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NEWS STORY : Ismail Uradde’s Sentence More Than Doubled After Unprovoked Knife Attacks in East Ham

STORY

Ismail Uradde, 36, from East Ham, has had his prison sentence increased to ten years following a referral by Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme. The Court of Appeal found his original sentence of three years and eight months insufficient for the severity of his crimes.

In the early hours of 26 July 2024, Uradde confronted two men outside his block of flats, accusing them of causing a disturbance. Armed with a kitchen knife, he attacked both individuals, stabbing one twice in the left thigh and the other in the arm, resulting in significant blood loss for both victims. After the assault, Uradde fled the scene and handed the weapon to a local shopkeeper.

One of the victims later reported ongoing psychological trauma, stating he experiences difficulty sleeping and fears being attacked again.

Originally sentenced on 20 January 2025 for two counts of wounding with intent and one count of possessing a bladed article, Uradde’s case was reviewed following the Solicitor General’s intervention. On 15 April 2025, the Court of Appeal increased his sentence to ten years.

Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP commented:

“Ismail Uradde’s violent and unprovoked attack on the two victims was shocking. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to more than double his sentence. My thoughts are with the two victims of Uradde’s attack.”

April 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Man who stabbed two strangers has sentence more than doubled after intervention by the Solicitor General [April 2025]

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 17 April 2025.

A man who stabbed two people with a kitchen knife has his sentence increased to a decade after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme to the Court of Appeal by Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP.

Ismail Uradde, 36, from East Ham, London, has had his sentence increased after an intervention under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme by the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP.

The court heard that in the early morning of 26 July 2024, Uradde confronted two men outside his block of flats, accusing them of making a disturbance.

Brandishing a knife, Uradde confronted and proceeded to attack the men. Uradde stabbed one of them twice in his left thigh and stabbed the other man in the arm, leaving a deep wound.

Uradde then fled the scene, handing his knife over to a convenience store shopkeeper. The victims suffered significant blood loss but both men survived.

In court, one of the victims remarked on the impact of the attack, stating he still has “difficulty sleeping” and feels unsafe outside as he fears “he could be attacked again”.

The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Ismail Uradde’s violent and unprovoked attack on the two victims was shocking. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to more than double his sentence.

My thoughts are with the two victims of Uradde’s attack.

On 20 January 2025, Ismail Uradde was sentenced to three years and eight months’ imprisonment for two counts of wounding with intent and one count of having a bladed article.

On 15 April 2025, his sentence was increased to a decade after a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

April 18, 2025
NEWS STORY : Adam Ali’s Sentence Increased After Fatal Crash That Killed Teen Passenger

STORY

Adam Ali, a 20-year-old from Manchester, has had his sentence increased to six years and four months following a fatal car crash that resulted in the death of 16-year-old passenger Ben Burbridge and serious injuries to another teenager. The Court of Appeal’s decision came after Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred the original sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

On 15 October 2022, Ali was driving at over 60mph in a 30mph residential zone during wet conditions. He lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a lamp post. Ben Burbridge suffered catastrophic brain injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger, 17-year-old Justin Saidi, sustained multiple injuries, including a collapsed lung and fractured ribs.

At the time of the incident, Ali had recently passed his driving test and was awaiting a speed awareness course following previous speeding offences. While awaiting trial for the fatal crash, he was caught speeding twice more and was involved in another accident while banned from driving, during which he was inhaling nitrous oxide at the wheel.

Initially sentenced to four years’ detention on 27 January 2025 for causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving, Ali’s sentence was increased by the Court of Appeal on 15 April 2025. Solicitor General Lucy Rigby stated:

“Ben Burbridge was only 16 years old when he died and he had his whole future ahead of him. His life was tragically cut short by Adam Ali’s dangerous driving. I welcome the court’s decision to increase Ali’s sentence following my referral. This government is committed to ensuring those who drive dangerously are punished appropriately.”

April 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Dangerous driver who killed passenger has sentence increased following intervention by Solicitor General [April 2025]

The press release issued by the Attorney General on 17 April 2025.

A dangerous driver who killed a teenage passenger and hospitalised another after driving at double the speed limit has had his sentence increased after Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP intervened.

