Thousands of Lincolnshire illegal cigarettes turned into electricity

People with suspected bladder cancer are being urged to get tested after a number of people chose not to attend their appointments due to self-isolation concerns.

Since June, over 70 people have turned down a cystoscopy test for potential bladder cancer, saying they wouldn’t be able to self-isolate for the required 72 hours before appointments.

People are believed to be rejecting the tests due to self-isolation worries as a result of work and other commitments, according to United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust.

The 72 hour self-isolation period before an appointment was introduced by the trust to try and keep hospitals safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients will have already spoken to their GP about symptoms, and are now being urged to book an appointment and get tested should one be offered to them.

Andrew Simpson, deputy medical director at ULHT, said: “We know that diagnosing cancer early improves health outcomes so having a test as soon as possible is really important.

“We appreciate people lead busy lives but we cannot stress how important it is for them to attend their appointment.”

A woman has admitted burgling a home near Bourne just three months after she was released from prison following previous burglaries in South Witham and Stamford.

Elizabeth Biddle, 43, pleaded guilty to the burglary in Edenham Road, Hanthorpe, during a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday.

The court heard items included jewellery, car keys, medals and coins were stolen during the burglary on the bank holiday afternoon of August 31, this year.

Biddle, formerly of Crabtree, Paston in Peterborough, appeared in court by video-link from custody at Peterborough prison.

A second woman has denied the same burglary charge.

Jodie Springer, 37, also of Crabtree, Paston in Peterborough, will go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court in February next year.

Biddle also pleaded guilty to a second burglary carried out at in a property in White Hart Street, Thetford, Norfolk, on July 12, last year.

On that occasion items including jewellery, a games console and passport were stolen.

Biddle was originally jailed for two years and eight months in September last year after she admitted taking goods valued at around £6,000 during a burglary in Tinwell Road, Stamford, on July 3, 2019.

She also admitted an attempted burglary in Empingham Road, Stamford, on the same date and a burglary in which a laptop and bank cards were taken from a property in Templars Way, South Witham, on July 30, 2019.

Biddle was linked to the South Witham burglary after she left her mobile phone behind at the scene.

Dianne Mundill, defending Biddle, asked for an updated probation report on her client after telling the court that she appeared to be doing well after being released from prison on licence earlier this year.

“She was released from prison in June,” Miss Mundill told the court. “This offence was in August.”

Miss Mundill said Biddle was also willing to provide help to the police to try and recover items stolen during the Hanthorpe burglary.

“She can give them the locations where items were left,” Miss Mundill added.

Recorder Paul Mann QC adjourned sentence on Biddle until after the trial of Jodie Springer.

But Recorder Mann warned Biddle that she was likely to receive another custodial sentence as she had committed the Hanthorpe burglary while on prison licence.

The Recorder told Biddle: “I will adjourn sentence on you until after the trial of your co-accused in February next year. Hopefully by March you will know your fate.

“In the meantime I have noted your offer to help the police recover the items, and I hope the police take up your offer “

A teenager whose driving was described as something out of the 1970s film Smokey and the Bandit while being pursued by police has been jailed at Lincoln Crown Court.

Patrick Kerrigan reached speeds of almost 100mph and repeatedly drove on the wrong side of the road directly at oncoming vehicles during the 30-minute pursuit.

Cars, lorries, motorcyclists and cyclists were all forced to take evasive action to avoid being struck by the transit van being driven by Kerrigan.

Kerrigan, who did not hold a full driving licence and was not insured, also took a roundabout the wrong way on the A46 and at one point went through a red traffic light.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said that the transit van being driven by Kerrigan had been stolen in Upminster, Essex, and was using false number plates when it was first seen by police at Pennell’s roundabout, South Hykeham, as it headed out of the city along the A46 towards Newark.

Officers tried to stop Kerrigan at Thorpe-on-the Hill but he accelerated away driving at speeds of up to 95mph.

Kerrigan turned off the A46 at the roundabout with the A1133 and headed for Collingham.

Mr Howes said: “He showed a flagrant disregard for the rules of the road. He deliberately endangered other road users by his speed and numerous inappropriate manoeuvres.

“He overtook in the face of oncoming vehicles and at Langford drove at 80 in a 40mph limit.

“As he approached Collingham he overtook and remained in the wrong carriageway. He then overtook two vehicles and went through a red traffic light.

“He drove straight towards two cyclists coming in the opposite direction. He was still doing 70mph in a built-up area.”

Mr Howes said that Kerrigan reached the A57 and drove towards Dunham Bridge and then into Nottinghamshire where he continued to drive dangerously through the village of Darlton and on to Tuxford.

He then drove back towards Lincoln. The pursuit ended after the transit van was slowed down by a stinger device and Kerrigan lost control colliding with a Tesco delivery van.

Mr Howes said: “The defendant was arrested at the scene. He gave a positive test for cannabis but at the police station he refused to give a blood sample. There was a 17-year-old male passenger in the van.”

Kerrigan, 19, of Telford House, Southwark, South East London, admitted charges of dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen of blood, driving otherwise in accordance with his licence and driving without insurance as a result of the incident on the afternoon of June 4 this year.

He was jailed for 14 months. He was disqualified from driving for three years and seven months and ordered to pass an extended retest before he can drive again.

Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight, passing sentence, told him: “This was extraordinary bad driving. It is very fortunate that no-one was killed or seriously injured.

Michael Conning, in mitigation, said the incident happened at a time when Kerrigan had moved out of his family home in London to stay in the Lincoln area.

“It was straight out of the film Smokey and the Bandit. He accepts all of the points made about his driving and apologises for it.”