Grantham Cricket Club welcomed members and guests to the opening of its new five-lane outdoor net facility at Gorse Lane last Wednesday evening.

Guests included Chris Farmer, chief executive of Lincolnshire County Cricket Club.

Mark Fell, head coach at both Grantham CC and Lincolnshire CCC, and Grantham CC club president Michael Marsh officially opened the nets, which were quickly taken over by club members keen to make the most of this long-awaited facility.

Club chairman Ian Mihill said: “With such wet weather early on this season, we’ve had to cancel training sessions when the ground has been unsafe to play. The availability of the outdoor nets will give a real boost to junior and senior training at the club.”

The club has three senior teams playing in the South Lincs and Border League on a Saturday, and two in the Grantham and Melton Cricket Association on a Sunday, as well as junior teams at under-9, under-11, under-13 and under-15, a girls’ team and a developing ladies’ team. Junior training takes place on Monday evenings and senior training on Wednesday evenings.

For membership queries please contact club secretary Jo Green on 07885 283548 or email jogreen@thetrustgroup.co.uk

Pictured from left are club head coach Mark Fell, president Michael Marsh and chairman Ian Mihill.

Recently I was in the Critical Care Unit at Grantham Hospital for a few days.

The friendly care and attention and the dedicated skill made it a pleasant and successful experience.

I would like to reassure anyone who needs to be treated in that unit that they will receive professional and friendly treatment.

R. Mitchell

New Beacon Road, Grantham

Grantham & Melton Association

Division One

Ashby Carington 86 all out

Belvoir 87-5

Belvoir lost the toss and were asked to bowl first by Ashby Carington.

Belvoir got off to a great start through the strike bowling pair of Dan Gibson (2-7) and Fraser Fentem (1-10), leaving Ashby Carington 20-2 off 14 overs. Sam Penford (2-18) and Lewis Dann (3-23) dismissed the middle order, and this left Ashby struggling to post a decent total.

Elliot Derby cleaned up the tail-end.

Belvoir were fully aware that they were going to have to dig in on a tough wicket. Opening batsman Danny Ross (15) looked very solid before being undone by Palmer (1-32).

When Dyer dismissed Denton and Ingram, Belvoir were beginning to panic at 34-3. However, in form batsman Ryan Lewis (33no) and Dann (15) steadied the ship and Belvoir knocked the runs off inside 20 overs.

Sileby 113 all out

Grantham 99 all out

Grantham won the toss and chose to bowl.

Sileby got off to a slow but solid start, putting on 48 for the first wicket. Grantham bowled nice and tight throughout the innings, starting with the strikes D. Ashley and L. Greetham, backed up by J. Peck and the pick of the bowlers N. Stevenson who took five wickets.

Grantham got off to a bad start, losing one of the openers within the first few overs.

S.Mudie (25) and M.Gormley (26) put their side firmly in the driving seat, but after a quick flurry of wickets and some impressive bowling by A. Patterson, the tables had turned and Sileby were on the front foot.

Despite some gutsy batting down the order from J.Unsworth (11), N. Stevenson (12) and M.Donnellan (18), Grantham were all out for less than 100.

North Notts League

Division B

Thurgarton 222 all out

Belvoir 170 all out

Thurgarton raced to 50 in 57 balls and then accelerated as the next 50 came from only 19 more.

Josh Downie (57 from 42 balls) was in commanding and reckless form with one passage of eight fours off 12 balls. Chris Dutton (52 from 39) was a ball quicker to his half-century, his highlight being a pair of consecutive sixes the second of which was a jewel of a back-foot drive over deep mid-off.

However, with Lewis Dann (2-33) and Fraser Fentem (2-20) in tandem, the run rate dropped and wickets began to fall. Matt Irvine (3-59) continued the Belvoir fight-back until he had to retire injured.

Thurgarton were far from through though. Perhaps the best innings of the day was from Will Crowder (39no). It was he who sustained a good run rate while the wickets fell around him. There were a few lusty blows from the flashing blade of Tim Kirkham right at the end.

The normally prolific Jack Copley played on to Sam Cliff’s first ball; Captain Tom Neville (21) was well caught in the deep by Mansoor Khan; and Olly Clayfield (31) got in and out.

