who had started the afternoon in 20th place - a point clear of Wealdstone - broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Oscar Rutherford bundled in a loose ball after Shiloh Remy's shot had been saved Solihull equalised with 15 minutes left when Manny Duku nodded in from a corner at the near post Dagenham pressed for the late winner which would have kept them up and Josh Umerah saw his effort go just wide in stoppage time but relegation was confirmed following Wealdstone's 3-1 win over Halifax To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Dagenham & RedbridgeManager: Lewis Young Wyllie Match OfficialsReferee: Elliot BellAssistant Referee 1: Matthew ArchibaldAssistant Referee 2: Mark RyderFourth Official: Matthew JacksonMatch StatsKey Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. was found guilty of murdering Elijah Thomas and Marley Thomas in the bath I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A mother who killed her two young sons while in a psychotic state has been jailed for life Kara Alexander, 47, of Dagenham, east London, was found guilty of murdering Elijah Thomas, two, and Marley Thomas, five, in the bath at their home on Cornwallis Road in December 2022 At Kingston Crown Court on Friday, Mr Justice Bennathan sentenced Alexander to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and 252 days. Emergency services were called at around 3pm on 16 December 2022 after the bodies of the two boys were found by their father when he went to collect them for the weekend after Alexander had failed to return his messages. He found his two sons together, dressed in pyjamas, in the lower bunk of their shared bunk bed. When the boys’ father came downstairs to call for help, Alexander had run away through the gardens into a neighbouring street. She was found and arrested a short time later. The two boys were pronounced dead at the scene and a post-mortem examination established that both boys’ cause of death was either drowning or suffocation. Alexander denied murdering her children, claiming they had drowned in the bath while she was asleep. Sentencing Alexander, the judge said: “You drowned them both by your deliberate acts.” The judge remarked that she had been smoking “skunk” on the evening of the incident, as she had been doing every night for weeks. He said he could not reach any conclusion but that in her state at that time she intended to kill the boys, pointing out that she had “unspeakably” held the boys under water for “up to a minute or two”. The judge said that afterwards, Alexander had dried the boys and put them in clean pyjamas and laid them together in bed. “The bath was probably still run from their normal evening routine and I do not think for a moment that your dreadful acts were pre-meditated,” he said. While the judge saw every sign that Alexander was a “caring and affectionate mother” to both children before the events, he said she was clearly in a cannabis-induced psychotic state. Alexander had previously had a psychotic episode in 2016, according to the judge, who said cannabis likely played a part there, but that he could not be sure if she was aware it could trigger another psychotic state. The judge noted that in the same month of the incident, Alexander had spoken to two members of her social circle about her cannabis use. They knew she was looking after two small children and at least one knew of her previous psychotic episode. “Yet neither of them warned you of any risk or sounded any note of caution at all,” he said. He said Alexander would mourn her sons for the rest of her life. In his closing remarks, the judge warned of the dangers of drugs: “The heavy use of skunk or other hyper-strong strains of cannabis can plunge people into a mental health crisis in which they may harm themselves or others. “If any drug user does not know that, it’s about time they did”, he added. “At your trial, Kara Alexander, the three psychiatrists who gave evidence disagreed about a number of things, but on that they were unanimous.” Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation, said: “This is an incredibly tragic case, which has left a father without his two beloved boys and a family without two young brothers. “Kara Alexander will spend the next two decades behind bars, where the memory of what she has done will haunt her forever. “To the family and friends of Elijah and Marley, while no amount of time will erase the pain of such a loss, I hope this sentence serves to bring some semblance of justice. “I hope you can now move on with your life, remembering the boys as you knew them, and treasuring the happy times you spent with them.” in the bath is jailed","description":"Kara Alexander jobs and ticket giveaways from Barking and Dagenham Council Sign up to our One Borough newsletter Help us improve the cost of living support in Barking and Dagenham by taking part in our survey Your feedback is invaluable in enhancing the support we offer Following the council's petition to TfL to begin work to make Dagenham East station step-free local organisations are making their voices heard too.   UCL and more have joined Barking and Dagenham council’s campaign to make Dagenham East tube station step-free.  The station's usage has surged by 37% in three years with 233,694 users in January 2025 alone.    The station is situated in a key area for the borough that is continuing to grow Over a billion pounds of private sector investment has gone into the nearby area in the past decade and this looks set to continue.  Eastbrookend Film Studios and several schools and colleges are all situated near to the station – making the case for the implementation of step-free access even stronger.  The lack of step-free access is currently a major barrier for families with buggies and people with limited mobility to get around.  London East-UK and Eastbrook Film Studios’ owner MBS have all penned open letters setting out why step-free access to the station is vital for them.  The council is also pushing for Dagenham East to become a stop on the C2C line.  at Dagenham East would mean the station finally reflects the scale of change underway in the area and I hope TfL will support it.”  