Man jailed for helping plan a murder in Boston
A man who helped to plan the killing of a Boston resident before disposing of his body into a waterway has been jailed for 13 years and 11 months.
Kamil Zydek had fled the UK once a murder investigation was launched in January 2020. It followed the discovery of a body in the pumping station, Chainbridge Road, which prompted a huge response involving numerous forensic teams, specialists and detectives.
It was one of the largest murder investigations in Lincolnshire for several years, spanning 16 months.
The victim, 41-year-old Marcin Stolarek, is believed to have been assaulted and tied up at a house in Boston before being thrown in the waterway, in November 2019.
Two men had already been convicted for murder, following earlier court hearings in 2021. The motive for the killings has never been fully established.
Zydek never disputed that he was with Ferenc and Kaminski on the night of the murder, but denied his involvement in the killing.
He was stopped by police in the Netherlands in March last year before being extradited. He was then arrested in the UK on suspicion of murder and perverting the course of justice, in May. He had originally denied both charges.
Zydek, 34, of no fixed address, was originally charged with murder but later accepted a guilty plea to manslaughter. He had been found guilty by a unanimous jury in trial last year of perverting the course of justice – after pleading not guilty.
Detective Superintendent Karl Whiffen led the investigation. He said: “Two men had already been held accountable for the murder of Marcin Stolarek, but we knew that there was an outstanding suspect: Kamil Zydek.
“While intelligence told us that he had fled to Europe, we never gave up the search to find him, and more than two years after Marcin’s tragic death, Zydek was apprehended by our Dutch colleagues.
“He was involved the planning, organising, and disposal of the body. He also remained in contact with Ferenc who had previously been jailed for murder.
“He will now spend considerable time in prison.
“This has been an incredibly complex and difficult case to investigate from the start. Our goal throughout was to bring Marcin’s killers to justice and to provide answers for his family.”
In a victim impact statement read at court during the first trial, Marcin’s father said: “The murder of my son caused my heart to break in to a thousand pieces, which will never mend again.”
Another victim impact statement, from Marcin’s mother, read: “I do not know how to put into words my heart-breaking pain…It was he who was supposed to bury me, not I him, although I actually died with him.”
Construction starts on new Gainsborough business park
Work has commenced on a new business park in Gainsborough, which will bring around 50 new jobs to the area.
The new business park, named Wharton Place, is being developed by established Lincoln-based developer and contractor, Stirlin.
Once complete, Wharton Place will see the delivery of over 18,500 sq ft of new employment space across 1.3 acres, with a mix of light industrial units in sizes ranging from 1,270 sq ft – 2,500 sq ft, for a variety of business uses.
Wharton Place is Stirlin’s third commercial development in the area, following the success of their Stirlin Place and Willoughton Place.
The site is located on Foxby Lane, adjacent Lincoln County Council’s Business Centre: Mercury House, with excellent access to major road networks.
All ten units on the development will benefit from allocated parking, an electric sectional door, a personnel door and DDA compliant toilet facility, as well as an eaves height of 5 metres to accommodate a mezzanine floor upon request.
Howard Griffith, Stirlin’s Head of Construction, says: “We are delighted to commence works on Wharton Place. We’re seeing a continued demand for modern, cost-effective industrial space in the area, which has prompted the commencement.
“Our investment in the area is a testament to the town’s growing appeal as a thriving place to live, work and invest in. We are pleased to be able to help facilitate the growing local business base and bring new employment space to the area.”
Jamie Thorpe, Chartered Surveyor for Pygott & Crone, says: “It’s very positive to see the development of Wharton Place being brought forward by Stirlin, highlighting the continued confidence in this sector. The Stirlin team have already delivered two very successful schemes in this location and it’s clear that Gainsborough has been needing new modern business space to accommodate demand in the region.”
‘Late at the Lawn’ – a delectable new dining experience
Lincolnshire Today were keen to visit the new venture by Stokes Tea & Coffee, ‘Late at the Lawn‘, last week, which sees its well-known Lincoln venue on Union Road transform from a day time café eatery to an atmospheric restaurant at night.
The relaxed and cosy dining experience offered delectable drinks and small plates, while staff were friendly and enthusiastic, clearly knowledgeable and willing to offer advice on both the food and drink options, from wine to cocktails.
Alongside a wonderful and warm ambience, the food was fabulous and all made in house with local suppliers, making for an even more memorable evening.
Lincolnshire Today loved its visit, savouring every moment, and can’t wait to return.
‘Late at the Lawn‘ is open on Fridays and Saturdays 18:00 – Late.New energy park proposed for Lincolnshire
A new renewable energy park, which could provide power to more than 190,000 homes is being planned for North Kesteven.
The proposed Beacon Fen Energy Park will be made up of solar and energy storage and is proposed for land east of Sleaford, between the villages of Heckington and Helpringham.
Renewable Energy Company Low Carbon said, if given permission, Beacon Fen Energy Park would generate an estimated 600MW of electricity a year while also avoiding 120,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions annually.
