Search results for Lincolnshire

Description

A man has been jailed for 14 years and two months for sexual offences.

Timothy Markham, of Hawthorn Close in Fishtoft, Boston, was sentenced on Thursday 22 October 2026 at Lincoln Crown Court.

He was found guilty of two counts of raping a woman and a third offence of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

The 39-year-old had denied all three charges but was convicted at Lincoln Crown Court on 20 August 2026.

Markham was given two sentences of 13 years for rape to run concurrently. He was ordered to serve a further 14 months for engaging in sexual communication with a child. His total prison sentence is 14 years 2 months.

He was added to the sex offenders register indefinitely, given an indefinite restraining order to protect the victims involved and handed a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Detective Constable Patrick Busby thanked those who had helped to bring Markham to justice and paid tribute to the bravery of the victims.

“Both of the victims in this case chose to speak out and support our investigation to bring Markham to court. They have shown incredible bravery and strength, and I thank them for their courage and trust in Lincolnshire Police.”

Description

A Boston man has been found guilty of 27 sexual offences, including 10 counts of rape, two of which were of children aged 13 years and younger, dating back to June 2019.

Jake Hardstaff, 35, of Maple Road, Boston, pleaded not guilty to all allegations brought by four separate victims, including one adult and three (female) children, one of which was only nine years old when the abuse started.

Following a 14-day trial at Lincoln Crown Court, which concluded on Thursday 22 October, Hardstaff was found guilty of multiple sexual offences which took place between June 2019 and June 2024: 

• Cause / incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity - no penetration x 3 counts
• Rape a child under 13 x 2 counts
• Assault a child under 13 by penetration x 3 counts
• Rape a woman 16 years of age or over x 8 counts
• Assault by penetration x 2 counts
• Sexual assault on a female x 7 counts
• Cause person to engage in sexual activity without consent x 1 count
• Engage in controlling / coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship x 1 count

He was found not guilty of three counts of rape and one count of controlling / coercive behaviour.

The court heard how Hardstaff’s courageous victims had come forward, each describing years of vile physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the predator. There were disclosures of long-term sexual abuse, of how he had incited his young victims to engage in sexual contact with him.

“He has done such a sadistic, sickening thing” one witness said.

The officer who led this case, Detective Constable Helen Wood, said:

“This has been a harrowing case for all concerned. This verdict is testament to the extraordinary courage of the victims, who have endured unimaginable trauma and have shown remarkable strength in coming forward and resilience to endure the – at times - gruelling judicial process. Their evidence, which was given with dignity and bravery, has been central to securing justice.

“I would like to recognise the dedication of every officer and professional team involved in this case. Their tireless work, sensitivity, and commitment to safeguarding have ensured that the truth was brought before the court.

“This case highlights the importance of coming forward. Time should never stop you from speaking out. If you choose to come forward, you will be heard, believed, and supported every step of the way. We’re committed to securing strong, reliable evidence that meets judicial standards, so that we can pursue the justice you deserve.”

Hardstaff was remanded into custody to await sentencing which is currently scheduled for 25 November 2026. We will continue to provide support and protect the privacy of those affected.

Description

A man accused of raping a child multiple times and perverting the court of justice has been found guilty by jurors.

Leon Burton, previously of St Mary’s Crescent in Stow, had denied three charges of rape and one of perverting the course of justice at a five-day trial at Lincoln Crown Court last week.

But the 37-year-old was judged to have committed the offences by jurors on Friday, 16 October.

Burton had already pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual activity with a child and a separate charge of perverting the course of justice.

The charges relate to a single victim and took place in the Stow area, starting in 2025 and into 2026.

Burton is set to be sentenced later this year on 11 December.

The court heard how police divers and dogs were deployed to locate two mobile phones that officers suspected Burton had disposed of.

These phones were never located but one is believed to have been thrown in the water in Stow and the other Burton admitted to destroying himself.

Burton was arrested and subsequently remanded until he appeared before court officials on Monday, 12 October for trial.

DC James Lindsay, who was in charge of the investigation, said:

“Burton abused a child in the most despicable way and did his best to evade justice.

“But thanks to the bravery of the victim at the heart of this case and the tenacity of the teams involved, Burton was arrested and brought before jurors who saw through his lies.

“The safety and wellbeing of children is at the heart of everything we do, and we’ll leave no stone unturned in our investigations to ensure they get the support they need.

