Lincolnshire has been labelled as a dog fighting hotspot after the RSPCA received nearly 250 reports in just four years.
New national figures from the charity revealed that there were almost 8,000 reports across England and Wales from 2015 to 2018.
Dog fighting was outlawed in England almost 200 years ago in 1824, but it’s still described as rife today.
Mike Butcher, a dog fighting expert from the animal charity, said: “While it’s promising to see that these figures are dropping year on year, it’s still staggering that something which has been illegal for almost 200 years and a bloody pastime which most people would consider consigned to history is still so rife.”
Dog fighting reports across the country seem to be falling, but the RSPCA say the 2018 figures are likely to be higher after some counties moved over to a new logging system.
It comes after another member of a dog fighting ring was sentenced for her part in a big case for the RSPCA.
Kimberleigh Steele avoided going to jail. Photo: Connor Creaghan for Lincolnshire Reporter
Knibbs is wanted in connection with a number of animal cruelty offences.
Kimberleigh Steele, 30, previously of Polyanthus Drive in Sleaford, was part of the ring which was headed up by her 55-year-old partner John Knibbs.
While Adam Scott, from Anglesey in Wales was sentenced to pay £3,080 in fines and 100 hours of unpaid community.
A warrant is also out for the arrest of Stephen John Gardener of Willows End in Bloxholm, Lincolnshire who failed to attend court.
Steele travelled from Ireland for a trial at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Monday, April 8.
At the trial, she was sentenced for aiding and abetting Knibbs as well as possession of a banned Pit Bull terrier.
Steele was given a 16 week suspended sentence, ordered to pay £615 in fines and banned from keeping animals for five years.
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Fire crews have been tackling a house blaze in Skegness on Monday which caused the road to be closed.
Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue were called to reports of a house fire on Wainfleet Road in Skegness at around 11.50am on Monday, where it was discovered that the property was “well alight”.
Everyone inside the property was accounted for but people in the local area were asked to keep their windows and doors closed.
Lincolnshire Police requested for traffic management on Wainfleet Road, which as of 3.50pm is still in place.
The Lincolnite has contacted Fire & Rescue for an update on what caused the fire and when the situation will be resolved.
The first 60 military reinforcements have begun their training to help East Midlands Ambulance Service cope with phenomenal demand and added pressures of staff shortages brought on by COVID-19 cases.
Armed forces were drafted in to work alongside the EMAS urgent care ambulance crews that attend non-emergency patients, in a bid to relieve pressure on the wider NHS system.
This decision was made after a number of staff members at the ambulance service were self-isolating with COVID-19, leaving feet on the ground to help with 999 calls threadbare.
The forces personnel will not drive in blue lights and will wear their uniforms while working with EMAS. | Photo: EMAS
EMAS’ clinical education teams have been showing the military the ropes. | Photo: EMAS
The 60 military personnel have now begun their training with the EMAS clinical education team, where they have been working on preparing to help patients who require inter-facility transfers, or those seen by a healthcare professional that require hospital visits.
The forces colleagues will not drive on blue lights and will wear their own uniform, but will be carrying out tasks such as safe moving and handling of patients and equipment, as well as supporting the use of defibrillation.
The familiarisation training will prepare the personnel for non-emergency situations. | Photo: EMAS
A spokesperson for EMAS said: “It’s been a pleasure to welcome the first of 60 military personnel to EMAS who will be supporting us with responding to non-emergency patients in the coming weeks.
“Our new colleagues have already started their three-day familiarisation training with our clinical education teams – including safe moving and handling of adult patients and essential equipment, and learning the layout of our ambulances.”
They will be assisting with patient response in the coming weeks. | Photo: EMAS
Tasks will include inter-facility patient transfers and taking people to hospital on advice of a medical professional. | Photo: EMAS
Military staff have also been called in at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust to help deal with staffing pressures in the county’s health sector, with 30 armed forces personnel assisting hospitals across Lincolnshire through January.
During his interview with The Lincolnite, Lincoln MP Karl McCartney said it was “right and good” that military forces were brought in to help healthcare staff during their “time of need”.
The military have been training with dummy patients at the moment, as they familiarise themselves with the tasks that EMAS face. | Photo: EMAS
He said: “Obviously we’ve got a proud link with our military forces here in this county.
“So it’s right and good that if they’re able to help and assist, and they can do well, then I’m very pleased that the senior managers within the NHS and Lincolnshire have taken that option, if need be to help them out in a time of need.
“It has been a very difficult time for all staff across the two years, especially within the NHS who’ve been on the frontline; whether it’s in the COVID wards to the ICU units.”
We have received reports of a group of teenagers behaving antisocially in the North Promenade area of Cleethorpes in the last few days.
These reports have included a third-party report that a man was allegedly assaulted by the group yesterday evening, Sunday 16 January.
Local Neighbourhood Sergeant Phill Eayres said: “We are aware of the reports and the impact that this behaviour is having on the lives of those that live and work in Cleethorpes.
“I want to offer my reassurance that we are taking all reports seriously and are following up various lines of enquiry in relation to the incidents.
“We are also regularly patrolling the area both to offer reassurance and deter further incidents and I would urge anyone with information or concerns to speak to us.”
Anyone with information that has not already spoken to us is asked to call our non-emergency 101 line quoting log 366 of 16 January or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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