PUPILS and staff at Fleet Wood Lane Primary School are celebrating after regaining their Healthy Schools Award status.

The school was first accredited in 2008 and worked hard to get its latest award.

Headteacher Christine Wright said “healthy schools” focuses on ensuring children know all about healthy lifestyles, particularly things like diet and exercise.

Mrs Wright said: “We also look at the social and emotional aspects of learning so children are aware of healthy minds and are looking after each other and caring for each other.”

The school regained its healthy schools status at the end of last year and has recently received its certificates.

DEALS for discount goods offered on the street might seem too good to be true – and they probably are, according to Spalding’s police.

Officers are warning the public to be on-guard against suspected rogue traders after cut-price jewellery was seized in the town centre over the weekend and investigations are underway into a laptop scam.

Sgt Stuart Hurst said those selling the jewellery and watches could not account for where they had got the goods, but said there were concerns about the quality. None of the items had hallmarks.

Sgt Hurst said: “My advice is to be extremely wary and it always makes sense to fully investigate something before you take it away. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

“Members of the public should always try to use reputable stores to buy their goods.”

In a separate incident on Friday, two men were reported to be approaching members of the public in St Thomas’s Road, Spalding, offering to sell a laptop at a reduced rate.

After the men had driven off, in what is believed to be a silver Vauxhall, the laptop case was opened it and found to be filled with a heavy catalogue and cardboard.

The victims are said to have handed over a “considerable” amount of cash.

Anyone with any information should contact 101.

STUDENTS in Spalding are left cold by government plans to charge VAT on their lunchtime hot pasty snack.

Jacob Chapman (17) was tucking into a pasty from Greggs in the town centre, as thousands of bakers marched through London to protest against the charge, which would add 20 per cent to the cost of hot foods.

The Spalding High School student said: “I’m a fan of pasties. We need something nutritional to help us study and they are good value at £1.40.

“But when you are on a lunchtime budget of £2, if VAT is added it won’t leave much for anything else. This would hit a lot of students.”

Staff from Greggs in Lincolnshire were among the pasty makers and fellow bakers who turned up at Downing Street in their chef hats and white tops to hand in petitions against the so-called pasty tax , a proposed 20 per cent VAT budget charge to fresh baked goods.

Chairman of the National Association of Master Bakers Mike Holling was on the march and said they handed in a petition with 500,000 signatures from bakery staff and the public. He said: “This tax would hit the people who can least afford it and the response to our petition is testament of the public opposition to it.”

Karl Sergison, owner of Sergi’s Deli in Francis Street, said he is going to stand the extra charge if the VAT charge is introduced.

He said: “It will probably cost me over a year but I can’t charge one customer £1.95 for a cold pasty and another an extra 39p because they want it hot. Our customers are already struggling with rising prices.“

Kay Duckworth, joint owner of The Maple Leaf in Bridge Street, said the charge would be another blow to high street businesses.

She said: “We are doing OK but we need to be able to attract customers and not lose them because of rising prices.

“Our trade is very dependant on the weather because shoppers prefer to be undercover if its bad. But when it is cold, that’s when they like a hot snack.”

As a result of the protest in London, consultation period for the pasty tax has been extended for two weeks. The Government is looking to vote on it before the summer recess, so it can be implemented on October 1.

FOR the fourth time in recent weeks, Holbeach United’s UCL Premier Division game at Daventry United was called off on Tuesday night.

The Communications Park pitch was waterlogged once again – meaning the season will have to be extended for another few days.

It is hoped the clash will finally be completed on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

The Tigers’ trip to Deeping Rangers tomorrow (Thursday, 7.45pm) is expected to go ahead, though.

Follow @LFPSport on Twitter for updates.

PET owners could be forced to keep their dogs on leads in a village park after several attacks.

Long Sutton parish councillors are to look into changing a bye-law already in force at Cinder Ash Park after a number of complaints about dogs running free.

At a meeting on Thursday, PCSO Fylippa Bennett said she had heard of a number of problems and clerk Karen Treacher said at least three dogs had to be put down after being badly injured in attacks by other dogs.

