Community orders and fines totalling £2,020 have been handed to a Lincoln shop owner and employee for selling fake cigarettes and tobacco.
Lincolnshire Police officers raided the Kubus convenience store on Portland Street in July 2014.
With the help of a tobacco detection dog, they found 5,400 illicit and counterfeit cigarettes and 1.1kg of hand-rolling tobacco hidden in both a car and the property.
Walid Aziz, the shop owner, and Heresh Rasol, an employee both appeared at Lincoln Magistrates court this week and were prosecuted by Lincolnshire Trading Standards.
Aziz was found guilty and given a 12 month community order with an unpaid work requirement of 220 hours.
He was also ordered to pay £1500 towards legal costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Rasol, who pleaded guilty to five out of six charges, was also given a community order of 12 months, with an unpaid work requirement of 120 hours.
He was ordered to pay £500 towards legal costs and £60 victim surcharge.
Chad Saratoon, Senior Trading Standards Officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Shops which sell fake cigarettes and tobacco are conning consumers and selling them a product which may contain dirt, unregulated chemicals and even dead flies.
“The products could be potentially unsafe and as Trading Standards Officers, we work to protect consumers and genuine retailers selling genuine products and crack down on offenders who don’t.”
Anyone who believes a trader in Lincoln is supplying illegal, fake or duty free goods such as cigarettes, should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A 16-year-old biker has died from injuries sustained after his moped left the road near Lincoln.
The incident happened at around 1.25am on Sunday, September 21, on the B1241 Saxilby Road near the Sturton by Stow village, between Lincoln and Gainsborough.
The teenage boy, who is from the local area, was taken to Lincoln County Hospital with serious injuries, but sadly died later in hospital.
Police closed a portion of the road between A1500 Marton Road and the Cowdale Lane junction to Bransby until 5.45am for investigations.
The road has now reopened and police investigations are ongoing.
Anyone who was in the area and saw the moped leave the road or believe they saw it travelling before it left the road, is asked to call the Lincolnshire Police collision witness hotline on 01522 558 855.
A local 68-year-old woman has died in hospital three weeks after she was involved in a crash near Gainsborough.
She was driving a blue Chevrolet Matiz which collided with a blue Kia Ceed driven by a man, at around 5pm on August 31 on the B1398 at Grayingham.
The woman, believed to be from the Lincoln area, was taken to Royal Infirmary with serious injuries right after the incident.
Lincolnshire Police were notified on Sunday, September 21, that she has died over the weekend.
The other driver was taken to Scunthorpe Hospital at the time.
Police are still appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, or the cars prior to the collision, to call 101 with incident reference number 337 of August 31.
Seven people have been rescued from alleged modern slavery in Lincoln after police officers raided several locations in the city.
As part of Operation Pottery, Lincolnshire Police, the National Crime Agency and officers from neighbouring forces looking into allegations of modern slavery raided five locations around Lincoln, and two in other parts of the country.
As a result of the raids, seven men aged between 19 and 48 were recovered from the locations, and seven people were arrested.
The six men and a woman who were arrested are aged between 25 and 60, and will be questioned at different locations in Lincolnshire in connection with the modern slavery allegations.
Meanwhile, the seven people recovered, mainly English and some European, are now being cared for by Adult Care teams at Lincolnshire County Council, with help from the NHS, where they will be assessed by medical professionals.
In a statement, Lincolnshire Police said: “The primary aim of this part of the operation is to safeguard these people and to consider their needs and potential requirements for welfare and support, along with the needs of their families and the communities involved. When appropriate they will then be interviewed by Lincolnshire Police officers as witnesses.”
Modern slavery is where both UK residents and those brought from overseas, are forced to illegally work against their will in many different sectors, including brothels, cannabis farms, nail bars and agriculture.
For victims or anyone with information, call 101 or call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
There is also a national dedicated website for incidents and information regarding modern slavery and a helpline available on 0800 0121 700.
Editor’s note: The initial version of this story mentioned nine people were rescued. Lincolnshire Police later clarified it was seven people, not nine.
Five people arrested in connection with modern slavery allegations in Lincoln have been released on police bail.
As previously reported, as part of Operation Pottery, Lincolnshire Police, the National Crime Agency and officers from neighbouring forces raided five locations around Lincoln on Monday morning, and two in other parts of the country.
As a result of the raids, seven men aged between 19 and 48 were recovered from the locations, and seven people were arrested.
The six men and a woman arrested were questioned at different locations in Lincolnshire in connection with the allegations.
Four men, aged between 21 and 52, and one 53-year-old woman have now been released on police bail.