Adam Ali, 20, from Manchester, has had his sentence increased by more than two years by the Court of Appeal after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

The court heard that on the evening of 15 October 2022, Ali drove dangerously with three passengers in the car having passed his test a few months earlier.

Ali drove through a residential area in wet conditions, in excess of 60mph in an area with a 30mph speed limit. However, he lost control of the car and smashed it into a lamp post.

Ben Burbridge, a 16-year-old passenger in the back of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering catastrophic brain injuries.

Justin Saidi, who was 17 at the time, was hospitalised after he suffered multiple injuries including a collapsed lung, bleeding between his lung and ribcage and fractured ribs and shoulders.

The court heard that Ali had previously been caught speeding and misusing his car horn, and the fatal accident occurred while he was waiting for his speed awareness course to start.

While awaiting trial, Ali was caught speeding on two further occasions and later caused another road accident while banned from driving – all while inhaling a nitrous oxide canister at the wheel.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

Ben Burbridge was only 16 years old when he died and he had his whole future ahead of him. His life was tragically cut short by Adam Ali’s dangerous driving.

I welcome the court’s decision to increase Ali’s sentence following my referral. This government is committed to ensuring those who drive dangerously are punished appropriately.

On 27 January 2025, Adam Ali was sentenced to 4 years detention for one count of death by dangerous driving and another for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

On 15 April 2025, this sentence was quashed and substituted with a new sentence of 6 years and 4 months detention after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme.

April 18, 2025
Keir Starmer – 2025 Easter Message

The Easter message made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 17 April 2025.

As Lent comes to an end and we move into the Easter weekend, I want to wish Christians everywhere remembering the death and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ a very happy Easter. The story of Easter is central to the Christian faith: it is a story of hope, redemption and renewal.

This Easter, as churches hold special services across the UK, and gather to celebrate with friends and family, we remember those Christians facing hardship, persecution or conflict around the world who cannot celebrate freely.

I also want to thank you for the ways in which you follow Christ’s example of love and compassion in serving your communities. Whether through night shelters, youth clubs, toddler groups, family support, care for the elderly or chaplaincy support, and in a multitude of other ways, you demonstrate steadfast commitment and care.

We can all take inspiration from the message of Easter and continue to work together for the flourishing and renewal of our country.

April 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Scottish Education Secretary visits University of Dundee [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 15 April 2025.

Taskforce membership is announced.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has met with staff and students as she visited the University of Dundee’s School of Life Sciences.

It came as the wider membership of an external Taskforce, set up to advise the University on its current financial challenges, was announced, including business and industry organisations, trades unions, enterprise agencies, NHS and academic representatives.

Visiting the Drug Discovery and Medical Research units at the school, Ms Gilruth heard about how its work has helped contribute to the treatment of conditions like Parkinson’s Disease.

The university was ranked top in Biological Sciences in the most recent Research Excellence Framework, a UK-wide assessment of research quality at higher education institutions.

Meeting with university Principal Shane O’Neill, the Education Secretary underlined the Scottish Government’s determination to support the University through its current financial challenges, with a wide-ranging package of financial support and expertise in place to help secure its future.

Ms Gilruth said:

“It was inspiring to hear about the world-leading and life changing work being undertaken at the Life Sciences school here at Dundee. This is vitally important research which underlines the strength of academic excellence and innovation in Scotland

“This work and research also has a major impact on inward investment for the area and the Scottish Government is clear it should be a vital component of our knowledge economy for the coming generations.

“We know that this unit and the wider Life Sciences school at Dundee attracts students, researchers and cutting-edge companies from across the globe to the city.

“That’s why this Government has been clear in our determination to ensure that the University of Dundee is fully supported and the wider membership of the taskforce we are setting out today will provide the right mix knowledge and experience to help advise on the current financial challenges.”

Professor Shane O’Neill, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, said:

“We are extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for their continued support and we have been delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary today to see first hand the impactful work of our researchers in Life Sciences.

“We will continue to work with the Government and the Scottish Funding Council towards a secure and successful future for the University, and we will also engage fully with the Advisory Taskforce regarding our wider impact on Dundee, the Tay Cities region and beyond.”

