A 34-year-old man accused of carrying out a series of robberies was on Monday, January 18 remanded in custody when he appeared before Lincoln Crown Court.

Darren Nicholls of no fixed address, but originally from the Gainsborough area, spoke only to confirm his identity during the hearing carried out via a video link.

Recorder Martine Kushner adjourned the case for a further hearing at the Crown Court on March 11 and remanded Nicholls in custody.

Nicholls faces two charges of robbery and a further charge of attempt robbery.

He is alleged to have carried out a robbery at Otters Bridge Service Station near Saxilby on August 13 last year.

He is also charged with a robbery in Market Street, Gainsborough on September 21 and attempt robbery at McColls on Spital Terrace, Gainsborough, on September 13.

Huge quantities of heroin and cocaine were brought into Grantham by an organised crime gang for sale on the streets of the town, Lincoln Crown Court was told on Tuesday, January 19.

The gang, headed up by car dealer Jonathan Ferry, also brought in significant amounts of both M Cat and amphetamine and were set to make vast profits from their illegal activities.

During a nine-month period in 2014 hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs were couriered in from Manchester and Nottinghamshire as a result of links made between the Grantham gang and other organised crime groups.

Twelve men and one woman are facing sentencing for their involvement in the supply of drugs.

Matthew Lowe, prosecuting, said: “This case arises from the organised supply of class A and class B drugs that took place in the East Midlands.

“There was an established organised crime group based in Grantham. They purchased drugs in substantial quantities, in particular cocaine and heroin, from organised crime groups based in Manchester and Nottinghamshire.

“The Grantham group was headed up by Jonathan Ferry. He was an established class A drug dealer. He was the head of the criminal operation in Grantham sufficiently well established in his trade so that he was able to obtain the supply of heroin and cocaine in significant quantities.

“By January of 2014 the Grantham crime group was fully operating. When members of the group were arrested Ferry was able to recruit replacements with little interruption to his operation.”

Lowe said that Ferry kept himself at “arms distance” from much of the drug dealing.

When police raided Ferry’s home in Larch Close, Grantham in October 2014 they recovered significant quantities of jewellery and watches together with £4,000 cash. Ferry’s £24,000 Range Rover was parked outside the property.

Lowe said that Adam Higgs was Ferry’s “right hand man” with over 1,000 mobile phone contacts between the two men.

Others involved played important roles including collecting, storing, preparing and distributing the drugs.

Lowe said that couriers from Manchester had supplied cocaine on at least 13 occasions to the Grantham group with evidence showing that in the region of 1.5kgs of the drug with a potential street sale value of £90,000 was brought in each time.

On one occasion Ryan Anderson, a drugs courier from Manchester, was found with £26,000 cash after being stopped by police on his way back over the Pennines after making a delivery.

Lowe added that the heroin supplies were brought in from North Nottinghamshire area with up to 2.5 kgs with a street sale value of £137,000 being supplied at a time.

He told the court that it was estimated that at least 10 deliveries of heroin were made to Grantham.

The drugs supply operation was finally closed down in October 2014 after police carried out a number of arrests.

Investigating officers had gathered evidence from undercover surveillance and a series of earlier raids.

Nine men and one woman have admitted charges of conspiracy to supply drugs between January 1 and October 23, 2014.

They are:

• Jonathan Paul Ferry, 46, of Larch Close, Grantham
• Paul Hull, 47, of Grantley Street, Grantham
• Adam Higgs, 24, of Shaw Road, Grantham
• Ashley Toulson, 27, of Edward Street, Grantham
• Stuart Frazier, 54, of Princess Drive, Grantham
• Tyrone Sly, 46, of Bye Path Road, Retford
• Ryan Anderson, 31, of Walmer Street, Gorton, Manchester
• Martin Cooper, 31, formerly of Grantham
• Francesca Moynihan, 23, of Hawthorn Drive, Salford
• Luke Smith, 30, of Goulden Street, Salford

Three other men denied charges of conspiracy to supply drugs between the same dates but were convicted by a jury following a trial.

They are James Straw, 50, of Petersmith Drive, New Ollerton, Newark; Jamie Darby, 39, of Princess Drive, Grantham; and Adam Gill, 29, of South Parade, Grantham.

The hearing continues.

Revenge fly-tipping of an ex-wife’s property back-fired, costing a man just shy of £2,500 after North Kesteven District Council prosecuted him for his actions.

On two occasions in June 2014 Michael Peter Hutchinson, most recently living at Church Lane, Croft, Skegness, dumped items on the front garden of his ex-wife’s house in Jubilee Close, Martin.

Items included bedding, furniture, glass lamps and a mirror, all of which had been damaged by the disgruntled ex-husband using green paint and solvent.

The ex-wife recognised them as coming from the house they had shared at Station Road, Burgh le Marsh.

After a lengthy investigation, spanning almost 18 months, in which Hutchinson gave a string of different addresses, council officers were able to call Hutchinson to Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on two counts of fly tipping.

Since July 2014 officers’ attempts to liaise with him had failed, due to false addresses being given on several occasions.

They were unable to formally interview him, nor did he respond to a list of questions under caution – leading to the council’s decision to move forward with enough evidence to prosecute for depositing waste without a waste management licence.

In court, Hutchinson could not see how his actions could be classed as fly-tipping, insisting that he was simply ‘returning’ the items to his ex-wife.

Given however they were unwanted by him, were delivered in the early hours of the morning and damaged, the court said they could be regarded as waste – and therefore he had actually committed the offence of fly tipping, for depositing waste on any land without a waste management license, contrary to section 33(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Despite pleading not guilty at an initial hearing, Hutchinson changed his plea before facing trial on January 15, 2016. He was found guilty on two counts of fly-tipping .

He was fined £625, costs of £1,229.88, victim surcharge £63 and compensation to Mrs Hutchinson of £400, totalling £2,317.88.

Councillor Richard Wright, Executive Board member with responsibility for Environmental Health said: “The district council has never tolerated fly tipping, and although Hutchinson considered himself to be returning the items, he was in fact committing an offence.

“We take this very seriously, and will prosecute anyone who is caught doing so.

