A man has pleaded guilty to an assault in Lawyers Close, Holbeach, but the case has been adjourned for witnesses to be called at Boston Magistrates’ Court on March 27.
Karl Pearce (26), of Barley Sheaf Court, Main Road, Holland Fen, has his bail extended by Spalding magistrates.
A man of 72 facing a charge of assaulting his wife, causing actual bodily harm, was sent by Spalding magistrates to Lincoln Crown Court.
Terence O’Leary, of Spalding Road, Holbeach, entered no plea in court on Thursday. His bail was extended to December 19, the first hearing date in Lincoln.
A woman facing two charges of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting her entitlement to benefits will have her cases heard by Boston magistrates on January 6.
Sharon Atton (35), of New Road, Sutton Bridge, is accused of failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting her entitlement to housing benefit between November 27 2011 and June 16 2002 – and a similar charge with regard to income support between December 27 2011 and January 17 this year.
The cases were adjourned by Spalding magistrates on Thursday.
Three men accused of possessing cannabis in Spalding with intent to supply the drug to another have been sent to Lincoln Crown Court.
Jamie Hind (21), of Derwent Drive, Oakham, Kenny Saunders (19), of Malvern Walk, Oakham, and Jamie Williamson (20), of The Range, Langham, Oakham, appeared before Spalding magistrates on Thursday.
They are jointly charged with having 131.36 grams of cannabis on the A16 at Spalding on February 3 this year with intent to supply it to another.
No pleas were entered and the men were sent to the crown court sitting on April 3 next year.
Magistrates extended their unconditional bail.
I write with regard to the article in last Thursday’s Guardian entitled “Don’t let the elderly be lonely”.
It is spot on in the fact that many elderly people are left on their own due to relatives living far away etc.
It’s only right that they should enjoy a little company, especially at this time of year and maybe sons and daughters should try and make the effort to see their parents/relatives, especially at Christmas.
But what about people whose family lives have been less than harmonious?
What about people who’ve suffered abuse, be it physical, sexual, emotional or any other type of abuse at the hands of their parents/caregivers?
Should we be demonising sons and daughters who keep their distance for this reason? NO! Anybody who abuses their kids, in my opinion, automatically negate any right to company from them.
Whilst it’s true we should keep an eye out for our elderly neighbours, we should look at the bigger picture.
Cameron Johnston
via email
I would like to add a comment to Mr Thomas’s letter stating that we are lucky to have Mr Hayes as our MP.
I agree that Mr Hayes will back his constituents if someone is trying to close the court house or libraries, or if you want your local pub rebuilt or other local issues which are important to us, but when it comes to the much meatier subject of running the country Mr Hayes has shown that he will vote the way his superiors instruct him.
I do not think he was giving much consideration to any of his constituents who may be in the armed forces when he voted for maintaining the military option of intervention in Syria – a conflict few understand.
It is also a little known fact that his government has given £650 million of funds which was allocated by Brussels, for the regeneration of poorer areas of England, to Scotland and the other devolved countries.
The European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, has, quite rightly, demanded a ‘clear explanation’ for this action from the government. Mr Hayes has explained that this action was taken to keep the levels of financial reductions fair across the UK.
How can this be fair to his constituents when the Government already gives more money per head of population to the other nations of the UK?
Scotland alone receives over £4billion per year extra, enabling them to have free prescriptions, university education etc, etc, and more doctors and nurses per head of population than the rest of the UK.
Mr Hayes agrees that this allocation of funding is wrong and in need of reform but, after over three years in government, nothing has changed.
It could be that Mr Hayes has not achieved his current high position in government because he is a strong politician, but because he is guaranteed not to rock the government boat.
Phil Clay
Spalding
The annual Christmas drink-drug driving campaign has launched across Lincolnshire with five arrests by day four.
Drivers are being warned police will be conducting roadside checks and prosecuting those who drive while under the influence of drink.
As well as highly visible and well-signed breathalyser checks at all times of the day, field impairment checks will be carried out on motorists suspected of driving while under the influence of drugs.
Leaflets in Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish as well as English will also be distributed.
Chief Insp Stewart Brinn said: “Families torn apart by the spectre of drink and drug driving are left behind to suffer for all time the loss of a loved one.
“We will conduct checks at all times of the day to ensure drink and drug drivers are stopped and put before the courts.”
So far this year two people have died in drink-related collisions in the county, 13 have suffered serious, life-changing injuries and 69 have been injured.
Annually there are in excess of 12,000 roadside breath tests and more than 800 drivers have been prosecuted across Lincolnshire this year.
