The parents of a nine-year-old boy from Lincoln who died just before Christmas have paid tribute to a ‘very funny and imaginative’ child.
Alex Robinson died on December 23 after emergency services were called to a house on Pennell Street.
Police charged Alex’s grandfather Stewart James Greene, 64, with his murder on Christmas Eve.
Mr Greene, of Grimoldby, near Louth, will appear at Lincoln Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on April 24.
Ahead of his funeral on Thursday, February 19, Alex’s parents Joanne Greene and John Robinson released a tribute to their son.
They said: “Alex was very clever, very funny, very imaginative, a bundle of energy, and we miss him terribly. Every parent thinks their child is special but Alex really was. He wasn’t like other nine-year-old boys, not into football or anything like that, and he was really into maths, science and anything to do with mechanics or engineering.
“He loved trains and especially liked to go and watch the high-speed trains at Retford and Newark. He liked riding his bike, playing Minecraft on his computer, his iPad, his Xbox and playing his racing games. He loved cars and planes and anything to do with space.
“Alex was a sponge for knowledge, it was not enough for him to get half an answer about something, he had to go away and find out all about it and as soon as he had learned it once he always remembered it. He once went on a school trip to the local power stations and for a while was obsessed with them, we had to go past them whenever we were nearby so he could see them. He was really intelligent and anything he learned just seemed to stick.
“The one thing he wasn’t into at school was writing, he’d take maths and science over it any day of the week, but he did love to read and particularly any factual books. The teachers told us that Alex used to sidle out of his English lesson every morning at 9.25am and pretend to go to the toilet and the school soon realised it was because he was trying to get out of the lesson! He was very cheeky but there wasn’t a malicious bone in his body.
“Saying that, he was actually really good at writing and once won an award for a creative story he wrote, the teacher told him he could be an author one day and she’d be the first to buy his book. It was an incredibly proud moment and showed us just how strong his imagination was.
“Alex said he wanted to be a train driver one day and also said he wanted to own a Bugatti, we told him he might need another job on the side to be able to afford it!
“But then he also wanted to be a computer programmer or even a fighter pilot because he loved the Red Arrows. We believe he could have done anything he wanted.
“He had no filter and would often say just what he wanted but it was never badly meant. He was just Alex – unique, cheeky, and never nasty. He was the kind of child who if he was in a room you couldn’t ignore him. All of his friends at school, their parents, and his teachers have been incredibly supportive and we are hugely grateful to them, the messages of support we have received have been unbelievable.
“Alex used to be quite shy but as he grew up he became ever more popular and so many of his friends have told us how Alex used to cheer them up and make them laugh. One of the strongest things to come out of all this is the amount of love his friends had for him. We wish he knew that and hope that he did.
“Quite simply it’s been an horrendous time since we lost Alex. No parent should ever have to lose a son and especially at such a young age. We love and miss him so very much. The fact that he’s gone is still sinking in, it’s surreal. Alex has a four-year-old sister and without her it would be a struggle to get up in the mornings, she really has kept us going.
“We want his funeral to be a celebration of his life. It will be the toughest day of our lives so far but if we can we want people to be able to smile through their tears.
“We will be playing some of his favourite music – Kasabian and Green Day – and have asked people to wear bright colours such as red, blue or white. We have asked for family flowers only please and if you would like to please donate to Children With Cancer UK.
“It is a cause close to our hearts because Alex’s best friend’s brother has been fighting leukaemia. We are dreading the moment we have to formally say goodbye to our son but hope his funeral will celebrate Alex’s life rather than mourn it.”
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A teenager from Lincoln will embark on a marathon run to raise money for a charity set up after her childhood best friend died of cancer.
Jamie Elsom lost his life on April 22, 2019 after a battle with Ewings Sarcoma, a form of cancer, at just 12-years-old.
It came around when Jamie had a fall playing football as a 10-year-old, which initially looked fine but eventually developed into finding a tumour on his tibia.
Jamie Elsom devastatingly lost his battle with cancer at just 12-years-old. | Photo: Lynsay Mountain
After two years of tireless battles and endless treatment, Jamie tragically died in hospital, “leaving a gap which will never be filled”, according to his mum Donna Elsom.