“I’d like to thank the victim who has made a real difference and helped expose a predator who will soon be jailed, ensuring no one else will suffer at his hands.

“And I’d also praise the work of everyone involved in this investigation – their determination and professionalism helped get us here.”

Description

A man has been jailed for 12 years after sexually assaulting two girls over several months.

Matthew North, 67-years-old of Pilgrim Avenue in Immingham was found guilty by a jury of four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and inciting a female under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He appeared at Grimsby Crown Court today (Tuesday, 20 October 2026) and has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars with a further 4 years on licence and handed a sexual harm prevention order.

Our Force Control Room received a call on Wednesday, 8 April 2026 by a woman who states her daughter and her friend had been sexually assaulted by a man called ‘John’ over four months whilst trying to earn pocket money through carrying out jobs in the community such as cleaning and car washing.

The name ‘John’ was later found by detectives to be an alias and was identified as Matthew North.

This started in September 2025 and on multiple occasions he had asked the girls to give him oral sex and touch their body whilst doing so. The girls disclosed they feared North and he would refer to them both as his girlfriend’s whilst trying to put his hand up their tops and trousers. He would then proceed to threaten to come to the girl’s house and that he knows their address and where they go to school. He would tell them he would ‘make their life hell’.

On one occasion in April 2026, North made one of the girls come into his home and refused to let her leave until she eventually managed to run out the house.

North was arrested at his home address on Thursday, 9 April 2026. When interviewed by detectives he denied all allegations, insisting it was the other way round and the girls came on to him.

Leading the investigation Detective Constable Amy O’Dwyer said:

“Matthew North took advantage of two young girls wanting to earn some pocket money by sexually assaulting them.

“He made them fear for their life so that they wouldn’t tell anyone.

“I would like to commend the bravery of both victims and their courage whilst North denied all allegations and made them endure the duration of court proceedings.

“Whilst it does not take away the trauma they’ve suffered, I hope the result seen in court will play some part in helping them move forward with their lives.

“It can be daunting to take the first step in reporting offences of this nature, but through these reports, we are able to gather evidence to build a strong case and ultimately help eradicate this abhorrent behaviour from our communities.”

Description

A man has been sentenced after officers discovered images on his mobile phone following a routine address check.

Shaun McCandless, 62-years-old of The Close in Stallingborough has been sentenced to 12 months behind bars following an appearance at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday, 16 October 2026.

On the evening of Monday, 21 September 2026, officers from our Police Sex Offender Monitoring Team attended the home address of McCandless who was on a sexual offence prevention order. As part of the routine risk assessment check which the team regularly carry out, the mobile phone of McCandless was inspected.

The inspection revealed to officers that his search history and images had been deleted off his device. He was swiftly arrested for the breach of his sexual offence prevention order and remanded into prison.

When interviewed, McCandless admitted to having non-indecent images of young girls on his phone to which he later deleted.

Officer Jim Carlisle from our Mosovo team said:

“Once offenders who have committed sexual offences are released from prison, our work does not stop there.

“I hope this proves that our team will carry out regular checks and those that continue to offend will be held accountable and sent back to prison.

“Thankfully no one came to harm, his phone has been destroyed, and McCandless is back behind bars”

Description

A former solider has been handed an 18-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of 15 sexually offences involving children.

Gareth Evans-Balmforth, of Skegness, was given the sentence at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 15 October).

In August 2026 the 52-year-old was found guilty of four counts of gross indecency with a child under 14, four counts of inciting a child under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency, attempted sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, sexual assault, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and three counts of indecent exposure.

The court heard that Evans-Balmforth started his offending while he was a serving army officer and based in Shropshire and Yorkshire. He was then posted abroad, where he continued offended while living on army barracks.

Evans-Balmforth’s offending was reported to West Mercia Police in 2022, and an investigation discovered there were several victims from over more than two decades.

Detective Constable Rhian Jackson, the investigating officer, said:

“I welcome yesterday’s sentence of 18 years’ imprisonment for Evans-Balmforth for these appalling offences.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victims, whose courage and resilience throughout this investigation and court process has been remarkable. By coming forward, they have helped ensure he has been held accountable for his actions.

“Evans-Balmforth abused positions of trust and exploited environments where children should have felt safe and protected. The impact of his offending on the victims cannot be underestimated.

“I hope this sentence provides them with a sense of justice and helps them as they continue to move forward with their lives.”

