Fraudster couple lived luxury lifestyle after defrauding 3,000 people

A fraudster couple spent £31,500 on an LS Lowry sketch and lived a luxury lifestyle funded by a holiday investment scam that defrauded over 3,000 people of £28 million.

The conspiracy, led by Mark Rowe, 54, operated as Sell My Timeshare (SMT), targeting owners desperate to relinquish properties. Investigators said Rowe “put victims up in hotels” and “created fake virtual offices and fake personas” in the fraud, which led to 14 convictions under Operation Destin.

After being lured to meetings at SMT’s Bournemouth, York, Stratford-upon-Avon or Tenerife-based offices under the premise of selling their timeshares, victims instead “endured high-pressure sales meetings, which often lasted up to six hours”, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The meetings saw victims pushed to trade in their timeshares and make an additional payment for the company’s “Monster Credits” scheme, which promised discounts on holidays and shopping, as well as the opportunity to trade them with other customers on a dedicated platform.

In many cases, victims took out loans to purchase the credits, typically investing around £8,000, the CPS said.

Victims would later discover that not only were the credits worthless, but in most cases, they still owned and incurred the costs of their timeshares.

In total, 3,583 victims across the UK were defrauded out of £28.1 million, with the highest individual loss being £80,000.

Investigators added that nearly 500 victims lost more than £10,000 and that the “vast majority” of victims were between 60 and 80 years old, with some in their 90s.

Senior investigating officer Peter Highway said a “lot of the money was spent on luxury” by managing director Rowe and his wife, Nicola Rowe, 54, who acted as the company’s finance director.

Investigators said the Rowes spent more than £110,000 on private school fees, a house in Hampshire with stables valued at £2.4 million, and £26,000 on one private jet trip to Tenerife.

They added that £8 million was received into Mark and Nicola Rowe’s personal account, with £185,000 spent at art galleries including £31,500 for a pencil sketch by LS Lowry with the title ‘Street Scene’.

Rowe, of Los Blanquitos in Tenerife, was sentenced in January to seven-and-a-half years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of conspiracy to defraud.

His wife, also of Los Blanquitos in Tenerife, will be sentenced on Friday at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to money laundering.

A total of 14 people were convicted following four trials held over two years at Southwark Crown Court – with reporting restrictions in place until Nicola Rowe’s guilty plea.

In a victim impact statement that was read to court during one of the trials, a victim said: “I’m now supposed to be retired and enjoying life, but as a result of being a victim of Mark Rowe’s fraud my quality of life has been reduced to a struggle – I’m unable to afford to even pay my own rent.

“I’ve been a successful businessman all of my life, but feel that I’ve let my wife down, and I cannot see how I can put this right in the time that we have left.”

Mr Highway, from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit which ran the six-year investigation, said: “The fact so many people were defrauded in this case reflects the lengths Mark Rowe went to both to lure victims to meetings with his criminal sales team and continually invent new methods to deceive them.

“He paid for TV and magazine ads, put victims up in hotels, and even created fake virtual offices and fake personas.”

CPS specialist prosecutor Gayle Ramsey said it had been “a living nightmare” for the victims.

Ms Ramsey said: “These defendants acted in a completely selfish and manipulative manner to make huge sums for themselves and exploited timeshare owners, many of whom were elderly.

“They provided victims with the false hope of disposing of timeshares in exchange for a valuable investment when in reality they were each left tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket after purchasing something which was worthless.”

Ms Ramsey added that the CPS would seek to pursue any money or assets gained by the defendants by their offending through its proceeds of crime division.

Following the first trial from October 2023 to October last year, several people were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud including Jodi Beard, 43, of El Roque, Tenerife, who was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years, and Paul Harrison, 55, of Weymouth, who was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.

Also found guilty of conspiracy to defraud were Nihat Paul Salih, 57, of Poole, Dorset, who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment; and Lisa Salih, 56, of Poole, who was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years.

