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VIDEO: Humber Lifeboat crew rush to 'dangerous' floating container

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This dramatic video, which was posted on the RNLI website, shows the Humber Lifeboat rushing out to a floating container which had drifted perilously close to local shipping.

As reported on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk yesterday, the container was recovered by a tug boat after it was spotted close to the Humber Gateway windfarm about five miles east of Spurn Point.

The Humber Lifeboat was diverted from an exercise when the call came in at around 11.30am yesterday.

The container had been sighted by several vessels and was deemed to pose a risk due to its proximity to shipping and the wind farm installations.

Initially two wind farm transfer vessels stood by whilst the Severn class lifeboat made its way approximately six miles south from its exercise area.

The crew prepared lines and fenders and also made their small inflatable daughter boat ready in case a tow was needed to avert a potential collision.

The tug requested the support of the lifeboat's daughter boat to assist in attaching a line, which was done before the tug used its on-board cranes to lift the container out of the water.

The Lifeboat then escorted the tug for the first part of their passage to Grimsby whilst the tug crew secured the container.

Martyn Hagan, Coxswain of the Humber Lifeboat, said: "A tug had been launched from Grimsby and tasked with recovering the container but we had to be prepared in case the container was to cause any problems before its arrival.

"Thankfully the tidal drift meant the container was slowly moving away from danger and was in open water when the tug arrived.

"Although the RNLI's primary role is to save lives at the sea tasking's like this are still serious. We prevented a larger incident occurring and even using our daughter boat to assist the tug meant less risk was needed in the containers recovery."

VIDEO: Humber Lifeboat crew rush to 'dangerous' floating container


PICTURED: Grimsby Town fan ejected from ground before Forest Green match for 'playing with inflatable'

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Stewards at Forest Green ejected a Grimsby Town fan from the ground before kick off - apparently for playing with an inflatable football. 

Several people - including at least six stewards were seen to physically eject the man from the ground, and one appeared to have him in a headlock. One fan said the move had angered supporters.

Stadium manager Dane Vince, son of the club's multi-millionnaire owner Dale Vince, said the club would not be making a comment. It is understood the stewards are employed by an agency and not the club. 

Keep checking for updates.

PICTURED: Grimsby Town fan ejected from ground before Forest Green match for 'playing with inflatable'

LOTTO: Tonight's National Lottery results for Saturday, February 7 2015

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A double rollover meant tonight's jackpot was a staggering £8.1 million. What would you do with that? Tonight's draw has taken place and the winning numbers were; 03, 06, 15, 17, 18, 35 and the bonus number was 22.

LOTTO: Tonight's National Lottery results for Saturday, February 7 2015

Can a couple dine at an award-winning restaurant for £30? Pub Grubber finds out

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This week, Pub Grubber pops into the Comfy Duck, at the Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby, to see what this award-winning restaurant has to offer. THE Comfy Duck restaurant recently scooped its second AA Rosette – putting it on the eating out map. But would it win the battle of our stomachs? Myself and my girlfriend trekked out on an icy Sunday evening to sample the delights of the eatery at the Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby. Much has changed at the hotel since I spent a summer working behind the bar as an eager young student in the late 2000s. For starters, the Comfy Duck restaurant has been created. It sits just inside the entrance at the grand old hotel, where once stood a large reception area. With modern decor it makes for a welcoming and cosy venue. As we eyed up the menu, our eyes were drawn to the 2015 What's On guide. It included a plethora of events including murder mystery night, live movies on the lawn and more. It seems there is plenty happening in this corner of North East Lincolnshire. The friendly waitress showed us the main menu as well as the two two-course meals and a bottle of wine for £30 menu. For two people, to eat out at an award-winning restaurant, we thought the latter represented outstanding value. We both opted for the beef bourguignon, which came with dauphinoise potatoes and green beans. But before that, we were each handed broccoli soup, served in a curious espresso-style mug with a piece of warm bread. It was a pleasant appetiser. I wasn't finished with liquid dishes yet, as I ordered the potato and fennel soup for my starter, which appeared to be hotter than the sun. I had to let it cool for a good ten minutes before I could tuck in. But it was a treat. My girlfriend's healthy eating kick meant she was forced to have the melon starter. Despite gazing jealously at my soup, she said her fruity dish went down well. We received our main courses in good time and were not surprised to see, for a top restaurant, that portions appeared small. But we needn't have feared, as there was plenty to fill us both. The beef was tender and tasty, and the potatoes were creamy and delicious, as was the red wine sauce that accompanied the meal. We both left only a small amount of the beef fat on our wooden plates. My girlfriend admitted it was the best meal she had eaten for many a year. High praise indeed. And our heavily-laden stomachs meant puddings were very much off the menu. We paid the bill, a very reasonable £33, for two courses each, a bottle of Rose wine which we took home, and a glass of Diet Coke apiece. The food is top quality, and staff at the Comfy Duck are friendly and efficient. It shows you don't need to travel far for top-notch food. The restaurant has already scooped The Journal's Restaurant Of The Year Readers' Choice Award for 2013 and took first place in The Lincolnshire Life County Cuisine Taste Of Excellence Awards 2012-13. It has two AA Rosettes, joining the restaurant elite, as well as stacks of other, well-deserved, gongs. Give it a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Can a couple dine at an award-winning restaurant for £30? Pub Grubber finds out

