Thursday Edition - Mayor spends £9,300 on Luxury Transport, Knife Carriers get The 'Chop', Child Rapist Jailed & More
Today's edition covering all things Bassetlaw and, of course - your daily puzzle fix.
Todays thought for the day ... "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Enjoy the read and have a great day wherever you are in Bassetlaw.
Justin Doddy, Editor
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Knife Carriers Locked Up
Nottinghamshire Police have issued a strong warning to knife carriers after several offenders including a #Retford man were jailed for carrying and using weapons across the county.
The cases included robberies, violent assaults and possession of knives in public places, with offenders receiving prison sentences ranging from several months to 14 years.
Persistent knife carrier Teejay Bullivant robbed a 13-year-old boy at a tram stop but was arrested moments later. Bullivant approached a group of young people at Bulwell tram stop around 8.45pm on 2 April 2025. At Nottingham Crown Court on 29 April he was jailed for a total of three-and-a-half years.Violent offender
James Pedley was found hiding in a loft as police hunted him for a knife attack. The victim suffered serious injuries after being stabbed repeatedly by Pedley when the pair agreed to meet in Morvern Avenue, Sutton-in-Ashfield. At Nottingham Crown Court on 27 March he was jailed for a total of 14 years.
Kirsty Kemp stabbed a teenage girl in the back as she hugged her in Clifton, Nottingham, on the evening of 4 October 2025 while in an intoxicated state. At Nottingham Crown Court on 12 March she was jailed for three years and six months and handed a restraining order.
A man who turned up at a police station with a knife concealed in his underpants has been jailed. Shaun Kennelly, aged 28, was arrested at Worksop Police Station on 29 April after attending on an unrelated matter. Appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 30 April, he pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and was jailed for 146 days.
Police say anyone choosing to carry a knife should expect to be identified, arrested and brought before the courts.
Chief Inspector Kylie Davies said carrying a knife puts both the individual and the public at greater risk, adding that extensive CCTV coverage, knife crime teams and high-visibility patrols are helping officers tackle the issue.
The force is also continuing its latest Sceptre campaign this week, with knife amnesty bins, knife sweeps, school visits and extra patrols taking place across Nottinghamshire.
Anyone with information about knife crime is urged to contact Nottinghamshire Police or Crimestoppers anonymously.
Worksop, Retford & Harworth High Street welcomes new businesses
Four new high street businesses in #worksop, #retford and #Harworth have got off to a flying start after securing funding from Bassetlaw District Council
Woodaroma and Tall Trees childcare, both in #retford, received a share of just over £20k, to spend on improvements including shelving and equipment.
The funding has come from the council’s High Street Shop Fit Out Grants, which supports new businesses with structural works or equipment needed to trade from currently vacant premises within town centres.
Jason Davies, Owner of Woodaroma said: “Without the Shop Fit Out grant, I would have created something ordinary, but the grant allowed me to create something special”.
Other recent beneficiaries include Café 81 in #Harworth who have received £20k to provide kitchen equipment and the Chick n Slice in Worksop who have also received £20k for their fit out.
The council’s Shop Fit Out Grants, which have now come to an end, have been supported by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) with funding provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
New business support is available in Worksop through the Pride in Place Programme.
The Worksop Together Board, working in partnership with Bassetlaw District Council, have launched three grants for businesses to apply for: the High Street Shop Fit Out Grant, the Worksop Shop Frontage Grant and the High Street Business Support Grant.
For more information on the grants visit Bassetlaw District Council
Police 'hook' Illegal Fishing Perpetrators
Two illegal fishermen have been prosecuted after being caught breaching court orders at Idle Valley Nature Reserve near #Retford.
Police officers responded to reports of illegal fishing on Wednesday May 13 and found Luke Douglas and Layton Janes fishing on the protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The pair were already subject to five-year Criminal Behaviour Orders banning them from entering Idle Valley Nature Reserve or fishing anywhere in Bassetlaw.
Having been apprehended, Douglas and Janes were charged with breaching their CBOs and were remanded into custody overnight.
They both pleaded guilty to the offence when they then appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court the following day May 14, 2026.Douglas, of Welfare Avenue, Barwick in Elmet, Leeds, and Janes, of Canal Lane, Lofthouse Gate, Wakefield, were ordered to pay charges of £85.
Police say illegal fishing can seriously damage wildlife habitats and harm vulnerable species within the nature reserve.
Officers have vowed to continue working with Idle Valley Nature Reserve to protect Nottinghamshire’s wildlife and rural communities.
Our three interesting facts for today ....
Britain exports 50,000 boomerangs to Australia every year
The Sahara desert is 10% bigger than it was 100 years ago
When an alpaca gives birth, it is called an 'unpacking'
The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Mayor has spent more than £9,300 on “luxury, executive, premium and high-end” chauffeurs in the past year.
By: Eddie Bisknell
Newly provided data from the East Midlands Combined County Authority shows Claire Ward, the region’s mayor, who has a salary of £93,000 and extra allowances, spent £9,328 on chauffeuring services between March 2025 and February 2026.
In October, the Mayor took on duties for public transport across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, which have now been passed over from the city and county councils.
The payments were all made legally using a Government-issued corporate credit card, with new data disclosed following lobbying from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The new data shows that between September last year and this February, the Mayor spent (£7,820.39) on chauffeurs, in addition to the £1,508 previously disclosed. Of the £7,800, most (£7,300) was spent on the provider Pinnacle, based in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, which describes itself as a luxury, executive, premium and high-end provider, with the rest via Blacklane in the USA.
Pinnacle details that its fleet comprises Mercedes S-class and BMW 7-series saloons, both of which are valued at more than £100,000 and include in-car Wi-Fi.
