The sentence for a man who robbed two shop assistants at knife point before stabbing a police officer has been increased by the Court of Appeal.

Stephen Unsworth, 36, took a 6-inch knife to a convenience store in Wigan, threatened the two female shop assistants and robbed them of personal possessions. He also stole cash, alcohol and tobacco.

Upon hearing sirens, Unsworth attempted to escape and was pursued by police. When PC Stephen Lamb grabbed hold of the offender, he was stabbed repeatedly with such ferocity that the blade snapped. Fortunately, his body armour prevented serious injury being caused. He suffered puncture wounds to his elbow, stomach and under his arm.

Unsworth was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months’ imprisonment at Bolton Crown Court in April. His sentence—for offences including robbery and wounding with intent to resist arrest—was increased at the Court of Appeal by 2 years for being too lenient. Unsworth will now serve a sentence of 10 years and 6 months in prison.

After the hearing, the Solicitor General, Lucy Frazer QC MP, said:

“Unsworth is a serial offender and it was right for the Court of Appeal to increase his sentence. The officers who apprehended him, despite one of them being repeatedly stabbed at, showed great bravery. If PC Lamb hadn’t been wearing body armour, the injuries he sustained would have been much worse.”

The government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse has been further strengthened today (7 June 2019) with the Prime Minister confirming that a new joint ministerial appointment is being made for the Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry MP.

The joint ministerial position, shared between the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government and Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, will see the Northern Powerhouse Minister’s oversight and coordination of local economic growth boosted to improve its impact for people and communities across the country.  It will also ensure key policies like the £1.6 billion Stronger Towns Fund and the Northern Powerhouse are at the heart of delivering the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy.  

The appointment comes ahead of a refreshed Northern Powerhouse Strategy, due to be published later this year, bringing together the Government, northern businesses and local leaders with a renewed focus on growth.  

Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry MP, said:

At the heart of the Northern Powerhouse is an unshakeable partnership between business, communities and government. 

We’re investing more into transport in the north than any other government in history, and with nearly 50% of the north represented by Metro Mayors, a Northern Powerhouse economy worth over £339 billion, and now, with an expanded, cross-governmental ministerial position, that partnership is stronger than ever.

I’m delighted to accept this new appointment and I’m grateful to the Prime Minister for the unwavering support she has given to the Northern Powerhouse.

We are on the cusp of a new era for the north with our modern Industrial Strategy boosting economic growth, supporting advanced manufacturing and creating the right economic conditions to make the Northern Powerhouse one of the most competitive, business-friendly regions not just in the UK but in the world.

Communities Secretary, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, said:

With this broadened ministerial role, the government has cemented its long-term commitment to the Northern Powerhouse. In Jake Berry, the government has a minister who has worked tirelessly with the Metro Mayors and our partners in the public and private sectors to drive growth, investment and job creation throughout the north.

As we look to the future – including the Borderlands Growth Deal and the second phase of the Grimsby Town Deal – the government has an empowered minister ready to roll up their sleeves and deliver for the Northern Powerhouse and local communities across the country.

Business Secretary, the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, said:

I would like to warmly welcome Jake Berry to BEIS in his strengthened role as joint MHCLG & BEIS Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth Minister.

I look forward to working with him on this important agenda, as we work with local leaders across the country on their local Industrial Strategies, helping to build on the strengths of each area to secure their economic future.

The Northern Powerhouse is government’s vision for a more prosperous north with good-paying jobs for hard-working people, better roads and railways, higher-performing schools and world-beating universities.

Since the Northern Powerhouse was launched in 2014, we have seen increased investment, enhanced international profile for the north and new powers devolved to the northern regions.

Our plan is simple—empower, connect, and invest in our great northern cities, towns, and rural communities to kick-start a stronger, more prosperous northern economy.

It’s not just a plan for the future – it’s a story of success. The Northern Powerhouse’s GVA (gross value added) is £339.4 billion, 19.4% of the UK total, and it has seen a £10 billion real terms increase since the start of the Northern Powerhouse in 2014.

As fish and chip lovers across the UK come together to celebrate the nation’s favourite dish on National Fish and Chip Day (Friday 7 June), the Department for International Trade (DIT) hails Scotland’s £1bn fish industry.

Scotland is home to nearly half of the UK’s fishermen – an estimated 4,823 people, making the fishing industry crucial to its economy. National Fish and Chip Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the fishermen who bring produce to plates across the world.

China is Scotland’s top destination for fish exports outside of the EU and third largest destination in the world. In 2018, fish exports from Scotland to China were worth £97m. Meanwhile, the USA is the fourth largest destination for Scottish fish, with exports worth £89.5m last year.

