A computer repair technician who used a social media site aimed at young teenagers in order to befriend girls and sexually abuse them over the internet has been jailed in England.

A former detective who was “pivotal” to the success of a £200m (€224m) plot to smuggle cocaine into Ireland was jailed for 22 years today.

Drugs baron Patrick ’Dutchy’ Holland, once accused of killing the journalist Veronica Guerin, was convicted today in the UK of masterminding a £10m (€12.6m) “honey-trap” kidnap plot.

Five men appeared in court today charged with conspiring to kidnap Victoria Beckham.