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The death of a Red Arrows engineer who lost his life after a jet burst into flames could have been avoided, according to the coroner investigating the incident.

Corporal Jonathan Bayliss, 41, from Ingham in Lincolnshire, lost his life on March 21, 2018, when a Hawk T1 aircraft he was in the rear seat of crashed on the runway at RAF Valley in Anglesey.

A coroner’s inquest into Bayliss’ death found that he died from smoke inhalation and a low grade head injury, as the pilot on board, Flight Lieutenant David Stark, survived after ejecting moments before the plane hit the ground.

Coroner Katie Sutherland rejected calls from Bayliss’ family for a conclusion of unlawful killing, and instead said she would send a report to the Ministry of Defence to draw up steps to be taken in order for future deaths to be prevented.

A Defence Safety Authority Service inquiry has resulted in 25 recommendations being made for future incidents, highlighting shortcomings in training for ejection procedures at the time.

In a report published by the DSAS, the Service Inquiry Panel said that the jet departed from the RAF Valley with the intention of simulating an engine failure in a training exercise.

It was then supposed to fly to RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, but during the training manoeuvre, the plane stalled and crashed near the runway, as it was flying too low to recover.

Ms Sutherland stated that the evidence suggested the crash could have been avoided, and the MoD breached its duty, but not enough to reach a conclusion of corporate manslaughter.

As well as this, it was discovered that surviving pilot David Stark did not breach his duty of care during the incident, and he was carrying out a practised engine failure on take off at the time.

Scientists estimate the new Omicron variant could be twice as likely to re-infect people as coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire jumped 20% in November and 50% week-on-week.

The first real world data from the scientists in South Africa showed a surge in the number of people catching Covid multiple times. The initial research shows Omicron may evade some immunity.

Figures from earlier this week show that there were 19,687 cases in November, while 92 deaths were recorded, of which 42 were in hospital.

According to the Government figures, between September 30 and October 31 there were 16,447 cases, an increase of nearly 20%.

Since Wednesday, the latest COVID stats for Lincolnshire have been:

• 2,329 new cases of coronavirus with 1,621 in Lincolnshire, 395 in North East Lincolnshire and 313 in North Lincolnshire.
• 15 further deaths were recorded in the government figures, including 13 Lincolnshire residents, one North East Lincolnshire resident and one North Lincolnshire resident
• One further hospital death at Lincolnshire Community Health Service

The figures leave the weekly totals at 3,501 cases, 19 deaths and 20 hospital deaths. Between November 21 and 26 there were 2,360 cases, a near 50% rise.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman has confirmed there are currently no plans to make vaccinations mandatory, according to Sky News.

They also denied separate lockdown measures for the unvaccinated in future.

“Our priority is to continue to promote vaccinations and promote boosters now that we are rolling out more and more boosters to more and more people.

“That is our priority, that’s our focus, and that’s what we’re asking people to come forward and take,” they said.

NHS vaccination data released on Thursday revealed 1,383,648 doses COVID jabs had now been handed out in Lincolnshire.

Of those, 553,946 were second jabs – around 87.31% of the total 634,453 population of Lincolnshire.

The data added 37,330 new doses to the statistics. It included to 34,945 booster jabs being included bringing the total to 230,170.

The remaining 2,385 doses was nearly 58% fewer than the previous week’s 5,628 – however, the Lincolnshire Showground did close during several days last week.

Some 569,654 people over the age of 18, and 29,237 under 18s had received their first dose. Figures also showed that 17,781 first doses had been given to 12 to 15-year-olds in Lincolnshire – 53.8% of the eligible population.

A total of 551,003 over 18s and 2,943 under 18s have been double-dosed.

In North East Lincolnshire a total of 265,204 doses of the vaccine have been administered, with 106,792 second doses and 41,981 booster jabs. 39.6% of 12 to 15-year-olds have been given at least one dose.

In North Lincolnshire, 302,142 doses have been handed out, with 119,010 being double-jabbed and 53,26 having a booster shot. 48.4% of the eligible 12 to 15-year-old population have been administered at least one shot.