However, the Belvoir run rate was still nearly five per over and the irrepressible Dann (24) was being his usual excitable self. Perhaps a little too keen, as he was run out after being sent back looking for a second run that was not there.

This may have been the pivotal moment in the game. Cliff (5-41) was accumulating steady wickets and Aaman Singh (2-49) giving good support from the other end.

Belvoir’s Ross Denton (29) gradually edged the score passed the second, third and fourth batting points. With Danny Gibson (11no), he added 26 for the last wicket and got to within five balls of the points for a losing draw.

To the relief of the Thurgarton support, Justin Thomas (2-15) had Denton LBW at the death to secure the extra two points for his team.

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division

Grantham 247-5

Moulton Harrox 135 all out

In their first fixture away from home this season, Grantham were keen to secure a victory at Moulton Harrrox and prove they could hold their own on the road too.

The visitors batted first and the day could not have started any better for the travellers with an opening stand of 125 for the first wicket. Openers Stewart Mudie (55) and Mark Fell (60) set the tone for the innings and the mantle was picked up by Martin Parmley (32) and Matthew Wing (34no), taking Grantham to a total of 247.

In a weakened Moulton Harrox bowling line-up, the pick of the crop was, without doubt, Maxwell Cusack (4-54).

In reply, control was lacking in Grantham’s first 10 overs and the opening batsmen pounced on the bad balls and a partnership of 58 was the ideal start for Moulton Harrox.

First change bowler, Danny Ashley, finally brought the opening stand to an end and went on took to claim the third wicket as well. Despite the shaky start, Grantham worked hard to regain composure and wickets fell regularly until the home side were eventually dismissed for 135.

Despite earning a full 20 points, Grantham will have to improve before next week’s top-of-the-table clash against Lindum.

Division One

Grantham 2nd 60 all out

Billingborough 61-1

Grantham batted first and were soon in trouble, losing Max Everitt and Jim O’Neil early on.

Unable to build any substantial partnerships, Grantham were skittled for 60.

Billingborough made short work of the run chase, with Dave Newman in brutal form rounding off a bad day at the office for a depleted Grantham side.

Come on Woodland Trust - dog walkers are not the enemy!

I would guess that we are your biggest supporters.

Most are sensible about cleaning up after our dogs and we safeguard their health by worming them regularly.

Your latest poster campaign will feed people’s paranoia and completely put them off walking!

This is the most beautiful time of the year to visit the woods as the colours are at their best and early orchids and briar roses are just coming into flower and you can hear the sounds of the birdlife.

The view from Alma Wood across Belton Park must be the best view in Grantham.

This, surely, should be the message you send to encourage people to walk the woods, not spray painting doubtful looking objects that may be decomposing dog poo and crying “Unclean”.

This could be fox, deer or badger poo and certainly is a bit of torn plastic in one case, but is mostly indiscernible as anything other than mud.

Whoever designed the posters gets very few marks out of 10. There’s a bare-footed person about to tread in a steaming pile of dog excrement.

Walking the woods barefoot is not a good idea. There’s lots of mud just now; nettles, thistles, brambles, stones and bees, but if you wear sensible footwear, a walk in the woods is the most pleasurable, healthy occupation and it costs absolutely nothing.

The biggest pollutant right now is the plethora of posters at each gateway and the fluorescent orange markings on the ground!

Jenny Atter

By email

St Barnabas Hospice have reached the end of their year long £1 in the Pot appeal and have collected an amazing total of £18,500.

Through a range of different fundraising activities, which saw members of the public doing everything from putting on musical performances, cutting hair continuously in a 24-hour barberthon and treking the Sahara desert, the impressive figure has been raised to enable the Grantham hospice to continue to provide care.

In what has become an annual charity expedition, the Sahara trek alone gathered £12,150 in sponsorship.

St Barnabas Hospice’s Corporate Fundraiser Tina Dingley said: “The support of the local community has been fantastic and we want to thank everyone for what they have done for us.” 
For more information on the hospice go to www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk

On Wednesday aftenoon, June 4, I tripped on a broken and uneven pavement in Castlegate, dislocating and breaking my right shoulder.

I would like to thank the passers-by, especially the lady and gentleman who managed to get me to my feet and into the nursing home on Castlegate, where the staff kindly gave me a chair to sit on while going to fetch my wife.

