A TRUSTED shop worker who cheated his bosses out of more than £55,300 in a desperate bid to fund his huge gambling addiction has been spared prison.

He had racked up more than £78,000 on online gambling and once spent £1,800 on poker in just one night, a court heard.

James Jennings, 42, of Charles Street, Cleethorpes, admitted two offences of fraud while working as a sales assistant for Ron Ramsdens Ltd.

The first involved abusing his position to the tune of £36,661 between April 1 and December 31, 2011, and the other involved £18,715 between January 1 and March 23 last year. A previous hearing at Grimsby Crown Court heard that it was discovered that refunds totalling £18,000 to £20,000 had been given by the store in Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby.

A customer who contacted the store about furniture that was due to be delivered was told that records showed that the order had been cancelled and a full refund of £1,057 had been given.

Inquiries were made and Jennings told the store manager: "I'm sorry. I put this on my card. It's the first time I have done it."

He admitted he was responsible for most of the £18,000 to £20,000 refunds, with payments being made to his credit card since May the previous year.

He admitted that between April 2011 and March last year, he had made refunds to his credit card 51 times, totalling £55,376.

He said he had spent more than £78,000 on online gambling.

Andrew Bailey, mitigating, told a resumed hearing before Hull Crown Court that Jennings had been on benefit after the offer of a previous job he was expecting in July was withdrawn. He had managed to save £300 from his benefit towards repaying the lost cash.

Judge Kate Buckingham told Jennings: "In breach of trust, you had received in excess of £55,000. You readily admitted your dishonest conduct to the police and how you used the funds to finance your online gambling.

"All in all, you spent £78,000 on gambling."

Jennings had used the fraudulently obtained money for his gambling, as well as taking out bank loans and using family savings, said Judge Buckingham.

"You have shown genuine remorse and shame for your dishonesty," she added.

Jennings had received gambling counselling and had joined a retraining programme at college, including working as a teaching assistant. References praised his "hard work and commitment", said Judge Buckingham.

Jennings was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, 200 hours' unpaid work and nine sessions of a probation service Chance To Change programme.

Judge Buckingham ordered him to pay over the £300 he had saved as "some gesture towards compensating your former employer".

No other compensation order was made, meaning that the company will probably either have to write off the loss or pursue a civil claim.

THIS Grimsby pin-up girl is becoming one of the most famous frontages in glamour modelling – and she is getting all the support she needs.

Former Matthew Humberstone student Danielle Kristie Sharp, 21, has a huge fan base after a massive 2012, topped off by an appearance in the famous "News In Briefs" section on page three of The Sun in December.

In it, Danielle reportedly expressed her disgust at EU bureaucrats' decision to spend £340,000 on traffic lights in Mauritius, quoting PJ O'Rourke, who famously wrote "giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys".

Although, as many suspected, she did confirm that The Sun had in fact made up her quote.

The rising star has also appeared in Nuts, Loaded and on the cover of Front magazine – and has already signed a contract to make more appearances on The Sun's page three in the coming year.

Danielle is also in talks about potential acting roles with a top Los Angeles agency and even has her own calendar out this year – and she can't quite believe it herself.

"I have online fans on social network sites like Twitter and Facebook – it feels weird saying it though. 'I have a fan club on Twitter' – that's mental," she said. Danielle applied to a modelling agency 18 months ago, they called her a week later and she was in London the following day doing shoots for Nuts and Loaded.

She describes it as "the best decision I ever made", however, modelling hasn't always been so easy.

Danielle said: "I don't usually tell people I'm a glamour model at first because they can be judgemental, although usually their reaction is shock.

"I never show off my body in real life and I'm not really how you would expect a glamour model to be – I don't like the glamour look, it's just not me.

"My family and friends, however, think it's great and they support me all the way."

But there's much more to Danielle than a pretty face – she's got plenty up top too.

The brainy beauty is studying fashion and brand management in Preston at the University Of Central Lancashire, designs her own clothes and writes her own fashion blog.

She added: "I love being creative, both with my work, and in day-to-day life.

"I design my own clothes, so in the future I aim to work within the fashion industry but I'm also being sent scripts for acting roles, so fingers crossed.

"I have a blog which I update regularly with my designs, and outfits and use my networking accounts to promote myself as not only a model but a designer and fashion-lover too.

"I finish university in September so I plan to spend some time travelling and working on my blog and hopefully there will be many more shoots to come."

Follow Danielle on Twitter @Daniellesharp for more modelling pictures or visit her fashion blog at www.paperbirdi.blogspot.com

IT'S not over yet.

