Matthew, 32, has lived in Australia for the last 11 years but had returned to Leeds to spend time with his nephews for Christmas.
He underwent emergency surgery on both eyes, receiving 27 stitches in his right eye and 10 in his left, but his vision is yet to return and he's worried his sight has been permanently damaged.
The business owner and dad of two is unable to return home due to his injuries, but the community has rallied around him to help support him and his family.
A GoFundMe page was set up on Wednesday and it's already raised more than £16,000 as Matthew and his family face uncertainty over his business and future medical bills.
Matthew with children Brixon and Meka-Rose (Picture: GoFundMe)
He had to undergo emergency surgery (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
The fundraiser, organised by Claudia Syron, said: 'Matthew now faces multiple surgeries and rehabilitation with no guarantees.
'Matthew has lived in Australia for the past 11 years, but due to his life changing injuries he is unable to return home to his young, beautiful family for the foreseeable.
'Along with being heartbroken and adjusting to life, nobody needs the added financial pressures in such traumatic circumstances.
'Upon his return his medical bills could be astronomical and he will undoubtedly need love, support and rehabilitation. With such uncertainty of his future, his business and income will also suffer.
'We have had an outpouring of love, well wishes and people wanting to show their support. We cannot thank you enough.'
Matthew fears he'll never be able to see his partner, Keonie, or their children Brixon, three, and Meka Rose ever again.
He said: 'I went to the toilet then came back. I was stood at the bar with my brother and friends then all of a sudden [someone] slammed a glass in my face.
'I was instantly blind. I thought when it happened "I'm never going to see my kids again".
'I can't see out of both eyes. I can just see lights in my left eye and just black in my right.
Matthew with his partner Keone Rawiri and their children Brixon and Meka-Rose (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
'I wouldn't wish this on anyone – it's been the worst seven days of my life.
'It's scary – the world is a wicked place. This is just unbelievable.
'The only thing I care about is seeing my partner and kids again, I just want to give them a cuddle.'
West Yorkshire Police confirmed they are investigating a serious assault that occurred in the early hours of December 27.
The force said detectives are investigating the incident, which is believed to have occurred at around 12.30am, and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch.
A 37-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the attack.
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A prisoner of war tied up in Russian trenches believed this was the end as he was dragged to enemy territory – until a drone came to save him.
Footage shared by Volodymyr Zelensky's air assault forces shows the incredible rescue of the soldier.
In a video published on Telegram on Tuesday, he can be seen in a dugout, with his legs and arms wrapped in rope.
Ukraine's 95th brigade had deployed three crews of drones to help neighbouring units being stormed by Russians.
The unbelievable escape was captured by the drone (Picture: @Gerashchenko_en)
As one of the operators approached the area, he spotted the captured soldier and began flashing his lights at him, trying to get his attention.
It was a miracle he had survived at all as the Ukrainian forces had just bombed the trenches, the military said.
As soon as the PoW realised the drone was Ukrainian's, he began following it as it led him to safety.
'The paratroopers were working in an area controlled by the enemy,' a statement from the 95th brigade said.
The solider seen in the Russian trenches (Picture: @Gerashchenko_en)
'Many invaders were successfully eliminated. When the Russians were destroyed, they noticed a Ukrainian serviceman tied up in the trench. It was a fighter from another brigade.
'Our drone operator with the call sign Kevin began to attract the attention of that captive – flashing lights on the Mavic drone.
'The guy on the ground got his bearings, realised that it was his own and started following our drone.'
Running away from the scene, the PoW was faced with another Russian soldier, but the drone dropped its last grenade, killing him on the spot.
His rescue comes as Russia steps its attacks across Ukraine, launching hundreds of missiles of different types and Iranian-supplied 'Shahed' drones in the last week.
One person was killed in an attack on the city of Kropyvnytskyi and two energy facilities damaged, causing power outages for civilians.
One of the objects hit was a repair and production facility, Ukraine's national grid operator Ukrenergo said on the Telegram messaging app.
'The damage did not cause any failures in the main network,' Ukrenergo added.
