Thomas Smith claimed he was a police officer when he was challenged. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
A man involved in a series of bizarre incidents as he walked the streets near Lincoln brandishing a pistol has been jailed for three years at Lincoln Crown Court.
Thomas Smith claimed to be a police officer when challenged as he walked around North Hykeham in the early morning and at one point told a resident that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was watching over them.
Chris Jeyes, prosecuting, said that Smith first attracted attention at 3.30 am when a resident woke up to discover him in his garden.
Smith was confronted but simply responded: “I’m with the feds. Wrong garden.”
Just over two hours later, Smith was seen by another resident who was driving along Taurus Avenue in the town on his way to work.
Mr Jeyes said: “The resident saw a man in the middle of the road. The driver stopped and went to open his window.
“Smith then opened the car door. He had a black handgun with him. The defendant ordered the driver to get out of the car and continued to point the gun at him.”
Smith demanded to see the man’s ID but when told he had none Smith then asked him to hand over his phone.
Mr Jeyes said: “The driver did so. The defendant saw it was an Apple iPhone. That upset him. He threw it on the floor and stamped on it.
“He then picked the phone up and threw it into the man’s car. Smith told the man to go away and as he drove off Smith kicked out and damaged the number plate of the vehicle.”
The end of the incident was witnessed by another resident who was about to go to work. Smith shouted at the man who could see he was holding a gun. The man, fearing for his safety, ran back into his home.
Smith approached two other residents demanding to see their ID and appeared agitated before he was confronted by a fifth resident on Tiber Road.
Mr Jeyes said: “By this time the defendant was topless. He was screaming and shouting.”
Smith grabbed at the man’s jacket screaming at him to hand over the phone.
The man pushed Smith away and Smith reacted by punching him. The resident overpowered Smith and took him to the ground. Other people in the street then helped restrain Smith until police arrived.
Mr Jeyes said: “The defendant was saying strange things while he was restrained. He said he was a police officer and also said he was a member of staff at the prison.
“He said Kim Jong-un was watching over us. He said that if he got loose he would rip their heads off.”
Smith went on to spit in the face of the police officer who arrested him. He was then taken to Lincoln Police Station, but while being interviewed he launched himself at an officer and had to be restrained again.
The gun was later found near to where Smith was detained. It was a 9mm pistol which was a blank firing weapon.
Smith, 43, of Caesar Road, North Hykeham, admitted two charges of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence as a result of the incidents on the morning of September 10, 2019.
He also admitted attempted robbery, two charges of damaging property, two charges of assaulting an emergency worker and a charge of possession of cannabis.
Michael Cranmer-Brown, in mitigation, said: “This was an extremely bizarre episode.
“It is perfectly plain that Mr Smith was having some kind of psychotic episode. No doubt that with his underlying mental health problems exacerbated by his misuse of drugs he was behaving in a way that was completely irrational.
“He cannot begin to explain why he behaved as he did. He says he is so disgusted by his behaviour.”
Mr Cranmer-Brown said that Smith had been a drug user for 25 years and at the time of the incident was coming off fentonyl and heroin and had been smoking very strong cannabis.
“He is normally a decent, kind and compassionate man.”
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Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s and Boston Borough Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Boston
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”
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