A man on the UK’s most wanted list for supplying class A drugs in Lincolnshire could be hiding in Cyprus, according to an appeal by Crimestoppers and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The campaign, called Operation Zygos, features six new appeals for fugitives, and five remaining suspected criminals from the original campaign in 2012.

The campaign includes Mehmet Salih, who is accused of being involved in a conspiracy to supply cocaine in areas such as Lincolnshire between December 2010 and November 2011.

It is thought he was regularly contacted by an associate, buying the class A drug then delivering it and collecting payments.

He allegedly visited Lincolnshire in May 2011 to deliver cocaine that was recovered by police.

He was arrested and found in possession of £20,000. He was released on bail to appear at a police station later in the year, but failed to attend.

Salih is of proportionate build, with brown eyes, short dark brown hair and a scar on his right eye. He is believed to be in his early to mid 40s, and approximately 5 foot 6 tall.

Crimestoppers, the NCA and the Cypriot Police Authorities (CYPOL) work closely together on campaigns such as these, as well as with the British High Commission in Nicosia.

Crimestoppers’ Regional Manager for the East Midlands, Kiran Dhanda, said: “I hope that criminals in the East Midlands realise that there is no escaping justice for their crimes and would urge the public to look at the most wanted section of our website to see if they recognise any of the individuals listed.

“If you have any information then please contact us anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org as your information could prove vital to police.”

Lord Ashcroft, KCMG PC, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, said: “Following the last Operation Zygos appeal in Cyprus in 2012, a third of the featured suspects were arrested in just three weeks following the launch.

“The results speak for themselves; these outcomes reiterate the effectiveness of the Crimestoppers model in the UK and overseas in locating criminals attempting to evade justice.

“Operation Zygos aims to ensure members of the public in Cyprus are alert to the possible presence on the island of the eleven wanted individuals.”

Those calling from Cyprus can use the Cypriot number 8000 55 11, which is answered in the UK by Crimestoppers’ call agents. A translation service is available upon request.

Lincolnshire Police have been working alongside a number of agencies in the county to clamp down on rogue traders.

Officers are working with Lincolnshire Trading Standards, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Environment Agency and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as part of National Operation Rogue Trader week on April 7 – 11.

The week encourages enforcement action, and also helps raise awareness for residents and advice on how people can protect themselves from scams.

Teams in roaming vans covered the east and the west of the county. They conducted enquiries, responded to reports of potential rogue trading and raised awareness of rogue traders within local communities.

On April 9, a Day of Action was set up, involving two check points in the county with representative from each agency.

Throughout the day, they achieved:

• 11 vehicles stopped
• Five prohibition orders (defects were found and owners served a seven-day notice in which to get faults rectified)
• One vehicle seized (didn’t have correct operator’s licence and problems with the vehicle)
• One driver found to have no licence
• One Fixed Penalty Notice issued
• Two people dealt with for speeding

Trading Standards found a possible 10 offences, while DWP spotted eight possible offences and the Environment Agency another four possible offences.

Spokesperson Detective Inspector Andy Beaver for Lincolnshire Police said: “Rogue traders target the most vulnerable in our community using underhand tactics.

“You might not necessarily fall for them yourself but it might be that your elderly neighbour or relative could.

“That’s why we want people to report any suspicions about anyone living or working in your neighborhood. Your call could save further people from falling victim.

“Alarm bells should ring if a caller suggests work that you don’t think you need or does not agree a set price for the work.

“If you say you don’t have the cash to pay, a rogue trader may well persuade you to go to an ATM with them. A reputable tradesperson would never do this.

“These people have no scruples and when you consider that it is the most vulnerable people who fall victim, we hope you won’t need any further incentive to pick up the phone and report any suspicions you may have.

“It will help us to investigate if you make notes on the appearance and clothing of the suspect and take down any details of their vehicle.”