Background

In addition to the Chair Alan Langlands University of Dundee, City of Dundee Council, Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government, the membership of the Taskforce will include:
- Universities Scotland
- Abertay University
- University of St Andrews
- Dundee and Angus College
- Trade Unions representation
- Student Union representation
- Tay Cities Regional Economic Partnership / City Deal
- Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce
- Scottish Enterprise
- Skills Development Scotland
- NHS Education for Scotland
- Business representation
- Alumni/graduates representation
The Scottish Government has provided £25 million to the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to support universities like Dundee facing immediate financial challenges. This is on top of £1.1 billion of investment already in the budget for university teaching and research

Deputy First Minister chairs a regular cross-government group in support of SFC and to consider the issues
April 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : First Minister – Preparing Scotland for the future [April 2025]

The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 14 April 2025.

First Minister John Swinney has announced he will bring forward the Scottish Government’s legislative programme to ensure the country is as prepared as possible to secure its future in the face of the uncertainty facing the global economy.

Speaking during a press conference at Bute House, the First Minister announced the Programme for Government will be presented to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 6 May 2025.

It will set out the actions the Scottish Government will take to ensure resilience and deliver on the four core priorities to eradicate child poverty, grow the economy, tackle the climate emergency and ensure high quality and sustainable public services.

The First Minister also set out plans to immediately begin work with key partners in the business community and trade unions to map out the actions required in Scotland, and the UK as a whole, to respond to emerging economic challenges and ensure the needs of the devolved nations are at the heart of UK decision-making.

First Minister John Swinney said:

“I know that this is a time of great uncertainty for people, that many families and businesses are worried about what global events will mean for them.

“We face yet another storm, after almost two decades of knocks and challenges – the financial crisis, austerity, Brexit, Covid, the energy price spike following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the subsequent inflation spike. Each has weakened us in some way, but none has defeated us.

“The Programme for Government will be laser-focused on delivery. It will set out what I believe my government can and will deliver for the people of Scotland over the coming year.

“The economic headwinds are blowing strong across the Atlantic and they demand a response that is both immediate and measured. My Programme for Government will set out what practical steps we will take to strengthen our response to those headwinds and ensure Scottish business and our economy is positioned well to create jobs and grow the economy.

“I want to make sure the UK Government understands where we need them to do much more to protect Scotland’s economic interests. As a result, I will be bringing together our key partners in the business community and the trades union movement on Wednesday to map out the actions we can take, here in Scotland, and which can be complemented across the UK, to respond to the emerging economic realities. That work will influence my government’s approach, and I want it to shape the response at a UK level into the bargain.

“A Scotland that is wealthier, fairer, more resilient – that is my ambition. I want people feeling more confident about the future and more secure in the midst of the uncertainties, because they have a government that is fighting Scotland’s corner.

“A government that is bringing people together, so that our response to the challenges we face is rooted in a Scotland that is united, prepared and determined, a Scotland confident in its ability to, once again, weather the storm and come out of that storm a great deal stronger.”

Background

The first roundtable with the business community and trade unions to determine the actions required to ensure the resilience of Scotland’s economy will be held on Wednesday 16 April 2025.

April 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : UK backs businesses to trade carbon credits and unlock finance [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 17 April 2025.

British businesses and organisations better supported to trade carbon credits as part of new work to establish the UK as the global hub for green finance.
- Britain is back in the business of climate leadership, leading a new growth market and cementing UK as the green finance capital of the world
- voluntary carbon and nature markets to unlock new revenue streams for UK businesses delivering on Plan for Change
- UK work will boost opportunities for businesses at home and abroad to unlock private finance for the climate crisis
British businesses and organisations will be better supported to trade carbon credits as part of new work to establish the UK as the global hub for green finance – driving growth and investment while tackling the climate crisis through the Plan for Change.

Today the government has launched plans to strengthen voluntary carbon and nature markets which can help leverage the finance needed to address the scale of the climate emergency whilst diversifying revenue streams for British businesses.

These markets support the trading of carbon credits, where a business can reduce their emissions by investing in environmentally friendly projects such as deploying electric vehicles, reducing deforestation, removing carbon dioxide through carbon dioxide or planting trees.

Currently these markets are not realising their full potential, with a lack of clarity among businesses and organisations on how they can be used, and some poor practice impacting their effectiveness in delivering meaningful climate action and economic growth. There have been widespread calls from businesses and organisations for greater clarity in how to use these markets as part of their plans to reach net zero.