Meanwhile a 28-year-old man remains in custody and an 18-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of obstruction, has been released with no further action.
The people rescued during the raids are now in the process of being seen by medical professionals for health assessments and will be interviewed by Lincolnshire Police officers as witnesses at a later date.
For victims or anyone with information, call 101 or call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
There is also a national dedicated website for incidents and information regarding modern slavery and a helpline available on 0800 0121 700.
Lincolnshire Police are appealing to find the owners of a dog that was recovered during a series of modern slavery raids in Lincoln.
Officers recovered the dog, which is described as being in a healthy condition, during raids as part of Operation Pottery yesterday.
Lincolnshire Police, the National Crime Agency and officers from neighbouring forces arrested seven people during and seven people were rescued in the raids.
Four men, aged between 21 and 52, and one 53-year-old woman have now been released on police bail.
The male dog recovered during the operation is believed to be a five to six-month-old Belgian Malinois who is just getting his adult teeth.
The dog has short predominantly brown fur and a black face. He has not been chipped and has no obvious particularly identifiable features.
Lincolnshire Police would like to hear from the owner of the dog, or anyone who thinks they know who the owner is.
Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Three men from Newark have each been sentenced to 10 years in jail for the rape of a 36-year-old woman in Lincoln in 2012.
Tomas Kojelis, 30, of Chatham Court, Newark, Kestutis Prakapas, 28, of Farmers Walk, Newark, and Mindaugas Prakapas, 24, of Farmers Walk, Newark, were each sentenced to ten years imprisonment at Lincoln Crown Court.
The three men offered the 36-year-old woman a lift from the Home nightclub in Lincoln on September 16, 2012. The victim, who was drunk, was taken to a house in the Monks Road area, where she was raped by one of the men, while being held down by the other two.
The victim sustained a number of injuries including cuts and bruises.
Speaking about the offence, Andrew Vout, prosecuting said, “They were all part of a joint enterprise. She was subjected to a violent sexual attack by these three men. Afterwards she was extremely frightened and distressed.”
Lincolnshire Police’s Detective Inspector Simon Lovett said: “This conviction followed a thorough and painstaking investigation carried out by DC Dave Moxham in which he doggedly pursued a most difficult and challenging case. Thanks and credit must be given to the victim in this case, whose bravery and courage were extraordinary.”
Lincolnshire Police arrested an eighth person in connection with ongoing modern slavery raids in Lincoln, while all seven people initially arrested have been released.
The further 28-year-old man was arrested in the morning of Wednesday, September 24, in connection with slavery offences and is due to be questioned by officers.
He, alongside the seven others, was arrested as police investigated allegations of modern slavery at five Lincoln locations.
Seven people were rescued during raids, dubbed Operation Pottery, on Monday, September 22.
Of the seven people arrested during the raids, four men, aged between 21 and 52, and one 53-year-old woman were bailed.
An 18-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of obstruction has also been released with no further action.
The seventh person to be released following the raids was a 28-year-old man.
The people rescued during the raids are now in the process of being seen by medical professionals for health assessments and will be interviewed by Lincolnshire Police officers as witnesses at a later date.
Modern slavery is where both UK residents and those brought from overseas, are forced to illegally work against their will in many different sectors, including brothels, cannabis farms, nail bars and agriculture.
Victims and anyone with information is being asked to call 101, or 999 in an emergency.
People can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Eight people have been charged with causing a public nuisance during an illegal rave in a Lincolnshire village earlier this year.
The rave, which took place on land off Fen Road in Dunsby, near Bourne, started on January 25, 2014 at around 11pm.
Police initially arrested seven people and seized two vehicles and sound systems during the event, to which up to 300 people attended.
Police officers were called to the location after receiving several noise complaints from people living in the area.
By around 2.30pm on Sunday, January 26, officers closed down the rave.
Out of the eight men between the ages of 19 and 37 who were charged on Wednesday, September 24, three were also charged with possession of criminal property.
All eight men have been bailed and will appear at Grantham Magistrates Court on October 13.
The men charged are:
Kyle Perrot, 19, of Nursery Close, Long Sutton (also charged with possession of criminal property)
Ashley Box, 20, Daniels Crescent, Long Sutton (also charged with possession of criminal property)
Sam Curtis, 22, of Gate House, Kings Lynn
Mark Payne, 37, of Washway Road, Holbeach
Liam Robinson, 21, of Park Lane, Long Sutton
Luke Onslow, 22, of Gedney Drove End, Spalding
Matthew Wilds, 21, of Alfred Avenue, Metheringham
Joshua Lake, 21, of Baulkins Drove, Sutton St James (also charged with possession of criminal property)
Lincolnshire Police are looking for witnesses after a high value items were taken in a Lincoln burglary.
