When Dave Was Tapped Up By The KGB

Here’s one for Robert Harris’s next plotline: David Cameron has claimed that the KGB sought to sign him up as a double agent.

Double agent: David Cameron (with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev).

Regaling students at Moscow State University this morning, the Prime Minister recalled his first visit to Russia as a student on his gap year between school and university in 1985.

‘I took the Trans-Siberian Railway from Nakhodka to Moscow and went on to the Black Sea coast,’ he said.

‘There two Russians – speaking perfect English – turned up on a beach mostly used by foreigners.

‘They took me out to lunch and dinner and asked me about life in England and what I thought about politics.

‘When I got back I told my tutor at university and he asked me whether it was an interview.

‘If it was, it seems I didn’t get the job.’

Quite how the KGB gags, if that’s what they were, will go down with Mr Cameron’s already prickly hosts remains to be seen.

Over breakfast (served with large quantities of alcohol, perhaps explaining Russian male life expectancy of 59), the PM and his policy advisers discussed how to approach the first visit by a British leader to Russia for six years.

The Prime Minister will not have been pleased by the headline on page one of this morning’s Moscow Times: ‘Kremlin Sees No “Reset” in UK Visit’.
The message from Sergei Prikhodko, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s chief foreign policy adviser, could not have been clearer.

Now and then: The Prime Minister on his visit to Moscow, left, and in an undated photograph, right, as he may have looked in 1985.

‘No-one is expecting any breakthroughs, and in fact they are not needed,’ he declares. ‘Why fight? It is not necessary for us to have a “reset” with Britain. We will continue to work the way that we have been working in the past.’

Which, if he means what he says, means not terribly well, if at all. Officials admit Britain has had no formal contact at all with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin since 2007, when he made a cursory phone call to Downing Street to mark Gordon Brown’s arrival as Prime Minister.

Mr Cameron acknowledges he is walking a tightrope on the visit, which, in what is becoming a trademark for his foreign visits, comes with a planeload of business leaders anxious to sign contracts in tow.

The PM does intend to make at least a passing public reference to the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in London – the only hostile nuclear incident ever to take place on British soil – which plunged Anglo-Russian relations to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War.

Poisoned: Alexander Litvinenko died in 2006, but Russia has steadfastly refused to extradite the prime suspect in the case, Andrei Lugovoy.

Russian dissident Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 in London five years ago in what is alleged to have been a state-sponsored assassination.

But demands to extradite Andrei Lugovoy, the former KGB officer who is the chief suspect in the murder, will fall on deaf ears. Lugovoy, now a member of Russia’s parliament, also had a message for Mr Cameron this morning.

‘It’s impossible to say who left the polonium,’ he boasted from the comfort of a fishing trip in the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia’s Far East.

But Mr Lugovoy does have a theory, which he is anxious to share. Litvinenko, he suggests, was involved in the trade of polonium and was killed not by the Russian secret service… but by MI6.

Back to Robert Harris!

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Call For Justice After Iraq Abuse Inquiry

The crown prosecution service is under pressure to bring civil prosecutions against soldiers involved in the abuse of an innocent Iraqi civilian who died in British army custody, after an inquiry found his death was caused by “an appalling episode of serious gratuitous violence”.

Daoud Mousa, father of Baha Mousa, shows photographs of his son and family.

Fourteen soldiers mentioned in the report are still serving, but some were suspended from duty on Thursday. MoD officials expect more suspensions in the coming days.

Baha Mousa, a hotel worker, died in Basra in September 2003 after soldiers repeatedly deprived him of sleep, placed a hood over his head and subjected him to banned “stress positions”.

Sir William Gage, the chairman of the inquiry, called the behaviour “wholly unacceptable in any circumstances”.

Mr Mousa sustained 93 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken nose over 36 hours of systematic abuse between September 14 and 15, 2003.

Sir William said: “The events described in the report represent a very serious and regrettable incident. Such an incident should not have happened and should never happen again.’’

The directors of both public and service prosecutions are now considering whether the soldiers involved should face trial. Lawyers and campaigners insist they should be tried in public courts.

Sapna Malik, from law firm Leigh Day, said: “In light of the cogent and serious findings by Sir William Gage, we now expect that the military and civilian prosecuting authorities of this country will act to ensure that justice is done.”

Phil Shiner, from Public Interest Lawyers, added that it was an “absolute imperative” that prosecutions were brought in a civilian court.