In an open letter to TfL from Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club, Managing Director Stephen Thompson said: “We regularly host crowds of between 1,800 and 2,500 but also rising to 3,500 at times.  “We provide ample disabled facilities within the stadium for both ambulant and non-ambulant users. I am sure that [the lack of step-free access] must affect many peoples choices when planning visiting our games.”  Kim Donovan, Principal of Brook 6th Form & Academy, said in their open letter to TfL:“This is not only essential for ensuring equal opportunities but also vital for supporting the economic and social growth of the area “We urge Transport for London and relevant authorities to prioritise this matter and ensure that the momentum of this positive change in Dagenham East is not hindered by the outdated infrastructure.” Residents can find out more about the campaign and sign the petition here.  West Ham United women's team slipped to a 3-2 loss at home to Aston Villa on Sunday Bringing an end to Rehanne Skinner's side's five-game unbeaten run a 54th-minute goal from Chasity Grant secured the three points for the Villains The Hammers had got themselves ahead in the contest after falling behind with goals from Shekiera Martinez and Riko Ueki but Rachel Daly's one-on-one finish levelled proceedings before the break Click the image above to view a gallery of images from the women’s team’s final home match of the campaign Site designed & built by Other Media, powered by Clubcast Harry Phipps came closest to giving Dagenham the win they craved five minutes into the second half when his header from a corner was saved by Braintree goalkeeper Henry Gray The hosts thought they had broken the deadlock in the 58th minute through Kyrell Lisbie but the effort was ruled out for offside Dagenham remain two points from safety with two games of the season remaining and are five points behind their 18th-placed opponents with just two matches of the campaign remaining Wyllie Match OfficialsReferee: Alan DaleAssistant Referee 1: Paul ListerAssistant Referee 2: Andrew HickmanFourth Official: Tolu SangowawaMatch StatsKey Braintree v Dag & RedBraintreeKeyDag & RedShotsBraintree Town 0Dagenham & Redbridge 000Shots on targetBraintree Town 0Dagenham & Redbridge 000Goalkeeper savesBraintree Town 0Dagenham & Redbridge 000FoulsBraintree Town 0Dagenham & Redbridge 000CornersBraintree Town 0Dagenham & Redbridge 000Head to HeadSeason so farNational League Help us improve the cost of living support in Barking and Dagenham by taking part in our survey. Your feedback is invaluable in enhancing the support we offer! Residents living with Parkinson's across Barking and Dagenham can access free fitness memberships at both Abbey Leisure Centre and Becontree Heath Leisure Centre through a partnership between local leisure operator Everyone Active and Parkinson's UK. The two Barking and Dagenham facilities are participating in this nationwide initiative, which provides full access to gym facilities, swimming pools and exercise classes for patients and up to three of their carers. This April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month and Everyone Active, which manages local facilities in partnership with London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, is urging more residents living with Parkinson’s to take advantage of the scheme. The free membership programme, now in its fourth year nationally, aims to help those managing the progressive neurological condition, which causes symptoms ranging from tremors and pain to anxiety. Currently, 40 people in Barking and Dagenham benefit from the scheme, with numbers increasing in recent years, reflecting the global rise in Parkinson’s cases. One of them is 49-year-old Becontree Heath member, Karen Cottrell, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 46 and uses the facility around twice a week. "I've been a member for two years and mainly use the centre for the classes but sometimes I will use the gym too. I really enjoy the classes - I've tried a few different ones but body combat and body conditioning are my favourite so far.  "I'm only early stages of Parkinson's but exercise is one of the best things and I feel so much better mentally after my classes. I totally recommend Everyone Active for anyone suffering with Parkinson's. The membership is easy to apply for and because it includes all of the classes too, I'm sure there's something for everyone." Hasan Romel, Everyone Active's area contract manager for Barking and Dagenham, said: “We are immensely proud to be partnering with Parkinson’s UK for the fourth year running, and truly believe the membership makes a real difference to the lives of those living with the condition and their carers.  "Physical activity plays a crucial role in symptom management and we’re creating an environment at both our local centres where people with Parkinson's and their support networks can exercise with confidence." Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader of Barking and Dagenham council, said: “I’m pleased to see the partnership between Everyone Active and Parkinson’s UK go from strength to strength. Being physically active is important for everyone and it's fantastic that more people across Barking and Dagenham will have an opportunity to benefit from free membership." The initiative comes as medical professionals increasingly recognise exercise as a key component in maintaining quality of life for those with the condition. Beyond traditional gym activities, participants can access specialised Synergy Dance classes online, designed to accommodate varying mobility levels. Medical clearance is recommended for those with additional health conditions before beginning new exercise routines. Subscribe to receive updates, access to exclusive deals, and more. The visitors had a great chance to take the lead when Joe Grey was fouled in the penalty area but Emmanuel Dieseruvwe's ninth-minute spot-kick was saved by Daggers goalkeeper Jake Turner Hartlepool did go in front eight minutes later when