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Read on to see what readers think about this issue, among others
<divclass="metro-factbox"data-colour="blue"data-track-module="factbox_article"><h2class="metro-factbox-title blue exclamation"><iclass="icon icon-exclaim"></i>'IfonlymorepeoplehadtheintegrityofMrBates.'</h2><divclass="metro-factbox-content blue"><p><figureclass=" img-container shareable-item wp-caption"style="max-width:540px"><divclass="img-wrap"><imgloading="lazy"decoding="async"src="https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SEI_185294305-a342-e1703776290633.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024"class="wp-image-20030626"alt="1779"title="1116"alt="Mandatory Credit: Photo by Roland Hoskins/ANL/REX/Shutterstock (10496720a) Alan Bates Partner Suzanne Sercombe Former Sub-postmasters Whose Lives Were Ruined After They Were Accused Of Stealing From The Post Office Branches They Ran. They Are Among More Than 500 Now Suing The Post Office At The High Court Claiming They Were Victims Of Glitches In The Computer Terminals And Software Suites They Were Given. Words Sam Greenhill. Alan Bates Partner Suzanne Sercombe Former Sub-postmasters Whose Lives Were Ruined After They Were Accused Of Stealing From The Post Office Branches They Ran. They Are Among More Than 500 Now Suing The Post Office At The High Court Claiming They Were"/></div><figcaption><strong>WhensubpostmasterAlanBateswasaccusedoftheftbyhisemployers,herefusedtobackdown</strong>(Credits:RolandHoskins/ANL/REX/Shutterstock)</figcaption></figure></p>
How good was it to hear that Alan Bates, from the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance, had refused an OBE (Metro.co.uk, Mon) because a certain person had held on to her own honour?
The 68-year-old exposed the miscarriage of justice that saw hundreds of his colleagues wrongly accused of theft and fraud because of the faulty Horizon accounting software.
His campaign was depicted in ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, starring Toby Jones.
He turned down the OBE because Post Office boss Paula Vennells, who presided over the scandal, still has her CBE.
If only more people had Mr Bates's integrity – especially those cowards in government. Ian, Glasgow
Did this happen to you? (Credits: EPA)
'The computer terminal locked up and account overdrawn'
I'm wondering how many Post Office customers were landed with overdrawn accounts like we were.
We used the Post Office to obtain holiday currency one Saturday morning. During the transaction, the computer terminal locked up. It was using the Horizon system.
After a restart or whatever needed to happen, I joked about the amount not coming out of our bank account twice. But, yes, it had, even though we didn't realise it at the time.
The next morning, my wife used the telephone banking service to pay a bill and we learned our account was, in effect, frozen because it was overdrawn.
The effect of this on our family was prolonged. The effects on the Post Office staff falsely accused of theft cannot be imagined. The arrogance of the high-level Post Office staff beggars belief. They must be held accountable. Michael Foster, via email
Ian (MetroTalk, Thu) asks why no one has been prosecuted over the Horizon scandal. Prosecutions are almost sure to follow the Public Inquiry that is under way. It's a scandal as bad as the Windrush scandal, the contaminated blood scandal and the Grenfell cladding scandal. Heads should roll. Scott, West London
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How will our NHS fare in 2024?
Will people taking responsibility for their actions solve our NHS crisis? (Credits: Getty Images)
What an ending to 2023 and start to 2024. My hubby, who is in an 'at risk' category, developed a severe cough on Christmas Day.
We tried all the usual remedies for three days but to no avail, so tried the GP – but there were no appointments for two weeks.
We were told to see the pharmacist, who said the GP ought to have emergency appointments and that we should try the GP's online system.
We went home and tried but the system was down and my husband got worse and developed a high fever.
We waited 24 hours for the system to come back but it didn't so we rang 111.
A lovely lady took our details and said we needed a prescription and that we would get a call back from an on-call doctor within two hours.
Three hours later, at 7pm, we got a text saying we wouldn't get a call until the early hours. By this time I was frazzled. What use was a call in the early hours? I wouldn't be able to go and get a prescription from anywhere in the early hours. At 7am I went and queued outside our GP surgery until it opened.
My husband is now being treated for a chest infection and I'm hoping he soon shows signs of improvement.
Several of my family, my husband included, are NHS staff. They simply cannot cope anymore. A&E is pushed to the limit by many drink/drug-related 'patients' and appointment no-shows.
Mental health units are dumping grounds for those the police cannot deal with.