The Met Office has warned that the Yorkshire and Humber region could potentially see up to 10cm of snow on high ground and "blizzard conditions" tomorrow.

The bulletin was released late yesterday, along with a yellow warning – meaning "be aware" – for most of the UK, although it also said "there is a good deal of uncertainty about the intensity of snow".

It also warned the public to be aware of "significant disruptions to travel" – which is exactly what those travelling in the area have experienced since the first lashing of snow on Monday.

Yesterday afternoon, Humberside Police warned drivers of poor visibility on the A180 with freezing fog and temperatures dropping as low as -5°C, making driving difficult.

In the Lincolnshire area, a Ford Ranger pick-up skidded off the road and into a ditch at 12.20pm, although the driver was uninjured.

Stagecoach routes were subject to severe delays and the 9 and 9a services did not serve Bradley Road, Waltham, throughout the day, due to a breakdown at the turning of Barnoldby Road just before 9am.

A replacement bus service also ran between Barton-upon-Humber and Cleethorpes after National Rail revealed a train at broken down at Barrow Haven – increasing the journey time between the two stops by half an hour.

It was not known at the time of going to press whether the issue would continue into today and passengers are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before travelling.

However, amongst the chaos, there was some heartwarming stories of people braving the cold to help others.

Firefighters came to the aid of a dog-walker whose beloved pet had got stuck in the icy waters of a pond in a field near Morrisons, Laceby.

Humberside Fire and Rescue were called at 10.52am, arrived at 11.03am and rescued the dog within ten minutes.

Stagecoach bus drivers also showed they were made of strong stuff, after a double-decker skidded on a mini- roundabout.

Another driver from a passing bus stopped to block one side of the road and the colleagues got out to direct traffic around the roundabout the opposite way to minimise disruption to other motorists.

Gritting crews were also out in force, as were refuse and recycling crews, collecting waste from as many houses as possible.

Why does everything grind to a halt when it snows? Readers ask weather questions on Viewpoint, pages 14 and 15.

DEVOTED fans braved freezing temperatures to catch a glimpse of a pop hunk.

The 'Mysterious Girls' from Grimsby and Hull waited for seven hours outside Grimsby Auditorium to meet Peter Andre.

The singing sensation was here last night as part of his Up Close And Personal tour with support acts The Risk and Sam Gray.

Music fans Beth Portus, 16, Kristina Davidson, 16, and Lauren Ashworth, 16, hadn't even bought tickets, but they were there at noon to try to meet Peter as he arrived on his coach.

Beth, who attends Grimsby Institute, said: "I have never met a celebrity so I thought I would see if I could meet him.

"I love Peter because he's so hot with his six-pack and I think The Risk are hotter than JLS."

Lauren said: "I love his music and he seems like a really nice person."

Kristina, from Franklin College, added: "We have been waiting for him for ages, but we don't care about the cold.

"My sister Isis loves him, I think she has passed her love of him to me!"

Sisters Becca and Lucy Booth, both 14, from Hull, bought tickets and began queuing at 11.30am.

Becca, wearing an I Love Peter Andre T-shirt, said: "We have come so early because we want to get to the front of the concert.

"We love his songs, especially Mysterious Girl, and the way he looks.

"We have never seen him in concert but we met him at a CD signing two years ago. He was really nice – he asked me for a kiss!

"Peter seems a genuine, kind person."

Lucy added: "I just love everything about him and we follow him on TV such as the Peter Andre: My Life series.

"We have wrapped up warm so we didn't freeze while queuing.

"I have been a fan of his for around five years and I hope to meet him again."

Reporters Lucy Greensmith and Laura Stuart-Cook attended the gig – check out @thisisgrimsby on Twitter to read their thoughts on the action as it happened.

Photos of Peter performing will appear in tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph – if you took any, e-mail them to pictures@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

ALAN Devonshire insists his Braintree side will have to 'out-work' Grimsby Town to stand a chance tomorrow evening (7.45pm).

The Iron boss is preparing his squad for a televised game that he acknowledges will be one of the toughest they will face.

Devonshire says that, individually, his part-time players are 'not as good' as the Mariners, but hopes the whole will be greater than the sum of the parts when the sides come face-to-face.

"To have a chance we're going to have to out-work them as a team," the former West Ham United and England midfielder told the Telegraph.

"We know what they're all about – they've got good players and they're a good team.

"We aren't going to be as good as them individually so it's about being a strong collective unit – we've got to be on it.

"We'll be about as full-strength as we can be for the game as we've only got a small squad.

"But I want us to have a real go at them and see how we get on."