“We take pride in our district and its beautiful countryside and seek to safeguard its communities. We want those living here, and visiting here to be able to appreciate its beauty – not have to view the blight a few people put up on it.”

On the same day, another two cases of fly-tipping were brought before Lincoln Magistrates’.

Grantham man David Cant was fined and charged a total of £1,744 for dumping a large amount of garden and building waste on a country land near Sleaford after charging a householder £80 to take it away.

Tattershall’s Martin Godwin is required to pay £2,395 after dumping household waste , including a child’s seat, at Blankney. He admitted his guilt at an early stage.

Last year, North Kesteven District Council responded to almost 1,000 incidents of reported fly-tipping each year, spending nearly £75,000 on its investigation and removal annually.

Anyone who sees any is asked to report it online here.

The former Chief Executive of the Priory Federation of Academies was sacrificed as part of a “witch-hunt,” a jury has been told on Wednesday, January 20.

Richard Gilliland, 64, denies abusing his position by using federation credit cards to buy thousands of pounds worth of personal items.

He is also alleged to have arranged for his son, Kia Richardson, to work for the federation after supressing a Criminal Records Bureau check, which revealed that Kia had twice been convicted of flashing and had served a prison sentence for the offence.

But Gilliland’s defence barrister, Mark Harries, told a jury at Lincoln Crown Court that prosecution case against his client had “manipulation, misrepresentation and deceit” running through it like a virus.

Addressing the jury in his closing speech, Harries said it led to the sacrifice of Gilliland who was an “educator, innovator and pioneer.”

“Witch-hunt is a strong word,” Harries said. “But I make no apology for using it.”

“The Crown’s evidence in this case put before you over the last 25 days is deeply flawed and dangerously selective.”

Harries told them the prosecution had decided to adopt the conclusions of a Department of Education report while ignoring any other contrary evidence.

He also warned the jury that Gilliland could not be criticised for some of the answers he gave while being interviewed by the police.

“On that long day in August 2011 he was asked to account for documents put in front of him there and then,” Harries added.

The prosecution’s claim that Gilliland acted out of greed was simply not credible, Harries told them. “It is rubbish, it is nonsense, and it is demonstrable when you look at the values we’re looking at.”

Harries said the total amount of expenses Gilliland was alleged to have fiddled amounted to just £11,264 over three years.

At its highest, Harries told the jury, the amount of unsuitable purchases Gilliland was alleged to have made on Amazon was just £7,321, or less than £210 per month.

“A pittance and probably about the same as it costs to fill the staff room biscuit barrel,” Mr Harries told them.

Richard Gilliland, 64, who now lives in Spain, denies seven charges of fraud by abuse of position on dates between October 2008 and November 2011.

The PFA’s former finance director Stephen Davies, 58, of Abingdon Avenue, Lincoln, also denies three charges of fraud by abuse of position.

Harries speech to the jury continues this afternoon. (Wed)

Due to the judge’s ruling on Friday, November 13, 2015, any comments on the ongoing trial on The Lincolnite will be removed.

Follow the progress of the trial so far:

• Ex-Lincoln academy boss employed son who failed CRB check, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln academy paid £2,480 bill for CEO’s son to attend training course, court hears
• Fraud trial: Lincoln academy’s financial management described as “chaotic”
• ‘Forceful’ ex-Lincoln academy boss rarely backed up expenses with receipts, court hears
• Boss’ son who failed CRB check not interviewed for job at Lincoln academy, trial hears
• Lincoln academy invoice was tampered with, court hears from employee
• Employee tells jury ex-Lincoln federation boss was “drained” by problems with son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss’ son left trust in “turmoil”, jury told
• Solicitor ‘had no knowledge’ of ex-Lincoln academy CEO’s employment conditions, jury hears
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss provided alternative curriculum for disruptive pupils
• Gilliland fraud trial: No overtime payments were authorised to son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss considered retirement before he resigned, court hears
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss described as ‘admirable’ as fraud trial resumes
• Federation chairman denies conspiracy to make Gilliland a scapegoat, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln trust sought legal advice after national paper investigated employment of boss’ son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss in ‘terrible mental state’ prior to fraud probe, court hears
• “I was bullied into it”, says former Lincoln academies’ finance director in fraud trial
• ‘Not a jot of truth’ in fraud allegations, says ex-Lincoln academies boss in defence
• Fraud allegations are “incomprehensible”, says accused ex-Lincoln academies boss
• “I always put the children first,” claims ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Former Lincoln academies boss denies bullying as fraud trial continues
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss defends decision to employ son convicted of flashing
• “It’s total nonsense”, says ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Ex-Lincoln academies finance director had no accountancy qualifications, court hears
• Former Lincoln academies finance director claims fraud accusations are “nonsense”
• Fraud trial jury told former Lincoln academies boss’ credibility is at centre of case

The former Chief Executive of the Priory Federation of Academies was prosecuted because of “who he is,” a jury was told on Wednesday, January 20.

Richard Gilliland, 64, denies abusing his position by using federation credit cards to buy thousands of pounds worth of personal items.

Addressing the jury in his closing speech, defence barrister Mark Harries told them it was possible to conclude that the PFA actually owed Gilliland money for his expenses rather than his client having committed a fraud.

Harries told Lincoln Crown Court that its highest the prosecution alleged a fraud of just £11,264 regarding Mr Gilliland’s expenses.

The court heard Gilliland paid back over £8,000 in the summer of the 2011.

Harries said when that figure was added to insurance premiums that Gilliland was entitled to it meant the PFA could still owe him around £1,900.

Gilliland also denies that he fraudulently arranged for the federation to pay for training courses for his son, Kia Richardson, and for him to be paid money he was not entitled to.

“Kia did do some work whatever anybody else says about it, he did put in some overtime,” Harries said.

Harries told the jury it was the defence case that the Chairman of the PFA, Terry Coffey, got Gilliland to resign by “hook and crook.”

“Do you really think if Mr Gilliland was a nobody that we would be here?,” Harries asked the jury to consider.

“Make no mistake Richard Gilliland has been prosecuted because of who he is and not in spite of it.”

Gilliland, 64, who now lives in Spain, denies seven charges of fraud by abuse of position on dates between October 2008 and November 2011.