She said children had also been knocked over and one had even been urinated on by a dog.

Members of the parish council were told the existing bye-law says people must keep their dogs under control in the park, but some felt it did not go far enough as some dog owners had claimed their pet was under control even though it was off the lead.

Members felt pets were really only fully under control when on a lead.

Chairman Peter Clarey said: “I think they need to be physically restrained from causing harm to others.

“If we have to change the bye-law to insist dogs are only allowed on leads, we will, and if we have to we could even look at banning dogs from the park altogether.

“We need to look after the best interests of everyone who wants to use the park, not just the dog owners.”

The problems at Cinder Ash were highlighted earlier this year when a 90-year-old woman’s blind pet was savaged by a Labrador close to the children’s play area.

Doris Dossetter, of Lancaster Drive, was walking her Chinese Crested Powder Puff George in the park when the other dog attacked, tearing a lump from his stomach and leaving him needing an emergency operation.

After her story appeared in the Lincolnshire Free Press in January, generous readers donated cash to Mrs Dossetter to cover George’s £800 vet bill.

DECISIONS on a western relief road for Spalding are unlikely to be made until the autumn.

It had been thought plans would be submitted to South Holland District Council in the spring, but they have been delayed by some “finetuning of the details”.

More than 350 residents and businesses had their say during a consultation and their views were published in December.

The road is needed to meet the future demands of the town, which is expected to come under increasing pressure from extra traffic, houses and trains. Two possible routes for the second phase of the relief road were put forward, with concerns including how it would pass through popular allotments.

Project leader Jonathan Wickham said: “The route of the proposed new road has been protected from future development and we’re now just taking a bit more time to finetune the details of the planning application with a view to submit it in the autumn this year.”

DESCRIBED by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’ and twice winners of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo, Spiers and Boden will be at Spalding’s South Holland Centre on Friday, May 11 at 8pm.

They have made the genre of spontaneous, stomping English folk very much their own. Loud, proud, and with just a few acoustic instruments, they create a multitude of textures upon which they present traditional stories and dance music which have taken them on to the main stages of major festivals.

The duo, John Spiers and Jon Boden, are the front men and founder members of the wildly ambitious 11-piece big-band folk phenomenon Bellowhead, which has won the BBC Folk Awards Best Live Act in 2011, 2008, 2007 and 2005.

For further information and tickets call 01775 764777 or visit www.spiersandboden.com.

RAIN will not be dampening spirits at this weekend’s Spalding Flower Parade, according to weather forecasters.

While April’s heavy showers have been dominating the headlines during the continuing drought over the last few weeks, parade day on Saturday looks to be dry.

According to The Met Office, Saturday is set to be cloudy with sunny intervals in Spalding, while Sunday will have similar for the celebrations in Moulton Chapel.

The final touches are currently being put to the floats for the 54th annual parade, with 1.3million tulip heads being painstakingly pinned by hand by an army of volunteers.

Parade manager Kathleen Codd had been keeping a close eye on the weather ahead of the flowers being picked but otherwise said the weather was “not something to worry about”.

“We have umbrellas but beyond that there is very little you can do,” she said. “You just have to work around it.”

Lincolnshire Police is welcoming the party spirit for the parade but have warned officers will “robustly” deal with any potential troublemakers, with extra resources being drafted in for the event.

Last year two people were arrested for public order offences on the Saturday.

Sgt Stuart Hurst said: “I’m a local person and I’m very proud that we have our flower parade. Clearly it’s a day where people like to come and meet with old friends and share a drink.

“We will deal robustly with those who choose to go too far.”

BEN Wilson is hoping history repeats itself at Oulton Park this weekend, as he bids to kick-start his season.

After a three-week break, the Motorpoint British Supersport championship heads to Cheshire for round three of the series over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend off.

Kirton ace Wilson currently holds third place in the rider standings and is anticipating two strong results at the weekend to keep him within striking distance of series leader Jack Kennedy, who has an eight and a half point lead over Wilson after two rounds (four races).