Spalding police will be targeting “morning after” drivers, as well as those out at night,
Insp Jim Tyner said: “The consequences of drink or drug driving have a devastating effect on our communities.
“Local officers, together with roads policing teams, will be active throughout the festive period, making sure those who get behind the wheel are fit to do so and not putting the lives of others at risk.
“We will be targeting the ‘morning after’ drivers, as well as those out at night, and will be carrying out field impairment tests on those suspected of driving under the influence of drugs.
“It’s very easy to make alternative arrangements, such as ordering a taxi or nominating a designated driver.
“Enjoy Christmas and start 2014 alive and well, and without the death of another person on your conscience.”
Members of the public are being urged to assist police by calling 101 if they suspect a driver has been drinking. Also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Energy firms handing savings to hard-pressed customers haven’t gone far enough to avoid accusations of profiteering at our expense.
New tax measures from the Government means energy firms are giving a little back.
British Gas owner Centrica will give its customers £53 from January – but this news comes two months on from its average price hike of £123 a year for the average dual fuel home.
Jean Ginders (63), from Spalding, says her 89-year-old dad heats only one room because he’s concerned about his bills.
She said Government steps to cut bills do not go far enough.
“I have been listening to what they have said on television,” she said. “It just shows how much money goes on administration and not covering the cost of the actual power itself.”
Kevin Davy (72), from Donington, said: “I personally am not struggling to pay, but I am sure people are.”
He says £50 cash back will “pay for just under a month”.
Mimi Witek (34), from Spalding, says bills are too high for most people to pay comfortably.
She said: “We can pay the bills because my husband and I work.”
Pensioner Howard Huett, from Holbeach, said: “I think there is an element of profiteering going on, but by the same token the energy companies have to get a reasonable return on their investments and the same goes for the shareholders otherwise the stock goes down.”
Robert Darkin (65), from Spalding, said: “Bills are atrocious. They are making a lot of money and they are charging more each time.”
David Porter (67), from Spalding, says £50 cash back is not enough and doesn’t make up for the tremendous price rises.
He said: “Bills are definitely too high.”
Christmas has come early for a brave four-year-old Sutton Bridge boy who has undergone major surgery to help him to walk.
Workers at Bakkavor are donating £200 to the fund that will pay for the intensive physiotherapy needed so Joshua Holmes can one day take his first steps.
Joshua, who has severe cerebral palsy, travelled to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham on Friday for the pioneering operation to remove the stiffness in his legs and free him from pain.
Mum Aimee was delighted about the donation when the Spalding Guardian told her the news on Tuesday.
She said: “Each physiotherapy session costs £75 so that will really get us started.
“We are so grateful for the help.
“Joshua is now back home and although he’s still in some discomfort and pain he’s coping really well.
“He’s so brave and full of smiles.
“The operation went really well. I had four-and-a-half agonising hours to wait for him to come out of theatre but the procedure was a success.
“It’s still early days and we have to go back for a wound check. But the physiotherapist is coming round tomorrow (Friday) and then I can start gentle physiotherapy at home while he recovers.
“We are really hopeful that one day he will take his first steps in his walker.”
Ian Cole, a member of the Bakkavor employee forum at Sutton Bridge, said his colleagues were so overwhlemed to read Joshua’s story they wanted to help.
He said: “The site employee forum is an interface between the employees and the management for each of the Bakkavor sites in the UK and Europe,
“We raise funds to help both the staff on site and also to donate to worthy causes and individuals in the local area.
“After reading the report about Joshua we would like to donate a cheque to the value of £200 to help towards the cost of Joshua’s treatment.
“There are so many worthy causes to support at Christmas but Joshua is local and has been through so much.”
To support the fund, visit www.justgiving.com/joshua-homes. Follow Joshua at Joshua’s SDR Journey on Facebook.
A doctor greets his patient in the waiting room at a Billingborough surgery.
It’s all part of the personal service already available at the New Springwells practice as nationally more pressure is being put on surgeries to free up hospital A&E wards.
With the latest government announcement that over-75s are to be promised a return to old-fashioned family doctors, the Free Press went along to meet the team and discover how they manage to deliver the personal touch while serving 6,000 patients across 72 villages and hamlets.
Christine Scholfield, practice manager, said: “All of our doctors greet their patients in the waiting room.
“It puts patients at ease when they don’t have to watch on a screen for their name and which room to go to.
“But there’s also a lot a doctor can tell from the body language of a patient just from watching them walk across the waiting room so it’s practical, too.”
Billingborough’s surgery has been in its present position by the village duck pond since 1984 with extensions being built in 2007 and 2010.
