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AN international women’s footballer is being investigated for allegedly conning parents out of thousands of pounds for coaching sessions that never took place.

Welsh star Natasha Harding, who played for Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa, is accused of taking hundreds of pounds for one-to-one training with youngsters – but never carrying out the classes.

Getty

Getty

Angry parents claim Harding, capped 103 times by Wales in a star-studded career, owes them £45,000 in refunds.

Harding has apologised for the cancelled sessions but said it was “unavoidable” and “beyond my control”.

She said she is “devastated” over the situation and has agreed to pay refunds.

There are 27 “victims” including whole teams of young girls, who are said to have handed over as much as £1,200 each without getting anything in return.

Individual sessions for kids aged between eight and 15 cost £30 an hour, but many parents were buying multiple classes and some included whole squads of hopefuls.

Now the South Wales football community, where Harding began her career, fear the ex-striker has deliberately taken their money and has no intention of giving it back or holding any of the coaching sessions.

A WhatsApp group was created by outraged parents, after they realised more and more alleged victims were owed hundreds of pounds by Harding.

A source, whose 12-year-old daughter was due to train with the ex-pro, told The Sun: “She promises a lot to the kids, my friend’s daughter is autistic and she kept asking when she was going to see Natasha.

“She spent £900, she would add on dietician and gym plans but never actually got anything.

“She has repaid small amounts now that she knows we are putting up a fight to get our money back.

“But the parents who are owed more than £1,000 have got nothing back.”

After retiring from professional football last year Harding, 35, started offering out days where children could participate in private sessions.

According to sources, the sessions grew in popularity and Harding started block booking for up to £360.

OUT OF POCKET

A lot of the children who booked onto the sessions play for academies in Gwent, South East Wales, or The South Girls’ Development Centre.

Their parents are fearful that speaking out could affect their children’s future football careers.

The anonymous source added: “She is putting fear into us because she is perceived to control the football world, she’s got contacts everywhere.

“My daughter ended up having zero sessions, I couldn’t get her to commit to a date and it took me weeks to chase her for a refund.

“People are realising she has purposefully taken money with no intention of giving it back.”

The promised sessions were supposed to start in June 2023 and when they began to be cancelled many gave Harding “the benefit of the doubt”.

But now parents are exchanging up to 90 messages a day on a specially set-up WhatsApp group as the missed thirty-pound sessions have begun piling up.

Reported excuses include Harding telling parents she had two car crashes in three weeks, alongside two car breakdowns and one car “blow out”.

Harding, Welsh Footballer of the Year in 2016, has been reported to Action Fraud, and the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre.

It is understood parents have also reported her to Gwent Police and Gloucestershire Police.

STAR’S APOLOGY

Harding, 35, who lives in Stroud, Glos, has apologised and blames circumstances beyond her control for the missed coaching sessions.

She told The Sun: “I offer my apologies to those affected whose sessions I could not complete.

“This was unavoidable, and it was never the intention not to fulfil the sessions.

“Because of circumstances beyond my control, which was always made clear to parents, I had to cancel some sessions after initiating and completing others.”

Harding, now a TV commentator on the women’s game, added: “I’ve been trying to expand my small academy and was unfortunately let down by additional coaches, my car being written off and the second car breaking down.

“When without a car I caught a two-hour train to sessions to avoid cancellations, lugging my equipment with me and needing taxis.

“However, this was not sustainable.

“The academy’s purpose is to provide detailed technical coaching to young boys and girls and provide them with opportunities I never had, with the cost below alternative coaches to give equal opportunity without barriers, prejudices, or preferences.

“I’m devastated that I haven’t been able to finish the session blocks, and I’ve always been upfront about the problems I’ve faced that are beyond my control.

“We agreed on refunds for those sessions and I have paid them.

“The majority of parents have been incredibly understanding and I have received a huge amount of positive references and I continue to work hard, delivering local sessions.”

A spokeswoman for Action Fraud confirmed a complaint had been made about Harding.

GARDAI have removed nine people of interest from the photos released of those partaking in the Dublin riots last year.

Following a “significant” public response, Gardai managed to narrow down those of interest in the case.

Reuters

Yesterday, Gardai published CCTV images of 99 “Persons of Interest” on the Garda website.

They aimed to identify these people in order to either rule them “in or out” of the criminal investigative process.

This saw a significant public response in identifying these individuals.

Gardai confirmed today that a further nine people have been removed from the public gallery, following the five already taken off the website yesterday.