After a promising debut Conference campaign last year, which saw the Essex club finish one place below the Mariners in 12th, Devonshire says Braintree lost four of their 'best players' in the summer, including Aswad Thomas to Town.

Those departures have contributed to what he describes an 'up and down' season for the former Blue Square Bet South champions, who sit 17th.

Contrast that with the Mariners, who strengthened in the summer before dipping into the transfer market again this month to help consolidate their position towards the top of the league.

And Devonshire has been impressed with the business joint bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst have done in the window.

He said: "Grimsby are going for promotion and they've brought in some top players and have spent a few quid.

"The business that they've done in January has been good.

"They've brought Richard Brodie and Ross Hannah in, who are two of the better strikers in this league.

"Brodie knows what it's all about at this level and he's won the league the last two seasons, so he'll be a threat tomorrow.

"They're definitely strong in the forward areas but they've got good players right across the pitch, so they're going to be up there or thereabouts come the end of the season."

He continued: "It's been an up-and-down season for us. We had a great season last year and we lost four of our best players in the summer. We always knew it was going to be a tough year for us, but we've done okay so far.

"There's always an added element to it when the cameras are there and I'm sure we will raise our game tomorrow.

"We're looking forward it and I'm sure Grimsby are as well."

PAUL Hurst says there is "much more to come" from Grimsby Town loanees Jamie Devitt and Richard Brodie.

The pair have joined the Mariners for the remainder of the campaign – and both made their second appearances in Saturday's FA Trophy win at Welling.

Left-winger Devitt earned and scored a penalty before being replaced by Joe Colbeck on the hour.

And striker Brodie partnered Ross Hannah up front for the first time before making way for Andy Cook in the final ten minutes.

Joint boss Hurst was satisfied with both displays and insists Devitt, who has only recently returned from a hamstring injury, will improve as his fitness levels increase.

"Dev is excellent on the left-hand side," he said.

"You can see he's a bright player, he's see a pass extremely early and there was a lot of good combination play down that side.

"He seems to get to balls when you don't think he's quite going to and his touch is excellent – he's shown that in his first game back for us, throughout training last week and on Saturday.

"We just need to get him a little bit fitter, which will come naturally. It was a heavy and slopping pitch at Welling, and in the second half up the hill it took its toll on him.

"We felt it probably wasn't the worst substitution in the world for us anyway, putting Joe on. That made us a bit more solid to deal with the threat Welling were posing."

Hurst admits it was a tough decision to omit Cook from the starting line-up at Park View Road, but believes the cup encounter was an ideal opportunity to explore Town's striking options.

"Richard's display was an improvement on the previous game," he continued.

"He did all right against Hereford, but on Saturday he got hold of it better and was better in the air.

"And, although we took him off towards the end, the pleasing thing was that he still looked strong and looked like he would cause problems.

"He's awkward to play against and he's seeing now what we expect and what we want from him. But they'll be much more to come, which is a great sign for us.

"Cooky did exceptionally well when he came on. He looked a real threat, won his headers and had one opportunity when we would have liked him to shoot but he had too many touches and let the keeper smother it out.

"All our players are good enough to be in the team, but it was the Trophy and we felt it was a good opportunity to have a look at Ross and Richard up front together. We know what Cooky and Ross can do together."

"A COMPLETE waste of public money!"

That is the view of angry Humberston Fitties residents about a hearing to decide if they could stay on site for 50 weeks a year.

North East Lincolnshire Council's Cabinet has approved a select committee recommendation to keep the "closed" period at eight weeks a year.

The Fitties Owners Residents' Association Bungalow (FORAB) had asked for the final decision to be put back until March when they are at the park. This was backed by the committee, but ignored by cabinet.

The decision was made following a referendum, a consultation and the two-day hearing costing £1,674.78 – despite the planning department having the final say.

Chairman of FORAB, Paul Harwood, said: "We said before they started this whole consultation the final decision lies with planning and the consultation would be a waste of time. This whole process has just been to delay the decision until the closed season. It has been a complete and utter waste of public money."

The council is able to extend terms of Fitties leases but permission for residents to stay on site for longer can only be granted by the planning committee when applications are submitted, which residents can now do.

Nine other recommendations, published by the select committee, were also approved, including: establishing a working group for management or disposal of the site, exploring options to improve tourism, and implementing emergency evacuation arrangements.

FORAB wants to develop tourism but think the working group should be managed by residents not officers, which is the most likely case. Mr Harwood said: "They want to run us down and keep the Fitties' voice under wraps. Progress could have been made but we are not being given a fair crack of the whip. We should be responsible for our own destination."

