Portsmouth News
JUDGEMENT DAY FOR AQUIND
The controversial £1.3bn Aquind interconnector project is hanging in the balance following reports that the developer is appealing a French legal decision that effectively blocked the scheme. The proposed data and energy cable between Normandy and...
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LEAP OF FAITH FOR JAYDEN
The family of a 22-year-old have paid tribute to him after his death following a ruptured spleen. Jayden Brookes , from Cosham, spent much of his life in and out of hospital after being diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder dyskeratosis congenita...
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PE TEACHER IS BANNED
48, has been banned from teaching indefinitely following a misconduct panel’s finding of an “over-familiar and inappropriate” relationship with a student at the £18,000-a-year city school. The former Assistant Head of Year 11 engaged in “unacceptable...
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‘THE THREAT IS SERIOUS’
Portsmouth’s politicians are sounding the alarm over a surge in intimidation, warning that hostility is becoming dangerously normalised. Labour group leader Cllr Charlotte Gerada, who is six months pregnant, was recently left “shaken” after being...
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‘I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE’
An HR graduate from Portsmouth has revealed how a “cheap” £8.50 ketamine habit spiralled into a seven-year addiction that cost her £100,000 and nearly her life. Kate Douglas, 27, plummeted to just 6st and consumed an estimated 11kg of the drug,...
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KEEP OUR PARKS SAFE
Portsmouth City Council has launched a public consultation on plans to crack down on antisocial behaviour at two city parks. The proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) would grant authorities the power to ban alcohol consumption, loud music,...
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‘DODGY SHOPS’ MUST BE SHUT
Portsmouth’s high streets are at a breaking point as traders and officials demand an end to “blatant criminality” masking as legitimate retail. A joint sting by Police and Trading Standards recently netted £29,500 in illegal tobacco and vapes, leading...
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WE WON’T LET CANCER WIN
Southsea Common was transformed into a mudsplattered sea of pink as thousands united for Cancer Research UK’S Pretty Muddy and Race for Life events over the weekend. Overcoming inflatable slides and cargo nets, or the 3, 5 and 10k running routes...
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‘NOW COME AND TALK TO US’
PORTSMOUTH: Lib Dems hold off Reform charge in bad night for Labour GOSPORT: Major gains for Reform as Lib Dems slump, Tories become largest party HAVANT: Reform become borough’s largest party - but don’t gain control
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‘A DANCE OF DECEPTION’
A "compulsive liar" who swindled friends and clients out of £250,000, and suppliers out of a further £55,000 has been locked up. Shelley Simpson, 46, operated Sphere Events Ltd as a sophisticated scheme between 2019 and 2022, Portsmouth Crown Court...
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Inside: Your usual great Portsmouth News
They only really came for the fashion. Jon had spent weeks searching for the perfect houndstooth jacket. But when a Ford GT40 roaring by at 150mph made him spill his drink all over himself, surprised to find he didn’t mind at all. he was
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FOR OUR HEROES
Work has begun on a striking four-metre monument to honour the “forgotten” heroes of the Coastal Forces. Scheduled for completion in May 2027, the memorial will stand at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s Victory Gate. The design features the legendary...
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DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE
as a national leader in the fight against stalking, with a pioneering multi-agency approach earning plaudits in a prestigious Suzy Lamplugh Trust report. Under Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, the region’s Stalking Advocacy and Support...
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COME IN DIVE IN!
After four years of silence, the splash of water has returned to Hilsea Lido. A cornerstone of Portsmouth life for nine decades, it officially reopened on Saturday following a transformative £7.75m regeneration. Once a victim of disrepair and...
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‘PREYING ON FEAR’
The battle for the right intensified as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Reform UK as an “unserious” party during a highly-charged campaign stop in Gosport. Trading insults ahead of the May 7 local elections, Ms Badenoch accused Nigel...
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IN MONTY’S FOOTSTEPS
Eighty years after Field Marshal Bernard “Monty” Montgomery rallied Allied troops for D-day, his grandson is back on the march. Henry Montgomery has embarked on a 4,000-mile journey from Orkney to Normandy, retracing the epic 1944 tour his grandfather...
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‘WE’VE ALL BEEN LET DOWN’
Families of the hundreds of patients who died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital have launched a judicial review against the police watchdog, branding past investigations into the scandal “dishonest and flawed.” The legal challenge, spearheaded...
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CRUISING TO SUCCESS
Portsmouth’s transformation into a premier cruise gateway reached a milestone as Ambassador Cruise Line signalled a long-term commitment to the city. The visit of MS Ambition, celebrated by a purple-lit Spinnaker Tower, concluded a successful...
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TRUMP’S ALL AT SEA
The homecoming of HMS Queen Elizabeth served as a defiant rebuttal to stinging criticisms from across the Atlantic. As the 65,000-tonne carrier sailed into Portsmouth, families dismissed President Donald Trump’s recent tirades, in which he branded the...