We went to A&E, where I was seen promptly and my injuries were dealt with professionally with exeplary skill and attention.

This entailed a general anaesthetic and a night and day in the hospital.

The standard of care was first class and I cannot thank the staff enough for their work on my behalf.

It is unfortunate that I cannot say the same for those members of staff at SKDC whose job it is to maintain pavements and ensure the safety of pedestrians throughout the town.

Our political masters have seen fit to spend a great deal of money on works of dubious benefit in Westgate, where parking places have been lost, and at Gainsborough Corner, where traffic congestion caused chaos for several weeks last summer, money which could and should have been spent on pavements and potholes.

Robin Oliver-Tasker

By email

Three times recently I have had to avoid bikes being ridden on the pavements of Grantham High Street.

Also, I am continually startled when these riders approach from behind and continue to weave through the numerous pedestrians.

Further problems are occurring with mobility scooters, equally startling pedestrians from behind, with no warning.

Some travel at twice the walking speed and in shopping areas, and are very dangerous to wandering young children.

How long will it be before there are accidents on the pavements?

Name and address supplied

Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice visited Charles Read Academy in Corby Glen on Wednesday and took a tour which included a spot of ping-pong, a chat with an Olympic athlete and a history lesson on the Royal Family.

The sixth in line to the throne was greeted by crowds of cheering children and staff from the Academy, as well as other nearby schools who had come especially for the occasion.

Speaking exclusively to the Journal, Princess Beatrice said: “It is great to come to the Academy and see some of the excellent work that they do. I think the Academy system has had a really positive impact on children’s education.”

The Queen’s grand-daughter was accompanied by David Ross, head of the David Ross Education Trust which sponsors several academies including Charles Read, and said: “This is a day the kids will remember for a long time.”

After taking time to chat to many of the excited youngsters, the Princess was taken on a tour of the school starting with a display of some of the children’s artwork.

Her Royal Highness then moved on to the sports hall where she displayed a talent for ping-pong, before meeting Olympic 200m runner Christian Malcolm who was also visiting the Academy to give an athletics masterclass to pupils.

Back inside the Princess visited the recently created library and gave advice to children on their reading, and she was also able to help students in another classroom working on a topic she knows a little bit about - the Royal Family.

The penultimate stop on the tour was a greenhouse complete with red carpet, set up by the school for pupils to grow their own produce and plants, a selection of which were presented as a gift to the Princess.

A Royal greeting was also enjoyed by the Academy’s furry residents, with the Princess petting a large grey rabbit called Graham and a couple of guinea pigs.

The visit concluded with an assembly during which acting Principal Robert Sloan and David Ross thanked Her Royal Highness for her time and interest in the Academy, before the Princess added her own thanks and unveiled a plaque officially marking the day.

Mr Sloan added: “One of the great things that we’ve been celebrating today is the number of talented students that we’ve got here.”

Also focusing on the pupils in her speech, Princess Beatrice said: “I have met so many of you and I am so thrilled that this great school can be here for you to write and learn and care for your animals and play your music.

“As somebody that went through school and struggled with my reading and struggled to find my way I am so thankful that there are places like this in the community where you can have your solid base.”

The Teaspoon Tea Company in The George Shopping Centre is hosting a Marie Curie tea party on Wednesday, June 25, to raise money for the charity.

From 9am to 5pm there will be a raffle and various competitions and they will donate £1 from the sale of every pot of tea.

The event is part of the annual campaign encouraging people to hold ‘blooming great tea parties’ to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses.

Owner of the Teaspoon Tea Company Pamela Merryweather said: “I haven’t been directly affected by cancer, but know many people that have. I feel being at home during your final days is very important and supporting this charity will enable many more people to do this.

“Being a teashop we just had to have a ‘blooming great tea party!’ and raise money for this worthy cause.”

The court heard how a man addicted to mephadrone, known as mcat, stole items valued at £300 from his mother and sold them to pay for the drug.

Michael Evans, 33, of Harrowby Close, Grantham admitted to theft by finding of a Panasonic electronic notebook and a Nintendo Wii games console.

Paul Wood, prosecuting, outlined how on two separate occasions Evans stole each item belonging to his mother, which despite their high value he then sold for £10 to pay for mcat.

