News

‘My daughter was raped, murdered and burned beyond recognition in Qatar’

Published

4 years ago

November 15, 2022

IN A letter to the Wales World Cup team, the mother of a young lady who was raped and killed in Qatar begged them to remember her daughter.

In October 2013, while out with friends, Lauren Patterson, an English teacher at a primary school in Doha, was attacked by a guy by the name of Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah Al-Jabr. Outside of the city, the 24 year old’s body was discovered in the desert. Initially given the death penalty, Al-Jabr’s punishment was later reduced to merely 10 years in prison. In the upcoming year, his release is anticipated.

Every player of the Wales and England teams for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar has received a letter from Lauren’s mother Alison, of Haverfordwest. The World Cup is scheduled to begin on Sunday. Alison, who has fought tenaciously for a harsher punishment, is requesting that participants form a L with their fingers to honour Lauren.

“I want all the players to think about Lauren when they run onto the pitch,” said the 57-year-old retired teaching assistant. “If just one of them made an L-shape after scoring a goal or winning a match it would honour Lauren and mean so much.”

Although Lauren was born and raised in Kent, her late father Stuart, a native of Cardiff, gave her some Welsh ancestry. Her mother wrote letters to the coaches of Wales and England, as well as to each member of the teams,

Al-Jabr’s accomplice Mohammed Hasan Abdulaziz was previously freed after serving a three-year prison sentence for helping the killer “burn the body of Lauren Patterson and erasing evidence.” Alison claimed that her daughter was “raped, stabbed several times, then carried out into the desert where she was burned beyond recognition, so badly dental records were needed to identify as only 7kg of Lauren remained” in her letters to the squads.

She added: “I have never given up on getting justice for my daughter Lauren. I have travelled to Qatar over 30 times for court hearings all held in Arabic with no translator on most occasions, being forced to stand at the side of the murderer of my daughter. This highlights their total insensitivity. Qatar has a beautiful façade but underneath it is far from beautiful… The human rights of workers, especially in the construction of the infrastructure for the World Cup, has been appalling.”

The letters congratulated the players on their selection and told them that “any gesture you think would be appropriate to question this nation’s history on human rights or to highlight my daughter’s case and the many others would be greatly appreciated”.

Kevin Crotty, the stepfather of Alison and Lauren, 61, used their life savings to fly to each court hearing in Qatar. Al-Jabr’s sentence was reduced to 10 years in 2018 following years of legal fighting and appeals. He is scheduled to be released in less than a year after

“We didn’t want him to be put to death but we did expect him to receive a similar sentence to what he would get in the UK — perhaps 25 or 30 years,” she said. “But we are told he could be released soon after serving just 10 years in what is more of a villa than a jail. He’s allowed to have a mobile phone, he’s got flat-screen TVs and can play video games. It’s no punishment for what he did to Lauren.

“He can get a job, get married and have a normal life, all things that he took away from my daughter… Qatar has never fully acknowledged the seriousness of what happened to my daughter. There has been no apology, no recognition of the terrible thing that happened to her and the ordeal we are still going through years later.”

Alison added that a Qatari court made an order around eight months ago that Al-Jabr pay her £200,000 in compensation, but she has been told by her lawyer that payment may take years because of the appeal process. The figure would barely cover her legal bills and flights to Doha.

On three occasions Alison has written to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, pleading for help but her letters have been ignored. She has previously criticised former England captain David Beckham for accepting a reported £150million to promote the World Cup in Qatar.

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

8 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Health

Medicine shortages now ‘most severe on record’, health leaders warn

Published

8 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PATIENTS are facing some of the worst medicine shortages ever seen in the UK, with pharmacists warning the situation now poses a serious risk to safety.

The National Pharmacy Association said shortages affecting commonly used medicines are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and causing increasing disruption for patients, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

The warning comes as Serious Shortage Protocols for Creon, used by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help digest food, have been in place since May 2024 and have now been extended until July 10, 2026.

HRT treatment Estradot has also been under a Serious Shortage Protocol since December 2024, with the current extension also running until July 10.

Patients travelling between pharmacies

A survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 98 per cent of pharmacies had encountered patients who had visited several pharmacies in one day to find a prescription.

It also found that 96 per cent of pharmacies believed the current situation posed a serious risk to patient safety, while 89 per cent said they had been unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day because of supply problems.

Some pharmacy teams have also faced anger and abuse from patients unable to obtain medication.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.

“These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced.

“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”

Calls for urgent taskforce

The NPA is calling on the government to convene an emergency taskforce involving manufacturers, wholesalers, clinicians and pharmacists.

It also wants changes to rules which currently stop pharmacists from making simple substitutions, such as changing a tablet to a capsule or a cream to an ointment, even where a safe alternative is available.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said medicine shortages were frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists, and added pressure to already stretched services.

She said the College supported pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions where a medicine is unavailable and a safe alternative exists.

She added: “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Pancreatic Cancer UK have also raised concerns about the impact of shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on people who rely on the medication to digest food, maintain weight and stay well enough for treatment.