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VICTORY’S MASTS TO COME DOWN
The towering masts of HMS Victory are set to be removed in a dramatic overnight operation at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, marking a major milestone in a £42m conservation effort. Using a 750-tonne crane, crews will carefully lift the mizzen mast,...
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VIOLENT ATTACK ON HIGH STREET
Residents and traders are reeling after a 33-year-old man suffered life-threatening head injuries in a serious assault in Cosham, Portsmouth in the early hours of yesterday. A police cordon remained in place throughout the day as an 18-year-old man...
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TOP OF THE POTS
Portsmouth motorists are navigating treacherous stretches of road as The News uncovers the city’s most hazardous stretches. From the crumbling craters of Claybank Road to the treacherous approach at St Mary’s Hospital, local drivers and bikers...
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TOP 10 THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Literary Corner The perfect place to settle down and listen to well-known authors, stars and illustrators, like Michael Morpurgo, Russell Kane, Lauren Child CBE and many more. Open up a whole world of canine endeavours to feed your imagination and...
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‘ABOVE AND BEYOND’
Former Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew Johnson has been awarded the inaugural Bob Mullen Recognition Award. It was for his decisive actions during a mass stabbing aboard a London-bound train last November. The Type 42 Association presented the...
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SHE’S BACK AT SEA
HMS Queen Elizabeth has successfully vacated dry dock following an intensive eight-month upkeep period. The 65,000-tonne “national asset” navigated the narrow Rosyth locks yesterday, guided by seven tugs, marking a major milestone for the Royal...
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THREE IN A ROW
Portsmouth has all but secured their Championship status after a dogged 1–0 victory over relegation rivals Leicester City, proving that heart often trumps high-priced talent. In a season defined by resilience, the defining moment came from an unlikely...
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IT’S A RACE AGAINST TIME
A Portsmouth mother has issued a heartfelt public appeal for a stranger to save her eight-yearold son’s life as his health rapidly declines. Leo White, a student at Penbridge School, in Fratton, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2022. His...
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DEFENCE COLLEGE SNUB
Local leaders are “aghast” after our region was excluded from a national rollout of Technical Excellence Colleges, despite the region’s deep military ties. The South Hampshire College Group’s (SHCG) bid for a slice of the £175m government fund was...
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‘REPORT EVERY CRIME’
Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has issued a rallying cry to retailers to “report, report, report” as organised youth gangs emerge as the “biggest risk” to businesses. High street giants including M&S and Tesco have reported a...
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‘PROTECTING OUR FUTURE’
Portsmouth’s historic Theatre Royal has secured a vital £450,000 government grant, bolstering the city’s bid for UK City of Culture 2029. Awarded via the Arts Everywhere Fund, the investment targets urgent structural repairs to the Guildhall Walk...
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PUTTING LIVES AT RISK
Police have launched an investigation after a newly installed speed camera was targeted in a brazen daytime arson attack. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue crews were called to the scene at Eastern Road, Portsmouth, following multiple 999...
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HAPPY CHAPPERS
John Mousinho admitted Portsmouth rode their luck after a dramatic 97thminute “smash and grab” victory at Middlesbrough. The Blues were under relentless pressure for much of the afternoon, relying on Nicolas Schmid’s heroics and an Andre Dozzell...
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PARK AT YOUR PERIL IN HOTSPOTS
A Freedom of Information request has revealed Portsmouth’s most lucrative parking traps, with 10 sites generating a total of more than £170,000 in fines last year. Chichester Road emerged as the top onstreet earner at £27,885, while Ashby Place led...
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BIG BID TO IMPROVE CITY CENTRE
Portsmouth city centre is set for a major transformation after local traders overwhelmingly voted to establish a Business Improvement District (BID). Following a successful consultation, 93 per cent of businesses backed the five-year scheme, which...
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‘SHE’S OUR HERO
Tributes have poured in for a “heroic” mother-of-six who saved three lives through organ donation after dying suddenly from a brain aneurysm. Tamsyn Collier-baker, 45, was rushed to hospital on March 27 after an undetected aneurysm ruptured. Despite...
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CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE FURRED KIND
A night at the movies turned into a skin-crawling ordeal for patrons at Vue in Gunwharf Quays after rodents were spotted inside one of its theatres. Horndean resident Megan Jackson was among several filmgoers who left the cinema after mice were seen...
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POMPEY’S RED CARD FURY
Pompey manager John Mousinho fumed at referee Josh Smith over two decisions he believes cost his side a critical Championship survival victory yesterday. He insisted the official got the key call to dismiss Connor Ogilvie, pictured, horribly wrong...