Evan’s mother had heard him in the early hours of April 6, and then woke to find her electronic notebook missing.

When she confronted him he admitted to the theft and despite her then giving him money to buy it back this was not successful.

After Evans stole the games console on May 29 and once again sold it, she then reported him to police.

Mr Fraser, defending, said Evans had a long-standing problem with drugs, having previously been addicted to heroin but then moved on to the former recreational drug mcat which is now illegal.

However Mr Fraser said his client was now trying to get his life together, and said he had not taken mcat since the last offence and had an interview for a job.

Mr Fraser added: “He is extremely lucky that his Mum is here in court with him, when most parents would probably have washed their hands of him.”

Magistrates also said Evans was ‘lucky’ and described his crime of stealing from his mother as ‘horrible’, before sentencing him to a 12 month community order during which he must complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

In addition Evans was given a compensation order to pay £300 back to his mother, and a victim surcharge of £60.

A 36-year-old currently being held at Lincoln prison for a seperate charge, pleaded guilty via videolink to being drunk and disorderly, breaching a restraining order, and stealing aftershave from Grantham’s branch of Boots.

Prosecutor Tracey Ross told the court how on April 21 police were called to a Cecil Street address to reports of a domestic incident.

On arrival they found Merek Wrobel swaying in the middle of the road, and his ex-partner told the officers that he had come round at her request to see their children despite having a restraining order against him.

Wrobel had been looking after the children but had been drinking a few shots of vodka.

Defending, Giles Tyas said that Wrobel was receiving ‘confusing signals’ from his former partner, who in contradiction to the restraining order often asked him over to look after the children and had also written to him in prison saying that she doesn’t want the order any more.

Regarding the other matter of theft, Miss Ross explained that a week after this breach Wrobel stole a tester bottle of aftershave, valued at £61.50, from Boots on the High Street.

Mr Tyas said this crime was committed on impulse and the aftershave was intended to be kept for himself not sold on for profit.

As Wrobel was already in custody, Grantham magistrates added one day imprisonment for these offences.

Planning applications before South Kesteven District Council include:

Barrowby

S14/1694/NMA - Deborah Donger - Non-material amendments to S14/0381 comprising of elevation and internal alterations, Coe Farm, Denton Lane, Casthorpe.

S14/1695/DC - Deborah Donger - Discharge of conditions 2 (materials), 3 (boundary treatment), 4 (landscaping), 7 (surface water drainage) and 10 (statement of demolition) of S14/0381, Coe Farm, Denton Lane, Casthorpe.

Castle Bytham

S14/1732/TCA - Mr G. Clapinson - Removal of sycamore tree, 17 Cumberland Gardens.

Caythorpe

S14/1530/HSH - Mr K. Ordish - Detached garden machinery store, 4 Lincoln Road.

S14/1742/TPO - Michael Sutch - Reduce large limb of walnut tree (T1) overhanging neighbouring garden by 3-4 metres on lower section and 2-3 metres on upper section. Reduce similar limb on opposite side of the tree by 2-3m, Parkfield, 16 Old Lincoln Road.

Colsterworth

S14/1446/DC - John Wand - Colsterworth Properties Ltd - Approval of details required by Condition 3 (drainage), 4 (materials), 5 (landscaping) and 10 (Archaeological Watching Brief) of S14/0055/FULL, Travelodge, Great North Road.

Great Gonerby

S14/1532/FULL - Mr A. Knox - Erection of detached dwelling, land at Pond Street.

S14/1623/HSH - Mr D. Embling - Single storey rear extension, 9B Grantham Road.

Horbling

S14/1609/FULL - Steve Alexander - Substitution of house type of planning approval S06/1062, 5 Sandygate Court.

Hougham

S14/1750/HSH - Mr and Mrs Neil O’Keefe - Erection of porch - Pine House, Church Lane.

S14/1751/LB - Mr and Mrs Neil O’Keefe - Demolition of lean-to, extension of porch and internal alterations, Pine House, Church Lane.

Little Bytham

S14/1721/HSH - Jo Short Property Services SKDC - External wall insulation, 105-107 Creeton Road.