The incident happened sometime between 6.30am and 9.30am on September 24 along Webb Street, Lincoln.
It is thought the offender accessed the property through an insecure back door, and took a black Dell Inspiron laptop, a gold Aerowatch, and a rucksack.
Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious, or has any information relating to the incident, should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident 154 of 24/09/2014.
Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A security van at Lincoln Waitrose petrol station was robbed of its cash by a group of three.
The incident happened at the Waitrose supermarket on Searby Road, Lincoln just before midday on September 26.
In the incident, three offenders believed to be male robbed the van, then stole a box containing a quantity of cash.
All three suspects were wearing dark clothing and made off in a car.
The male driver of the van was not injured in the incident, nor were any other individuals. No weapons are believed to have been involved.
Lincolnshire police officers were on the scene and carrying out enquiries in the area.
DI Pete Grayson said: “We have talked to a number of witnesses and people who were at the petrol station and in the nearby area at the time and we would still like to hear from anyone who might be able to help up with the suspects’ movements.
“In particular, we are keen to hear from anyone who might have been at the Asda supermarket on Wolsey Way between 11.45am and 12.15pm today. We located a silver Renault Megane at the site, which we believe the suspects abandoned, and we would like to know by what means they made off from there.”
Anyone who witnessed the event or may have seen the suspects in the area should contact Lincolnshire Police as soon as possible on 101, quoting incident 154 on 26/09/2014.
Lincolnshire Police are stamping out hare coursing in the county with the launch of Operation Galileo for the third year.
The five-strong dedicated team of officers, with the help of neighbouring forces and organisations, are reacting to reports of hare coursing as the season for the illegal sport begins.
The activity involves gaining access to private lands, usually fields, and setting dogs to chase hares.
A bet is made on each dog, and police say offenders in the county have been known to exchange sums of up to £30,000 in one day.
The blood sport is completely banned and anyone convicted of the offence can be fined hundreds of pounds.
In previous years, the operation has amounted to hundreds of convictions. Vehicles have been seized and banning orders have also been issued.
Evidence from previous hare coursing prosecutions. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincolnshire Chief Inspector Stuart Brinn, who’s responsibility covers Lincoln and West Lindsey, holds the portfolio around rural crime in Lincolnshire.
Chief Inspector Brinn said: “This is the third year that we have run Operation Galileo after a large number of complaints and concerns among the farming community surrounding hare coursing.
“Hare coursing itself might not sound serious, but out of the people coming into the county for it, we found the large majority of them have criminal convictions and for very serious offences.
“The other thing to remember is that it’s not just a sport and people involved can very often make up to £30,000 in one day on bets.
“It’s fair to say that they also tend to be not very nice people. Imagine if you are a lone farmer in a rural location, you’re not going to challenge between five and 15 people who’ve normally got convictions of violence.
“Using intelligence-lead policing such as the AMPR system we are aiming to actually intercept people as they are coming into the county.
“We are also gaining confidence in the farming community and as well as addressing hare coursing, the operation is also going to be addressing things like plant and machinery theft from farms, rural crime and wildlife crime.
“If people feel there is something going on that needs to be urgently dealt with I would much rather they dialled 999 and reported the problem, than not know about it.”
Assistant Chief Constable, Peter Davis, added: “I want to make clear that it’s not just these five officers that are focussed on rural crime. We have about 1100 police officers and hundreds of staff determined to make a difference for the people of Lincolnshire.
“This has been a successful operation year on year that has reduced the risk to the public, reassured a community in need and locked people up.
“To people coming into Lincolnshire wanting to commit rural crime: You’re not welcome. You will be prosecuted.”
Police are appealing for information after a petty cash box was stolen from a veterinary surgery in Lincoln.
Three men are believed to have approached the LincVet practice on Friars Lane, off Monks Road, some time between 7.30pm and 7.45pm on Saturday, September 27.
One of the suspects forced entry to the business via a window while two waited outside the property.
The petty cash box was taken from the surgery.
Officers believe several people were in the area at the time and police would like to hear from them with any information that might assist the investigation.
People are asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident 412 of September 27.
Alternatively, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Lincolnshire Police are looking for information after a break-in at a Lincoln bowling alley in the early hours of Monday.
Police were alerted to an incident at Lincoln Superbowl, off Tritton Road, at around 4.40am on September 29.
The premises had been broken into, and the offender(s) targeted the games machines in the venue.
It is not known at present if anything had been stolen during the break-in.
