Sir John Gleed School’s squash squad have secured a coveted place in the National School Squash Championships.

The talented young students, who have already played three schools in the competition, have just received a bye from Plymouth College which clinched their place in the finals.

The lads – Josh Wilson, William Pite, Sam Jarvis, George Levesley, Tom Hannam, Jak Bembridge and Vincent King – will all travel to Sportcity in Manchester for the much-anticipated championships on Monday (March 10).

Spalding Indoor Bowls Club’s over-60s gained revenge over Horncastle with an 108-72 (16-2 points) success – avenging their opening day defeat.

It’s now eight consecutive victories for Spalding, who are a healthy 21 points clear at the top of Division Two in the county league with two games in hand.

Spalding started the game well and were leading by 8 shots after five ends. The lead had increased to 29 shots at the tenth end ,although one rink was in arrears and one was drawing. At 15 ends, Spalding were leading by 92 shots to 64 and were leading on four of the five rinks, and that’s how it ended.

The best rink was skipped by Don Churchman, with Geoff Patterson, Len Jack and David Lunn. James Newby was the captain.

• Spalding IBC’s annual J2-sponsored fun day attracted 21 teams this year.

Results: Winning team (sharing prize money of £180): Michael Jennings, David Thomas and Vera Elms; Second place (sharing £120): Maisie Belding, Ian Stafford and Lyn Smith; Third place (sharing £75): Maureen Hilliam, Brian Ivatt and June Taylor; Fourth place (sharing £45): Rob West, Bill Borst and Trish Stafford; Fifth place (sharing £30): Rod Briars, Ruth Goodge and Jan Sinclair; Booby team (sharing £30): Dave Marriot, Geoff Holland and Jackie Bailey.

Mark Melson reckons Holbeach United will give a better account of themselves against AFC Rushden and Diamonds this Saturday.

The Tigers travel to the Dog and Duck (3pm) for the second part of back-to-back UCL Premier Division games against the second-placed side. Diamonds eased to a 3-1 win at Carter’s Park back on February 22, but Holbeach’s assistant boss is hoping to avoid a repeat performance.

Melson said: “We’ve watched the DVD from the first game and it taught us a lot. We tried to catch them on the counter, but left ourselves too open – and paid the price for it.

“It’s fair to say that we’ll look to defend better and get more men behind the ball this time. Our shape will be key and we’ve worked on that.

“I was impressed with Diamonds, they played some good stuff and looked very professional. But that’s not to say they’re unbeatable, you can see that in their results.

“We hope to have a few players back that missed the first game and will give it a good shot. If we play like I know we can I’d like to think we can get something. It’s a game that I’m really looking forward too and it should be a good experience for the lads.”

Defender Max Mattless is in line for his debut, while Andy Law and Chris Shipley could return from injury lay-offs.

But both Ash Murrell and Tom Waumsley have two-game bans to serve.

The finishing line in Spalding United’s pursuit of the UCL Premier Division title is firmly in sight – and they won’t falter on the home stretch.

That’s the view of Tulips chief Pat Rayment ahead of Saturday’s trip to struggling Northampton Sileby Rangers (3pm).

Runaway league leaders Spalding require a maximum of 11 more points from their seven remaining games to lift the title after Huntingdon Town drew 1-1 at Deeping Rangers on Tuesday night.

Should Huntingdon, who host Desborough Town on Saturday, drop any more points in their final 12 fixtures, Spalding could be celebrating even sooner.

Although they are considered champions-elect by many, Rayment has warned his rivals that his Tulips won’t be taking their foot off the gas.

“It’s in our hands, but it always has been,” said the Spalding supremo. “For that reason, I’m not really worried what the other teams do.

“We could be as close as three games away from the title if Huntingdon drop points again, but all we can do is keep on winning. We were in their position last year. Trying to hunt teams down isn’t easy, as we discovered.

“Even if we do win the title early, we have a chance to go through an entire league season having only lost once and drawn once. Not many teams at any level can say that.

“So, while there may be a temptation to give some other lads a bit more pitch time, we have to consider the situation we find ourselves in.”

If the form book is anything to go by, Saturday’s trip to Sileby shouldn’t pose too much of a threat to the Tulips’ fine Premier Division record.

Spalding, 22 points clear at the top, are unbeaten in 11 league games since losing to AFC Rushden and Diamonds in December, while Sileby are without a win in four and sit in 16th place – five points off the drop zone.

Rayment added: “Their boss Darren Young knows his way around the UCL, we know what to expect.

“They have a nice pitch over there, so it’ll suit us. It’s three more points we want to chalk off.”

Skipper Jamie Stevens could return from a broken collarbone at Fernie Fields, while Mark Jones and Jordan Thomas should also be fit.

