Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Club (Grantham branch):

Forest are away to Sheffield United in the FA Cup on Sunday, February 16, kick-off 3pm, and at home to Leicester City on Wednesday, February 19, kick-off 7.45pm.

Bookings are being taken for away games at Burnley on February 22, kick-off 3pm, and Barnsley on March 8, kick-off 3pm.

For details contact Bob Taylor on 01476 550242.

A Grantham man appeared before magistrates charged with possessing cocaine and cannabis.

Nathan Joseph, 20, of Avon Close, is accused of possessing 1.87 grams of crack cocaine and 2.29 grams of cannabis at College Street, Grantham, with intent to supply to others on August 6 last year.

The defendant made no plea.

Grantham magistrates adjourned the case to June 2 for a plea and management hearing at Lincoln Crown Court. Mr Joseph was given unconditional bail.

A Corby Glen man admitted stealing items from three Grantham charity shops and a discount store on the same morning and the burglary of a garage from which he stole a case of wine.

Martin Kevin Prince, 33, of Barleycroft Road, admitted the burglary in Walsingham Drive, Corby Glen, on December 22. He also admitted stealing a can of Lynx body spray worth £2 from Tuffies Discount Store in Grantham on January 6, and on the same day stealing a pair of black Adidas trousers worth £5.50 from the Sue Ryder charity shop, three T-shirts worth £8 from the Scope charity shop and a T-shirt worth £1.99 from the St Barnabas charity shop.

Prosecuting, Shelley Wilson told Grantham magistrates that Prince entered Tuffies and spoke to the owner, asking him if he could leave his bag by the till. He was then seen on CCTV taking a can of Lynx body spray and putting it in his pocket. He took his bag and walked out of the shop.

The owner followed him into the George Centre where she challenged him. He accepted taking the spray and retrieved it from a bin. Police searched him and found other items of clothing stolen from charity shops. In a police interview, he accepted all four thefts.

Mrs Wilson said at 4pm on Sunday, December 22, Prince was walking down Walsingham Drive when he noticed a garage door was open. He walked in and took a case of wine. He was seen by a neighbour, who contacted the owner of the house.

Police found Prince nearby with a holdall containing the wine. One of the bottles had been partly drunk.

Prince was arrested and told police he was on his way back from playing football when he noticed the garage door open. He took the case and believed he had dropped it when he heard a police siren, but police found five bottles intact and one half drunk.

Mrs Wilson said the garage was connected to the house but Prince had not entered the house.

Defending, Giles Tyas said Prince was out of work which he wasn’t used to. He had been back in the country for two years after working in Stockholm in Sweden as a chef for 15 years. He had returned to the UK because his mother was having problems and he had found it ddifficult to find work.

He suffered from epilepsy and had lost his last job because he had had a fit and had not told his employers about his condition.

Mr Tyas said: “These offences were opportunistic and silly. He was suffering from some financial hardship at the time.”

After reading a probation report, the magistrates gave Prince a 12 month community order to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

They also ordered him to pay £85 costs, a victim surcharge of £60 and compensation for the wine he had drunk of £3.66.

A man appeared in court on crutches accused of possessing more than 27 grams of the drug MCAT.

Alexander Peter Law, 33, of Ravenstonedale, Kirby Stephen, Cumbria, admitted possessing Methylmethcathinone at Grantham Police Station on October 14 last year.

Prosecuting, Shelley Wilson told the court that police were on patrol on the A15 near Cranwell at 2.20am when they stopped a Toyota Landcruiser and found Law in the front passenger seat.

They found he was subject to a crown court order to stay and sleep at his address in Cumbria. So Law was arrested and taken to Grantham police station.

Mrs Wilson said at the station a quantity of drugs fell from Law’s trouser leg and an empty tobacco pouch was found in his underpants. Some of the drug was also found in the police car.

The court was told that it was “quite a significantly large amount” of the drug that was found which was worth between £200 and £250.