Latest HMRC regional statistics also show that goods exports from Scotland grew faster than any other part of the UK in the year to March 2019, now worth £32.8bn.

International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox MP said:

Today we celebrate our fishermen and all food producers selling some of the best ingredients, whether that’s fish, potatoes, salt or vinegar. The demand for UK produce has never been greater.

Scottish fish businesses are contributing to the UK’s reputation for high quality products overseas and taking advantage of the growing global appetite for our food.

The UK now has an international economic department – the Department for International Trade – helping British business succeed abroad in ways that never happened before, and I urge more Scottish food and drink businesses to consider breaking into international markets or expanding their global reach.

The Scottish fishing industry is not only seeing success in exports of white fish but also luxury seafood such as langoustines. The industry has benefitted from market access deals secured by DIT, including the export of live langoustines to China for the first time.

This deal is set to boost the Scottish fishing sector as overall exports of langoustines from the UK could be worth £26.5 million over the next five years.

One company boosting Scotland’s fish industry is premier seafood family business JK Thomson. Established over 60 years ago, the Musselburgh-based company delivers fresh and frozen seafood all over Scotland.

Today, the company’s range of fish is also enjoyed by thousands of people in the United Arab Emirates, Jamaica, Switzerland and more.

Paul Thomson, Partner at JK Thomson, said:

We are proud to be a fourth-generation family business, with six of our children now working in different areas of the company.

We are excited about the potential there is for the next generation to enter new markets abroad and continue providing our high-quality Scottish fish to customers at home and all over the world.

JK Thomson also supplies its fish products to supermarkets, local hotels, restaurants and fish and chips shops across Scotland including Cromars in St Andrews and Alandas.

For 25 years, the company exported to the Netherlands, Spain and France, but is now exploring new markets in the Caribbean, Middle East, Asia and North America.

JK Thomson is committed to responsible and sustainable sourcing, quality and consistency. Its state-of-the-art premises in Musselburgh employs 130 people, with plans to expand the factory as it looks to broaden its export reach and meet global demand.

Dr Harries will take up the position on 15 July.

The Deputy Chief Medical Officers (DCMO) are senior public health leaders who support the Chief Medical Officer – the most senior adviser on health and medicine to the UK government.

Dr Harries joined Public Health England (PHE) in February 2013 as Regional Director for the South of England and is also PHE’s Deputy Medical Director. She leads PHE’s support to the specialised commissioning agenda, having gained direct commissioning experience when with Public Health Wales.

She has worked in clinical, policy, evaluation and research roles in many countries including New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Kenya and the Caribbean.

Dr Harries trained in Public Health in Wales and has held a number of formal public health appointments.

Dr Harries said:

I feel hugely privileged to be taking up the role of Deputy Chief Medical Officer and to be able to contribute at a national level to support health improvement in our population.

Although my training and earlier career experience has been in healthcare and health service commissioning and my recent expertise has been in strategic emergency response, I am excited to be bringing direct to national public health policy discussions the critical experiences I have had as a Chief Officer in 3 different local authorities.

I am very grateful for the opportunities and support I have received over the last 6 years in Public Health England and I look forward to working with new colleagues in DHSC and more widely.

Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of PHE, said:

Jenny has been with PHE since our inception as the regional director for the South of England and also more recently as Deputy Medical Director. She has brought great expertise to a number of complex national emergencies from Ebola to the Wiltshire poisonings and has achieved so much in her work in the South of England. 

Jenny has also been a champion within PHE of diversity and gender balance and I know she will bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to her new role.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, said:

I would like to congratulate Dr Jenny Harries on her appointment. Her many accomplishments speak for themselves and she will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to this role. I am looking forward to working closely with her.

Professor Gina Radford has been a fantastic Deputy Chief Medical Officer and I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside her. I would like to thank her for her huge contribution to public health and her expert support.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission – Wales Commissioner recruitment campaign opened on 9 May and the closing date will be extended to 19 June at 11pm. We expect sifting to take place in July 2019, with interviews following on in August 2019. The announcement of the new Wales Commissioner should take place in September 2019.

The Wales Commissioner chairs the statutory Wales Committee and its main duties include advising the Commission about the exercise of its powers in so far as they affect Wales. The Committee also has delegated powers under the Equality Act 2006 in respect of specific powers of the EHRC in Wales, including those to provide information, advice and guidance and conduct research in Wales, and to advise the devolved Government for Wales about the effect of legislation affecting Wales. In addition, the Wales Committee is responsible for ensuring the Board is properly advised in the exercise of its other functions in Wales.

For further information please visit the Public Appointments website