Liam Fox, the defence secretary, said: “There is no place in our Armed Forces for the mistreatment of detainees and there is no place for a perverted sense of loyalty that turns a blind eye to wrongdoing or erects a wall of silence to cover it up.”

He added that the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (or IHAT), which started work in November 2010, was considering this and other reported cases of abuse.

“It is too early to comment on what the conclusions of the IHAT investigations might be, but cases will be referred to the director of service prosecutions, if and when there is sufficient evidence to justify this,” Mr Fox said.

Sir William issued a total of 73 recommendations to improve the way detainees are handled.

These included asking detainees “on entry and exit from a theatre-level detention facility” if they had any complaints about their treatment, and suggesting Her Majesty’s Inspector of Prisons visit battlefield holding centres.

The former Court of Appeal judge condemned the actions of Corporal Donald Payne, who pleaded guilty in September 2006 to inhumane treatment of prisoners, as well as senior officers, including the commanding officer Colonel Jorge Mendonca, Lieutenant Craig Rodgers and Major Michael Peebles.

He said Cpl Payne was a “violent bully” who inflicted a “dreadful catalogue of unjustified and brutal violence” on Mr Mousa and other detainees and encouraged junior soldiers to do the same.

Seven soldiers faced allegations relating to the mistreatment of the detainees at a court martial in 2006-07, but only one was found guilty.

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Former UVF Man Robert Stewart Admits Being Alcoholic

A key witness in a major paramilitary trial in Belfast has admitted being an alcoholic and drug user who fled NI with money stolen from his parents.

A defendant wears a mask to conceal his identity as he arrives at court in Belfast ahead of the trial on Tuesday.

Robert Stewart, 37, is giving evidence against alleged former Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) commander Mark Haddock and 13 other defendants.

It is the largest ‘supergrass’ trial for 25 years in Northern Ireland.

Fourteen men face 97 charges ranging from murder to hijacking. They deny the charges.

Former UVF man Mr Stewart is testifying for a second day.

He, along with his brother David, has turned state’s evidence in return for a reduced sentence in pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the murder of leading UDA man Tommy English on Halloween night in 2000.

On Wednesday, he was cross-examined by Haddock’s lawyer Frank O’Donoghue QC.

He asked him why he was unable to recall specific details about the day in July 2008 when he and his brother fled the north Belfast estate they lived in.

Mr Stewart blamed his consumption of vodka that day and went on to add: “I have been an alcoholic all my life.”

He then confessed to taking ecstasy tablets, cocaine, cannabis, LSD, glue and prescription valium in the past.

“The last few years I would have cut down a lot, but there were times I took a lot of drugs and alcohol,” he said.

Mr Stewart told the lawyer that he and his brother fled to Scotland, then England before returning to Northern Ireland to spend a week in the seaside resort of Portrush before finally handing themselves in.

He said they had funded the travel with £2,000 his brother stole from his parents’ house, a theft he described as “terrible”.

Mr Stewart has claimed Haddock planned and directed the murder of Mr English.

Mr O’Donoghue asked the witness if had he difficulty with his memory.

“Some parts,” he replied. “Everybody has difficulty at some times. Large events I don’t have any difficulty with.”

Mr O’Donoghue accused Mr Stewart of fabricating his evidence that his client had plotted the shooting in a flat in the hours before the attack.

“I want to suggest to you that you have made that up, that’s a cock and bull story and under no circumstances was Mr Haddock ever there (in the flat),” he said.

“Then I would say Mr Haddock is lying,” Mr Stewart replied.

An artist’s impression of the defendants and prison officers in the dock.

Earlier, he gave evidence about an assault he said a number of the defendants took part in.

He said a former neighbour in the New Mossley estate was beaten by seven of the accused after getting into a row over loud music and criticism of the UVF.

Also in the morning, there was a request from one of the defence teams for Mr Justice Gillen to recuse himself and stand down as judge. He did not do so.

The trial began on Tuesday amid high security inside and outside the court.

Thirteen defendants are in the dock – Haddock has been separated, sitting outside the dock surrounded by prison officers.