Tim Dawson, Principal Trading Standards Officer at Lincolnshire County Council, added: “Doorstep crime can affect anyone, but most often it is the elderly and vulnerable who are targeted.

“Rogue traders can be very persuasive and convincing in their approach and it can be very distressing and frightening for an elderly or vulnerable person who is unaware of how to protect themselves.”

People in Lincoln reported more cases of cash machines tampered with in the city following a police warning on Thursday.

Cash clawing scams were discovered on April 10 at Morrisons supermarket on Tritton Road and Tesco Express on lower High Street.

Since, three more incidents have been reported at Morrisons and another at the Birchwood Shopping Centre cash point.

The scam involves offenders attaching a device to where cash is dispensed, meaning when a customer uses the machine the cash does not come out.

Then, once the customer has left, the offenders return to take the money stuck near the opening.

Police advise that if you withdraw money from an ATM, but no cash comes out, to report it to the cash point operator and alert Lincolnshire Police on the 101 number.

If you don’t get your cash out from a machine, have a very close look at the slot, and if there is something to take out, remove it, as the cash could be in there.

Electronics, cash and other goods were taken in a burglary on Ripon Street in Lincoln.

The incident happened some time between 6pm on Thursday, April 10, and 3.30am on Friday, April 11.

A number of items were stolen, including an iPhone 4S, two laptops, £40 in cash, a Swiss army knife, a Samsung phone charger, boxes of Chinese cigarettes, a black Nintendo 3DS XL, and a leather shoulder bag.

Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen anything or anyone suspicious in the area around the time of the incident.

They are asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident 39 of April 11, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A Mercedes car and jewellery were stolen during a burglary in Wragby Road, Sudbrooke, Lincoln last week.

It is thought the offence took place during the day on Friday, April 11. The offender gained entry to the property through a back door.

A black Mercedes-Benz C-Class was stolen, in addition to gold jewellery and cash.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 289 of April 12, 2014.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Jewellery valued between £5,000 and £10,000 has been taken in a burglary from a shop in the Bailgate in Lincoln.

Rings and a gold locket among other items were taken from Colonia Jewellers on 18 Bailgate.

Burglars smashed a window to gain access and grabbed the valuable items.

The incident was reported at 9.41am on Monday, April 14, and happened some time between then and Saturday after 5pm, when the shop closed for the weekend.

Sergeant Guy Farmer is asking anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the Bailgate area during the weekend of 12th-14th April to contact him, on 101 quoting incident number 80 of April 14.

Also, if anyone has been offered jewellery in suspicious circumstances, please call 101. Alternatively, call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A couple from Lincoln have been sentenced each to three years in prison after stealing more than £200,000 from vulnerable people via a charity they were running.

Peter Childs (61) and Alison Childs (48) exploited vulnerable members of the Lincoln and District Mencap charity (LDM) based on Tentercroft Street over a number of years through their handling of funds.

The charity was affiliated to Royal Mencap, but operated independently with help from charitable donations and a grant from Lincolnshire County Council.

The couple were on trial at Lincoln Crown Court over the past six weeks.

Dishonesty offences

The charity works with residents with varying degrees of learning difficulties and helps them to live independently in the community.

Some of these people paid regular Utility and Maintenance Payments (UMP) to the charity so they could pay bills on their behalf.

However, while this money would legitimately go towards bills, the amount required by the Childs couple was higher, meaning they could keep surplus for themselves.

For example, two brothers were members who lived together in a small flat and paid over £30,000 cash in UMP to LDM between 2006 and 2011 for the payment of their water, gas, electricity and telephone bills.

In 2007, Alison Childs instructed staff at LDM to collect savings from members to assist them in their financial management. The pair, Richard and Roger Fogg, handed over about £13,000 in savings.

The members gave this money in good faith that it would be secured for their future needs, however it was kept and spent by the Childs couple.

Then, in September 2007 the couple employed Lithuanian woman Inga Stasytyte as their housekeeper.

