As we don’t appear to be getting the opportunity in Grantham to quiz either the candidates or those responsible for next month’s Police and Crime Commissioner polls, I would like to ask a question via the Journal:

‘If this new policy is indeed intended to be more openly democratic than before, why have individual members of the police force had their freedom of speech and human rights infringed by being banned from discussing the November 15 elections with the general public?’

Peter Clawson

Welham Street, Grantham

Grantham Badminton Club men’s third team were thrashed at Lincoln, losing lost nine rubbers to zero in their Newark League Division Three match against Lincoln Albion 2nd.

The ladies’ first team faced Cross O’ Cliff in Division One. But they won 5-4 in a tight match over with the team of Sophie Turley, Kerry Durham, Jaz Gilbert, Susie Steeples, Sonal Modi and Laura Graves.

We read (Journal, October 12) of an opportunity to listen to candidates for the forthcoming Police and Crime Commissioner elections at an evening meeting in Boston.

However, given the location, the timing and the cost of fuel, how many potential Lincolnshire voters from Grantham or Gainsborough - Lincoln or Louth - Stamford or Skegness would make such a return journey?

More significantly, these new roles appear to have responsibilities which most readers would have hoped and assumed were already being covered by the present judicial system. If any police force is deemed to be inefficient and ineffective can the Chief Constable not presently be held to account - and if not, why not? Are police funds not already overseen - if not, why not? Are police objectives and resources not currently planned - if not, why not?

The final, unanswered question is, of course, how much is this unnecessary, additional bureaucracy going to cost the tax-payers who never requested it?

Brian Bruce

Bourne Road, Colsterworth

A teenager, who claimed to be ‘off his head on drugs’, told Grantham magistrates that he could not remember walking out of a Grantham supermarket with a stolen television.

Ashley Joynes, 18, of no fixed abode, went to Morrisons on September 21 and took the £129.99 TV.

Jim Clare, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was arrested three days afterwards, his response was ‘I was off my head on drugs, I didn’t remember doing it until later that day’.”

The offence put Joynes in breach of a community order.

Giles Tyas, defending, said Joynes’ personal life was chaotic and arguments with his grandfather had led to him being homeless.

He had taken MCAT because he was feeling depressed.

Magistrates revoked his existing community order and imposed a 12 month community order with supervision and 140 hours of unpaid work. He was not ordered to pay costs.

Grantham Town once again threw away a half-time lead when they conceded twice in the second half to gift victory to the visitors.

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Premier Division

Grantham Town 2

Hednesford Town 3

The Gingerbreads competed equally with Hednesford, particularly in first half, although the visitors looked quite a threat early on.

Jimmy Lindley was forced to make a great reaction save in the opening minute, from which Rhys Lewis cleared the remaining danger.

Grantham’s first attack came in the seventh minute. Conor Higginson provided a good long ball to Paul Grimes who was able to put a squared ball back to the advancing Higginson, who was eventually muscled off the ball.

The Gingerbreads went in front in the 18th minute. A good build-up involving Damian Magee and Martin Ball ended in Grimes slotting home from Higginson’s saved attempt.

Ball slipped as he let loose a cross-cum-shot but his effort still forced a save from Dan Crane. Ball had another pop from 25 yards which was not far over the target.

Crane had to dive to save Lewis’s 25th minute attempt and needed to smother a shot from Grimes a minute later.

Hednesford pulled a goal back on 35 minutes when Neil Harvey headed in from a free kick. But the Gingerbreads responded immediately. Sam Puricoe curled a beautiful cross which was headed in with aplomb by Lee Potts.

Grantham had a move early in the second half when Jamie McGhee ran upfield from deep in his own half and laid the ball off to Grimes, whose shot was deflected wide.

Chances were shared sparingly as the half wore on before Hednesford struck a second time in the 76th minute from an Elliott Durrell volley.

The visitors’ 82nd minute winner saw Sean O’Connor smartly volley in a Durrell cross.

Grantham Town: Lindley, Purcicoe, Magee (Battersby, 89), Lewis, Meikle, Watt (c), McGhee (Nwadike, 82), Ball, Grimes, Higginson (Demidh, 63), Potts. Subs not used: Robinson, Brindley. Att: 227.

A man asked for seven further charges to be taken into account after admitting burglary in Heathfield Road, Grantham.

Luke Mayer, 29, of Heathfield Road, Grantham, admitted taking two sat navs, a wallet, golf clubs and a cooker, as well as trespassing and handling a stolen motorbike.