Credits administrator Samantha Macaulay, 52, of San Miguel De Abona, Tenerife, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months after being found guilty of fraud by false representation. Macaulay was found not guilty of conspiracy to defraud.

Following the second trial from October last year to February, Simon Walker, 58, of Costa Adeje in Tenerife, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment and Joanne Physick, 46, of Los Christianos Arona, Tenerife, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of conspiracy to defraud.

After the third trial in June and July, David Taylor, 65, of East Yorkshire, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

Joanne Taylor, 53, of East Yorkshire, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and Lee Evans, 51, of Preston, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years after both pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

Two people who worked as “senior client advisers”, Barrie Fox, 69, of Worcester, and Josephine Cuthill-Fox, 60, of Worcester, will be sentenced on Friday after also pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.

Trump says ‘we will go in and kill Hamas’ if violence in Gaza continues

President Donald Trump has warned Hamas that “we will have no choice but to go in and kill them” if internal conflict persists in Gaza, after initially downplaying the ongoing pockets of violence in the territory.

Hamas executed seven Palestinians this week for “collaborating” with Israel, which Trump condoned at the time, comparing it to US gang violence and strikes on Venezuelan “drug boats”. But he has since changed stance, warning the group that such killings are “not [part of] the Deal”.

Meanwhile, the families of Israeli hostages have demanded that the ceasefire with Hamas be terminated if the 19 bodies remaining in Gaza are not returned. “The agreement cannot continue to be implemented without Hamas returning all the hostages,” the Hostage Families Forum Headquarters said in a statement.

“Any decision that weakens pressure on Hamas or allows the agreement to continue while hostages remain unreturned would be a grave moral and leadership failure.”

Hamas said all reachable hostage bodies have now been returned to Israel after the Red Cross received the remains of another two late on Wednesday.

Kiss founding member dies weeks after cancelling tour dates

Ace Frehley, guitarist and founding member of the rock group Kiss, has died. He was 74.

The musician suffered a fall at home in September, and TMZ reported earlier today that he had sustained a brain bleed which left him on life support.

His death was announced by his family. In a statement to Rolling Stone, they said: “We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth.

“We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever!”

The founding members of Kiss, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, said in a statement: “We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley. He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of Kiss’s legacy. Our thoughts are with Jeanette, Monique and all those who loved him, including our fans around the world.”

Frehley’s tour manager John Ostrosky shared September 25 via Facebook that the musician had suffered a “minor fall” and would have to cancel an upcoming tour date.

A subsequent update from Frehley’s official page on October 6 announced: “Due to some ongoing medical issues, Ace has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of his 2025 dates.”

Frehley was born Paul Daniel Frehley in The Bronx, New York City, on April 27, 1951. He received his first guitar as a Christmas present in 1964, at the age of 13.

He played in numerous bands in New York before answering an advertisement in 1972 placed by rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss, who were seeking a lead guitarist. He got the job, and by January 1973 the four-piece had named themselves Kiss.

Between 1974 and 1975, Kiss released three albums (Kiss, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed to Kill) which built a cult following of fans who called themselves the “Kiss Army.”

Their mainstream commercial breakthrough came with 1975 live album Alive!, which went platinum four times over and gave the band their first top 40 hit with the live version of previous single “Rock and Roll All Nite.” Frehley’s frenetic playing on Alive! would become a significant influence on a generation of young guitarists.

In 1978, all four band members released eponymous solo records, and Frehley’s became the biggest seller. He wrote three songs for the band’s 1979 album Dynasty and another three for 1980’s Unmasked.

In the early 1980s Frehley found himself sidelined, as Criss left the band and Stanley and Simmons formed a tighter unit. On the band’s 1982 “Creatures of the Night” tour he was replaced by guitarist Vinnie Vincent.

Frehley formed his own band, Frehley’s Comet, in 1984. They released a self-titled album in 1987 and a follow-up, Second Sighting, in 1988.