The accused

* Mark Haddock (42), Maghaberry Prison
* David Miller (39), Upritchard Court, Bangor
* John Bond (44), Essex Court, Carrickfergus
* Darren Stuart Moore (41), Mount Vernon Park, Belfast
* Alexander Thomas Wood (35), Milewater Way, Newtownabbey
* Jason Loughlin (35), Bryson Court, Newtownabbey
* Ronald Trevor Bowe (34), Ross House, Belfast
* Samuel Jason Higgins (35), The Meadow, Antrim
* Neil Pollock (35), Fortwilliam Gardens, Belfast
* David Samuel McCrum (32), Beechgrove Drive, Newtownabbey
* William Hinds (46), Ballycraigy Gardens, Newtownabbey
* Mark Thompson (36), Ballyvesey Green, Newtownabbey
* David Smart (37), Milewater Close, Newtownabbey
* Phillip Laffin (33), Bridge Street, Antrim

Two of his co-accused, Darren Moore and Ronald Bowe, were previously charged with trying to murder Haddock in 2006, but charges were dropped when he refused to give evidence.

Both the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) and UDA (Ulster Defence Association) are loyalist paramilitary groups responsible for the murder of hundreds of people during the troubles.

The 14 defendants are being represented by 24 barristers and eight firms of solicitors and the trial is expected to last for 11 weeks.

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Shafilea Ahmed’s Parents Charged With Her Murder

The parents of Cheshire schoolgirl Shafilea Ahmed, the suspected victim of a so-called honour killing, have been charged with her murder.

A coroner ruled that Shafilea Ahmed was unlawfully killed.

The 17-year-old was last seen in Warrington in September 2003.

Her decomposed remains were found on the banks of the River Kent in Cumbria in February 2004.

Iftikhar Ahmed, 51, and Farzana Ahmed, 48, of Liverpool Road in Great Sankey, Warrington, have always denied any involvement in their daughter’s death.

The couple appeared at Halton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, and were remanded in custody.

They are now due to appear before Manchester Crown Court on Friday.

Mr and Mrs Ahmed were initially arrested on suspicion of kidnapping their daughter in December 2003. In June 2004 they were released without charge when the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ruled there was insufficient evidence against them.

They were arrested on suspicion of her murder in 2010 and released on police bail.

The CPS authorised Cheshire police to charge the couple on Wednesday.

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

The CPS authorised Cheshire police to charge Shafilea’s parents.

Two post-mortem examinations failed to determine how Ms Ahmed died but a verdict of unlawful killing was recorded at her inquest in 2008.

The inquest heard she was a bright and intelligent young woman who wanted to go to university and become a lawyer.

Pathologists said she was most likely strangled or suffocated and South Cumbria coroner Ian Smith said he believed she was probably murdered.

The teenager went missing on 11 September 2003 and was reported missing by a teacher a week later.

Her body was discovered by workmen and she was identified by her jewellery and dental records.

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Man In Court Over Killing Wife And Mum-In-Law

A man charged with murdering his wife and his mother-in-law at their home in Oxfordshire has appeared in court.

Turkish national Ensar Gol with his 28-year-old British wife Michaela.

Ensar Gol, 21, smiled at photographers as he was escorted, wearing handcuffs, by police into Oxford Magistrates’ Court.

The Turkish national is accused of killing Michaela Gol, 28, and 50-year-old Julie Sahin in their home on Ireton Court, Thame.

The two women were found with fatal injuries by officers at the house in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The suspect being escorted to Oxford Magistrates’ Court.

Gol is also charged with the attempted murder of his wife’s family friend, 19-year-old Casey Wilson who is in a stable condition in hospital.

He was detained by officers in Thame Market Place shortly after the bodies of Mrs Gol and Ms Sahin were found.

Post-mortem examinations will be conducted to determine how the women died.

The housing development where two women were found dead.

In court, Gol spoke through a Turkish interpreter only to confirm his name and date of birth during the brief hearing.

Prosecutions Sarah Mackay told the court that Gol had only just recently arrived in the UK. She added that he had no right to apply for bail.

Chair of the bench David Simmons told Gol he was sending him to trial and remanded him to appear before Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday.

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Boy, 16, Charged Over Kilmarnock Schoolboy Murder

A teenager appeared in court last night charged with killing a schoolboy at the weekend.

The 16-year-old, from Kilmarnock, was charged with murder over the death of 13-year-old Jon Wilson.

The schoolboy, from Gateside Place in Kilmarnock, was found with serious head injuries and was left fighting for his life after the attack in Queen’s Drive in Kilmarnock in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Victim: A 16-year-old, from Kilmarnock, was charged with murder over the death of 13-year-old Jon Wilson, pictured in a sailor’s hat.

He died at Crosshouse Hospital yesterday. His family are said to be ‘devastated’ at his death, a neighbour said.

Hundreds of Facebook messages have also been posted online paying tribute to the schoolboy.

Jon’s aunt Irene Wilson paid tribute to her nephew.