And the Gearlink Kawasaki rider has happy memories of last year’s May Day weekend, when he won both races and left the venue as championship leader.

The competition is strong this time around though – and Wilson will have to use all his skills if he is to repeat the performance.

Wilson said: “I am up for the challenge. I realise that winning a championship is all about consistency but I also need to get a few wins under my belt as well.

“I really enjoy the Oulton Park track and will be going all out for two good results.”

A provisional timetable has been issued for the meeting and Wilson is scheduled to be on track on Saturday for two free practice sessions, followed by a solitary half hour qualifying session on Sunday at 2pm.

The 12-lap sprint race is set for a start at 5.20pm on Sunday and the 16-lap feature race will commence at 3.15pm on Monday.

LOUTH OLD BOYS U/12s 1 WYBERTON COLTS U/12s 2: FLYING Colts finished their season on a high as they secured third place in the Mid Lincs league.

Jenson Ball was the hero, burying two cracking goals into the Old Boys net to wrap up a deserved victory.

Wyberton continued to play their neat, pass and go football that has made them a pleasure to watch this season under the management team of Martyn and Mel Scrupps and Mark Thompson.

Martyn Scrupps said: “The boys have been a pleasure to coach, they listen, work hard and are a credit to themselves and to the club with their conduct both on and off the pitch.”

HOLBEACH UNITED U/13s 2

MARCH U/13s 2

ELLIOTT Lea’s late strike secured a potentially pivotal draw for Holbeach in a high-pressure clash.

With promotion still a possibility for both teams, the young Tigers knew they’d have their work cut out against an in-form march outfit. Holbeach started brightly and Sam Ground prodded the ball home from the first corner of the game.

The Tigers pressed for much of the first half, but failed to increase their lead.

That proved costly, as March scored twice within the first five minutes of the second period to take the lead.

A tactical switch saw Holbeach skipper Liam Ford and goalscorer Ground switch positions, as they closed down the midfield and pressed for the equaliser.

It duly arrived when some slick passing culminated in Luke Barnes threading a ball through to Lea that, who smashed into the net.

Some classic ‘cup tie style’ football followed, with each team pressing for the win without reward.

The draw leaves both Holbeach and Wisbech St Mar level on points and goal difference in the promotion race, with the young Tigers scoring more goals.

Peterborough & District League

PINCHBECK UTD RES 7

WOODSTON 3

DAN Cole put in a man-of-the-match performance to guide Pinchbeck to all three points in this ten-goal thriller on Saturday.

In truth, United should have had double figures themselves. Tom Gosling opened the scoring for the home side within ten minutes and grabbed his second mid way through the half after neat link up play with Sam Munton.

Pinchbeck’s high tempo should have resulted in a bigger margin at the break, but wasteful finishing meant there was still work to do.

It got easier at the start of the second half when Cole picked the ball up, played a one two and hammered the ball past the bewildered keeper. 

His second was the pick of the goals when he beat three men on the edge of the box with some quick footwork before coolly slipping the ball in the corner of the goal, past the on rushing keeper. His determination to win the ball back and his imagination with the use of it was evident throughout.

Either side of Cole’s double, Mohammed Sohail scored two breakaway goals for Woodston. It was sloppy from the home side’s point of view, but with the game won the closing stages saw gaps appear at both ends. John Butler, Ash Wilson and an own goal completed the scoring for Pinchbeck, with Terry Rhodes bagging Woodston’s third.

AIMEE Stocker’s storming year continued as she smashed a long-standing Spalding Cycling Club record at round three of the club’s ten mile time trial league.

Her time of 25.52 minutes saw here set a new best time for a lady over the distance, smashing a record set way back in the early 1990s.

It was a top night for the club’s other riders too, with a spree of personal best (PB) times clocked.

At the top of the leaderboard, Neil Palmer took his revenge on Jeremy Hargrave and set a PB time on his way to first place with a time of 23.23mins. Hargrave was just behind in second with 23.26mins.

