This year has been a busy one for The Lincolnite, covering more stories for the people of Lincoln than ever. We look back at the most read stories and topics of the year:
Woman dies after being hit by bus
Photo: Emily Norton
On November 22, the High Street near The Ritz was cordoned off after a 36-year-old woman was in a collision with a bus. She was taken to Lincoln County Hospital with head injuries, but died from her trauma later in the day. The incident is still under investigation.
Power cut leaves Lincoln in the dark
Brayford Pool, plunged into darkness. Photo: Chris Brandrick
Lincoln was plunged into darkness twice on December 6 as power was cut across the entire city, affecting not only buildings, but also traffic lights, street lights, phone lines and even mobile networks. The blackout affected villages around the city as well as the Lincoln Christmas Market.
The power cut was due to to problems with the super grid at the West Burton Power Station. Western Power Distribution investigated the situation in order to restore the power, but even after that, some areas took longer to get their electricity back.
Postman dies while delivering mail
During the summer heatwave, a Lincoln postman collapsed and died while delivering post in the Ermine area. The main cause for the man’s death, who worked for Royal Mail for 29 years, is still unclear.
Police recover body from river
The area where police carried out investigations. Photo: File/The Lincolnite
Lincolnshire Police recovered a 93-year-old man’s body from River Witham in Lincoln on November 27, near Boultham Avenue. Divers recovered the body from the water, but there are no suspicious circumstances around the man’s death.
Man found hanging in Lincoln field
On September 24, a man was discovered hanging in a Lincoln field off Wragby Road. The man was named locally as 40-year-old Mark Watling, but the incident was not treated as suspicious.
Lincolnshire storm watch
The storm that never was: from October 27, The Lincolnite prepared a live blog after amber and yellow warnings from the Met Office about a storm. A storm with winds of up to 70mph was expected across Lincolnshire, with the multi-agency Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF) prepared for the impact that could be caused by the strongest winds to be forecast since 1987. Fortunately, the storm never affected the Lincoln area.
Man proposes with flashmob on Brayford Pool
One lucky lady and her partner became YouTube sensations in November when their flashmob engagement along Brayford Pool became the most talked about Lincoln proposal of the year.
Ian Burton proposed to Katrina Coupland with a flashmob that started near Chimichanga restaurant, with the help of dancers from Bishop Grosseteste University.
The group gathered crowds as they danced to popular tunes, the act ending with “Mary You” by Bruno Marz. Of course, she said yes. See the full video story here.
Armed police stand-off on Shannon Avenue
On June 26, police were called to the Moorland Avenue area of Lincoln after a police-installed alarm was triggered. On attending the scene at a block of flats on Shannon Avenue, they were met by a man in possession of what appeared to be a handgun. In conclusion, there were no shots fired and nobody was injured. The Lincolnite’s live coverage included police statements, tweets and images.
Man charged over malicious Facebook comments
In May, a man from Lincoln was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred on Facebook after police were notified of comments following the Woolwich attack, in which a soldier was killed. Benjamin Flatters (22) was charged with an offence of malicious communications.
After receiving a number of reports from local members of the community, Lincolnshire Police also issued a verbal warning to another Lincoln man. In addition, police increased presence in Saxilby in connection to the Woolwich murder as they raided the old family house of one of the men found guilty of the murder of Lee Rigby.
H&M and Next to open in revamped Waterside centre
The revised interior frontage designs of the Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln by LK2 architects
Shoppers in Lincoln were met with the news in April that the owners of the Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln had submitted plans for a £9 million redevelopment project. In addition to the introduction of fashion retailers H&M and Next to the city centre, the plans also included the reconfiguring of the centre’s main two trading levels.
On June 8, our live coverage of the event featured photographs and video updates from both camps. You can review the full coverage here. A further protest is planned in January, as well as a counter demo.
Police raid Saxilby home connected to Woolwich murder
The house in Hotchkin Avenue in Saxilby, near Lincoln, raided by police on Thursday, May 23. Photo: Steve Hill
Police investigating a terror-linked murder of a soldier in Woolwich, London, raided a house in Saxilby, near Lincoln, on May 23.
The house in the Lincoln village was thought to have belonged to the father of one of the killers. Inspector Simon Outen of Lincolnshire Police thanked residents in Saxilby for their cooperation in a video that can be viewed here.
Double stabbing on Monson Street
The suspect in the double stabbing incident. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
At around 5:30pm, on December 11, police were called to an incident whereby two men aged 20 and 33 were attacked by a man with a large kitchen knife. The two men’s injuries were not thought to be life threatening.
Lincolnshire Police released a CCTV image of the suspect who was said to have escaped down Monson Street. This case is still ongoing and the suspect is yet to be found.
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We are appealing for information about who may be responsible for handling more than 60 bikes which have been stolen from properties and public spaces around Grantham over the past six months.
We have been investigating an ongoing series of thefts from sheds, garages, gardens and from public spaces in the town, and now believe that there may be an individual, or group of people, taking possession of these cycles and either selling them on within the local area, or passing them on to people outside of the county.
As part of our investigations, we have attended all reports of bike thefts and carried out house to house and CCTV enquires, and taken positive action when a suspect has been identified. We have also been carrying out dedicated patrols in the areas we know offences have been taking place.
The bikes stolen range in cost, with the most expensive being an electric bike worth upwards of £2,500. The thefts have been carried out at different times of day and night, and in a number of different locations.
We continue to have a number of lines of enquiries we are following, but now ask for the help of our local community to provide us with further intelligence which could help bring those responsible to justice. We would been keen to hear from anyone who might know what is happening to the bikes, such as a location they may be stored at, or who may be in possession of them.
We’re also keen to hear from anyone with information or footage of any thefts, as well as any thefts not yet reported to us.
Sergeant Lee Mayfield, from the Grantham Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said: “There has been a high number of bikes stolen from the local area in the past six months, and our investigations lead us to believe that there may be an individual or group, trafficking these bikes for profit. Bike thefts have a serious impact on the victims they are taken from.
“Every bike stolen belonged to someone who relied it for something in their life, be that to get to and from work or school, to keep fit, or to spend quality time with family, and there is a financial loss to the victims.
“Quite simply, these bikes had been purchased by the owners and the thieves are cashing in on those victims’ investments. We are doing everything we can to get to the bottom of this and we would now like your help with our investigation.”
As part of our commitment to tackle bike theft in the Grantham area, we have made several arrests which have so far resulted in two prosecutions.
We have made several arrests which have so far resulted in two prosecutions. Two men pleaded guilty to stealing pedal cycles, from locations including Asda, St Peter’s Hill, and Welham Street. One was fined £350 and the other ordered to pay £100 compensation.
We would encourage anyone with a bike to mark their property securely, take photographs of it so it can be easily identified as theirs, and ensure you have the best lock and security for your bike as you can.
If you can help, please contact [email protected] and provide the information you have. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
Police are appealing for information after a man tried to burgle the home of a vulnerable elderly man in Wisbech.
The victim, a man in his 70s, was woken by a noise coming from downstairs in his home on Burcroft Road at around 12.30am on Saturday, July 2.
He saw someone attempting to prise open a window using a screwdriver. The victim challenged the man who ran away.
The male suspect has been described as wearing a dark jacket and dark trousers.
DC Pete Wise at Cambridgeshire Police said: “This was a frightening experience for the victim, and I appeal to anyone who may have seen a man matching this description in the area, or who has CCTV or doorbell footage that could help us, to get in touch.”
Anyone who does have information should call 101 and quote reference 35/47076/22 or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 5551111.
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