These include a new treatment rooms and dispensary and have enabled the surgery to become a training practice.
The practice has three doctors – Dr Jonathan Parry, Dr Hermann Keck and Dr David Murphy – and five nurses.
Mrs Scholfield said: “Patients can usually see the doctor of their choice so that’s like having a family doctor, although sometimes when you wake up feeling sick you are just happy to see someone.”
However, the surgery has not been without controversy. It’s Rippingale branch closed in March amid protests for it to remain open in spite of plans to provide transport to Billingborough for patients.
Mrs Scholfield said: “The premises were just not fit for purpose for staff or patients. The consulting rooms were small, one was upstairs, and the building was infested with vermin.
“We just want to put all that behind us now and look to give the best service we can to our patients.”
Improving its outreach service has been made possible by the practice’s medical equipment fund.
Treasurer Graham Eames became a fundraiser when he was so impressed with the service he received as a patient.
He said: “This year we have raised funds for insulated bags for vaccines and a second mobile heart monitor.
“We sell raffle tickets at the practice and our next big fundraiser will be a Burns’ Night in Folkingham on January 25.
“But next year we are also hoping to get more members of the community involved in improving the service by inviting them to join a patient feedback forum.
“We want to create a mini think tank. We’ve got a great surgery and we want to make it better.”
Police spotted a banned driver riding an off-road bike at 5mph while taking his dog for a walk.
Alexander Kennedy (26) – also known by the last name of Giddins – sped off over fields to evade capture after police saw him, but several days later attended an interview at Holbeach Police Station.
Marie Stace, prosecuting, said police spotted Kennedy at the junction of Lapwater Lane and Leadenhall Road, Holbeach St Marks, at about 5.45pm on September 28.
He was using the bike to walk his dog.
She said no L plates were displayed, Kennedy was not wearing protective headgear and there was no valid insurance.
Kennedy attended a police interview on October 7, when he admitted driving off across fields to evade capture.
Solicitor Anita Toal, mitigating, said: “I don’t think my client had really appreciated the seriousness of the matter because he tells me the road he was driving on is a very rural location, very quiet and with no traffic about.”
Mrs Toal said Kennedy had been “very foolish” to have committed the offence two or three weeks after he was banned from driving.
Spalding magistrates asked for a probation report before sentencing Kennedy.
Probation officer Kiran Patel said Kennedy told him he enjoys riding his bike across fields and didn’t take a helmet that day because he didn’t think he was going to go out on a public road.
So far as riding without insurance was concerned, he didn’t understand at the time what the impact might be on other road users.
He said Kennedy had lost his job laying block paving because of “continuous police visits”.
Kennedy was banned from driving on September 6 under the totting-up procedure – which is triggered when penalty points on a driver’s licence add up to 12 or more.
Magistrates sentenced Kennedy to a six-month community order with 80 hours unpaid work.
He must also pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Kennedy, of Keightley Road, Saracen’s Head, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, failing to stop when required by a police constable, riding a motorbike on a public road without insurance and riding a motorbike on a public road without protective headgear.
A Marine Reservist from Spalding is currently helping deliver much-needed aid to the victims of the Philippines’ typhoon.
Patrick Hoey, from Nottingham Royal Marines Reserve Unit, is serving on the Royal Navy amphibious helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious.
Patrick is serving with J Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines who deployed in August in RFA Mounts Bay for Cougar 13, the autumn deployment of the UK’s high readiness maritime Response Force Task Group.
Since then, Patrick has been involved in a series of exercises before being transferred to HMS Illustrious in Oman.
HMS Illustrious collected 500 tons of emergency aid relief stores in Singapore. Patrick said: “A lot of the stores had to be lifted onboard manually. We formed a big line and kept going until we had finished.
“It was a back breaking job but I can’t overstate how motivated the men were”
HMS Illustrious arrived in the Philippines on November 25 and immediately started the hard work of assessing the areas of most need and then distributing the aid.
Patrick went ashore to Sicogon, Calagnaan and Binuluangnan Islands just off the north east coast of the central Philippine island of Panay.
He said: “The people in these more remote islands had very little to start with. Now many of them have nothing or have lost loved ones.
“Some of them were in a desperate state, but they remained amazingly optimistic despite their circumstances.
“I hope we’ve been able to send them well on their way to recovery. There is real hope here now. It is quite an incredible thing to have been a part of.”
Patrick still hopes to be home for Christmas.
He said: “Clearly, we’ll stay here as long as we are needed, but we are already seeing longer term aid arriving in these more remote areas. “
Morale is on the rise at accounting firm Duncan and Toplis at the same time as it is looking for new staff to join them.
