These Lincolnshire criminals were among those jailed in June 2020.
A prolific burglar who conned elderly victims after an open jail escape, and a man who threatened to blow up a police station, were among the Lincolnshire criminals jailed in June.
Here’s a round up of the significant cases resulting in prison sentences in the county from The Lincolnite and Lincolnshire Reporter:
David Appleton
David Appleton has been jailed for nine years. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
David Appleton, 49, from South Hykeham near Lincoln, was jailed for nine years after tricking his way into the homes of elderly people to steal cash and bank cards.
Matthew Percival was jailed for over eight years. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
An armed robber who held up a shop at gunpoint went on to threaten to blow up a police station when he realised officers were looking for him, Lincoln Crown Court was told. Gainsborough man Matthew Percival, 31, was jailed for eight years and nine months.
Ben Whitby was jailed for six years and nine months. Photo: National Crime Agency
A port worker from Grimsby was jailed for nearly seven years after being caught in possession of cocaine as he left work. Following a National Crime Agency investigation, thirty-year-old Ben Whitby was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.
Matthew Twitchen was sentenced to five years imprisonment. Photo: Northumbria Police
A Lincolnshire man has been jailed for grooming a schoolgirl online, convincing her to send him intimate photos before later engaging in sexual activity with her. Matthew Twitchen, 38, was sentenced to five years in prison, given an Indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
Martyn and Michaela Tasker (left) and Stuart Holmes (right) at Lincoln Crown Court. Photo: DANPICS
Military memorabilia hunters sparked a major environmental alert when they dumped Second World War mustard gas canisters in a Lincolnshire lake. Martyn Tasker, described by the judge as the prime mover, was jailed for five years. Michaela Tasker and Stuart Holmes were each given a 12 month jail sentence suspended for two years.
A Boston man struck his ex-partner so hard with a metal baton that the weapon broke during a sustained attack on her, Lincoln Crown Court was told. Stefan Darrigan, 29, was jailed for 18 months.
Gjergj Mhillaj and Alfred Smakaj were each jailed for 12 months. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
A large cannabis farm capable of producing up to half a million pounds worth of the drug was uncovered when police raided a property. Two Albanian men were jailed over it, but it’s not known whose grow it actually was. Gjergj Mhillaj, 25, and Alfred Smakaj, 24, were each jailed for 12 months and will face deportation when they are released from custody.
Jordan McGlann was jailed for four months and given a one month consecutive sentence. Photo: Lincolnshire Police
A drinker who was ejected from a town centre pub for causing a nuisance suffered a fractured jaw when he was chased along the street, Lincoln Crown Court was told. Jordan McGlann chased the man along Westgate in Grantham before the man fell to the ground. The man was later taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a fractured jaw. McGlann, 22, was jailed for four months and given a one month consecutive sentence over a separate criminal damage incident.
Kelly Bartholomew has been jailed. Photo: Humberside Police
A Scunthorpe woman was jailed for two assaults on police officers, including one during a search in custody. Kelly Bartholomew, 33, was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison.
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Monday has marked the first COVID-related hospital death in 10 days across Greater Lincolnshire’s hospitals, as inpatient numbers have fallen.
The death was recorded in United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT), which currently stands at 813 deaths in hospitals since the pandemic started.
Hospital spokespeople confirmed as of this morning, six patients were in ULHT facilities with coronavirus and four (one in Grimsby and three in Scunthorpe) in NLAG, a total of 10, down 41% from the start of May.
The last time there a coronavirus death was recorded in Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) was May 7, but before that it had been over a month.
There were no COVID-related deaths recorded last week (in and out of hospitals) in Greater Lincolnshire, with 307 cases – a slight drop on the previous week.
Patients with COVID in ULHT hospitals.
Pubs, bars, restaurants, and other hospitality venues are reopening indoors as the easing of the coronavirus lockdown continues from Monday, May 17, part of the government’s roadmap, which is moving onto step three of four, ahead of all restrictions being lifted on June 21.
However, there are fears that the easing of restrictions will lead to an increase in the more transmissible Indian variant of coronavirus, which has lead to an increase in hospitalisations in areas in the country such a Bolton, where mass vaccination and surge testing is ongoing.
Police were out on Monday reminding drivers in Lincoln about the driving restrictions on Brayford Wharf East.