The PFA’s former finance director Stephen Davies, 58, of Abingdon Avenue, Lincoln, also denies three charges of fraud by abuse of position.

The trial continues.

Due to the judge’s ruling on Friday, November 13, 2015, any comments on the ongoing trial on The Lincolnite will be removed.

Follow the progress of the trial so far:

• Ex-Lincoln academy boss employed son who failed CRB check, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln academy paid £2,480 bill for CEO’s son to attend training course, court hears
• Fraud trial: Lincoln academy’s financial management described as “chaotic”
• ‘Forceful’ ex-Lincoln academy boss rarely backed up expenses with receipts, court hears
• Boss’ son who failed CRB check not interviewed for job at Lincoln academy, trial hears
• Lincoln academy invoice was tampered with, court hears from employee
• Employee tells jury ex-Lincoln federation boss was “drained” by problems with son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss’ son left trust in “turmoil”, jury told
• Solicitor ‘had no knowledge’ of ex-Lincoln academy CEO’s employment conditions, jury hears
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss provided alternative curriculum for disruptive pupils
• Gilliland fraud trial: No overtime payments were authorised to son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss considered retirement before he resigned, court hears
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss described as ‘admirable’ as fraud trial resumes
• Federation chairman denies conspiracy to make Gilliland a scapegoat, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln trust sought legal advice after national paper investigated employment of boss’ son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss in ‘terrible mental state’ prior to fraud probe, court hears
• “I was bullied into it”, says former Lincoln academies’ finance director in fraud trial
• ‘Not a jot of truth’ in fraud allegations, says ex-Lincoln academies boss in defence
• Fraud allegations are “incomprehensible”, says accused ex-Lincoln academies boss
• “I always put the children first,” claims ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Former Lincoln academies boss denies bullying as fraud trial continues
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss defends decision to employ son convicted of flashing
• “It’s total nonsense”, says ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Ex-Lincoln academies finance director had no accountancy qualifications, court hears
• Former Lincoln academies finance director claims fraud accusations are “nonsense”
• Fraud trial jury told former Lincoln academies boss’ credibility is at centre of case
• Jury told ex-Lincoln academies boss was sacrificed as part of “witch-hunt”

The former finance director of the Priory Federation of Academies was caught up in a “maelstrom” not of his own choosing, a jury was told on Thursday, January 21.

Stephen Davies, 58, has denied he did anything wrong regarding payments made to the organisation’s former chief executive, Richard Gilliland, who is on trial alongside him at Lincoln Crown Court.

Giles Beddloe, defending Davies, told the jury his client was one step removed from the case against Gilliland.

Addressing the courtroom in his closing speech Beddloe said: “Mr Davies by any account is a less controversial, charismatic and colourful individual. He is an ordinary man.

“His first love was teaching and the welfare of his students. Sadly for him he got caught up in this maelstrom. This case is not of his choosing. He did not want to be placed in this position.”

Beddloe asked the jury: “You may consider if Mr Gilliland was not on trial then Mr Davies would not be here.”

The prosecution claim that Davies assisted Gilliland in making three payments because he feared for his job was simply not credible, Beddloe told them.

“What evidence has been put forward by the prosecution to say his job would have been put in jeopardy if those payments were not done?,” Beddloe asked. “There was no evidence because it is an absurd suggestion.”

Beddloe told the jury there was also no personal benefit to Davies. “He obviously did not gain from this, it is an indisputable proposition.”

During his evidence Davies insisted there were “sound business reasons” for the federation paying for training courses for Gilliland’s son, Kia Richardson.

He also said that overtime payments of more than £4,000 paid out to Richardson were justified.

Beddloe told the jury: “Kia Richardson is nothing to do with Mr Davies. He has no interest in Kia Richardson benefiting from this.”

Davies, 58, of Abingdon Avenue, Lincoln, denies three charges of fraud by abuse of position.

Richard Gilliland, 64, who now lives in Spain, denies seven charges of fraud by abuse of position on dates between October 2008 and November 2011.

The trial continues.

Due to the judge’s ruling on Friday, November 13, 2015, any comments on the ongoing trial on The Lincolnite will be removed.

Follow the progress of the trial so far:

• Ex-Lincoln academy boss employed son who failed CRB check, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln academy paid £2,480 bill for CEO’s son to attend training course, court hears
• Fraud trial: Lincoln academy’s financial management described as “chaotic”
• ‘Forceful’ ex-Lincoln academy boss rarely backed up expenses with receipts, court hears
• Boss’ son who failed CRB check not interviewed for job at Lincoln academy, trial hears
• Lincoln academy invoice was tampered with, court hears from employee
• Employee tells jury ex-Lincoln federation boss was “drained” by problems with son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss’ son left trust in “turmoil”, jury told
• Solicitor ‘had no knowledge’ of ex-Lincoln academy CEO’s employment conditions, jury hears
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss provided alternative curriculum for disruptive pupils
• Gilliland fraud trial: No overtime payments were authorised to son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss considered retirement before he resigned, court hears
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss described as ‘admirable’ as fraud trial resumes
• Federation chairman denies conspiracy to make Gilliland a scapegoat, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln trust sought legal advice after national paper investigated employment of boss’ son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss in ‘terrible mental state’ prior to fraud probe, court hears
• “I was bullied into it”, says former Lincoln academies’ finance director in fraud trial
• ‘Not a jot of truth’ in fraud allegations, says ex-Lincoln academies boss in defence
• Fraud allegations are “incomprehensible”, says accused ex-Lincoln academies boss
• “I always put the children first,” claims ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Former Lincoln academies boss denies bullying as fraud trial continues
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss defends decision to employ son convicted of flashing
• “It’s total nonsense”, says ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Ex-Lincoln academies finance director had no accountancy qualifications, court hears
• Former Lincoln academies finance director claims fraud accusations are “nonsense”
• Fraud trial jury told former Lincoln academies boss’ credibility is at centre of case
• Jury told ex-Lincoln academies boss was sacrificed as part of “witch-hunt”
• Richard Gilliland prosecuted because of “who he is”, Lincoln fraud trial hears

A man caught with a wrap of M-Cat after police spotted him dealing cannabis on the streets of Lincoln has been sentenced.