Evans-Balmforth was also given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order by the judge during the sentencing hearing. 

Description

A 70-year-old man who attempted to engage in sexual activity with whom he thought was a 12-year-old boy, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars following his appearance at court last Thursday (8 October 2026).

Robin Holmes, of Patrick Street in Grimsby, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communications with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, possession of indecent images of children, and three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

In April 2026, detectives from our Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) received a referral from colleagues in the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit stating that communication had commenced between Holmes and who he believed to be a 12-year-old boy, but in fact was a decoy.

Holmes was sending sexual messages to the decoy profile through Snapchat, sending them an indecent image and asking them to send him images in return. This comes after he was released from prison in December 2025 following a recall after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that was already in place for previous sexual offences.

He was subsequently arrested at his home address where he resides alone. Several mobile phones were seized from the property, including the device used to engage with the decoy, to be forensically examined.

Detective Constable Amy Gee, leading the investigation from POLIT said:

“Holmes is a sickening individual, and I’m pleased he is now behind bars where he is unable to continue his attempts to target vulnerable people.

“At no point during his questioning did he display any remorse or deny the offences that were put to him in breach of his SHPO.

“Whilst this investigation involved a decoy child, I hope the sentence sends a clear message to anyone attempting to commit these types of offences, that it is never acceptable to prey on the vulnerable and we will bring you to justice for your crimes.

“I would urge anyone who has information or concerns about this kind of offending to report it by calling 101. We will always listen and support in any way we can.”

Description

A man who raped two children and committed a string of other offences has been jailed for 11 years.

William Clay, formerly of Grantham, appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 25 September for sentencing after he was convicted following an earlier nine-day trial.

The 20-year-old denied the rape of one victim but was found guilty by a jury and pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, one of intentional strangulation and two of ABH on his second victim.

The offences took place in Lincolnshire between 2024 and 2026, with both victims being under the age of 16 when the abuse began.

Clay also pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images and extreme pornography.

He was sentenced to 16 years – 11 in jail, five on licence – handed a sexual harm prevention order for 16 years, added to the sex register and given a restraining order for life.

Detective Constable Karolina Pelka praised the victims at the heart of the investigation and thanked those who helped bring Clay to justice.

She said:

“Both victims showed real resilience and bravery throughout a long trial.

“We commend both victims for their courage and strength in coming forward and supporting this investigation.

“Their bravery through what has undoubtedly been a difficult process is recognised and greatly appreciated.  Without them, Clay would still be on the streets.

She added: “This was a joint investigation between PVP and CID which brought the results of getting suspect remanded and charged all the way to the trial process.

“I would like to thank the officers involved for their professionalism, dedication and commitment.

“Their through and diligent work has played an important role in bringing this case to the conclusion.”

Description

The court had heard how the teen was walking home through Boston town centre at around 9.15pm on Monday 16 March 2025 when she had a sense that someone was following behind her.

After following her some distance, Savage caught up with the teen and struck up a conversation. He then demanded she handed over her phone stating that there was purportedly something he needed to access on her device. Her phone battery had died, and so he insisted he needed to take her to use a charger ‘at his place’.

The victim felt something sharp against her waist as he was demanding the phone, which she feared might have been a knife. He walked the young girl around the town against her will, towards the church and the former B&M shop. He then walked her towards The Range and gave her a can of beer.

The girl was perceptive enough to pay attention to the route taken and remember it which later proved invaluable. She then described being taken into a property where she was forcibly made to engage in oral sex with the predator, which he recorded on his mobile phone. He then walked the girl back to the part of town where he had accosted her, but he had kept her mobile phone back at his residence.

The incident was reported to police at just after midnight on 17 March. Thanks to the level of information provided by the astute young girl, and diligent digital investigative work to identify the location of the girl’s phone, Savage was swiftly located and arrested at 1.45am at a property on Marsh Lane, Boston. He was remanded into prison where he has remained until trial.

The officer in charge of this case, DC Charlotte Howitt praised the courage and maturity displayed by the victim. She said: 

“The resilience and bravery displayed by this young victim throughout an incredibly harrowing investigation and court process have been truly remarkable. Her willingness to place her trust in the criminal justice system and her determination to see the case through, despite having to recount details of this traumatic experience on numerous occasions, have been instrumental in securing this outcome. She remained resolute throughout, and she should be incredibly proud of the strength she has shown.

