A man described by police officers as ‘truly evil’ has been jailed for life for killing three members of his own family and plotting a school shooting in Luton.
Nicholas Prosper, 19, of Leabank Court, Luton, faked a firearms certificate to fraudulently purchase a shotgun online, before using it to kill his mum, brother and sister less than 24 hours later on Friday 13 September 2024.
He appeared at Luton Crown Court earlier this week, where he received three life sentences for killing Juliana Falcon, 48, Kyle Prosper, 16, and Giselle Prosper, 13. He had previously pleaded guilty in a hearing last month, and he will now face a minimum of 49 years in prison.
An investigation launched by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit following the murders soon uncovered meticulous plans made by Prosper to carry out a shooting at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, which he had attended when younger.
Prosper, who viewed a significant amount of violent videos online and was fascinated by mass shooting events, intended to kill more than 30 people as part of his plot to gain notoriety as a mass murderer.
He was stopped from carrying out his plan when his family bravely attempted to fight him off, with their efforts alerting a neighbour who called Bedfordshire Police. He fled the flat but was arrested around two hours later shortly before 8am by two officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Sam Khanna said, “Our thoughts today are first and foremost with Juliana, Kyle and Giselle and all who knew and loved them.
“They should be who we remember, their names who we say rather than the person who carried out these despicable murders and who intended to carry out an unimaginable level of harm to innocent school children.
“In my entire policing career, which has included many years spent investigating murders, I have never encountered anyone capable of such horrific acts whilst showing no remorse. I have been utterly shocked and appalled by the actions and plans of the offender in this case and am pleased that this truly evil individual will now be serving a significant proportion of his life behind bars.
“This has been an incredibly difficult and complex investigation, and I would like to thank all the officers and staff involved in achieving this result today.”
Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy added, “Everyone at Bedfordshire Police is utterly shocked and appalled by the sickening actions of this individual and we are pleased he is now facing a significant time in jail.
“This was a lone individual whose plans were fortunately disrupted. I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of his family, the neighbour who called police, our officers who apprehended him, and all who have worked tirelessly to secure the compelling evidence which ensured he was brought to justice.
“I know this does not take away from the sheer horror of the incident and his sickening plans to target school children. I do not underestimate the impact on the staff, parents and carers of pupils at schools across the country, but particularly those associated with St Joseph’s School.
“We have worked closely with the local authority to provide support to schools across Luton and we would urge all staff and parents to make use of the support that Luton Borough Council has put in place.
“We will have community officers out and about around schools in the area in coming days, please do talk to them about any concerns you may have.”
Cllr Hazel Simmons MBE, Leader of Luton Council, said, “The details that came out in sentencing are deeply distressing, shocking and upsetting for everyone who knew the family, and also for pupils, their families and staff across our wonderful school community. Our thoughts are with all of them at this time.
“We are supporting St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School including the availability of counsellors for any pupil, family member of staff that needs it; as well as standing up wider support in the community for anyone that is distressed by the revelations in court.
“As troubling and concerning as these revelations are, it is important to remember that this individual was not able to cause any harm to the school and there are robust systems in place to keep children safe at school at all times. Security at Luton schools is constantly reviewed and monitored and in the last couple of weeks we have asked schools to review their lockdown procedures and school site security; and offered to support any school that feels they would like to carry out additional site security surveys.”
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a number of sexual assaults at an event in Milton Keynes.
Thames Valley Police confirmed they received reports that a number of people had been touched over their clothing and kissed at an event at The Craufurd Arms music venue in Stratford Road, Wolverton, on Friday night (14/3).
As part of their appeal, police confirmed that a 39-year-old man from Newport Pagnell has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault by touching. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.
Investigating officer PC Paige Barker said, “We are investigating these incidents and supporting the victims.
“We have made an arrest in connection with the incidents but we are appealing for anyone who was at the event on Friday and believes they may have information to please contact us via our online reporting form, quoting reference 43250126294, or you can call 101.
“We would remind members of the public that victims of sexual offences are entitled to life-long anonymity.”
Willen Lake have announced the return of Flavour Fest, packed with street food and family fun, which will take place on Saturday 12 April and Sunday 13 April.
This season’s festival of food features market stalls alongside a multitude of street food offerings, plus additional live entertainment, face painting, and an egg-stremely egg-citing Easter Trail.
This free-to-attend food festival is set to deliver a weekend filled with food, music, and family-friendly fun. Food lovers can indulge in a variety of street food options, with returning vendors from last year including The Rub, Lime Face, La Pitta and Urban Spice Box.
Guests can also enjoy stone-baked pizzas and an outdoor bar from the Willen Lake Café, who will have a stall in the square of the festival.