Pawel Jelonek, 20, was caught after a police officer noticed him approaching two other men on the corner of Florence Street and Winn Street.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the officer had noticed one of the men making a phone call and Jelonek appeared a few moments later.

Mark Watson, prosecuting, said Jelonek spoke to the two men and then went to a nearby flat in Winn Street where he was seen leaning through a window before returning to the group.

All three men were searched after Jelonek was seen passing over an item which was found be a wrap of cannabis valued at £10.

Jelonek was also found to be in possession of a single wrap of mephedrone.

During interview Jelonek claimed he found the M-Cat and said some of his friends “did it” but he was not a user.

Jelonek admitted supplying a friend with a £10 deal of cannabis.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of supplying cannabis and possessing mephedrone (M-Cat) on August 22, 2015.

Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst said it was street dealing at the lowest level.

Judge Hirst told Jelonek: “You got a phone call, went to obtain a wrap of cannabis and supplied it to one of the other males.”

Jelonek was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered to pay £300 legal costs.

A masked customer who repeatedly hit a woman over the head with the handle of a hammer as he robbed a Lincoln social club was jailed for five years and four months.

Donald Hamilton, 58, left club worker Anna Louise Thornton pleading for her life as he took over £3,000 from the Civil Defence club on Lincoln High Street.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Thornton was cashing up after a Saturday lunch time when she noticed an internal door was still open.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said: “She bent down to remove the door stop. As she did so she was struck on the head twice.

“She panicked and tried to run in to the office but as she did so she was repeatedly struck.

“A masked man put his hand over her face, nose and mouth.

“She thought she was going to die.”

The court heard Thornton recognised Hamilton as a customer and pleaded with him not to kill her.

Hamilton, who had recently been made redundant, seemed confused and offered Thornton a cloth for her bleeding head but then demanded she opened the safe.

The court was told Hamilton smashed Thornton’s phone and then made her go to the toilets. She was so frightened that she remained inside for two hours.

Hamilton left with £3,303 and changed his clothes at his nearby flat before taking a ferry from Dover to France. He returned a week later and handed himself in at Lincoln police station.

Thornton attended hospital and was treated for two cuts to her head and bruising to her fingers.

Liz Hart, mitigating, said Hamilton had been out of trouble for 25 years. “The remorse struck straight away and he left the mask and hammer at his flat for the police to find.”

Hamilton, who was living in Lincoln at the time of the robbery, but who is now of no fixed address, admitted the robbery on Saturday, October 17.

Passing sentence on Friday, January 22, Judge Simon Hirst told Hamilton: “You struck her several times over the head with the handle of the hammer.

“This lady was absolutely terrified you were going to kill her.”

The jury in the fraud trial of the former chief executive of the Priory Federation of Academies this afternoon retired to consider their verdicts in the case at Lincoln Crown Court.

Richard Gilliland, who headed up the federation until quitting shortly before the findings of an investigation were published, is alleged to have abused his position by giving a job to his son Kia Richardson despite Richardson having previously served a jail sentence for flashing offences.

He is also alleged to have used federation funds for his own purposes and for the benefit of his son.

The federation’s former finance director Stephen Davies is also alleged to have abused his position to defraud the organisation.

Richard Gilliland, 64, who now lives in Spain, denies seven charges of fraud by abuse of position on dates between October 2008 and November 2011.

Stephen Davies, 58, of Abingdon Avenue, Lincoln, also denies three charges of fraud by abuse of position.

The trial, which is currently in its tenth week, began on November 10 last year.

The jury will continue deliberating on Monday.

Due to the judge’s ruling on Friday, November 13, 2015, any comments on the ongoing trial on The Lincolnite will be removed.

Follow the progress of the trial so far:

• Ex-Lincoln academy boss employed son who failed CRB check, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln academy paid £2,480 bill for CEO’s son to attend training course, court hears
• Fraud trial: Lincoln academy’s financial management described as “chaotic”
• ‘Forceful’ ex-Lincoln academy boss rarely backed up expenses with receipts, court hears
• Boss’ son who failed CRB check not interviewed for job at Lincoln academy, trial hears
• Lincoln academy invoice was tampered with, court hears from employee
• Employee tells jury ex-Lincoln federation boss was “drained” by problems with son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss’ son left trust in “turmoil”, jury told
• Solicitor ‘had no knowledge’ of ex-Lincoln academy CEO’s employment conditions, jury hears
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss provided alternative curriculum for disruptive pupils
• Gilliland fraud trial: No overtime payments were authorised to son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss considered retirement before he resigned, court hears
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss described as ‘admirable’ as fraud trial resumes
• Federation chairman denies conspiracy to make Gilliland a scapegoat, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln trust sought legal advice after national paper investigated employment of boss’ son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss in ‘terrible mental state’ prior to fraud probe, court hears
• “I was bullied into it”, says former Lincoln academies’ finance director in fraud trial
• ‘Not a jot of truth’ in fraud allegations, says ex-Lincoln academies boss in defence
• Fraud allegations are “incomprehensible”, says accused ex-Lincoln academies boss
• “I always put the children first,” claims ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Former Lincoln academies boss denies bullying as fraud trial continues
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss defends decision to employ son convicted of flashing
• “It’s total nonsense”, says ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Ex-Lincoln academies finance director had no accountancy qualifications, court hears
• Former Lincoln academies finance director claims fraud accusations are “nonsense”
• Fraud trial jury told former Lincoln academies boss’ credibility is at centre of case
• Jury told ex-Lincoln academies boss was sacrificed as part of “witch-hunt”
• Richard Gilliland prosecuted because of “who he is”, Lincoln fraud trial hears
• Lincoln academies finance director caught up in a “maelstrom”, jury told

An RAF serviceman who discarded his own bank documents in a field has been fined, despite claiming not to realise that it was an offence.

North Kesteven District Council officers traced Martin Godwin through the military housing team and DVLA, after finding re-directed mail, postcards and a car parking ticket with his car registration.

Godwin, 40, and of Castlefields, Tattershall, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on January 14 to dumping the rubbish at a remote location on New Road, Blankney Dales in May 2015, four months before it was reported.