James Hartley-Bond, director at Low Carbon, said: “We are looking forward to speaking directly with local communities about our plans to hear their views first-hand.
“We are currently planning an early engagement consultation so we can ensure residents’ feedback links into the proposals, before holding a statutory consultation which is planned for later this year.
“The UK Government has made clear its plans for the country to reach Net Zero by 2050. Its aim is to increase the nation’s solar capacity fivefold by 2035. If given permission, Beacon Fen Energy Park will be a significant step forward towards reaching this vital goal and securing sustainable energy for the country.”
The project includes building the infrastructure needed to export the electricity the energy park would generate onto the national grid. It is planned this would be via an existing connection point at nearby Bicker Fen.
Mr Hartley-Bond said: “For more than a decade, Low Carbon has been at the centre of the UK’s journey to Net Zero. Through working with local communities, we deliver renewables projects which bring about real change to ensure a cleaner and greener energy industry for all.
“The amount of electricity Beacon Fen Energy Park could generate exceeds 50MW and is therefore classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). This requires us to submit an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate.
“We anticipate the development process for the project through to DCO submission and then examination will take between two and three years. Subject to achieving consent, construction would start no earlier than 2026.”
He added: “We look forward to speaking to residents within the coming weeks and introducing them to our proposals.”
New Chair for Lincolnshire LEP
University of Lincoln Vice Chancellor Neal Juster has been named as the new Chair of the Board of Governors of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
He said: “I am honoured to have been asked to take on the role of Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP following from the two, very inspirational, previous Chairs. They, together with Ruth Carver as CEO and the wider team, have given the Board a clear strategy to help the county achieve economic growth.
“I would like to thank Pat Doody for his last three years as chair and eight years as a member of the Board. It is an incredibly exciting time for Lincolnshire as we discuss devolution, attract and create new businesses, create jobs and develop critical infrastructure. This cannot be done by any one institution and I look forward to working with partners across the region to achieve collective success.”
LEP Chief Executive Ruth Carver said: “Bringing in Neal Juster to lead our Board of capable Directors is a tremendous opportunity for the LEP. Following in the footsteps of Ursula Lidbetter and Pat Doody will be tough, but we know that Neal has a wealth of experience, knowledge and business acumen as well as the high profile and excellent far-reaching contacts that this role requires.
“His deep knowledge of the engineering sector will be an advantage as we promote and strengthen the manufacturing and engineering heritage of Greater Lincolnshire. Never has the business voice been more important in driving forward the economy, and Neal and the Board will bring fresh ideas to help us navigate the period of change that we’re facing.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Neal and getting started on the task in hand, which is to represent the business voice for our area at a regional and national level, build on our four game-changing sector developments across energy, food, ports and defence, and lead projects and programmes which are all aimed at driving economic growth.”
Joining Professor Juster on the LEP Board will be four new non-executive directors drawn from the private sector and third sectors:
- Liam Scully, CEO of Lincoln City FC
- Shaun Povey, Head of Strategic Planning & Projects at Siemens Energy
- Nikki Cooke, CEO of LIVES
- Mark Webb, CEO of Grimsby-based business support group E-Factor
Energy industry employer welcomes creation of sustainable energy engineering hub
Grimsby Institute has launched its Elite Centre, a sustainable energy engineering hub developed in collaboration with the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and supported by the Midlands Engine.
The facility will bring a cutting-edge curriculum specialising in low-carbon learning to the region, including 12 brand new training courses, offering students the opportunity to train as engineers.
The project benefited from £1.4m of funding from the LEP which has helped to transform the existing facility into a dedicated low-carbon, engineering, and ports and logistics space. The state-of-the-art, green-focused hub will offer training on automation, electric vehicle technology and carbon reduction.
Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “We supported the development of the Elite Centre with £1.4m of LEP funding, and it’s a great pleasure to see the centre finished and ready to grow the next generation of green engineers and professionals.”
Former Grimsby Institute Engineering student Lee Sutton, now CEO of myenergi, cut the ribbon to open the centre. He said: “I was an engineering student at the Grimsby Institute, and coming back today to officially open the Elite Centre is fantastic. It is so important to train people with the skills we need for this electrical revolution.
“We are going to see many more electric vehicles on the road in the future, and we are now seeing three more times solar-powered systems than we saw a year ago. There’s rapid growth in this sector and we need so many more trained people in this industry.
“As a big employer in the region myenergi is proud to be able to offer quality jobs in the sector. It’s great to see facilities like this opening today and students training for a career in renewable energy.”
New state pension age increases to 67, with plans to increase it further
The Government has confirmed the State Pension age will rise to 67 by the end of 2028 for anyone born after April 1960.
The Pensions Act 2014 forces the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to regularly review State Pension age – and after this one there’s to be a further review within two years of the next Parliament to reconsider the rise to age 68.
This gives the Government appropriate time to take into account evidence which is not yet available on the long-term impact of recent challenges, including the Covid pandemic and global inflationary pressures. These events bring a level of uncertainty in relation to the current data on life expectancy, labour markets and the public finances.