• Results: Neil Palmer 23.23 (PB); Jeremy Hargrave 23.26; Chris Pratt 23.48 (PB); Andrew Gurney 24.30 (PB); Chris Ward 24.44; Graham McAndrew 24.58; Ian Fensom 25.07; Harry Bellars 25.11; Aimee Stocker 25.52 (PB); Jake Peel 26.21; Ben Richards 26.40; Tom Webster snr 26.49; Jennifer McAndrew 27.04 (PB); David Thornley 27.15; Derek Chamberlain 27.20; Simon Wright 27.29; Gareth Richards 27.49; Clare Thomas 28.27 (PB); Barry Drew 28.52; Gerry Charlwood 29.00; Brett Shephard 29.21; Kate Peel 30.22; David Neale 31.31; Richard Merrill 31.40 (PB); Adrian Thurston 31.49; Bill Wood 32.15; Ben Cleghorn 32.19 (PB); Harriet Moore 32.24; Tilly Gurney 33.04 (PB); Alan Stacey 33.05; Adam Medlock 33.28; Megan Kendal 36.51 (PB).

• Guests: Andy Barnard 24.41; Steve Thompson 25.26 (PB); Tom Drew 26.00 (PB); Charlotte Taylor 29.55.

• Round Two results: 1st Jeremy Hargrave 23.39mins; 2nd Neil Palmer 24.21; 3rd Chris Ward 24.53; 4th Ian Fensom 25.33; 5th Harry Bellars 25.44; 6th Aimee Stocker 27.06 (PB); 7th Jake Peel 27.16; 8th Adam Ellis 27.53; 9th Sam Bentley 28.00; 10th David Thornley 28.26; 11th Jennifer McAndrew 28.33; 12th Claire Thomas 28.39 (PB); 13th Gareth Richards 29.05; 14th Ben Richards 29.30; 15th Brett Shepherd 29.41; 16th Simon Wright 29.55; 17th Reece Moradkhan 32.13; 18th Harriet Moore 32.57; 19th Ben Cleghorn 33.48 (PB); 20th Tim Moore 37.45

• Guests: Steve Thompson 26.21; Tom Drew 27.00

TWO men using terriers to flush foxes from underground dens put a live pregnant vixen in a tiny barrel because the gamekeeper “didn’t have the heart” to shoot her as the law required.

Police were called by children’s home staff to investigate a report that shooting was taking place and men were in their field on April 25 last year, Spalding magistrates heard.

Officers went to Fen Road, Holbeach, and found gamekeeper John Bycroft (67), who is the terrier man to the Fitzwilliam Hunt, and Jamie Round (24) nearby with an open horsebox with a plastic barrel inside.

The barrel measured just 75cms high and 30cms across and contained a live fox.

The court heard Bycroft intended to release the fox elsewhere, but police ordered her to be freed on the spot.

Bycroft, of Weston Hills Road, Low Fulney, denied one offence under the Hunting Act 2004 and one under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, but both were proved at the end of a two day RSPCA prosecution.

He was ordered to pay a total of £2,065 – comprising fines of £525 for each offence, £1,000 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Jobless Round, of Penny Hill, Holbeach, denied identical offences.

He was acquitted of the Hunting Act charge but found guilty of the Welfare Act charge which involved confining the fox in a barrel with insufficient light, space, ventilation and a suitable environment to exhibit normal behaviour.

Round was fined £165 and must pay £100 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Beris Brickles, prosecuting, said Bycroft asked for and was denied consent to be on the children’s home land.

The court heard the fox was caught on a dyke bank outside the home’s boundary fence and Bycroft had written consent to be on the neighbouring land.

Bycroft and Round said all that happened on the children’s home land was digging to free a terrier that was trapped underground.

Magistrates found neither man breached the trespass element of Hunting Act law, but Bycroft alone breached the provision requiring him to shoot the fox as soon as reasonably practical.

Solicitor Daven Naghen said Round did not have a gun and expected Bycroft to shoot the animal.

Mr Naghen warned against ascribing human feelings to the fox as its ten minutes in the barrel could have been the happiest of its life.