People need to take responsibility for their actions and GPs must take up the slack. So distressing. What the hell is happening with our NHS? Mrs C, Leeds
'Hey, my kids ARE young – just tall'
Are taller children treated as too old for their age? (Credits: Getty Images)
In response to the Underground Worker (MetroTalk, Thu), who says parents are trying to get child fares for their children when they are obviously too old. My ten-year-old is 5ft 8in and my 12-year-old is 6ft. They had their childhood stained by people saying they weren't 'behaving their age' as people weren't expecting them to be so young. Dana Hamilton, via email
Great to see the Metro paper back after the Christmas break. It will take a few days to get back into the swing of knowing the answers to the crossword! Sara, Cheltenham
I clapped because I cared
Is it wrong with NHS workers to mock pandemic clapping or do they have a point? (Picture: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
I am disgusted by the picture of the striking junior doctor with the placard 'clapping doesn't pay my bills' (Metro, Thu).
I understand their frustration but to make a mockery of all the good people who (like me) stood religiously on our doorsteps to applaud their courageous devotion to duty during the Covid crisis, fills me with deep sadness.
I believe they deserve a decent wage, but we do not deserve such a dissing of our good intentions. Susan, Oldham
What are your thoughts? Have your say in the comments belowComment Now
How Jeffrey Epstein made his money and the big mystery at the centre of it all | AY611QA | 2024-01-04 22:41:39
The question of Epstein's wealth involves an odd relationship with the boss of Victoria's Secret (Picture: Getty; AP)
At a bail hearing in July 2019, the legal team for ex-financier Jeffrey Epstein declared their client had more than $550 million in assets.
The 66-year-old was facing a series of serious sex trafficking charges in a case that gripped the world's attention due to the potential ramifications for some very high-profile public figures.
Among several important questions about his behaviour, his friends and his fate was one that was central to Epstein's bizarre life: where did all that money come from?
Contrary to what some might think, we do know the answer. But one monumental mystery in the story of his fortune remains unsolved to this day.
By most accounts, Epstein was happy to tell his origin story to people with whom he was doing business. He was born to a middle-class family in Coney Island, New York City, in January 1953.
After dropping out of college, he found a job teaching maths at the city's Dalton School. His passion for the subject is said to have caught the attention of Alan 'Ace' Greenberg, the father of one of his students and the CEO of investment bank Bear Stearns, who told him he was wasted in teaching and should be working on Wall Street.
In 1976, Epstein started at Bear Stearns. He rose through the ranks rapidly – with his mathematical skill reportedly serving him well – and within four years he was a limited partner.
But the following year, he was fired. Early magazine profiles suggest he was just keen to start his own venture, but an investigation by the Wall Street Journal found he'd been sacked after being accused of allocating shares to someone people believed to be his girlfriend among other infractions.
Jeffrey Epstein developed close relationships with major Wall Street companies (Picture: AP)
Epstein did soon end up starting his own wealth management business, though: J. Epstein and Co. (later renamed Financial Trust Co.), which began trading in 1982.
This is where the mystery comes in. Almost immediately, this relatively mid-level financier was successfully running his own company with an extraordinarily audacious central tenet – it would not accept a client worth less than $1 billion.
According to a 2002 story in New York Magazine, Epstein began collecting clients straight away. One in particularly, who came his way in the mid-to-late eighties, would change his life.
<divclass="metro-factbox"data-colour="blue"data-track-module="factbox_article"><h2class="metro-factbox-title blue exclamation"><iclass="icon icon-exclaim"></i>WhoismentionedinthelistofpeoplelinkedtoJeffreyEpstein?</h2><divclass="metro-factbox-content blue"><pclass="">Almost200peoplelinkedtoJeffreyEpsteincanbenamedforthefirsttimeafterajudgeintheUSmadedocumentsfroma2017courtcasepublic.</p>
They include a number of notable public figures – although the mention of their name in the documents does not necessarily mean they were aware of any criminal behaviour.
Les Wexner is the business giant behind L Brands, which once ran retailers including Victoria's Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch. He took on Epstein as a wealth manager when his own fortune was rocketing up.
In the following years, the relationship between the pair grew unusually close. Far from just advising on investments, Epstein gained power of attorney, giving him absolute control over Wexner's wealth – and even leading him to write his client's prenuptial agreement ahead of his wedding.
The Wall Street Journal found that Epstein made around $200 million from his work for Wexner over a period of around 20 years.