After initially stating that he did not realise it was an offence, Godwin apologised and praised the NKDC officers for their diligence in tracking him down.

The court gave him full credit for an early guilty plea and imposed a fine of £1,250 with a victim surcharge of £120.

He was also ordered to pay the council’s legal, investigation and clean-up costs in full, which came to £1,024.79.

In total, Godwin was fined £2,394.79.

Councillor Richard Wright, Executive Member for Environmental Health at NKDC said: “The district council has never tolerated fly-tipping and pursues it robustly whenever and wherever it becomes aware of it.

“We take the matter very seriously and will prosecute anyone who is caught doing so.

“A prime motivation behind our robust stance against fly-tipping is the broader education and awareness of the wider public as much as an environmental vigilance – which is especially important in a case such as this where I find it completely unbelievable that someone would claim to not know that it is an offence to blight our countryside with rubbish.

“It is unfortunate that this was another of those cases where someone has gone to great lengths to dump rubbish in a remote place.

“Had they used the same amount of thought and care in acting responsibly, driving to a tip or arranging for a bulky waste collection they would have saved themselves time, trouble and expense and not caused such environmental harm.”

A Lincolnshire man who touted for garden clearance work has been fined after admitting he dumped waste that he was paid £80 to take away.

David Cant, 33, was tracked down by investigating officers at North Kesteven District Council, and a summons was sent to his last known address at Hamilton Road, Grantham.

The process of finding Cant was made easier by a distinctive teardrop tattoo under his right eye.

Cant pleaded guilty to fly-tipping in July 2014, which earned him a reduced fine of £480 imposed by Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on January 14, 2016.

He was also ordered to pay the council’s legal, investigation and clean-up costs totalling £1,215.98 and a victim surcharge of £48.

While Cant is registered by the Environment Agency as a licensed waste carrier, he admitted depositing it without the necessary waste management licence needed to get rid of it.

Cant had been touting for businesses in and around Sleaford in July 2014.

The garden and household waste and large plastic children’s toys the householder paid Cant to take away were dumped on July 29, 2014 along the Aisby to Aunsby Road.

The fly-tipped material included evidence of where it originated from, and the householder said a man calling himself David Cant offered to take it for a £80 fee.

Cant left a piece of paper with his name, garden clearance service and the same mobile number featured on his van, written on it.

The householder also described the distinctive tattoo.

Councillor Richard Wright, NKDC Executive Member for Environmental Health said: “The district council does not tolerate any fly tipping, less so that which is done by people purporting to be bona-fide agents in whom householders feel they can place their trust, alongside their money, to ensure appropriate disposal of their waste.

“We take pride in our district and its beautiful countryside and seek to safeguard its communities.

“We want those living and visiting here to be able to appreciate its beauty – not have to view the blight a few people put up on it.”

An IT worker carried out a frightening attack on a Lincoln teenager after she agreed to him giving her a massage.

James Reeder-Smith initially gave the vulnerable 18-year-old a genuine massage at her home but when he went back to see her a week later things were very different.

Victoria Rose, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that the teenager was messaging friends on her mobile phone during the massage when Reeder-Smith suddenly lifted her towel and began touching her private parts.

The terrified girl froze and quickly made an excuse to leave the room claiming she was feeling sick.

She locked herself in her bathroom and then asked him to leave saying she was ill.

Miss Rose said: “He picked up his oils and his equipment and said he would see her another time.

“She was 18 at the time and she was extremely vulnerable. She had a large number of difficulties.”

The teenager took down the registration number of Reeder-Smith’s car as he drove off and called police.

When Reeder-Smith was arrested he claimed everything that happened was with her consent.

But in court his lawyer Sunil Khanna admitted: “He accepts he was wrong. He accepts his culpability.

“On the first occasion he acted appropriately. On the second occasion he tried his luck. Clearly it was unwarranted and unacceptable.

“This has destroyed his marriage. The divorce is going through.”

Reeder-Smith, 32, of North Drive, Cranwell, admitted a charge of sexual assault on August 6, 2015. He was jailed for 16 months.

Judge Simon Hirst told him: “Your character and life has been destroyed by what you did. Your victim was an extremely vulnerable young woman.

“Significant planning went into this and there was an abuse of trust. You selected someone you thought would be vulnerable. Plainly an immediate custodial sentence is required.”

A Lincoln man who repeatedly played excessively loud music has been fined after causing a persistent nuisance to his neighbours.

Daniel Sanders, 24, of Chesney Road, was ordered to pay a total of £1,147 after he was proved guilty in his absence at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on January 20.

The court heard Sanders had been issued with an Abatement Notice on July 21, 2015 but despite this he continued to disturb and distress neighbours between August 28 and September 4, 2015.

City of Lincoln Council investigated after receiving dozens of complaints from residents of loud music, shouting and screaming coming from Sanders’ property.

A number of recordings were made and the noise was regularly deemed to be at a level considered to be intrusive, unreasonable and prejudicial to health or a nuisance.

Neighbours were exposed to excessively loud music and incidents of loud domestic altercations on a regular basis, often in the early hours of the morning, leaving them unable to relax in their own homes, the court heard.

Magistrates’ took into account a previous conviction for battery and gave Sanders a £770 fine and ordered him to pay costs to the council of £300 and a £77 victims’ surcharge.

Sam Barstow, Service Manager for Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour at the city council, said: “We are pleased with this result from the courts and we are hoping this prosecution will bring some peace and quiet for the complainants in this particular case.

“The council takes noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour seriously and, if warnings are ignored, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.

“From the level of fines awarded it is clear the courts take this kind of behaviour seriously, and do not under-estimate the impact it can have on people’s lives.”

After an initial complaint about loud music on June 8 the council sent Sanders a letter warning him an investigation would take place if there were any further issues.

Between June 8 and July 8 eight further complaints were received. Some of these complaints were about loud music but others concerned excessively loud domestic rows taking place in the early hours of the morning.

Digital sound recording equipment installed in July 2015 recorded noise levels that would constitute statutory noise nuisance – meaning it can cause disturbance, distress and even illness to those affected by it.