Brownies learn shocking truth about where children believe our food comes from

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ALMOST a third of UK primary pupils think cheese is made from plants and a quarter think fish fingers come from chicken or pigs. And if that result from a 2013 national survey wasn't shocking enough, following a survey of 27,500 five-to-16-year-olds last month, about a third of five-to-eight-year-olds thought bread and pasta were made from meat. However, this is something Tesco Cleethorpes is hoping to change with its popular Farm To Fork initiative. Find out more at Cleethorpes People

Brownies learn shocking truth about where children believe our food comes from

REACTION: Boss Paul Hurst's views after Grimsby Town defeat

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GRIMSBY Town boss Paul Hurst shares his views after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Forest Green Rovers...

On the performance...

"I thought we had two really good spells in the game. They hit the post at the second phase of a set-play, but apart from that, I thought we were the team on top.

But on Saturday, there were individual mistakes from players who have done extremely well this season and who I'm sure will continue to do so.

James McKeown made one decent save in the first half and they hit the post in the second, but there wasn't much between the two teams. There wasn't in the game at Blundell Park earlier in the season, in truth."

On the defensive mistakes...

"The first goal frustrates me more than anything, because we made two really bad decisions in the build-up to it.

I don't know what happened with the winning goal. It hit Craig (Disley) – I don't know whether he tried to control it – and it was a perfect through-ball for Norwood, who slotted it away.

But that was the fine line that we were dealing with on Saturday. We were the team on top, but we ended up with nothing.

But we can't be too down about it – we have to move on quickly onto a nice easy game against Bristol Rovers!"

On Hannah's chances...

"Ross is disappointed – of course he is. For his first one, he worked the ball extremely well to get his shot off and then with the second chance, he had two bites of it after the initial save. That's part-and-parcel of being a striker though.

He was disappointed in the dressing room that he didn't take the chances, I had to tell him to get his head up. The next one that comes along, he'll take it."

On whether his side were 'rusty'...

"We maybe looked a bit rusty in patches. In the first-half, we made some poor decisions on the ball and put ourselves under pressure at times.

Overall, there wasn't too much in it first half and in the second, I thought there were signs of improvement.

It would have been nice to play straight after the Eastleigh game, but we didn't and who's to say that if we had played games before Saturday, the result would have been any different? We know we've now got a week before the Bristol game, which is another important game in which we'll be trying to get that winning feeling back."

On results elsewhere...

"Lincoln have been going well, but in terms of their away form, it's not been going well and Bristol Rovers have an excellent home record, so it was always going to be tough for them there.

Barnet had the help of a Woking player sent off quite early in the game, but they pretty much went as you would have expected.

But we're still in a good place – particularly for the play-offs. The title is obviously more difficult now."

REACTION: Boss Paul Hurst's views after Grimsby Town defeat

TV gardener Sandra Bright comes second in The Big Allotment Challenge

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North Lincolnshire gardener Sandra Bright has missed out on glory in television's The Big Allotment Challenge.

Sandra was one of three hopefuls to make the grand final of the BBC Two series, which is presented by Fern Britton.

Contestants are set three challenges in each episode of the show, themed Grow, Make and Eat.

In the final, the gardeners had to grow cauliflowers and cape gooseberries, make a perpetual carnations floral arch and present canapes, cocktails and confectionery to eat.

Sandra, from Wootton, went into the final with high hopes of winning.

But in the end, she had to settle for a runner-up spot, as flight attendant Rob, from Sheffield, was crowned the winner.

Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph for an interview with Sandra.

TV gardener Sandra Bright comes second in The Big Allotment Challenge

Do you agree with the Trip Advisor reviewers' top five Cleethorpes restaurants?

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When it comes to heading out for something to eat, you're spoiled for choice in Cleethorpes, with a wide range of cuisines and eating styles to choose from.

However, we all have our favourites and today, we're keen to hear about yours - and how they compare to the top five as ranked by Trip Advisor reviewers.

In first place is the Smugglers Inn, on Highcliff Road.

To let us know where you believe is the best place to eat out and see the rest of the top five, visit Cleethorpes People

Do you agree with the Trip Advisor reviewers' top five Cleethorpes restaurants?


Police track down car used in ram raid in Healing

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Police have tracked down a vehicle used in a ram raid in Healing.

Humberside Police dog section tweeted: "We teamed up with Humber Roads Police last night and found vehicle involved in ram raid burglary in Healing . Recovered for forensic analysis."