Tragedy: Jon Wilson died at Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, pictured, with his devastated family at his side.

She told the Daily Record: ‘Jon was a quiet boy who spent most of his time playing with his Xbox. He didn’t run in gangs or bring any bother to his door.

‘He was a generous boy and he would give you his last.’

Cathy Jamieson, Scottish Labour MP for Kilmarnock, said: ‘This is such a tragic waste of a young life’.

She said the family, who were at his bedside when he died, had ‘no idea’ why he was in the street at that time of night.

The 16-year-old made no plea and no declaration when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and was remanded in custody. No date was fixed for his next appearance.

Gillian Cochrane, a neighbour of the Wilson family, said Jon’s death was a ‘tragedy’.

‘His family are devastated,’ she said.

Pupils at Kilmarnock Academy, where Jon was a student, are being offered counselling over the schoolboy’s death.

An East Ayrshire Council spokeswoman said: ‘Our thoughts are presently with his family and friends, to whom we extend our sincerest condolences.’

Cathy Jamieson, Scottish Labour MP for Kilmarnock, said: ‘This is such a tragic waste of a young life.

‘My thoughts are with the family of the victim and members of the Kilmarnock community who are as shocked as I am that such a terrible incident could take place on the town’s streets.’

In court: The 16-year-old charged made no plea and no declaration when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and was remanded in custody.

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Security Tight As Terrorist Trial Begins In Northern Ireland

Belfast, Northern Ireland (CNN) — One of Northern Ireland’s biggest terrorist trials in decades started Tuesday at Belfast Crown Court amid tight security.

Police walk into the front of Belfast Court on September 6, 2011, ahead of the trial of 14 alleged paramilitary members.

Fourteen alleged members of the pro-British or loyalist paramilitary group known as the Ulster Volunteer Force are accused of a total of 97 offenses. The men range in age from 32 to 46.

Nine defendants are charged with murder in the October 2000 slaying of rival paramilitary leader Tommy English. The 40-year-old Ulster Defence Association member was gunned down in front of his wife and young children on Halloween night during a bloody feud between the rival groups.

The Ulster Volunteer Force and Ulster Defence Association were responsible for the killings of hundreds of people during the conflict between pro-British and pro-Irish forces in Northern Ireland over a 30-year period known as the Troubles. Most of their victims were Catholic civilians. The groups have remained active since the signing of the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998.

Two brothers — David and Robert Stewart — are giving evidence against their alleged former colleagues in the Ulster Volunteer Force. The Stewarts admitted to their part in English’s killing and agreed to testify to get a reduced sentence.

One of the accused is Mark Haddock, 42, named as a police agent in a 2007 report on the Ulster Volunteer Force by former Northern Ireland police ombudsman Nuala O’Loan. O’Loan said an Ulster Volunteer Force gang based in the Mount Vernon estate in north Belfast had been involved in up to 15 murders and that the Northern Ireland police special branch unit had allowed informers within the Mount Vernon group to act with impunity.

At trial, Haddock is sitting separately from the 13 other defendants, surrounded by prison officers for his own safety. Two of his co-defendants were previously charged with trying to kill Haddock in 2006, but murder charges were dropped when he refused to give evidence. A prosecutor opened the case Tuesday, saying Haddock had ordered English’s murder.

Robert Stewart, 37, then started testifying Tuesday. He also said Haddock ordered the killing and told the gunman to try to avoid shooting the rest of English’s family.

Supporters of the accused men staged a protest outside the court against the use of “supergrasses,” or slang for informers. The term was first used in Northern Ireland in the 1980s when a number of terrorist suspects were convicted on the evidence of former comrades.

The trial is being held under 2005 legislation introduced by the United Kingdom — the Serious Organized Crime and Police Act — which allows a suspect to enter a written agreement to give evidence against other alleged criminals.

Victims’ relatives are being given protection from supporters of the Ulster Volunteer Force attending the trial at Laganside courts in Belfast. Families are able to watch proceedings by video link in a separate, secure venue. Large numbers of police officers are inside and outside the court complex.

The trial could last three months and will be one of the most expensive ever in Northern Ireland. Police fear there could be unrest in Protestant/loyalist districts as the trial progresses.

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Saline Deaths: Freed Nurse ‘Was A Scapegoat’

A nurse who spent more than six weeks in custody after being accused of tampering with saline drips at a Stockport hospital was made a “scapegoat”, according to her lawyer.

The hospital says heightened security measures will remain in place.