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SHE SAVED MY LIFE
A woman has thanked a passerby who dragged her to safety from a motorway bridge as she experienced her “darkest moment”. In a heartfelt statement, she said: “Thank you for pulling me over the bridge and making sure I was okay. In a moment of pure...
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IT’S LIKE HE’S NEVER BEEN AWAY!
A five-hour rescue operation led to missing moggy Alfie being reunited with his owners – a whopping four years after he first went walkabout. Alfie went missing in 2022 – but was happily living just two streets away in North End, being fed regularly...
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REWRITE SCRIPT TO END ROW
Calls have been made for ‘constructive dialogue’ to bring to an end a dispute over a theatre built without planning permission. The Appeal Court overturned the decision on a planning appeal from Titchfield Festival Theatre, over its Arden Theatre...
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CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Speed cameras will be installed on one of the county’s most dangerous roads to put the brakes on drivers – and save lives. Average-speed cameras will be placed along Portsdown Hill Road and James Callaghan Drive, to the north of Portsmouth. Over the...
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PROM OPEN FOR EASTER
Last-minute preparations are under way before the dazzling new promenade in front of Southsea Common reopens tomorrow. Work includes installing the final benches, jet washing and clearing work areas so the newlook prom and sea defences can be opened...
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THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
TV personalities Ross Kemp and Dan Snow are backing the final push to raise the last £2.5m needed to create a tribute to the “courage, sacrifice, and service” of the Royal Marines. The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) is making the final push...
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JOINING THE HUNTS?
Portsmouth is set for a vibrant cultural takeover this Easter as internationally acclaimed artist My Dog Sighs launches a massive £100,000 free art treasure hunt. From Good Friday to Easter Sunday, 8,000 original pieces - including iconic “canmen” and...
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‘A BRIGHT LIGHT, CRUELLY DIMMED’
A jury at Portsmouth Crown Court has convicted Norbert Maiksner, 49, of the brutal murder of 45-year-old Frances Obiefuleh. Following a two-week trial, the jury took less than four hours to find Maiksner guilty of one count of murder and one of child...
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‘AN OUTRIGHT LIE’
Defence Secretary John Healey is under fire after a “train crash” interview in which he overestimated the Royal Navy’s strength. peaking to LBC, Mr Healey claimed the fleet possesses 17 frigates and destroyers. However, experts and former naval...
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‘SEE YOU IN COURT’
Portsmouth’s Liberal Democrat leadership has threatened legal action against the government following the decision to merge the city with Gosport, Fareham, and Havant as part of its Local Government Reorgnisation scheme. Under the “Option 1A”...
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Trump, Reform, shrinkflation and boy’s names
A range of issues, primarily focused on Trump, Reform UK, economy and names appear on today's letters page. The first letter criticises the US President’s recent gaffe regarding Japan, questioning his fitness for office. The second accuses a local...
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A CRYING SHAME
Portsmouth’s Championship status is hanging by a thread following a soul-crushing defeat at QPR that felt like a definitive breaking point. Amid a “perfect storm” of poor recruitment, injuries and tactical errors, John Mousinho’s side collapsed,...
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WHO CAME TO OUR AID?
A young mother is searching for two good Samaritans who came to her rescue following a traumatic car crash. Rachel Emery, 27, was knocked unconscious last Saturday when a driver - believed to have suffered a medical episode - smashed into her Skoda at...
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REFORM ‘LIES’ IN REFUGEE ROW
Portsmouth council leader Cllr Steve Pitt has sparked a fierce row, accusing Reform UK’S Cllr George Madgwick of “lying” about Portsmouth’s City of Sanctuary status. During a full council meeting, Cllr Pitt condemned social media claims that the...
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‘SUPPORTERS SHOULDN’T WORRY’
Portsmouth FC CEO Andy Cullen has moved to reassure supporters after latest accounts revealed owners Tornante have injected £17m into the club via loans. Financial statements for the year ending June 2025 show the Blues posted a £4.3m loss during...
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WE’RE ON THE LIST!
Portsmouth’s bid to become the UK City of Culture 2029 has cleared a major hurdle with today’s announcement that we have secured a spot on the official nine-city longlist. The announcement grants the city £60,000 to develop its final application,...
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RED CARD FOR DERBY STUNT
A Portsmouth man has been slapped with the ban after invading the pitch during the high-stakes South Coast Derby at Fratton Park. Richard Conaghan, 34, admitted to entering the playing area on January 25. Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard how...
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CITY’S NEW TRIPLE TOWERS
Portsmouth’s skyline faces a dramatic redesign this Wednesday as city planners decide the fate of the vacant Commercial Road Debenhams. The proposal by Xanadu Ltd seeks to demolish the former department store to make way for a trio of towers rising...
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‘EVERY DAY IS A BLESSING’
A mother has launched a £50,000 fundraiser to secure “life-changing” treatment for her one-year-old daughter, Harper, who suffered severe brain damage at birth. Following a placental abruption in April 2024, Harper was diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic...
