Paedophile singer Ian Watkins killed in prison attack

Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has died after being attacked in prison on Saturday morning while serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences, sources have confirmed.

Police and paramedics were called to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire after the paedophile was reportedly ambushed and fatally injured with a knife.

Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene. Two men, aged 25 and 43, have been arrested on suspicion of murder, West Yorkshire Police said.

The prison went into lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the incident, sources added.

The 48-year-old was jailed in December 2013 with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of sex offences – including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.

The disgraced singer was arrested following the execution of a drugs warrant at his Pontypridd home on 21 September when a large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized.

Analysis of the equipment uncovered Watkins’s depraved behaviour.

He was previously stabbed in an incident at the same prison in 2023, suffering non-life-threatening injuries after he was reportedly taken hostage by three other inmates for six hours.

In 2019, he appeared back in court for possessing a phone behind bars, and described his fellow inmates as “murderers, mass murderers, rapists, paedophiles, serial killers – the worst of the worst”.

A statement from West Yorkshire Police said: “Detectives have launched a murder investigation after the death of a man in HMP Wakefield.

“Officers were called by staff at the prison at 9.39am this morning (Saturday October 11) to reports of a serious assault on a prisoner.

“A man aged 48 was found with serious injuries. Despite medical attention he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Two men aged 25 and 43 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently in police custody.

“Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and enquiries remain ongoing.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident at HMP Wakefield which took place this morning.

“We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.”

In 2014 Watkins was told he could not appeal against the length of his 29-year jail term.

Lawyers for Watkins claimed he should have his jail term cut because his last-minute guilty plea spared a jury from having to watch his home-made child pornography.

However the Court of Appeal, sitting in Cardiff, turned down his application for leave for an appeal, with presiding judge Lord Justice Pitchford saying: “These were offences against infant children of such shocking depravity that a very lengthy sentence of imprisonment was demanded.

“It is not demonstrated the total sentence of 29 years together with the extended licence period was arguably manifestly excessive. Accordingly, the application in his case is refused.”

Among the disturbing videos due to be shown at his trial included his attempted rape of a baby and a webcam chat in which he instructed a fan to abuse her child.

Watkins was given 14- and 15-year consecutive prison terms for engaging in sexual activity with a child and the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby.

He was also convicted of 11 other offences – with those sentences running alongside his 29-year term.

The Trumpification of Robert Jenrick – ideological convert or opportunist?

If one politician represents the Trumpification of British politics, then it is not Nigel Farage but an MP who has experienced the most dramatic conversion.

So much so that people even now are asking: “Will the real Robert Jenrick step forward?”

Back in 2014, a rather bland 32-year-old centrist solicitor won the Newark by-election. It is fair to say that Mr Jenrick had been picked for a crucial pre-2015 general election by-election by David Cameron’s top team because he was exactly the sort of safe, uncontroversial individual who a party could put up as a blank canvas and not have to worry about.C

He was not expected to be a future star, but would perhaps be decent ministerial fodder who could be relied on to toe the line.

Roll on 11 years and Mr Jenrick has become the single most sought-after speaker at the Tory party conference in Manchester; a man who electrifies packed out rooms, drips controversy wherever he turns up and is not afraid to say exactly what he thinks, even if those words will see him being accused of racism.

So, how did we get here?

Back in 2020, when I was political editor of a national Sunday newspaper and lockdown had just about got underway, I was asked if I would interview the then communities and housing secretary about a special project to support the efforts against Covid.

That cabinet minister was Robert Jenrick and as was normal for lockdown, it became the first interview I conducted over Zoom.

At the time, there was some controversy about him potentially breaking the rules by taking medication to his parents’ house. That was the most exciting thing about him. Other than that, I remember him as a very pleasant individual, a bit overweight and very much keeping to his brief.

If at that point someone had told me he would be discussed as the only potential saviour of the Tory party, I would have laughed.

The following year, though, after some controversy over enabling a development by porn baron Richard Desmond, he was sacked in a reshuffle, and frankly, most of us thought that was the end of his career.

However, of course, it was not the end. One thing Mr Jenrick had in his favour was that he was a very close friend of Rishi Sunak. So, when, after the Liz Truss 49-day debacle, Sunak took office, he turned to his pal for a very important job.

To stop Boris Johnson making a comeback, Sunak had been forced to make Suella Braverman his home secretary. But he was wary of her right-wing tendencies and needed someone safe and trusted to keep an eye on her.