Law was still on bail to attend crown court in Cumbria on charges reltaing to intending to supply drugs.

Defending, Giles Tyas said Law had told police he would use about one gram of the drug each night.

He said “Mr Law says it was for personal use and it would have lasted about a week. He has been a prolific user of class A drugs.”

Mr Tyas said Law was being treated for drug use and was making progress. He said Law was on crutches because he had been involved in an abseiling accident.

The magistrates ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to Carlisle court.

Law was given unconditional bail.

A motorist has been warned he faces jail after he today (Monday) admitted causing the death of a 27-year-old cyclist in South Lincolnshire.

Paul Walken, 42, of Chapel Lane, Folkingham, had been due to stand trial in front of a jury at Lincoln Crown Court but pleaded guilty to causing the death of Timothy Osborn by careless driving while unfit to drive through drink.

Timothy Osborn, who lived in Pode Hole near Spalding, was knocked down and killed onSeptember 14, 2012 as he cycled home from work along the A151 Bourne Road, Spalding.

Judge Stuart Rafferty told Walken: “I will give you credit to the extent I can give you credit for your guilty plea but you must appreciate it comes very late in the day.

“You must understand that what you did remains very serious indeed. Nobody suggests that you took Mr Osborn’s life deliberately but nevertheless it was because of your actions and inactions that this occurred. I am afraid there is a price that has to be paid for that.

“There will have to be a pre-sentence report. That will go to the length of sentence rather than anything else.”

Walken was granted conditional bail by Judge Rafferty and will appear back before the crown court next month for sentence. The judge also imposed an interim driving ban, adding: “When the time comes you will be the subject of a lengthy disqualification.”

Grantham Town Supporters’ Club lotto (sponsored by Galaxy Fish Bar), winners of February 8 draw:

£200 – 340 D. Rhule; £10 – 880 N. Taylor; £5 – 293 R. Davies, 63 O. McGrane, 941 D. Charles, 170 D. Jackson, 267 Islanders, 12 L. J. Hranyczka.

An offer to take his girlfriend home landed a man in court charged with driving while disqualified.

Marcin Szarejko, 24, of Hamilton Road, Grantham, pleaded guilty to the charge at the town’s magistrates court and also admitted a charge of driving a car without insurance.

Prosecutor Shelley Wilson told the court that on January 5 at 8.25pm police were in Bradley Drive, Grantham, when they stopped a Mazda because it had triggered their automatic number plate recognition device which indicated the car was uninsured.

Mrs Wilson said Szarejko admitted having no insurance and he was identified as a disqualified driver, having lost his licence for 12 months in September when he was convicted of drink driving.

She said the defendent had risked taking his girlfriend home because it was only a couple of miles away and he accepted this was “a very silly thing to do”.

Defending, Giles Tyas said Szarejko had completed four months of his ban and had taken a drink driver’s rehabilitation course reducing his ban by a quarter.

Mr Tyas described the offence as “opportunistic”. He said the car was outside his home and he decided to drive a short distance once. Szarejko had been in England since April 2012 and worked as an upholsterer. He lived with his parents, sister and her boyfriend.

For driving while disqualified, magistrates ordered Szarejko to complete a 12 month community order involving 80 hours of unpaid work. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points and he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £85.

No separate penalty was made for the offence of no insurance.

The case against a man accused of obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty was adjourned by Grantham magistates.

Gregor Gavin Thomson, 30, of Main Street, Oscarthorpe, Coalville, is accused of obstructing a constable in Grantham on October 22 last year. Magistrates put the case back to February 14.

Mr Thomson was granted unconditional bail.

Registration plates were stolen from a car in Barrowby on Sunday night.

The Vauxhall Zafira was targeted sometime between 5pm on Sunday and 3pm on Monday, while parked up in Casthorpe Road.

Both the front and rear plates (ending ‘NAB’) were taken.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lincolnshire Police on the non-emergency 101 number, quoting incident number 289 of February 10.