Making the final decision at Cabinet, council leader Chris Shaw said: "We need to get on and deal with this once and for all. I appreciate why the recommendation to defer was made but the decision-making process of this council is decided by the Cabinet."

The consultation was held in response to a petition by the Fitties residents.

Councillor Ray Sutton, chair of the select committee, said: "It was important for everyone to be given an opportunity to have their say.

"At the hearing we heard all sides of the debate and the recommendations strike a fair balance between the needs of the community, the council's many different responsibilities and also the unique character of the Fitties."

FORAB will decide whether they will submit an application to shorten the "closed" period to NELC planning department at their Annual General Meeting in May.

THE Grimsby area's cycling community reacted with anger at Lance Armstrong's admission he took drugs – but many always suspected he was a cheat.

Armstrong ended years of denials by admitting he used performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France wins.

The 41-year-old confessed during his interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey in front of a worldwide television audience.

Steve Ettridge, who has been involved with cycling for 45 years – first as a rider and then as a shop owner in Grimsby – said: "People used to look up to him as a hero – what he has done has damaged the sport.

"People either loved him or disliked him, there was no indifference towards him.

"Those who idolised him have found it hard to accept – but I always thought at the time he was probably on drugs. "He was beating other riders who it later became known were doping themselves, so it made me suspicious.

"I found it difficult to accept he was doing it all drugs-free."

Armstrong was not alone in doping of course – a large proportion of Tour de France winners from the early 1980s to the present have been found to have used drugs.

Ettridge continued: "There were guys who absolutely refused to take drugs at that time, but unfortunately they fell by the wayside.

"I think a lot were riding clean, but they were not competitive.

"I hope the guys who are racing now are clean. I believe they are – but you just never know.

"Competitions are more open and times are a lot slower than they were.

"Some stages of the Tour de France were being won in speeds averaging 30mph a few years ago, but those stages are now won at closer to the 24mph average mark, which is more believable.

"Drugs has been a problem in cycling for a long time, but at least the authorities are trying hard to clean it up. It is difficult. People are always coming up with new innovations in performance enhancement that are well ahead of the testers.

"I do not know if it will ever go away. When there is so much money at stake, there will always be those who try to cheat the system".

Phil Bell, member of Lindsey Roads Cycling Club was angry at the news – but again, was not surprised.

"It is terrible, but there were always suspicions, especially among older members of our club," he said.

"A lot of people could not believe it was possible to win the Tour de France seven times the way he did.

"It is very disappointing, as he was so well-known throughout the world.

"He was a hero figure, and got people into cycling in a big way.

"He got off his death bed to beat cancer and raised millions for charity – but now we know he was a cheat.

"It is bad for cycling as many people will now assume anyone who has achieved something really good is on drugs.

"A few years ago, when Armstrong was at his peak, drug-taking was widespread – but testing is a lot better now. Riders get tested after every race is won, and there are random checks at other times too. I am confident people like Bradley Wiggins are clean.

"Hopefully this issue will not stop more people from getting involved in cycling as it is a growing sport."

MARKET Rasen jockey Duran Fentiman has recovered from the injury he sustained last season and is already back in the winners' enclosure.

The 2013 season is not due to begin on the turf until March, so Fentiman has been on the all-weather track at Wolverhampton since the start of January.

And he has already had a winner. Picking up from where he left off in the autumn, he rode 3-1 joint favourite Hazard Warning for Tim Easterby.

The former De Aston student is based at the Malton stables of top trainer Easterby.

The six-furlong handicap saw eleven runners go to post, but Fentiman only got his mount up by a head.

Fentiman also had a placing at the same track on the same card when Cheers for Thea, a 25-1 shot, also trained by Easterby, finished third in a tight six-horse race.

Last year was Fentiman's best ever season when he rode 30 winners in all, with 27 of those coming on turf and three on all-weather tracks.

He had his share of £18,000 in prize money for his efforts so far on the all-weather this year but that is overshadowed by his huge success on turf in 2012, where he had his share of a pot of £329,000.

Fentiman's two big race wins came on sprinter Body and Soul when she took listed races in 2012.

He claimed Weatherby's Super Sprint at Newberry in July worth £122,925 and followed that up on the same horse to claim the Two-Year-Old Trophy (Listed Race) in October at Redcar worth £125,386.

Throughout 2012, he gained the reputation of being one of the leading lightweight jockeys. His period on the sidelines came after breaking his collarbone in a fall at Catterick in October when his mount Shotley Mac stumbled leaving the stalls in a seven furlong handicap.