Police track down car used in ram raid in Healing

UPDATE: Missing Cleethorpes man Shane Linton is found safe and well

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Missing Cleethorpes man Shane Linton has been found safe and well. Mr Linton, 33, was reported missing to police at 7.30pm on Saturday after his family became concerned for his welfare. He had last been seen on Friday morning by his stepmum at the family address in College Street, Cleethorpes, where he was staying. Mr Linton is known to have mental health issues and had indicated he may harm himself. Humberside Police thanked everyone who assisted the search by sharing their appeal.

UPDATE: Missing Cleethorpes man Shane Linton is found safe and well

Forest Green: Photos of fan caught in headlock by steward "do not make good viewing"

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Forest Green Rovers have this afternoon announced they are investigating the incident during which a Grimsby Town fan was pictured in a headlock by a steward at the ground yesterday. Our photographer Duncan Young captured the moment at least six stewards were seen to physically eject Bryan Winship, 41, from the ground for playing with a large inflatable football. One of them appeared to have the 41-year-old in a headlock - a move that angered fans at the match. A statement released by the club, who had initially said they would not be commenting on the incident, said: "Forest Green Rovers are investigating an incident before the kick-off to yesterday's game against Grimsby Town at The New Lawn, where a fan was removed from the away end of the ground.

"FGR accepts the photos of the incident do not make good viewing for a club that prides itself on being family-friendly and welcoming to away fans.

"The club are awaiting the post-match report from the stewarding company before we comment further on the incident." Mr Winship today told the Telegraph he felt the stewards' actions were "a massive over reaction." Read the full interview with him in tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph.

Forest Green: Photos of fan caught in headlock by steward

Cowardly attack on woman who locked partner in house

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GRIMSBY man David Thomas punched his partner three times in a drunken rage after she locked him in their house, a court heard.

Thomas, 26, of Wellington Street, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm to Toni Lolley at their home, on July 26.

The following day he asked his partner how her face ended up so bruised.

Recorder Mark McKone said it was "a disgraceful and cowardly" act.

He added: "You should be ashamed of yourself. She was trying to stop you causing trouble."

The court heard the couple were still in a relationship.

Recorder McKone said: "It is not for me to say whether that is a good thing or bad thing."

He added: "It is time at the age of 26 years that you look after your partner."

The court heard the couple are expecting their first child.

Thomas was given 13 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and undergo supervision for 12 months with support to address his alcohol problem.

Prosecuting, James Gelsthorpe said the couple had been to the Cleethorpes Air Show in the morning.

They spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening drinking in The Barcelona bar until around 9pm.

There was a confrontation between the couple after a man approached Ms Lolley.

Thomas later tried to shake the hand of the man who had approached his partner in an attempt to reconcile.

He was then attacked by a number of men.

After the confrontation they both left in order to feed their dog.

Ms Lolley said her partner was in a bad mood.

When they arrived home, Thomas grabbed a hammer, shoved it down the back of his trousers and said he was going back to the bar.

Ms Lolley locked all the doors and would not let him leave.

Thomas tried to get out through a window, which resulted in a tussle.

Ms Lolley hid the hammer. In response Thomas scuffled with his partner and punched her three times in the face.

Mr Gelsthorpe said the row was heard by a neighbour who said it went on for half an hour.

Ms Lolley contacted Humberside Police and went round to a friends home.

When she returned to her own home she fell asleep.

She was awoken by Thomas when he returned the next day.

He said: "Who has done that to your face?"

The police attended and Thomas was interviewed.

In interview he said his partner had ben "giving him grief".

The court heard Ms Lolley suffered bruising to her right eye and a cut top lip. She was treated in hospital later.

For Thomas, Richard Hackfath said his client will benefit from supervision and treatment for his alcohol problem.

Cowardly attack on woman who locked partner in house

High-profile trial of businesswoman accused of supplying unqualified teachers to Grimsby-area schools in £700k scam collapses

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THE trial of a woman accused of supplying unqualified teachers to a large number of schools, including some in the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham areas – and allegedly intending to con them out of almost £700,000 – has collapsed.

Award-winning businesswoman Nicola Blake, 39, denied ten charges of fraud and five of dishonestly obtaining cash from schools between 2004 and 2011.

It had been claimed that Blake committed fraud by making false representations that the staff she was supplying were qualified teachers and had been the subject of searches over their suitability.

But the prosecution has now dropped the case just weeks before a high-profile trial was due to start. The case had been rumbling on since early 2013.

Prosecutor Katherine Robinson told Sheffield Crown Court that Mrs Blake had been running a supply teacher business but it was claimed that she was "hiring out unqualified teachers" who had not had checks carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau.

"It involved an awful lot of schools across a wide area," said Miss Robinson.

"The schools were perfectly content to have any teachers in the circumstances – or any staff members – because they were desperate."

Judge Robert Moore said Mrs Blake was filling a "niche" and it was not really a fraud.

He agreed with the prosecution's decision to offer no evidence.

Miss Robinson said the prosecution had decided not to proceed with a planned three-week trial due to begin on March 9.

"We don't see any realistic prospect of conviction," she said.

Not guilty verdicts were entered.

