What's crime news near you - east Cambs and west Norfolk

Covering Swaffham in Norfolk, to Wisbech in  Cambridgeshire, and as far north as Hunstanton, which an area of about 600 square miles

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http://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/news/latest-news/fenland-district-council-welcomes-sentencing-of-gangmasters-1-6489927

Fenland District Council has welcomed the jail sentences handed down to two Latvian gangmasters who have been exploiting vulnerable migrant workers.

Ivars Mezals and Juris Valujevs were found guilty last week of acting as unlicensed gangmasters following a nine-week trial at Blackfriars Crown Court in London.

Mezals, aged 28, previously of Conference Way, Wisbech, was given an 18-month sentence while Valujevs, 36, of Turbus Road, Kings Lynn, was sentenced to one year and four months.

The trial arose as a result of Operation Pheasant and Operation Endeavour, joint activities carried out by a partnership comprising Fenland District Council, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue, The Gangmaster Licensing Authority (GLA), Home Office Immigration Enforcement and HM Revenues and Customs.
Mezals was one of those arrested during a coordinated day of action on October 15 last year. Valujevs was arrested three days later.

Cllr Will Sutton, Fenland Council’s Cabinet member responsible for overseeing the council’s role in Operation Pheasant, said: “We welcome the verdicts and the sentences. I hope that they will send out a very strong message to those who exploit others for their own gain that their actions will not be tolerated.

“I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved by the council, Councillor David Oliver, my predecessor in this role, and the rest of the Operation Pheasant partnership and of all the officers and teams who worked on Operation Endeavour.

“We played a significant role in that day of action. In partnership with the police, we led the running of the reception centre which looked after and assisted 82 vulnerable migrant workers for three days. This took significant planning and effective partnership working to ensure that the complex needs of those individuals were met.

“Our partnership work will continue to ensure that those who ruthlessly exploit vulnerable people are brought to justice.”

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http://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/news/latest-news/police-appeal-after-man-approaches-boy-in-march-changing-rooms-1-6479812

Police are appealing for more information after a 15-year-old boy was approached by a man at the George Campbell Leisure Centre in March.

The victim was in the men’s changing rooms when a man approached him and made comments of a sexual nature between 11.30am and 12.45pm on Sunday, December 7.
The man is described as being between 25 and 40 years-old, of medium build with short brown hair.

Det Con Rachel Weeks said: “The victim is shocked and embarrassed by what happened so I would urge anyone who may have information to contact police.

“I am keen to speak to the man in the CCTV images as I believe he has important information about what happened.”
Anyone with information should call DC Weeks on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/local/latest-local-news/police-appeal-over-brancaster-heating-oil-theft-1-6512454

Hundreds of litres of heating oil were stolen from a house in Brancaster over the Christmas and New Year period, police say.

Witnesses are being urged to come forward in connection with the theft, which happened at a property in Main Road, sometime between 2pm on Christmas Eve and 11am last Sunday, January 4.

Officers believe that around 800 litres of fuel was stolen from a tank on the premises.

Anyone who witnessed the raid, saw any suspicious activity in the area, or who has information, is asked to contact

PC Stephen Carter, of Hunstanton police, via the non-emergency 101 number (calls cost 15p).

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http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/local/latest-local-news/police-appeal-over-south-wootton-wellington-boot-theft-1-6501675

Pair of designer wellington boots have been stolen in South Wootton.

Police say the green Le Chameau boots, worth around £250, were stolen from outside a property in Priory Lane sometime between 6.15pm on December 30 and 8am the following day.
Witnesses should call PC Heather Whitmore on 101 with information.

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http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/local/latest-local-news/police-probe-swaffham-street-assault-1-6502013

A man was given the unwelcome Christmas present of a split lip when he was assaulted in a street.
Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which happened in London Street, Swaffham, between 8.25pm and 8.40pm on Christmas Eve, to come forward.
A Norfolk Police spokesman said the victim, who is in his late 20s, was walking along London Street when he was approached by a man who punched him several times in the face, causing him to suffer a split lip.

The attacker is described as white, (no sh1t Sherlock) aged between 35 and 45, around five feet 10 inches tall and with a balding head. He is also said to have been wearing a black jacket.
Anyone who saw the incident, or who has information about it, should contact PC Emma Riches, at Dereham police station, via the non-emergency 101 number (calls cost 15p)

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http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/local/latest-local-news/police-probe-king-s-lynn-moped-theft-1-6506046

A moped was stolen from a property on Lynn’s Fairstead estate at the weekend.
The machine, registration number AE14 LCF, was stolen from an address on Kings Green sometime between 11am and 5.15pm on Sunday, January 4.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact PC Claire Ranger, of Lynn police, on 101.

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http://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/news/latest-news/vandals-damage-christmas-tree-at-wisbech-hospital-1-6474669

Patients and staff at North Cambridgeshire Hospital have been upset after vandals have raided their Christmas tree.

Over the weekend yobs have stolen baubles and wrecked lights from the 12ft Christmas tree, which had been delighting patients and visitors to the site.
Friends of Wisbech Hospital have paid more than £150 for the tree and its decorations to add some festive cheer.
Hospital support manager Mandy Pears said staff have been disappointed by the theft.
She said: “It is really disheartening that someone could do that.
“For the morale of staff and the patients the tree has been important. This is the second year Friends of Wisbech Hospital have funded this.
“We have had several calls from people outraged that someone could do this.
“Due to infection control, fewer and fewer internal decorations are put up.”
One set of lights which decorated the tree has been damaged in the incident.
Staff at the hospital will be checking CCTV footage in the hopes of tracking down the vandals.
Mrs Pears said: “Who has done this should think about the damage they have caused. This has to have been done as a prank and they should think about how they have hurt people.”
Vice-chairman of the Friends of Wisbech Hospital Malcolm Bruce said the theft was “beyond comprehension”.
He said: “I just can’t believe someone would do this. It shows a lack of respect.
“To steal from a hospital is sickening.
“We would be willing to buy some new ones but these people would be back another night.”
If anyone would like to donate baubles to replace the missing ones, please drop them into the hospital’s reception.