Domestic Abuser Jailed, Stolen Vehicles Recovered, Nottinghamshire Regeneration Vision & More

Happy Monday to you all and I hope you had a great weekend. Plenty of Police action to reported on today including the jailing of a domestic abuser, here is today's newsletter covering all things Bassetlaw, surrounding areas and of course - your daily puzzle fix.

You will also see that throughout June we are running a fabulous competition to win tickets to 'Beyond Van Gogh' or 'Beyond Monet' for the opening week of the exhibition at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham. This competition can only be won by one of our amazing newsletter subscribers. Please spread the word.

Todays thought for the day ... “We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action. Fear is nature’s way of warning us to get busy.” – Dr. Henry Link

Enjoy the read, please email us if you have a story for us and have a great Monday wherever you are reading this.

Justin Doddy, Editor

P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter if you haven't already and please forward the newsletter to a friend that you think may like it.

Nottinghamshire Police seized nearly 150 vehicles and arrested a high-risk sex offender during a month-long road safety operation in Bassetlaw.

Operation Highways is a hyper-local, intelligence-led initiative that deploys additional resources to specific neighbourhood areas to tackle issues including speeding and untaxed and uninsured drivers.

Officers conducted a total of 383 vehicle stops, made 45 arrests, and seized 149 vehicles after deploying additional resources to the area throughout the month of May.Particular attention was paid to the A57, where concerns have been raised about young people driving in a dangerous and reckless manner – namely speeding and drifting.

Multiple young drivers were pulled over and spoken to, and officers reported that engagements were broadly positive. The increased presence of highly trained pursuit drivers also led Police to arrest a high-risk suspect wanted in connection with child sex offences in another force area. Two dangerous weapons were also seized.

In total, 149 vehicles were seized during the operation, including 61 seized during the course of an unauthorised music event in the area. A total of 204 Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) were issued for a range of offences, including driving without insurance and road tax.

Detective Inspector Jamie Moore, in charge of Roads Policing said:

“Road safety is often raised as a concern by members of the public, many of whom are well aware of particular local issues where they live and work.

"By basing more officers in a particular location for longer, we are able to address more of these issues and engage more drivers in conversation.

"With more officers patrolling the local road network, we were also well-placed to detain a suspect wanted for very serious offences.

"I am grateful to all the officers for their time and effort over the last few weeks, and for helping to make the local road network safer."

Chief Inspector Clive Collings said:

"Our policing staff across Bassetlaw remain absolutely committed to ensuring our road network is as safe for communities as it is hostile to those seeking to commit crime.

"Last year the community-based teams in Bassetlaw almost tripled the number of crimes they solved in comparison to the previous year and, as a criminal, the chance of getting caught in Bassetlaw was higher than anywhere else in county.

"Over the summer we will continue to turn up the heat on those breaking the law on our roads."

Residents invited to shape the future of the Trent Valley

Residents living in the Trent Valley area are getting the chance to make sure their voice is heard on the future of the region.

‘Know Your Place Trent Valley’ aims to give people living in the area the chance to say what matters most to them both now and in the future, as plans for redevelopment and related projects move forward at the former power stations at West Burton, Cottam and High Marnham.

It is a joint project led by Bassetlaw District Council covering communities either side of the River Trent including eastern Bassetlaw and parts of West Lindsey, Newark and Sherwood and North Kesteven.

Cllr Charles Adams, Cabinet Member for Business and Skills said: “The Trent Supercluster will see the transformation of the former power stations transformed into a leading hub for clean energy and innovation.

“We want to make sure people are involved and get to share their views on what matters most to them now and looking into the future.”

People are invited to share their priorities, concerns and ideas about their local area throughout the engagement period which runs until 31^st August 2026.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “The Trent Valley has a vital role to place in the future of the East Midlands, with the potential to become a nationally significant centre for clean energy, innovation, and investment.

“It is essential that local communities help shape that future. Through our support for the Trent Supercluster Partnership, we are funding this engagement work to ensure residents have the opportunity to share their ideas, priorities and aspirations for the places where they live and work. I encourage everyone to get involved and have their say.”

As well as an online response form, a series of in-person events are also taking place across the Trent Valley, starting on Tuesday 9^th June in East Markham, with residents welcome at any of the events being held around the region over the summer.

The project is being delivered on behalf of the Trent Supercluster Partnership, funded by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) which has identified the Trent Valley as a key component of its spatial and economic development strategies.

To find out more about the Know Your Place Trent Valley, share your views, or when events are taking place visit www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/kyptv/

Woman's bravery helps jail man who tried to suffocate and strangle her

A domestic abuser who tried to suffocate and strangle his former partner has been jailed after she found the courage to report him.

Alistair Hopkinson repeatedly subjected the woman to various acts of violent behaviour last year while they were in a relationship.