Who better to ask then, to be the immigration minister, than his friend Robert? And so Jenrick found himself back in government to try to sort out the small boats and keep Braverman in check.

Or at least that was the plan.

Jenrick has joked with me and others about his arrival at the Home Office being the equivalent of St Paul on the road to Damascus. There is a bit of haziness about it, though.

There seemed to be no issue until 13 November 2023, when Braverman was finally sacked by Sunak in a reshuffle. According to some, there had been an understanding that Jenrick would get the top job. But instead, Sunak moved the then foreign secretary James Cleverly over to be home secretary so he could make Lord Cameron foreign secretary.

It was no secret that Jenrick saw this as a betrayal by his friend, to the point that some maintain to this day that what he did next was purely an act motivated by revenge, and not by ideology.

In effect, Jenrick became the mouthpiece for five right-wing groups of Tory MPs known as “the five families” to try to force through a much tougher approach to getting Rwanda to work and slashing legal migration.

He once told me that his change of heart was a result of arriving at the Home Office and seeing officials, either in his view, not bothered about stopping the boats and getting numbers down, or even actively working against it.

“It was chaotic in there,” he said.

Suddenly, he went from being a centrist supporter of international law to dramatically resigning from Sunak’s government on 6 December 2023 over the refusal to either leave or limit the effect of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).

From that moment, Jenrick emerged as the leader of the right-wing rebels who so destabilised the Sunak government, the former prime minister was forced to call an early election the following year.

In the aftermath of the appalling defeat for the Tories on 4 July 2024, the right of the party had one serious leadership candidate – Robert Jenrick.

Much to the distress of Ms Braverman, who felt abandoned by old allies such as Common Sense group chairman Sir John Hayes, eyes were drawn to the new thrusting politician on the block. So much so that Kemi Badenoch, who had been a “culture wars” candidate of the right, was forced to suddenly pitch herself as the centrist alternative.

While he lost the contest, Jenrick was able to set the tone for the future direction of the Tories. The decision to make leaving the ECHR a policy was because of him.

As was seen with his fare dodger video at Stratford, he was also the one Conservative shadow minister able to cut through to the public. He identified everyday issues and knew the buttons to press. His buzzword was “change”, and it was clear to many that he was modelling himself on a former Democrat who had lurched to the right to become the most extreme of Republican presidents, Donald Trump.

There aren’t the close links between Jenrick and Trump himself as there are with Nigel Farage, but Jenrick himself and those around him have taken a keen interest in the Trump populist playbook. Identifying migration as a hot-button issue, he decided that this was where he would make his play, too.

Some Tories on the right of the party do not trust his conversion.

“We remember what he was like,” one said to me on the penultimate day of the conference. “He is not the real thing.”

A senior shadow cabinet member was less than convinced, telling The Independent last week: “People are asking whether the real Robert Jenrick will come forward. He’s not authentic. If he was, he might be the leader by now.”

But others are openly praising him as being “more right-wing than Nigel Farage”.

Like Trump, his speeches go after the judiciary and other parts of the establishment with gusto and complete disregard for the wider consequences. In this new world of “outrage” politics, sometimes the more controversy that he stirs, the better it plays for him. Jenrick was completely unfazed by being caught in a race storm over comments about not seeing white faces in part of Birmingham. It felt like he was at his most Trumpian yet.

The rather tired old phrase of “behind every great man stands a great woman” may actually be true in Jenrick’s case. Arguably, “greater woman” might be more accurate. Michal Berkner is a formidable individual. A high-powered lawyer, whom I am told those around Jenrick’s leadership campaign lived in fear of.

She was very much the driving force in his leadership campaign and he has spoken about how when he makes a mistake, an apology “is not enough”, but he has to prove he has changed.

We do not know if it was she who was behind his new look, shorter hair and leaner frame, but he has certainly become a more focused and sharper – some might say meaner and more hard-edged – individual than in that Zoom interview five years ago.

It wasn’t a surprise to anyone last week when we found out that it is Berkner that reads out disobliging comments about Jenrick under news stories to get him motivated, or maybe riled.

Kemi Badenoch gave a well-received conference speech last week with policies her beleaguered party can unite around. But it was Jenrick who attracted the selfie-sticks and buzz of excitement. If the local elections and ones in Scotland and Wales go badly next May, then Badenoch will struggle to survive.