Leading scorer Andrew Tidswell and Jonny Allen both remain sidelined.

Spalding RFC coach Niall Thomson admits that he has the best kind of selection headache ahead of a potentially tricky test against Oakham on Saturday (3pm).

Second-placed Town are at full strength for the Memorial Field showdown with a side that are 19 points behind them in third.

Last weekend’s impressive 32-6 victory at Nottingham Casuals kept Spalding six points behind Midlands Two East (N) leaders Belgrave with a game in hand – and Thomson is eyeing another bonus-point against Oakham.

He said: “We have to face the fact that Belgrave may win all of their remaining games. So all we can do is keep racking up bonus points and hope they don’t.

“We have an unbelievably strong squad for Saturday and some people are going to be upset to miss out.

“We’re aware that playing Spalding is a big thing for Oakham, so we have to be prepared. At home, with our great support, we always expect to win.

“Although we struggled a bit early on at Nottingham last weekend, we ended up playing some good stuff. It was especially satisfying not to concede a try.”

Youngsters at Market Deeping Community Primary School are among the thousands of schoolchildren who have been given a taste of fair play.

They learned all about Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight, courtesy of their local Central England Co-operative foodstore – and each of the 225 pupils also enjoyed a free Fairtrade banana from the store at Godsey Lane, Market Deeping.

Advertisement feature by by Helen Mumby-Croft, of Aspire Health and Wellbeing Spa, The Crescent, Spalding

I have talked about painkillers that you take by mouth in the last two parts. There are some very strong painkillers which you can wear as a patch – these help people who have pain 24/7, because it gives a slow continuous dose of the painkiller.

These patches are usually a type of morphine and are very strong, prescribed only for the severest type of pain. There are also some painkillers which are topical – this means you rub them into your skin.

You can buy things over the counter that either heat up or cool down, and this works because your body is set up to give priority to certain sensations in order to protect you from harm.

Therefore heat, cold, vibration, are all messages which take priority, and can therefore override pain messages that are more chronic.

This is the way TNS (transcutaneous nerve stimulators) machines can help – they do not treat the pain, just distract you from the pain.

A TNS machine only works while it is on, and never at night when you sleep because if you cannot feel it, you cannot be distracted.

Sometimes muscle relaxants like diazepam can help by reducing muscle spasm. Muscle spasm in itself is not the problem, muscle spasm occurs as a defensive spasm to limit movement when you hurt yourself, a bit like putting a plaster cast on a broken limb.

The problem is diazepam is very addictive, because it alters your sleep pattern. It gives you something called rapid eye movement sleep, which is the second stage of sleep, but it stops you having deep sleep, the first and most refreshing sleep phase – so you might sleep, but not have good quality sleep so you crave more drug to help you sleep better.

Diazepam should only be used when you have spasm, and not as a regular painkiller.

The rule of thumb is, use your painkillers as prescribed, no more than recommended, as you could be making your pain worse.

Painkillers are not designed to cure you, nature takes care of that mostly, but it will help you keep mobile and carry on so you do not get problems from being immobile, like blood clots.

Take painkillers early, they work best when your pain is just starting, rather than when your pain is at its worst.

Use anti-inflammatories to treat your problem rather than just as a painkiller.

Reduce your dose of medication as soon as you can. If you need more medication than you have been prescribed, go back to your doctor, do not just take more

Lincoln- based Theatre Company Zest has again been performing for students at the Thomas Cowley High School.

Year 9 and 11 students were entertained by three young actors who played two characters each in the fast- paced performance of Man-Up. The production had a sex theme.

People in Bourne interested in serving their community and saving lives are invited to a recruitment event in the town next week.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is looking for men and women who want to know more about becoming on-call or retained firefighters to attend a recruitment evening at Bourne Fire Station, South Street, on Wednesday March 19 between 6pm and 8pm.

You must be a minimum age of 18 and live or work within five minutes travelling time of the fire station.

Richard Friend, station manager for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “We are looking for committed men and women to join the county’s on-call crews to help provide the best possible service to their community.

“We are looking for a combination of practical ability, mental resilience, courage, physical fitness and the ability to remain calm and focused in difficult circumstances.”

There is no need to book but for more details, call 0800 358 0204 or go to www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lfr/recruitment

ON THE BEAT with Inspector Jim Tyner

My police radio crackled suddenly into life: ‘Ten, nine! Ten nine!’ These four words turned my blood to ice. In days gone by, this was the police radio code that meant an officer was under attack and needed urgent assistance.

It was 10pm on a Saturday night and I had just come on duty. I was a newly-promoted sergeant and this was definitely not the gentle start I was hoping for. I had had two daytime ‘admin days’ and this was my first proper shift as the new sergeant.