A new study published in the Lancet has also shown that COVID booster shots dramatically strengthen immune defences dependent on which vaccine was given.

The UK-based Cov-Boost trial found those boosted with Pfizer after two doses of AstraZeneca had antibody levels nearly 25 times higher after a month.

Pfizer recipients saw antibody levels rose more than eightfold.

The biggest increase though was from the Moderna vaccine, which raised antibody levels 32-fold in the AstraZeneca group and 11-fold in the Pfizer group. When Moderna is used in the UK booster programme, it is given at a half-dose.

However, the scientists said that people started with different antibody levels and so also urged caution when comparing performance.

Elsewhere in the UK, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics said one-in-60 people in England were estimated to have had Covid in the week up to November 27. The figure was up from one in 65 the previous week.

England’s R Number, however, is estimated to be between 0.9 and 1.1 – down slightly from between 1 and 1.1 last week.

“We’re all tired but we’ve just got to keep going,” is the message from Lincolnshire’s health bosses as mask wearing appears to be in decline and COVID-19 fatigue further sets in.

It comes as there has been a noticeable decline in the number of people wearing face coverings, to protect both themselves and others by limiting transmission of the virus.

Many are sceptical of the government’s promise that Christmas will not be affected by the virus after last minute restrictions at the end of 2020.

Elsewhere, COVID-19 booster vaccinations are to be extended to people aged 18-39, and Lincolnshire’s NHS sector is gearing up to roll out to the next cohort.

NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group has announced it will be preparing to offer booster jabs to people between the ages of 18 and 39, but has asked for patience due to the large volume of requests it will get.

As well as the extended cohort for the booster vaccinations, the government has also announced a reduction from six months to three for the interval between second doses and boosters, eligibility for a second dose for 12 to 15-year-olds, and a fourth dose for immunosuppressed people if recommended by their clinical team.

A Lincolnshire Police officer has been summoned to court in connection with the assault of a man at the roadside on the A46 between Lincoln and Newark.

Eight months after tree surgeon Shane Price accused the officer of assaulting him, Lincolnshire Police said Jonathan Mellor, 52, of Lincoln has been summoned to court for an offence of common assault on May 26, 2021.

This matches the same date of the incident that was caught on a phone camera by a vehicle passenger on the A46.

After the incident Mr Mellor was removed from normal duties while a review and investigation by the force’s Professional Standards Department took place.

Below is the full uncensored recording The Lincolnite was sent shortly after the incident. We have not seen any footage from before or after the time of the recorded incident.

At the time Lincolnshire Police said they had arrested the man (Mr Price) on suspicion of possession of possessing a knife blade or sharply pointed article; and on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

He was later released under investigation, and it is not yet clear if police have questioned him again since.

On Friday, December 3 police confirmed that Mr Mellor will appear at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 23, 2021. The summons is in connection with the incident on May 26.

Police said: “As court proceedings are now active and ongoing, we ask people not to speculate about the case or what the final outcome will be.”

The incident was caught on camera

The video shows tree surgeon Shane after he said he saw a man driving in a black Ford allegedly obstructing the lane on the dual carriageway, whilst reportedly using his phone.

When the two of them pulled over and got out of the cars, he asked the officer why he’d taken a photo of him and his wife and about his driving.

The video shows him suddenly being punched in the face, having his foot stamped on despite telling the officer it had stitches in it from a chainsaw-related injury at work, before then being held on the ground.

Shane repeated several times he cannot breathe while the officer had him pinned down to the ground. The officer then released him and said hello to the camera.

In the days that followed the original incident, Lincolnshire Police said: “At around 9.20pm on Wednesday, May 26, a man in his 20s was arrested just off the A46, near Aubourn.

“He was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife blade or sharply pointed article; and on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. He has been released under investigation.

“Following this incident, an officer has been removed from normal duties while a review and investigation takes place by our Professional Standards Department. We will not be commenting further while this investigation takes place.”

Read our previous coverage here:

• Lincolnshire Police officer removed from duty after on-camera “assault”
• Man scared to leave the house, but wants justice after on-camera policeman “assault”