Rapist handed life imprisonment
A man who raped one woman and assaulted another with intent to commit sexual offences has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes.
Following a week-long trial in September, Marian Feraru was found guilty of two counts of rape, theft, false imprisonment and committing an offence with the intent of committing a sexual offence at Grimsby Crown Court.
Twenty-five-year-old Feraru of Sheffield Street West, Scunthorpe, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, attempted rape, theft, false imprisonment and committing an offence with the intent of committing a sexual offence and offered no remorse for his actions.
He was charged with the offences following an incident in March this year.
Feraru made sexual advances towards a woman on the night of Sunday 27 March 2022 in Memorial Gardens, Scunthorpe. The woman declined and Feraru then attacked her, putting a cord around her neck and attempting to rape her.
Another woman who had earlier noticed him acting suspiciously in the area, witnessed the attack and confronted him, he then fled the scene.
An investigation was launched and detectives carried out extensive lines of enquiries, which led to Feraru’s arrest and being brought into police custody.
Whilst in police custody and following forensic examinations including his fingerprints and DNA, a positive match was returned from evidence obtained for the attempted rape and assault, but also for an incident that had been reported in October the previous year.
On the night of Sunday 31 October 2021, Feraru approached a woman on Teale Street, close to West Street, in Scunthorpe and made sexual advances towards her. The woman declined but Feraru followed her and subjected her to rape.
An investigation was launched following the report with exhaustive enquiries taking place and DNA collated as evidence and uploaded into the police system.
Feraru had not had any prior involvement with the police which resulted in no forensic match being returned at that time which could identify him. Although additional lines of enquiry were carried out, a suspect was not identified and no witnesses came forward, however the case remained on file pending any new evidence or information.
With a positive DNA match for both incidents, Feraru was charged with rape in connection to the October investigation, and attempted rape and attempted grievous bodily harm (GBH) in connection to the March investigation.
He will now serve a life sentence in prison, with more than 11 years before parole will be considered. Feraru will be placed on the sex offenders’ register and has also been handed a sexual harm prevention order which will prevent him from attending specific locations or contacting specific people.
Detective Inspector Sam Chester leading the investigation said: “Feraru is undoubtedly a sexual predator who put these women through untold distress and suffering for his own perverse needs and forced them to have to endure the harrowing ordeal of a trial and have to relive what he did to them by maintaining his not guilty plea.
“I am pleased he is now in prison for his unforgiveable actions, and I hope the outcome will offer his victims some comfort in knowing that, by having the courage and strength to come forward, they will now stop anybody else coming to harm at the hands of this man.
“To anyone who is or who may have been the victim of rape or sexual assault, I would urge you to please, come forward and report it to us.
“We will listen to you and we will believe you. We will do all we can to take action against those responsible and bring them to justice. By working closely with other organisations, charities and agencies, we can also ensure you are offered the help and support that is needed following these types of offences.
“I can offer my assurance that if you have been the victim of rape or sexual assault, you will be taken seriously and treated sensitively. You can report the crime directly to us through our 101 number, or 999 in an emergency, or you can speak to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555111.”
Judge Fanning paid tribute to the bravery of the victims for coming forward and thanked them on behalf of the public for doing so.
Investment zone bids put forward for Lincolnshire
Two expressions of interest have been put forward for sites in Lincolnshire to become new government Investment Zones.
One submission is for an Investment Zone which supports the UK Food Valley, covering Clay Lake, Spalding, and Holbeach Food Enterprise Zone.
The second submission is for an Investment Zone covering Spitalgate, Grantham, which builds on the location and scale of the area.
It is likely that the process will be highly competitive and that only a relatively small number of Investment Zones will be granted, with hundreds of applications expected.
Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place at the county council, said: “Investment zones are a great opportunity to benefit landowners, developers and businesses, with faster, more simple planning processes, a focus on infrastructure requirements, and tax and other local incentives.
“As always, we are ambitious for our area and have prepared bids where we can make improvements straight away and deliver real growth. The tight deadline the government set suggest they will choose submissions where councils are able to deliver outcomes very quickly.”
Councillor Nick Worth, South Holland District Council deputy leader and portfolio holder for people, places, economy, said: “I am really pleased that we have the opportunity to put forward this expression of interest for a new Investment Zone within South Holland, which would support development and growth in the district and help us to attract and create more new and innovative businesses.