Solicitor Rachel Stevens said Bycroft is held in high regard as a gamekeeper and felt shooting the fox would have caused unnecessary suffering to her cubs. There were ground nesting birds on the site where she was captured and he wanted to release her elsewhere.

NETHERTON UNITED 2 (Randall 12, Cullen 45) PINCHBECK UNITED 3 (Bishop 13, Gray 44, Gosling 85): BUZZING Ian Dunn is targeting a double after his Pinchbeck side won a first-ever PFA Senior Cup on Monday night.

A stunning late strike from super-sub Tom Gosling settled the five-goal London Road final, writing Dunn and his charges a lengthy chapter in the club’s history.

Nick Bishop’s freak goal and a disputed Keith Gray effort had earlier ensured that United came from a goal down to be level at 2-2 at half time.

Player/boss Dunn, who replaced himself with match-winner Gosling in the second half, admitted that winning his first piece of silverware was still sinking in.

But he conceded he was made up for his talented group of players and everybody that had made the dream possible.

He said: “I’m just delighted for everyone at the club. For the young lads, it’s great to see them so excited at winning a trophy.

“Dan Woods was unplayable and deservedly got man of the match, while Gozzy (Gosling) scored a superb winner. He’s had some deserved bad press in the past, but this was the best way to repay us.

“I’m equally made up for the likes of Pete Roberts, Bruce Patterson, Colin Clow, Tom Healey and John Lyon. It’s great to give something back to all of them.

“For me, the job isn’t done yet. I’m incredibly proud of our achievement, but I won’t celebrate until we win the league – that’s the big one.

“I’m obviously buzzing, but we need three more wins and we’re double champions. Then I’ll celebrate.”

Having lost the Lincs Junior Cup final two weeks beforehand, Pinchbeck could have been forgiven for getting the jitters when Tom Randall slotted Peterborough and District Premier League rivals Netherton ahead on 12 minutes.

But they delivered the perfect response, with a hopeful Bishop through ball bouncing over an embarrassed Ben Carter and into the net.

This settled Pinchbeck down, with Gray rattling the bar and Dunn forcing a smart save from Carter, before they went ahead for the first time.

With the city side appealing for offside, the energetic Gray raced clear to reach a Woods pass and slot a deserved second.

However, parity was restored instantly once again as Ben Cullen notched to make it 2-2 at the interval.

It was all Pinchbeck after the break and they finally got their reward five minutes from time, Gosling finishing with finesse in front of the 400-strong crowd to spark wild celebrations.

Dunn’s attention now turns to a crucial three-game week, which sees his side host basement boys Alconbury on Saturday (3pm) and Coates Athletic on Wednesday (6.45pm), before a potential title shoot-out with second-placed King’s Cliffe on Saturday week.

Should they win all three matches, Pinchbeck will be Premier Division champions – regardless of what King’s Cliffe or anybody else do.

Pinchbeck: Drury, Wilson, Maddison, Marshall, Hocking, Clay, Bishop, Maltby (Langford), Woods, Dunn (Gosling), Gray. Not used: McDonnell, Law, Roberts.

A PICK-up truck with a distinctive double cab has been stolen from the driveway of a house in Cowbit.

The black Mitsubishi L200, registration AJ10 WFF, was driven away after a window was smashed at the home and the keys taken from inside.

The truck has silver Barbarian stickers down the side, low level roller shutters, chrome side bars and a chrome dog guard.

It happened between 7.30am and 7.15pm on Monday.

Anyone with information should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101.

RUSH hour traffic came to a standstill on the A17 after a bus and a lorry collided.

Both vehicles were seriously damaged in Wednesday’s crash on the Peppermint junction in Holbeach where the A17 meets the A151 link road on Wednesday.

Emergency services were called at about 5.55pm and the road was reopened again by 6.40pm.

No passengers were on the bus, which belongs to Boston-based firm Brylaine.

The driver and passenger of the Spanish lorry (both 27) and the bus driver, a 40-year-old man from Spalding, escaped injury.

SPALDING Flower Parade will go ahead this year, just as it has done for 53 years previously, no matter what calamaties or problems arise before 2pm on Saturday, May 5.