A Grantham resident has written to Grantham district councillor Ray Wootten begging him to do what he can to prevent a march by the English Defence League in the town in protest against plans for an Islamic community centre.

A group calling itself Grantham Town EDL plans to protest in the town on Saturday, February 22, from 1pm, against the building of an Islamic community centre in Mowbeck Way, off Alexandra Road.

The resident wrote to Mr Wootten, saying: “If there is any way you can do anything to prevent this march I beg you to do so.”

In the letter, the resident says they are “mortified” by the thought of the EDL coming to town. The letter continues: “I for one, as a student of religious studies, welcome the idea of a community centre for the Muslims of Grantham. There is a lot of misconceptions about their faith and I believe this centre would help educate and show people what Islam is about rather than believing the scaremongering often printed in the media. The people who will be attending Saturday’s protest are not residents with concerns about traffic or parking at the site, they are essentially football hooligans without a match to attend. Having seen a number of islamophobic postings regarding this event on social media I am concerned violence, be it physical or verbal, will undoubtedly occur as English Defence League members from across the country spill into our town. I will be keeping my children at home so they do not have to witness such hatred and I feel many others will too stay out of town, ensuring businesses of Grantham do even less trade on a Saturday than usual.”

Coun Wootten, who is a Police & Crime Panel Council Representative and Chairman of the Grantham East Neighbourhood Policing Team, as well as Chairman of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “I support peaceful and lawful protests. However, violence and intimidation is wholly unacceptable. If it should occur, individuals are subject to the law of the land and I call upon Lincolnshire Police to deal with any suspected criminal offences robustly and put them before the courts to be dealt with as soon as possible.”

A 23-year-old woman appeared before Grantham magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm against another female in the Late Lounge bar in the town.

Louise Serle, 21, of Heathfield Road, Grantham, is accused of the assault on December 1 last year. She made no plea. Magistrates adjourned the case to February 17 for a preliminary hearing at Lincoln Crown Court. Miss Serle was given unconditional bail.

Businesses are being offered the opportunity to take part in a new food and drink festival being staged this summer at Elton Hall, near Peterborough.

Organised by Cambridgeshire-based Market Square Group, Elton Hall Food & Drink Festival will be a three-day celebration of some of the best regional, national and international food and drink available in the UK alongside high-quality products and services for the home and garden.

The family event, being staged from June 6 to 8, will also feature a host of attractions including cooking demonstrations, a beer festival, children’s activities, live music and evening entertainment.

Paul Kennedy, Market Square Group’s Event Coordinator, explained: “We are delighted to be hosting this exciting and high profile festival in the magnificent grounds of the Proby family’s ancestral home.

“We have a fantastic line-up of shopping and tasting opportunities, activities and entertainment, designed to appeal to the whole family, and the festival promises to be a real highlight of this summer’s events.

“We are keen to ensure local businesses have the chance to be part of this exciting new experience - it’s a fantastic opportunity to promote their products and services not only to festival-goers who live locally, but also those from further afield.”

In addition to exhibiting at Elton Hall Food & Drink Festival, sponsorship opportunities are available.

Contact Kirsty Marriott at kirsty@marketsquaregroup.com for more information.

A husband assaulted his wife after drinking at a party because he believed she had been unfaithful.

Janes Soms, 35, of Alexandra Road, Grantham, pleaded guilty before the town’s magistrates to the assault on his wife of 16 years.

Prosecuting Shelley Wilson told the court that Mr Soms’ wife had said there was violence in the relationship previously in Latvia and in the UK where they moved in 2007.

Mrs Wilson said that on New Year’s Eve a friend spoke to Mrs Soms casting doubt on the paternity of one of her children which she denied but despite her protesting her innocence her marriage has since broken down. On Saturday (February 1) the couple, their lodger and other friends were celebrating the lodger’s birthday. Everybodsy was drinking, but Mrs Soms said she was only merry. An argument took place between her and her husband and it was said that Mr Soms punched her to the face with force. Her nose bled and she fell backwards striking her back on the washing machine and her head on a cupboard. The lodger’s nephew called the police.