Former heroin addict Mayer went into an unoccupied house in Heathfield Road but discovered the house had already been broken into and everything of value was gone.

Jim Clare said Mayer admitted that if there had been anything to steal he would have taken it.

Rory Macmillan, defending, said Mayer wanted the other matters to be taken into account so he could start with a clean slate.

Mayer was released on unconditional bail .

Harrowby United’s winning run in UCL Division One came to a halt at home against a robust Northampton Spencer side .

Harrowby United 2

Northampton Spencer 2

The Millers were worthy winners having soaked up all Harrowby’s first half pressure and then clinically taking their chances in a scrappy second period.

The Arrows created numerous chances early in the game and controlled the opening half but failed to convert opportunities time and again.

Martin Wormall headed over from six yards out after a nice cross in from Scott Webb. Lee Shaw and Wormall both missed out on one-on-one situations, and Shaw was unlucky when Spencer’s keeper pushed his header on to the crossbar midway through the first half.

Harrowby never got going in the second half and were punished after 69 minutes when Dove came through from midfield and shot home from the edge of the box.

The home side failed to respond and apart from a Sam Weatherstone shot from distance that was well saved, never really troubled the visitors goal.

Harrowby were also grateful to keeper Jack Drury who made a couple of smart saves to keep them in the game .

On 86 minutes, United substitute Bobby Lee was sent off after reacting to being held by Spencer’s left-back and Arrows co- manager Jay Harrison joined him after arguing the decision. In injury time Simpson made it 2-0 to the Millers with a great strike from just outside the box.

Harrowby’s man of the match was Sam Hill.

Harrowby: Drury, Weatherstone, Gibson (Hardy), Hill, Whyley, Webb (Mayers), Bolland, Sheridan (Lee), Harper, Wormall, Shaw.

A man who went out in town to check if he was still on the Pubwatch scheme was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

Craig Smith, 24, of Uplands Drive, Grantham, was banned from various pubs in the town after being put on the scheme two years ago.

He was allowed into the pubs on September 30 but was thrown out of The King’s Arms, in Westgate, at around 1.40am.

He was very unsteady on his feet and promptly fell over.

A police officer, who was aware that he had just been made to leave the pub, told Smith to go home.

Jim Clare, prosecuting, said: “It was obvious that the defendant was very drunk.”

He started to argue with the officer and was arrested, having to be taken straight to a cell at Grantham Police Station as he was being abusive.

Smith, who admitted the charge, defended himself.

He said: “It shouldn’t have happened, I only went out that night because I was previously on Pubwatch and I wanted to see if I was allowed in any pubs because the following week I was best man for my mate’s stag do. I got into the pubs, had too many and messed up. I’m not on Pubwatch any more, but I probably will be again now.”

Smith was fined £75 and ordered to pay £40 towards costs and £15 victim surcharge. The conviction put him in breach of a 12 month conditional discharge from January 25 but magistrates said it was close to ending so they would let it run.

A Grantham man who admitted drug dealing charges has walked free from Lincoln Crown Court with a suspended jail sentence.

Craig White was found with over £250 worth of cannabis when he was stopped and searched by police in Hornsby Road, Grantham.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said White’s phone was seized and later examined.

He added: “The phone is of significance. It appears he was being directed as to what to do and as to where to go although he did a little bit of street dealing as well.”

White was released and bailed but five months later was stopped again by officers as he cycled along Goodliff Road in the town. White ran away but discarded a plastic bag which was later found to contain £400 worth of cannabis.

Mr Howes said: “We say he was a commercial supplier and played a significant role. Clearly he was a trusted lieutenant of others.”

Craig White, 27, of Clyde Court, pleaded guilty to possession of 40.58g of cannabis with intent to supply on March 27. He also admitted possession of 25.48g of the same drug with intent to supply on October 27, 2011.

He was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years with 12 months’ supervision.

Recorder Gareth Evans QC told him: “I’m prepared to give you a chance. This is your opportunity to put this behind you.”

Chris Milligan, defending, said White turned to drug dealing as a way of earning money after falling on hard times.

He said White, who receives carer’s allowance to look after his partner, has “dramatically” cut back his own use of cannabis and plans to give up completely.

A man who started his Christmas shopping by stealing four jumpers from Matalan had his case adjourned by Grantham magistrates.

Richard Godson, 61, of Princess Drive, Grantham, admitted taking the clothing, which was worth £56 at 10am on September 28.

He was spotted on CCTV taking the items and stopped by the store manager outside.