This will ensure that the Government is able to consider the latest information to inform any future decision on the State Pension age. This will include life expectancy and population projections updated with 2021 Census data and the latest demographic trends, the economic position and the impact on the labour market of the recently announced package of measures to tackle inactivity.
Given the wide-ranging impacts of changing the State Pension age, it is important to take the time to get any changes right.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride said: “It’s essential the State Pension remains sustainable and fair across the generations. Our balanced approach will help achieve this and ensure we continue to provide security and dignity in retirement for millions of people across the country.
“The Government remains committed to the principle of providing 10 years notice of changes to State Pension age, enabling people to plan effectively for retirement. All options for the rise to the State Pension age from 67 to 68 that meet the 10 years’ notice period will be in scope at the next review.”
Furore continues over asylum plans for Scampton as £300 million investment put in jeopardy
West Lindsey District Council has put measures in place to take necessary legal action against the Home Office as it remains committed to protecting, preserving and enhancing RAF Scampton, for the long-term sustainable benefit of its communities.
Following today’s announcement from the Home Office, Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council, said:“We are extremely disappointed with today’s announcement, but we have been preparing for all eventualities. We are in constant dialogue with the Home Office to seek to demonstrate to them that RAF Scampton would not be an appropriate site for asylum accommodation. Any move to use the site for asylum seekers would likely curtail the nationally significant plans, which the Council has been working on since 2018. Simultaneously we are considering all legal options, including urgent judicial review proceedings.”
The move by the Council, comes after weeks of speculation and ‘not knowing’ which way the Home Office will go on this matter, putting its ground-breaking deal with Scampton Holdings Ltd for a £300 million investment, in jeopardy after years of planning.
Sally added:“The Council is working with public service authorities across Lincolnshire and has highlighted in writing to the Home Office what it considers to be a significant number of barriers for mobilising the site for asylum use. The Home Office has committed to chairing a Lincolnshire multi-agency forum prior to any work starting on site.
The Council has a responsibility to get the best deal for its residents and will continue to do everything to support the community and that also means working with the Home Office and partners in Lincolnshire to fully understand and support those who live and work in and around Scampton.”
Eviction and house closures aim to improve neighbourhood in Grantham
A series of anti-social incidents has resulted in a tenant facing eviction from one council property, a second having their tenancy impacted by a partial closure order and the third property having a full closure order.
The court ruling was made following partnership work between South Kesteven District Council’s Housing Services and the police regarding tenancies at Eastwell Place, Grantham.
A dossier of “significant issues”, video footage and police statements were presented to Lincoln magistrates recently. Evidence included records of antisocial behaviour, CCTV footage, street violence, neighbour complaints and witness statements from council staff.
The eviction was secured at an earlier hearing when the Council was granted possession of the flat.
A spokesperson for the Council said: “This robust and successful partnership action with the police means that our tenants and their neighbours are once again able to live their lives without the regular disruption caused by these tenants and their visitors.
“We take instances of anti-social behaviour very seriously and as a responsible landlord have a duty to all our tenants to deal with that.
“It is very important for the other residents of Eastwell Place to know they are supported by their landlord and that incidents of this nature are taken very seriously.
“The situation there was unacceptable and with support from the courts, we will take action where necessary to allow people to feel safe at home and in their neighbourhood.”
The Full Closure order means the tenant cannot live at the flat for six weeks ahead of potential eviction. The Partial Closure at the second flat prevents named visitors at the property, which if breached could ultimately result in the tenant’s eviction.
A copy of the closure order is displayed outside each property and anyone breaching the order could be arrested and, if found guilty, face a punishment of up to 51 weeks in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
Foster carers to receive an extra 12.4%
Foster carers across the county are to receive an additional 12.4% fostering allowance from 1st April.
On top of the increased weekly allowance paid to Lincolnshire’s foster carers, there will continue to be extra payments to help with additional expenses to support fostering households. This is in addition to the annual retention payment made to foster families.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services, said: “Foster carers provide a vital role in looking after some of the county’s most vulnerable children. This allows them to grow up in a nurturing family home within their local community, keeping them connected with everything that’s important to them. So, we’re delighted to be able to provide our foster carers with some extra financial support at this time of rising living costs.
“In Lincolnshire, there is a need for residents to come forward for all types of fostering, especially to look after teenagers, siblings, children with additional needs and children who need long-term homes. Being a foster carer can be a challenging role, but it’s also hugely rewarding. Foster carers often speak of a sense of pride in seeing the child develop and flourish.
“We always look to our own in-house foster carers first and are careful to ensure carers have the right knowledge, skills, and experience to meet children’s needs, which means that our foster carers are more likely to get regular placements within their preferred age range and skill set. That makes Lincolnshire County Council the best option for fostering in the county.”
Lincolnshire has a diverse fostering community. Each application to foster is considered on an individual basis and you can be a foster carer regardless of your marital status, sexuality, employment status, ethnicity, or religion. However, you do need to have a spare bedroom for a child or young person to use.