For more racing news, visit www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/sport

ALAN Stanley landed the top fish of the day at the HCA Winter League boat fishing match last Sunday.

It was a good day with very little wind and not too cold, although the anglers were mainly catching whiting which meant you had to work hard for cod.

Seventeen anglers fished the match, and Stanley – on board his own boat, the Georgie Dee – caught a cod that weighed 7.15lb gutted. Tony Hogg, right, got the next two biggest fish, of 6.15lb and 6.3lb.

Paul Sekka once again showed what a quality angler he is by catching the biggest bag of the day, at 34lb.

Stanley was in close pursuit with 32.9lb. Richard Stanley was third with 29.11lb. Next in was Hogg with 29.10lb, so it was a very close match.

On to the shore scene, and things did slow down as expected on the Yorkshire coast.

However, there is still cod being caught and I would expect that they may show up again in numbers on the lower tides. It depends on where the food is for the cod.

They will be following shoals of smaller fish such as sprats, which usually come into the river at this time of year.

Humber SAC fished a match on Courtaulds Straight. It was a very good turn out, but someone had forgot to tell the fish that there was a match on.

It was a struggle for most of the competitors. Geoff Hill managed to find nine fish for 3.15lb, and Jon Gore was next in with seven fish for 3.5lb. The ever-present Adie Cooper was third – he had eight fish for 2.7lb.

The biggest round fish of the night was a 38cm whiting caught by Simon Drayton.

The next match in on Sunday at Humberston Creek fishing 11am-3pm. Meet at the car-park from 9.45am.

The club were holding their AGM on Thursday night, so it will be interesting to see what new developments have taken place and if a successor to the chairman has been found.

Latest SPAC match report as follows:

Stafford's Dave Shorthouse was runaway winner of the first Skegness Pier Angling Club (SPAC) match of 2013, held in ideal conditions at Chapel Point.

Dave beached seven whiting and 11 dabs for an excellent bag weight of 8lb 6¾oz, adding the C Smith Cup to his growing hoard of silverware.

Some way behind in second place was Wrangle's Alan Steadman, with a nine-fish mixed bag for 5lb 3oz.

Rapidly improving Friskney match angler Rob Ward came in third with ten fish weighing 4lb 5oz, and also won the heaviest flatfish prize for his second match on the trot, with a specimen 15oz dab.

Match organiser Mark Holmes took the heaviest round fish award with a 1lb 3oz whiting.

The SPAC AGM will be held on Saturday, February 23, commencing at 7pm in the New Park Club, Scarborough Avenue, Skegness.

All current and prospective members are invited to attend. The annual trophy presentation and social event will take place immediately after the AGM, including a grand raffle and buffet.

The next SPAC match will be held on Saturday, January 26, from 3pm-7pm at Trunch Lane, with club members fishing for the Coleman Cup. There is also an open section, which non-members are welcome to participate in.

For further information please contact SPAC Secretary Chas Tibble on 07984 967988 or chastibble@hotmail.com

A PARALYMPIC gold medallist is to open a new care home in Barton.

Golden girl Jessica-Jane Applegate, pictured, will open the previously empty building, which will create 12 jobs and provide care for six residents with autism.

Swimmer Jessica-Jane, who has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, won a gold medal at the 2012 Paralympics and set a new games record in the 200m freestyle S14 final.

The 16-year-old, from Norfolk, was appointed MBE in the New Year Honours List for her services to swimming.

Named in her honour, Applegate House, which at 50 Holydyke, will open on February 13 and will provide care for adults with autistic spectrum conditions.

It will provide a transition stage for people to move into supported living accommodation and will care for people aged 18 and over.

The property is believed to have been empty for two years and was previously used as offices for Barton's Children Centre and an after-school club.

Applegate House is operated by the Options Group, which owns several care homes in the Midlands. The group is currently recruiting for 12 full-time positions, although bosses say this may increase depending on the specific support needs of future residents.

Planning permission was obtained in August.

Russell Preece, head of adult services at Options Group, said: "Building works are now completed and the service fit out is under way. We hope to have Care Quality Commission registration by the end of the month and to be open in February."

The property includes an old air-raid shelter which will remain.

Discussions are under way about restoring the shelter, which could then be opened up to the local community.

Some of the current residents at The Scunthorpe-based Adolescent to Adult Life Preparation Service (AALPS) North, owned by the Options Group, may well benefit from the changes, bosses say.

Mr Preece said: "The current residents and staff at AALPS North chose to name Applegate House after Jessica-Jane as they were truly inspired by her achievements at the London 2012 Paralympics.