I ran to the scene. As I turned the corner there was a large crowd of about 100 people in the street in various stages of inebriation. They were all there: the happy huggers; the wall-wobblers; the gigglers, but I wasn’t paying attention to them as I was anxious to find the officer who had requested help.

I had to push through the crowd towards the nightclub entrance. As I got closer I could see one of my officers, PC Adams, restraining a man on the ground. I noticed that the crowd was getting a bit tense but I still didn’t know what had happened. I could hear faint sirens in the distance and knew that more help was on the way.

Before I could get to PC Adams a member of the crowd told me that there was another officer injured nearby. Who should I help? A few minutes earlier I had been all bright-eyed expectancy, arriving at work as the new sarge. Now I was in an agony of indecision. I shouted to PC Adams and he confirmed that he would be alright for a few minutes. I went to look for the second officer and very quickly found PC Rogers kneeling on the floor nearby. He was able to tell me that he had been kicked in the mouth: he had broken teeth and a suspected broken jaw.

I was just about to apply First Aid, when a witness pointed out the man who had attacked PC Rogers. He was just starting to walk away. It was my second moment of indecision in as many minutes. I was still waiting for reinforcements to arrive: should I help PC Rogers or go after his attacker.

I had been a constable longer than I had been a sergeant, so the impulse to make an arrest was strong. Having made my decision, I decided that sneakiness was the best bet: I rushed up behind the man and slipped on the handcuffs before he had a chance to realise that he was bigger than me and stronger than me. As I did this, other officers started to arrive with a police van. I was joined by a cop I hadn’t met before and we started to walk my prisoner to the back of the police van.

We got to the back of the police van with my prisoner when I was suddenly grabbed in a bear hug by a huge grizzly-bear sized man in the crowd and dragged to the ground. Now, rule number one of police safety training is to avoid being on the ground.

Rule number two is that if you do break rule number one; make sure no one ends up on top of you. I broke two rules in two seconds. There should be a third rule for other cops: if your sergeant is on the ground with an assailant on top of them, DO NOT jump on top of both... unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened as three burly cops jumped on top of the two of us.

I was suddenly the bottom slice of bread in a grizzly-bear sandwich. The air expelled from me like the pressing of a pair of bellows and I felt the unmistakable pop as my ribs gave way.

This was definitely not the most shining example of leadership that I had hoped for. As the mix of Keystone Cops and grizzly bear untangled above me I realized that I had no idea how PC Adams or PC Rogers were. This was absolute chaos. I couldn’t keep up with everything that was happening but I could see that the man that had pulled me to the ground was now under arrest as were two others.

It was at this point that I realised that I’d lost a contact lens in the kerfuffle. Despite the pain from my ribs, I giggled to myself at the thought of shouting for everyone to stand perfectly still while I searched for my lens.

The problem is, I was meant to be the sergeant, directing and controlling the others, but actually I was at the point where I wanted to simply put on my civvie jacket and mingle with the crowd!

Instead, I went back and checked on PC Adams. We took his prisoner to a police van and it was obvious that PC Adams had also been hurt and had sustained broken ribs when he had been attacked prior to my arrival.

I next checked on PC Rogers, who was being tended to by a paramedic. In typical cop understatement he said: ‘Well, that was a waste of expensive dental work. My orthodontist is going to be upset’.I checked my watch. It was 10.15pm... 15minutes in to my shift and three of us had nasty injuries and we had five prisoners to take to the police station. I took a deep, painful, breath, sorted my thoughts and finally started to take control my officers.

As the scene returned to normality, I remember thinking to myself about the sign I had seen on the way to work: ‘Welcome to Stamford’.

And that’s why I’m sharing this story with you. It isn’t my proudest moment, but it shows that drunken behaviour and assaults don’t just happen in Spalding.

It also illustrates the dangers that my officers face, but this is nothing new... this story is from October 2000.

PS: The five men went to court and were convicted of violent disorder. The cops all made a full recovery.

Last week I attended a meeting to hear a report on the current situation in regard to Sutton Bridge Parish Council’s decision to seek guidance in respect of getting a judicial review of South Holland District Council’s granting of planning permission for a gasifier/incinerator plant at Sutton Bridge.

I had previously attended a meeting at which the council had agreed to make a capped sum of £10k available for this purpose. We were told that having spent some £2,500, a majority of the council decided they would not take the matter any further, on the premis that this would bankrupt the Council. This despite the fact they still had £7,500 left.

The meeting had been called by Shirley Giles, a pensioner, who had offered to fund the £2,000 out of her own pocket, but the council refused.

As we were told that such developments were planned for areas of least resistance, such decisions, of those by both the parish and district councils, should come as no surprise.