One of Jamie’s best friends, Laurel-Ashleigh Mountain, 14, is currently fundraising for Jamie-Forever12, a charity set up in his memory.
Laurel will be running the equivalent of a marathon on Saturday, June 5 in memory of her friend, and has raised £590 by the time of publication.
The charity aims to give seriously ill under-16s a present each Christmas, something which was very close to Jamie’s heart.
Laurel’s mum Lynsay Mountain explained just how strong her daughter’s bond with Jamie was.
She told The Lincolnite: “They had been friends since preschool, becoming closer and closer as they grew up. They even called themselves brother and sister.
“Jamie and Laurel confided in each other and chatted every day, hanging out in the village when Jamie was well enough.
“When Jamie passed away, Laurel said it was like her heart had been shattered into a million pieces, it affected her both mentally and physically. It was awful.”
Laurel has been training hard to make Jamie proud. | Photo: George Holman-Brown
Laurel has suffered a lot with anxieties and insecurities since Jamie’s death, but she hopes this running challenge will be just the motivation she needs.
“Running the equivalent of a marathon will be a challenge, I’m a bit nervous but I know Jamie will be with me and be proud that I am stepping out of my comfort zone.
“For Jamie I would do anything. He’s my brother and I’ll miss him every single day of my life.”
A 24-year-old man has been jailed after a routine stop for no seat belt turned into a short pursuit in Gainsborough.
James Smith was driving a silver Subaru Impreza when he failed to stop for police on June 30 last year.
He was followed along Lea Road in Gainsborough, where he caused vehicles to take avoiding action. However, he also collided with two cars before turning into Foxby Hill.
James Smith was sentenced to 15 months in prison. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police
On Foxby Hill, the car then collided with another vehicle before leaving the road to the nearside. Three men were seen to run from the vehicle.
Lincolnshire Police ARV Unit said: “Luckily for the driver his running skills were better than his driving. Plenty of clues left behind though.”
Items left behind included a mobile phone, a baseball cap and a set of house keys.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Smith was the driver and he was charged with dangerous driving.
On April 7, Smith was sentenced to 15 months in prison at HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire. He was also disqualified from driving for seven years and nine months.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.
Update: The driver did indeed leave some clues behind and was put before the courts. Result: 15 months Custodial and a 7 year 9 month driving disqualification https://t.co/Kyo8D55aqspic.twitter.com/Eqynm0zEbK
— Lincolnshire Police ARV Unit (@LincsARV) April 15, 2021
Humberside Police has said it will be conducting “no further investigation” following allegations that the Conservative Party were distributing “illegal leaflets” during the Police and Crime Commissioner elections period.
It is understood North East Lincolnshire Council and East Riding Councils had both passed on a report of an offence under election law to the force on Wednesday.
It is understood the allegations centred around leaflets continuing to publicise the party’s former PCC candidate Craig Ulliott, who stepped down and had to be replaced just days prior to nominations for the poll on May 6, being confirmed.
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “On Wednesday, April 14, 2021, we were made aware of reports concerning allegations of fraud in connection with leaflets being distributed for the upcoming Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
“These allegations were referred to our Electoral Fraud department who consulted with the Electoral Commission.
“After these consultations, no offences have been identified and there will be no further investigation.”
Craig Ulliott stepped down as the Conservative party candidate for the Police & Crime Commissioner elections in the Humberside Police area. | Photo: His campaign website
Craig Ulliott stepped down after almost a year of campaigning, citing personal reasons.
It followed a series of questions raised over Mr Ulliott’s past experience with Humberside Police and his previous employment.
Candidates for the Humberside PCC election, from left, Jonathan Evison, Keith Hunter and Bob Morgan.
Labour candidate Keith Hunter has since called for an investigation into Mr Ulliott and his party over what he described as “a case pointing to a criminal fraud having been perpetrated against the public of the Humber area.”
He has handed his own case file to Humberside Police, which in turn passed the information on to an independent force for further investigation. This is understood to still be ongoing.
A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council said: “As a matter of course, we refer reports of any alleged offence committed under election law to the police.”
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