However, instead of paying her wage themselves, the pair claimed she was an employee at LDM and she was paid her salary from the charity.

Additionally, Peter Childs fathered a child with Stasytyte, but claimed she was on LDM maternity leave in order to receive maternity pay. The charity also ended up paying around £9,000 in rent to Stasytyte.

In 2010, Peter Childs suffered a stroke and Alison became his carer, meaning she spent less time at the LDM offices.

Despite this, she still ordered the collection of the UMP payments and attended the office to collect the cash.

However, it was at this point staff, handling more tasks now the Childs were out of office more, began to notice the UMP payments were excessive in comparison with the bills.

Accommodation officer John Webb then investigated the payments by members and reported the fraud to the police.

A police financial investigation headed by John Hopkinson and DC Helen McGill found on January 1, 2006, the four accounts belonging to LDM had a total credit of around £75,000, but in November 1, 2011, the accounts were in debt to around £1,800 despite the £103,000 grant from council.

The majority of this loss went from LDM to the Childs’ personal accounts to fund their lifestyle.

When questioned about the dishonesty offences both denied the charges, with Peter Childs stating he was entitled to the money as honorariums for his various roles within the charity and Alison Childs denying any involvement in LDM finances.

Guilty plea

The trial contained 29 counts of offences of theft, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.

Prior to the trial, Peter Childs pleaded guilty to one count of false accounting in relation to the payments made to Inga Stasytyte and abuse of his position by dishonestly using the savings belonging to five of the members for his own purposes.

The jury found the couple guilty of:

• 13 counts relating to theft of UMP from 13 of the members of LDM between January 2006 until November 2011.
• 12 counts relating to the defrauding by abuse of position of the Cold Weather Payments and the DLA for 12 of the members of LDM.
• One count against Alison Childs in relation to the savings of five members that Peter Childs had already pleaded guilty to.
• One count of theft of savings from one other member for which both were also found guilty.

Prison sentence

At the end of the trial, Judge Sean Morris, Recorder of Lincoln, made special mention of Sarah Circk and John Webb and awarded them the High Sheriff Award and £400 each for their diligence in exposing the Childs’ offending.

DC Helen McGill, of Lincoln CID, said: “I am very pleased with the sentences, I think they accurately reflect the seriousness of the offences.

“What Peter and Alison Childs did was systematically exploit vulnerable people who trusted them and gave them in good faith money that they thought would be secure for their future needs.

“It has not only had a terrible effect on the victims, some of whom handed over thousands of pounds, but could also have a wider impact on the trust people have in charities.

“We hope that the seriousness of the sentences imposed today tells people that Lincolnshire Police works hard to bring to justice anyone committing these types of offences, and sends a very strong and clear message to any criminals committing similar offences.”

Two Lithuanian men were handed jail sentences at Lincoln Crown Court for a series of high-value car thefts in Lincolnshire and surrounding areas.

Andrius Jonaitis (33) from Harlaxton, Grantham, was jailed for four years and six months for eight offences of motor theft.

Modestas Gruzdziunas (31) also from Harlaxton, Grantham was given a 12 month prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to two offences of attempted theft.

The Lithuanian men were arrested in Lincolnshire after a cross-county investigation in November 2013 in Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire.

It was found the duo stole a number of expensive cars by breaking into them, usually via sunroof, and using an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) device to clone keys and drive away in minutes.

The device was found at Jonaitis’ home, with two blank Range Rover keys.

Overall, the pair stole 10 4 x 4 vehicles, all without the original keys. The stolen vehicles were valued at around £60,000 each new, or £300,000 second hand.

Investigations began after a Range Rover Vogue TDV8 was found in the car park of The Premier Inn, Grantham.

The vehicle was parked securely in the middle of the car park, but displayed different registration details on the number plate and tax disc. The car had been stolen from Lowdham in Nottinghamshire.

Two days later, a Land Rover Range Rover Sport was stolen from New Street, Sleaford. The owner had both sets of keys at his home address, but there was glass on the floor where the vehicle was parked.