Bill Fraser, defending, said this was Godson’s fifth appearance in court in the last year.

He said: “He has obviously come off the rails somewhat.

“He went into the store with the intention of buying Christmas presents but he succumbed to temptation and put them in his bag.”

The next hearing of his case will be on November 5 at 3pm. He was released on conditional bail not to enter Matalan.

A former RAF serviceman who downloaded thousands of indecent images of children has been jailed for 12 months at Lincoln Crown Court.

Andrew Knight was arrested after police raided his room at RAF Leeming and seized computer equipment.

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said checks on the computer revealed that Knight had been making images available for others to access over a file sharing website.

Chatlog entries were found in which Knight discussed his interest in child pornography.

Over 15,000 indecent images of children were found on the computer equipment as well as a number of extreme pornography images featuring sex between adults and animals.

Mr Scott said: “The police also found 268 text files on a memory card containing stories concerning incest and sexual activity with children.”

When Knight was interviewed he admitted seeking out adult pornography on the internet but denied he had an interest in children.

Knight, 40, of Troughton Walk in South Witham, pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of indecent photographs on April 13, 2011, and a further charge of possessing 63 extreme pornographic images. He also admitted 10 charges of making an indecent image of a child on dates between December 13, 2009, and February 28, 2011.

Judge Sean Morris placed Knight on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and told him: “This is not a victimless crime. Far from it.

“Where there is a desire to see more and more that desire has to be fed by somebody somewhere. It involves some little girl who is going to be sexually abused in order to gratify those who like watching such things. This material generates that sort of abuse.”

Jonathon Dee, defending, said Knight resigned from the RAF following his arrest and has moved back to live with his parents in South Witham.

He said: “He is consumed with shame. He would never have come before the court had the internet not been invented. It is the anonymity of the internet that allowed him to be in this position.

“The vast majority of what he was looking at was perfectly legal. It would appear there has been a progression into more and more extreme material.

“Now he has lost his job and has severe depression.”

Altering a cheque with the intention of gaining £446.63 landed a man with a three month curfew.

Adrian Scott, 35, was living in Harrowby Road, Grantham, when the cheque from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was posted to his house. He admitted stealing it and fraudulently trying to claim the money.

He claimed that he did not know the addressee but she claimed it had been arranged that he would accept her mail.

Scott photocopied the cheque, changing the name and National Insurance number to his own before putting it into the self-service machine at Barclays Bank, in Grantham High Street on February 7.

When a member of staff opened the machine they noticed the cheque and contacted HMRC.

Giles Tyas, defending, said the fraud and theft of the cheque was opportunistic to help him with money problems.

He said: “Scott saw the cheque for someone else, had photocopied it and gone to the bank and attempted to pay it in.

“He’s been out of work now for a year. He saw an opportunity which he shouldn’t have taken. He needed the £450 to keep the wolf from the door.”

Magistrates put Scott, who now lives in Breakwater Bungalows, Sutton on Sea, on a six month community order with a three month curfew between 7pm and 7am.

Reports were ordered for a man who admitted swearing and kicking at police and putting a phone down his cell toilet after being arrested in St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, on September 26.

Richard Hart, 25, of Stour Court, Grantham, was with friends at 4.30pm when police officers were called in response to their anti-social behaviour.

Hart became abusive with the officers and resisted arrest, the court heard.

Jim Clare, prosecuting, said: “Whilst being escorted into the police station he kicked out twice at the officer, making contact.”

Rob Arthur, defending, said: “He was handed the phone and that ended up down the toilet.”

Hart claimed that he had not drunk for around a month before the incident.

Hart’s case was adjourned until October 22 while reports are prepared.

A care worker stole hundreds of pounds from an elderly disabled woman using her bank card, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Caroline Sykes, 29, who worked at the Birchwood Residential Home in Grantham, withdrew £1,900 from the account of her 74-year-old victim using the woman’s debit card.

Christopher Lowe, prosecuting, said Sykes also used the card to shop at stores including B&M Bargains and Superdrug.

Mr Lowe said: “This came to light as a result of concerns raised by the victim’s bank.

“The bank contacted the care home and inquiries began that led to the instant dismissal of the defendant.

“She was then interviewed by the police and made false assertions that she had the woman’s permission to use the card.”

Sykes, of Marratts Court in Great Gonerby, admitted theft between June 9-30, 20111 and five charges of fraud.

She was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 12 months’ supervision and a three-month night-time curfew.