On Friday, police announced they were releasing Rebecca Leighton and dropping all charges in connection with deaths on two wards at Stepping Hill Hospital.

Her solicitor Carl Richmond said he felt police had “jumped the gun” in arresting Miss Leighton.

He said: “I got the feeling there had to be a scapegoat because there was absolute chaos at the hospital and it could not function because of all the speculation.

“I was imploring the police to bail her while they continued their inquiries but the decision was made to charge,” Mr Richmond said.

Miss Leighton was first arrested on suspicion of murder and then formally accused of causing criminal damage with intent to endanger life.

Rebecca Leighton could sue for as much as £1m, according to newspaper reports.

The alarm was raised when a higher than normal number of patients were reported to have “unexplained” low blood sugar levels amid fears saline solution had been contaminated with insulin.

After reports in some newspapers that Miss Leighton could sue police for as much as £1m, Mr Richmond told Sky News such speculation was “premature”.

He said the 27-year-old nurse would probably meet with her legal team later this week in order to discuss the options available, but had not yet decided whether legal action was appropriate.

Miss Leighton will not immediately be able to return to work.

Mr Richmond said, with her family’s support, Miss Leighton was “bearing up reasonably well” after what had been a very stressful period in custody.

The nurse has said she felt she was “living in hell” since her arrest.

She will not be able to return to work as an interim order suspending her from the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s register remains in place.

Meanwhile, police have vowed to leave “no stone unturned” in their investigation into the deaths of seven patients.

They have said they are planning to interview at least another 500 witnesses – including staff, patients and visitors.

It is thought more than 700 people could have had access to the area where the bags of saline were being kept.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said tight security measures remain in place and would continue for the foreseeable future.

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Murdered Teenager Rebecca Aylward’s Mother Called For Return Of Death Penalty

The mother of a murdered teenager called for the return of capital punishment after her daughter’s killer was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years in prison.

Murderer Joshua Davies was branded “devious, calculating and controlling” by a judge who said he would serve a decade and a half before being considered for parole.

Davies lured his ex-girlfriend Rebecca Aylward, 15, into woods at Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, and smashed her skull with a rock last October.

He left her face-down in the rain wearing the new clothes she had just bought.

After his sentencing at Swansea Crown Court yesterday, Rebecca’s mother, Sonia Oatley, said: “It was her dream to become a barrister, a dream cruelly erased by calculated killer Joshua Davies – a young man she trusted and loved.

“Rebecca was destined for greatness. Joshua Davies robbed us of watching our precious and perfect little girl flourish into a successful young woman.

“We will never forgive him for tearing our world apart so brutally and I would welcome the return of capital punishment for the likes of Joshua Davies, who forfeited his human rights when he chose to take my daughter’s life.”

During his trial, the court heard how Davies had been bet a full cooked breakfast by friends if he carried out his threat to murder popular Becca, from Maesteg.

A jury found him guilty by a 10-2 majority in July after deliberating for four days.

Yesterday, Judge Justice Lloyd Jones labelled Davies “devious, calculating and controlling”, adding: “You showed no remorse.”

He told the 16-year-old, who was impassive as the sentence was handed down: “Her death will leave a permanent shadow over her family.

“The effects of what you have done are devastating.”

Speaking outside court, Ms Oatley said she was satisfied with the 14-year minimum sentence.

“I would have liked it to be longer but that is a minimum sentence and if he ever wants to be free he’ll have to show some sort of remorse,” she said.

“In my opinion, he will never admit to what he’s done.”

But she said she would never understand why none of Davies’ friends alerted anyone to his repeated threats to kill her.

“I find it hard to believe that nobody came to me and said that he was making those threats,” she said.

“I can’t believe someone didn’t mention it to anybody.

“You can’t help but think that it could have been prevented. Maybe we could have stopped her going that day.”

But the judge told the court nobody could have expected the defendant to carry out his claims.

Ms Oatley added: “The truth is, I’m still looking for answers. I just wish he would explain to me why he did it and what exactly happened.”

Taking into account the time Davies has already spent in custody, he will have to serve a minimum of 13 years and 53 days before he is considered for parole.

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Rebecca Aylward Murder: Mum Says Killer Joshua Davies Is "Pure Evil"

The mother of a teenager battered to death by her ex-boyfriend after he was promised a free breakfast for the killing branded the thug “barbaric” yesterday.

Sonia Oatley spoke out as evil Joshua Davies was beginning a jail sentence of at least 14 years for the sickening murder of Rebecca Aylward, 15.