A spokesperson said: “Yesterday, 19th November 2024, An Garda Síochána published CCTV images of 99 ‘Persons of Interest’ on the Garda website www.garda.ie.

“The purpose of the publication was to identify these 99 ‘Persons of Interest’ to either rule each individual ‘in or out’ of and progress the criminal investigative process.

“An Garda Siochana has received a very significant public response to this appeal for information.

“An Garda Siochana has this morning removed a further nine from the public gallery, as these ‘persons of interest’ have now been identified. Five images were already removed yesterday.”

They added that they will not be confirming at this time the role each of these people played during the Dublin riots last November.

They also noted that those being identified does not indicate they were involved in crimes that were committed that day.

The spokesperson said: “An Garda Siochana is not confirming at this time the role of any of these individuals in the events of the 23rd November 2023 and it should not be presumed that identification means criminal involvement in these events.”

Gardai are continuing to appeal to the public for assistance for any information or identification of those remaining online.

There are now 85 persons of interest in the case, which can be accessed through garda.ie.

Gardai are reminding the public that you can make a report to them confidentially.

They said: “An Garda Siochana continues to request the assistance from members of the public who can provide information/ nominate identification for any of the 85 ‘persons of interest’ through the Garda website. Members of the public can do so confidentiality if they so wish.

“An Garda Siochana would encourage any person who identifies themselves as a ‘person of interest’ from the published images to make immediate contact with the Garda investigation team at Store Street Garda Station.

“The investigation team at Store Street Garda Station can be contacted by telephone at 01-6668000 or by email at store.street.public@garda.ie.

“Any member of the public can also provide confidential information to the Garda investigation team by contacting the Garda Confidential phone number 1800 666 111.”

Reuters

There is one thing that Masashi Kishimoto does best and that is well-written characters. His series peaked in terms of its popularity but also its relevance to society. From loneliness and pain to loss and suffering, the mangaka brilliantly outlined complexities. This also applies to most of his characters. Amidst these details though, the mangaka […]

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The post Shah Rukh Khan With His Family To Cast Their Vote – Gallery appeared first on Social News XYZ.

The post Salman Khan To Cast His Vote – Gallery appeared first on Social News XYZ.

DESPITE the recent flurries that have left parts of the country covered in a white blanket, snow isn’t always guaranteed in December.

In fact, there’s just a 34 per cent chance the UK will have a white Christmas in 2024 – although there is one Christmas market in England where snow is guaranteed.

All images are strictly REDPIX unless otherwise stated.

All images are strictly REDPIX unless otherwise stated.

The SnowDome, based in Tamworth near Birmingham, has brought back its Santa’s Winter Wonderland for its 19th year.

Opening this weekend and running until January 5, the festive event will have real snow, real animals and a brand-new Christmas pantomime.

Visitors begin their visit along Santa’s Snow Trail with over 1,000 tonnes of real snow and 450 Christmas trees.

Children can move along the snow trail on a snow sledge, underneath sparkling light displays.

Adrenaline junkies can whiz down the Summit Slide, while younger guests can try two mini snow slides.

The indoor ski centre will also have a Santa’s Christmas Village featuring real animals like alpacas, miniature piglets, guinea pigs, rabbits and goats.

Inside the Christmas Village, younger guests will be able to head to the letter-writing station to write their letters to Father Christmas before dropping them off at the post box outside Santa’s House.

And a brand-new Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime has been introduced for 2024.

The 25-minute performance will see Rudolph and friends climb a towering beanstalk, outwit the giant and embark on a heartwarming journey.

Other features will include a children’s carousel and carnival games.

Food like burgers and bratwurst will be served at Aspen’s Bar & Kitchen – an Alpine-themed dining experience.

Isabelle Chadbourne, Co-Director at the SnowDome, said: “We’re thrilled to bring families the ultimate real-snow Christmas experience this year!

“Our Santa’s Winter Wonderland remains an iconic Christmas experience for those in the Midlands and beyond, and I’m really proud about how we’ve levelled it up this year.

“Our team has gone above and beyond to create a festive extravaganza for the whole family. From our thrilling Summit Slide to the heartwarming Christmas pantomime, we’re excited to spread even more magic this season.”

Tickets start from £18.95 for the festive experience.

Located in Tamworth, the SnowDome is a 30-minute drive from Birmingham.

An insider's guide to Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM is often overlooked as a staycation destination, but it’s actually filled with plenty of wonderful hidden gems.

As a proud Brummie, I know exactly where holidaymakers should go to experience the city like a local.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

One of my favourite haunts is the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, part of which recently reopened to the public following a huge renovation. Head to the museum to get your fill of Pre-Raphaelite Art.

