GRIMSBY Telegraph readers have been thanked for helping to reunite treasured stolen motorcycles with their owner and identifying a fly-tipper dumping toxic waste.
Details of crimes committed in our communities are published in the newspaper regularly asking those with information to contact the police with information.
One of the latest came from Stephen Sharp, pictured left, who was left heartbroken at the theft of two classic motorcycles and three Raleigh Chopper bikes.
As reported, the bikes were taken after a gang ripped roof sheets to gain access to his workshop in the Nunsthorpe Enterprise Centre.
However, after details of the theft were published in the Grimsby Telegraph, readers helped to trace the motorbikes, left.
And fly-tipper Barry Towill, who illegally dumped the potentially lethal material – putting the health of the public at serious risk – was trapped and brought to court after an appeal in the Grimsby Telegraph. Towill, 59, of Cromwell Road, Grimsby was left with a £1,075 court bill after information from readers helped bring him to justice.
The editor of the Grimsby Telegraph, Michelle Lalor said the cases highlighted the important role local newspapers played in their communities.
She said: "It just goes to show that local newspapers – and not just the Telegraph, but across the country – are vital communication tools.
"Every community needs a bond, something to provide the glue to stick it together.
"Daily local newspapers can do this – this is their role and it is great that ours, here in Grimsby, continues to be so well supported by readers."
Stephen, who owns S.A.S in Nunsthorpe said: "It is all thanks to the Grimsby Telegraph putting the story in the paper and someone reading it and getting in touch.
"Thank you to the Telegraph readers and those who go on your Facebook page. They were found through you.
"A woman in Lincoln had seen it on Facebook and contacted her daughters who live on Nunsthorpe. They knew where the motorbikes were and she got her boyfriend to fetch them and bring them to me. It is absolutely brilliant."
He spent the weekend cleaning up his Kawasaki KH250 and the red Gilera touring motorcycle.
The Raleigh Chopper bikes had been returned to their owner earlier.
Readers also responded by identifying Towill.
At court he admitted dumping controlled waste without an environmental permit on February 21.
He was fined £250 by Grimsby magistrates and was ordered to pay £800 costs and a Government-imposed £25 victims' surcharge.
The prosecution was brought by North East Lincolnshire Council.
Towill was caught red-handed dumping tonnes of potentially dangerous asbestos in and around a disused garage in Colin Avenue, Grimsby, where there had been previous fly-tipping incidents.
A van was seized and leads provided by readers of the Grimsby Telegraph were followed by up council investigators.
After the hearing, Councillor David Watson, cabinet member for environment, said: "We are pleased with the result of this case and acknowledge that Mr Towill pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
"This sends a clear message to all traders that community safety officers, along with their service partners, will investigate all acts of fly-tipping and illegal storage of any waste substance and won't hesitate in taking action against the perpetrators of these thoughtless, dangerous acts.
"I would also like to thank the Grimsby Telegraph for running the public appeal to establish the identity of the fly-tipper in this case.
"Without this, it is likely that the public purse would have had to fund the disposal and clean-up operation.
"I would urge all businesses in this line of work to seek guidance from an appropriate body to ensure they are complying fully with current legislation and do not commit a costly and criminal offence."
