A MEMBER of staff at Grimsby's hospital is being investigated after allegedly stealing an iPod belonging to a dead woman.

The employee – who is believed to have been suspended – is said to have taken the device after the 57-year-old Grimsby woman passed away on Christmas Eve.

Both Humberside Police and bosses at the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital have confirmed they are carrying out investigations into the incident.

The deceased woman's 37-year-old daughter, who lives in Cleethorpes, says the family is "sickened and disgusted" by what has happened. She added: "Mum was in hospital for five days before she died and this member of staff must have been caring for her.

"I just don't understand why anybody would take something belonging to a dead person. It's not the value of the iPod that's important, it's the breach of trust that's taken place.

"We were traumatised enough when mum passed away, but to then find out the iPod was missing was just awful.

"She watched films on it and used it to look at photos and listen to music when she was ill. I know it was there on the day she died because I saw it, but then when I went back to collect her belongings it had gone.

"The hospital eventually narrowed it down to a member of staff and called them in to be questioned. When they did, the person said we couldn't have it back as they had thrown it in a river."

The iPod contained irreplaceable family photographs. She added: "The fact this happened over Christmas just makes it worse because it's supposed to be the season of goodwill.

"The whole thing is just beyond belief. We're all finding it hard to comprehend.

"We've made a formal complaint to the hospital and called the police."

Neil Pease, director of organisational development and workforce for the hospital, said: "We are co-operating with the police and will be carrying out our own internal investigation into this matter."

A spokeswoman for Humberside Police added: "We are currently investigating a theft which is believed to have occurred at Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital, Grimsby, between 3pm on December 24 and noon on December 26.

"Police are working with staff at the hospital to establish the circumstances of the incident. At this time no arrests have been made."

RICHARD Brodie makes his Mariners debut in this afternoon's clash with Hereford United at Blundell Park (3pm).
The on-loan striker goes straight into the starting line-up, replacing Greg Pearson up front for the Conference encounter.
Fellow loan arrival Jamie Devitt starts on the bench, while Bradley Wood deputises at left-back for the suspended Aswad Thomas.
TOWN: McKeown; Hatton, Miller, Pond, Wood; Colbeck, Niven, Disley, Marshall; Brodie, Cook. Subs: S Pearson, Devitt, G Pearson, Southwell, Thanoj.

DOZENS of light aircraft touched down in North Cotes as part of the annual Brass Monkey Fly-In.

Organised by North Coates Flying Club, the event saw up to 200 aircraft from across the country swoop down onto the grass runway on Saturday and Sunday.

One of the main attractions for aviation enthusiasts was a rare replica Supermarine Spitfire, which is owned by Aidan Jones, a business owner, from Cabourne, near Caistor.

He explained: "I passed my Private Pilots' Licence last year and wanted to get my own aircraft.

"I saw this one advertised and just had to have it. It's 80 per cent of the size of a real Spitfire and it was built in Australia in 2005.

"It's very different to flying other light aircraft but I really enjoy the challenge and because it looks and sounds just like a real Spitfire it gets a lot of people interested."

Aidan's interest in aviation was sparked by his father, Barry Jones, from Grimsby, who has owned gyroplanes since the 1980s.

The driving instructor explained: "I knew I wanted to own one of these after I saw Little Nellie, the gyro in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice.

"North Coates is a great club with friendly people and it's close to home for us.

"The fly-ins are always interesting because you get to see new and unusual aircraft."

Another local aircraft owner who was enjoying the spectacle was engineer Glen Johnson, from Grimsby, who spent much of his career flying in fast jets in the RAF. Glen, who is the proud owner of a Murphy Maverick, said: "There's nothing like the feeling of freedom you get when you're flying.

"I work away from home a lot so whenever I'm back I like to come down to the airfield and fly."

Jim Rutherford, of Grimsby, said: "I was based at North Cotes with the RAF from 1968 to 1970.

"I worked servicing the Bloodhound Missiles which were based here.

"It was a lovely place to work and the people in the village were always very friendly.

"It's changed a bit since then but I enjoy coming back and keeping my ties with the place."

Club chairman Mike Speakman said the conditions had been perfect for the event.

