The sister of a man who was killed in an unsolved torture and murder 10 years ago broke down in tears during an emotional interview, asking if anyone can help give the family closure.
As previously reported, Alan Wood’s hands were bound with sellotape and he had been stabbed repeatedly in the head at his home near Bourne in 2009.
Murder victim Alan Wood. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
His throat was then cut, which was the fatal injury. The most disturbing element of the attack came after his death – a deep wound to the back of his neck suggesting an attempted decapitation.
Alan was seen for the very last time on October 21 and three days later his body was found in his home in Edenham Road in Lound near Bourne on October 24.
Family and friends gathered for a special reunion at the Willoughby Arms pub in Little Bytham. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
Family and friends gathered for a special reunion at the Willoughby Arms pub in Little Bytham during the evening of Wednesday, October 23.
Alan’s sister Sylvia Allett described him as a “very gentle kind man” and said “he liked a quiet life”.
In an emotional interview with Lincolnshire Police, Sylvia said: “Alan was brutally murdered 10 years ago, which was an absolutely shocking, awful thing, to happen to anybody, but it devastated our family and we haven’t got over it even now. Ten years on we miss him like crazy.
“To know your brother was terrified for hours and knowing he was going to be killed. They must have singled him out for some reason because you wouldn’t turn up where he lived randomly and knock on someone’s door and do what they did.
“They must have followed him back to his house at some point for a reason whether they thought he was somebody he wasn’t or they thought he had more money than he did, so that’s the biggest why, not even who, because there’s a lot of horrible people in the world, but why pick on him, and that’s the biggest question we would like to have answered.
“We’re really asking people if they have any information at all that can help find these people or person that did this to him, that they come forward and tell the police, because me and my family need closure.”
Lincolnshire Police’s engagement van has been in Stamford and Bourne this week. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
Martin Holvey, Senior Investigating Officer, said: “I am exceptionally grateful for the extensive coverage from the local media over the past week. These efforts have undoubtedly contributed to new information being reported which we are now looking into.
“I would also like to thank those who have visited us in Stamford and Bourne this week or who have got in touch with us.
“Even the smallest piece of information could be important to us – you will not be wasting anyone’s time and it could even finally bring justice for Sylvia and her family.”
Flowers laid where Alan’s home, Manor Lodge, used to be. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
A £40,000 reward is being offered by Sainsbury’s, where Alan worked, for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.
Crimestoppers have added £10,000 to the reward, bringing the total to £50,000, making it one of the largest offered in a UK murder investigation.
Anyone with information should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting reference 111 of October 9, 2019.
It can also be reported through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online here.
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A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to administer them at a Lincoln night club.
Police arrested the 35-year-old in the early hours of Friday morning after “swift and proactive” work in partnership with staff at a nightclub in the city, officers and CCTV teams.
The man was arrested on suspicion of drug possession with intent to administer them, in light of recent drink spiking incidents in the city.
It has sparked outrage, with a boycott of nightclubs and bars planned on Wednesday, October 27 to raise awareness of the issue.
Marc Jones, Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said the arrest was ‘superb’ and should send a ‘huge signal’ to any would be criminals.
A superb arrest! We cannot accept people being unsafe when they go out with friends for a drink. This arrest should send a huge signal to those would be criminals who look to prey on our community in this despicable way. https://t.co/dBaebzqbq4
Two Lincoln men have shared their ‘Wetherspoons paltry chip count’ experiences in the city after a Facebook group of the same name became a viral sensation, with one chip measuring an impressive 14cm.
Since being created a year ago ‘Wetherspoons paltry chip count’ has grown in size to nearly 72,000 members and gained national attention, with group admin Chris Allen saying: “I’m amazed at what has happened over the last few days, I never imaged this group would go any further than a few of my friends having a bit of light hearted fun.”
The purpose of the group is for people to share how many chips they got with their Wetherspoon meal, with some even getting their measuring tape out. Some have been served as little as 10 chips, while others were luckier with more than 60.
Lee Fowkes, who works in Lincoln as a mechanic, went to the Square Sail on Brayford Wharf North in Lincoln on Wednesday, October 20. His double chicken burger meal included 34 chips, which is considerably more than some other ‘measly’ meals posted about in the group.
The 19-year-old told The Lincolnite one his chips was 5.5 inches – almost 14cm – which he said he has been told is above average.
Lee’s portion contained 34 chips, including one measuring nearly 14cm.
Lee said: “I found out about the group that day and thought it was funny. Later that day, I went to ‘Spoons and decided to take part.