“Together, with the victim’s bravery and the relentless efforts of the officers involved, we have ensured that a dangerous individual has been held accountable for his actions. I hope this outcome gives the victim some measure of closure and demonstrates our commitment to pursuing offenders and supporting victims every step of the way.”

Description

A man has been sentenced today to 15 years in prison with an additional five years on extended licence.

Dalton Lee Hudson appeared at Lincoln Crown* Court today having been found guilty of rape, sexual assault, two incidents of assault by penetration and two incidents of ABH.

Hudson, who is aged 35, of High Street, Lincoln, committed the offences in September 2025, against three female victims.

Detective Constable Henry Scott, of the Protecting Vulnerable People department of Lincolnshire Police said:

“This is a prolific offender and a dangerous predator who has caused devastating harm. I would like to commend the victims in this case for their utter bravery, and their support for this complex investigation. While the result today cannot begin to reverse the trauma they have faced, I hope it can give them some sense of justice having been served.”

Description

A man who raped and sexually assaulted a child on multiple occasions has been jailed for 18 years and six months.

Alex Walster of Gainsborough* had pleaded guilty to 13 charges at an earlier hearing before he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court for sentencing today, Friday, 11 September.

The 38-year-old, who committed the offences across 2023 and 2024 in a village near Lincoln, had tried to avoid sentencing by leaving the country before he was found and arrested in Ireland.

In a personal statement, the victim told Lincolnshire Police the crimes against her had a significant impact on her life and it is something that will affect for years to come.

However, she said she is determined to rebuild her life, be a strong person and not look back at what Walster did to her.

Walster was handed a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order which prevents any contact with the victim and her family.

DC Victoria Robbie, who led the investigation, said today’s result is a testament to the hard work of those within the force and the strength and composure of the child involved in the case.

“Today’s outcome marks the end of our investigation into Walster’s repulsive offending,” she said.

“We are grateful to, and inspired by, the victim and her family who have so patiently waited and worked alongside us to bring Walster to justice.

“The victim of this case is remarkable, and I believe will go on to live a full and fantastic life with the support of her family, in spite of the abhorrent crimes Walster committed against her.

“Every day we come to work to reclaim the childhoods and lives of victims of these terrible crimes and today we are pleased that Walster’s sentence reflects this.”

Description

A man who sexually assaulted two children on multiple occasions has been jailed for 18 years.

William Lynas of Moons Green in Spalding appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday, 3 September for sentencing after he was found guilty of 13 sexual offences at an earlier hearing.

The offences involving the 84-year-old took place between the 1980s and 2023 in the Spalding area.

Both of his victims were underage at the time the incidents took place.

Lynas had denied the charges but was found guilty by jurors and will now face a lengthy period behind bars.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for life and also given an indefinite restraining order in relation to both victims.

Lynas will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

Detective Constable Victoria Oaks, who led the investigation, said Lynas deserved a significant sentence for his actions and praised those who came forward.

She said:

"Lynas caused real harm and will deservedly spend a long time behind bars.

“I want to praise the victims at the heart of this case who bravely came forward to reveal what had happened to them and who was responsible.

“The period of time the crimes took place over, made this investigation complex, but the team did a great job gathering evidence to bring Lynas to justice.

“Lynas thought he was untouchable and attended court confident he could pull the wool over the eyes of the jurors in this case.

“At his trial he hobbled into court with a walking stick – but later left the building walking normally.

“He was caught out when the jurors left the building at the same time and spotted him – this demonstrates Lynas’ arrogance, he thought he could get away with it."

Description

A 62-year-old Grantham man was found guilty of a string of sexual-related offences, including making indecent photographs of a child, when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court.

Following a three-day trial, which began on Tuesday 25 August, Steven Robins of Fourth Avenue was found guilty of the following offences:

• Two counts of making indecent photographs of a child
• Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under the age of 16
• Two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a child under the age of 16
• Causing the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 18

Robins was remanded into custody until his next appearance at Lincoln Crown Court in October.

Description

A man who manipulated and raped a teenage girl has been jailed for eight years.

Kato Tsang, 45-years-old, of Bridge Street in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, who identifies himself as Chinese, was found guilty of raping a girl under 16-years-old following a seven-day trial that concluded at Grimsby Crown Court on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.

He was subsequently bailed by the courts to await sentencing which took place yesterday (Tuesday, 25 August 2026), where he was also handed a lifelong Restraining Order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order valid for 20 years.