Police found the car had a tracking device installed, so within minutes managed to locate it on the A46 in Lincoln.

At 8pm that night, a car approached the Range Rover and two men got out — one of which was Jonaitis.

He looked around the car, trying to make sure no-one could see him, while the other man waited in a Mazda.

Jonaitis tried to escape on foot when police approached, but he was quickly caught and arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. Gruzdziunas was also arrested at the scene.

After this, it was soon found that the pair had stolen five other vehicles, one of which was in Lincolnshire.

DC Richard Nethercott, of Grantham CID, said: “The fact that the judge in this case has seen fit to remove these two men from the streets for such a lengthy period of time accurately reflects the gravity of their offending.

“For the victims, these crimes have caused them distress, a lot of inconvenience, and a lot of time putting things in order after their vehicles were targeted.

“Jonaitis and Gruzdziunas were involved in this complex, organised, and very technical conspiracy to steal high-value cars where the vehicles and victims were specifically targeted. For that reason, these two men very much deserve the prison sentences they have been handed.

“Lincolnshire Police carried out an in-depth investigation that spanned not just our own county but that of our neighbouring forces as well.

“By working with experts and colleagues in other forces and securing convictions in this case we hope that a very strong and clear message is sent to other criminals involved in this type of crime – that they will be identified and they will be brought to justice.”

A 23-year-old man from Lincoln is in hospital with serious head and abdominal injuries suffered in a crash near Boston.

The incident happened at around 5.40pm on Punchbowl Lane in Boston on April 15, after a grey Renault Clio left the road and went into a ditch.

The driver of the car, a 23 year-old man from Lincoln, was taken to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, suffering from severe head and abdominal injuries.

He is currently in a critical but stable condition, police said.

The front seat passenger was a 20 year-old man from Coningsby, who was taken to Boston Pilgrim Hospital with less serious injuries.

Lincolnshire Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, or who saw the vehicle prior to the incident, to contact the Collision Witness Hotline on 01522 558855.

Lincolnshire police are offering tips for residents to keep their sheds safe, as the warmer weather sets in.

As the weather improves and more people spend time outside, so do opportunistic burglars.

Police say offenders go through people’s sheds to look for items of any worth.

Officers state that a number of people put off reporting a shed burglary, but if they have more the information on break-ins it helps build a crime pattern and can even help identify a suspect.

Security advice for keeping a shed safe includes:

• Try to prevent open access to your garden by having a locked gate, and remove or relocate climbing aids like wheelie bins.
• Consider installing PIR type lights or low energy dusk to dawn sensor lights, and see how much natural surveillance there is.
• Put your shed in a good location – although it is tempting to “hide” it at the bottom of the garden, this can make it more vulnerable.
• Invest in a good quality closed shackle padlock but also remember that you need to have non-return screws or bolts to prevent hinges being removed.
• If your shed has a window, consider adding a solid mesh inside the frame and invest in some form of screening (an old net curtain will do!).
• Purchase a shed alarm, and add signage to the shed to advertise the fact.
• Mark all the property stored in the shed so that it is identifiable. Overt marking is good on items such as tools and lawn mowers. Display stickers saying that your property is marked and traceable. You can also add a range of items to Immobilise.com, a free site for recording your property with serial numbers.
• Register for the Lincolnshire Police Alert messaging system too.

Four teenagers from Lincoln have been seriously injured in a crash in which a woman has died and three others were injured.

The incident happened at around 4.30pm on Good Friday, on the A1104 at Snape Hill, Saleby near Alford.

A black Vauxhall Corsa driven by a Lincoln teenager was in collision with a red Ford C-Max and a white Mercedes van.

The four teenagers from Lincoln travelling in the Corsa were seriously injured, three people in the C-Max were seriously injured, and one passenger has died.