It will go ahead largely because a team of people will do their best to make sure it does, just as they have been doing for the past however many years.

They go largely unrecognised and unrewarded – apart from a bacon bap on the morning after parade day, I’m told – but the Operations Committee and the tractor drivers are a crucial part of the colourful spectacle that is Spalding Flower Parade.

For instance, Clive Gotobed has driven the Spalding Flower Queen’s float in the parade “from man and boy”, according to Adrian Jansen, the parade controller. Clive has that privilege again this year when Flower Queen Amy Harrison makes her appearance in the 54th parade, on the theme of Food, Glorious Food.

Clive, who farms at Gosberton Risegate, says: “I have been driving in the parade for 43 years. I was in the parade in 1961 when I was 11 and have had something to do with it ever since, putting straw on the floats or decorating them with tulip heads. It’s a good day out and you meet a lot of people. You see people in the same place each year.”

Michael Le Feuvre of West Pinchbeck has been involved in the parade since 1967 when he was at the Gleed Boys’ School.

“I have been a driver but I have done all sorts,” says Michael. “Years ago we had a village float and I was involved with that. We got involved as kids and it’s just carried on. You get a lot of satisfaction from it because you have done it so long.”

Similarly, other unassuming, hard-working people from the area will again be taking on a role they have done many times previously, either to make sure the parade of floats gets round the route safely and without big gaps or to drive tractors pulling the parade floats.

Parade manager Kathleen Codd admits: “Quite frankly, without the operations team and the volunteer drivers there wouldn’t be a parade. It’s as simple as that. Invaluable is the word I would use.”

Their work has already begun, with the floats – still looking eerie in their naked state – moved to the sheds where they will be decorated with tulip heads in the days and hours leading up to the big day. One storage location is Robin Chappell’s farm in Spalding – Robin too has helped the parade organisers for over 30 years, providing tulip heads for many years. On parade day morning the floats will be moved again, to Springfields, where they depart from the arena at 2pm.

The operations team and the drivers have met with Adrian and Kathleen, when drivers were allocated to floats and trailers, and farmer and parade stalwart Trev Tyrrell tasked with finding another driver – most likely from the ranks of Spalding and District Young Farmers, who are collecting for charity on parade day.

All that remains now is for the floats to be transformed by colourful tulip heads and for the sun to put his hat on for May 5 and Spalding will once again treat thousands of spectators to one of the greatest free shows in the country.

n The official guide to Spalding Flower Parade is on sale now at our offices in The Crescent, priced £2.

A SPALDING worker has been chosen from 19,000 colleagues to assist Homebase garden designer Joe Swift at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Garden centre team leader Jacky Stephens will be learning about Joe’s inspiration and contents of the Homebase Teenage Cancer Trust Garden, which captures the power of plants and natural forms within urban and suburban environments.

Jacky said: “It is going to be a great experience and hopefully I will bring back some tips for colleagues and customers.”

Jacky was nominated by regional manager Andy Adkin for her dedication to improving her gardening knowledge and to ensuring the store’s plants are kept to a high quality.

Jacky will be meeting with Joe to learn about the design of the garden and its contents and assisting with the build, before revealing their knowledge of the garden to hundreds of visitors at the show by answering questions and handing out leaflets about the garden.

NEW cycle racks and signage for cyclists in Spalding have been approved by South Holland District Council.

Funding of £8,320 has been allocated out of the Springfields ‘Section 106’ planning money – earmarked for the benefit of the town centre – to pay for the improvements which were requested by Pedals, Spalding’s Cycle Action Group.

Pedals had asked for more cycle parking in the town centre and more signage on the cycle route between the town centre and Springfields Outlet Shopping and Festival Gardens.

Both schemes are now expected to be completed within three months.

The group looked at existing cycle parking spaces and proposed replacement cycle racks and an extra 26 cycle parking spaces in the town.

Coun Howard Johnson, district council portfolio holder for development, said: “This will further encourage both leisure riders and commuters to use bicycles rather than cars, reducing the area’s carbon footprint.”