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MIGRANT SMUGGLERS JAILED
Vladyslav Cherniavskyi, 38, and Oleksandr Yavtushenko, 43, were sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court to six and five years respectively. The pair were intercepted aboard the vessel Uforia off the south coast in July 2025 following a joint operation by...
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‘THIS IS LONG OVERDUE’
The “unsung heroes” of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) will finally take centre stage at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. A new monument, set for unveiling in May 2027, will feature the first-ever statue of a Wren in the historic...
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... AND SHE’S OFF
Emotional scenes filled Portsmouth Harbour yesterday as HMS Dragon finally departed for the Eastern Mediterranean. The Type 45 destroyer was expedited from dry dock following a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri, sparking a surge of pride and anxiety among...
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NEW HOPE FOR KNIGHT & LEE SITE
The long-stalled redevelopment of the former Knight & Lee department store may finally see movement as developers Thatgroup reportedly enter negotiations to sell the site. The iconic Southsea building has remained vacant since John Lewis shuttered the...
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‘ONE DEATH IS ONE TOO MANY’
Hampshire’s roads are set for a major safety overhaul as Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones unveils a dedicated Roads Policing Team and £340,000 in new funding. The investment targets the “Fatal Five” - including the newly added category of...
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MOTORING New car sales up despite stall in demand for EVS
Sales of new cars were the highest February figure for 22 years last month despite a stall in demand for electric vehicles (EVS). Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show 90,100 new cars were registered last month – up by 7.2% from...
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TALKING POINTS Our special relationship and punishment
A range of issues, primarily focused on The Royal Navy and corporal punishment appear on today's letters page. The first letter marks the 80th anniversary of Churchill’s "special relationship" speech, emphasizing its vital role in intelligence and...
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FAREWELL TO A FALKLANDS LEGEND
A somber crowd gathered at Old Portsmouth today to witness the final departure of RFA Argus. The veteran Primary Casualty Receiving Ship, a mainstay of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary since the Falklands War, was towed from HMNB Portsmouth into the spring...
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HIT-AND-RUN NIGHTMARE
A romantic 15th-anniversary celebration turned into a “nightmarish ordeal” after a Portsmouth woman was left with life-changing injuries in a hit-and-run. Liz Pullen, 55, was commuting home on her moped along Burrfields Road when she was struck by a...
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EDUCATION Lecturers struggle to spot university students using AI HOUSING House market slows as buyers remain cautious
Only one in four university educators say they feel confident they can spot artificial intelligencegenerated work, a survey has found. While students reported using artificial intelligence (AI) for 48% of their studies – and 80% saying it has improved...
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‘His loss was felt across the country’
Tributes have been paid to Stephen Mullis, a “deeply loved” veteran who died after a tragic motorcycle accident in Gosport. An inquest at Portsmouth Coroners Court heard that the 37-year-old, who served 14 years in The Princess of Wales’s Royal...
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THE KING TAKES AIM
King Charles III traded palace life for the front line yesterday, testing his steady hand on an air defence missile launcher as part of a visit to Thorney Island, Emsworth. As Captain General of the Royal Artillery, the King received a 21-gun salute...
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See Page 5 Chemical spill crisis
A chemical spill led to the closure of a busy Portsmouth road yesterday afternoon with emergency services having to treat people after they inhaled the dangerous fumes. Gladys Avenue, Tipner, and the surrounding roads were cordoned off as emergency...
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AMONG THE UK’S MOST CONGESTED
Alfred Road has been named one of the UK’S most congested routes following a study analysing Defra air quality data. The report highlighted the major thoroughfare - a key link to Gunwharf and Southsea - for its high pollution levels. In 2024, the...
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DATE SET TO DIVE ON IN
After two years of extensive restoration and months of delays, Portsmouth’s iconic Hilsea Lido has officially set its reopening date for Friday, May 2. The £7.75m regeneration project, funded by the government’s Levelling Up Fund, has breathed new...
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WHO WILL TAKE IT ON?
Portsmouth’s skyline is bracing for change as the city council launches a hunt for a new operator to helm the Spinnaker Tower. With the current agreement expiring this year, officials have appointed specialists Colliers to find a partner capable of...
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‘DON’T GET IN’
Portsmouth councillors have sounded the alarm over “out of control” Wolverhampton-licensed taxis operating in the city, citing grave safeguarding risks. During a licensing committee meeting, members highlighted that Wolverhampton’s cheaper, faster...
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‘HOW COULD WE BE HAPPY?’
Disgraced funeral directors Richard Elkin, 49, and Hayley Bell, 42, have each been jailed for four years at Portsmouth Crown Court for what police described as a “shattering” betrayal of trust. The pair, who ran Elkin and Bell Funerals in Gosport,...
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