An independent survey carried out among its 300 staff at Pinchbeck and nine other offices across the East Midlands showed that almost three quarters of them (74 per cent) were happy with their employer.
More than a third of staff (39 per cent) thought Duncan and Toplis had a number of strengths compared to other firms and just six per cent identified weaknesses.
The survey’s findings come as the firm plans to take on new graduate trainees, accountants, tax and audit specialists.
Human resources director Debby Brewin said: “There are lots of positives to discuss with the team and we will be working with them to look at areas where we can improve further because we want them to be happy.”
As the Care Bill moves to the Commons, there is a growing acceptance that anyone entering assessment for long-term care should be guided towards full financial advice.
Reform of the social care system has edged a little closer with the Care Bill now being considered by MPs after completing its passage through the House of Lords.
So what progress has been made since the opening debate in May and where do we go from here?
Described as “the most significant reform of care and support legislation in 60 years”, the objective is to create a modern framework for care in England that is affordable given the rapidly ageing population and pressure on public finances.
Caring for the elderly is an expensive business and a key part of the reforms is laying out who should pick up the tab – the individual or the state.
The Government has accepted the Dilnot Commission’s recommendations for a cap on care costs and a universal deferred payment scheme. But the success of the reforms will depend on ensuring people fully understand their financial responsibilities and can plan for care costs in advance.
A man who carried out a frightening attack on a pensioner after tricking his way into the 78-year-old’s home in a bid to rob him has been jailed for seven years at Lincoln Crown Court.
Jack Hempsall called at the home of his victim claiming to be looking for a £20 note he had lost earlier the same day.
Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said Hempsall was allowed inside the property in Quadring Road, Donington, after asking to use the toilet.
“He then asked for a drink of water. The victim fetched a bottle of water and handed it to the defendant. However Hempsall said it was too warm.
“The defendant shouted that he wanted the man’s money. He then threw the bottle which hit the victim about the eye.”
Mr Scott said Hempsall produced a three-inch bladed kitchen knife and demanded cash but was told there was no money in the house.
Moments later Hempsall left empty handed after locking the old man inside the house.
The victim contacted the emergency services and was later taken to hospital where he was treated for cuts around his left eye and bruising to both the eyeball and the eye socket.
Later in the evening Hempsall confessed to a friend saying “You know I told you I was going to rob somebody. Well I’ve done it.”
Hempsall, who shaved his head and removed his goatee beard in an attempt to disguise himself, also told a shop worker what he had done and was subsequently arrested.
Mr Scott said “This was a pre-planned attack on a vulnerable person in his own in which a weapon was produced.
“The weapon was used to threaten the victim and violence was used against him causing physical injuries.
Hempsall (24), of Park Lane, Donington, admitted attempted robbery on November 15 this year.
The court heard he had convictions for 42 previous offences.
Recorder Simon Medland QC imposed a restraining order banning Hempsall from contacting his victim for life.
The Recorder told Hempsall “It must have been very obvious to you that the victim was a slightly built man who was elderly.
“This was a mean and vicious offence which was pre-planned.
“There was an element of gratuitous violence. He presented no threat to you whatsoever.”
Chris Milligan, defending, said “He has shown remorse. He is disgusted with what he did.
“He has previous convictions but he has never done anything like this before.
“His only explanation is that he got carried away with himself. He was hard up. He wasn’t claiming benefits and he thought this would be an easy way to get some money.
“He bitterly regrets behaving in this manner. He is shocked and surprised at how serious the position he is in.”
Leslie Carter and his son Stuart keep an incredible stock of machines, parts and components at their West Pinchbeck business, C Carter & Son.
The workshop – formerly the village blacksmith’s – is also filled with every imaginable tool.
Many of them, including the block and tackle, are from the years when Cyril Carter, Stuart’s grandfather, was working as a blacksmith at the forge.
Stuart says: “Some things are a bit sentimental, especially to father, things that were grandad’s. He doesn’t like to think of getting rid of them.”
The old blacksmith’s forge is where Stuart has worked since leaving school.
He says: “Then, there was a little bit of blacksmithing. We used the old forge for four or five years, but we hadn’t done any shoeing for a long while.”
The workshop’s yard was formerly the Boat Inn.
The Lost Pubs Project, a record of pubs that have closed, also lists the Cross Keys, Cuckoo Inn, Fisherman’s Boy, Horse & Jockey, New Bridge Inn, the Packing Shed, Peacock, Rose & Crown and Wheatsheaf, all in West Pinchbeck.
It’s 30 years ago this year that Stuart Carter joined the family business at West Pinchbeck.