At that point, it seems likely the contest to save the party will be between Jenrick and the still centrist Cleverly.

Mr Jenrick’s allies had been considering trying to launch a coup at the conference in Manchester, but changed their mind after they saw what happened to Andy Burnham a week before with Labour. Nevertheless, a close associate of Jenrick’s told me: “He is waiting. He is not going anywhere and is ready to pounce when the moment is right.”

If anything, the Trumpification of Jenrick is not just ideological, but a complete desertion of being collegiate in pursuit of a new ruthlessness. The bigger question, of course, will be whether he has the wherewithal to take on and beat Trump’s actual friend Nigel Farage, who has been playing this populist political game for a lot longer than he has.

Zelensky urges Trump to broker Gaza-style peace deal for Ukraine in war with Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Donald Trump to broker a peace deal in Ukraine like he did in the Middle East as he held a “very positive and productive” phone call following a major Russian attack on Kyiv’s energy infrastructure.

Zelensky congratulated Trump for his “outstanding” ceasefire plan in the Middle East after Trump announced first phase of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

“If a war can be stopped in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well, including the Russian war,” Zelensky said, calling on Trump to pressure the Kremlin into negotiations.

The two also discussed the potential supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles for Ukraine, Axios reported, citing sources.

The call came as much of the capital, Kyiv, experienced power outages as a result, with Putin’s forces ramping up attacks on on Ukraine’s energy grid in recent weeks as winter approaches.

Meanwhile, US and UK fighter jets joined the Nato mission to patrol the border of Russia, carrying out a 12-hour mission earlier this week.

“This was a substantial joint mission with our US and Nato allies,” British defence minister John Healey said as two Royal Air Force aircraft took part in the mission.

Shanghai Masters final latest score as cousins meet in historic showdown

World No 204 Valentin Vacherot is taking on his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final of the Shanghai Masters, in what has turned into one of the stories of the season.

Vacherot missed half of the season through injury and turned up in Shanghai as an alternate, not knowing if he would even be able to enter qualifying. Yet the 26-year-old Monegasque has produced a stunning run, knocking out a string of big names including Holger Rune in the quarter-finals and Novak Djokovic in the semis to reach the final – where his cousin awaits.

Rinderknech is another surprise name in the showpiece, having come through a gruelling three-set battle with Daniil Medvedev in his semi-final. The 30-year-old Frenchman was embraced after his victory by Vacherot – the pair have been cheering each other on from the stands through the rounds and now stand in each other’s way as they compete for the biggest prize of their careers.

Follow all the action from the final of the Shanghai Masters below

Why Lewis Cope is the Strictly partner Katya Jones deserves

Lewis Cope has become the first Strictly Come Dancing 2025 star to land a 10 – but the person I’m most happy for is his professional partner Katya Jones.

It’s fair to say the Russian dancer hasn’t always had it easy on the programme. Jones – together with then-husband Neil – made her debut as a Strictly professional in 2016. While her other half was immediately placed on the subs bench, Jones found herself catapulted into the spotlight when she was paired with Ed Balls.

What the Labour politician lacked in dance ability, he more than compensated for in commitment – and it was Jones who brought him out of his shell, choreographing routines including their legendary “Gangnam Style” performance.

The following year, Jones was paired with Joe McFadden and the duo embarked on an extraordinary Strictly journey that saw the Holby City actor go from lesser-known outsider to lifting the Glitterball trophy.

It was in 2018 that things started to fall apart, though. A promising start with comedian Seann Walsh ultimately ended in controversy when she and Walsh were caught kissing outside a London pub (on Walsh’s then-girlfriend’s birthday, no less). Their promising Strictly story was hastily rewritten after the controversy and they limped out of the competition just a few weeks later.

In the years that followed, it certainly seemed as though Jones was being paired with celebs who didn’t stand a chance of winning or suffered bad luck – or both. In the 2020 run, she was one half of the show’s first ever same-sex couple, dancing with Nicola Adams. Unfortunately, they were forced to withdraw early when the boxer contracted Covid-19.

The bad fortune continued in 2022 and 2023, when Jones’s celebrity partners Nigel Harman and Tony Adams were forced to pull out due to injuries. Last year, there was the infamous Wynne-gate, which ultimately cast a cloud over not just Jones and Wynne Evans’s stint on the programme but the whole series itself.

