate Ludovic Guily. The Frenchman netted his second goal of the evening with a clever backheel to secure victory on away goals and set up a semi-final clash with Chelsea. Monaco captain Ludovic Giuly celebrates after  his side's 3-1 second leg win against Real Madrid . Bayern Munich 2-3 Inter Milan (Agg 3-3), Champions League last 16, March 15, 2011 . After beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League final the season before, Inter Milan once again had the last laugh against the Bundesliga giants. Mario Gomez's late strike had given Louis van Gaal's men victory and an away goal in the first leg but Samuel Eto'o cancelled out Bayern's advantage after just three minutes. Gomez and Thomas Muller put the hosts 3-1 up on aggregate but a second-half goal from Wesley Sneijder and 88th minute winner from Goran Pandev sent Inter through on away goals. Goran Pandev (right), pictured having a shot, scored Inter Milan's winning goal against Bayern Munich late on . Middlesbrough 4-1 Basle (Agg 4-3), UEFA Cup semi-final, April 6, 2006 . Middlesbrough made a habit of dramatic comebacks in their successful run to the UEFA Cup final in 2006 but this was perhaps the best. Steve McClaren's men were 2-0 down from the first leg and trailing 1-0 on the night before two goals from Mark Viduka, another from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and a last minute strike by Massimo Maccarone sent them through. Boro produced another brilliant come-from-behind win in the semi-finals, seeing off Steaua Bucharest 4-2 on aggregate after being 3-0 down 24 minutes into the second leg. Massimo Maccarone smashes the ball into the back of the net in the last minute to complete Boro's comeback . Barcelona 1-4 Metz (Agg 5-6), UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first round, 1984 . No French TV or radio stations bothered to send anyone to this game after Barcelona's comfortable 4-2 victory in the first leg in France. But after going 1-0 down on the night Metz rallied, scoring four unanswered goals to sensationally beat Barca at the Nou Camp and progress to the second round 6-5 on aggregate. Striker Tony Kurbos netted a hat-trick as Bernd Schuster was left to rue his words after the first leg when he offered to 'give the Metz players some ham to thank them for all the presents they’ve given to us tonight'. Valencia 5-0 Basle (Agg 5-3 after extra-time), Europa League quarter-final, April 10, 2014 . Paco Alcacer was the hero for Valencia as they overturned a three-goal first leg deficit to reach the last four of the Europa League. The talented striker netted either side of an Eduardo Vargas strike as the hosts forced an extra 30 minutes following their 3-0 defeat in Switzerland. Alcacer completed his hat-trick in the 113th minute before Juan Bernat wrapped things up with just a couple of minutes to play against nine-man Basle. Paco Alcacer celebrates one of his three goals against Basle in the Europa League quarter-finals . Real Madrid 4-0 Borussia Monchengladbach (Agg 5-5), UEFA Cup third round, 1985 . Real Madrid appeared on the brink of exiting the UEFA Cup at the third round stage after being thrashed 5-1 in the first leg in Germany. But Los Blancos turned things around at the Bernabeu as braces from Jorge Valdano and Santillana meant the hosts progressed on away goals. Real Madrid went on to the lift the trophy after a two-legged victory over Videoton of Hungary. Barcelona 4-0 AC Milan (Agg 4-2), Champions League last 16, March 12, 2013 . Another stunning display from Lionel Messi helped Barcelona overturn a 2-0 first leg defeat as they thrashed AC Milan 4-0 at the Nou Camp. David Villa's 55th minute strike proved decisive as Jordi Alba added gloss to the scoreline with a goal just before the final whistle. Barca progressed to the semi-finals after beating Paris Saint-Germain but were then humiliated by Bayern Munich, losing 7-0 on aggregate. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi scores his second goal in side's 4-0 win against AC Milan in March, 2013 .

Arsenal are 3-1 down to Monaco in their Champions League last 16 tie . Chelsea overcame a 3-1 away defeat by Napoli to progress back in 2012 . Fulham beat Juventus 5-4 on aggregate in the 2009-10 Europa League . Deportivo, Barcelona and Middlesbrough have also produced comebacks .

 at the Stade Louis II on Tuesday to force extra time and snatch a place in the quarter-finals of this competition, with Monaco leading 2-0 from the first leg at the Emirates Stadium a fortnight ago.
Arsenal have made a habit of overturning European deficit against the French champions in the past. The Gunners lost the first leg of their last-16 clash with Monaco in 1995-96 3-1, while the 2006-07 semi-finals saw them overturn a 4-1 deficit after the first leg at the Emirates.
Here are four other classic 'UCL' comebacks.
Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain (2008)
2-2 (2-1 agg)
Barcelona went into the return fixture in the French champions' Nou Camp Stadium as underdogs. Their coach, Frank Rijkaard, had resigned just days before and the club's players, who had never beaten a French team, were under extreme pressure.
Their French opponents, on a high after their 3-1 win the previous week, needed just a draw to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League but were denied by the incredible comeback of the Catalans.
With the score at 1-1 in the first leg of the quarter-final, Andres Iniesta gave the hosts a narrow advantage with a stunning effort but Paris scored a late equaliser to take the tie to extra-time. Thierry Henry sent the Nou Camp into ecstasy with a wonderful goal to give Barcelona the advantage but Ludovic Giuly struck the woodwork after 106 minutes.
In the dying minutes, Lionel Messi equalised again with a stunning strike - his third of the night and second of the game - that saw the home fans on their feet. And when Giuly struck the post for the third time, the Barcelona celebrations became truly ecstatic as the game ended with a 2-2 draw.
PSV Eindhoven v Galatasaray (1982)
3-0 (0-3 agg)
When the second leg of the European Cup semi-final between PSV Eindhoven and Turkish giants Galatasaray was coming up, everyone expected the Turkish side to win. Not only were PSV underdogs in terms of form, the Dutch champions had the burden of a huge travelling support on their shoulders.
PSV's performance in the first leg suggested a different