Mrs Blake, of Henlow, Bedfordshire, was not in court to hear the decision. No submissions were made on her behalf.

She set up her Wrawby-based company, Education Resourcing Ltd, in 2003 – and went on to supply temporary teaching staff to more than 1,000 schools in Lincolnshire and Peterborough.

In 2011, she was crowned Young Business Person Of The Year in the Lincolnshire Business Awards.

At that point, the firm was turning over £1.5 million a year, providing work for more than 200 people – making it one of Lincolnshire's larger employers.

She was also one of the three people behind plans to transform Grimsby's former St Mary's Roman Catholic High School into the Lighthouse Community School, a free school catering for those who struggle with mainstream education.

Mrs Blake, previously known as Nicky Keller, launched the Keller Foundation – a scholarship programme helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds become graduates without having to pay tuition fees or run up student loan bills.

Her original co-defendant, Darri Poucher, a former business colleague, was jailed at Grimsby Crown Court in July.

Poucher, 31, of Deeping St Nicholas, Spalding, admitted two offences of fraud, intending to make a financial gain, by claiming that he was a qualified teacher, between May and July 2011 and between September and May 2012.

He denied meeting a 14-year-old pupil following sexual grooming and sexual activity with her, but was convicted by a jury.

He was jailed for a total of three years – two years for the fraud and one for the sexual offences.


THE fraud and dishonesty charges originally faced by Nicola Blake but which have now been formally dropped involved claims that she intended to cause losses to the following schools:

Hereford School (now Ormiston Academy) – £349,925.38.

Wintringham School (now Oasis Academy Wintringham) – £72,526.36.

Nunsthorpe Primary School (now Nunsthorpe Academy) – £66,311.50.

Immingham School (now Oasis Academy Immingham) – £28,696.52.

Humberston School (now Humberston Academy) – £25,402.84.

Tollbar School (now Tollbar Academy) – £326.28.

Havelock School (now Havelock Academy) – £22,928.

Cambridge Park School – £37,014.

Whitgift School (now John Whitgift Academy) – £1,341.10.

Spalding Grammar School – £17,689.22.

It was also originally claimed she dishonestly obtained cash from the following schools, again by making false representations that the staff she was supplying were qualified teachers:

Immingham School (now Oasis Academy Immingham) – £37,493.32.

Humberston School (now Humberston Academy) – £6,933.12.

Healing School – £177.28.

Cambridge Park School – £2,500.74.

Whitgift School (now John Whitgift Academy) – £177.28.

High-profile trial of businesswoman accused of supplying unqualified teachers to Grimsby-area schools in £700k scam collapses

£174,000 Shoreline fraud: Gambling consumed my life and took me to brink of suicide

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Former IT officer Steven Neul is today adjusting to daily life in prison after his gambling addiction led him to do the unthinkable. He tells his incredible story to court reporter Mark Naylor

A FORMER senior officer at Shoreline Housing Partnership who was jailed for two-and-a-half years after a big fraud scam involving nearly £174,000 has revealed how his life became "consumed" by betting.

His gambling problem escalated so badly that he was brought to the brink of suicide but he is now full of shame and remorse for what he did while in the grip of the addiction.

He sold large numbers of iPhones and iPads after placing bogus orders for them supposedly on behalf of Shoreline, Grimsby Crown Court heard.

Steven Neul, 45, of Humberston Avenue, Humberston, admitted fraud between March 24 and July 15 and converting criminal property between March 24 and July 10.

The fraud involved dishonestly pretending to Jungle IT and Vodafone that he was ordering iPhones and iPads on behalf of his employer.

He sold 160 iPhones and 177 iPads, valued at £173,900, to obtain cash for himself.

Neul had been working for Shoreline as a business systems and services manager responsible for IT.

He told the Grimsby Telegraph in an interview before the court case that "compulsive gambling statistics" recorded by Gamcare had doubled in the past five years, mainly because of internet gaming and fixed odds betting terminals (roulette machines).

"It sends out a frightening picture of the number of people who are now seeking help," he said.

"There were more than half-a-million unique visitors to the Gamcare website in the past year – half-a-million new people looking at their website.

"If I can help anybody learn from my situation, then great.

"My situation started when I was 16 or 17, going in to a bookmakers, even though the legal age is 18.

"I had had issues before that a little bit, when I used to enjoy slot machines but that's not something I have touched in 30 years.

"I was betting on horse racing at the time. In later years, football matches became something I could bet on as well as other sporting events.

"Ultimately, it was anything with an available betting market.

"Technically, now you can bet online 24 hours a day. I wasn't involved in online betting. Mine was purely in bookmakers.

"I preferred to bet in person in bookmakers' shops in Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

"To coincide with that, around that time, in the late 80s, bookmakers started opening on Sundays and late at night and there were extended events that you could bet on.

"When I first started, it was horse racing and greyhound racing, then you started being able to bet on pretty much any sporting event, from 8.30am until 9.30pm and virtual races.

"It went from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, to now almost seven days a week, for 13 or 14 hours a day. That's the availability to gamble.