"Having a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome means that she is a true inspiration, not just to all those on the autistic spectrum, but to everyone."

EIGHTY-four students have been presented with Duke Of Edinburgh Awards in a special ceremony.

The Caistor Grammar School pupils have all achieved silver and bronze awards in the past year.

Gold awards have already been presented to David Sadler, Jack Wolseley and Chris Hoare.

Guest of honour was former athlete and Olympic silver medallistPhil Brown, who presented the students with their awards in his role as director for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in Central England.

He told the students: "Young people have so much potential and the award scheme provides a framework to bring the best out of them.

"It helps develop many human qualities."

He urged the students to use the skills obtained to work hard.

"Life is all about achieving goals such as this," he added.

Devon Hill, from North Kelsey, who received a silver award, said: "I really enjoyed the expedition work we did as a group in the Wolds and in the Peak District. We bonded well together."

Silver winner James Travis said: "Duke of Edinburgh brought us all together and helped us develop and learn new activities."

Both these students will now be progressing to gold award.

A GRIMSBY pre-school that is to expand in the spring has been rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Lisle Marsden Childcare Ltd was rated by the education watchdog just weeks after schools were warned that "good" was the minimum expected of them.

The report found children make "excellent progress", relationships with parents are "extremely strong" and children are "secure, confident and independent".

Johanna Ogren-Smith, manager of the nursery for children aged two to five, said the achievement was down to the dedicated staff and "lovely" parents and children.

She said: "It makes it more special that we were inspected after Ofsted changed the way it inspects schools and how they are ranked, which supposedly makes it more difficult to achieve an outstanding mark. I put it all down to the hard work of the staff, they work extremely hard. It is also down to the children and the parents who make our work so enjoyable."

It signals the start of an exciting time for the nursery, which is going to be made larger to provide a separate place for two-year-olds, resulting in extra spaces for all age groups.

Next week work will also start on a communal space to provide activities and support for parents of the pre-school and primary school children.

Mrs Ogren-Smith said: "We work all the time to improve and progress, we keep the things we do well and make changes where we can improve.

"We are forward thinking and everything we do is for the good of the children.

"It is an exciting time for the nursery and can only be onwards and upwards from here."

Staff work to provide a nurturing environment for the children meaning they settle in well during their first few weeks at the pre-school.

Four-year-old Ruby Burgess said: "I like coming here a lot and I love Mrs Toop. I like making trees with her."

Classmate Mathilda Cuthbert, 4, said: "I like playing in the home corner the most. Pre-school is fun."

COUNCIL bosses say their plans for a new locally administered benefits scheme shows the authority cares about those in financial hardship.

From April, crisis loans and community care grants will be issued by local authorities rather than central government.

Funding to support Local Welfare Provision (LWP) is being provided by the Government, but the money will not be ring-fenced and could be used on other council services.

However, under plans approved by the Cabinet, North East Lincolnshire Council has decided to ring-fence the money to support residents in financial hardship.

It has also decided to award crisis loans as non-repayable grants, rather than as loans, as they currently are.

NELC will receive just under £700,000 in each of the next two years to fund the scheme, which, taking into account inflation, represents a cut in expenditure of about 14 per cent for the scheme locally.

Councillor Darren Billard, portfolio holder for finance, governance and support services, said: "This funding is not ring-fenced. The council has decided to support its most vulnerable residents even though it is not legally obliged to do so."

Council deputy leader Mick Burnett accused the government of being a "cheapskate" over its funding for the service.

"At some point the Government is going to have to make its mind up about what it wants local government to do," he said.

"Is it about providing local services or not?

"This is another system where the Government is being a cheapskate and putting the financial onus on this council."

Councillor Peter Wheatley said: "I believe that the pressure on this type of funding is going to get greater and greater as the years go by."

He added there was "very little room for manoeuvre" because the council had only been told its funding allocation for the next two years."

Council leader Chris Shaw said: "Once again we have a scheme that is hard for central government to deliver, so they are handing it over to local government.

"They are ditching the difficult things and giving them to local government to do at the same time as taking money off us."

A CELEBRITY chef officially opened a new social canteen area at a Caistor school – but there will be no "chewing the fat".

Star of radio and TV Rachel Green cut the ribbon at Caistor Yarborough Academy's new hi-tech canteen, named The Hub by the pupils, who were consulted on everything from the name to the furniture.

The school invested £30,000 into the space-age restaurant, which has citrus trees dotted around, fingerprint payment stations and records what kids eat, so that parents can keep track of their diet. Rachel Green said: "This is a great space, which is important because the social side of school is every bit as important as the academic side in equipping young people for the future.