Birmingham Back to Backs

If art isn’t your thing then head across the city centre to the Birmingham Back to Backs. The tiny brick courtyard is hidden behind the Hippodrome and has recently been named the UK’s best hidden gem attraction.

I visited the city centre attraction over the Easter holidays and it was easy to remember why the tiny terraced houses are loved by visitors. The houses, which were largely used by working class families, easily transport visitors back to the 1930s.

From the faux wallpaper to the tins of custard, the devil certainly is in the detail. And I can’t rave about the National Trust property without mentioning my tour guide John who gave the old buildings a deep sense of life.

Cadbury World

Would I be a Brummie if I didn’t mention Cadbury World? Probably not.

Earlier this year, the Bournville attraction welcomed its first new ride in 27 years. I was one of the first people to try Cadbury Chocolate Quest, and it was yet another hit.

My family and I couldn’t stop laughing as we fired our laser guns at interactive screens. Our endeavours to shoot at ingredients were justly rewarded when we were presented with a bar of dairy milk as we disembarked.

You can read more about my Birmingham recommendations, here. 

Meanwhile, this travel writer thinks their hometown has the best Christmas attraction in the UK.

A city in Germany has been dubbed “Christmas city” because it has one of the world’s oldest and most famous Christmas markets.

All images are strictly REDPIX unless otherwise stated.

All images are strictly REDPIX unless otherwise stated.

LOOSE Women star Denise Welch was comforted by her co-stars as she provided them with a health update on Wednesday’s show.

The 66-year-old was on the panel of the ITV show, headed up by Kaye Adams, and it began with a short segment titled ‘Denise on her recent mental health.’

ITV

ITV

ITV

In it, Denise admitted she hadn’t been well for the past couple of weeks and admitted her time off the show last week came as a result of her depression making an “unwelcome” return.

The brave star said: “I’ve had a really rough couple of weeks which I’m still in a bit.

“I’d just done a podcast saying I’d been free for five years from clinical depression and that I hoped that something that happened when I had a baby had reversed.

“But sadly the unwelcome visitor paid me an unwelcome visit and so I’ve not been well for a couple of weeks.”

Denise continued: “The reason why I’m glad we’ve alluded to it is because we do all of things like Britain Get Talking and sometimes people still find that it isn’t always good to talk.

“So I just wanted to come on here because what I need when I’m poorly is for my friends to just know that I need time to get well.

“I need for the people that I work with like yourselves and like our wonderful production team to say ‘if you want to come to work come to work.”

“And if I don’t, like last week I didn’t come to work, because I know my illness more than anyone.”

After opening up to the Loose Women audience and her co-stars, Denise was heavily supported by all of them.

Janet Street-Porter even jumped up to give her friend a big hug and a kiss on the check, to which the Loose Women stars called “a world’s first.”

Denise spoke about her clinical depression in a series of Twitter posts in 2019.

“This is how it feels,” she said breaking down in tears in the heart breaking video.

“Part of me feels ridiculous. But if I’m going to talk about the journey of an episode I want you to see that there’s nothing different in my circumstances to yesterday but I’m terrified about everything.”

She added: “There’s no joy in anything, no good news, no bad news, noen of it makes any sense it just doesn’t matter. I’m just trying to chronicle this journey so people who don’t understand can understand.”

In an earlier video she said: “As someone who professes to be a mental health advocate I have to share the bad times.

“I am in the midst of a mild episode of clinical depression and having the shower I’ve just had is hard.

“Trying to explain depression to those who are fortunate not to suffer is difficult but it’s kind of like it is what it says on the tin.

“Depression depresses every single emotion that you have so that there is a flatness and a void.

“This started yesterday with feelings of slight unreality, the atmosphere around me starts to change and how I describe it is that the colour goes out of my life and people I’m around and that I love being with I don’t want to be around.

“Things I have to look forward to I don’t want to be part of and even just things I have to do this week I start stressing about maybe having to withdraw from something and maybe letting somebody down.”

Denise, who has spoken about her battle with depression for more than 30 years added: “I’m always telling other people to be kinder to their selves if they’re in the midst of an episode but sometimes I don’t do it to myself so I get a metallic taste in my mouth, a tingling my palms and the colour starts to go.

“Right now I’m going through the motions but I just want to be on my own and it’s hard.

“But those who know me and follow me know that I describe it as the unwelcome visitor and he’s here and I have to wait for him to go. And I just have to do the best that I can.”

ITV