“There are already so many examples of forward-thinking and ambitious work being carried out in the local area, with the Holbeach Food Enterprise Zone just one example of the progressive steps we are taking.
“Being chosen as one of the first Investment Zones for the country would provide another great and welcome boost on this journey.”
Jon Hinde, head of economic development at South Kesteven District Council, said: “A successful bid would provide the opportunity for Spitalgate Level to deliver significant housing growth, inward investment opportunities and job creation for the local and wider area.
“This would support South Kesteven District Council’s key ambition to deliver ongoing and sustainable growth of the economy, something fundamental to the success of the district, its businesses and residents.
“The Spitalgate Level Investment Zone would be a key initiative for bringing that growth forward and establishing Grantham, with its existing manufacturing and logistics sectors, as a high value centre connected by the A51, the A1 and benefiting from its new relief road and rail links.”
4 years and 10 months in jail for man found with £30k cash, £22k of heroin, and hundreds of pounds worth of cocaine
A man found with almost £30k cash, £22k of heroin, and hundreds of pounds worth of cocaine has been jailed for four years and ten months.
Specialist officers carried out a warrant at Paul Meenaghan’s rental address in Elder Street, Lincoln where they uncovered tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs including the heroin and £400 of cocaine, as well as £29,620 in cash.
The drugs were uncovered with the help of Police Dog (PD) Toby, brought in specially to sniff out illegal substances. Officers searching the property also located a taser, and numerous other offensive weapons.
Meenaghan, 43, was in the property when officers entered on 17 May, and was arrested at the scene before being charged with multiple offences.
His property was targeted thanks to community intelligence and the work of a number of teams across the Force.
Sergeant Dan Gstrein from Lincolnshire Police said: “This investigation shows the value of intelligence-led policing and collaborative working between different departments. Due to the hard work of officers and staff from across the Force, a significant quantity of drugs have been taken off the streets of Lincoln and almost £30,000 in cash has been recovered. The sentence reflects this serious offending and puts a dangerous individual in prison for a significant period.”
Meenaghan was sentenced to four years and ten months for possession with intent to supply of Class A heroin. He also received further sentences to run concurrently: 12 months for possession of criminal property, another four months for possession of prohibited weapon, and a two month sentence for possession of batons. He had also pleaded guilty to possession of Class A cocaine, but received no separate penalty for this.
He was sentenced at a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on 5 October after pleading guilty at earlier hearings. He has been on remand since being charged and will now begin his prison sentence. Paul Meenaghan is sentenced to four years and 10 months for various offences.
Lincolnshire car wash owners handed 10-year slavery order
The owners of a Lincolnshire hand car wash have had tough restrictions imposed on them by court for the next decade.
Boston Magistrates’ Court approved the application from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) for a Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order (STRO) against Said Ziane, 53, and Sarhad Salari, 33, at a hearing on Monday October 10.
The pair were suspected of employing workers with no right to work in the UK at the Spotless Car Wash on Bridge Road, Long Sutton.
Information obtained by the GLAA and partners also indicated that some of the workers at the hand car wash were being paid significantly less than the National Minimum Wage.
Ziane, of Little London, Long Sutton, and Salari, of Figtree Walk, Peterborough, must comply with the following restrictions for the next 10 years.
Both must not arrange or assist in helping anyone find employment who has no right to work in the UK.
They are also prevented from instructing or forcing anyone else to arrange or assist in arranging employment for workers with no right to work in the UK.
Ziane and Salari must not arrange either travel or transport to work for anyone other than immediate family members.
They are prohibited from arranging or coercing anyone to act on their behalf in relation to any of these restrictions.
The pair must pay their workers at least the National Minimum Wage and provide them with payslips.
The final restriction placed on Ziane and Salari means they must allow GLAA officers and anyone accompanying them access to their business premises at any reasonable time to check on the welfare of workers and compliance with the order.
Breaching the order is a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The application was supported by Lincolnshire Police, Lincolnshire Trading Standards and Immigration Enforcement.
GLAA Investigating Officer Dale Walker said: “This is the latest in a number of active Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders we have secured across Lincolnshire this year with our partners.
“STROs are civil orders that restrict the activities of individuals that present a real risk of committing a slavery or trafficking offence.
“We are committed to working with our partners to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation and these orders are just one of several valuable tools at our disposal that we use.