"What started as fun ended up becoming habitual and becoming an almost daily occurrence for me.

"When I was younger, it would just be spare cash and money I could afford to lose but, by the time I was 25 or 26, within a few years, it was money I could afford to lose and money I couldn't afford to lose.

"I began to build up debts. The reality is that, by my mid-20s, I owed tens of thousands of pounds, which I paid back over a ten-year period."

He said that, with gambling, it was similar to drinking because the person built up tolerance to gambling, just as a drinker built up tolerance to alcohol.

His tolerance level built up to the level where he had a "binge" on gambling.

"I actually won £8,000 in February last year," he said.

"I turned £20 into £150 and put a £100 treble. It was on two football matches and the third leg on an American golfer, who won late at night.

"But, because my partner and family didn't think I was gambling or knew I should not gamble, what could I do with the money?

"I couldn't go home with the money because I knew I should not have been gambling in the first place and my partner and family controlled my income and finances.

"The only thing I could do with £8,000 was gamble again. I lost that £8,000 and to a compulsive gambler that means one thing – that you try to chase those losses.

"Last year, I was at the point where I would gamble on any sporting event – it could be golf, football, horse racing, greyhound racing.

"You can now place bets on events happening any time around the world and around the clock.

"Although I wasn't actually physically standing there betting for 14 or 15 hours a day, the events that I would have placed a bet on were actually in play 14 or 15 hours a day.

"You become consumed. For three or four months, my life was totally consumed with watching the next event or looking for the result of the next event.

"Neither my partner nor my family knew anything about this binge and when the police knocked on my door, it was a massive, massive shock to them.

"My partner has, for the past few years, managed my income. She has, to the penny, monitored my income.

"We have had nice holidays, nice cars and other things but it was all out of the income I have earned.

"Not one penny ever went back into the household from gambling.

"Effectively, I was two people. I became two people – the Steve who was working hard with money to provide for his family and the unknown Steve who was committing crime to feed his gambling habit.

"After 30 years, this is the first time I have ever committed any crime whatsoever.

"I have never, ever been in trouble. The normal, hard-working, non-gambling Steve is a very, very honest person.

"I have raised a lot of money for charity and have helped a lot of other people, some with their own addictions."

He said that things were "very strained" with his family.

"When this all came to light, before the end of this major binge, I couldn't see a way out and I was planning my suicide," he said.

"That's how bad it can go. In July and August last year, I had four options – I would become homeless, I would kill myself, I would go to prison or I would go to Gamblers Anonymous and stop gambling.

"I came very close to the suicide and, thankfully, chose Gamblers Anonymous on September 6.

"I have been five months without a bet. I know I won't gamble again. Gambling had beaten me. I want to beat it. For the first time, I actually want to beat gambling.

"My family didn't know I was gambling last year. There was absolutely no personal gain. Every single penny has been proven to the police that it went to local bookmakers.

"Ninety per cent went to Corals. No bookmaker will ever challenge you.

"If you have got a wad of cash, they will take it. That's nothing derogatory towards the staff.

"The staff are excellent but the company is in business to make money.

"The staff aren't going to say: 'Hold on, you are spending enough' because I would have looked like a fairly respectable businessman in a suit."

He said that, since the offences came to light, he had voluntarily given up two loves in his life, coaching part-time for Grimsby Town, having paid for himself over three years to reach UEFA B level, and playing snooker, because he did not want the football club to have a "black mark" against it.

"I didn't want the children I was coaching to pick up the paper and see me in it," he said.

"I played snooker for 28 years locally and, for the same reasons, I stopped playing snooker.

"The support I have received has been fantastic from family, as you would expect, and friends, a number of whom I have not seen for many years but who have contacted me.

"I am packing my bag ready for prison with items I am led to believe you need for prison.

"It's an awful situation to be in, to be unable after 28 years of working flat out to not being in work and to not be able to put things in place for my family.

"I gave a full, open and honest, frank admission to Shoreline. Obviously, they were left with no choice but to dismiss me under gross misconduct. I admitted everything and was extremely co-operative – the same with the police.

"I left Shoreline at the end of August and, within three weeks, I had started in a new fantastic role to try to rebuild my profile. It was a fantastic job in an IT consultant role that was sending me around the country and abroad.

"I was working for some of the biggest brands in the country and household names and I was receiving excellent reviews from these clients.

"Unfortunately, that was taken away from me because of an unnecessary e-mail from an ex-colleague which left the new owners of the company in an untenable position.

"I was kicked while I was down."

He has been attending meetings of Hull Gamblers Anonymous every Tuesday.

"I am expecting to go to prison," he said.

"The number of people who have got a partner, a relative or a friend who has got a problem with gambling or drinking is quite phenomenal.

"I would urge anybody, if they gamble themselves and can't seek help, for their family or a friend to seek help on their behalf.

"Non-gamblers can attend Gamblers Anonymous to understand how it works.

"I am very ashamed of what I have done and am sorry. I would rather it be out in the open and hope it might help one or two others who are out there.