“It is a bit of light hearted fun and it is funny that people are making it so serious.
“I’d seen that some people had been getting quite measly portions and some were big so I wondered what mine would be like.
“I think it was a decently sized portion and I was satisfied. I enjoyed myself and it was a nice meal out.”
Dave’s portion came with 30 chips, with the longest measuring 9cm.
A 33-year-old University of Lincoln student called Dave used his iPhone measuring tool when he went to the Square Sail on Thursday, October 21.
His burger came with a portion of 30 chips, with the longest measuring 9cm and the shortest just 2cm.
Dave told The Lincolnite: “My friends told me about this group and said it was a laugh. After looking through the current posts I thought it was pretty funny.
“I love the lengths members are going through to measure their chips and giving a review.
“We happened to be in ‘Spoons the next day having a cheeky pint and I thought ‘why not?’ and that it would be a laugh to see if I get any responses.
“The portion was decent to be fair, I’ve definitely had less chips previously. After this I have decided I am now a self-proclaimed chipologist.”
The new-look Lush store on Lincoln Cornhill has reopened in the city centre, offering a first of its kind concept encouraging customers to recycle, as well as providing an easier shopping experience.
The store closed temporarily on Saturday, September 18 for a refurbishment and promised a “fresh new look” for customers to return to.
It reopened on Friday, October 22 with a new concept that categorises products and makes the general shopping experience easier for customers.
Lush’s sustainability programme is still present throughout the store, with the installation of new counter tops made of yoghurt pots and plastic packaging, as well as energy efficient LED lighting.
The Lush store required some TLC and got a fresh makeover. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Ethically sourced and durable materials have been used for the makeover, which has been described as the first concept shop of its kind for the business.
Part of the new idea is a ‘Bring it Back’ system, which will invite customers to bring back their plastic packaging from previous orders to be recycled. For each plastic Lush item returned, customers get a 50p deposit for their next buy.
The store has opened in time to get your Christmas presents ready, in line with a new festive range from the fresh cosmetics brand that comes with alternative Christmas packaging.
Richie Fennell from Lush’s shop and space planning team, said: “At Lush, we put sustainability and the ethical sourcing of materials at the forefront of not only the ingredients that go into our fresh handmade cosmetics, but also the design and construction of our beautiful and innovative stores.
“Lincoln is paving the way for the regeneration of our stores by upgrading existing furniture for a fresh new look, reducing our waste and environmental impact.”
A man from Lincolnshire has been given an award by police for his bravery after saving a teenage boy’s life as he talked him down from the edge of a bridge during lockdown.
Matthew Taylor, from Welbourn, was riding his bike home from work in Fulbeck when he saw a young man on the outside of the protective barriers of a bridge over the A17 on July 29, 2020.
He immediately became concerned and approached the boy to engage in conversation with him. After a while he managed to coax the boy to safety and chatted with him a bit more until the young man said he was okay to travel home.
The incident happened during national coronavirus lockdown while the streets were quiet, meaning there was a limited number of passers-by who could help the distressed boy.
Matthew said that the barriers were high enough to prevent someone falling over the side, meaning that him being stood on the wrong side could only have been intentional.
He told Lincolnshire Police: “I knew that there wouldn’t be anyone coming past who would see him because of the location, and I just felt that I had to stop.
“I said, ‘Hey, you don’t want to be on that side, come on let’s talk’, and eventually he came back to the safe side and sat with me. We talked for a while, and eventually he was okay and took his own bike home.
“I was able to track down his mum and called her to let her know what had happened, which was a difficult call to make.”
Later that day Matthew was contacted by the boy’s mother and father, who said they were eternally grateful for his act of kindness.
He was nominated for an award with the police and has been awarded the Area Commander’s Certificate of Commendation, given to members of the public who show courage and bravery.
The award was presented at the police’s Blue Lights Campus on South Park in Lincoln this week. Matthew was present with his wife and children and was presented with a certificate as well as a police mascot cuddly toy dog.
Chief Superintendent Jon McAdam said: “This award is in recognition of Matthew’s outstanding humanity and public spirit whilst cycling home from work.
“Matthew observed a young man standing on the wrong side of the barrier of a bridge spanning the A17. He stopped at the scene in order to engage with the vulnerable individual and successfully persuaded the teenager to move to safety. Matthew then took it upon himself to make contact with the parents in order to alert them to the incident.
“His intervention meant that the situation didn’t escalate into one which needed the police or other emergency services. Without his intervention, this could have been a very different outcome.”
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