A Cleethorpes man found out the hard way that crime doesn’t pay when he was ordered to pay a hefty confiscation order after financially benefiting from his criminal activity.
Stephen Robert WARD (54) of Bolingbroke Road in Cleethorpes was ordered to pay a total of £171,345.15 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 at Grimsby Crown Court on Thursday 12 November 2009.
This came after police were called to an address in Grimsby following an incident in which Mr Ward was assaulted.
When officers went into a bedroom to find some clothing for Mr Ward, they also found over £600 in cash, 33½ bars of cannabis resin and 335g of amphetamine with a street value thought to be around £27,000.
He was convicted of possession with intent to supply cannabis and amphetamine and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and refused to make a complaint in relation to the assault he had suffered.
As this was not the first time Mr Ward had been investigated and charged with a drugs related offence, Humberside Police conducted a confiscation investigation and found that despite not declaring any income to Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs and claiming benefits to which he was not entitled Mr Ward purchased a house for himself with his proceeds from crime and had significant savings in bank accounts.
The investigation found that Mr Ward had benefited from his criminal lifestyle netting himself over £200,000 over a six year period.
He now has to sell all of his assets and pay the confiscation order within six months or serve an additional 30 months imprisonment when his house can be forcibly sold.
Senior Financial Investigator Lorraine Baines said: “Stephen WARD has made a significant amount of money from his life of crime, from drug dealing to benefit fraud, and has invested these profits in a house and savings accounts. The message from Humberside Police to all those who commit any crime for financial gain is that they will be actively pursued and the profits taken from them.
“Marcus Czarnecki, North East Lincolnshire Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinator said: “Criminals who adorn themselves with luxury goods at the expense of our young people’s lives, at the expense of the values of the law abiding majority and at the expense of common human integrity have to payback to the community from whom they pilfered and deceived. Humberside Police have done a great job bringing this man to very visible justice. This justice being seen to be done and from which our community will eventually benefit.”
PAYBACK
Recently a number of local community groups and organisations benefited from the “proceeds of crime”, they were:
1. Grimsby in Bloom - Combined Courts, Town Hall Square, Grimsby - £6,000
2. The Roundabout - St James House, St James Square, Grimsby - £7,000
3. East Marsh Gating Scheme - East Marsh Ward - Grimsby - £40,000
4. Sport Lincs – North East Lincolnshire - £32,000
Sunday 29 November 2009
SUPPORTERS, ACTIVISTS AND LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE CAN DISCOVER NEW WAYS TO CONNECT THROUGH ACT
Last week, the Liberal Democrats launched a new website; it is the second new website that the party has launched this month. This time it is a social network site called Act. Already Act, which was launched on Wednesday as well over 1,000 registered members, and the numbers are growing daily.
Act is a new way for people who identify with the
Liberal Democrats and engage with party actions to get directly involved in campaigns. By harnessing a more focused social network, supporters, activists and like-minded people can discover new ways to connect, organise and campaign for issues that matter to them.Act is open to all Liberal Democrat supporters, members and non-members. Users are able to join groups, organise events, watch videos, talk politics and join in campaigns.
Together with the new libdems.org.uk website – launched on November 2 – and a Members’ only site set to go live shortly, Act is the centrepiece of a comprehensive digital overhaul for the Lib Dems. Each site caters for specific audiences and offers different levels of engagement.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Chief Executive Chris Fox said: “The Liberal Democrats have long been at the forefront of the social web. Act helps online activists, campaigners and opinion formers to take us forward in the next stage of our development online.
“Based on this exciting platform, we plan to release a number of bespoke campaigning and fundraising tools over the coming months to enhance our network and extend our reach.
“Our strategy has taken on board advances witnessed by activists and party staff who spent time in the US working with the Democrats during the Presidential election campaign.”
CELEBRATE SAFELY THIS CHRISTMAS; DON’T DROWN IN TOXIC SMOKE SAYS HUMBERSIDE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE
People often get distracted by the hustle and bustle of Christmas and are unaware of the potential fire hazards and toxic threats that can lurk in fairy lights, candles and flammable decorations. Latest figures from the Fire Kills campaign show a rise in the number of accidental fire deaths and injuries over the festive period.
In 2008 there were 33,000 accidental house fires, 10% of which occurred in the run up to Christmas Day Humberside Fire & Rescue Service wants everyone to have a happy and safe Christmas this year and is urging the public to take fire safety seriously - plan escape routes, install smoke alarms and test them weekly. The ‘Don’t Drown in Toxic Smoke’ advertising campaign will be running over the Christmas period and dramatically shows how quickly toxic smoke can effect the human body. A sleeping couple are shown being overcome by the drowning sensation of toxic smoke when a fire breaks out in their home at night. Actress Jill Halfpenny is supporting the ‘Don’t Drown in Toxic’ smoke campaign and says, “As a mum I am very conscious of trying to keep my home as safe as possible to reduce the risks from fire.
