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Lincolnshire Police handed out eight fines after three house parties in the Ermine area of Lincoln, on the same evening COVID lockdown restrictions eased for outdoor hospitality and non-essential retail shops reopened.

Officers responded to three house parties on Monday, April 12 after the gatherings were reported at properties in Dunholme Court, Pine Close and Longdales Road.

Police said a relatively small number of people were found at each property, between six and 10 people. Those involved breached the national restrictions that are still in place for socialising indoors.

All three parties police disbanded were in the Ermine area of Lincoln. | Photo: Google Maps

Outside of Lincoln, there were no other significant gatherings indoors across Lincolnshire brought to police’s attention.

Police added that they were not alerted to any significant incidents relating to the reopening of businesses and services on Monday, April 12.

Chief Superintendent Jon McAdam said: “Firstly I’d like to thank the vast majority of people across Lincolnshire for being responsible since the latest easing of the lockdown restrictions, and the positive measures taken by local businesses in ensuring this is managed as safe as possible.

“The reopening of pubs, shops, gyms and outdoor venues is welcome news for us all, but it is crucial that we don’t become complacent and we continue to stick to the rules; ensuring we all play our part to keep ourselves and others safe and to prevent any possible resurgence of the virus.

“This has been a difficult time for everyone and whilst we have reached the next stage for the easing of restrictions it is important to remind ourselves that indoor gatherings are not permitted at this time.”

Humberside Police said the majority of the region enjoyed their first evening of socialising in local establishments.

However, the force also said that there were “lots of incidents of alcohol-fuelled disorder in Ashby, Ferry Road, Westwoodside, West Butterwick and Barnetby, resulting in five people in custody.”

Darren Downs, Assistant Chief Constable at Humberside Police, said: “For many people, yesterday’s lifting of restrictions meant a socially distanced queue at the barbers or hairdressers, for others it was the long-awaited ability to meet with family and friends in a social setting, be it the local outdoor facilities of a restaurant, café or pub.

“We are pleased that the majority of the region enjoyed their first evening of socialising in local establishments. We did see some incidents reported but they had no direct connection to the lockdown restrictions easing and involved disputes between families and friends.

“I would take this opportunity to remind people that we still remain in a situation where we need be responsible for our actions, and make sure we observe social distancing guidance that is in place for the safety and wellbeing of everyone.

“People should remain vigilant and do everything they can to continue to prevent the spread of the virus. Whilst restrictions have eased, adhering to guidelines to prevent the virus spreading must remain a top priority.”

Meanwhile, police also reported that two men died in separate incidents in Cleethorpes after collapsing in the street, but neither death is being treated as suspicious.

A man who helped set up a cannabis grow at a Lincoln home where police found drugs worth over £400,000 was given a suspended jail sentence on Tuesday.

Ahmad Muslim, 35, admitted delivering cannabis growing equipment to the house on Monks Road where a modern slave was used to garden the crop over a two month period.

Lincoln Crown Court heard police later seized 533 cannabis plants with a weight of 45kg from the property.

The house was one of four properties in Lincoln where cannabis was found, along with one further house in Middlesbrough.

But Adam Pearson, prosecuting, said Muslim’s only link to the drugs conspiracy was a limited role at the Monks Road address.

Mr Pearson said Muslim’s involvement began in October 2018 when he sent a message to a friend suggesting they set up a ‘grow house’.

In February 2019 Muslim drove from London to a hydroponic store in Wakefield with another friend and collected cannabis growing equipment which they delivered to the house in Monks Road.

Mr Pearson said that grow was gardened by a modern slave and estimated to have a street value of £417,000 when it was found by police.

Further investigations showed that in 2017 Muslim sent a photo of cannabis spread across the floor of his office to a friend.

During interview Muslim claimed he was only a delivery driver and did not know anything about the Monks Road grow.

Simon Grouchy, mitigating, said Muslim was a hard working man who would lose his car business if he was jailed.

Mr Grouchy added: “He comes from a good family who are at a loss to why he became involved.”

Muslim, of Halsway, Hillingdon, London, admitted two offences of conspiring to supply cannabis and offering to supply cannabis.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and must obey an electronically monitored curfew between 8pm and 6am for five months. He must also complete ten rehabilitation sessions.

Passing sentence Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight said she accepted the offer from Muslim to supply cannabis from his office was a stupid act of bravado.

The judge added: “He is clearly a hard working man who has done something incredibly stupid with a friend who was already immersed in that world.”

Meanwhile, five members of a gang that operated multi-million pound cannabis grows in Lincoln and Middlesbrough were jailed for a total of 22 years last month.

Muslim was only connected to the Monks Road address and no other properties.

One of the gang, Thuy Phan, recently had her assets confiscated after a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court.

Lincoln famous Castle and Steep Hill feature in footage for the new Age of Empire IV video game which is due to be released this autumn.

Age of Empires IV is being developed by Relic Entertainment. The game is described as taking players “on a journey through the ages as they command influential leaders, build expansive kingdoms, and fight some of the most critical battles of the Middle Ages”.

At the start of the Norman campaign, which is just one of four in the game, William of Normandy “sets forth on the hard-fought road to conquer England and become its new king”. Lincoln Castle and Steep Hill are shown in the ‘Normal Campaign Reveal’.

Steep Hill appears in footage of the Norman Campaign Reveal. | Screenshot: Age of Empires

Lincoln Castle features in the video game, which is expected to be released in autumn 2021. | Screenshot: Age of Empires

The other civilisations you’ll be able to play in are Chinese, Delhi Sultanate and Mongols.

IGN contributor and Age of Empires superman Leana Hafer got a first look and the game and a chance to talk to the development team at Relic.

She shared her thoughts and what she learned in a video uploaded to YouTube, including about the Norman campaign which shows footage appearing to represent Lincoln.

Recently Lincoln and Grimsby also featured in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but not such true to historic form as the AoE4. Read more here and here.