The court was told Mr Soms accepted he had consumed a large quantity of vodka on Saturday night and had no memory of the last part of the evening before the police arrived. He told police he could not remember assaulting his wife, but said if his wife and the lodger had said so then he must have done it. Mrs Wilson said that Mrs Soms had wanted nothing more to do with her husband.

Defending, Rory Macmillan told the court that Soms worked in a factory in Peterborough on night shifts. He said Mr Soms emphatically denies any previous violence in the relationship. Mr Macmillan said Soms had been in shock since hearing another man had slept with his wife and he had sought to avoid any confrontation with his wife about this because he was concerned for the welfare of his children.

On February 1, it was the birthday of one of the lodger’s friends. Soms had been asleep after finishing a night shift and was woken by noises from downstairs in the afternoon. He went downstairs and there was a bottle of gin and champagne. Two of the lodger’s friends were there and everyone had two glasses of alcohol to drink. Mr Soms went to a shop twice later on to buy food and vodka.

Mr Macmillan said: “Mr Soms says he does not remember hitting his wife and does not understand why he would have done that. If she says that he did then he must have done and he pleads guilty on that basis. He remains most concerned about his children. He intends to stay with a friend in Grantham until he finds somewhere to rent.”

Magistrates adjourned the case until February 25 for reports. Soms was given bail on condition he made no contact with his wife, did not go to the address in Alexandra Road and did not go to Moy Park in Grantham.

Belvoir Karate Group had another fantastic result at one of their largest gradings with a one hundred percent pass rate.

The grading was held at the group’s Dojo at Bottesford VC Hall last Sunday and was an action-packed and sometimes intense day.

The students were tested on basic punches, kicks and combinations, kata and padwork, with the more experienced students also tested through several bouts of continuous fighting.

The grading was presided over by Sensei Graeme Walden with support from the BKG club instructors, Senseis Ian Simpson and Peter Connolly.

Chief instructor Graeme Walden said: “What a fantastic result it was. Everyone has trained very hard and deserved the new grades. There were students of all ages and stages, from white belts to more experienced brown belts.”

Belvoir Karate Group currently has clubs at Bottesford, Aslockton, Marston and Radcliffe on Trent and welcomes all new members at any of the classes.

Details of BKG and its clubs can be found at www.belvoirkarate.co.uk

Pictured are: Darci John and Lewis John, Chris Connor, Charlotte Connor, Georgia Connor, Ollie Connor, Archie Curtis, Hannah Stokes, Finn Bennett, Liam Lowes, Cerys Mathews, Daniel Stevenson, Joshua Rollo, Maise Crawford, Caroline Clarkson, Lauren Clarkson, Poppy Davies, Charlotte Davies, Henry Thomas, Simone Thomas, Oscar Stevenson, Mathew Smith, Daniel Welby-Everard, Georgie Burns, John Jeffery, Oisin Castro, Jacob Connolly and Darren Pike.

The case against a teenager accused of assaulting a female police community support officer was adjourned until February 11 by Grantham magistrates.

Stephen Turton, 18, of London Road, Grantham, is accused of assaulting the officer in the Isaac Newton Centre on January 9.

Mr Turton was given bail on condition he did not enter the Isaac Newton Centre in Grantham.

Three Grantham Tennis Club ‘mini’ teams travelled to Boston to play in the indoor Lincolnshire League at the weekend.

The mini Red team consisted of Oliver Anderson, Jack Butler, Ava Holt and Harry Chambers. Both sides played some great tennis with Grantham coming out on top to win overall.

The mini Oranges comprised Elliott Fisher and Jake Cullen. The two boys have shown real improvement in coaching sessions which they put into practice against a strong Boston side and recorded a convincing 4-1 win.