Previously, the combined authority had defended the use of chauffeurs as being a better use of the Mayor’s time than driving herself to and from visits across the extensive Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire patch – discussing issues such as public transport. It also said that as a public politician there are safety and confidentiality considerations to be made about the Mayor’s travel while on her duties, with private chauffeuring firms insisting on DBS checks for drivers.
A spokesperson had also said Ms Ward is not allowed to drive a pool car under current legislation.
The LDRS asked for a statement from Ms Ward in response to the new chauffeur payment data, but a spokesperson for her office responded instead.
They said: “While we make every effort to arrange the Mayor’s calendar to enable multiple engagements in the same part of the region, there are some days where that is hard to achieve.
“The East Midlands is a large region, and it is important for the Mayor to visit all parts of it over the course of her term of office.
“On those days when the Mayor needs to be in multiple places over a single day, we use a local car hire company which has enough seat space so that she can make calls and catch up on email correspondence.
“This is a better use of her time than spending three or more hours driving herself.”
The new data also included a number of flights via British Airways to the USA and to France, totalling £2,685, paid for in February. Accommodation for these trips, booked via Bnetwork in February, totalled £4,277, the combined authority details.
A spokesperson said the USA trip involved the Mayor forming part of a visit with the British Consultant General to lobby for the region and engage with investors in three different states: Chicago (Illinois), Columbus (Ohio) and Detroit (Michigan).
Meanwhile a flight to France, along with a £682 payment to a French meeting space organisation platform, were for the Mayor’s attendance and ticket for the annual international business summit MIPIM, held in Cannes, France, in March.
In response, a spokesperson said:
“Regarding the expenses associated with travel overseas, Mayor Claire represents the East Midlands on investment and trade delegations, and the associated expenses are in line with those duties.”
The authority’s allowance policy says members are expected to travel by bus or standard class rail and to share journeys where possible, with taxis to be used in “rare circumstances”. It says overseas travel should represent “value for money” and that staff and officials ought to take advantage of offers where possible.
The combined authority previously stressed that its use of corporate cards is in line with other authorities of a similar size and was not an outlier.
South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire Rapist jailed for non-recent offences against boy.
A man who raped and sexually abused a child on multiple occasions has been jailed – more than 20 years after his campaign of abuse started.
Richard Tung, now aged 42, was reported to police in 2022 when his victim came forward to report what had happened to him as a young child.
Tung, who committed the offences as an adult, targeted the boy at addresses in South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.
When he was first interviewed in June 2023, he denied the allegations against him and even claimed to been subjected to inappropriate sexualised behaviour from his victim.
During a video recorded interview with officers, the victim gave a compelling account of the abuse he had suffered and the very serious toll it had taken on his mental health.
Despite the lack of any physical evidence, detectives were able to build a very compelling case against Tung and corroborate key parts of his testimony. Of significance were the independent and previously confidential disclosures made by the victim to a mental health counsellor and to friends and family,
Tung continued to plead his innocence throughout a trial at Nottingham Crown Court in January of this year, after which he was found guilty of two counts of rape, indecent assault, two counts of causing or inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a boy.
Appearing at the same venue on April 17, Tung, of Penisa’rwaun, Caernarfon, was jailed for 12 years.
Detective Sergeant Lee Myatt, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“Like many victims of childhood sexual abuse, the victim in this case came slowly to the realisation that what had happened to him was not a normal part of childhood.
“It was in fact sexual abuse of the most serious nature committed against a child by a grown man.
“As he begins a very long jail sentence, I hope this case serves as a reminder for other victims of non-recent abuse that it really is never too late to come forward and report what happened to you.”
Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire Police
County and City councils launch ‘Let’s Break the Silence on Suicide’ campaign
Nottinghamshire County Council, in partnership with Nottingham City Council, has launched a new suicide prevention campaign.
The ‘Let’s Break the Silence on Suicide’ campaign aims to make it easier for everyone in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to ask for help.
One in five adults will have suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives. The Break the Silence on Suicide campaign encourages anyone to take a simple step when they feel overwhelmed and life is challenging. Whether it’s a friend who’s gone quiet or a person’s own overwhelming feelings, a simple conversation can be a helpful first step towards getting help.
The campaign also seeks to encourage men, those who are living with autism and people who have been bereaved by suicide to connect with other people, talk to someone and let somebody know how they’re feeling. The focus of the campaign is to enable people to speak openly about their concerns, break the stigma surrounding suicide and find the right support.
Councillor Jody Stoll, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health at Nottinghamshire County Council said:
“Difficult situations can feel really daunting and it can be hard to know where to turn for help, but support is available to help you navigate through the tough days. Connecting with others is a vital step in finding the right resources to help you cope, and to ensure that nobody needs to suffer alone."
“No-one has to face this by themselves. Support is available. Reach out, talk to someone and let's break the silence. If you, or someone you know needs help, go to NottAlone.
“Anyone wanting to learn how to talk to someone who might be having thoughts of suicide can complete the free online suicide awareness training from the Zero Suicide Alliance.”
Councillor Helen Kalsi, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health at Nottingham City Council, said:
“Suicide can affect anyone, and too often people suffer in silence because they feel unable to talk about how they are feeling or ask for help."
“This campaign is about encouraging open conversations, breaking down stigma and reminding people that support is available and that they are not alone."
“Whether you are struggling yourself, worried about somebody else, or have been affected by suicide, reaching out and talking to someone can be an important first step towards getting support.”
‘Let’s Break the Silence’ posters and leaflets are being distributed to services and groups across the county and city to raise awareness in local communities.
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 R.
Our last panagram was MAELSTROM. Read our next newsletter for the solution to today's puzzle.
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Justin Doddy, Editor
Bassetlaw Today
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