The meeting was told, at some length, of the history of these plants, the potential impact of emissions, both through

the six stacks to be erected and the heavy increase of HGVs also the potential danger of placing such a plant next to

the existing power station, near to the Wash and in an area of potential flooding.

A previously-held petition was signed by 950 residents, but totally ignored. So much for the Localism Act.

In conclusion, failure to defeat the planned development will confirm the feeling that Sutton Bridge, with an additional power station, gasifier/incinerator and wind farm, is a dumping ground.

Still we can draw comfort from the promised 30 pieces of silver, sorry, money for local community projects.

And anyway, who cares?

BJ Smith

Sutton Bridge

The following planning applications have been submitted to the councils:

South Holland District Council

Mr and Mrs G Ibrahim, Rose Cottage, 21 Station Road, Gedney Hill. Residential building plot.

Gosberton House School, Westhorpe Road, Gosberton. Works to Gosberton TPO.

Lincoln Diocese, The vicarage, 5 Church Street, Holbeach. Works to trees in conservation area.

Lincolnshire County Council, Sutton Bridge Children’s Centre, Anne Road, Sutton Bridge. Retain mobile buildings used for Sutton Bridge Children’s Centre and Sunbeams Playgroup (retrospective).

Mr N Hutton, 109 Woolram Wygate, Spalding. Demolish bungalow and build one chalet bungalow and one bungalow (resubmission).

Mr and Mrs G Ibrahim, Rose Cottage, 21 Station Road, Gedney Hill. Detached double garage.

Miss J Cummings, 3 Harlequin Drive, Spalding. First floor extension above garage (amendment).

County Interiors, Apple Way, Pinchbeck. Vary condition, limiting occupation/use of premises.

Mr J Allwood, 12 Hall Gate, Moulton. Works to Moulton TPO.

Whitworth Bros Ltd, Whitworth Mill, Barrington Gate, Holbeach. Replacement sign.

Mr J Honnor, Pipwell Manor, Washway Road, Saracen’s Head. Works to Saracen’s Head TPO.

Elgoods and Sons Ltd, The Wildfowler on the Wash, Main Road, Gedney Drove End. Change of use from public house to single residential dwelling.

Mr M Thompson, 4 Saxony Way, Donington. Single store extension to provide double garage.

Mr J Kirk, 1 Delgate Avenue, Weston. Details of external materials, means of foul water disposal and affordable housing.

Lincolnshire County Council, University Academy Holbeach, Postland Road, Crowland. Demolition and rebuilding single storey section, demolition/removal of boiler house, water tank and mobile classrooms, security fencing, external works and changes to parking arrangements. Changes to colour of existing cladding of building and size of sprinkler tank and pump house previously approved.

Mr S Normanton, West Lighthouse, Guys Head Road, Sutton Bridge. Detached summerhouse/games room.

Mr K Woolsey, 13 Mill Green Road, Pinchbeck. Single storey extension.

Ventrolla, 26 Market Street, Long Sutton. Removal of upvc double glazed windows and replace with timber single glazed windows.

N Snaith, Long Drove House, Hundred Fen, Gosberton Clough. Single storey attached garage.

Mr M Yould, land adjacent Homelea, Dozens Bank, Pode Hole. Steel framed building to provide food storage and livestock shelter for rare animal breeds.

Mr and Mrs S Dixon, Priestly House, Quadring Bank. Replacement dwelling.

Mr A and Mrs J Keen, The Yews, Quadring Road, Donington. Details of boundary treatment, brickwork details and brick panel.

The Crown Estate, 77 Woodgate Road, Moulton Chapel. Two semi-detached dwellings.

Bernard Matthews Ltd, Luttongate Farm, west side of Luttongate Road, Sutton St Edmund. Ten biomass heating packaged plant rooms and associated works.


Boston Borough Council

Holly Lodge Nurseries, Streetway, Wyberton. Variation of condition permission to allow for additional occupants.

Crimond, Church Lane, Swineshead. Extension.

Pig and Whistle, Market Place, Swineshead. Residential development.

8 Hansard Way, Kirton. Single storey extension.

Holly Lodge, Streetway, Wyberton. Application to remove agricultural occupancy.

Bridge Farm House, Gauntlet Road, Bicker. Listed Building Consent for removal of front porch and rear chimney stack, installation of replacement external windows and doors.

Bridge Farm House, Gauntlet Road, Bicker. Removal of front porch and rear chimney stack, installation of replacement windows and external doors, improvements to external walls and roof and erect perimeter fence.

Threeways, North End, Swineshead. Detached dwelling.

South Kesteven 
District Council

Tidman, Reidlands, 7A Mill Drove, Bourne. Omission of chimney and alterations to elevations.