In response, the UK is establishing a global framework to build trust and confidence in carbon and nature credit trading, with a set of principles to guide and support businesses on how to use carbon credits that provide environmental benefits. This includes making clear what a good credit is, ensuring they are delivering environmental benefits and encouraging businesses to fully disclose what they are being used for in annual sustainability reporting.

These markets are estimated to be worth up to $250 billion by 2050 for carbon markets, and $69 billion for nature markets, under the right conditions. By increasing confidence in these markets, British businesses – including farmers and land managers –  will be well positioned to seize the economic rewards by creating new revenue streams and investment opportunities.

These plans will further strengthen the UK as the green finance capital of the world – leading the way in a new growth market, unlocking private finance for climate change and backing businesses on the clean energy transition.

Positive climate action can lead to significant growth opportunities for UK businesses with the UK seeing £43.7 billion of private investment into UK’s clean energy industries since July. Recent figures from the CBI shows that the net zero economy grew 3 times faster than the economy as a whole last year, with employment in the sector up by over 10%.

Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said:

Building up trust in carbon and nature markets is crucial to their success in driving meaningful climate action and real, lasting change for the environment.

The UK is determined to spearhead global efforts to raise integrity in these markets so they can channel the finance needed to tackle the climate crisis and speed up the global clean energy transition.

These principles will cement the UK as the global hub for green finance and carbon markets. This is an opportunity to deliver on the climate crisis and drive investment and growth in the UK as part of our Plan for Change.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:

Nature underpins everything. Voluntary carbon and nature markets will be an important tool to crowd in private finance to protect our precious peatlands, important habitats and rare species.

It is why increasing trust in these markets will ensure that they benefit both people and our planet, ensuring money flows towards genuine environmental improvement projects and creates new sources of finance for farmers and land managers in the UK.

Carbon credits are tradable units that represent the reduction or removal of greenhouse gases emissions from the atmosphere. One credit typically represents one metric tonne of CO2 or its equivalent. Companies or individuals purchase these credits from project developers who have generated them through activities like reforestation, cleaner energy, or other emission reduction projects. By buying the credits, they are financing projects that would not otherwise happen, in addition to steps that they are taking to reduce their own emissions.

Mark Kenber, Executive Director, Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) said:

Businesses need clarity and confidence to invest in voluntary carbon and nature markets that help meet global climate goals. This consultation from the UK government plays a vital role in delivering this.

VCMI welcomes the proposal to recognise our Claims Code as international best practice, as well as the global leadership shown by the UK’s proposal to incentivise greater action by companies to address their unabated Scope 3 emissions through the inclusion of our forthcoming Scope 3 Action Code of Practice. The Code of Practice will enable companies to go further, faster and with integrity on climate action.

The proposals in the consultation align with the UK government’s new approach to ensure regulation supports growth. The consultation explores the recommendation in the recently published Corry Review to launch a Nature Market Accelerator to bring coherence to nature markets and accelerate investment.

The consultation will be live for 12 weeks, seeking responses from industry organisations and the public:

Voluntary carbon and nature markets: raising integrity

Onel Masardule, Co-Chair, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Engagement Forum, Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) said:

For the voluntary carbon market to succeed, it must respect the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and make us true partners – rather than just stakeholders – in the market. ICVCM’s The Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) define what high integrity carbon credits should look like: ensuring that new carbon projects have robust social and environmental safeguards, operate with the free, prior and informed consent and are transparent about how they share benefits. I welcome the UK government’s proposal to endorse the use of CCP-labelled credits and encourage other governments to do the same. This will provide clarity on what high integrity means to enable the market to scale to accelerate climate action and deliver positive environmental and social outcomes at the local level.