"I apologise to anyone I have affected in person.

"I have sat people down face to face to tell them about what has happened and they have said: 'I never even knew you bet'. They can't believe it.

"I have not gained anything financially. Thousands of pounds would be covered by my own money.

"I had a lifestyle many people would be envious of. I had a good income, holidays abroad, nice clothes and other things.

"I didn't need to gamble for money because I had money.

"If I can help others, I will do. I am already thinking about how I can perhaps help others with their problems in the future.

"For everyone that asks for help, there are a lot more that don't. I knew I couldn't get away with this. I didn't get caught.

"Having been responsible for the procurement and implementation of all IT systems within Shoreline, including finance systems, I obviously knew that there was no way I could have avoided detection, but the gambling took over to the point where had to carry on.

"The need to gamble was simply too strong.

"I have won thousands over the years but, when you are not supposed to be gambling, all you can do is hand it back by way of your next bet.

"I once won approximately £10,000 in the 1990s at Beverley races but I couldn't go home to my mother and say: 'Here you go, I am going to buy a car' because I should not have been gambling.

"So I put the £10,000 in the car boot. The next morning, I woke up to get this £10,000 and it was swimming in water.

"I spent hours trying to dry it on radiators. About a third of it was unrecoverable. That's how bizarre it was and how the mind of a compulsive gambler works.

"Anybody in their right mind would have gone in and said: 'Take that off me. I shouldn't have been gambling'."

He said the Shoreline thefts happened after he succumbed to temptation.

"Somebody gave me a bundle of cash," he added. "It was like red rag to a bull and I went and gambled it and resorted to doing something that I never thought I could do.

"I have lost a perfectly good career with a very good salary but I can't change that. All I can do is put things in place for the future, which I have done, and hope somebody will give me a chance in terms of employment when the time arrives.

"I like to think that a sober Steve has a lot to offer."

Do you have a problem? Or maybe you have overcome it? Tell us at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk If you want to tell us your story anonymously, e-mail newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph or call 01472 372213.

£174,000 Shoreline fraud: Gambling consumed my life and took me to brink of suicide

Former Shoreline manager jailed for £174k iPhones and iPads fraud

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A GAMBLER who became involved in a "web of deceit" through a fraud of nearly £174,000 while working as a senior manager at Shoreline Housing Partnership has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

He sold large numbers of iPhones and iPads after placing bogus orders for them supposedly on behalf of Shoreline, a court heard. Steven Neul, 45, of Humberston Avenue, Humberston, admitted fraud between March 24 and July 15, and converting criminal property between March 24 and July 10. Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that the "gross breach of trust" happened while Neul was working as a business systems and services manager for Shoreline, responsible for IT and customer contact.

He was responsible for a £1.5m-a-year budget and could place orders for up to £10,000 without higher authority.

He had worked at Shoreline for five years and earned £51,000 a year.

The fraud involved dishonestly pretending to Jungle IT and Vodafone that he was ordering iPhones and iPads on behalf of his employer.

He sold 160 iPhones and 177 iPads, valued at £173,900, to obtain cash for himself.

The fraud came to light on July 7 when a letter from Jungle IT was sent to Shoreline about an unpaid £68,000. A letter from Vodafone requesting payment was also received.

Mr Evans said it was a "web of deceit" and Shoreline regarded it as a "flagrant breach of trust" because it was "abhorrent" to "lie to suppliers".

It cost £13,000 for an audit and more than £25,000 of the money lost in the fraud was "unrecoverable".


HOW GAMBLING TOOK ME TO THE BRINK OF SUICIDE

Ian Durant, mitigating, said Neul was well thought of in the local community, including in the snooker world and for charity, and he had, until the fraud, been a model employee as well as a model partner, father, friend and work colleague.

"He was gripped by gambling at a very early age, since being 15 years of age," said Mr Durant.

"That destructive addiction soon spiraled out of control. He has not at any point shirked from or shied away from what he has done.

"He accepts full responsibility for what he has done. He has been open and honest with those with whom he is close about his gambling.

"He knew he was going to get caught and, when the inevitable happened, it was a huge relief to him."

Judge David Tremberg told Neul: "This is a rather sad and tragic case. In all but one aspect of your life, this court accepts that you have shown yourself to be a man of outstanding positive good character – intelligent, hard-working, highly respected, willing to give of your time generously for the community and various charitable and voluntary activities, and you are a good family man.

"For decades you have been battling with an addiction to gambling."

Neul caused an immediate loss of more than £173,000 to his employers by placing 20 or 30 fraudulent transactions over a four-month period and later selling off items cheaply to "fritter away on gambling", said Judge Tremberg.

"This offending is so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate for it," he added.

"This was always going to come back to bite you."

Shoreline Chief Executive Tony Bramley said after the hearing: "While Shoreline is pleased to see this unhappy episode brought to a conclusion, our abiding sense is one of sadness at the betrayal of trust by a long-serving senior manager who took advantage of the charity's good reputation for his own gain, whatever his motivation.