In addition, there were three video recordings of an incident that occurred in the early hours of June 21. One of the recordings was of excessively loud music and two were of excessively loud domestic arguments consisting of screaming, shouting and swearing, which spilled out into the street.

Following these incidents and complaints Sanders was served with a Noise Abatement Notice on July 21.

However, following two more incidents in July and August, monitoring equipment recorded 13 separate incidents between August 28 and September 4. Of these, 12 were clear breaches of the Noise Abatement Notice.

Sanders was sent a warning and following a further incident involving police in September court action was taken.

A Lincolnshire man has avoided a jail sentence after a police investigation discovered he was in possession of over 13,500 indecent images of children.

Kevin Simmonds, aged 42, previously of Grantham pleaded guilty to possessing and making images varying from category A to Category C on November 23, 2015, at Grantham Magistrates Court.

He was then sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, January 22.

He was sentenced to a three year Community Service Order. He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order will also be in place for ten years.

The illegal images was discovered following an investigation by Lincolnshire Police Internet Child Abuse Team, who searched his home address and found several files and computers that held indecent pictures of children.

Over 13,500 images were held varying from category A to Category C.

Head of the Internet Child Abuse Team, Detective Sergeant Vicky Midgley said: “There is always a digital footprint left behind when illegal images are viewed, downloaded or accessed.

“The impact on the lives of those we bring before the court for these offences has real consequences.”

The former chief executive of the Priory Federation of Academies Richard Gilliland has been cleared of all seven fraud charges at Lincoln Crown Court.

The organisation’s former finance director Stephen Davies was also cleared of three charges of fraud.

The jury at Lincoln Crown Court had been deliberating over four days following a 10 week trial, during which the two men were alleged to have abused their positions by committing fraud.

Gilliland, 65, who now lives in Spain, denied seven charges of fraud by abuse of position.

He denied he did anything wrong and claimed to be the victim of a ‘witch hunt’.

Davies, 58, of Abingdon Avenue, Lincoln denied three charges of fraud by abuse of position.

The charges related to the period between October 2008 and November 2011 and followed a complaint made by the Department for Education to Lincolnshire Police.

At the end of the hearing the trial Judge Michael Heath made an order that Gilliland’s legal costs should be paid for out of central funds.

The court was told that his defence had been funded by the National Association of Head Teachers.

Gilliland broke down in the dock and wept as the jury foreman delivered the final verdict.

Afterwards he said he was too emotional to speak and would only comment: “It’s the right verdict. It’s been an awful time.”

Davies said: “It went exactly as I believed it would. The verdicts were as I expected. There was never any doubt. Despite a vigorous investigation I’ve been proved to have done nothing wrong.”

The prosecution claimed that Gilliland, who earned more than £200,000 a year, abused his position and used Federation funds as if they were his own.

Gilliland was alleged to have arranged for his son Kia Richardson to be employed as a yard manager at the federation’s equestrian centre at Laughton Manor near Sleaford.

He was also alleged to have arranged for the organisation to pay Kia Richardson overtime and a severance deal after Richardson quit in the wake of inquiries from a Sunday newspaper. Other allegations related to the funding of training courses for Kia Richardson.

Gilliland told the jury that there was “not a jot of evidence” against him and said he was the victim of a witch hunt.

During the trial Gilliland’s barrister Mark Harries described his client as “an educator, innovator and pioneer” and said the prosecution case”manipulation, misrepresentation and deceit” running through it like a virus.

Harries added: “Witch-hunt is a strong word but I make no apology for using it.”

“The Crown’s evidence in this case is deeply flawed and dangerously selective.”

Harries told the jury that the prosecution had decided to adopt the conclusions of a Department of Education report while ignoring any other contrary evidence.

He said the prosecution claim that Gilliland acted out of greed was simply not credible. adding “It is rubbish, it is nonsense, and it is demonstrable when you look at the values where looking at.”

Davies, described as Gilliland’s right hand man, also denied any wrong-doing and said that decisions he made were “sound business sense”.

Trust thanks supporters

Vice-Chair, Priory Federation of Academies Trust Simon Richardson issued a statement in light of the verdict. He said: “The Priory Federation of Academies Trust would like to extend its sincere thanks to staff, students, parents, carers and the local community for the support received during and since the IAIT and police investigations that began in 2011.

“We acknowledge the verdicts of the jury and hope that we can now continue to focus our efforts and aspirations on the students in our Federation.

“The trust has worked hard since 2011 to ensure that it is an even more effective body.  We are grateful to individual members of the local community and local organisations who have offered their support during this period, particularly those who have joined the new board.

“We have continued to make significant progress since 2011, as reflected by the DfE’s requests for the trust to sponsor a fifth school. The respected educational charity The Sutton Trust has identified the Priory as one of the most improved and highest performing chains in the country. We have also been awarded teacher training status and are now working collaboratively with more than 20 secondary schools across Lincolnshire.”

Follow the progress of the trial:

• Ex-Lincoln academy boss employed son who failed CRB check, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln academy paid £2,480 bill for CEO’s son to attend training course, court hears
• Fraud trial: Lincoln academy’s financial management described as “chaotic”
• ‘Forceful’ ex-Lincoln academy boss rarely backed up expenses with receipts, court hears
• Boss’ son who failed CRB check not interviewed for job at Lincoln academy, trial hears
• Lincoln academy invoice was tampered with, court hears from employee
• Employee tells jury ex-Lincoln federation boss was “drained” by problems with son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss’ son left trust in “turmoil”, jury told
• Solicitor ‘had no knowledge’ of ex-Lincoln academy CEO’s employment conditions, jury hears
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss provided alternative curriculum for disruptive pupils
• Gilliland fraud trial: No overtime payments were authorised to son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss considered retirement before he resigned, court hears
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss described as ‘admirable’ as fraud trial resumes
• Federation chairman denies conspiracy to make Gilliland a scapegoat, fraud trial hears
• Lincoln trust sought legal advice after national paper investigated employment of boss’ son
• Ex-Lincoln academy boss in ‘terrible mental state’ prior to fraud probe, court hears
• “I was bullied into it”, says former Lincoln academies’ finance director in fraud trial
• ‘Not a jot of truth’ in fraud allegations, says ex-Lincoln academies boss in defence
• Fraud allegations are “incomprehensible”, says accused ex-Lincoln academies boss
• “I always put the children first,” claims ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Former Lincoln academies boss denies bullying as fraud trial continues
• Ex-Lincoln academies boss defends decision to employ son convicted of flashing
• “It’s total nonsense”, says ex-Lincoln academies boss accused of fraud
• Ex-Lincoln academies finance director had no accountancy qualifications, court hears
• Former Lincoln academies finance director claims fraud accusations are “nonsense”
• Fraud trial jury told former Lincoln academies boss’ credibility is at centre of case
• Jury told ex-Lincoln academies boss was sacrificed as part of “witch-hunt”
• Richard Gilliland prosecuted because of “who he is”, Lincoln fraud trial hears
• Lincoln academies finance director caught up in a “maelstrom”, jury told
• Jury considers verdict in Lincoln academies fraud trial