The Green team of Jake Gibbons and Nitesh Shyam have been playing great tennis recently and did the same again at the weekend. But although they played well, they narrowly lost 3-2, with all the match results extremely close.

l Two mini teams from Grantham played in the Nottinghamshire League at Caunton. The mini Red team, consisting of Oliver Anderson, Toby Cullen, Luke Cullen and Harry Chambers, played excellently to record an 8-8 draw.

The Orange team of Martha Patton, Eve Kimberley and Cameron Anderson played Maskills Rascals Orange. They played to the best of their ability but the opposition were too strong this time and they went down 7-2 in a well fought out battle, dropping them to second in the league.

l The men’s veteran first team played at home this weekend to a strong Boston side. Comprising of Barry Priestley, Karel Meuwissen, David Blanchard and Martin Garratt, the team played some consistent tennis but the Boston side were just too strong, winning 5-3 in a very close match.

l The indoor mixed second team played Magdala 3rd at Nottingham Tennis Centre on Sunday evening. Captained by Jackie Wilson, the team consisted of Simon Cormer, Karel Meuwissen and Liz Williams. They put on a great display of tennis and managed to comfortably win 38 games to 25.

Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill has rejected a recommended increase which would have seen his special responsibility allowance rise by 56 per cent from £20,488 to £32,000.

The Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP), which is made up of people with no connection to the council, has proposed a series of changes to allowances which will be considered by the full council on 21 February.

Apart from Coun Hill, allowances for opposition group leaders are also recommended to rise significantly, in light of the responsibility of providing an effective opposition.

However, even if the proposals are accepted, any member can choose to forego all or any of their allowance.

Coun Hill said: “I’d like to thank the panel for their hard work and believe their recommendations are reasonable.

“However, I don’t think this is the right time for me to take such an increase. So regardless of the decision taken at full council, I shall not be accepting the additional money. This is a personal decision,”

An attempt by thieves to steal lead from a village church roof was thwarted and they made it away empty-handed.

Police were called on Saturday to St Peter’s Church in Claypole, where would-be thieves tried to remove six panels of lead.

They were unsuccessful but did cause damage to the panels.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on the non-emergency 101 number.

Tonight’s Lincolnshire Senior Shield semi-final at The Meres has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The Gingerbreads were due to meet Northern Premier Division rivals Stamford to decide who would progress to the final of the county competition at Lincoln City’s Sincil Bank.

A new date for the fixture is yet to be arranged.

Lincolnshire Police have confirmed they are in talks with organisers of a planned demonstration by the English Defence League in Grantham.

A group calling itself Grantham Town EDL plans to protest in the town on Saturday, February 22, from 1pm, against the building of an Islamic community centre in Mowbeck Way, off Alexandra Road.

A police spokesman said talks were under way with organisers but there would be no statement regarding the demonstration until next week.

In response, a group led by Grantham man John Morgan will gather on St Peter’s Hill at 11am, aiming to keep the EDL protesters away from the town centre.

As reported, the Grantham Muslim Community Association submitted an application to build the centre in December, a move which has caused some controversy. An online petition was then set up via change.org by a group calling itself ‘People Of Grantham No Longer Silent’, which has gained 583 signatures.

Mr Morgan, of Harrowby Road, said he hopes local people will join the counter-protest to show their acceptance of other cultures.

He added: “If these people are going to march through our town then everyone should take an interest.

“I’m hoping we will get a large turnout to show they are not welcome.

“I believe in freedom of religion; the planning application is a separate issue. Freedom of religion is very important.”

But District Councillor Ian Selby has reacted in horror and believes any counter-protest would be “playing into the hands of the EDL”, and could see women and children getting seriously hurt if protests turn violent.

He added: “I think it’s a horrendous idea. It’s downright stupidity and will create a battleground on the streets of Grantham. This is a matter for the police.

“We don’t want this on our doorstep, we want to be protecting our people and our community.

“I don’t think the Morgans know what they are doing – there’s potential here for clashes in the streets.”