Les Wexner has denied any knowledge of Epstein's illegal activity (Picture: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Fragrance Foundation)
In the 1990s and 2000s, he reportedly made millions more by inserting himself into various major deals for some of the world's wealthiest people and biggest financial institutions.
It all started to disintegrate around 2007, when he reached a deal with federal prosecutors and pleaded guilty to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution, ultimately serving 13 months in a work-release program.
Wexner cut him off, as did the bank JP Morgan with which he had been heavily involved for several years.
Nevertheless, he was still doing well enough 12 years later that his lawyers could declare more than half a billion dollars in assets, including four homes and two islands.
The month after they made that disclosure, Epstein was dead – and the questions about his life would only get more intense.
More Suff #us #uk #world #nz #HappyHour #la #ca #nyc #lndn #manila #politics #ArmUkraineASAP #sport #showbiz #fashion #PicOfTheDay #celebrities #motors #tech #InstaGood #top #QuoteOfTheDay #news #How Jeffrey Epstein made his money and the big mystery at the centre of it all | AY611QA | 2024-01-04 22:41:39 Source: IN TREND
By 1pm today bosses of 100 biggest companies earned what you get in a year | AY611QA | 2024-01-04 22:41:39
An average FTSE 100 boss will make on average £1,170 per hour (Picture: PA)
FTSE 100 bosses earned more than the average UK worker makes in a year by 1pm this afternoon.
The median pay for a FTSE 100 boss, excluding pensions, stands at £3.81 million a year, or £1,170 per hour, in the financial year ending in March 2023, according to the High Pay Centre.
This compares to the median full time worker's pay which is £34,893 a year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) said the analysis shows 'obscene levels of pay inequality'.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: 'While working people have been forced to suffer the longest wage squeeze in modern history, City bosses have been allowed to pocket bumper rises and bankers have been given unlimited bonuses.
'It doesn't have to be this way. We need an economy that rewards work – not just wealth.
'That means putting workers on company boards to inject some much-needed common sense into boardrooms. It means taxing wealth fairly.
'And it means a government that is willing to work with unions and employers to drive up living standards for all.'
The pay has been dubbed as 'obscene' by the TUC (Picture: PA)
A cap on bonus payments for bankers was scrapped last year meaning there is no longer a limit on the amount people who work for banks or building societies in Britain can receive in annual payouts.
FTSE 350 executives will have to work until January 10 before they earn more than the average worker earns in a year.
Meanwhile top lawyers at law firms like Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy will surpass the average worker's salary on January 8.
The top 1% of workers earning at least £145,000 a year will have overtaken what the average worker earns by March 29.
The High Pay Centre's director, Luke Hildyard, said: 'Lobbyists for big business and the financial services industry spent much of 2023 arguing that top earners in Britain aren't paid enough and that we are too concerned with gaps between the super-rich and everybody else.
'They think that economic success is created by a tiny number of people at the top and that everybody else has very little to contribute.
'When politicians listen to these misguided views, it's unsurprising that we end up with massive inequality, and stagnating living standards for the majority of the population.'
Catnapper who keeps luring away neighbour's pets told to move or face jail | AY611QA | 2024-01-04 22:41:39
Angela Montgomery, 50, 'shattered the peace' when she moved into the Winston Court retirement complex in Norton-on-Derwent, North Yorkshire (Picture: KTD Media)
A catnapper who has been in and out of court for trying to lure off her neighbours' pets has been given an ultimatum by an exasperated judge – move away or go back to prison.
Angela Montgomery, 50, 'shattered the peace' when she moved into the Winston Court retirement complex in Norton-on-Derwent, North Yorkshire, to be close to her late mother.
She was handed a restraining order for interfering with other residents' moggies in May last year but has flouted it on six occasions, landing in front of the same judge each time.
Montgomery, given a 12-week jail term in November after breaching a four-week suspended sentence, has now been told she faces another stretch unless she finds somewhere else to live.
York Crown Court was shown doorbell CCTV footage which showed her calling for one of the cats.
Eleanor Guildford, prosecuting, said on November 30 Montgomery was first seen outside her neighbour's window at about 1pm and continued to appear back and forth on the footage until 7pm.
The footage showed her walk past the property and call for a cat while trying to avoid being picked up by the camera.
There had been no other purpose for walking in front of the home, the court heard.