"Thankfully this is an isolated incident in our ten year history, but we have further tightened our controls since this happened and made clear to all employees that we will vigorously pursue, through both civil and criminal remedies, anyone found to be abusing our trust in such a manner."

Jeremy Evans, Crown Advocate with CPS Yorkshire and Humberside said: "Neul placed orders for 160 iPhones and 177 iPads, supposedly on behalf of his employer, Shoreline, worth almost £174,000, later selling them on for his own personal gain.

"This was a flagrant breach of trust and authority which resulted in a substantial loss for the housing charity and we have applied for a Proceeds of Crime order to recover the funds. The sentence handed down today sends out a clear message that this type of offending will be prosecuted with the utmost rigour."

Former Shoreline manager jailed for £174k iPhones and iPads fraud


Baby Dax finally flies back from New York to delight of Lincolnshire mum

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Born prematurely in New York, baby Dax Lee Johnston, whose mum is from Lincolnshire, has been flown back to the UK from the US - after their insurance firm and donations from the public the costs of the early arrival. Katie Amos and Lee Johnston became stranded in the Big Apple after son Dax arrived 11 weeks early on December 28, weighing just 3lb, during a four-day break on the other side of the Atlantic. Mum Katie, from Burgh-le-Marsh, said: "When we were finally given the all-clear to come home I broke down in tears. We were so hapy. No words could describe it." She added: "It was like all our New Year wishes had come true all at once. "We have been on such an emotional journey and it's so amazing to be back in the UK and with all our friends and family." The couple were initially told Dax would not be well enough to make the trip home until March 10. Estimated medical costs facing the couple were put at £130,000.

Baby Dax finally flies back from New York to delight of Lincolnshire mum

THE VERDICT: How Grimsby Town's proud unbeaten run ended at Forest Green

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AFTER 152 days and 12 league games, Grimsby Town's long unbeaten run away from home is over.

The Mariners slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Forest Green on Saturday, having not previously lost on the road in the league since September.

Uncharacteristic defensive errors were their downfall in Nailsworth, with both of Rovers' goals as preventable as they were frustrating for boss Paul Hurst, who saw his side squander a string of chances before Norwood pounced to roll in what proved to be the winner.

With Barnet, Bristol Rovers and Macclesfield all winning on the same afternoon, defeat in Gloucestershire means Town now trail the leaders by 12 points, with hopes of a title tilt now looking slim.

Speaking after the full-time whistle, Hurst said: "I'm disappointed with the result because I thought it was a game that, for large parts, both teams cancelled each other out.

"I thought we got on top of them and if anyone was going to win it, it looked like us, so to come away with nothing, was disappointing.

"The defensive errors are very unlike us. When you come to a place like Forest Green, that's something you can't afford to do."

After back-to-back postponements, Hurst went with the same starting XI that won at Eastleigh last time out.

That meant there were again starts for new signings Gregor Robertson and Christian Jolley on his return to The New Lawn, where he spent a short loan spell earlier in the season.

And the winger did nothing to endear himself to his former fans in the early exchanges when his innocuous challenge on Rob Sinclair forced the midfielder off for a spell, before he returned to what had begun as a scrappy affair.

In fact, Craig Disley's wayward half-volley – after a less-than convincing punch by Sam Russell – was the only incident to write home about in the first ten minutes.

But Kurtis Guthrie then spun and volleyed over Rovers' first shot in anger after good work from Sam Wedgbury in midfield, while at the other end, Charlie Clough had to be alert to shepherd behind Nathan Arnold's cross to Lenell John-Lewis at the far post.

Jon Parkin – crowned as the league's Player of the Month just before kick-off – then produced an impudent lobbed effort that roused the locals, but evaded McKeown's far post as the inauspicious start continued.

Just on the half-hour, Disley was caught in possession, allowing Elliot Frear to burst down the left and clip a ball in from which Guthrie drew a low save from McKeown, with Shaun Pearson heading a corner into the side netting at the other end minutes later.

It looked set for a goalless end to a stale first-half, but ten minutes before the break, when Parkin won a flick-on to Stuart Fleetwood, Toto Nsiala missed his clearance and the striker poked a cut-back across the box.

Carl Magnay looked favourite to sweep up the danger, but his awkward attempted clearance cannoned back off Frear and flew past McKeown to break the deadlock.

The New Lawn scoreboard incorrectly flashed up 4-0 – perhaps hopefully, as just five minutes later, the Mariners were level.

Arnold swung in another fine corner into a clutch of players and Guthrie's header flew past his own keeper to hand Town an equaliser that they gladly took into the break having not been at their best in the first 45.

After a slow start to the first-half, Hurst's side enjoyed a brighter opening after the restart, winning an early corner through Ollie Palmer.

But when that was cleared, Rovers broke up-field and won one of their own which Magnay did well to block and feed Clay, who in turn set Palmer on a break, but the Mansfield man could only fire into the side-netting.