“With the order being granted for such a long period of time, we will be able to regularly monitor the activities of the two defendants to ensure that all the conditions are being fully complied with.”
Detective Superintendent Pete Grayson, Director of Intelligence at Lincolnshire Police, said: “In recent months we have worked closely with the GLAA and other partners in Lincolnshire to secure a number of Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders.
“This latest success is once again the culmination of a lot of hard work by all partners and we will continue to be pro-active in our efforts to tackle this criminality and protect the vulnerable.
“The orders are vital for the protection of vulnerable workers who are at risk of exploitation.
“They act as a deterrent to criminal behaviour by imposing strict restrictions on those we suspect are at risk of committing slavery or trafficking offences.
“We will robustly police this latest order as we have with others and will not hesitate to take further action if we identify any breaches.”
United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust launches new specialist cancer support service
Recovered cancer patients who may be having side effects from their life-saving treatment can access a brand new service launched in hospitals in Lincolnshire.
The Pelvic Late Effects service at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust will focus on patients who have had radiotherapy treatment to the pelvic area for bladder, prostate, colorectal or gynaecological cancers.
Cancer treatments have improved greatly in recent years and this means that more patients are surviving their cancer. As people go on to live longer, some people develop side effects from the treatments they have had. This may be physical side effects or more wellbeing related. This is where the new service can provide patients with additional support. The Late Effects service will support people to manage any issues they may have and will provide information and advice.
The service will also help to raise awareness of some lesser-recognised side effects with clinicians, so that there is better understanding of what long-term recovery may look like.
Jane Hall, a Therapeutic Radiographer with more than 30 years of experience in cancer care, is leading the new service. Jane said: “I have been treating patients with cancer for many years and this new service is an important addition to cancer care for the people of Lincolnshire. It is good news that more people survive cancer and many people do recover and return to their normal life but for some people it will be more adjusting to a ‘new normal’.
“Many patients I have talked to say they feel guilty about feeling tired or sharing health concerns that affect their quality of life after treatment, as they feel somehow they are being ungrateful. This service will endeavour to support people to live well after their treatment. Part of this service will be explaining the symptoms and investigating concerns, so that through sharing and understanding the right help and support can be given.
“I already have more than 10 patients booked in to the clinics, as well as having worked with colleagues throughout the Trust to raise the profile and awareness of the service.”
Professor Ciro Rinaldi, Deputy Medical Director at ULHT, said: “We are delighted to be launching this new service for our recovered patients in Lincolnshire. Cancer treatment is important and so is the recovery and return to being well. All of our teams work to make this possible for our patients and the creation of a new service such as the Late Effects service allows us to give pinpoint focus on specific areas to help improve the lives of our patients. We aim to deliver outstanding care to all of our patients and personalised services like this allow us to spend quality time with the people whose lives we have saved who still need support, advice and care.”
If you are a cancer patient, who finished your radiotherapy treatment for bladder, prostate, colorectal or gynaecological cancers in the last six months or longer you can find out more about the service here: https://www.ulh.nhs.uk/services/cancer-services/cancer-late-effects-service/
Saxilby Nature Project scoop Lincolnshire Environmental Award 2022
The Saxilby Nature Project have won the Lincolnshire Environmental Award 2022 sponsored by FCC Environment and Streets Chartered Accountants. The winning community group was announced at an event held at The Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, on Saturday 8 October, which bought together three inspiring community group finalists.
Lincolnshire Environmental Award 2022 winner – Saxilby Nature Project
The brainchild of Ross and Eleanor Smith, the Saxilby Nature Project has become a vital resource for the local community by bringing nature close to people’s homes. Launched in May 2020, during the height of the pandemic, the group now have three sites: Hardwick Scrub and Ingleby Clay on Sykes Lane just outside the village and a patch of woodland across the canal from Bridge Street in Saxilby, now known as Saxilby Community Wood. The local community have embraced the concept. In the last year, Saxilby Scout group have made and installed bird nest boxes in the Saxilby Community Wood, and made habitat piles. A tawny owl box was donated. Volunteers have planted hundreds of wildflower plugs on Hardwick Scrub and Ingleby Clay, and engaged in sessions of bramble management. Several new interpretation panels have been installed featuring artwork by local children of the species seen on the sites.