• The black Corsa was being driven by a 17-year-old man from Lincoln who is at Hull Royal Infirmary with serious injuries.
• A rear seat passenger in the Corsa, a 16-year-old boy from Lincoln is in serious condition in Hull too.
• Another rear seat passenger from the Corsa, a 17 year-old man from Lincoln is in serious condition at Grimsby Hospital.
• A front seat passenger from the Corsa, a 17-year-old man from Lincoln, is at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston with serious injuries.
• The driver of the Ford C-Max, a 72-year-old man from Mablethorpe is in a serious condition and was transferred to Queens Medical Centre at Nottingham.
• A front seat passenger from the C-Max, a 70-year-old woman from Mablethorpe has died.
• A rear seat passenger from the C-Max, an 11-year-old boy, believed to be from Birmingham, is in serious condition at Hull Royal Infirmary.
• A rear seat passenger, a woman whose age is not known, is in serious condition at Hull Royal Infirmary.
• The 50-year-old driver of the White Mercedes van was not injured.

Anyone who was in the area of the A1104 at Snape Hill near Alford yesterday afternoon and saw the collision itself or saw either the black Vauxhall Corsa or the red Ford C-Max prior to the collision is asked to contact the police on the 101 number or the witness hotline on 01522 558855.

A 16-year-old Lincoln boy has died in hospital on Saturday night from injuries sustained in a three-car collision near Alford on Good Friday.

As previously reported, a 70-year-old woman from Mablethorpe also died in the April 18 incident, while six other people remain in serious condition in hospital.

Three other 17-year-old boys from Lincoln were seriously injured in the crash and are being treated in hospitals in Hull, Grimsby and Boston.

They were in a black Vauxhall Corsa which was in collision with a red Ford C-Max and a white Mercedes van on the A1104 at Snape Hill, Saleby near Alford.

The driver of the Ford C-Max, a 72-year-old man from Mablethorpe is still in a serious condition in hospital in Nottingham.

The 70-year-old woman from Mablethorpe who died in the incident was a front seat passenger in the C-Max, while an 11-year-old boy who was also in the car, is treated for serious injuries in Hull, along with another female rear seat passenger.

The 50-year-old driver of the White Mercedes van was not injured.

A Lincolnshire man was found hanging at Lincoln bus station on Saturday morning.

The body of the 56-year-old man from the Lincolnshire coast area was found at 5.15am on April 19 near the car park exit ramp.

Emergency services attended, secured the area, removed the body and confirmed that he had died.

The body was later collected by the coroner.

Lincolnshire Police said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.

The man’s family is being contacted in due course.

Two men have been arrested after a 25-year-old man was found dead at his home in Hermit Street in Lincoln at around 11pm on Sunday, April 20.

Police were called to the house on Hermit Street, off Portland Street, where they found the body of the man who they believe lived at the address.

The death is being dealt with as unexplained and an investigation is ongoing.

Two men from the same address have been arrested following the discovery.

The house is being treated as a crime scene and will be subject to a thorough examination and search.

A post mortem will be held on the body of the man either later or Monday or Tuesday.

A motorcyclist has died and two others are in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on the A46 near Lincoln.

The biker who died in the collision was a 53-year-old man from the Leicester area, and the two others injured are also from the Leicester area.

Emergency services were called to the incident on the A46 southbound near the Thorpe on the Hill flyover just before 10.50am on Easter Monday morning.

Police believe that from a group of nine bikers, three have been involved in the collision, possibly with each other while all were overtaking a tractor travelling in the nearside lane.

One of the motorcyclists was pronounced dead at the scene, the 53-year old man from the Leicester area.

The two other bikers were seriously injured and taken to hospital by air ambulance.

The A46 was closed from the time of the collision until about 4.30pm.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision or for anyone who was on the A46 prior to the collision and saw the group of bikers or the tractor to call the witness hotline on 01522 558855.