The fact is that fires can and do happen so it’s important to check your smoke alarm weekly and to be aware of the dangers. Ignorance is definitely not bliss when it comes to keeping your family safe”. Community Safety Manager Geoff Allen says, ‘The risk of fire in the home is an all year round issue – however people are particularly vulnerable at Christmas for many reasons ranging from unsafe electrical decorations, unattended candles through to cooking whilst drunk. People also vastly underestimate the deadly strength of toxic smoke and overestimate how long they have to escape should a fire break out. The reality is that just two to three breaths of smoke in a fire can render a person unconscious. Christmas should be a time for celebration rather than tragedy and for this reason I’m urging people to be fire aware and stay fire safe.”
Here are Humberside Fire & Rescue Services top tips to stay safe from fire this Christmas:
1. Ensure you have a working smoke alarm installed on all levels of your home. Test your smoke alarms weekly and never remove batteries to power presents!
2. Never leave cooking unattended and avoid cooking whilst drunk. The majority of fires start in the kitchen so this is a high risk area. Always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished cooking.
3. Never leave candles unattended. Keep decorations, cards and wrapping paper away from candles, fires, lights and heaters.
4. Ensure you switch off fairy lights and unplug them before you go to bed, or leave the house. Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598).
5. Always use an RCD (residual current device) on outdoor electrical equipment (a safety device that can save lives by instantly switching off the power if there is a fault).
6. Don’t overload sockets – ensure only one plug per socket. Always turn off plugs when they are not in use, except those that are designed to be left on, like freezers.
7. Make sure cigarettes are extinguished properly and never smoke in bed. Put it out, right out.
8. Check on older relatives and neighbours this Christmas, as they are at greater risk from fire.
9. Ask the experts – Fire and Rescue Services in England offer free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them. This may even include the free installation of a smoke alarm – the ideal gift for keeping your family safe
10. And finally, in the event of fire: get out, stay out and call 999.
For more information on fire safety in the home, or Home Fire Risk Checks, go to www.direct.gov.uk/firekills or contact Community Safety, Peaks Lane Fire Station, Grimsby, 01472 372500.
In 2008 there were 33,000 accidental house fires, 10% of which occurred in the run up to Christmas Day Humberside Fire & Rescue Service wants everyone to have a happy and safe Christmas this year and is urging the public to take fire safety seriously - plan escape routes, install smoke alarms and test them weekly. The ‘Don’t Drown in Toxic Smoke’ advertising campaign will be running over the Christmas period and dramatically shows how quickly toxic smoke can effect the human body. A sleeping couple are shown being overcome by the drowning sensation of toxic smoke when a fire breaks out in their home at night. Actress Jill Halfpenny is supporting the ‘Don’t Drown in Toxic’ smoke campaign and says, “As a mum I am very conscious of trying to keep my home as safe as possible to reduce the risks from fire.
The fact is that fires can and do happen so it’s important to check your smoke alarm weekly and to be aware of the dangers. Ignorance is definitely not bliss when it comes to keeping your family safe”. Community Safety Manager Geoff Allen says, ‘The risk of fire in the home is an all year round issue – however people are particularly vulnerable at Christmas for many reasons ranging from unsafe electrical decorations, unattended candles through to cooking whilst drunk. People also vastly underestimate the deadly strength of toxic smoke and overestimate how long they have to escape should a fire break out. The reality is that just two to three breaths of smoke in a fire can render a person unconscious. Christmas should be a time for celebration rather than tragedy and for this reason I’m urging people to be fire aware and stay fire safe.”
Here are Humberside Fire & Rescue Services top tips to stay safe from fire this Christmas:
1. Ensure you have a working smoke alarm installed on all levels of your home. Test your smoke alarms weekly and never remove batteries to power presents!
2. Never leave cooking unattended and avoid cooking whilst drunk. The majority of fires start in the kitchen so this is a high risk area. Always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished cooking.
3. Never leave candles unattended. Keep decorations, cards and wrapping paper away from candles, fires, lights and heaters.
4. Ensure you switch off fairy lights and unplug them before you go to bed, or leave the house. Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598).
5. Always use an RCD (residual current device) on outdoor electrical equipment (a safety device that can save lives by instantly switching off the power if there is a fault).
6. Don’t overload sockets – ensure only one plug per socket. Always turn off plugs when they are not in use, except those that are designed to be left on, like freezers.
7. Make sure cigarettes are extinguished properly and never smoke in bed. Put it out, right out.
8. Check on older relatives and neighbours this Christmas, as they are at greater risk from fire.
9. Ask the experts – Fire and Rescue Services in England offer free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them. This may even include the free installation of a smoke alarm – the ideal gift for keeping your family safe
10. And finally, in the event of fire: get out, stay out and call 999.
For more information on fire safety in the home, or Home Fire Risk Checks, go to www.direct.gov.uk/firekills or contact Community Safety, Peaks Lane Fire Station, Grimsby, 01472 372500.
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