Double and Megson Solicitors, 4 Chapel View, Dyke. Compliance with conditions.

PM Recycling Ltd, Outgang Road, Baston. Steele portal frame open sided canopy with profiled metal sheet.

Grimsthorpe and Drummond Castle Trust, Mill Leys Farm, School Lane, Edenham. Variation of condition of permission.

Bates, 1 River Lane, Deeping St James. First floor extension, two storey front and side extensions.

Cross, 8A and 10 Bridge Street, Deeping St James. Extension and alterations to outbuilding to form new storey detached dwelling.

Cox, 10 Bridge Street, Deeping St James. Demolition, reconstruction and change of use of shop to residential.

Riddle, Blue Sky Plastic Recycling, South Fen Road, Bourne. Use of land and buildings for waste recycling (retrospective).

Grimsthorpe and Drummond Castle Trust, Mill Leys Farm, School Lane, Edenham. Discharge several conditions.

The following decisions have been made by magistrates at court hearings. In all drink-drive cases the legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood or 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. Addresses of defendants published here are taken from the legal records held by the magistrates’ courts.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

February 11

Nerijus Vaikasas (38), of Holland Road, Spalding. Stole goods worth £20.95 belonging to Aldi (Spalding). £135 fine, £27 victim surcharge, £85 costs. Assaulting a police officer. £135 fine, £50 compensation.

February 17

Richard Hare (27), of Woolram Wygate, Spalding. Driving while using a mobile phone (Sutterton). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Timothy Knight (35), of Thames Tunnel, East Street, Crowland. Driving while using a mobile phone (Cowbit). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jonathon Warfield (35), of Branches Lane, Holbeach. Speeding (Cowbit). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

Deividas Cernys (34), of Telford Court, Spalding. Speeding (Threekingham). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Ronald Thompson (52), of Tasman Caravan Site, Peterborough Road, Eye. Speeding (Whaplode). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Lauren Arthur (22), of Viking Way, Thurlby. Allowing someone to use a vehicle without proper insurance (Bourne). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Samuel Johnston (29), of Meridian Close, Boston. Speeding (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

James Mason (28), of Viking Way, Thurlby. No insurance (Bourne). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than accordance with a licence.

Scott Reynolds (27), of Livingstone Drive, Spalding. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Ivars Rupulis (28), of Windmill View Court, Willoughby Road, Boston. Speeding (Wyberton). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Claire Capps (33), of South Street, Swineshead. Failing to stop after an accident (Woodhall Spa). £337 fine, £33 v/s, £85 costs, 7pts. No separate penalty for failing to report an accident and driving without due care and attention.

Steven Hewitt (43), of Woodgate Road, Leverington. Speeding (Whaplode). £60 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Noshy John (42), of Swanspool, Peterborough. Speeding (Cowbit). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Ingrid Justice (33), of Fields View, Benwick. Speeding (Cowbit). £75 fine, £20 v/s, £40 costs, 5pts.

Kevin Turner (55), of Royal Oak Drive, Wickford, Essex. Speeding (Cowbit). £75 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Andy Watt (58), of Lee Avenue, Algarkirk. Speeding (Butterwick). £60 fine, £20 v/s, £40 costs, 3pts.

February 24

Laimis Mechouskis (30), of Opportune Road, Wisbech. Failing to give driver ID (Tydd Gote). £400 fine, £40 victim surcharge, £85 costs, 6pts.

Scott Reynolds (27), of Livingstone Drive, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for defective windscreen and defective tyre.

Simon Hughes (22), of Childers Gate, Sutton St James. Being the driver of a vehicle which illegally stopped within the limits of a pelican crossing (Skegness). £35 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Lloyd Hurford (24), of Lime Close, Burgh Le Marsh, Skegness. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £225 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

Egijs Kovalevskis (26), of St Thomas Road, Spalding. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. £65 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jane Sanderson (48), of Almond Walk, Sleaford. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £60 fine, £20 v/s, £25 costs, 3pts.

February 26

Sharon Thomas (43), of Hereward Road, Spalding. Stole fragrances and cosmetics worth £72.96 belonging to Boots (Lincoln). £75 fine, £20 victim surcharge. Stole clothing worth £78.90 belonging to Primark. £75 fine.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

February 10

Andrew Box (40), of Waterside Court, Double Street, Spalding. Carrying a lock knife in public (Spalding). Community order with curfew for four weeks and electronic monitoring, £60 v/s, £85 costs.

Deniss Ukolovs (25), of The Granary, Bedford Place, Spalding. Stole meat worth £22 belonging to Sainsbury’s (Spalding). 12 months conditional discharge. Stole gammon worth £56.28 belonging to Late Shopper, Spalding. £28.14 compensation, £15 v/s.