He added: "It's always risky at this time of year but there was very little wind and relatively clear skies.

"A frost would have been best for us as it would have hardened the grass runway, but you can't have everything.

"We had a lot of people flying from as far afield as Birmingham and Northumbria, although many grass runways across the country are flooded at the moment so some people couldn't take off."

Mr Speakman said the club is currently in the process of extending its runway from 650m to 770m, in the hope of enabling a full-size Spitfire to land there during Cleethorpes Air Show.

Reach for the skies

The next event at North Coates Flying Club is the spring flying meeting on May 11 and 12.

A museum charting the history of the airfield is open to the public most weekends and is free to enter.

For more information, visit www.northcoatesflingclub.co. uk

A PARENT who was fined after her ex-husband took her son away on holiday has criticised the stringent system which she feels unfairly punishes single parents.

Christina McGilligan-Fell has spoken out against fines for parents who take their children out of school for holidays after the Grimsby Telegraph revealed that 359 were handed out in the 2011-2012 academic year for absences – including unauthorised holidays in term-time.

Ms McGilligan-Fell, who is also a North East Lincolnshire councillor, but was speaking as a parent, told the Telegraph how her son Dominic was refused permission to go on holiday to Florida in September 2011 with her ex-husband – who now lives in London and rarely gets to spend quality time with Dominic.

She claims that not only did Tollbar Academy refuse permission at the very beginning of the school year but it fined both parents – who split long ago – £50 each.

Ms McGilligan-Fell felt the fine was unfair as she was powerless to stop the holiday, risking alienating her son if she told her he could not go on a holiday of a lifetime – which she could never afford – with the father he wishes he saw more of.

She said: "I don't have the money to take my children on holiday and if I had told my son that he couldn't go on the most amazing holiday to Florida with his father, he would have hated me for it – any mother will tell you that.

"When you have a family with a father who doesn't live locally, it can be very hard to manage that relationship and I couldn't tell my son that he couldn't spend time with his father.

"Personally, I would have preferred he went away in the holidays and my ex-husband could afford to take him, but he will not listen to his ex-wife.

"I told him he would have to pay the fine and he agreed, but then I found out I got fined, too, but there was nothing I could do – I was totally helpless."

The £50 fines are issued by North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) but they say it is done entirely on the direction of the school or academy.

A spokesman for Tollbar Academy said: "The Department For Education issues guidelines for all school absences but it's up to the individual school or academy to make that decision.

"Our policy is not to allow absences within term time, unless in exceptional circumstances, but each case is assessed on its own merit.

"In years 9, 10 and 11, there are regular controlled assessments, which count towards their overall GCSE grades and they can't go back and take them again so missing school can have a serious impact on a student's achievement.

"When recommending fines, we always recommend the parents with custody, but would recommend fines for both parents if that custody is joint."

WHILE most of us were enjoying time off over Christmas and New Year, this brave woman was working 24-hour shifts in Afghanistan.

Holly Ferneyhough, 24, of Grimsby, is currently completing her second tour of duty as part of the ground crew with 662 Squadron Army Air Corps.

The former Grimsby Institute student works with Apache attack helicopters in Camp Bastion, the main support base for British troops in Afghanistan.

She ensures that the helicopters are ready to fly whenever they are needed to escort medical evacuations and support soldiers on operations.

She said: "I came out to Camp Bastion in September and I worked during both Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

"I missed my family, but I was surrounded by work colleagues and friends and we had secret Santa on Christmas Day and then a quiz on New Year's Eve.

"I will celebrate again with my family when I get home at the end of January.

"I'm looking forward to shopping in Freshney Place and having a girly night out in Cleethorpes."

During each 24-hour shift, Holly works as part of a team of six, preparing the helicopters for take-off and then refuelling them when they return.

She also helps to replace the ammunition, which includes 30mm canon rounds, rockets and Hellfire missiles.

The former Hereford School pupil said the difference between her role now and her last tour of Afghanistan in 2010 is evident.

"The Apaches fire less ammunition now, which is a good sign that the security of Helmand has improved," she said.

"When the troops are out, the Apaches give security and reassurance to them and it's good to know that I am part of that."