Jamie Miley's dangerous corner found Louis Stephenson who headed back across goal for Grey to nod home via Dagenham defender Paul Kalambayi Stephenson was then booked twice in the space of three first-half minutes to reduce Pools to 10 men for 65 minutes Josh Umerah and Dion Pereira both hit the woodwork for Dagenham before Harry Phipps salvaged a point with a volley in the 87th minute leaving the east London outfit five points adrift of safety with four games remaining Hartlepool UnitedManager: Anthony Limbrick Waterfall Match OfficialsReferee: Martin RossAssistant Referee 1: Daniel CookAssistant Referee 2: Russell JonesFourth Official: Nick DunnMatch StatsKey BBC Sport football news reporterPublished25 April 2025Dagenham and Redbridge have apologised for sacking a director three days after her appointment for a post about the Israel-Gaza war Salma Mashhour was named director of development and engagement on 14 April, alongside Egyptian YouTuber Marwan Serry, who joined the club's ownership group, external with the aim of expanding their global reach But on 17 April, the club released a short statement saying Mashhour had been removed from her position "effective immediately", external On the same day in an interview with the Jewish News, external the National League side's managing director Steve Thompson had said "we do not tolerate racism or support for terrorism of any kind" In a now-deleted Instagram post from October 2023 Mashhour wrote that she did "not condemn Hamas international law violations and illegal settlements that created this genocide!" a great deal of public discussion and concern has arisen regarding the club's recent decision to end its association with Dr Salma Mashhour "We are aware of the strong reactions this has provoked across our fanbase and among wider communities - both in the UK and internationally "We want to address this directly and clearly Whilst we continue to stand against racism and discrimination in all forms the club recognises the right of individuals any harm which may have been caused to Dr Mashhour as a consequence of statements attributable to "The decision to remove Dr Mashhour in no way is an acknowledgement that Dr Mashhour supports messages of hate and division the club that could be taken to imply Dr Salma supports terrorism or engaged in racist or discriminatory behaviour are not accurate and do not reflect the club's position in relation to Dr Salma." The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023 in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage More than 51,300 people have been killed in Gaza since then according to the territory's health ministry Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Flammable cladding on the Spectrum Building in Dagenham was “almost completely removed” when the block caught fire in August last year Tickets are now available for Alty fans to purchase online for our crucial Vanarama National League clash at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) The Chigwell Construction Stadium's away section is all-seated behind the goal in the SD Samuels Stand with entry cheaper when buying before matchday if you're in the adult or concession bracket If you're aged between 17 and 21 you receive a further discount you MUST buy your tickets online before matchday as there is no on-the-day admission in this age category with under-10s only admitted with a paying adult or concession To buy your tickets ahead of matchday from our hosts simply click here On-the-day ticket purchases will be available online AND via the away end turnstiles (9 to 11) for adults 10-16s and under-10s by cash or card payment (including the relevant price increase) Disabled tickets will also be available in advance These can be pre-booked through the Dagenham & Redbridge ticket office on 0208 592 1549 Ext 2 Disabled tickets will be charged at the appropriate age category with a free carer ticket where appropriate We're once again delighted to be able to offer FREE away travel to this game thanks to our front of shirt sponsors AO in association with our friends from Union Golf Road All seats on the coach have been claimed, however, if you want to join the waiting list simply click here. Departure on Saturday is at 8:30am sharp from Station House in Altrincham. Josh Rees struck the bar in the early stages for the hosts and Dion Pereira flashed an effort wide of the target while at the other end Josh Passley was denied by Jake Turner before the break Pereira and Rees both saw efforts saved by Mark Cousins in the second half but it looked like Dagenham would fail to make the breakthrough until Jake Hessenthaler was fouled in the box in the 89th minute and Umerah converted Passley was sent off in stoppage time after an off-the-ball incident substituted for Alexander Aoraha at 83 minutesNumber 17 Tanga Match OfficialsReferee: Adrian QuelchAssistant Referee 1: Graham SwantonAssistant Referee 2: Andrew AylottFourth Official: Harrison BlairMatch StatsKey Daggers skipper Rees started the rout when his long-range shot flew in off a post after only seven minutes Rees grabbed another with a neat finish and Harry Phipps headed the hosts into a 3-0 lead with less than half an hour gone Dion Pereira made it four from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time Rees completed his treble with a cheeky backheel and Charlie Olson's own goal made it six before Joe Nuttall's late consolation Reddin Match OfficialsReferee: Richard EleyAssistant Referee 1: Stuart KaneAssistant Referee 2: Richard CarterFourth Official: Will BriersMatch StatsKey This year Barking and Dagenham has achieved first preference primary school placements in London Figures show that out of 3,038 applications 2,924 (96.25 per cent) of placements have been offered their first preference far exceeding the capital’s average of 87.92 per cent and outperforming every other London borough This follows on from Barking and Dagenham having the highest secondary school first preference placements in London earlier this year Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement "I’m really pleased that Barking and Dagenham is