February 12

Piotr Dlugosz (43), of Hardwick Estate, Kirton. Stole curtain tie backs worth £36 belonging to Oldrids, Boston. Had a Stanley knife blade for use in the course of, or in connection with theft. Community order with 100 hours unpaid work, £60 v/s, £85 costs, Stanley knife blade to be forfeited.

Lukasz Labiszak (30), of Hardwick Estate, Kirton. Had a Stanley knife blade for use in the course of, or in connection with theft (Boston). £110 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, Stanley knife blade to be forfeited.

Benjamin Chapman (30), of Queens Avenue, Spalding. Stole electric razor worth £50 belonging to Wilkinsons (Lincoln). Community order, £65 fine, £60 v/s.

February 13

Victor Lilburn (71), of Cranmore Lane, Holbeach. Two counts of falsely claiming pension credit. 24 months conditional discharge, £100 costs.

February 17

Tomas Sinkevicius (44), of Hannam Boulevard, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding) and driving while disqualified. 12 weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 months with 200 hours unpaid work, £80 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 36 months. No separate penalty for no insurance.

Tomas Smilgin (22), of London Road, Spalding. Failing to provide roadside breath test (Boston), driving while disqualified (Spalding). 12 weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 months with 200 hours unpaid work, £80 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 3 years. No separate penalty for no insurance.

Joseph Piskula (41), of Bowditch Road, Spalding. Drunk and disorderly (Spalding). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £100 costs.

February 19

Stuart Brunt (24), of Copes Way, Chaddesden, Derby. Trespass in search of game (Holbeach St Marks). £500 fine, £50 v/s, £85 costs.

Byron Gordon (32), of Samuel Johnson Close, Streatham, London. No insurance (Spalding). £110 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 8pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Regarding your story about missed doctors’ appointments: If more surgeries had a “walk-in” surgery then appointments would not be missed. If you are feeling unwell you want to see a doctor that day, not in a week’s time.

I also fail to see how a doctor not seeing a patient can cost money.

Margaret Martin

via email

A teenager who was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning, on suspicion of aggravated burglary in Holbeach, has been charged.

Ryan Crane (18), of Cranmore Lane in Holbeach, has been charged with the aggravated burglary of a property in Arthur’s Avenue.

Crane will appear before Lincoln Magistrates today (Saturday).

There will soon be some new COPS on the beat in Spalding - helping local police officers sniff out crime.

Dog owners are being invited to sign up for Canines on Patrol (COPS) - a county wide campaign where eagle-eyed residents report anything suspicious spotted on their daily walks.

The launch takes place at Rooke’s pet store in High Street on Saturday, March 15, and owners who sign up will get an information pack, incident log and a COPS ID badge for their dog.

Even though they will be wearing the COPS badge, dogs won’t be expected to chase any criminals. While they carry on sniffing, it is their owners who could spot something vital.

PCSO Kim Marlowe, who is launching the campaign with PCSO Lisa Waterfall, said: “Dog walkers have always been important sources of information for us.

“Because they walk at regular times, they are more likely to spot if someone hasn’t drawn their curtains that day and may be sick, or where a window has been broken.

“Once when I was walking my dog I came across some dumped stolen lead which I wouldn’t have found on my normal patrol.

“Becoming a COP acknowledges how important dog walkers are to the police.”

Crime reduction advice will be given to members to make them aware of current incidents.

Members will also be told how to safeguard their animals and personal possessions.

The Rooke’s launch is between 10am and 4pm. Dog owners can also get their pets microchipped for free thanks to the Dogs Trust.

Another launch will be at Baytree Garden Centre on April 12 before COPS is rolled out across South Holland.

An open letter to all it should concern.

As a long-term resident of Moulton, I feel empowered to make my views known. I found Moulton to be a most desirable conservation village, spoilt only by having the equivalent of an industrial site at its heart.

It has many of the essential village amenities – a pub, a church, a surgery and a 
couple of shops, including a post office.

However, the longed-for peace and quiet is regularly disturbed by juggernauts using the B1357 through the village despite there being plenty of alternative routes. Houses shake when one of these monsters goes by!

A neighbour tells me that during the earthquake of February 2008, she thought it was a very long juggernaut passing! Another neighbour has been forced to increase her glazing from double to triple in order to sleep at nights.

In addition, for those who live just outside of the village these ever-larger leviathans prevent access to the village amenities (school, surgery, shops, church and buses) by foot or bicycle without taking life in hand (there is no footpath or lighting).

And the reverse holds true: villagers are prevented from walking or cycling in the countryside.