His campaign of abuse saw him fly into a jealous rage and choke his victim not just once – but twice – to the point she then lost consciousness.

Hopkinson punched the woman in the face during the first incident on 29 August last year, before grabbing her by the throat until she blacked out.

The 31-year-old's violent behaviour then escalated still further on 19 September, when he grabbed her head and forced it into a pillow, leaving her struggling to breathe.

That wasn't the end of Hopkinson's offending, however, as nearly one month later – on 18 October – he strangled her again at a Nottinghamshire address until she passed out.

When she eventually regained consciousness, the woman managed to fight off her attacker and raise the alarm, with police arriving soon afterwards to put Hopkinson in handcuffs.

The woman then showcased immense bravery by sharing details of Hopkinson's violent behaviour with the police, who were duly able to charge him with a multitude of offences.

These included two counts of intentional strangulation, one count of intentional suffocation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Having pleaded guilty to those charges, Hopkinson, of Chesterfield Road, Worksop, appeared before Nottingham Crown Court to be sentenced on Thursday (June 4, 2026).

He was subsequently jailed for two-and-a-half years and made the subject of a restraining order. This will last until further order and bans him from contacting the woman in any way.

Multiple further charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour against the same woman were all left to remain on file.

Detective Constable Ryan Coupe, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

"Alistair Hopkinson subjected this woman to a horrendous ordeal, so it is to her absolute credit she found the courage to report him to the police.

"Thanks to her bravery, not just at the time of the incidents but in the months since, we were able to build a strong case against Hopkinson that left him with no alternative but to admit what he'd done.

"We’re pleased to see he's now been sent to prison for his despicable actions, which – I'd like to emphasise once again – may not have been possible without her assistance.

"Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for this police force, so our hope is that fellow survivors will follow this woman's lead by standing up to domestic abuse and reporting it.

"Our plea to anyone going through something similar is to please tell the police. As this case hopefully shows people – we will listen, you will be supported, and we will take action."

For more information about domestic abuse and how to report it, visit: https://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/

Our three interesting facts for today ....

Jeff Goldblum puts orange juice on his cereal

Eating ice cream for breakfast can increase mental alertness

George Orwell ran the village shop in Wallington, Hertfordshire

Win tickets to see Beyond Van Gogh or Beyond Monet

Win a pair of tickets or a family ticket (5 tickets) for Beyond Van Gogh or Beyond Monet for the opening week of the exhibition at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.

To be in the draw all you need to do is sign up to our 100% Free daily digital newsletter. Current subscribers will be entered automatically.

Full details can be found at: https://bassetlaw-today.ghost.io/competition-2/ .

Festivalgoers advised to plan their travel ahead of Download Festival

As tens of thousands of rock fans head to Download Festival next week, National Highways has urged people to plan ahead and allow plenty of time for their journeys.

The music festival at Donington Park runs between Friday 12 June and Sunday 14 June and will see Guns N Roses, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park headlining.

Donington Park is located next to East Midlands Airport, four miles west of junction 23a of the M1 and five miles from junction 24.

The M1, A42, A453, A50 and A38 are expected to see significant increases in traffic, particularly when campsites open on Wednesday 10 June, on Friday for fans with three-day camping tickets and early on Monday 15 June as campers head home.

National Highways is advising ticketholders to follow event signage and travel information from festival organisers for correct directions to festival car parks, rather than relying on satnavs and phone apps.

Luke Thrussell, Senior Network Planner for the Midlands at National Highways, said:

“Every year we see thousands of people travelling to Donington Park for the festival, and their satnavs or phone apps will often take them to the wrong location for car parks or through unsuitable routes. This can lead to increased traffic and congestion on roads surrounding the venue.

“Therefore, it is extremely important people follow the correct signage and directions on the Download Festival website for their ticket type.

“Do not assume the route or entry points you have used previously will be the same this year and plan your journey before you set off.”

National Highways will be adding extra traffic officer patrols throughout the festival and will work with event organisers to help keep roads clear and traffic flowing.

Electronic messages on nearby motorways and A roads will also notify motorists of any delays.

National Highways’ seasonal T.R.I.P. campaign, encourages drivers to check their vehicles before setting off on a long journey, following this acronym:

Top-up: Make sure you have enough fuel or electric charge, oil and screen wash before setting off.

Rest: Take a minimum 15 minute break every two hours behind the wheel to avoid fatigue and get a good night’s rest before travelling.

Inspect: Check your lights, tyre pressure and tread, and for any obvious vehicle issues.

Prepare: Plan your route, check the weather and pack essentials including a phone charger, snacks and water in case of delays.

More information about making a safe journey can be found at www.nationalhighways.co.uk/roadsafety/trip.

For live traffic updates follow @HighwaysEMIDS on X or visit the National Highways website.