The recent acquittal of the former Executive Head of the Priory Chain of Academies and his Director of Finance appears to have caused a few raised eyebrows in many areas.

It is not my intention to pass my own personal judgement on the rights and wrongs of the case. What concerns me more is the fact that the Department for Education considered there to be sufficient grounds to ask the local police to conduct an enquiry which eventually led to a court case that is set to cost the taxpayer a considerable amount of money.

This is not the first time that so called ‘Super Heads’ have made the headlines following revelations about their conduct. If you add to that the affair in 2013 of Lincolnshire’s Acting Chief Constable, who was first suspended by our Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), was exonerated by an enquiry and then reinstated with an apology from the PCC at a cost to the taxpayer of around £160,000, you can see that putting our faith in the judgement of individuals without effective and stringent checks and balances can land us in a great deal of trouble and cause embarrassment to institutions that ought to have our respect.

There appears to be a trend away from democratic accountability as provided by LEAs, school governing bodies and local police authorities towards putting one’s faith in powerful individuals who apparently can get things done with seemingly little control over their actions.

If the Greater Lincolnshire ‘Powerhouse’ becomes a reality, we may have to accept an elected mayor, as will be the case in places like Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Add to that the plan to introduce school commissioners to oversee the running of education, drugs czars and the like and you are adding a whole new tier to an already complicated structure which, if it goes wrong, is very difficult to put right.

Let’s look at education in more detail. Some ‘school leaders’ as they are increasingly being called, often seem to be able to get more or less what they want. Governing bodies, comprising mainly laypersons, often, but not always, tend to be deferential towards professionals, whether they are, for example, Heads or Chief Constables, who should know what they are doing.

The problem with the new breed of Academy Head is that many school governing bodies sometimes appear to be mesmerised by them to the point where they appear incapable of holding them to account, often seeming more than happy to ride on the coattails of ‘successful’ heads when things are apparently going well.

By their admission that they “have made significant progress since 2011” the Board of Trustees of the Priory chain would appear to be admitting that things had not been quite right when the investigation was ordered.

It’s a pity that the ground rules couldn’t have been properly worked out before the project was launched. Judging by other examples, what happened here in Lincoln is by no means unique. However, it is not unknown in this country to introduce ideas which appear to have been worked out on the back of an envelope and not properly tried and tested and then to wonder why things can go wrong.

Let’s look at the case of the Police and Crime Commissioners again. When this idea was introduced what was lacking was the kind of governance that the Police Authorities used to provide. The Police Panel, which the new Act of Parliament established, was supposed to scrutinise the actions of the PCC only and not the Police Force as a whole.

It took over two months for the panel to react to the decision by the PCC to suspend the chief constable. No wonder that the original chairman of the Lincolnshire Police Panel felt it necessary to resign after being hauled over the coals by Westminster’s Home Affairs Select Committee, with the Chairman, Keith Vaz MP, describing the goings on in the county as “a soap opera”.

Whilst the chairman of the police panel did the honourable thing, I do have some sympathy for him in that the terms of reference for his panel proved to be inadequate to deal with something which would quite likely never have got to such an embarrassing state had it been dealt with by a police authority.

I am reminded of the words of the late Lord Geoffrey Howe in his 1990 resignation speech in reference to the British negotiations on EMU; “It is rather like sending your opening batsmen to the crease, only for them to find, as the first balls are being bowled, that their bats have been broken before the game by the team captain.”

If we continue to insist on having ‘leaders’ we had better make sure that the structures are in place in future to hold them properly to account before things get out of hand. Too much power in the hands of an individual can be a dangerous thing.

A Lincolnshire teacher who left her elderly parents heartbroken after stealing £50,000 of their life savings to pay for a life of luxury has been spared jail after an emotional family plea.

Jayne Breckons spent thousands of pounds on expensive jewellery, handbags, trips to an upmarket spa and a holiday to Greece after abusing her power of attorney over the bank accounts of her parents Michael and Amy Priest.

Amy Priest, 88, discovered the theft by chance after a bank statement was mistakenly sent to her care home and she was shocked to find that a large portion of their £100,000 savings had disappeared.

Her 89-year-old husband is said to be now too confused to understand what is happening. The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2015.

Lincoln Crown Court was told that the thefts split the family apart, with the parents left heart-broken.

The couple’s younger daughter Louise Edwards said they have been left devastated.

“I’ve had to move my parents to Norfolk to look after them. My father isn’t very well at all. He had a stroke just before Christmas and that was made worse when he had a bleed on the brain after a fall. He is terribly confused now.

“They are heart-broken. They don’t understand it but my mother doesn’t want to see my sister go to prison. None of the family does. What we want to do is make sure she knows she has done wrong.”

Breckons produced a £36,000 bankers draft in court as part payment to her parents and apologised. Through her lawyer she promised that the outstanding £14,000 will be repaid in May.

Breckons. who formerly taught at Walton Girls High School in Grantham, told the court “I’m really sorry. I’m really sorry. I miss them [her parents]. I really do want to see them.”

Breckons, 58, of Berrybut Way, Stamford, Lincs, was given a two year jail sentence suspended for two years after admitting a charge of fraud involving £50,000 between November 20, 2012 and December 30, 2013.

Judge Simon Hirst told her: “You abused the power of attorney in a most utterly disgraceful way.