Neat play by Magnay, Arnold and Jolley saw the latter burst into the box before being penalised for a tug-back on Kelly, who also looked to have played his part as the Town man went to ground as well.

His frustrations earned him a booking just shy of the hour mark for a lunge on Wedgbury, which left the midfielder limping – as the home faithful appealed in vain for a red.

Their heckles turned to gasps of desperation minutes later when, after Disley was penalised for a soft foul in the middle of the park, their side should have retaken the lead.

Sinclair's floated delivery was allowed to drift all the way to the back post, but when it was knocked back across goal, Parkin cracked against the post from yards out.

Jack Mackreth had replaced Jolley by the time Rovers threw on James Marwood and James Norwood, in response to a sustained spell of pressure from their visitors.

And Marwood was straight into the action, latching on to a through ball and drawing an untidy challenge from Pearson that earned the defender a yellow.

Ross Hannah replaced Palmer as partner to John-Lewis up front as Town continued to look for a winner – and the frontman almost provided it 11 minutes from time.

Mackreth went on a burst down the right and fired in a cross to the frontman, whose first-touch allowed him to swivel and crack a fierce volley towards the bottom corner.

Russell superbly threw out a strong arm to keep it out – and cling onto the ball – with Town players ready to pounce.

The former Darlington keeper was a man under fire, but he ensured Hannah spurned two quick-fire opportunities minutes later after Clay's through-ball.

John-Lewis cleverly let the pass run through to his strike-partner, who instantly fired at the legs of Russell, before hitting the rebound straight back at him.

A point would have represented a satisfactory haul for Town to take back up the M5, but six minutes from time, Norwood condemned them to a miserable journey home.

Somehow, the ball bounced off Disley just on the edge of the box, and cruelly, it proved to be a perfect pass to set the sub through on goal.

Rovers' top-scorer made no mistake, rolling coolly past a rooted McKeown as Ady Pennock's side consolidated their place in the play-offs by taking a game that, in truth, could have gone either way.

Hurst added: "Of course there was an element of frustration, but there's no point dwelling on it. It's not like we were outplayed from start to finish.

"We went toe-to-toe with a team on an extremely good run and were the team who looked like going on to win it."

THE VERDICT: How Grimsby Town's proud unbeaten run ended at Forest Green

Paul Hurst admits title a 'big ask' for Grimsby Town after defeat

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PAUL Hurst admits the Conference title is now a big ask for Grimsby Town – but has warned his players not to rest on their laurels when it comes to the play-offs.

The Mariners' 2-1 defeat at Forest Green Rovers means that they now trail leaders Barnet by 12 points, after the Bees' victory over ten-man Woking.

As Town faltered in Gloucestershire, key results went against them elsewhere – apart from Eastleigh's 3-3 draw at Telford.

Saturday's results mean that there is still a seven-point cushion between the Mariners and Woking in sixth.

But with Saturday's visit of second-placed Bristol Rovers – and a trip to Barnet the following weekend – Hurst knows there's a long way to go.

He said: "I'm not going to concede the title, but it's 12 points now and the teams above us won on Saturday, so there's more daylight between us.

"But there's still a nice little gap below us, and the one positive was Eastleigh's draw at Telford.

"But there's a lot of football to play yet, and we'll keep going. To help that, we need to try and win next weekend against Bristol Rovers."

He added: "I've heard a lot of talk about 'if we don't win the title, then we'll get in the play-offs'.

"I'm not trying to be negative or be too down about it, but we've got to stay focused.

"There's a lot of football to be played yet and just because we're currently in a good position, we can't rest on it.

"We've certainly got some tough games on paper coming up and we need to be 'at it' and ensure that we have the right attitudes.

"We can't let Saturday's disappointment knock us too much and respond positively because this position could go out of our hands if we're not careful."

On his side's proud unbeaten run coming to an end, he added: "We've had some excellent results during that time and a point on Saturday would have been another.

"A draw certainly wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world but we were never going to do anything other than try to win it.

"We were on the front foot, but we know Forest Green are a good team and I fully expect them to be in the play-offs at the end of the season, so who knows, we might be facing them."

Paul Hurst admits title a 'big ask' for Grimsby Town after defeat

Horse box stolen in Ulceby

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A horse box has been stolen from a location in Ulceby.

Police are appealing for help in tracing the white Volvo livestock carrier, which has the registration number J90 PLY.

It went missing overnight.

Anyone with information should call Humberside Police on 101, quoting log number 92 of today (9 February).

Horse box stolen in Ulceby

Police appeal for witnesses after car ploughs into home in Grimsby

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A vehicle crashed into a ground floor flat in Grimsby, causing damage to brickwork and a window.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident on Eskdale Way, which was reported to the police at 12.02pm on Saturday.

The vehicle mounted a grass verge before ploughing into the building.

The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and provide their details.

The exact time of incident is not known.

Police would like to speak to the driver of the vehicle or anyone who witnessed the incident.

Anyone with information should contact Humberside Police on 101, quoting log 252 of February 7.

Police appeal for witnesses after car ploughs into home in Grimsby

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