Saxilby Nature Project has created community nature sites within easy reach of where people live, and created a sense of ownership and belonging.
Lincolnshire Environmental Award 2022 runners-up
Sutton on Sea BeachCare Sutton on Sea BeachCare began in 2016 following a conversation between neighbours about the levels of litter on the beach. So far, the group have cleared more than 2,070 bags of litter but they have become much more than a litter picking group. They also record report to relevant authorities sightings of stranded mammals, invasive species and archaeological finds, and, have encouraged local businesses to go plastic free. With their support, Sutton on Sea and Mablethorpe have joined the network of Plastic Free Communities across the UK. Thurlby Churchyard Wildlife is returning to Thurlby Churchyard thanks to a committed group of local residents. After surveying the grassland areas, trial plots have been introduced to allow wildflowers to grow. Bee and insect-friendly flower beds have been developed, woodpiles created and bird boxes installed. This year, saw spotted flycatchers using one of the boxes and lady’s smock growing in the trial plots. The village community are encouraged to visit, learn about what’s important in the churchyard and to get actively involved. The Churchyard is part of a network of community sites that form the Baston, Langtoft and Thurlby Naturehood. The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards are organised by the Rotary Club of Lindum, Lincoln and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. The awards are sponsored by FCC Environment and Streets Chartered Accountants.North East Lincolnshire Council submits priority schemes to Government for Investment Zone status
Eight schemes that reflect North East Lincolnshire Council’s priorities of business growth and urban regeneration have been submitted to the Government for consideration for Investment Zone status.
The authority has confirmed that it has applied to be a part of the Government’s new Investment Zones (IZs) programme – one of a series of measures set out in its Growth Strategy last month.
If successful, and it has been stressed that this is only the first step in the consideration stage, it will see approved sites within the borough declared IZs. This means they will be entitled to potential benefits designed to boost investment and development over ten years. The Government asked interested councils to submit their bids by Friday, 14 October (today). An assessment process will then take place before a decision is announced.
The eight sites in North East Lincolnshire were selected after analysis of the criteria, which focused on delivery and project start timescale. Larger scale industrial projects and medium sized urban housing schemes were identified as being most aligned. They are:
- Pioneer Investment Zone: To include Pioneer Business Park and the development of the CATCH site.
- Immingham Investment Zone: To include industrial redevelopment sites earmarked for energy production, including a green hydrogen facility.
- South Humber Investment Zone: This includes the business area and infrastructure along the South Humber Bank – the Humber Gateway.
- Moody Lane Investment Zone: To include the area known as the Future Grimsby Site.
- Europarc: The area includes part of Europarc Phase 3 and Europarc Phase 4.
- Grimsby Port Investment Zone: A mix of heritage and commercial opportunities.
- Grimsby Town Centre Investment Zone: This covers the town centre redevelopment area around Freshney Place, and the proposed waterfront Alexandra Dock/Garth Lane housing site.
- Western Investment Zone: The housing site on the former Western School.
Three-quarters of UK companies hit by labour shortages in last 12 months
Three-quarters of businesses have been impacted by labour shortages over the last year and a majority now believe the issue is a threat to labour market competitiveness, according to a new survey.
In its annual Employment Trends Survey with Pertemps Network Group, the CBI reports that “shortages in the labour market are having a material impact on firms’ ability to operate at full capacity, let alone grow.” Many businesses have responded by investing in training, while also increasing pay and improving their offer to staff to help retain workers and attract new recruits.
The survey found that:
- Nearly half (46%) of those who have faced labour shortages in the past 12 months have been unable to meet output demands; 36% made changes to or reduced the products or services they offer, while 26% reduced planned capital investment.
- Nearly three quarters of respondents (72%) said the UK has become a less attractive place to invest/do business in over the past five years.
- Respondents were most likely to see shortages of labour (75%) and access to skills (72%) as threats to labour market competitiveness. Concern about labour costs (59%) has risen on last year and the cost of living (69%) has become a significantly larger threat. Meanwhile, concern about the impact of employment regulation (35%) has been stable.
- Seven in ten respondents (70%) thought access to labour would still be a threat to labour market competitiveness in 5 years’ time.
- In response to labour market shortages: 55% of firms reported that they are investing in training to upskill current employees; 56% are investing in base pay; 45% in improving their Employee Value Proposition; while 40% are investing more in technology/automation.