An investigation was launched by our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit in May 2022, after a teenager came forward disclosing she had been raped by a man she knew, naming him as Kato Tsang.

Officers were immediately deployed to arrest Tsang and transported him to custody where he was interviewed.

When questioned, Tsang offered a pre-prepared statement claiming he was not responsible and had not committed the offence. After this, he answered no comment to the rest of the questions asked.

Tsang was subsequently conditionally bailed pending further investigation whilst detectives got to work gathering evidence and obtaining a victim impact statement from the teenager.

Following a lengthy and complex investigation, he was then charged in September 2025 with rape of a girl under 16-years-old.

Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Becky McInnis from our Child Sexual Exploitation Team, who said:

“Our investigation uncovered how Tsang would manipulate and ploy the teenager with alcohol and behave in an over-familiar manner towards her, with CCTV enquiries from the day of the incident showing Tsang touching her numerous times and putting his arm around her, invading her personal space.

“He then offered to take her home but not before he took her to a secluded location where he raped her.

“It took a lot of courage for the teenager to tell someone she trusted what had happened to her, before then taking that next brave step and reporting it to the police with the support of her parents. For this, I commend her immensely.

“This has been a complex and lengthy investigation with the woman being forced to sit through the gruelling ordeal of a trial to relive what happened to her as a teenager all over again after Tsang’s refusal to admit what he had done and lack of accountability.

“The events of that night will undoubtedly stay with the woman for the rest of her life, and no amount of justice will erase the physical and mental harm Tsang has inflicted, but I hope knowing he is behind bars for a very long time will bring some kind of relief.

“We take all reports of rape and other sexual offences extremely seriously and continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of predators like Tsang.”

Description

A former teacher has been jailed for engaging in sexual activity with a teenage boy.

Emily Drury, 26, of Tuplin Road, Mablethorpe, appeared at Lincoln Crown Court today, Friday 21 August, charged with five offences of sexual activity with a teenage boy.

She pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a teenage boy, and four charges of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a teenage boy.

She was sentenced to four years and six months in prison. She must serve at least half of the sentence before being considered for released. She was also given a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order to last five years,  and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life*.

The court heard how Drury had engaged in sexual behaviour with the minor on numerous occasions whilst acting as a private tutor between May and June 2025. She had offered to tutor the boy after lower-than-expected mock exam results, to help him pass his GCSE exams.

In a statement read out in court, the victim said:

"She was kind to me. She would say positive things to me, buy me clothes, she would talk to me and made me feel better about myself. I trusted her and confided in her about some very personal things.”

He went on to describe how he felt after the allegations had been made, he said:

“I felt judged. I felt that people blamed me. I felt unable to simply be a child. I worried that people would not take me seriously because I am a boy. I believed there was a stigma attached to being a male victim of sexual abuse, and that fear made it even harder to cope.”

The victim initially had concerns about how his allegation would be perceived because he was a teenage boy, and the offender was an adult woman - in a position of trust and authority. We reassured him that gender is never a factor in how reports of sexual abuse are investigated and that he would be treated with the same care, sensitivity, and support as any other victim. Throughout the investigation, we worked closely with him to help him understand the criminal justice process and ensure he felt supported every step of the way.

The offender prolonged what was already an extremely difficult experience by delaying her guilty plea until the very last opportunity. As a result, the victim spent many months living with uncertainty about the outcome of the case. Despite these challenges, he showed remarkable courage and resilience. His willingness to come forward and remain engaged throughout the investigation has been instrumental in bringing the offender to justice.

The officer leading this case from East Lindsey’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, Detective Constable Julie Jode, said:

Drury abused her position of trust and exploited the access she had to a vulnerable young person for her own purposes. As an adult in a position of authority, she was expected to provide guidance, support, and protection. Instead, she used that position to target and manipulate someone who should have been able to trust her implicitly.

Offences of this nature can have a profound and lasting impact on victims, particularly when they involve a significant imbalance of power and an abuse of trust. The victim in this case was forced to navigate an incredibly difficult and challenging period of his life while also facing the uncertainty of a lengthy criminal justice process. The fact that the offender delayed accepting responsibility only added to that ordeal.

Throughout the investigation, the victim showed exceptional courage, dignity, and resilience. He came forward despite concerns about how he might be perceived and remained committed to seeing the process through. His bravery has been instrumental in securing this outcome and ensuring the offender has been held accountable for her despicable actions.