In 1996, Frehley and Criss rejoined Kiss for a successful reunion tour. The original line-up released a new album, Psycho Circus, in 1998. Frehley’s last performance with the band was at the closing ceremony for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In 2011, Frehley published a memoir, No Regrets. He continued releasing solo albums until his death, including 2024’s 10,000 Volts. A third volume of his covers records Origins was slated to be released in 2025.

Frehley is survived by his ex-wife Jeanette Trerotola, who he married in 1976, and his daughter Monique Frehley.

Sam Fender wins the 2025 Mercury Prize for third album People Watching

Sam Fender has been crowned the winner of the 2025 Mercury Prize for his third studio album, People Watching.

The singer-songwriter won the prestigious music award just a stone’s throw from where he was raised, in North Shields, as the ceremony took place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena for the first time.

He beat shortlisted artists including rock bands Fontaines DC and Wolf Alice, Irish pop star CMAT, and Britpop icons Pulp.

Announcing the win, judging panel member and Radio 1 presenter Sian Eleri said she and her fellow judges had loved People Watching’s “character and ambition”.

“After much hard discussion we decided on one album that stood out for its cohesion, character and ambition,” she said. “It felt like a classic album, one that will take pride of place in record collections for years to come.”

Accepting the trophy, Fender led the live audience in a chant of “Toon, Toon”, before praising CMAT and Fontaines DC, then fetched his guitar for a reprise of the title track “People Watching”.

Fender, whose career has skyrocketed since he broke through with his 2019 debut Hypersonic Missiles, recently completed a huge run of shows that included three nights at the 52,000-capacity St James’ Park in Newcastle. He was previously shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2022 for his second album, Seventeen Going Under.

Upon its release in February, People Watching topped the charts and sold 107,000 copies in its first week, the biggest chart debut for a British artist since Harry Styles’s album Harry’s House came out in 2022.

Fender was the last artist to perform during the ceremony, receiving a deafening roar from the live audience as he appeared onstage for a rendition of “People Watching”.

“I think, judging by that reaction, he might just be playing to a home crowd,” host Lauren Laverne said.

Many of this year’s shortlisted artists praised the decision to move the ceremony away from its usual location in London while appearing on the red carpet earlier in the evening.

Folk musician Martin Carthy, who at 84 is the award’s oldest ever nominee, told the BBC that holding it up north was a “master stroke” and that he felt honoured to be there, despite being a “bloomin’ southerner”.

Echoing the sentiment, fellow nominee Emma Jean Thackray suggested that people were “starting to realise that the music industry is not just about London”.

She added: “It’s amazing that different places are getting some shine and I’m particularly happy that the Mercury Prize this year is in the north, being a Northern girl.”

Also shortlisted this year was Scottish singer-songwriter Jacob Alon, recognised for their debut album In Limerence, which explores themes of sexuality, romantic obsession and loneliness in the queer community.

Instead of the usual “token jazz album”, two jazz records appeared on this year’s shortlist. The first spot went to Welsh pianist Joe Webb, for his technically impressive, well-humoured album Hamstrings and Hurricanes, while the second nod went to musical polymath Thackray, whose 2025 record Weirdo melds jazz with rock, funk and hip-hop influences.

CMAT was widely viewed as the favourite to win; however, the Mercury Prize judges are seen as notorious for not selecting the popular favourite.

This was CMAT’s second Mercury Prize nomination – she was also shortlisted for her second album, Crazymad, for Me, which was released in 2023.

Her 2025 shortlisted album Euro-Country, meanwhile, topped the charts in her native Ireland and also made the No 2 spot in the UK.

Appearing on the red carpet earlier that evening, the musician born Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, 29, told the PA news agency that Ireland’s current surge of musical success comes from “a generation of traumatised people” and was the result of “a lot of bad fruits coming to harvest”.

“I wish I could pinpoint it to anything else, but it’s just the fact that everything is coming up through the rafters so quickly, and there’s a lot of artists from a very small, not very densely populated country, making a lot of music that fleets quite important, as opposed to trivial,” she said.