New for this year, the festival will feature a market area, showcasing local artisan crafts and produce, cheeses, sweet treats and more, perfect for a spot of Easter shopping.
Families will also have the chance to participate in the Easter Trail, a free and fun, seasonal activity for children to enjoy throughout the event. In addition, live music, a DJ, and face painting will keep the festival atmosphere lively throughout both days.
“Flavour Fest was a huge success last year, and we’re excited to bring it back for Easter with even more to enjoy. The addition of market stalls and the Easter Trail will make this a truly special event for the whole family,” said Tom Fogg, Senior Operations Manager at Willen Lake.
Beyond Flavour Fest, visitors can make a full day of their trip by exploring further activities Willen Lake has to offer. Thrill-seekers can test their limits at Treetop Extreme, or take on a round of Adventure Golf with friends and family. For water lovers, the lake offers a range of watersports, including stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and pedal boating. Those looking for a more relaxed experience can enjoy a scenic walk or cycle around the lake, take a boat ride, or simply unwind in the beautiful surroundings.
The Stables in Milton Keynes has announced details of an exciting new music week for young people taking place this summer.
Running from 11-15 August, The Stables Music Week will offer five days of intensive, fun and creative music making at the popular arts venue, where young musicians can come together to share their love of music, play with other young people and be part of an exciting group exploring different kinds of music – everything from classical to jazz, from rock and pop to folk, as well as trying out new instruments and musical styles.
Participants can also have the opportunity to make new connections with other young musicians and build their confidence, teamwork and communication skills. The week will culminate in an end-of-course concert in front of family and friends.
The Music Week is for any young musician, aged 11-18, who plays an instrument. There is no minimum grade requirement and there are no auditions, so it’s open to the widest range of young musicians.
The Music Week tutors are all professional musicians, teachers or leaders of community music groups, who are chosen for their inspirational musical leadership and commitment to coaching young people.
Graeme Surtees, Head of Learning & Participation, said, “The Stables Music Week gives young musicians a chance to play and learn together and experience making music as a team, in anything from a small band to a something the size of an orchestra! It’s a great way to make musical friends and whether you’ve played in a band or orchestra before or just haven’t had chance to yet.”
Applications for the Music Week are now open – for full details visit stables.org and search Music Week.
The centre:mk will be hosting the Neurodiverse Universe, which will be a brand new free 3-day event at the shopping centre to celebrate and explore neurodiversity.
The event will transform Middleton Hall into a celebration and exploration of neurodiversity, running from 21 – 23 March between 10:00am and 5:00pm.
The event is structured to bring together families, professionals, and individuals to shine a light on a dynamic world of support, knowledge and connection for those impacted by ASD, neurodivergence and mental health challenges.
Event Highlights include special guest Lisa Lloyd, co-founder of SEND Reform England and a passionate advocate for neurodivergent children, who will be offering support and community to those on a similar journey in a style known for humour and honesty.
There will also be interactive zones, with four uniquely designed zones covering sensory needs, mental health and wellbeing, storytelling and educational fun. Highlights include the Sensory Dome, Woburn Safari and the Sci-Fi Museum.
Expert-led workshops and insightful talks will taking place, featuring professionals like Andrew Frasier, Dimitra Charalambous, and Sascha McQueen. Special guest Lisa Lloyd, known as ‘ASD with a G&T’, will share her journey and insights on raising neurodivergent children.
SEND-friendly activities, storytelling sessions with Chip Colquhoun, yoga, sound therapy, and even a silent disco.
Neurodiverse Universe is an incredible new initiative, brought to centre:mk by charity organisation The Spectrum Place, fostering a more connected, informed, and supportive community for neurodivergent individuals and their families. A full programme of talks and activities for the event can be found on centre:mk’s website, www.centremk/whats-on
Kevin Duffy, Centre Director said, “We are really excited to be able to host this brand-new event. By exploring different aspects of neurodivergence, sharing experiences, information and most importantly, ensuring that the kids have fun, we gain a better understanding of everyone’s different needs. This can make a huge difference, which is why we hope we can bring more examples of events and activities like this to centre:mk.
“By coming to see and hear the challenges our neurodivergent community faces, we can all make small changes that could have a huge impact. A key part of our Little Things Campaign, we hope this initiative can make a significant difference.”
In addition to its lively events programme, centre:mk boasts an array of world-renowned brands including John Lewis, H Beauty, Marks and Spencer, Reiss, and more. The centre’s convenient location and ample parking make it an accessible and enjoyable regional destination, with everything under one roof.
For help and support for the neurodivergent community, please visit The Spectrum Place’s website:
www.thespectrumplace.org.uk