On attending the scene, officers conducted a search of the area using sniffer dogs.
Anyone with information or who may have seen anything suspicious in the Tritton Road area early this morning should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 33 of September 29.
Alternatively, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Lincoln off-license shops have been given warnings after they failed police test purchase operations with the help of two 15-year-old-volunteers.
On Saturday, September 27, officers from Lincolnshire Police Alcohol Licensing Department and Trading Standards, conducted test purchase operations at stores in Lincoln and Skegness targeting underage sales of alcohol and tobacco.
All Lincoln shops that were targeted due to intelligence made illegal sales to the 15-year-olds, while all others refused dale after requesting ID.
The results were:
Newport News, 49 Newport, Lincoln – sale of alcohol and tobacco to 15 year old volunteer
Supasave, 18 Corporation Street, Lincoln – sale of alcohol and tobacco to 15 year old volunteer
Premier Store, Holme Drive, Sudbrooke – sale refused – ID requested
Dee’s Convenience Store, 136 Church Road North, Skegness – sale refused – ID requested
Apex Store, Wainfleet Road, Skegness – sale refused – ID requested
Jay Chand Newsagents, Drummond Road, Skegness – sale refused – Age requested followed by ID requested
Apex Store, Roman Bank, Skegness – sale refused – ID requested
Licensing Sergeant Kim Enderby said: “These test purchase operations are all intelligence led, involving premises where we have received information that the staff are selling age-restricted products to underage people.
“On the receipt of such information, the people running the shops, pubs, bars or clubs are sent letters advising them that this information has been received to enable them to check their staff and ensure they are not selling or to stop them selling.
“They are advised that the premises will be tested and invited to discuss any concerns or issues they may have identified following our initial warning communication.
“Following a sale to our volunteers, the premises operators are informed and invited to an informal meeting to explain our procedures, identify any potential weaknesses in their operation which may need addressing and to warn them of the serious potential consequences if they are found to be selling a second time.
“We make serious efforts to warn, educate and advise suspect premises to deal with this issue of underage sales and the impact it has upon anti social and criminal behaviour in local communities and the harmful effects on the health of young people.”
Anyone with information on known underage sales of tobacco or alcohol should contact Lincolnshire Police directly on 101 or anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Shadow Policing Minister Jack Dromey visited Lincoln Police Station in order to find out more about Lincolnshire Police’s work and the challenges it faces.
He was briefed on the work the force is currently undertaking in Lincoln, called Operation Pottery, which tackles modern slavery in the county.
He then visited the city centre, particularly the Portland Street area, where police and the city council have been working together to improve safety in light of the recent murders, robberies and deaths.
His trip comes after Lincolnshire Police received an outstanding mark for delivering affordable policing in the recent HMIC report.
However, despite remodelling the force due to government cuts in order to cope with the need for more frontline officers, there is a concern both at Lincolnshire Police and in the HMIC report that the force may struggle to cope when further cuts are handed down to police forces.
£7 million cuts
Accompanying the Shadow Minister during his visit was Chief Constable Neil Rhodes and Labour’s MP candidate for Lincoln, Lucy Rigby.
Chief Constable Neil Rhodes said: “I’m really pleased we got the Shadow Minister here today to listen to our story.
“We’ve talked him through Operation Pottery, where we rescued quite a few people from modern day slavery. He was massively impressed by what he saw.
“We took him down to the streets off the High Street to see some of the initiatives taking place there to make that area of town a lot safer and nicer for people to live in.
“My principal focus though was so he understood the finances of policing in Lincolnshire, the quality of service that we were providing, and the challenges that face us moving forward.
“Currently, we’re rated as a “good” and in some areas “excellent” police force but, while we’ve had our book balanced for this year and next year and we can sustain officer numbers, when we look forward to 2016/17 and beyond we face really substantial cuts that honestly threaten the sustainability and viability of policing in Lincolnshire.
“How much more of a risk can you get than a fall in police numbers?
“If our predictions are correct, we will face a cut of around £7 million in 2016/17, increasing to £11 million in 2017/18. £11 million equates to the loss of 236 police officers.”
“Four years ago, we had 1,220 police officers, we have 1,100 now. We’re working really hard with the PCC to sustain officer numbers at that level – we simply can’t take 236 out.
“If the community of Lincolnshire is to be policed properly, as it is currently, then we need to be funded at the cost of being in business, and the current mechanism simply won’t do.
“I hope he takes back a picture of a force that’s linked to its community and performing robustly currently, but who, if we aren’t careful, could struggle to sustain that performance if funded poorly, and could result in officer number dropping to a level which is unsafe.”