Through it all, Jones has proven herself to be one of the best choreographers Strictly has to offer, capable of transforming non-dancers into something special. It’s easily forgotten but the Walsh drama came just after a truly mind-blowing Matrix-themed routine. And years later, when Jones had drummed some steps into Tony Adams, the judges labelled him “unrecognisable”.

Fast forward then to the current run, which on Saturday night saw Lewis Cope become the first Class of 2025 star to land a 10 thanks to a drama-filled Paso Doble. The performance cemented the Emmerdale actor as one of the stars to beat this year – and for me, raised an important question: could Katya Jones finally have another shot at winning?

In Cope, Jones (at last) has a partner who could go all the way. The 30-year-old has some previous dance training, having appeared in the West End production of Billy Elliot as a child, but not so much experience that fans are fixated on it (as they are with fellow frontrunner Amber Davies). There are no signs of nerves and his acting skills are shining through in his routines – just watch last week’s romantic Viennese Waltz. He’s athletic and physically fit, capable of taking on whatever ambitious moves Jones throws at him.

For the professional dancer, this partnership must be a dream. And if you ask me, it’s long overdue.

Norwegian nature: Enjoy wild, wonderful adventures on a safari-at-sea

Norway’s rugged coast is chock-full of natural beauty, dotted with steep fjords where the mountains meet the sea and teeming with all kinds of curious wildlife, from orcas, humpbacks, and over 80 species of seabirds to red foxes, reindeer, and otters. Norwegians are famous for their deep love of the outdoors, which even has its own word: friluftsliv. It helps that it is home to more than 150,000 lakes and is known for its dramatic fjord-fringed landscapes and shimmering glaciers. It’s also one of the best places to catch the technicolour magic of the Aurora Borealis.

What’s more, if you explore this breathtaking region on a Hurtigruten cruise, you’ll do so alongside the expert local Expedition Team, who have spent years traversing Norway’s rugged coastline. They are always on hand to provide engaging insights into the nature, wildlife, and culture you’ll encounter on every voyage. They go above and beyond to ensure you experience more than just the tourist hot spots. Each team member has their own area of expertise and hosts regular lectures for those who want to delve deeper into a specific interest. They also encourage you to join them on their hand-picked hikes and activities, which are at an additional cost and subject to availability but offer the chance to explore with those who know the area best.

Drawing on over 130 years of travel experience, Original and Signature Hurtigruten Voyages lead passengers along Norway’s dramatic Arctic coastline, showcasing its remarkable natural beauty in all its glory, with options to stop off in various locations along the way. As you sail between destinations, keep your eyes peeled for the abundance of wildlife that frequents the area. The coastline is a popular haunt for mammals like giant humpbacks, frolicking seals and playful porpoises.

During time spent on land, depending on your route, you might also come face-to-face with reindeer in the north or the elusive lynx, not to mention the flora that decorates the landscape in various seasons. Some routes stop at Mehamn, a traditional fishing town with only 800 inhabitants. From here, you can embark on an excursion to learn about the Sámi, an indigenous people from Europe’s northernmost region, known for reindeer herding, traditional handicrafts, and a deep connection to nature. Get to know the family, hear their stories and joik chanting, and try dried reindeer meat around a fire in a lavvo tent.

There are many different journeys you can take, depending on what you want to get out of your cruise. Trace the historic Coastal Express route on one of their Original Voyages, Hurtigruten’s first and most iconic route, established in 1893 and often hailed as the world’s most beautiful voyage. You’ll cover 2,500 nautical miles and visit 34 ports, starting in Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, where you can hop on a funicular to the summit of Mount Fløyen and soak up the incredible views of the city, the nearby fjords, and the surrounding mountains.

The North Cape Line Winter route is another popular cruise for nature lovers. This Signature Voyage adventure starts and finishes in Norway’s Capital, Oslo. The Signature Voyages take things up a notch, offering unmatched views of Norway’s best bits with more time to explore each stop. They’re also a hit with foodies, thanks to the all-inclusive option featuring award-winning restaurants and seasonal produce from Norway’s bountiful coastline.

Åndalsnes is also a favourite stop on the route, home to soaring mountains overlooking the surrounding town. It’s the ultimate hotspot for hikers, climbers and skiers thanks to its abundant accessible natural beauty. The Troll Wall is a highlight for adrenaline seekers here; this 1,000-metre vertical cliff in the Romsdalen valley boasts some of the most epic views from atop, including 360-degree vistas of Romsdalshorn, Åndalsnes town centre, and the Rauma River.

