Crime

Arrest warrant issued for Moulton woman accused of theft from Spalding pensioner

An arrest warrant has been issued to secure the attendance of a Moulton woman at court. Maria Pridmore (35) was due to attend Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday (November 25) for a plea and case management hearing, but her legal team told the court that she said she was not fit to attend. Pridmore, of West Cobgate, is charged with the theft ...

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Raid on Long Sutton cash machine: four men admit charge

Four men are to be sentenced later next week after admitting a conspiracy charge following an attack on an ATM cash machine. Leo Smith (20), of Spriggs Road, Peterborough; Levi Smith (49), of Coniston Road, Peterborough; Dale Smith (28), of Malvern Meadows, Worcester; and Levi Mitchell (31), of Gibb Croft, Harlow, Essex; each admitted conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to ...

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Holbeach store caught selling alcohol to 16-year-old loses premises licence

A Holbeach shop has lost its premises licence after being caught selling alcohol to a minor. The action was brought against Liudwal Store in High Street after a police operation with a 16-year-old volunteer. It was the third time the shop had been caught selling alcohol to someone under-age. A hearing was held in front of the South Holland District Council ...

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Teenager upset at theft of £350 bike from Spalding workplace

A teenaged student has had his £350 bike stolen from outside his workplace. James Hedges (16) bought the Claude Butler Pagan model 18 months ago with money left to him by his late grandparents, so the bike has great sentimental value too. The green and black bike, which was locked to a rack near the entrance to Homebase in Westlode ...

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Report highlights risk of losing frontline officers due to cuts

Fears that Lincolnshire Police could lose officers from the “thin blue line” because of cash constraints have been backed up in a new report. Lincolnshire Chief Constable Neil Rhodes and Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick have welcomed a report by HMIC (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary) which suggests that current staffing levels cannot be sustained without additional funding being ...

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Elderly woman’s purse snatched as she shopped in Spalding

Police are investigating after a 92-year-old woman claims she was followed from the bank before having her purse snatched while shopping. The elderly Holbeach woman, who does not wish to be named, has mobility issues and uses a walker for her weekly trips into Spalding with a neighbour. On Tuesday last week she believes she was watched by a young ...

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Licensed premises and food handlers told to expect council officer visits

Licenced premises and food handlers have been warned to expect a visit by South Holland District Council officers in the run-up to Christmas. A focused effort will be made by the council’s licensing team in light of recent illegal activity in Spalding which led to premises licences for Europe Store, in Holbeach Road, and Global Foods, in Winsover Road, being ...

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Domestic abuse worker at Lincolnshire Police receives national recognition

Lincolnshire Police’s domestic abuse co-ordinator has been awarded the national award for her devotion to duty. Sarah Norburn was recognised with the Guardian Angel honour by the National Centre for Domestic Violence and the College of Policing in awards to celebrate the achievements of professionals tackling domestic abuse. Sarah said she was honoured and paid tribute to all the work that goes ...

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Four in court after JCB ram-raid on Long Sutton shop

Four men were due to appear in court today (Tuesday) charged with an ATM ram-raid at a Long Sutton store. Levi Mitchell, (31), of Gibb Croft, Harlow, Leo Smith, (20), from Spriggs Road, Peterborough, Levi Smith, (49), of Conniston Road, Peterborough, and Dale Smith (28), of Malvern Meadows, Worcester, were all charged with conspiracy to burgle a Spar shop in Long Sutton, ...

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Smuggled booze leads to Spalding premises licence revoked

A Spalding off licence caught selling smuggled alcohol has had its premises licence revoked. The action was taken by South Holland District Council’s licensing committee after Lincolnshire Police requested a review of the premises licence for Global Foods, based in Winsover Road. At a hearing last week, the committee was told that police officers visited the store on June 19 ...

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Jail for man who tried to blackmail Spalding’s largest pumpkin grower in Europe

A lorry driver who attempted to ruin a Spalding farmer after threatening to poison his crops has been jailed for eight years. Michael Young demanded £50,000 from Low Fulney grower David Bowman warning that he had injected the farmer’s pumpkins with deadly potassium cyanide. Young struck just a week before Mr Bowman’s business was about to harvest the crop for sale. Stuart Lody, prosecuting, said: “There is no evidence whatsoever that cyanide ...

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Warning after man duped out of £230 on phone

A warning has been issued by a Holbeach man who was the victim of phone fraud. Phillip Hixson says he feels “totally stupid” after setting up a Western Union transfer from his bank account on Saturday. The caller claimed to be from his broadband provider TalkTalk and wanted to help get his computer running faster. Mr Hixson (44) said: “I’m ...

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Criticism over ‘lenient’ jail sentence for retired teacher with 4,000 indecent images of children

A six-month prison term for former Spalding Grammar School head of music Eric Wayman for having thousands of indecent images of young boys has been criticised as too lenient. Wayman (63) was jailed on September 18 after more than 4,000 images – including some in the most serious category – were found on computers at his Gosberton home. Commenters on our ...

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Warning after Gosberton Clough couple fall victim to doorstep con

Police have issued a warning for residents to be on their guard after a couple in Gosberton Clough were victims of a distraction burglary. The incident happened around 8pm on Wednesday, September 9, at a property in Clough Road. A man knocked and the door claiming to be from the waterboard. He told the residents that he needed to find the stop ...

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Police investigating hit-and-run accident in Spalding

A Land Rover Discovery was so badly damaged during a fail-to-stop crash in Spalding that it was undriveable. The incident happened in London Road, near its junction with Haverfield Road around 10.20pm last Thursday. The van involved failed to stop and then allegedly ran a red light before crossing High Bridge and entering Church Street. Land Rover driver Chris Moore ...

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Appeal after theft of bronze sculpture from Whaplode

A Whaplode man is appealing for information after a sculpture bought for him and his wife on their 40th wedding anniversary was stolen from outside his home. The ruby shaped bronze was taken from outside Stan Hoyes’ front door in Churchgate overnight on Friday, August 21. Mr Hoyes said the bronze has great sentimental value to him as a gift ...

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Ask your policing questions direct to Insp Jo Reeves in The Voice

Do you want to know more about how anti-social behaviour is dealt with by police? Perhaps you have a question about policing levels in the district or how crime priorities are set? South Holland community policing inspector Jo Reeves is offering readers of The Voice the opportunity to ask her directly questions about the service. Whatever your query, Insp Reeves ...

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Two new PCSOs for South Holland and Jo’s inspector role is made permanent

Two new Police Community Support Officers for South Holland have started their beats. PCSO Jack Craft will become a familiar face on the Spalding estates and PCSO Tracey Abbott has begun her role in Crowland. They started their new positions last week – just as Jo Reeves’ role as South Holland community policing inspector was made permanant. Insp Reeves welcomed ...

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Custom-built bicycle worth £1,700 stolen in Pinchbeck burglary

A custom-built bicycle worth £1,700 was stolen during a burglary in Pinchbeck. It happened between midday and 2pm on Thursday, August 27, at a property in Cowards Lane. Police said: “The offender smashed the door off the shed and stole a Pinerallo red, black and white carbon fibre racing bike. “The bike was custom built and worth around £1,700.” Anyone ...

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Reward on offer after theft of Mr Whaplode memorial baskets

Family and friends have offered a reward to catch the culprits who stole hanging baskets from a memorial to a village stalwart affectionately known as Mr Whaplode. Police were called after the flower-filled baskets disappeared between 7pm on Friday, August 21, and noon the next day from the memorial to former parish councillor Alec Welch in the centre of Whaplode. ...

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