Recorder Gareth Evans QC said: “You have pleaded guilty to these offences which were a breach of trust.

“You used an old lady’s card in order to get £2,000. Because there was a breach of trust I have to pass a custodial sentence but it is not an immediate one.”

Stuart Lody, defending, urged that Sykes, who has a two-month-old baby, should not go to prison.

He added: “The offending was committed when she was undergoing a major depressive episode.”

A Grantham man caught with a knuckleduster while he was under the threat of a suspended prison sentence for his part in a violent pub brawl has been jailed for 15 months at Lincoln Crown Court.

Shaun Page was found with the weapon when police officers raided a flat in Station Road, Grantham, as part of an unconnected investigation.

Page, who was at the flat with two other men, was searched during the raid and the knuckleduster was discovered in his back pocket.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said Page told officers the weapon belonged to somebody else and he had forgotten it was in his pocket.

Page, 23, of Tamar Court, admitted possession of an offensive weapon on June 1. He also admitted breach of a suspended jail sentence imposed at the court in November 2011 for affray following an incident in The Priory pub in Grantham.

Recorder Gareth Evans QC said: “There can be no good for reason for anybody carrying a knuckleduster. I have no doubt that when you were given a suspended sentence you were told that if you committed a further offence within the period then you would have to serve it. I take the view that there has to be an immediate prison sentence.”

Justin Atkinson, defending, said Page picked up the knuckleduster at a party and intended to throw it away.

He said: “It went into his back pocket where he forgot about it.

“He didn’t appreciate the seriousness of his actions. The weapon was never brandished and there was no sinister intention behind his possession of it.”

He said Page has two children and has recently discovered that his current girlfriend is pregnant.

Grantham struggled to come to terms with a tricky pitch at Boston, losing to one of their nearest rivals in a typically keenly contested affair.

East League Division 5NW

Boston 5

Grantham 2

Boston started quickest, scoring a simple tap-in following confusion in the Grantham D after the first of many long balls was drilled into the danger area.

More goals were to follow for the home side as Grantham failed to find their feet among the mud at Peter Paine Sports Centre. Twice Boston committed players forward and found their numerical advantage crucial in the final third as long balls found players in space who were able to work it into the goal.

Grantham recovered with a strong showing for the final 15 minutes of the half, Dave Braunton’s cross from outside the D finding its way into the back of the Boston net via a defender’s foot. As the defensive trio of Dave Braunton, Mark Richardson and Rob Buxton got to grips with the pitch, Grantham began to use their possession wisely and looked dangerous for long periods.

However, Grantham suffered a setback immediately after the restart. Losing possession in midfield, they were unable to stop a strong run through the centre and, with defenders slipping on the surface, clearing attempts on goal proved difficult, with one shot finding its way past Will Leadenham.

Grantham fought back hard and shaded most of the second half. Sublime passing moves, involving Mark Gray, Specsavers man-of-the-match Sam Macallister and Alex Clark, played in tireless forward Paul Hollingworth several times, but the luck remained with the home team as stout defending saw Grantham thwarted.

Mark Pearce, making his first team debut having only picked up a stick for the first time in August, offered support from the left wing, while Will Hill was full of running, happy to rotate with forwards and wingers alike throughout the game.

Grantham’s play got the reward it merited later in the half when David Nix converted a penalty corner with a sweetly struck shot to the far post, and he was to see another such strike cleared off the line later in the game.

Soon after, Boston scored a penalty corner of their own, slotting down the middle of the goal with Leadenham, who had a fine game, wrong-footed in the mud.

Both teams were evenly match throughout and Grantham can consider themselves unlucky to have gone down by such a margin. Boston used home advantage smartly but Grantham will be confident of being able to turn things around at the Meres.

Despite the defeat, as all but two matches in the league were drawn, Grantham remain three places clear of the relegation zone on six points from as many matches.

Grantham: Leadenham, Braunton, Nix, Richardson, Gray, Pearce, Hill, MacAllister, Clarke, Buxton, Groom (c), Hollingworth.

The first ladies’ match of the season saw Belvoir defeated 6-3 at Mars.

In Men’s Division One, a two-pair Belvoir lost 7-2 at Meltonshire before reversing their fortunes with a 7-2 victory at home to Bottesford.

Last year’s runners-up Bottesford started strongly again in Mixed Division One, triumphing 8-1 at Staveley Amateurs. Belvoir Bottesford lost 7-2 at Mars B in Mixed Division Two whilst Belvoir won 5-4 at home to Grantham B.