This brings to three the number of people killed on Lincolnshire’s roads during the Easter holiday weekend, following the crash near Alford, when a 70-year-old woman from Mablethorpe and a 16-year-old Lincoln boy died.

The family of Lincoln teenager Matty Ellis who died in a car crash near Alford on Good Friday have paid their tributes.

The 16 year-old boy’s family thanked the emergency services a hospital staff who cared for their son following the incident.

“We would like to thank everybody for the overwhelming support shown for Matt.

“We would also like to take this time to thank all the emergency services for their outstanding care; a special thank you to Hull Royal Infirmary for giving him the best possible chance.

“Our sympathy also extends to all families involved in the accident.

“From such a young age, Matty had shown incredible levels of kindness, love and care to every person that he touched.

“He had just started a new chapter into adulthood by achieving an apprenticeship with Soper BMW; already showing his high levels of independence by settling into his new role so quickly.

“Matthew’s friends had described him as one of the most generous guys that they knew and this generosity extended by him becoming an organ donor.

“Matt will be remembered for his sociable, thoughtful and loyal character. His light will continue to shine and forever he will be in our hearts.”

On April 21, hundreds gathered at Lincoln Cathedral to pay their respects to the teenager, letting of balloons and holding a moments’ silence.

Matty Ellis was in a black Vauxhall Corsa when it collided with a red Ford C-Max and a white Mercedes van on the A1104 at Snape Hill, Saleby near Alford on April 19.

Three 17-year-old boys who were in the Corsa with Matty are still in hospital with serious injuries.

Police have formally named the two people who died in a car crash on the A1104 at Snape Hill, Saleby near Alford on Good Friday.

Jean Thomas, 70, of Jacklin Crescent in Mablethorpe, died at the scene of the incident.

Matthew Ellis, 16, of Bunkers Hill in Lincoln, died on Saturday evening in hospital.

Six other people remain in a serious condition in hospital, including three 17-year-old boys from Lincoln.

Friends and family paid tributes to Matthew ‘Matty’ Ellis over the weekend.

A car stolen in a Lincoln burglary was later found burnt out.

Some time between midnight and 6am on Sunday, April 20, burglars entered a house on Scampton Avenue in Lincoln via a back door and took car keys from the kitchen.

They also stole a handbag, a rucksack and some cans of lager.

The car keys were used to steal a white Ford Fiesta parked in a lay-by at the front of the house.

The car was later discovered burnt out on land behind Westwick Gardens at approximately 6.40am on Easter Sunday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 77 of April 20, or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Lincolnshire Police has named the motorcyclist who died at the scene of the A46 crash near Lincoln.

The motorcyclist is Phillip Neil Bolton, aged 53 of Welford Road, Wigston, Leicester.

A post mortem will be arranged shortly to establish the exact cause of death.

He died at the incident on the A46 southbound, near the Thorpe on the Hill flyover just before 10.50am on Easter Monday morning.

Police believe that from a group of nine bikers, three have been involved in the collision, possibly with each other while all were overtaking a tractor travelling in the nearside lane.

Philip Bolton was pronounced dead at the scene, whereas a 54-year-old rider was taken to Queens Medical Centre with suspected injuries to his back. He has since been discharged from hospital.

A 36-year-old also injured was taken to Lincoln County Hospital with a serious leg injury.

He remains in hospital but his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

The investigating officers are appealing for witnesses to call the witness hotline on 01522 558855.

A man and a woman have been released on bail after they were arrested and questioned in relation to an unexplained death in Lincoln on Easter Sunday.

A 29-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman (not a man as police reported earlier), are due to return to Lincoln police station when further enquies have been concluded.

Police are still not in a position to name the deceased, a 25-year-old man living at a house on Hermit Street, where his body was found at around 11pm on Sunday, April 20.

“We are still ensuring that all his relatives and friends are aware of the situation,” Lincolnshire Police said in a statement.

A post mortem will be carried out in due course to establish the cause of death.

The house off Portland Street is being treated as a crime scene.