Shadow Minister Jack Dromey walks with police officers on the beat in the Portland Street area. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite.
Impressed and concerned
After his walk on the beat with a number of local police officers, the Shadow Minister was able to reflect on what he’d seen of policing in Lincolnshire.
He said: “I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve seen, but also very concerned.
“I’m very impressed by the work of Lincolnshire Police service — I’ve heard first hand of some outstanding work done, most recently Operation Pottery. It’s a model other police forces nationwide can copy – highly effective, well organised operation, working with a range of partners to tackle the evil of modern day slavery.
“I’ve also been out on the beat seeing how the police operate in the town centre, ensuring the safety and security of that community.
“However I’m also very concerned. It’s clear Lincolnshire Police have coped remarkably well over the past four years with the biggest cuts in policing since the War. The problem its got now is that its on a cliff edge. If we continue down Theresa May’s path of the biggest cuts to police in Europe, there will be serious consequences for the people of Lincolnshire.”
“Lincolnshire can be proud of what they’ve done in difficult circumstances. The force has coped remarkably well with Theresa May’s austerity cuts so far, but no further.”
“Our view is the duty of any government is the safety and security of all its citizens, and that’s why the first thing we intend to do is cancel the proposed cuts in 2015 and 2016, reversing the tide of the past four years. We are not going to take risks with the people of Lincolnshire.
“I’ve heard disturbing stories of an excellent police force trying to cope as the thin blue line is stretch ever thinner. Lincolnshire is a very big county with a diminishing number of police officers, and that means when people call for help, it can take up to two-three hours for police to get to them.
“That cannot be right. I don’t blame the police, they are doing their best in difficult circumstance. We need to put more police officers back on the beat in the communities of Lincolnshire.
A 39-year-old man has been jailed for eight years after being found guilty of seven counts of sexual activity with a child.
Stephen Anthony Lock, from Leicester, carried out the offences between November 2011 and May 2012 at an address in Lincolnshire and at his home.
The victim was 14-years-old at the time.
Lock was found guilty after a five-day trial at Lincoln Crown Court of seven counts of sexual activity with a child, and found not guilty of one count of rape.
In addition to his eight year prison sentence, Lock will be on the sex offenders register for life and subject to a strict sex offenders prevention order (SOPO).
DC Kirsty Longmuir, who was the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “When sentencing Lock Judge John Pini QC said he had clearly groomed the young victim and had shown no remorse for his actions.
“Lock even claimed in evidence that the young girl was lying. He is the worst kind of sexual offender who not only subjected his victim to horrific offences but then tried to cover them up with lies, putting her and her family through the most unimaginable anguish.
“I am incredibly pleased with the jury’s verdicts and the judge’s sentence but there really are no winners in this case.
“For the young girl and her family this has been a terrible time and they now have to start trying to rebuild their lives.
“I want to commend the courage of the victim in this case, without her evidence and bravery we would never be able to take this dangerous offender off the streets and make sure he can’t repeat these offences.
“Without the whole family’s patience, cooperation, and support of the prosecution we would never have been able to get this conviction. We are incredibly grateful to them.”
Two hot road rollers, worth thousands, have been stolen from a holding compound in the south of the city.
The incident was reported to Lincolnshire Police at 6.40am on September 26, and are believed to have been stolen overnight.
The equipment was taken from a compound in the Brant Road, Lincoln, area. The Terex rollers are described as being very large and distinctive.
The heavy items are valued at £8,000 each, and have the serial numbers 44753 and 44756 welded in raised letters along the handle and on a plate on the rear upper left hand corner.
Anyone with information on the theft or their whereabouts should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 45 of 26/09/2014.
Police are investigating after a car and a shed less than a mile apart were broken into in the Birchwood area of Lincoln last night.
The first incident occurred in the Orchard Close area between 9pm on Wednesday, October 1 and Thursday, October 2.
The offenders approached a black Vauxhall Corsa that was parked on the street and smashed the front passenger window.
The offenders also attempted to smash the windscreen with a stone.
Once they gained entry they proceeded to steal a brown shoulder bag and its contents. They then fled the scene in an unknown direction.
The second incident occurred in the Leconfield Close area between just past midnight on Thursday, October 2 and 7am the same morning.
Unknown offenders have gained entry to a rear garden by accessing it from Pershore Way.
The lock to the wooden shed in the garden was prized off and a Scott USA Reflex 20 mountain bike was stolen.
The bike is described as a distinctive dark green with white forks.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents should contact Lincolnshire Police 101, quoting incident number 61 for the theft from car and 70 for the bike theft, of 02/10/104.