"I have worked with many other schools in the country and very few are lucky enough to have a place like this."

The area is four times the size of the old canteen, which used to be partitioned off, with one half of the building used as a youth club as it was partially owned by Lincolnshire County Council.

It is now fully owned by the academy, which still allows it to be used by the youth group once a week.

Lincolnshire-based company Kingswood Catering has also taken over the menu, providing what they hope is a healthier selection of food before school, at break times and at lunch.

Principal Jeremy Newham said: "No matter what you do, kids will always come to school without having breakfast, so the earlier eating times are proving really popular and it means kids aren't going to lessons hungry so much.

"There are also more service points to decrease queues and the prices are reasonable – there aren't many places you can get a full roast dinner for less than £3.

"I'm very proud of the pupils and the initiative they have shown when they were consulted about the area and hope they enjoy it."

But what do the students think of The Hub?

School Council member Briana Slack, 15, said: "The process has been really enjoyable and the area is really beneficial to the students.

"Being a part of it makes us feel responsible and helps us on our journey to becoming adults."

Another school council member, Cherstine Scholtz, 16, said: "The area looks much better, it's quicker getting served and knowing that we were part of it makes it all the more special."

Natalia Szymanska, 12, was serving mocktails at the opening party.

"Getting together for this official opening was a really good idea and I think we should do this again in the future," she said.

A DECISION on controversial plans to cut up to seven speed limits across North East Lincolnshire will be made next month.

The proposed changes include reducing the speed limit on the A180, between Pyewipe and Westgate from 70mph to 50mph, and cutting the limit on the A18 Barton Street from 60mph to 50mph.

Residential streets within the East Marsh and Sidney Sussex wards would be made 20mph.

Other proposals including extending the 30mph limit in Healing, making the route between Great Coates and Healing 40mph, and limiting Aylesby village to 30mph.

However, public concerns over North East Lincolnshire Council's plans – which it claims will "cut collisions and improve traffic flow" – led to a special select committee being formed to discuss the issue.

A series of meetings will be held to allow the committee to hear from interested parties – ranging from members of the public and the Institute of Advanced Motorists to emergency services and road safety charities.

Members of the committee will also be taken on visits to all the areas earmarked for speed cuts, before a final discussion and decision-making meeting on Thursday, February 21.

At the committee's first meeting council officers and police revealed the latest accident statistics for each road and the factors believed to have contributed to each – which are printed in the panels below.

PC Barry Gardner, casualty reduction officer for North East Lincolnshire, added: "Many factors contribute to road traffic collisions, however, speeding means less time to identify and react to what is happening.

"Humberside Police endorses the implementation of all of the proposed reductions in speed limits."

PC Gardner said the A180 is one of the only urban dual carriageways in the country that still has a 70mph limit.

He added: "Reducing the speed limit to 50mph would still allow the free-flow of traffic but would cut the potential for collisions by reducing harsh acceleration and braking on the approach to roundabouts."

He said that introducing a 20mph limit of all residential streets in East Marsh and Sidney Sussex wards would reduce the "number and seriousness of collisions."

However, panel member, Councillor Peter Jackson, disputed whether cutting speed limits would directly reduce casualties.

He said: "I challenge the agenda that has been set by various agencies over the last couple of years that reducing speed will reduce casualties.

"It takes away the responsibility from drivers and road users by putting them into a straight jacket."

Chairman, Councillor Karl Wilson, said: "In my opinion, it seems that so far there is overwhelming evidence for reducing the speed limit of the A18 and introducing the two 20mph zones, but the details for the A180 seem sketchy.

"It doesn't seem to make sense to have such a major road as 50mph."

Keep reading your Grimsby Telegraph for updates.

LIGHTS, camera, action!

Film actors and actresses are reported to be heading to Grimsby as part of an £870,000 production.

And you have the chance to show your acting skills as directors are casting for 100 extras and support actors to be part of a film called Iris, which will be set entirely in Grimsby and Lincolnshire.

The film is about a young couple going through fertility treatment, and is casting extras on Thursday, January 31 and Friday, February 1, in the function room of The Bank pub, in Bethlehem Street, Grimsby.

Director Matt Walker, of Angel Motion Pictures, is from Grimsby and he said they are in talks with Universal Studios to distribute the film.

He said: "Actors such as Callum Blue, from The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and Smallville, and Sarah Smart, who has featured in Doctor Who and Sarah Manners, from Casualty and The Bill, will be auditioning for the lead roles.