“I think everybody is a bit earnest and has had their head screwed on a little bit because we all went through something 20-odd years ago, my age group, and we’re now really dealing with the fall-out and the repercussions of it.”

CMAT references the 2008 Irish economic downturn on Euro-Country, including in the title track, where she sings: “All the big boys/ All the Berties/ All the envelopes, yeah they hurt me/ I was 12 when the das started killing themselves all around me.”

The shortlist is curated by an independent judging panel of music industry professionals, among them Eleri, jazz musician Jamie Cullum, The Times’s chief pop and rock critic Will Hodgkinson and BBC Radio 6 presenter Jamz Supernova.

Last year’s prize went to the Leeds-formed band English Teacher for their debut album, This Could Be Texas.

How I (nearly) became a Chinese intelligence asset

How easy would it be to find yourself accused of being a Chinese intelligence asset? Pretty difficult, you might think – until you enter the slightly grey zone of travelling to China repeatedly for work – 27 times in 10 years in my case.

Like the former parliamentary researchers Christopher Cash and the academic Christopher Berry, who were accused of being spies, I regarded my activities in China as “consultancy”; a side-hustle to my day job in London and New York as a journalist. I was going to try to make money, but I had also been long fascinated by China and developed a deep love of the country, even considering studying Chinese at university.

My work in China, with a British friend who worked in PR, was small-fry. My friend and I were advising Chinese businesses, mostly in technology, on how to handle the Western media. We gave lectures at elite universities and business schools, too. But it might have escalated to the point where MI6 took an interest. If someone had wanted to be awkward, what I was doing could easily have been interpreted as aiding and abetting an enemy state. Or perhaps just helping a “competitor”, as successive British governments prefer to regard China.

The way Chinese companies dealt with Chinese journalists was the time-honoured “red envelope” method. When you wanted to publicise a product, you gave reporters and columnists a red envelope stuffed with money and told them what they should write. Our mission was to explain that this might not work so well with Western reporters. Our audiences were sceptical to the point of laughing out loud on occasion.

The trips often had hilarious moments. An official once asked if it was still the custom in Britain when you welcome visitors to your home to say to them immediately, “Please help yourself to some fish.” Another time, a clothing manufacturer took us out to his factory on the outskirts of Shanghai to ask for our help making him the biggest supplier of bowler hats to the UK. I explained to him that I distinctly remember the last time I saw a man wearing one, and that was in 1964, but he wasn’t swayed. He saw a potential market from “the English gentlemen” for 100 million bowler hats. We promised to get back to him.

Things became more serious, however, when we were invited for lunch at the Chinese Embassy on Portland Place in London. We walked guiltily through the permanent posse of brave Falun Gong demonstrators outside, to a magnificent and merry meal with a group of mid-level officials who praised our enterprise and said they would make more connections for us. I still keep on my desk my lunch place card, resplendent with the national emblem of the People’s Republic of China.

A week or so later, on our next trip, we were summoned by some sophisticated business people we didn’t know to a sumptuous dinner in Beijing. They nodded along to our views on a variety of world issues, asked pertinent questions about British politics and media, and then, right at the end, as is usual in China, came to the main point of the meeting.

“How would you feel about media training the Chinese Communist Party?” one of the group asked. My instincts as a journalist were instantly piqued – imagine spending time and hanging out with the party elite, I thought.

What I actually said, possibly through nerves, possibly the copious rice wine was, “Oh, I love a party, me,” which earned me a hefty kick under the table from my friend. “Let’s give it some thought and come back to you,” she said.

We later asked a contact at the British embassy what we should do and were told it wouldn’t be advisable. Rather than say no, we decided it might be better to just quote an insane price. We emailed them to say we would be very interested, but the cost would be in the region of $50,000. We didn’t get a response.