- When asked what measures government should prioritise to help ease labour shortages, 46% called for the government to introduce incentives to help businesses invest in technology and automation to boost productivity, while 44% wanted government to grant temporary visas for roles that are in obvious shortage.
- A third of respondents (33%) planned higher levels of recruitment for permanent roles over the coming 12 months compared to the previous year, down from 46% last year, while 39% expected the same level of recruitment.
- Nearly half (46%) of respondents whose firms are taking action to support employees on cost of living reported bringing forward or having additional pay reviews, and 36% gave staff one-off bonus payments.
- A third (34%) of respondents reported that their organisation’s approach to the next pay round was best described as ‘giving a general increase below inflation’, significantly higher than previous years; organisations giving a pay increase in line with inflation (29%) is the lowest since 2012.
- Only 7% expected to provide a general pay increase above inflation in their next pay round, the lowest in almost a decade.
First cases of avian flu confirmed in Lincolnshire
Following tests at a commercial premises in the Ancaster area, there are now confirmed positive cases of avian flu in Lincolnshire.
Anyone who keeps birds commercially or at home is advised to take measures to reduce the risk of the disease spreading.
Trading Standards teams will be undertaking foot patrols in the area where the confirmed cases were discovered.
Mark Keal, Lincolnshire Trading Standards Manager, said: “Although it’s not entirely unexpected that we would eventually have cases in the county, if you keep birds, we urge you to maintain good biosecurity measures, to limit the spread of avian flu as much as possible.
“We are also asking the public to be particularly vigilant about wild birds which may be infected by the disease.
“If you see dead wild birds, do not touch them, and report them to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
“Avian flu primarily affects birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low, but reports from the public can help track the spread of the disease and prevent it infecting poultry and other captive birds.”
You can report dead birds to APHA on 03459 33 55 77.
SMEs get just £1 from every fiver Government spends on procurement
Just one pound in every fiver spent by Government on public sector procurement in 2021 went to SMEs, a report from the British Chambers of Commerce, powered by Tussell, has found.
The BCC’s SME Procurement Tracker – said to be the UK’s most comprehensive source of data on SME procurement, in partnership with Tussell – has revealed that while the value of published public sector procurement spending with SMEs has increased, the proportion of total Government money awarded directly to SMEs has not grown over the past five years.
Based on procurement expenditure data published by public bodies for transparency purposes, the value of reported public procurement spending in the UK increased significantly over the period 2016-2021. The amount spent on third-party goods, services, and works increased more than two-fold during this time, rising from £80bn in 2016 to £181bn in 2021.
The total value of direct public spending with SMEs in 2021 was up significantly on previous years, nearly doubling from £20bn in 2016 to £38bn in 2021, when just over 105,000 SMEs invoiced the wider public sector directly for a median annual amount of £32,000.
However, SMEs are now receiving a relatively smaller amount of reported direct Government procurement spending than they were five years ago.
In 2016, 25% of public sector procurement spending was awarded directly to SMEs. By 2021, this figure had dropped to 21%, indicating that only just over one in every five pounds spent by Government on public services went straight to SMEs, excluding indirect spend with SMEs via the supply chain. This is significantly behind Central Government’s target of spending one in every three pounds with SMEs by 2022, a target which also includes indirect spend with SMEs via the supply chain, which is hard to measure.
As a proportion of their overall procurement budget, direct spend with SMEs by Local Government bodies was the highest at 38%. NHS bodies across England spent 22% of their procurement budget with SMEs, while Central Government was significantly lower than the average – awarding only 11% to SMEs.
Alex Veitch, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the BCC, said: “SMEs have traditionally struggled to access government business and have often found bidding for public sector contracts prohibitively bureaucratic, time-consuming, and expensive.
“While gradual improvements have been made in recent years, our tracker shows that further change is still required to unlock the public sector’s access to SMEs’ innovation and creativity.
“It is disheartening to see that as the level of public sector procurement spending grew over the past few years, the proportion of spending awarded directly to SMEs did not.
“We welcome the Government’s Procurement Bill which we hope will create a simpler, more flexible system which should accelerate Government spending with SMEs. However, business will not see the benefit of this until 2023. If Central Government is to meet its target of spending one in every three pounds with small businesses by 2022, serious consideration must be given to what steps can be taken in the short term to open up the public sector market to SMEs.”