Results:

Ladies’ Division One

Mars 6 Belvoir 3

Steph Pick and Sharon Chapman beat Karen Mabbott and Margaret Roskell 17-21, 22-20, 21-10; lost to Katie Mogg and Jane Roberts 21-19, 17-21, 12-21; beat Ally Haynes and Jessie Harries 21-10, 21-10; Marie Jones and Jane Scatchard won 18-21, 21-14, 21-11; lost 14-21, 13-21; won 21-15, 21-13; Sandra Watson and Tracey White won 21-10, 22-20; lost 17-21, 13-21; won 21-8, 21-7.

Men’s Division One

Meltonshire 7 Belvoir 2

Tim Walker and Tom Easom beat Oliver Sharpe and Andy Burdett 21-12, 21-9; beat Phill Pugh and Paul Haynes 16-21, 21-18, 24-22; (Away concede) Luke Atkinson and Steve Smith won 21-18, 21-14; lost 15-21, 16-21; (Away concede) Ryan Wade and Dave Hemens won 21-14, 21-12; lost 10-21, 15-21; (Away concede).

Belvoir 7 Bottesford 2

Christian Smith and Phill Pugh beat Stephen Moyses and Simon Gant 21-7, 21-7; beat Ian Jobe and Bruce Baxter 21-11, 21-9; beat Glen Brown and David Borat 21-11, 21-8; Paul Haynes and John Watchorn won 21-10, 21-14; won 21-15, 17-21, 21-11; won 21-13, 21-8; Andy Burdett and Dan Christmas lost 15-21, 17-21; lost 16-21, 12-21; won 21-18, 21-19.

Mixed Division One

Staveley Amateurs A 1 Bottesford 8

Dora Kutkus and Casey Miller beat Sally Brown and Bruce Baxter 21-19, 13-21, 22-20; lost to Shirley Stevenson and Andy Ballard 18-21, 15-21; lost to Linda Hallam and Ian Jobe 13-21, 13-21; Jackie Ellis and Sly Cheung lost 18-21, 19-21; lost 17-21, 11-21; lost 7-21, 18-21; Carolyn Sayers and Graham Hyman lost 16-21, 14-21; lost 21-15, 13-21, 17-21; lost 21-23, 13-21.

Mixed Division Two

Belvoir B 5 Grantham B 4

Jessie Harries and Oliver Sharpe beat Moira Mills and Josh Gould 21-18, 15-21, 21-9; beat Kat Perry and Mike Woodhouse 21-17, 24-22; lost to Sophie Lamb and Ian Witham 17-21, 21-17, 17-21; Gill Parkinson and Dave Core lost 18-21, 12-21; won 30-28, 21-11; lost 17-21, 14-21; (Away concede) lost 15-21, 21-17, 16-21; won 21-16, 21-14.

Mars B 7 Belvoir Bottesford A 2

Clare Gough and James Eccles lost to Tracey Barnes and Simon Blaydon 15-21, 21-18, 15-21; beat Jean Wright and Charlie Wileen 21-19, 21-17; beat Kirsty Barnes and Trevor Sowerbutts 21-12, 21-14; Sandra Watson and Adam Hirst lost 17-21, 21-18, 17-21; won 21-9, 21-15; won 21-7, 21-15; Steph Pick and Gavin Watkin won 22-20, 13-21, 21-14; won 21-13, 21-12; won 21-10, 21-10.

Kesteven travelled to Southwell confident of extending their winning start to the season – but knew they would be in for a tough encounter.

Midlands League 3 East (North)

Southwell 10

Kesteven 10

Southwell made a great start to the match and put Ks under pressure with several phases of play, controlling the game well. They showed their confidence when they kicked an early penalty to the corner and executed a catch and drive. The conversion was good and the gave the home side an early 7-0 lead.

Ks responded well and looked to attack through the centre and out wide, but struggled to get their usual supply of clean ball as Southwell dominated the set-piece.

Eventually Goodrich made a good break and broke several tackles, before being held up just short. The ball was recycled quickly and Woolerton drove over from the back of the ruck to score.

Now looking more confident, Kesteven continued to attack and some good handling from Hudson allowed Taylor some space on the wing. He raced away and broke the final tackle to score a great try in the corner to put his side ahead at the break.

After a slow start, Ks were back on track and confident of taking the game to Southwell in the second half. But it was Southwell who upped their game as they continued to trouble Kesteven at the breakdown and set-piece.

The home side slotted a penalty to level the scores and generally remained camped in the Kesteven half for the rest of the half.