Londonthorpe and Harrowby Without

S14/1631/FULL - Gary Gilder - Erection of agricultural building, 25 Heath Farm Lane, Grantham.

North Witham

S14/1738/FULL - Adjuvo Energy Ltd - Installation of 165kW anaerobig digestor, process building, digestate drier, gas holder, digestate lagoon and silage clamps, land to the south of Honey Pot Lane, Colsterworth.

Rippingale

S14/1690/FULL - Mr R. Jackson - Change of use of agricultural land to garden land, Cardyke Barns, Fen Road.

Sedgebrook

S14/1748/FULL - Mr C. Copley - Change of use and conversion of existing barn to live/work unit, Manor Farmhouse, Allington Road.

South Witham

S14/1719/FULL - Chris White - Erection of new dwelling with attached garaging following the demolition of the existing property, 33 Water Lane.

S14/1761/TCA - Jim French - Reduce branches of horse chestnut tree overhanging the boundary of 8 Hillview Road, 8 Church Lane.

To view the forms and plans of any planning application click on the link www.southkesteven.gov.uk/planning search/

Top Grantham swimmers set 19 long course club records and eight Lincolnshire county records at the Midlands Age Group Championships

Twelve swimmers from Grantham Swimming Club competed over four days at Coventry and brought home some great results in their most successful championships to date.

Leah Roughan and William Hawkes dominated their age groups in their breaststroke races, setting new county records and achieving gold in both 100m and 200m events.

Another breaststroke swimmer Maddie Barnes swam a good 200m race, having qualified for Midlands for the first time, and finished ninth amongst the 11-year-olds.

Thomas Lewis swam an impressive 200m backstroke and, despite a difficult season, set a new county record.

Cameron Chow swam 200m and 400m freestyle, and 200 individual medley, setting new club records in all events.

Abbie Philips, Abigail Farkas, Isobel Schofield, Molly Colbert and Lara Hawkes all qualified for the competition for the first time and did not fail to impress, with numerous personal bests and club records between them.

The current depth of quality swimmers at GSC was proven by them being able to enter three relay teams for the first time.

The boys finished 11th in the medley relay and first out of all Lincolnshire teams present. Thomas Lewis William Hawkes, Caleb Mackey and Cameron Chow put up a great fight and showed true team spirit.

The top Grantham girls’ relay team were 14th and again first out of Lincolnshire teams, with Imogen Raistrick Leah Roughan, Isobel Schofield and Molly Colbert.

The second relay was entered with the club’s youngest swimmers and the team was seeded last. However, Abigail Farkas, Maddie Barnes, Abbie Philips and Lara Hawkes did an amazing job, leaving two teams in their wake.

Two swimmers, Leah Roughan and William Hawkes have now qualified for the National Age Group Championships and will be heading to Ponds Forge in August.

A single mother has admitted to taking £70 worth of children’s clothing from Grantham’s branch of Matalan.

Emma Noonan, 29, of Dingley Court in Peterborough, pleaded guilty to the theft on May 23 from the retailer on Dysart Road.

The court heard how at 3.20pm a member of staff saw Noonan acting suspiciously by the children’s clothing area.

Ross was also picked up by CCTV and was stopped by security when she tried to leave with an unnamed man, and the stolen children’s clothes were found in a bag then left at the store.

When Noonan was later arrested and interviewed by police she fully admitted to the shoplifting.

This offence breached three conditional discharges Noonan had received for previous thefts, and the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report until July 14.

Noonan remains on bail with the condition not to enter Matalan.

Thieves took a liking to sets of wheels on vehicles in Denton on Friday.

All four wheels were removed from two vehicles in the village in the early hours, between 2am and 6am.

One was parked up in Cawthra Court and the other in Main Street.

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

Grantham Town Supporters’ Club lotto (sponsored by Galaxy Fish Bar), winners of June 21 draw:

£200 – 713 C. Fardell; £10 – 416 J. Hipwell, 424 M. Darnell; £5 – 229 Mrs Williams, 80 O. McGrane, 293 R. Davies, 103 S. Leete, 159 M. Hodgkinson.

The third Bottesford and District Angling Association Friday sweepstake was won by B. Baines.

Results: 1 B. Baines 5lb 9oz 0dr, 2 J. Brockway 3.08.04, 3 A. Howe 3.00.00, 4 N. Fisher 1.11.06.