By this time, it could have been argued, we were already virtually in bed with the party, segueing from consultants to enablers. Or as Kemi Badenoch put it to Keir Starmer this week, “sucking up to Beijing”.

I wasn’t going to China as a journalist, but the newspapers I worked for knew I was going, and I’d write on subjects as varied as Baidu, the Chinese Google, to the richest town in China, to Christian churches in China, to the lively Jewish community in Shanghai to the emergence of Chinese tech companies making truly desirable products, and to the first English takeaway in China.

One story I was keen to cover was Chongqing in the southwest, an extraordinary city of over 30 million people. I was fascinated by the charismatic party secretary – effectively the mayor of Chongqing – Bo Xilai. Son of one of Chairman Mao’s close associates, Bo was being spoken of as the next leader of the country and was known for his methods in enforcing law and order. In two years, some 5,000 corrupt officials, businessmen, police and judges had been arrested. There were stories of criminals being executed without trial. Crime fell sharply and the city boomed economically, but it came at a price.

Returning from China to London on a Virgin flight, I found myself sitting coincidentally – at least I think – next to an American who turned out to live in Chongqing and claimed to know Bo well. “Come and meet him on the next trip,” he said, “I can fix it. You’ll be impressed.”

What I didn’t know was that Bo Xilai was known for befriending foreigners, charming them, getting them to do him a few small favours, then moving on to bigger favours. One such was a British businessman, Neil Heywood, who got close to Bo and his wife, and helped them with overseas financial and property arrangements, possibly including offshore accounts or asset transfers. In 2011 – days after the mystery American on the plane promised to introduce me to Bo – Heywood was found dead in his hotel room.

The authorities said he’d died of alcohol poisoning, but he barely drank and was quickly cremated without a post-mortem. Bo’s police chief then sought asylum at the US consulate and said Heywood had been murdered with cyanide by Bo’s wife after a business dispute. Bo ended up being purged from the Communist Party and, in 2013, sentenced to life for corruption, abuse of power, and taking bribes.

The point about being careful who you get close to in China was that if I had met Bo, I might easily have been seduced into his spider web both as someone trying to build up a business in the country, and as a curious journalist.

I could have ended up in a fatal, triple jeopardy – from the dangerous Bo family, from the Chinese government for being associated with Bo, and with our own government for being way too close to the Chinese Communist Party.

None of which would have been a good look at all.

Hidden gem holidays: An insider guide to the Dominican Republic

The advent of autumn sees us thinking ahead to how to keep that sunshine feeling going through till winter; and there’s nothing better for keeping our spirits up than the idea of booking a holiday somewhere tropical. Enter the Dominican Republic, a warm and welcoming Caribbean nation perched to the south of the Turks and Caicos islands, and east of Jamaica. Known for its beautiful beaches, premium resorts and some legendary golf courses, there is, as the saying goes, genuinely something for everyone. If you want to make your holiday more than just a fly and flop, there’s plenty to explore, from Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s tallest mountain, to historic sites in the country’s lively capital, Santo Domingo.

But first, where’s the best place to stay? Consider Costa Esmeralda, in the Miches area on the Island’s northeastern coast, a picturesque and pristine stretch of sand fringed with coconut palms that lean over the calm, turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Neighbouring Punta Cana and the wider Bávaro area combine to form what’s known as La Costa del Coco, or the Coconut Coast, an area of lavish, all-inclusive hotels which is also popular for windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.

Base yourself at Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort Curio by Hilton, an oceanfront resort boasting 800-metres of secluded beach on the shores of Playa Esmeralda. Located just 90 minutes’ drive from Punta Cana International Airport, the emphasis here is firmly on fun and relaxation. It features six restaurants, six bars and lounges, four pools and several water slides, and for those who like to keep fit while away, there’s a pickleball court, a paddle tennis court, and a full-service fitness centre which offers yoga and pilates classes. The Acana spa aims to reconnect soul and spirit with therapies inspired by ancient traditions, while you’ll also find a daily programme of art and cultural activities, plus live nightly entertainment. Bringing the kids? They’ll love spending time at the Coki Cove Kids Club or Palmchat Teens Club.