During this tour of duty, Holly has been involved in numerous charity events, including 5km runs for The Poppy Run and Children's Heart Unit Fund, both of which she has done on her rest time between shifts.

She was inspired to join the Army when she was 11 by her ex-serviceman uncle who introduced her to an assault course.

She enrolled when she was 17 with the support of her mum and dad, Tina, 48, and Andy Bowles, 46.

She now hopes to undertake officer training and be commissioned into the Army Air Corps in the future.

She added: "I've loved the challenges, experiences and travel since I've been in the Army. I've also enjoyed meeting new people."

GRIMSBY Telegraph readers are being given the opportunity to ask questions directly to Humberside's Police and Crime Commissioner.

Matthew Grove is to take part in an online debate with Telegraph editor Michelle Lalor on Thursday to discuss the crime and policing issues you want to talk about.

Since being elected to the brand new role in November, Mr Grove – who has taken over from Humberside Police Authority to oversee the force itself – has proved a controversial figure.

The new role alone, which saw several commissioners appointed throughout England, attracted criticism.

Most recently, concerns were raised after Mr Grove appointed a deputy, on a £45,000 annual salary, against the advice of an independent panel.

On Thursday, Mr Grove will be in the newsroom from 1pm to answer your questions on our website, www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk, with the editor.

"I am looking forward to taking part in the debate," said Mr Grove.

"As Police and Crime Commissioner, I am here to listen to your views on policing and crime where you live, and set the priorities for Humberside Police in the Police and Crime Plan which I will be publishing at the end of March.

"On my first day in office in November, I visited Grimsby and spent some time with the neighbourhood policing team in the East Marsh area.

"The reason I chose to start there was not because it is an area with challenges and difficulties, but because it is an area that is rising to those challenges.

"I can honestly say that some of the best examples of community work I have seen, particularly in the voluntary sector, are happening in Grimsby.

"This will be a very busy year for me.

"As well as publishing my Police and Crime Plan, I will be appointing the new chief constable in the next few weeks, a decision which will influence how Humberside is policed over the next few years, and we also have significant challenges to face with the budget.

"I want to make Grimsby a safer place to live over the next few years, with less crime, a better police presence and easier access to the police.

"I look forward to hearing your views on how we will achieve this together."

To take part in the debate, simply log onto www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk from 1pm on Thursday and follow the editor's debate link which will be published on the homepage.

NEARLY 1,300 people visited Grimsby's A&E department over the festive period – prompting calls for patients to think about whether they really need to go and to be better prepared.

Figures show 1,298 people visited the department at the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day – an increase of 88 on last year.

And the aftermath of the New Year's Eve celebrations saw the highest number of admissions – with 192 people using the service on January 1.

It has prompted a health professional to remind people to choose their emergency services wisely.

Mr Oltunde Ashaolu, clinical director of A&E at the hospital, said: "As we are in the winter period there are some steps that people with illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and other long-term conditions can take to help them avoid unwanted hospital visits.

"The first question is whether you have had your flu jab, then whether you need a review of the medicines you're taking before making sure you have got a care plan in place.

"Next you need to check you have the right medicines at home for your condition.

"Most common aches, pains and winter illnesses will begin to clear up by themselves within a few days with some tender loving care and self-care essentials, so there really is no need to call 999 or go to A&E.

"If you need advice, your high-street pharmacy or your GP are your experts and you can search for self-care advice online on NHS Choices."

Karen Dunderdale, chief nurse at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Hospitals Trust, said: "Our hospitals are exceptionally busy at the moment, both on our inpatient wards and in the A&E departments.

"We have created extra capacity to accommodate additional patients but we would urge everyone to please think twice before visiting A&E and ensure our staff are available for vulnerable people who are in an emergency situation.

"Most common aches, pains and winter illnesses will begin to clear up by themselves inside a couple of days.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff for their hard work and dedication during this extremely demanding period."

Meanwhile, East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), which covers North East Lincolnshire, says calls were up dramatically in the first few hours of the new year.

It has been revealed that more than 1,000 emergency calls were made at the start of 2013, and by the end of the day this rose to 3,223.

"On average EMAS expect to receive around 2,000 calls in a day.