This route also takes you to The City of Northern Lights, Alta, where you can stand at the northernmost point in Europe, Cape Point in Honningsvåg – the perfect vantage point for those trying to catch this incredible natural phenomenon. Hurtigruten is so confident you’ll see the lights that they even offer a ‘Northern Lights Promise’: a free cruise if you don’t see them during the season (valid on 11-day plus voyages from 20th September to 31st March).

Many of the routes stop at Lofoten, an archipelago with immense peaks and fishing villages sandwiched between slopes. It’s not hard to see why this chain of islands is referred to as one of Norway’s most beautiful locations. Hiking opportunities abound here, and most trails lead to spectacular vistas, or if you prefer to stay on the water, you can hop in a kayak and enjoy a leisurely paddle.

Lofoten isn’t the only archipelago you’ll see on specific routes — keep an eye out for the Vega archipelago, a collection of around 6,500 islands, skerries, and islets. On Gardsøy Island, you’ll find a UNESCO World Heritage Centre with dedicated huts for local eider ducks to build their nests.

Journeying south along Norway’s west coast, many of the routes also take you past some of the country’s most famous fjords, including Hardangerfjord, measuring a whopping 179 kilometres in length, making it the second longest fjord in the country and fifth longest in the world. Get your cameras ready, as you’ll be treated to panoramic mountain vistas from every direction, with snow-capped peaks peeking over the fjord reflected on mirror-like water.

Hurtigruten cruises stop at Torsken on the southbound leg of the Svalbard Line, one of their premium, all-inclusive Signature Voyages that sails from Bergen to the Arctic archipelago and back. The secluded fishing village of Torsken is perfect for outdoors enthusiasts, tucked away in Torskenfjorden on the rugged west coast of Senja Island. It’s home to just a handful of houses, workshops, and small piers sprinkled with fishing boats and is the ideal base for exploring Norway’s second-largest island, Senja.

Senja’s stunning coastline has been rightly nicknamed the ‘Caribbean of the North’ thanks to its white-sand beaches and towering mountain peaks. It’s best to take an excursion and explore by small boat to spot white-tailed eagles, seals, seabirds like cormorants, and maybe even a golden eagle. Whether exploring Senja or simply soaking up sea views from onboard, a Hurtigruten cruise offers a chance to connect with nature, wildlife, and Norway’s stunning landscapes, with countless routes to choose from.

Book your Norwegian adventure for less, with up to 30% off, plus 10% off excursions on selected Coastal Express and North Cape Line voyages. For offers, routes and excursion info, visit Hurtigruten.

Starmer ‘to blame Farage and Brexit’ for Budget tax hikes

Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly gearing up to blame Nigel Farage and Brexit for Britain’s expected downturn in productivity at the Budget, as part of a new attack on the Reform UK leader.

Treasury officials are bracing for the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to lower its forecasts for productivity growth – a downgrade that is likely to create an extra shortfall of around £20bn at November’s Budget. The shortfall is expected to be filled by a swathe of tax rises.

But sources told The Times Sir Keir and chancellor Rachel Reeves are planning to argue that this downgrade would not have happened were it not for Brexit, pinning the blame on the Reform leader for leading the campaign to take Britain out of the EU.

It comes after theThe Independent revealed that Brexit has cost UK business £37bn a year as a result of a 5 per cent drop in trade with the bloc.

While the government has gone some way to remedy the drag on trade, signing a fresh cooperation agreement with the bloc earlier this year, there are fears it still won’t go far enough to offset the barriers caused by the UK’s exit from the EU.

Sir Keir has previously accused Mr Farage of “fantasy” economics, comparing him to former Tory PM Liz Truss and claiming his tax cut pledges would “crash the economy”.

But the prime minister has been ramping up his attacks on Mr Farage in recent weeks, using the Labour conference to claim his party is in “a fight for the soul of the country” with Reform UK, hitting back against the “lies and division” of the right-wing party’s populism.

In an impassioned 54-minute speech at the party’s conference in Liverpool, the prime minister pledged to defend British flags from the far right after a summer in which they became the focus of culture wars.

Claiming Mr Farage “doesn’t like Britain”, Sir Keir insisted that Labour is the “patriotic party” and used his address to set out his vision for a “land of dignity and respect”.