The road was closed to through-traffic in October 2020 for a one-year trial to provide a virtually traffic-free route for cyclists and pedestrians to the River Witham path, the university, and to the city centre.
It means motorists cannot turn from St Mark’s Street or Rope Walk into Brayford Wharf East, although access will still be given to emergency vehicles and for business access.
This was introduced in a bid to encourage cycling in the area and a pop-up cycle lane was created as part of the Department for Transport’s emergency active travel fund.
However, this has not stopped drivers ignoring the road closures signs and using it as a rat-run avoiding Tentercroft Street (East West Link Road) and Pelham Bridge (soon to closed for repairs).
Two police officers and a marked car blocked Brayford Wharf East at the level crossing on Monday morning, reminding motorists the road is closed — as the big red signs at the junction show.
The road closure was introduced in October 2020. | Photo: The Lincolnite
A decision will be made later in the year as to whether to keep the new arrangement in place permanently.
Police were out on patrol on Brayford Wharf East in Lincoln. | Photo: The Lincolnite
A spokesperson for Lincolnshire County Council said: “We’ve just finished consulting on eight further prospective schemes to make cycling and walking easier across the county.
“Only those schemes – or elements of those schemes – with public support will be implemented. We’re analysing the results of the consultation now and will publish them soon.”
Restrictions are in place as part of a year-long trial, for which Brayford Wharf East is closed to through-traffic. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The county council was granted £105,500 from the first round of the fund to support temporary projects during the recovery from the coronavirus crisis, although there is scope for them to become permanent.
The Department for Transport announced the funding allocations for the second round of its active travel fund in November last year, with nearly £800,000 more government funding for Lincolnshire’s pedestrians and cyclists.
The council previously said that this money could fund measures including ‘school streets, where roads around schools are closed to motorists at school times, improvements to pedestrian environments and segregated cycle lanes.
It could also help fund low traffic neighbourhoods, where residential side streets are closed to through traffic to stop rat-running.
Lincoln’s 814th Mayor wants to include mental health as one of her top priorities.
Councillor Jackie Kirk will be handed the mantle of the City of Lincoln Mayor from Councillor Sue Burke during a meeting at Lincoln Cathedral’s Chapterhouse on Tuesday.
Councillor Burke has held the role for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic – the first to do so since the First World War. Councillor Kirk held the role of deputy mayor during that time.
Councillor Kirk has been a City of Lincoln Councillor for Glebe Ward since 2012.
“It is massive really in comparison to everything else that I’ve done across my lifetime and it’s an immense honour and privilege to be there to represent the city in the best way I possibly can,” said Councillor Kirk.
She is fully committed to her new role, having given up her job as a cleaner in order to carry it out.
The next-in-line councillor has not chosen a specific charity yet, but says her focus will be around mental health supporting organisations such as Shine and EDAN.
She said one of the main reasons for this was the coronavirus pandemic.
Councillor Jackie Kirk.
“Something that needs to be highlighted is the impact that COVID has had on every house, not just within the city in the county, and across the UK, but across the globe.
“It’s been horrific for a lot of people and it’s not just the health implications, it’s the emotional implications of losing people very dear to them, very close relatives and friends and distant family members.”
She said the disease caused constant worry whether it was about the virus, its mutations, lockdown or the vaccination.
She added the country had been “lucky” that vaccinations had been developed “at breakneck speed” but said there was “always that element on the horizon” things might get dark again.
Councillor Kirk believes the role of Mayor is as important today than ever – despite critics taking aim at the cost of the role.
She hopes it will help her other focuses on regeneration, growth and economy.
“Most people nowadays look at it within the budgetary concept, but don’t necessarily think about the historic significance the position holds across the rest of the United Kingdom,” she said.
The Lincoln Mayoralty is the third oldest in the country and Councillor Kirk wants to use that, elaborate on it and bring it to the fore of people’s minds.
“When the mayor of Lincoln steps out of the city or the county, it has a whole different meaning, it is highly respected far wider than the city itself.
“I want to try to use music to increase the Lincoln’s visibility within the rest of the UK.”
When she takes her place as chairman of the council, Councillor Kirk will be supported by Deputy Roseanne Kirk, who she said she had “always been good friends with,” and Sheriff Steve Dixon, who will be the first serving member of the armed forces in the position, and who she said she was looking forward to working with.
The Mayor’s Consort will be Michael Williams, while the Sheriff’s Consort is Lyndsay Dixon.
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