Peter Ripley, EMAS director of operations, said: "I pay tribute to our staff who worked on the frontline. They did a truly magnificent job, in challenging circumstances.

"The festive season may be over, however we expect to continue to receive significant call numbers over the next few weeks and I urge people to use the right NHS services available to them for treatment of minor illnesses or injuries."

POLICE traced a stolen iPad 3 and TV taken in a burglary when they stopped a stolen car.

At Grimsby Crown Court Clive Cutler, 40, of Fairmont Road, Grimsby admitted handling stolen property from a burglary in Edinburgh Way, Holton-le-Clay in the early hours of April 3 last year.

Recorder Julian Goose QC sentenced Cutler to a 12-month supervision order.

The recorder said despite Cutler's previous "appalling record" he had remained out of trouble for 14 years until the offence in April.

Prosecuting Craig Lowe said items taken from the home of Jason Bass and Maxine Brompton included a mountain bike, mobile phone, iPad 3, PlayStation 3 console games, a sat-nav and keys to the couple's Peugeot car. The court heard the car was later stopped near Laceby at 8.10am.

From mobile phone records officers traced Cutler and found the iPad, worth £479, at his home.

He told officers he had handled the stolen TV but had not kept it. In interview he told officers the thieves had tried to get him to take the TV, but as he was offered it he had prevented it from being dropped and handled it.

The court heard his fingerprints were on the TV which was recovered.

For Cutler, Simon Hirst said his client had stayed out of trouble for 14 years, having been in a stable relationship. But that had broken down and his client was at "a low ebb".

He said his client wanted the iPad for his daughter as a gift.

THE family of missing Market Rasen pensioner Marion Scott say they are holding on to a slender hope she will be found alive.

They backed the renewed appeals from Lincolnshire Police for residents to search their land and any outbuildings or sheds they have to help find the 83-year-old dementia sufferer.

Today, searches were continuing in the Market Rasen area where posters have been circulated to homes and businesses in the hope someone recognised Mrs Scott and had seen her since her disappearance on December 27 from her home in Acre Close.

At the weekend, specialist dog teams and police officers, supported by members of the public, continued to comb the fields and walkways around the town.

Grandson Alex Stork, 29, told the Telegraph: "There was another sighting that someone had. They had remembered seeing her walking out of Market Rasen on the evening of December 27. But there has been nothing to shed light on where she might have gone.

"It has been difficult for the family, because on the one side, it is not like a bereavement as we still have a small bit of hope that she may have gone further afield somehow. That is our slim hope, given the condition she was in with her Alzheimer's. There is no body and it is a complete mystery to everyone. Everyone wants a positive outcome and it would be a relief to find her out there. But it is tough on us all."

He said Mrs Scott's husband of 62 years, Douglas, had remained positive, along with their three children, Sally Stork, Rebecca Ross and Richard Scott, of Nettleton.

Mr Stork said: "We have kept pushing for the awareness of her photo and appealing for people to get in touch if they saw her.

"Now we hope people will have returned possibly after a Christmas and New Year break and will check their properties."

He praised the response from Lincolnshire Police.

Mr Stork said: "They have been good and the communication has got better after the first couple of days of the search. The resources that they have put in have been good."

He said all his relatives joined the search in the first few days after Mrs Scott went missing.

"We were out night and day but since then we have concentrated more on getting the posters out in the hope someone has seen her and recognises her from the photo.

"We want as many people to see the photo as possible and for people to check their land and any outbuildings."

Inspector Mark Hillson, of Lincolnshire Police said the search strategy would be reviewed in the coming days.

He said: "Officers continued to carry out enquiries throughout the night and foot and vehicle searches will continue.

"We have had specially trained search officers co-ordinating the operation, along with members of the public and that will continue. We will react to information as we get it."

Call Lincolnshire Police on 101 if you have any information.

Updates will appear on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk

OFF-duty constable Pete Musgrave has been praised for his fast response which could hopefully have saved the life of a seriously-injured motorist.

The Laceby Road police station beat manager was driving home along the A180 in the early hours of Saturday and came across some wood debris on the westbound carriageway near the Great Coates interchange.

Thanks to the alert officer he was able to spot damage to trees on the verge of the dual carriageway.