This Sunday’s match at Wellow Dam is already fully booked.

A woman who robbed a Grantham bank and attempted to rob another has been handed two concurrent two-year prison sentences.

Nicola Lehair was sentenced today at Lincoln Crown Court after admitting the robbery and attempted robbery of the banks earlier this year in the town.

At around 2.30pm on April 30 Lehair, 28, entered the Yorkshire Bank on the High Street in Grantham and demanded money from staff. She claimed to have a gun but no weapon was seen. She then fled the bank on foot, having made off with just over £2,300.

Police were called and launched a thorough investigation, trawling through CCTV images and dispatching numerous officers in the area to carry out witness interviews and follow up the various leads that came into the Force.

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said that 15 days later Lehair, wearing sunglasses and a peaked cap in a bid to disguise herself, entered the Santander Bank in Grantham and waited patiently in the queue before handing a note to the cashier. She again demanded cash but walked out when the cashier appeared to hesitate.

Lehair, of Goodliff Road, Grantham, admitted robbery on April 30 and attempted robbery on May 15.

Recorder Patrick Upward QC told her “Offences of this kind inevitably lead to a prison sentence. I bear in mind you are a woman of good character and you were under considerable pressure. No weapon was used or produced.”

Mark McNeil, defending, said that after losing her job in January Lehair took out a pay day loan and got into financial difficulties as she had no income to repay the money.

He said she was under pressure from the loan firm and added “This is out of character. She felt so desperate financially. She didn’t tell her husband. She felt in despair.”

Following her guilty pleas at a previous hearing at Lincoln Crown Court, Lehair was jailed for two years for each offence to run concurrently.

Speaking after the culmination of the case DI Pete Grayson, of Grantham CID, said: “We are pleased with the sentence imposed by the court, which reflects how serious the crimes were that Lehair carried out.

“Not only did she terrify and show total disregard for bank staff when she walked into those two establishments and claimed to have a gun, but she also tried to steal from the hard-working members of our communities who had their funds invested in those banks.

“Part of her reasoning for carrying out this robbery and attempting another was that the pressures of her difficult financial situation were weighing so heavy that she was driven to extreme measures. I don’t accept that. Many people in our society are facing similar hardships and don’t act in a similar way, or even consider it.

“We hope that the successful prosecution and conviction of Lehair will demonstrate how committed Lincolnshire Police is to tackling all types of serious crime.”

A former army sergeant who said he used alcohol to deal with what he saw while on active service appeared in court charged with driving an HGV over the limit on the A1.

Darren Prett, 40, of Highfield Grove, Allerton-by-Water pleaded guilty to driving with 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Paul Wood, prosecuting, detailed how on May 28 at just before 4pm a 24 tonne Scania lorry was pulled over by police on the A1 northbound near Stoke Rochford because it had a faulty rear light.

Prett, who had been driving since 6.41 that morning, smelt of alcohol and so was breathalysed and after recording the high reading was taken to Grantham police station.

Giles Tyas, defending, explained how Prett had drunk a few cans of beer the night before and one can with his lunch, not realising he would be over the limit.

He added this his client was a former alcoholic but had not touched a drop of alcohol since this incident, as a result of which he had lost his job as a HGV driver.

Moreover this had left him and his fiancee in financial difficulties and having to put their wedding planned for next year on hold.

Fourteen years earlier Prett had performed active service as a sergeant in the army, and Tyas told the court: “He used alcohol to cope with some of the things he saw.”

In order for a pre-sentence report on the defendant to be compiled, Grantham magistrates adjourned the case to July 9 and referred it to Wakefield and Pontefract Magistrates’ Court, with Prett remaining on unconditional bail but with an interim driving disqualification.

A Grantham man has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after being accused of 18 offences including sharing indecent images of children.

Graham Kirk, 57, of Hawthorn Court, Grantham, was sentenced on Friday by Judge Heath at Lincoln Crown Court. He was charged with 18 offences relating to making, possessing and sharing indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography and prohibited images.

DC Nicky Linn, of the Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT), said, “We hope it sends a reassuring message to the County that this man will serve a significant sentence for making and possessing indecent images. It’s also a clear message to offenders that this will not be tolerated.”