Two men have been sentenced to 12 years in prison after a violent robbery in Cheetham Hill, where they made off with £45,000-worth of vapes.
The court heard how the pair had assaulted the driver of a Mercedes Sprint Van with a crowbar, before stealing it and moving the boxes inside into their own car.
Police tracked them down a mere minute’s drive away from the scene of the incident, thanks to the van’s built-in tracker.
Karwan Salar of West Drayton, London and Ribar Karim of Douglas Towers in Bradford were found guilty of robbery and possessing an offensive weapon and jailed for 12 years at Manchester Crown Court.
The incident in question occurred on Waterloo Road in Cheetham Hill on Wednesday 11 January this year.
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Salar, 31, and Karim, 35, had been the driver and passenger of an Audi A5.
They managed to bring the victim’s van to a sudden halt, then Salar exited the vehicle and began to threaten the victim for the keys to the van.
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The victim was then dragged out and assaulted with a large crowbar – the injuries he sustained to his arm required hospital treatment.
Ribar Karim and Karwan Salar have been jailed for the robbery of vapes in Cheetham Hill. Credit: GMP
He still bravely tried to stop the theft, tackling his assailant, but was eventually overpowered.
Police managed to track down Salar and Karim on Allison Street, where they discovered the van door wide open and the boxes of vapes being moved into the boot of the Audi.
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Detective Constable Elson, from CID on the North Manchester District, said: “We welcome yesterday’s result, which has seen two violent and dangerous men removed from the streets of Greater Manchester for a considerable amount of time.
“We would like to thank the victim, who, not only bravely tried to defend his property from these thieves but has had the strength to support this prosecution to a satisfactory ending.
“As a Force, Greater Manchester Police are committed to identifying, locating and prosecuting anyone who breaks the law, so this court case and result should serve as a deterrent to anyone who may be thinking of entering a life of crime.
“If you or anyone you know has any information in relation to a crime being planned or undertaken, you can contact GMP via 101 or through the Live Chat function on our website www.gmp.police.uk.
“Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity – Crimestoppers – on 0800 555 111.”
Featured image: Unsplash
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Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
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All students in England to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE
Emily Sergeant
All students in England are soon to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE.
Said to be part of the UK’s ‘enduring support’ for the Ukrainian community and continued commitment to stand with Ukraine and its people, young people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will now have the opportunity to study for a new Ukrainian GCSE, the Government has announced.
While the qualification will be open to all students, it marks a ‘particularly significant’ milestone for Ukrainian children and young people living in the UK.
It’s hoped that the introduction of the new GCSE will help Ukrainians to preserve a vital connection to their language, culture, and identity.
It’s also hoped that it’ll open pathways to future education and employment for all pupils.
In line with the other modern foreign language GCSEs that are currently on offer, the qualification will assess listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, while also recognising the cultural and historical contexts that shape the Ukrainian language.
Examination board AQA will now begin the next phase of development, bringing together language and subject experts to design what will be a ‘high-quality’ qualification reflecting the richness of Ukrainian language and culture.
Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, commented: “As they build their lives here in the UK, it is right that Ukrainians and their children should have every opportunity to maintain that connection to their heritage and to be proud of who they are.
“This new qualification is available to all pupils and will give them the chance to develop their language skills and celebrate Ukraine’s rich culture and history, while also opening pathways to future study and employment and strengthening our partnership with Ukraine.
“Through that enduring partnership, we are building the lasting ties between our countries that will see the young minds of the future move forward together, and foster connections that transcend borders.”
The Ukrainian GCSE is expected to be available for first teaching from September 2028 – with first assessments taking place in 2029.
Daisy Jackson -
20th July 2023 