He stopped and raised the alarm and then discovered a BMW driver with multiple fractures slumped outside his badly-wrecked saloon car. He had been thrown from his car due to the impact with a number of trees in a copse about one mile west of the Great Coates interchange.

As reported on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk, the driver is a 31-year-old from the Grimsby area.

He was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, where, he was last night in a serious but stable condition.

Pc Musgrave, who lives in Scunthorpe, said: "I looked at the tree line and could see there were clean breaks in the wood.

"I suspected something had happened and stopped in the next layby to ring it in before I doubled back.

"When I got back to the scene and walked closer down the embankment, I could see the wreckage of the car. It had gone through a line of trees and broken them.

"The car had completely disintegrated and in the pitch black I could hear someone. They were clearly in a lot of pain.

I could tell he was very poorly. Due to the impact, he had been ejected from the car.

"There was a smell of petrol and there was steam coming from the engine."

A Humberside Police traffic car was on the scene within minutes and East Midlands Ambulance Service paramedics arrived quickly, along with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service fire crews.

The westbound carriageway of the A180 was closed until about 8am for crash investigators to conduct their enquiries and establish a cause of the single vehicle crash.

As the car was hidden in the dip, the vehicle and driver could have gone unnoticed.

Pc Musgrave said: "Given how he was found, it was always a possibility he could have gone unnoticed as cars pass by at 70 mph and drivers are concentrating on the road.

"I was just in the right place at the right time. Is it fate? I'm not sure."

He told how normally his shift would have finished at 11pm but due to another incident, he did not end his shift until nearly 2am, and came across the scene shortly after that.

Pc Musgrave also praised two girls, possibly 19 or 20 years of age, who stopped to give assistance before the arrival of the emergency services.

Inspector Andrew Dixon of Humberside Police said: "Fortunately the officer was going home after his shift. He was able to call the incident in and stop to have a closer look.

"The natural instinct of the officer caused him to stop. It is part of his job. Some people would have just driven past. It could have been a lot worse had the officer not stopped. He has reacted quickly and well."

Updates will appear on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk

JOBS could be under threat at a packing factory in Grimsby.

Norbert Dentressangle has confirmed it is carrying out a review of its non-contractual packing operation at its Ladysmith Road site.

The company, which bought out Christian Salvesen in 2007, could not say how many positions would be affected.

However, an anonymous worker told the Grimsby Telegraph that about 25 to 30 people were employed at the packing factory, and that about 25 people were made redundant just under a year ago following a previous review.

The French firm said that the plant's warehousing and distribution operations would be unaffected.

The site employs almost 70 people, plus a number of temporary and agency workers.

Dan Myers, business unit director at Norbert Dentressangle Logistics UK, said: "Following changes in customer requirements, we are reviewing the viability of providing some on-going specialised support functions at our Grimsby site. These are primarily non-core, non-contractual packing operations.

"During the review we will be consulting with our colleagues and their representatives regarding any possible changes.

"We fully appreciate that this is an unsettling time and we are committed to minimising the impact of any changes and supporting anyone affected.

"We are at the start of a review, which will identify if and how many colleagues are affected, who we could not otherwise redeploy within the group.

"For this reason it is not possible to be clear on if or how many may be affected.

"We intend to conduct the review thoroughly and as quickly as possible so as to limit this period of uncertainty for our colleagues.

"As we have only just started the review it is not possible or appropriate to give a firm date for completion at this point.

"Meanwhile, our Grimsby site remains central to Norbert Dentressangle's plans and it will continue to provide warehousing and distribution services for its existing and prospective clients."

Keep reading your Grimsby Telegraph for updates.

A 76-YEAR-old Grimsby man has died after collapsing in the Freeman Arms pub.
William Wilson, of Warwick House, was in the Grimsby pub on Wednesday, when he collapsed.
He was taken tothe town's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, where he later died.
There are no suspicious circumstances, but police are struggling to track down any family members.
The full story will appear in tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph.
Reporters are putting together a tribute to Mr Wilson - if you knew him, contact James Dunn on 01472 372213 or email james.dunn@gsmg.co.uk
You can also post tributes to him below this story.
Anyone who can help police trace his family should contact 101 quoting log 475 of Wednesday, January 5.