Notes to editors

The 6 integrity principles being consulted on are:
- suppliers should ensure credits meet recognised high integrity criteria that ensure credits deliver environmental benefits
- buyers should measure and disclose the planned use of credits as part of sustainability reporting
- users should consider how credits feed into wider transition plans that align with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement
- claims involving the use of credits should accurately communicate an organisation or product’s overall environmental impact, including by using appropriate and accurate terminology
- market participants should cooperate with others to support the growth of high integrity markets
- credits should only be used in addition to ambitious climate action within value chains
April 17, 2025
NEWS STORY : Shkelzen Gashi Banned for 10 Years After Inflating Turnover to Secure £50,000 Covid Loan

STORY

Shkelzen Gashi, the former owner of Smart Tyres Services Ltd in North London, has been disqualified from serving as a company director for a decade after overstating his business’s turnover to obtain the maximum £50,000 Bounce Back Loan during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gashi, 53, claimed his tyre fitting business had a turnover of £250,000 when applying for the government-backed loan in 2020. However, an investigation by the Insolvency Service revealed that Smart Tyres Services Ltd’s actual turnover for 2019 was £134,401. This misrepresentation enabled Gashi to secure £16,400 more than his company was entitled to under the scheme.

The Bounce Back Loan Scheme was designed to support small and medium-sized businesses during the pandemic, allowing them to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, capped at 25% of their annual turnover. The loans were intended to be used for the economic benefit of the business.

Smart Tyres Services Ltd ceased trading in August 2022, leaving liabilities exceeding £100,000. Gashi has since repaid £8,000 of the loan. Despite being given multiple opportunities to explain his actions, Gashi failed to provide satisfactory answers to investigators.

Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, stated:

“Shkelzen Gashi blatantly overstated the turnover of his company, ensuring it received significantly more in Covid support than it was entitled to. This was taxpayers’ money, and Gashi will now no longer be able to be involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company for the next decade as a result of his dishonest conduct.”

The disqualification, effective from 17 April 2025, prohibits Gashi from being involved in the promotion, formation, or management of a company without court permission until April 2035.

A tyre shop continues to operate from the same Harringay Road address where Smart Tyres Services Ltd was based; however, Gashi is not associated with the current business.

April 17, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Owner of North London tyre fitters banned for 10 years after inflating turnover to secure maximum-value Covid loan [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Insolvency Service on 17 April 2025.

Decade-long ban for director who abused Bounce Back Loan Scheme.
- Shkelzen Gashi overstated his Smart Tyres Services Ltd company’s turnover by almost double to secure a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan, the most businesses were allowed under the scheme
- Smart Tyres was entitled to a loan of £33,600 but ended up with £50,000 because of Gashi’s false declaration
- Gashi has now been disqualified as a company director for a decade following Insolvency Service investigations
The owner of a North London tyre shop has been banned as a director for 10 years after overstating his company’s turnover to secure a maximum-value Covid loan.

Shkelzen Gashi ran Smart Tyres Services Ltd from his address on Harringay Road from 2015 to 2022.

The 53-year-old claimed his company’s turnover was £250,000 when he applied to the bank for a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in 2020.

In reality, Smart Tyres had a turnover of little more than half that figure.

Gashi was banned as a company director until April 2035 and ordered to pay costs of £5,333 at a hearing of the High Court in Birmingham on Wednesday 2 April.

His ban started on Thursday 17 April.

Gashi has also repaid £8,000 of the Bounce Back Loan.

Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

Shkelzen Gashi blatantly overstated the turnover of his company, ensuring it received significantly more in Covid support than it was entitled to.

Gashi was given numerous opportunities by our investigators to explain his actions but failed to do so.

This was taxpayers’ money and Gashi will now no longer be able to be involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company for the next decade as a result of his dishonest conduct.

Smart Tyres was incorporated in May 2015 with Gashi as the sole director and shareholder.

Gashi described the company as providing a full range of both mechanical and electrical repairs.

Insolvency Service analysis of the Smart Tyres’ accounts revealed it had a turnover of £134,401 for the 2019 calendar year.

However, Gashi falsely declared on the application form that its income was a quarter of a million pounds.

Gashi received the £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in October 2020.

Smart Tyres ceased trading in August 2022 with liabilities of more than £100,000.

A tyre shop operates from the same address Smart Tyres traded from. Gashi is not a director of this company.

The Bounce Back Loan Scheme helped small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, at a low interest rate, guaranteed by the government.

The loans had to be repaid over six to 10 years, with payments starting one year after companies received the funds.

Further information
- Shkelzen Gashi is of Harringay Road, London. His date of birth is 7 January 1972
April 17, 2025