The 16-year-old caved her skull in with a rock after their relationship ended bitterly and then covered his tracks using Facebook to pretend he had been ­somewhere else at the time of the ­gruesome killing in remote woodland.

After Davies was locked up, devastated Sonia, 44, said: “I just want to tear him apart. He is pure evil and I will never forget those eyes. It was like looking into the eyes of the devil.

“I want him to be locked away for ever so that he won’t do this to another person, because I am convinced he will.

“I relive Rebecca’s last moments over and over again. I have no peace, nothing to console me. The pain and horror of losing Rebecca in such horrendous circumstances cannot be put into words. She was killed in a senseless and barbaric act. She died at the hands of someone she loved and trusted.

“I hate him. There can be no ­forgiveness. I want him to suffer the same way Rebecca did. I want his mother to know what this feels like. I want her to go through the same pain, because she created this monster.”

Cold and calculating Davies had bragged about how easy it would have been to kill Rebecca. In one text to a pal he asked “What would you do if I actually did kill her?” The friend replied “Oh, I would buy you breakfast.”

Two days before the murder Davies sent a text saying: “Don’t say anything but you may just owe me a breakfast.” The friend sent back: “Best text I have ever had mate. ­Seriously, if it is true I am happy to pay for a breakfast. I want all the details. You sadistic b******.”

Davies later bragged to pals about the killing. Judge Mr Justice David Lloyd Jones jailed him ­indefinitely for the brutal murder, one the most shocking involving ­schoolchildren in British history.

He told the brute: “You have shown yourself to be devious, ­calculating and controlling. You have shown no remorse. You killed Rebecca in the most brutal way when you struck her repeatedly to the back of her head with a heavy stone, ­fragmenting her skull. Her death will leave a permanent shadow over her family, who are devastated.You and Rebecca were boyfriend and girlfriend but that relationship ended with some bitterness on both sides.

“Over a period of months you told friends you were going to kill her.

“They did not think you were serious and they became bored by your repeated threats against Rebecca But you held a deep-seated hatred towards her which ultimately led you to kill her. You admitted to your two friends you had killed Rebecca.

“You thought their loyalty to you would prevent them from telling the truth.

“You then posted on to Facebook that the three of you had enjoyed a normal afternoon together.

“You also sent three text messages to Rebecca’s mobile phone, to a girl you knew lay dead.”

Killer Joshua Davies

Davies lured Rebecca to woods on a “date” close to his home at Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan on the day of her death. She happily agreed as she was hoping the pair would get back together despite their ­acrimonious split.

Rebecca, of nearby Maesteg, even bought new clothes for the date But she was ­tragically unaware the cynical thug had been telling pals he planned to kill her.

His plots included poisoning her with deadly foxgloves, drowning her in a river or throwing her off a cliff.

Earlier that morning he had breakfast with his best friend in a cafe at ­Aberkenfig. As he got up to leave and meet Rebecca, Davies said chillingly: “The time has come.”

Her lifeless body was found in the woods two days later after she had been reported missing by frantic Sonia.

During the five-week trial, ­prosecutor Greg Davies told Swansea crown court how the monster had bragged about the killing to his pals, despite efforts to cover his tracks.

He said: “Joshua told his friends ‘She was facing away from me and I thought ‘This is it, I’m going to go for it. I tried to break her neck. She was screaming so I picked up the rock and started to hit her with it. The worst part was feeling and seeing her skull give way.”

Davies denied murder and blamed his best friend for Rebecca’s death. But jurors saw through his lies and convicted him.

Mr Justice Jones dismissed the breakfast bet as nothing more than a joke between pals. He told Davies: “It was on the basis they were kidding. They were certainly not encouraging you to kill Rebecca.” The killer stood silently in the dock with his head bowed as he was locked up by the judge.

His family sat in the public gallery behind him. Rebecca’s heartbroken ­relatives and friends, including sister Jessica and brother Jack, nine, were in a ­separate gallery above them.

Sonia, who is campaigning for a return to capital punishment, wept as Davies was led to the cells. The judge allowed people in court to Twitter the proceedings of the hour-long sentence hearing.

Davies will be only 29 if he is granted parole after his minimum 14 years and released. He has already served 312 days on remand.

Outside court, Sonia sobbed as she said: “We will never forgive him for tearing our family apart so brutally and we would welcome a return to capital punishment for the likes of Davies.

“I will never forget what Josh did to her. He forfeited his human rights when he chose to take my daughter’s life.”

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