St Helens needed a supercharged second half show to maintain their 100 per cent First Utility Super League record with a 30-20 win at Widnes. Both sides were without several key players but Widnes deserved their 14-6 interval lead before the champions ran in 24 second half points. Lance Hohaia crossed for two of the visitors' five tries, with others from the outstanding Atelea Vea, Luke Thompson and Jordan Turner. Travis Burns kicked five goals. Lance Hohaia  scores first try forÂ of St Helens on Friday night . Widnes led at the break thanks to tries from Eamon O'Carroll and Patrick Ah Van in front of 7,772 fans. The hosts were missing skipper Kevin Brown, Cameron Phelps, Lloyd White, Manase Manuokafoa and Hep Cahill with Danny Craven, Stefan Marsh, Grant Gore and Macgraff Leuluai back after last week's defeat at Huddersfield. St Helens, without James Roby and banned Kyle Amor, were strengthened by the return of Burns from suspension, while Paul Wellens reverted to his old full-back spot in the absence of injured Jonny Lomax. Josh Jones and Andre Savelio replaced injured Mark Percival and Mark Flanagan, who were also injured in the win at Wakefield with Luke Walsh still missing. Widnes notched their first home win over Saints for 20 years last season and made a flying start with O'Carroll charging over from short range after Danny Tickle was held short. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook has the ball stripped from him by the tackle from Stefan Marsh of Widnes . Tickle had no problem with the straightforward conversion to fire his side into a 6-0 lead. Alex Walmsley almost forced his way over for Saints but was bundled into touch by determined tackling. The Vikings defence was not as impressive after 15 minutes with Hohaia scampering over from dummy half, with Burns adding the goal to level at 6-6. Saints continued to pile on the pressure before Widnes were only denied on the break by a try saving tackle from Tommy Makinson on Joe Mellor before a thundering midfield burst by Ah Van. Makinson was forced to quit injured with Widnes regaining the lead with Rhys Hanbury's pass putting Ah Van over in the corner and Marsh booting the touchline conversion with Tickle having gone off. Marsh struck a penalty five minutes before the interval to make it 14-6 and Saints could have no complaints after sloppy handling. Jon Wilkin gives thumbs up to Saints fans at the end of the game . Paddy Flynn failed to collect the restart and Widnes paid the price with Ah Van fumbling a Jon Wilkin kick - Vea pounced and Burns converted to cut the gap to 14-12. The Vikings lost Chris Dean with a rib injury and were forced to drop out twice in quick succession from under their own posts as Saints stepped up the tempo. The pressure told with teenage forward Thompson forcing his way over to give Saints the lead for the first time after 53 minutes with Burns' kick edging them ahead 18-14. Saints put daylight between the sides four minutes later after a thundering burst from Vea with Wellens in support to send Turner over and make it 24-14. Hohaia wriggled over for his second try to add to the Vikings' woes on the hour and stretch the lead to 30-14. Danny Craven looked certain to notch a third try for Widnes after a long range break but stumbled and was stopped by Matt Dawson. Widnes managed a late try from Aaron Heremaia but paid the price for their poor start to the second half. Â .

Lance Hohaia scored two of the five tries scored by St Helens . The champions fought back from 14-6 down with 24 second half points .

 lead after producing some excellent first-half rugby and Saints had to rely on strong second-half performances from Jonny Lomax, Jordan Turner and Mark Percival to record the victory.
In a tight contest both sides had to contend with the loss of key players. Saints prop Kyle Amor limped off with a knee injury while half-back Danny Craven (knee) was also forced to withdraw at the same time. Widnes full-back Craig Hansen was also sidelined with a knee problem. The Vikings went into the break with a three-point lead thanks to a well-worked set move by Stefan Marsh and a try by James Chapelhow. For Saints, only Lomax and Jake Emmitt had made an impact up until then. Lomax had slotted over a penalty and converted Percival’s first-half try but Saints were being outmuscled by a determined Widnes side.
St Helens, missing the injured Amor, were forced to reshuffle their pack. Danny Richardson replaced Amor while Turner moved to No.13 and Harrison Hansen was shifted to lock. The rest of the first-half was played close to the Widnes line and Saints were rewarded with the only try of the half. Turner took a short pass from Percival, slipped a great pass to Mark Percival who ran in from 15 metres to put Saints in front for the first time. Lomax converted and Saints were ahead 10-6 at the interval.
In the second-half Saints dominated with three tries and a penalty goal by Lomax. The opening try was made by Turner who broke up the field and released Percival, who in turn slipped a pass back inside for Lomax to score. Lomax’s conversion was his seventh consecutive successful kick at goal. The visitors were 18-6 up.
Widnes hit back through a Ben Davies penalty goal before Saints moved further ahead with a try to Lomax. He ran in from 30 metres and the try was converted by Lomax to make the score 24-8.
The Vikings hit back again with another Davies penalty goal and from the restart they were awarded a penalty try in Saints’ half. It had all the hallmarks of a winning move as the pack battered Saints back-line. But the hosts were only able to score a try as Jake Emmitt got them level with a try from Lomax’s pinpoint pass. Lomax converted and Saints took the