An inventor and YouTube star from Stamford now has retrospective planning permission from the council for a tunnel he started building in secret around three years ago.
Colin Furze, who has close to 12 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, completed a big section of his project earlier this year to build a 12 metre tunnel from his Lincolnshire house to his shed. It has now transpired that this was done without permission, although he has now obtained it.
Three years ago he started digging a tunnel in secret to go from his workshop to his house, and eventually onto the bunker in his back garden, so he can move between the two and ‘get away from the rain’. The tunnel comes up in a cupboard in Colin’s kitchen, which has been reinforced with steel and concrete.
Colin inside the tunnel. | Screenshot: Colin Furze YouTube
He uploaded the latest episode of his video series – part 9 of ‘Digging A Secret Tunnel’ – on June 16 and it has already been viewed over 3.4 million times.
Colin tried to answer people’s questions including the one he said he gets asked the most of how he get permission to do this from the council. He said the town council “strongly objected” but that he now has permission from South Kesteven District Council.
He also admitted the council didn’t contact him until around video five before going out to see him.
Colin busy working inside the tunnel. | Photo: Colin Furze YouTube
Planning documents from the district council show the bunker, which he built in 2015, was granted permission eight years ago.
However, tunnels to connect his house, shed and bunker did not have permission until recently.
Inventor Colin Furze has close to 12 million subscribers on YouTube. Stamford inventor Colin Furze recently uploaded a video to explain the latest progress on his ‘secret’ tunnel. | Screenshot: Colin Furze YouTube
Colin said: “The short and simple answer is I didn’t have permission for it…not until a week ago anyway. I didn’t feel like I could make this video which is why it’s so late, until I actually knew the outcome of the planning application.
“I am pleased to say it got planning permission, it’s all good.
“It wasn’t that I wasn’t going to tell them, it’s just that I always think it’s a bit easier to ask for forgiveness than what it is for permission.”
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A Lincolnshire man who lent his car to a major heroin dealer so he could source drugs for his then partner was given a suspended jail sentence.
Kevin Hislop, 43, was described as having a “limited role” in a larger conspiracy to supply heroin to the streets of Skegness.
Under cover police officers carried out test purchases of the Class A drug over several months in the Summer of 2017 in a special investigation codenamed “Operation Hazelbrook.”
Hislop admitted driving Paul Steven Wilkinson, 41, who was described as the “head of operation”, on two occasions and lending him his car for nine trips.
Lincoln Crown Court heard a total of 33 trips to ferry drugs were made from Leicester to the seaside town.
Six other people were also jailed for a total of over 21 years for their roles in the conspiracy.
Hislop, of West End, Spilsby, had been due to stand trial in July 2019 but his case was halted and then delayed because of the Covid pandemic.
When his case was re-listed following the pandemic Hislop admitted a charge of drugs conspiracy.
The court heard Hislop had admitted driving Wilkinson to Leicester on one occasion to collect some clothes when he was interviewed by police.
Almas Ben-Aribia, prosecuting, said that was in fact a lie, with Hislop making two trips with Wilkinson.
Miss Ben-Aribia added that the car in which the trips were made was registered in the name of Hislop’s then partner.
Michael Cranmer-Brown, mitigating, said Hislop had only got involved because he was concerned for his then partner.
“It is is quite unusual, but this man’s motivation was not to get drugs for himself, but to source them for his partner,” Mr Cranmer-Brown explained.
“He was concerned that she was rattling.”
Mr Cranmer-Brown said Hislop was now in a new relationship and was a hard working man.
“His employers are aware of these proceedings, he works for an engineering company,” Mr Cranmer-Brown added.
Passing sentence Judge John Pini QC told Hislop he could avoid sending him straight to jail because of his limited role in the conspiracy and his lack of other convictions.
Judge Pini said: “The conspiracy for which I have to sentence you goes back some five years.”
Hislop was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and must also complete 180 hours of community punishment.
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