Man of the match was Kieran Taylor.

Kesteven: Whittaker, Hughes, Hudson, Goodrich, Taylor, Parker, Dent, Odams, Brown, Purvis, Pert, Cowley, Flear, Turner, Woolerton. Reps: Sheardown, Webster, Harland.

Midlands League 5 East (North)

Bingham 53

Cresswell Crusaders 0

Bingham bounced back from two successive defeats with victory over Cresswell, maintaining their 100 per cent league record.

A quick start had Bingham ahead with a penalty from Anthony Thomas. The lead was extended when Andy Birznieks ran straight down the middle. Nick Halstead made use of an overlap to make it 15-0.

A further Anthony Thomas penalty was added and a Pete Mount turnover allowed the ball to go wide for Birzniek’s second. Anthony Thomas kicked the conversion.

After the break, Halstead caught a clearance, chipped over and collected his kick, before running in under the posts. Will Packer’s kick was good.

Birznieks scored a further three tries, the last two conversion attempts kicked successfully by Anthony Thomas.

Under-13

Kesteven 41

Bourne 0

Kesteven faced Bourne for their first NLD Shield League fixture last Sunday.

The Black Army secured a bonus point victory against their local rivals and, despite being without a number of regular players, fielded a side capable of running in seven tries against spirited opposition.

First half tries from Harry Cox, Josh Kwasau and Harry Bartlett ensured victory was Kesteven’s half time.

In the second half, the backs were able to move the ball with relative ease and slowly the forwards took grip on the game with second rows Curtis Taylor and Oliver Jakes crashing over for a try apiece. Backs Devlin Archer and George Wainwight ensured a bonus point win was in the bag. Freddie Young kicked three conversions.

Kesteven: Archer, Bartlett, Brenton, Brewis, Clark, B. Cole, J. Cole, Cox, Del-Brocco, Finley, Harey Fuller, Jakes, Kwasau, Lodge, Peters, Rogerson, Sheard, A. Tapson, T. Tapson, Taylor, Wainwright, Young.

Under-12

Kesteven 35

Sleaford 0

Kesteven scored from the very first kick of the game, with Danny Moore making a devastating run to put Ethan Archer away to finish the move with a try.

Strong challenges resulted in a number of turnovers, one of which allowed Ks to mount an attack that was finished by the forwards driving over Sleaford’s line, with Chester Shelbourne emerging from the bottom of the pile for the try. Ben Whinney converted both tries to take Ks into the second half 14-0 up.

Jack Pirie scored tries in the second half and Archer bagged his second. All were converted by Whinney .

Kesteven: Archer, Casey, Desmond, Donnelly, Eagle, Kershaw, Moore, Nel, Norsworthy, Pirie, Seage, Shelbourn, Smart, Sweeney, Thomas, Whinney, Wright.

A burglar has been jailed for six months after admitting two raids in Grantham town centre.

Carl Jackson was caught by CCTV at King’s School conference room at the junction of Church Street and Castlegate.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that a member of staff spotted Jackson on the CCTV system as the intruder climbed over a fence onto the pavement.

The man carried out an extensive search but could not find Jackson but soon afterwards the defendant appeared on the CCTV again this time standing outside the same building.

Mr Howes said the member of staff ran after Jackson who fled. The man followed Jackson to the St Wulfram’s church hall and contacted police.

Officers arrived to find a window of the church hall was broken with a large rock left on the floor. Jackson was found inside. He had poured four tins of soup into a bowl.

The damage caused to the two buildings came to over £1,000.

Jackson, 29, of Harrowby Lane, Grantham, admitted charges of burglary and attempted burglary on July 15. He was jailed for six months but is likely to be released immediately because of the amount of time he has spent in custody on remand awaiting his sentence.

Stuart Lody, defending, said Jackson had a problem with drink but has “dried out” while in custody.

He added: “These offences were simply to feed his alcoholism. Drink is clearly the background. He once managed to get himself off heroin which was no mean feat but he then resorted to alcohol.

“He knows that if he continues to drink alcohol at the rate he has been doing then he is not going to last beyond his 30s.”

Featuring in this Friday’s Grantham Journal will be reception classes at Cliffedale Primary School in Grantham.

The photos are part of a series we’ll be running in the coming editions as a big welcome to new starters at primary schools on the Journal news patch.

So keep an eye out for your little one’s face.

If you wish to buy this reception class photo, call the Journal reception on 01476 562291 and quote the photo number 699C.