There’s a choice of rooms, suites or bungalows, all tastefully decorated with Caribbean flair, and offering stunning views. Select accommodations even feature private plunge pools, and Club Azure and bungalow guests have access to additional dining options and a rooftop pool. Talking of dining, you’ll experience a world of flavour, with menus inspired by the traditions of the Caribbean, Thailand, and the Amalfi Coast; think spicy, street-food inspired dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and local favourites. All this, and unlimited drinks and cocktails, too!

What’s more, booking with British Airways Holidays means you can secure your holiday now with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments*. Once you’re ready to jet off, you can enjoy increased checked baggage allowance, a dedicated 24-hour helpline during your trip and the option of quality car hire with no hidden fees, 24-hour support and roadside assistance.

Upgrade to Club World and you’ll also get lounge access**, increased baggage allowance, priority check-in and boarding, and a spacious seat that converts to a fully flat bed. Members of The British Airways Club enjoy even more benefits in the form of collecting Avios (British Airways’ frequent flyer currency) and earning tier points, which unlock frequent flyer status and other benefits. Avios can also be used towards the cost of your holiday, presenting even greater value for money for members.

All this means you can totally relax during your stay at Hilton Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort, knowing you’re getting the quality and peace of mind you’d expect from a British Airways Holidays.

If you can tear yourself away from the resort – tough, we know – there’s lots to experience throughout the Dominican Republic. Take a day trip to Santo Domingo, one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities; its walled, cobblestoned, historic centre, the Zona Colonial, has impressive Spanish buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Gothic Catedral Primada de America and the Alcázar de Colón palace, which sits on the laid-back, cafe-lined Plaza de España. The latter is now one of the city’s many museums, displaying striking medieval and Renaissance art. In the pretty Parque del Este is the Faro a Colón, a large mausoleum and museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus, who landed on the island known as Hispaniola (now divided into the Dominican Republic and Haiti) in 1492. For a taste of life in bygone times, visit Altos de Chavón, a fascinating replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village, featuring art galleries and studios, boutiques and a striking amphitheatre.

Looking for something a little more adventurous? Get back to nature at Los Haitises National Park, where you can explore mangrove forests, caves and unique rock formations, or the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua, a series of tumbling falls perfect for swimming, splashing and jumping into. And don’t miss the incredible Hoya Azul, a cenote, or sinkhole, with crystal-clear, aquamarine waters; it’s located in Scape Park, a natural adventure park featuring lush jungles and jaw-dropping cliffs, where you can go zip-lining or explore the caves. There is whale watching in Samana Bay – humpback whales can be found here during their breeding season, January to March. While Lago Enriquillo, a salt lake with surrounding wetlands, is home to crocodiles and various bird species, including flamingos. All in all, your holiday to the Dominican Republic is guaranteed to be unforgettable; so get booking now!

British Airways Holidays packages include a generous baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your holiday to Hilton Zemi Miches Punta with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.

*Based on two sharing. Full balance due seven weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.

**Subject to availability

John Bolton compares Trump to Stalin’s secret police after criminal indictment

Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton delivered a damning rebuke of the charges against him after he became what he called the latest target in the president’s politically motivated crusade against his “enemies.”

An 18-count federal grand jury indictment accuses Bolton of illegally transmitting and retaining classified documents — allegations that appear to cover a period in which Bolton was collecting material for a damning tell-all book about his time in the first Trump administration.

The veteran diplomat — who also served as ambassador to the United Nations during the administration of President George W. Bush — said in a searing statement Thursday night that he has “devoted my life to America’s foreign policy and national security.”

“I would never compromise those goals. I tried to do that during my tenure in the first Trump administration, but resigned when it became impossible to do so,” he said.