“Had you been on the breadline and desperate to make ends meet one could perhaps understand why it happened but you stole £50,000 from your parents and spent it on Mulberry handbags, holidays, spa retreats and jewellery.

“I am extremely concerned that sending you immediately to prison is going to make things very much worse for Mr and Mrs Priest. You have your sister and your parents to be forever grateful to. I suspend this sentence for their sakes rather than yours.”

Michael Cranmer-Brown, prosecuting, said: “The victims are these defendant’s parents. They are in their 80s. When the offending took place they were both in a care home. They had come to live near the defendant.

“The defendant and her sister had power of attorney. She being the one who lived nearer to her parents in effect had control of their finances. The defendant helped herself to money.

“She withdrew money from cashpoint machines often at £200 a time. That amounted to £24,000.

“She also spent on herself and her family including luxury goods. She bought three Mulberry handbags which cost between £1,200 and £1,500 a time. She bought a car for her daughter costing £5,000.

“She spent money on clothing and her appearance. There were designer clothes and perfume and sessions at Ragdale Hall, a spa. She went on holiday with her husband to Kefalonia spending £1,000 on that holiday.

“She spent quite alot of money on jewellery buying items that cost hundreds of pounds on a whim. On one occasion she bought a ring for £600 and a second-hand diamond eternity ring for £275. Then she went back a few days later and bought a ring for £425.

“Matters came to light when a statement for the account which generally went to the defendant’s address went to the care home and to the defendant’s mother.

“When the police were involved and she was arrested she tried to make out it wasn’t really dishonest and nothing like the sums involved that she now accepts.”

The prosecutor told the court that Amy Priest had found the whole experience distressing.

“The fact that it was spent on luxuries was deeply upsetting for her. She makes the point that had her daughter been in any financial difficulty and come to her for help she would have been happy to assist.

“There is the matter of what this defendant’s mother’s attitude is to the defendant going to prison. She is a lady in her 80s and is not in terribly good health and there is some concern it may be profoundly upsetting for her and cause her to take a turn for the worse.”

Nenad Spasojevic, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and a large number of people had submitted character reference for her.

“All of those people speak well of this lady but all of that pales into insignificance compared with what she has done.”

Two men who attacked a Lincoln father in his own home have been each jailed for 20 months.

Lee Wilson suffered a gaping wound to his head after Kyle Jenkins and Joseph Townhill forced their way in to his home on Ripon Street.

Lincoln Crown Court heard on February 4 that both men kicked and punched Wilson who was also hit with a games console and a karaoke machine.

The court was told Jenkins went to the property at 1.30am on June 28, 2015, after receiving a message that Wilson had allegedly assaulted his sister.

Gurdial Singh, prosecuting, said Wilson retreated to his lounge after opening the door to Jenkins.

Singh told the court: “He was pushed in to an armchair and set about by both.

“He describes being kicked and punched to the back, face and anywhere they could get to.”

Wilson heard Jenkins swear and shout “you hit my sister.”

Singh added: “Jenkins used a play station console to hit his head and back.

“Townhill picked up a karaoke machine with both hands and thrust it towards the right side of his forehead.”

Wilson eventually managed to escape and locked himself in his hall but the disturbance woke his partner, their two children and one of their friends who was staying over.

He attended Lincoln County Hospital with a 7cm gaping wound from the karaoke machine.

Jenkins, 24, of Broughton Gardens, Lincoln, and Townhill, 23, of Renfrew Road, Lincoln, both admitted a charge of burglary on 28 June.

The court heard both men were of previous good character.

David Eager, mitigating for Jenkins, said he could start a new job on Monday and pay compensation to his victim.

Giles Beddloe, mitigating for Townhill, told the court he was also a hard working family man.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon Hirst said he accepted but men were unlikely to reoffend but he told them they had “acted as a team.”

Judge Hirst added: “The children in the house woke up. The children asleep were disturbed by two men forcing their way in to the house and assaulting somebody within it.”

A school IT worker who tried to arrange to meet a 15-year-old Lincolnshire girl during a Facebook conversation has on Friday, February 5 been ordered to register as a sex offender for five years.

David Elliott Taylor, 28, was also told to complete a sex offenders rehabilitation course and placed on probation for three years after he admitted a charge of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Taylor made inappropriate comments to the girl, who lives in East Lincolnshire, during a Facebook conversation on 28 December, 2014.

At the time of the offence Taylor was working in the information technology department of a girls’ school in Wiltshire, the court was told.

Tony Stanford, prosecuting, said Taylor complimented the girl and told her she was “sexy.”

Taylor suggested she go for a drive with him and arranged a meeting for the following Tuesday.

Stanford told the court Taylor also said he wanted the girl to “snog him” and told her he wanted to put her up against a wall and do things to her.

Concerns were raised by the behaviour of the girl, who can not be named for legal reasons, and her Facebook page was looked at.

Graham Huston, mitigating, said following a probation report on Taylor the need for a sexual rehabilitation course was “transparent.”

The court heard Taylor had no previous convictions. Mr Huston added: “He is married now and lives in Swindon.”

Taylor, of Swindon, Wilts, admitted a single charge of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming on December 28, 2014.

Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst told Taylor his choice was to pass a short jail sentence or make him the subject of a community order.

Judge Hirst said: “You have lost your good character and inevitably your career as well.

“It seems to me the public and you would be better served by a community order. This is not an easy option.”

A man who was jailed for life after murdering his former wife in a premeditated attack in Lincoln has lost an appeal to reduce his sentence.

As previously reported, Wai Hong Tsang, 34, was sentenced to a minimum of 28 years in prison for the murder of Chinese student Mingzi Yang at her home on Sincil Bank on Tuesday June 17, 2014.

Tsang was found guilty at Lincoln Crown Court on January 2, 2015, but appealed the length of sentence he received.

However, judges at London’s Criminal Appeal Court on February 5 dismissed his complaint, ruling that he had no justifiable challenge to the sentence imposed.

Tsang, from Grimsby, had driven to the edge of Lincoln, then cycled to Yang’s house before battering her with a blunt weapon which was never recovered.

Yang suffered fatal head injuries in the brutal attack which was believed to have been motivated by Tsang’s desire to get custody of his young son.