Montgomery was previously given a 12-week jail term in November after breaching a four-week suspended sentence (Picture: KTD Media)
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Ms Guildford said the incident caused the neighbour 'significant alarm' and resulted in them phoning the police.
But Rhianydd Clement, defending, said Montgomery believed the cats were hers, with one belonging to her late mother.
'Ms Montgomery tells me they are her cats,' Ms Clement said.
She said Montgomery had not had chance to engage with probation services and mental health support since she was released from prison at the end of November.
The defence barrister said Montgomery is now taking steps to seek counselling for the bereavement of her mother and anger management.
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, has given Montgomery a final chance, telling her to move home or face the prospect of being sent back to prison.
He deferred sentencing of Montgomery until June 18 for her to show she can stay away from the cats and find a new home.
'It is the only way to cure this problem.'
The Judge warned her that if she broke the order again, he would 'have to refer to' jailing her for enough time that she would lose her flat, adding: 'So, look for somewhere else.'
Residents at Winston Court, run by a housing association, are praying Montgomery heeds Judge Morris's words and moves away.
One said: 'She became convinced that her neighbour's cats were actually hers and it's caused a really awful situation for him, she simply won't leave it alone.
'She is always trying to entice the cats into her flat and despite warnings from the court she just wouldn't stop, and it caused him understandable anxiety.
'He was forced to put up two CCTV cameras either side of his door and didn't know what she was going to do next.'
Another neighbour added: 'This is a housing association property, and you have to be over 55 to qualify for a flat, which she is not.
'Most of the people here are elderly and simply want to live here quietly but that just has not been possible since she moved in, she's shattered the peace.
'It's very clear that she needs help and support. People here are hoping she pays attention to the judge and moves – but it would only shift the problem elsewhere unfortunately.'
Where is Epstein Island and who owns it now? | AY611QA | 2024-01-04 22:41:39
The sordid tales of Epstein Island will air in the new documentary (Picture: Reuters/Getty)
Court papers have today listed nearly 200 people linked to Jeffrey Epstein during his years of child sex abuse, with many of the alleged crimes said to have taken place on his famous island.
Epstein Island's official actual name is Little Saint James – and it's a small island off the coast of St Thomas in the Caribbean Sea.
Part of the US Virgin Islands, the small piece of land comes in at around 74 acres.
Currently, the main island is made up of a main mansion and a series of guest cottages, a helipad, a bath house, a cinema, and a library.
There is also access to a lagoon, as well as the beach.
Residents of the island also get the added bonus of a 90% reduction in corporate income tax if they were to employ at least 10 people.
Numerous women have come forward with allegations about what happened on the island (Picture: Reuters)
When did Jeffrey Epstein buy the island?
Jeffrey Epstein declared Little Saint James as his primary residence before his death in 2019.
He bought it for $7.95million in 1998 (approximately $12.5million / £10,230,000 in today's money).
In the 21 years he owned the island, residents of St Thomas and those who would frequent it renamed it 'The Isle Of Sin' or, most commonly, 'Paedophile Island'.
Nine years after the isle was purchased, Epstein was convicted for the first time of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
However despite the conviction he would continue to hold parties for celebrity friends and political pals.
The island is only accessible by plane or by helicopter, with Epstein using his private jet (later dubbed the Lolita Express) to fly guests over.
Epstein Island, while known for its sordid parties and alleged abuse, was also used for conferences and meetings by the billionaire's associates.
Before Epstein's first conviction, Stephen Hawking was photographed visiting the Island alongside at least 20 other scientists for a barbecue in 2006.
They were there for a science conference, paid for by Epstein, in the neighbouring St Thomas, before the party.
It's not suggested that anything untoward happened at the time.
Jeffrey was found dead in his cell in 2019, after running a child sex ring for decades (Picture: AP)
Former President Bill Clinton is alleged to have been one of the visitors of the island, but he has repeatedly denied ever going there and claims no prior knowledge of Epstein's illegal activities.
In Filthy Rich, a former worker on the island claims to have seen Clinton there with Epstein, at a time when there were no other guests present.
Virginia Roberts-Guiffre, one of Epstein's alleged trafficked victims, also claims to have seen him on a trip to the island.
Roberts-Guiffre also claims that, after being roped into working for Epstein, had sex with Prince Andrew at the age of 17, something the Prince has adamantly denied.
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich is available on Netflix.
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