He said the president launched a “retribution campaign” against him, which escalated with the publication of Bolton’s book The Room Where It Happened, and he is now “the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts.”

Bolton and his attorney Abbe Lowell argue that the contents of the book were cleared for publication by government officials, and over “four years of the prior administration, after these reviews, no charges were ever filed.”

“Then came Trump 2 who embodies what Joseph Stalin’s head of secret police once said, ‘You show me the man, and I’ll show you the crime,’” Bolton wrote Thursday.

“These charges are not just about his focus on me or my diaries, but his intensive effort to intimidate his opponents, to ensure that he alone determines what is said about his conduct,” Bolton added.

“Dissent and disagreement are foundational to America’s constitutional system, and vitally important to our freedom,” he said. “I look forward to the fight to defend my lawful conduct and to expose his abuse of power.”

The indictment against Bolton marks the third case in as many weeks against a prominent Trump critic, after the president publicly instructed the Department of Justice and Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin politically motivated criminal prosecutions against his enemies.

“We can’t delay,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social last month.

After leaving the first Trump administration, from which the president claims Bolton was fired, the veteran diplomat published The Room Where it Happened, a scathing account of the first days of Trump’s presidency, where an “erratic” Trump emerged as a “stunningly uninformed leader,” Bolton wrote.

But unlike the indictments against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, which were brought by Trump’s former personal attorney Lindsey Halligan, the case against Bolton is being handled by Maryland U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes, who was tapped by Trump to lead the office in February.

Bolton’s home and office were raided by FBI agents this summer.

The indictment was presented to a grand jury by career prosecutor Tom Sullivan, who also signed the document.

Bolton faces eight counts of transmitting national defense information and 10 counts of unlawful retention.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for each count, though it is unlikely a judge would issue a maximum penalty.

“There is one tier of justice for all Americans,” Bondi said in a statement Thursday. “Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable. No one is above the law.”

“He’s a bad guy,” Trump said from the White House Thursday in response to a question about the indictment, moments after it was filed. “That’s the way it goes.”

Labour launches digital Veteran Card – here’s how it works

A new government scheme to boost support for veterans launches today as nearly two million can gain access to their digital Veteran Card.

Only accessible as a physical copy before now, the Veteran Card allows those who have served in the military access to certain services and discounts.

Moving the card to smartphones will make it “easier and quicker” to use access its benefits, the MoD says. By downloading the optional card on their smartphones, former service personnel can show their veteran status without needing a physical card.

It provides a range of benefits from housing and mental health support to reduced entry at museums and money discounts at certain retailers.

The digital card will display their name, photo, latest service, and date of birth, with the security features to protect their personal information.

The launch of the cards could serve as a “case study” for how such credentials work and alleviate public concerns over the government’s plans to bring in mandatory IDs, a minister has said.

Ian Murray, minister for digital government, acknowledged that the rollout of digital cards for veterans could demonstrate to the public how the credentials work, potentially addressing criticisms that have been raised over civil liberties.

The Labour MP for Edinburgh South said: “[It’s] probably a demonstration to the public by default, in that sense, on the basis that this is the first use case for having a digital credential on your smartphone, and that digital credential is the first sort of verifiable one that government have now launched.”

To get a digital Veteran Card, the applicant must first have a physical one. This can be applied for on gov.uk.

Cardholders can then apply for a digital version on gov.uk as well. They will need to create a One Login app account to do this, requiring an email address.

They will need to submit a passport-style photo to be used on the app if their current picture is not clear enough. After this, the card will be accessible on the One Login app.

The card is now the first digital document to be stored in the app, which the government has been developing for several years. It is also planning to launch digital driving licences.

Technology secretary Liz Kendall said: “Our veterans have given everything by serving for their country and it is only right that we give them all the support they need.

“As we deliver national renewal we are modernising our public services so they work around people’s lives and keep pace with the digital world we live in. The digital veterans’ card will help remove barriers, reduce red-tape and make it easier for people to access the public services they need.”