The National Highways 24/7 customer contact centre team can also provide up-to-the minute information on 0300 123 5000.

Pitch renovation work is underway at One Call Stadium

Mansfield Town Football Club have released pictures of the work going on behind the scenes to get the pitch ready for the coming season

Nottinghamshire targets ambitious regeneration vision

Nottinghamshire County Council has unveiled its ambitious £200 million land programme which aims to help regenerate and bring in more investment to the county.

Working with its property and development partner, Arc Partnership, the programme was showcased during the recent UKREiiF national event, boasts a diverse portfolio of land sites across the county, valued at around £200 million in total. This ranges from residential land to large-scale urban extensions prime for development, from one acre to more than 120 acres.

Councillor James Walker-Gurley, the county council's Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management attended UKREiiF and was impressed with the reaction to the launch of the land programme. He said:

“We are an ambitious council with a clear vision to unlock new regeneration opportunities and attract the investment needed to help our area thrive. There was a real buzz when we launched this programme, which we are really proud and excited about.

“Collaborating with Arc Partnership, we are unlocking land for homes, creating skilled jobs and investing in our schools and infrastructure to deliver massive benefits for our communities.

“Through this partnership, we’ve recently built the fastest temporary school learning village in the country. It’s a record-breaking achievement that proves our commitment to innovation.

“Our new land development programme is loaded with sites that have been risk assessed and are shovel-ready. These opportunities are available for investors who mean business.

“It’s incredible that as well as all this, we have a former coal site in North Nottinghamshire which will be transformed into a global centre for clean energy. Known as STEP, it will change how the world is powered.

"From pioneering the future of global clean energy, to our impressive land portfolio, Nottinghamshire is the place to do business."

Wayne Bexton, the Council’s Director of Economy, Environment and Assets added:

“The launch of our new programme highlights the potential to invest in and deliver exciting projects in our county,

“Last year we helped generate more than a thousand new homes across ten sites in Nottinghamshire, so we are looking forward to this year being even more prolific.”

Andrea Hopkins, Director of Estates Practice at Arc Partnership, which is a joint venture between the county council and SCAPE said:

"As Nottinghamshire County Council's property and development partner, Arc Partnership has worked closely with the Council to identify and prepare a diverse portfolio of development opportunities that support its ambitions for growth and regeneration.

"By combining the Council's strategic vision with Arc's expertise in property, design and development, we have helped create a programme that provides investors and development partners with confidence in the opportunities available across Nottinghamshire.

"The response to the programme at UKREiiF exceeded expectations, with investors, developers and partners recognising both the quality of the opportunities available and Nottinghamshire's ambition for growth. That positive feedback reinforces the significant potential for investment, job creation and community benefit across the county."

For more information, including a map which shows the locations of the sites available: Land Development Opportunities in East Midlands | Arc Partnership

Four Stolen Vehicles Recovered and Suspect Arrested Following Police Action

It was a busy few days for local neighbourhood policing teams, who recovered four stolen vehicles and arrested a suspect as part of ongoing efforts to tackle vehicle crime across Bassetlaw.

On June 3, 2026 officers responded to reports of three vehicles stolen from #langold, #retford and #worksop. Polive investigative work, including CCTV enquiries and support from neighbouring police forces, led to all three vehicles being located and recovered within hours.

The following day (June 4, 2026), Officers tracked and stopped a BMW reported stolen from Cambridgeshire on the A1 near Warmsworth, leading to the arrest of a suspect in connection with the incident.

The policing team praised the collaborative effort involved and reaffirmed it's commitment to tackling vehicle crime, recovering stolen property and bringing offenders to justice.

PC Lee Ryan, of the Worksop North neighbourhood policing team, said:

"Crimes of this nature are hugely upsetting for victims who also face significant financial costs when their property is stolen in this way.

"When offences are reported to us, victims can be sure that we will do our best to return their property and catch up with offenders.

“I am pleased we have been able to recover so many stolen cars within a day and this shows our commitment to clamping down on autocrime.

“Our investigations are ongoing, and we are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed any unusual activity in the surrounding areas in the past week.”

Can you figure out today's puzzle?

First figure out the nine letter solution and then find as many words as you can in today's panagram that contain the letter B.

Our last panagram was IMMEDIACY. Read our next newsletter for the solution to today's puzzle.

Thanks so much for reading our local newsletter and for supporting us. We’re committed to providing Bassetlaw with the quality local news service it deserves, but sustaining this work may come with some challenges. Our team is currently discussing how to make Bassetlaw Today financially viable in the long term, and one option we’re considering is introducing a subscription model to help cover our costs.

We want to be open with you about these conversations so you’re aware that a fee may need to be introduced in the future. If that happens, we hope you’ll continue to stand with us and support the publication.

Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you read our next newsletter.

Justin Doddy, Editor