He was continuing a tradition that goes back to his grandfather and beyond, to a time when nearly every village had a blacksmith’s shop.
Stuart joined his father Leslie and grandfather Cyril straight from school, at a time when the forge in Blacksmith’s Row was still occasionally fired up, although horse shoeing hadn’t happened for some years.
Only a year later, Cyril featured in these newspapers because he had been at the smithy for 50 years.
His daughter, Leslie’s sister Joan Clarke, remembers the work her dad would be involved in in the early days.
Joan says: “These are the jobs my father had to do to make a living. Cycle repairs, he used to put bearings in old fashioned mangles, he used to put accumulators in radios, horse shoeing and general blacksmith work.
“The blacksmithing hasn’t really stopped, but you have to do something else to make a living. My dad was 70 when he stopped and he was 89 when he died.”
Cyril had learned his trade at Lammin’s at Surfleet when he left school aged 12, Joan believes.
While he was at Surfleet, Cyril met and married Clara. As well as working at Lammin’s, Joan says her dad would do bicycle repairs. She says: “There were bikes everywhere and people would have punctures.”
Cyril and Clara moved in 1933 to West Pinchbeck to what was already an established blacksmith’s shop, and re-named it C Carter & Son, a name that has stuck.
Joan (78) remembers her mum would go out to the forge and “call strike” to help Cyril, tapping the iron with a hammer to tell him when to make the next strike.
She also recalls gypsies coming to her father to get their ponies and horses shod – and says she remembers tramps coming begging too.
She says at that time there were blacksmith shops in Gosberton Clough, Gosberton Risegate, Gosberton, Surfleet, Pode Hole, Spalding Common and Pinchbeck.
Joan says: “They were everywhere and there were sometimes two in one village. It’s like the pubs were in every village.”
In fact, the house where Joan lives opposite the blacksmith’s shop was once a pub, the Rose and Crown, and there were two other pubs nearby.
Leslie joined his father in the smithy straight from school, and is still working there every day although he is aged 79.
Now, the business is involved mainly in selling spare parts and second hand agricultural machinery, with every imaginable tool – many from Cyril’s day – to hand to carry out any repairs that might be necessary.
People in South Holland and The Deepings face more disruption to fire services after union members voted to stage two strikes at the weekend.
Firemen are to strike this Friday and Saturday, between 6pm and 10pm on both days, as a row with the Government over pension rights drags on.
At least 20 firemen in South Holland are members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) which has called the strike because of plans by the Government to make them beyond the age of 55.
It will be the fifth and sixth strikes to take place since September and Dave Ramscar, chief fire officer for Lincolnshire, said: “The effects of any industrial action will be felt by us here as it is our firefighters who will be taking part.
“Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service has plans in place to provide an emergency service during any periods of disruption but, as at any other time, we would ask people to take care as they go about their daily business.”
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said the latest strikes were the result of the Government “ignoring our members’ concerns” about a proposed pension scheme that he claimed took no account of the “physically demanding job” firemen have.
He added: “Firefighters are being punished for growing older and this is a disgrace.”
A banned driver borrowed his friend’s car to go to work because his own cycle was broken and he didn’t want to jeopardise his new job.
Marius Mikolaitis was spotted in South Fen Road, Bourne, at 5pm on October 23 by two police officers.
Shelly Wilson, prosecuting, said Mikolaitis was disqualified from driving by the Spalding court on June 11 this year – and the ban isn’t due to expire until October next year.
She said the Rover was registered to a former house mate, who donated it to Mikolaitis when he went back to his home country.
There was no insurance to cover its use by Mikolaitis.
She said after being stopped by police, Mikolaitis was “polite and co-operative” and accepted at the scene he was driving while disqualified and without insurance.
Mikolaitis (37), of Potters Close, Bourne, was given a year-long community order with 120 hours unpaid work when he appeared in court for sentence on Thursday. He must also pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
His licence was endorsed with six points for driving while disqualified and endorsed for driving without insurance.
Mikolaitis pleaded guilty at a previous hearing when sentence was adjourned for a probation report.
Probation officer Kiran Patel said: “On that particular day his bicycle was broken and he had no means to get to work. What he decided to do, foolishly, was to borrow his friend’s car.
“He had just started a new job and he didn’t want to lose his employment.”
A pedestrian who died when he was hit by a van on a street in Holbeach has been named. He is 61-year-old Kenneth Paul of Hallgate.
Mr Paul was pronounced dead after he was struck by a Mercedes Sprinter on November 29. An air ambulance was called to Hallgate shortly before 11am and the road was closed.
The driver of the van, a 45-year-old man from Northampton, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.