He warned that the politics of Mr Farage and Reform, which he said would threaten the livelihoods of thousands of legal migrants, was “racist” and said anyone who argues that people who have lived here for generations should now be deported is “an enemy of national renewal”.

The PM’s new line of attack, expected to come at the Budget, is likely to take place alongside a series of further difficult choices for the government.

There is a growing expectation that the Treasury will have to increase taxes by as much as £30bn in the upcoming Budget, as a result of sluggish productivity, government U-turns and higher than expected interest payments.

Ms Reeves is facing increasing pressure to rescue the UK’s troubled finances, but the government has repeatedly said it will not increase rates of VAT, income tax or national insurance at the Budget in November.

Downing Street has been contacted for comment.

‘My partner stole my benefits – it took me years to finally escape’

No privacy online, surveillance at home and no control over her money or medical appointments – this was the reality of life for one woman who endured years of abuse by her partner through technology.

She is one of the increasing number of disabled people leading charity Refuge say who are facing the “devastating” impact of tech-facilitated domestic abuse.

Sarah, who is a wheelchair user in her forties and has had her name changed for safety reasons, depended on her then-partner to help with her ongoing medical needs, but was instead abused “relentlessly”.

“I had no privacy at all,” she told The Independent. “He had access to all my accounts, my bank account – everything.

“The worst thing was him cancelling my hospital appointments, he would tell the hospital I was too poorly, it wasn’t true, but he wouldn’t let me. I would then have to wait months to be seen.”

Using her phone and the smart devices within the home, he would monitor her movements, calls and interactions with others. His access to her media accounts, emails, and online banking left her with no privacy.

She said his use of technology endangered her health, as he intercepted texts and emails from her GP and hospital through the NHS app, often cancelling her appointments without her consent and restricting her access to medication.

“He took control over my medication, making out that I would forget to take them, even though they were in a box labelled with the dates on,” Sarah added.

“I manage to take them now with no issues. He then kept telling me I had taken my pain medication – I knew full well I hadn’t. But he did that because he liked seeing me in pain. It was relentless.”

Sarah was trapped financially, as her benefits and disability payments were also redirected to her abuser’s account. She was left without any money to pay for any essentials, including toiletries, and often the home was without food.

“I got so embarrassed, never having enough food in the house or even shampoo to wash my hair,” she said. “Then he would call me names and put me down.”

After enduring years of abuse, she reached out to Refuge and was allocated someone to support her. Sarah was able to call a helpline on a specific device, where she was linked in with adult social care. She was later moved to supported living, able to regain control of her finances and set up new safe accounts.

She said: “Thank god I built up the courage to call for help, it took me so long to call, I wish I had done it sooner. The support has been so incredible.”

Emma Pickering, the head of the technology-facilitated abuse and economic empowerment team at Refuge, said the current “epidemic” of violence against women and girls (VAWG) is increasingly being mediated through technology.

Her team has seen a 205 per cent increase in referrals over six years, which she says “represents just the tip of the iceberg”.

“This is having a devastating impact on disabled survivors, who are uniquely affected by tech and economic abuse, often with severe consequences for their mental health,” she said.

“By exploiting a survivor’s disability, perpetrators may have greater opportunities to exert coercive control. Among other insidious behaviours, we have heard of perpetrators abusing their role as carers by weaponising technology.”

She said the team had seen examples from abusers accessing online banking platforms to steal a survivor’s private funds and state benefits, to using medical technology such as health tracking apps for surveillance purposes, and preventing survivors from attending medical appointments by taking control of their NHS app.

Economic abuse is another significant issue faced by disabled survivors, with the team frequently told about problems related to joint bank accounts – such as survivors having no access to a bank card, never being allowed to view bank statements, and in some cases, debts put in their name.

She said: “For many disabled survivors, adaptive home technologies are a lifeline – yet even these can be misused by abusers, who may take this critical technology away to further isolate and control the survivor.”

Ms Pickering urged the government to ensure the upcoming VAWG strategy set out a “comprehensive framework for tackling tech abuse, with policy solutions that are shaped in consultation with survivors”.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Tackling VAWG in all of its forms, including when it takes place online or is facilitated by technology, is a top priority for this government.

“The VAWG strategy will set out the strategic direction and concrete actions to deliver on the government’s ambition to halve VAWG in a decade, and will include measures to tackle online and technology-facilitated VAWG.”

You can read Refuge’s full report on tech-enabled abuse here.

The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated men’s advice line on 0808 8010 327.