Pedals chairman David Jones said: “This can only be good for cyclists, as it actually addresses us and our needs, when all too often motorists seem to have priority in funding. It also highlights the relatively low cost of providing measures that help cyclists.”

A MAN who sexually abused a young girl after luring her to a stable block has escaped jail.

Father-of-three Colin Male took the youngster on a tractor during a visit to a farm and then persuaded her to go to the stables where he indecently touched her.

Male (37), of Waverley Close, Morton, denied sexually touching the girl on August 1, 2011, but was convicted by a jury following a trial.

He was given three years’ supervision and was ordered to attend a sex offenders rehabilitation group.

Male, who appeared at Lincoln Crown Court last Friday, was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs.

Recorder Stephen Lowne told him: “If you breach the order by not complying with any of the directions I want this case brought back before me and you will go to prison.

“You sexually exploited a young girl. You did so deliberately. It was no accident. You lured her into a dark stable and there you abused her. It must have been terrifying for her.”

The recorder said Male had coached a young witness who gave false evidence in his favour and told him: “In one sense you have abused her as well.

“What you have done to both children is unforgivable.”

Praising the complainant, Mr Lowne said: “She was an honest and compelling witness who was telling the absolute truth. She told it as it was. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind of that child’s integrity.”

Edna Leonard, defending, said Male was the sole breadwinner for his family and was anxious to retain his freedom so that he can provide for them.

AN organised crime gang who were caught during a special operation in which police removed drugs valued at more than £1million from the streets of Lincolnshire have been jailed for a total of 48 years.

The gang, which included two men from Wyberton and one from Kirton, were sentenced during a two-day hearing at Lincoln Crown Court last week.

Louth-based ringleaders Stephen Payne (43) and Philip Cox (41) were each jailed for 11 years after being described during the hearing as “mid range drugs traffickers”.

Farm worker Timothy Louth (30) of Bleak House Farm, Wyberton, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for playing a “slightly lesser role” in the conspiracy.

Former special constable Nicholas Ingamells (40), who lived next door to Louth in Wyberton, was jailed for 18 months after he admitted concealing £10,600 in cash belonging to his former neighbour.

During the investigation, Phillip Bell, (41) of Green View, Kirton, pleaded guilty to acting as intermediary between Louth and Payne on one occasion. He faces further charges arising out of Operation Ridion and will be sentenced at a later date.

Five other Lincolnshire men were among the gang of 15 people arrested for their roles in supplying Class A and B drugs which included cocaine, heroin, cannabis resin and amphetamines.

Boston men Trevor Marson, (33) of Ingelow Avenue, Jamie Milne, (32) of St Nicholas Road and Leigh Dawson, (27) of Woad Farm Road, were all sentenced by the court last week, along with Simon Godwin, (39) of Quarry Road, Louth and Jamie Smith, (23) of Mill Lane, Grainthorpe.

Codenamed “Operation Atalanta”, the investigation ran alongside another operation run by the East Midlands special operations unit in which police targeted the distribution of drugs from the Midlands and Yorkshire to the Boston area.

As a result the East Midlands Special Operations Unit set up “Operation Ridion” which combined with the Serious and Organised Crime Unit from Lincolnshire Police.

The court heard police used CCTV, listening devices, covert cameras and surveillance to target the suspected drug dealers and eventually carried out a string of arrests between February and March 2011.

Five other men from outside Lincolnshire were also arrested. Rashpal Singh (33) of Hyne Avenue, Bradford, Liam Buckley, (40) of Foljambe Drive, Dalton, Rotherham and Michael Cash (28), from Bentley, South Yorkshire, were all jailed for their roles in the crime, while David Roddis, (46) of Deer Park Road, Rotherham, was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.

A fifth man from Harrogate will be sentenced for his role later this month.

Lincolnshire Police assistant chief constable Roger Bannister said: “This was the largest operation of its kind run in recent times by Lincolnshire Police.

“In total, drugs valued at £1.1m were seized, and the disruption caused to traffickers would have run to multiple millions.

“We’re delighted with the sentences which send out a message to those who deal in drugs in Lincolnshire.”