I do not know how much of this unwelcome traffic was generated by Gardmans (the site began originally as a small local blacksmith) but it must have had some effect.

Since Gardman has closed we have noticed there is much less heavy traffic passing. Nor do I know what plans the owners of the site have, but I do believe everything possible should be done to dissuade both heavy traffic from the 
village and to prevent the re-establishment of an industrial site which should never have been introduced into a conservation village in the first place.

I do think the village will be best served by a residential, rather than a commercial, development of the site.

Google Earth tells me there is room for several houses and this increased population would boost trade to the post office and stores, butcher, fish and chip shop and the local public house.

Moreover, such housing would provide employment to local builders.

It is undeniable that the local authorities have a duty to discover what the population thinks, and to use that knowledge to inform any decisions. In this case the opinions of those residents on the B1357 through Moulton are of especial relevance.

Furthermore, I know that Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire are not alone in implementing traffic policies which seek to protect villages and their inhabitants (especially playing children and the elderly) by dissuading, or indeed banning, heavy lorries from travelling through them.

I urge everyone at parish, district and county council level to find out what the people think before making decisions.

This is a rare chance to make our village even more beautiful; let us not waste it.

James Crosby

Moulton

Spalding United moved a step closer to the UCL Premier Division title with a crushing 6-0 victory at Northampton Sileby Rangers on Saturday, while Deeping Rangers were held 2-2 at home by ten-man Yaxley and Holbeach United suffered a 3-1 loss at AFC Rushden and Diamonds.

Goals from Mark Jones, Lewis Webb, Ross Watson, Dan Cotton and Lee Beeson (2) maintained Spalding’s 22-point lead at the summit - and they now need just six more points to clinch the crown.

Deeping, meanwhile, are four points off second spot in third after only taking a point against high-flying Yaxley.

Scott Ginty gave Rangers an early lead at Outgang Road before Rob Hughes levelled - but the hosts went in a man up after the Cuckoos had veteran Ricky Hailstone sent off.

A Hughes penalty then fired Yaxley in front, only for Stacy Cartwright to salvage a point for Tuncay Korkmaz’s men.

AFC Rushden and Diamonds now look in the box seat for second spot having completed back-to-back 3-1 triumphs over Holbeach.

Fazel Koriya put Diamonds ahead, only for Tommy Treacher to haul the Tigers level at half time.

A Matt Gearing penalty edged the hosts in front for a second time at the Dog and Duck, before Joe Henderson wrapped up the win late on.

In UCL Division One, Bourne Town were handed a 3-1 reverse at Lutterworth Athletic and fall into the drop zone as a result.

More football in Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press.

RESULTS

UCL Premier Division: AFC Rushden & Diamonds3 Holbeach United 1; Cogenhoe United 2 Sleaford Town 1; Deeping Rangers 2 Yaxley 2; Harborough Town 1 Newport Pagnell Town 0; Huntingdon Town 1 Desborough Town 1; Northampton Sileby Rangers 0 Spalding United 6; Peterborough Northern Star 0 Long Buckby AFC 0.

UCL Division One: Harrowby United 4 Wellingborough Whitworth 1; Lutterworth Athletic 3 Bourne Town 1; Northampton ON Chenecks 0 Burton Park Wanderers 1; Oadby Town 3 Northampton Spencer 0; Potton United 0 Bugbrooke St Michaels 2; Raunds Town 0 Eynesbury Rovers 4; Rothwell Corinthians 1 Buckingham Town 2; Rushden and Higham United 3 Irchester United 1; St Neots Town Saints 0 Olney Town 1; Thrapston Town 4 Blackstones 0; Woodford United 0 Peterborough Sports 5.

FA Vase: Quarter-final: Sholing 1 Wisbech Town 0.

ChromaSport Peterborough League: Premier Division: Coates Athletic 0 Stilton Utd 1; Crowland Town 2 Uppingham Town 4; Leverington Sports 1 Peterborough ICA Sports 2; Moulton Harrox 1 Whittlesey United 1; Oakham United 1 Deeping Rangers Res 0; Pinchbeck United 2 Riverside 3; Ramsey Town 2 Whittlesey Blue Star 2; Sawtry 2 Netherton United 3.

Division One: AFC Stanground 2 Netherton United Res 0; Farcet United 1 Ketton 3; Kings Cliffe 0 Sutton Bridge United 0; Langtoft United 2 Moulton Harrox Res 1; Peterborough Sports Res 1 Stamford Bels 0; Ryhall United 2 Long Sutton Athletic 2; Warboys Town 3 Peterborough ICA Sports Res 0.