"I plan to shoot entirely around Grimsby and Lincolnshire – it's only a small budget production of £870,000 – so we are doing a lot of product placement deals for props.

"These include one of Paul Weeks' venues, The Bank, for pub scenes and we plan to do the same for estate agents and shops."

Matt added that because he is from Grimsby he always said his first directed film will be shot locally.

Auditions are open from noon to 5pm on the Thursday and from noon to 7pm on the Friday.

A BENEFIT cheat fiddled more than £5,800 in wrongful payments by keeping quiet that he was doing regular spells of work, a court heard.

He had a previous similar conviction, but failed to learn his lesson from his earlier brush with the law, Grimsby Magistrates' Court was told.

Jean Thompson, 41, admitted three offences of failing to notify a change in his circumstances affecting his entitlement to benefit, on dates between November 2009 and May 18 last year.

Eve Richardson-Smith, prosecuting for North East Lincolnshire Council, said the fraud happened over a "significant" period of time, spanning more than two-and-a-half years.

Thompson previously lived in Eleanor Street, Grimsby, and worked periodically for Mourik Technicians Ltd, formerly known as Request Technicians Ltd, but also claimed benefits.

He wrongly received £2,415.99 in income support, £2,441.36 housing benefit, £483 in Jobseeker's Allowance and £471.25 in council tax benefit – a total of £5,811.60.

He had a previous conviction from October 2010 for similar matters, the court heard.

"No repayments have been made as yet," said Mrs Richardson-Smith.

No compensation was being requested, however.

"We will recoup the money ourselves," she added.

Lauren Fisher, mitigating, said the claim for benefit was initially legitimate, but Thompson hit problems because his work through an agency as an industrial cleaner was ad hoc and could be for only a few days or a few weeks at a time.

Because of the long delay in receiving benefit after doing limited spells of work, he was reluctant to keep signing off and then on again as a claimant.

By the time his benefit was in place, he had sometimes received another contract and had to sign off again.

"He knew his actions were wrong, given the fact that he has a previous conviction for the same offence," said Miss Fisher.

Thompson, now of Rawlinson Avenue, Caistor, had now signed off completely because of the delays in processing benefit claims and because he did not want to get in to any further trouble with the courts.

He was not currently working.

He had previously served in the Armed Forces for about six years, including in Northern Ireland and Bosnia, and was thought to be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, said Miss Fisher.

His previous convictions revealed that he had used a string of aliases in the past.

Thompson was given a three-month suspended prison sentence and 100 hours' unpaid work.

A FORMER care worker has spoken of his relief after being cleared of inciting a mental health patient in his care to perform an indecent act on another patient.

Robert Hepburn, 33, of Rosemary Avenue, Grimsby, said he was looking forward to "finally getting a full night's sleep" following the verdict at Grimsby Crown Court.

Prosecuting, Simon Waley, said it was claimed that a patient at Bradley Woodlands Independent Hospital – a low security mental health unit – had been "dared" to carry out the act by Mr Hepburn, then a senior support worker at the facility.

However, it took the jury of nine men and three women less than 40 minutes to clear Mr Hepburn of encouraging the patient in the incident, which is said to have taken place on March 16, 2011.

The court heard the matter had come to the attention of the police after Mark Perry, a support worker at the hospital, told nursing staff Mr Hepburn had bragged about the incident to him during a cigarette break.

Mr Perry claimed Mr Hepburn had said the patients – who cannot be named for legal reasons – were "on heat" and that he and a fellow worker, Matthew Howdon, who was never charged, had dared one to carry out the act, believing it to be funny.

He said he had reported the incident four days later, after speaking to the alleged victim, who he said told him to "mind his own business" but was "clearly hiding something" by his body language.

However, Andrew Bailey, defending, told the court Mr Perry had made up the allegations, claiming he had a grudge against his client, having taken the side of Mr Hepburn's former wife Rebecca in what had become a bitter divorce. The alleged victim of the incident did not claim to have heard or seen Mr Hepburn urging the other patient to carry out the act. He also said while he believed Mr Hepburn had been near his bedroom door when the act had been carried out, he could not be sure of this.

Both Mr Hepburn and his family, who were in the public gallery throughout the four-day trial, were visibly relieved at the outcome and thanked the jury for their decision.

A spokesperson for Bradley Woodlands Independent Hospital said: "The safeguarding of patients is our highest priority and we took the allegations extremely seriously from the outset by informing the relevant authorities about the incident and then co-operating fully with their investigations.

"We will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy with regard to any staff behaviour that may be deemed inappropriate in the support we provide to vulnerable adults."