consistently providing most of our young people with places at their first-choice primary schools Being at the top of London for both primary and school first preference placements this year is a tremendous achievement "The satisfaction of both the students and their parents as they prepare for this significant educational milestone I want to say a big thank you to the School Admissions team for their tireless efforts and dedication that made this possible." The council is encouraging parents and carers to accept their places by the deadline of Wednesday 30 April Barking and Dagenham Council has agreed its budget for 2025/26 amidst significant financial challenges affecting councils across the country approved at a full Assembly meeting on Wednesday 26 February outlines the key factors for the council's budget pressures These include insufficient funding from the previous government over the last 15 years inflation and rising costs for essential services especially in social care and children's services Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council said “2025 is the first time in years the core funding we receive from the government has risen But this does not make up for the lack of funding since 2010/11.  we receive 40% less funding than 15 years ago and barely 17% of our funding comes from Council Tax paid by residents Like many other councils we are caught in a perfect storm Funding for local services has not kept up pace with demand or the cost of providing services which has risen sharply.  “Local authorities up and down the country face a similar crunch This year alone we have made £16m worth of savings just to balance our books Other London Boroughs are being forced to make even tougher decisions.” Barking and Dagenham has high levels of deprivation and is seeing growing demand for services as residents face hardship with the ongoing cost of living crisis around £7 is spent on adult and children’s social care The borough is also young and growing - almost one in four residents are under 16 years old and 26,000 more people call Barking and Dagenham home than 10 years ago.  “But we remain committed to providing good services for everyone We have protected statutory services and we’re streamlining how we do things innovating and prioritising essential services such as social care to support local people.  “We have a laser focus on getting best value from every penny of public money that we spend It has been a huge effort as we scrutinise everything that we do and working through the solutions that are needed.  Council Tax will increase by 4.99% from April 2025 (excluding the GLA element) - 2.99% towards the general fund and 2% ringfenced for social care This works out as an additional £1.47 per week on an average Band D property.   Councillor Twomey said: “We know this will be difficult for residents and it’s not a decision we want to take But without more Council Tax we will be unable to deliver the public services residents depend on such as street cleansing and of course care and support for the most vulnerable in our society “Councils are facing severe financial pressures due to a legacy of huge cuts in funding from the previous government We have all seen the huge financial challenges that the new government has inherited And the damage to local budgets can’t be undone overnight.  “But this government understands that councils like ours need fairer funding and we’re working with them to push for our fair share of resources And we welcome their announcement of multi-year settlements for future years which should give us more certainty going forward based our communities’ priorities and ambitions for the borough and building new homes are still our top priorities This year we opened the doors of London’s largest film studio in Dagenham - the second of two film studios now in the borough.  “This will offer hundreds of skilled jobs and opportunities CU London has gone from strength to strength and our Adult College is supporting people to gain vital new qualifications We also remain London’s number one affordable house builder “And we don’t shy away from a challenge when it comes to finding better ways of doing things and achieving better outcomes for our residents in the last few years we have worked with our schools to remodel Special Educational Needs provision and create several hundred more local specialist places so more of our children can go to a local school I’m really proud that this is now seen as a model for mainstream schools in the rest of the country.” The council is committed to supporting residents who have been affected by the cost of living crisis Residents who are struggling to make ends meet are encouraged to get advice and essential support from the council, including help with energy costs, money concerns, food, and wellbeing.  Barking and Dagenham Council proudly hosted an Empowered Women Recognition Event honouring the exceptional achievements and inspiring contributions of women across the borough on Friday 4 April the event was a heartfelt celebration of resilience highlighting the women who are making Barking and Dagenham a better place for all said: “Today we came together to recognise and honour the dedication and inspiring contributions of women who have made a significant impact in Barking and Dagenham “The incredible women we’ve honoured today are proof that one person can create a ripple effect of positivity and change - many congratulations to them all Let’s continue to lift each other up and work toward a brighter more equal future for all in Barking and Dagenham.” The judging panel - comprising councillors and community partners faced the difficult task of selecting winners and runners-up across eight categories: The highlight of the afternoon was the announcement of the Barking and Dagenham Woman of the Year 2025 in recognition of her extraordinary strength as she took a moment to speak about her journey as an artist with visual impairment and her access needs Residents can view a special Women’s Empowerment Month virtual recognition wall at: www.lbbd.gov.uk/womens-empowerment-month-recognition-wall