Division Two: Coates Athletic Res 3 Oakham United Res 1; Gedney Hill 1 Langtoft United Res 2; Guyhirn 3 Pinchbeck United Res 2; Leverington Sports Reserves 2 Peterborough Rovers 1; Oundle Town 7 Ramsey Town Res 0; Whittlesey United Res 7 Long Sutton Athletic Res 0.

Division Three: Ryhall United Res 2 Sawtry Res 2; Thorney Reserves 1 Farcet United Res 0; Uppingham Town Res 3 Netherton United A 4; Kings Cliffe Res 0 Riverside Res 4; Stilton United Reserves 0 Parkway Eagles 2.

Division Four: Warboys Town Res 1 Hampton Sport 7; Pinchbeck United A 0 AFC Peterborough 0; Stamford Belvedere Res 3 Leverington Sports A 1; Sutton Bridge United Res 2 Ryhall United A 2.

Division Five: Bretton North End 7 Thorpe Wood Rangers 1; Parkside Athletic Res 5 Gaultree 2; Whaplode Drove 1 Rutland DR 4.

Intermediate Shield: Baston 1 Crowland Town Res 0.

PFA Junior Cup: Wittering 0 Peterborough ICA Sports A 4; Parkside Ketton Res 1; Spalding Town 5 Glinton United 0.

PFA Minor Cup: Huntingdon Sun 1 Eye United 2; Peterborough ICA Sports B 2 Oundle Town Res 2 (pens 2-4)

Boston & District League: Premier Division: Billinghay Ath 0 Wyberton 3; Fishtoft 8 Freiston 2; Old Doningtonians 1 Mareham Utd 4; Skegness Town Res 1 Old Leake 1.

Division One: Coningsby 2 Fosdyke 0; Pointon Res 1 Skegness Utd Res 0; Wyberton Res 0 Freiston Res 4.

Division Two: Friskney 1 Heckington Millers 3; Mareham Utd Res 2 Holbeach Bank 2; Nelson 1 Coningsby Res 1; Spalding Harriers 3 Fishtoft Res 1.

Division Three: Park Utd 7 Holbeach Bank Res 1; Pointon A 1 Boston College 7; Rippingale & Folkingham Res 3 FC Hammers 1; Sutterton Res 2 Swineshead A 1.

Sharman Burgess Sports Cup: Kirton Town 4 Pointon 3 (AET); Benington 2 Woodhall Spa Utd 1; Leverton 2 FC Kirton 0; Ruskington Rovers 2 Swineshead Institute 3.

Spalding RFC lost vital ground on Midlands Two East (North) leaders Belgrave on Saturday after only drawing 27-27 with Oakham.

With nothing but a bonus-point win good enough for Town, their third-placed visitors managed to secure a share of the spoils at the Memorial Field.

Spalding’s first draw of the season leaves them eight points off the pace after Belgrave battered Melbourne 49-0.

Meanwhile, Deepings slipped to a 14-45 defeat to Northampton Men’s Own in Midlands Three East (S) and Bourne went down 49-12 to Old Newtonians in Midlands Four East (S).

More rugby in Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press.

RESULTS

Midlands Two East (N): Ashbourne 19 Nottingham Casuals 18; Bakewell Mannerians 43 Melton Mowbray 7; Belgrave 49 Melbourne 0; Dronfield 11 Loughborough 20; Spalding 27 Oakham 27; Stamford 34 Kesteven 31.

Midlands Three East (S): Biggleswade 60 St Ives 15; Brackley 8 Rugby St Andrews 19; Daventry 14 Queens 12; Deepings 14 Northampton Mens Own 45; Stockwood Park 27 Stewarts & Lloyds 19; Vipers 63 Northampton Casuals 8.

Midlands Four East (S): Bedford Swifts 13 Oundle 27; Bourne 12 Old Newtonians 49; Corby 0 Long Buckby 68; Thorney 22 Stamford College Old Boys 17; Westwood 34 Kempston 24.

Visually-impaired Bourne skier Jade Etherington won a historic silver medal in the women’s downhill at the Winter Paralympics in Sochi on Saturday.

Former Deepings School pupil Etherington and her guide Caroline Powell swept home in 1.34.28 minutes to claim Great Britain’s first Paralympic medal on the slopes in 20 years.

Etherington crashed heavily just past the finishing line, casting some doubt on the result, but she revealed afterwards she was never worried about losing her medal.

She said: “We had a good run despite my crash at the end. I think I was just so happy to go through the line that I couldn’t stop in time.

“I was aiming for the finish line, saying ‘go, go, go’ and listening to Caroline. I hope I have done GB proud.

“I actually was really happy there was no training run, because personally I feel if you’re going to be scared for your life you might as well get a result at the end of it.”

Etherington is back in action on Monday and Tuesday as she bids to win another medal in Russia.