Latest news with #Wykes
BBC News
22-03-2025
- BBC News
Care worker 'mortified' after falling victim to burglary scam
A care worker has said she was left "mortified and heartbroken" after being conned out of thousands of pounds by a gang who committed almost 50 burglaries before scamming their Croney, 39, was at work at a care home in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, in 2023 when a burglar sneaked in and stole her accomplice then called her posing as a bank official and offering to put a stop on her debit card, before obtaining enough information to use to drain her Wykes, 46, of Kempley Avenue, Coventry, and George Quinn, 58, of Ansty Road, Coventry, admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit fraud and were jailed at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday. 'In tears' Ms Croney, whose money was later recovered, said she felt "stupid to have been caught out" following the said she had been arranging medication for residents at the care home when she was contacted by a member of the gang posing as a bank worker."They told me someone had tried to use my bank card in Skegness," she said. "I panicked, ran through to see where my purse was and it wasn't there. In a moment of madness I gave them my details to put a stop on my account."After the call I realised what I'd done, so I rang my bank. But they'd already taken the money from my account."I felt mortified and heartbroken. I was in tears and could only think they'd taken all of my money and that I wouldn't be able to pay my bills. "It took weeks for it all to calm down." The gang carried out 46 sneak-in burglaries across 13 counties between March 2023 and May 2024. Its members targeted victims working in care homes, schools, GP surgeries, hospices, hotels and other hospitality was jailed on Friday for five years and four months, while Quinn was sent to prison for five accomplices, who provided transport, were given suspended prison sentences of 21 months after also admitting conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit fraud. Daniel Sutherland, 41, of Sedgemoor Road, Coventry, was also sentenced to 200 hours' unpaid work, while David Ovington, 59, of Skipton Gardens, Coventry, was also given a curfew for 12 months. 'Big life lesson' Lincolnshire Police described the men as a "highly organised criminal gang".Det Sgt Adam Petty said the "unscrupulous fraudsters targeted hard-working people" and used "every trick in the book to deceive and manipulate" Croney said the incident had left her "suspicious of everyone and everything" and described it as a "big life lesson"."I felt so stupid that I'd been caught out," she said."You know you're not supposed to give details out but, in that moment, you just want to get it sorted and do it. It's only afterwards you think about it, but it's too late."Knowing they've been convicted is pure relief. Not just for me, but for everyone else who was caught out." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Prolific burglars who scammed medical staff jailed
Two members of a gang who carried out almost 50 sneak-in burglaries before scamming their victims have been jailed at Lincoln Crown Court. The men, who were from Coventry but operated across 13 counties, including Lincolnshire, would steal purses and wallets from premises including GP surgeries before calling their victims and posing as bank workers or police officers to gather financial details. Darren Wykes and George Quinn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit fraud at an earlier hearing. Wykes, 46, of Kempley Avenue, Coventry, was jailed for five years and four months. Quinn, 58, of Ansty Road, Coventry, was sent to prison for five years. Det Sgt Adam Petty, from Lincolnshire Police, said the "unscrupulous fraudsters targeted hard-working people" and used "every trick in the book to deceive and manipulate" them. The string of offences began at a GP surgery in Lincoln in March 2023, before the gang moved on to similar premises in Market Rasen, Louth and Boston. They targeted care homes, schools and other surgeries in dozens of towns and cities, including Leicester, Bristol and Southampton, before the final offence in Derbyshire in May 2024. Wykes and Quinn were assisted by David Ovington, 59, of Skipton Gardens, Coventry, and Daniel Sutherland, 41, of Sedgemoor Road, Coventry. Ovington and Sutherland, who provided transport, also admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit fraud. They were each given a suspended prison sentence of 21 months. Lincolnshire Police, which worked with 11 forces on the investigation, described the men, who carried out 46 burglaries in total, as a "highly organised criminal gang". Wykes would enter a building to steal wallets or purses from bags or coats. Quinn would then call the premises posing as a bank worker or police officer asking to speak to the person named on any debit card, before conning the victim into providing their personal details. The gang would use the details they obtained from each victim to buy electrical items or foreign currency. Det Sgt Petty said: "They would callously engineer a spurious scenario to create a situation of panic, taking advantage of the victims while at their most vulnerable, to fraudulently obtain their PIN number. "Through sheer hard work and dedication and meticulous data analysis, we have been able to bring these offenders to justice. We are delighted to have helped deliver justice for so many victims." Passing sentence, Recorder Simon King said the men should all be "thoroughly ashamed", particularly of the impact on victims. The court heard some victims lost personal mementos of loved ones. "You played them like fish and that's not said in admiration, it's said in disgust," the judge added. Sutherland was also sentenced to 200 hours' unpaid work, while Ovington was given a curfew for 12 months. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Lincolnshire Police
BBC News
21-03-2025
- BBC News
Coventry burglars who scammed Lincolnshire medical staff jailed
Two members of a gang who carried out almost 50 sneak-in burglaries before scamming their victims have been jailed at Lincoln Crown men, who were from Coventry but operated across 13 counties, including Lincolnshire, would steal purses and wallets from premises including GP surgeries before calling their victims and posing as bank workers or police officers to gather financial Wykes and George Quinn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit fraud at an earlier hearing. Wykes, 46, of Kempley Avenue, Coventry, was jailed for five years and four months. Quinn, 57, of Ansty Road, Coventry, was sent to prison for five years. Det Sgt Adam Petty, from Lincolnshire Police, said the "unscrupulous fraudsters targeted hard-working people" and used "every trick in the book to deceive and manipulate" string of offences began at a GP surgery in Lincoln in March 2023, before the gang moved on to similar premises in Market Rasen, Louth and targeted care homes, schools and other surgeries in dozens of towns and cities, including Leicester, Bristol and Southampton, before the final offence in Derbyshire in May and Quinn were assisted by David Ovington, 59, of Skipton Gardens, Coventry, and Daniel Sutherland, 40, of Sedgemoor Road, and Sutherland, who provided transport, also admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit fraud. They were each given a suspended prison sentence of 21 months. 'Created panic' Lincolnshire Police, which worked with 11 forces on the investigation, described the men, who carried out 46 burglaries in total, as a "highly organised criminal gang".Wykes would enter a building to steal wallets or purses from bags or would then call the premises posing as a bank worker or police officer asking to speak to the person named on any debit card, before conning the victim into providing their personal gang would use the details they obtained from each victim to buy electrical items or foreign Sgt Petty said: "They would callously engineer a spurious scenario to create a situation of panic, taking advantage of the victims while at their most vulnerable, to fraudulently obtain their PIN number."Through sheer hard work and dedication and meticulous data analysis, we have been able to bring these offenders to justice. We are delighted to have helped deliver justice for so many victims."Passing sentence, Recorder Simon King said the men should all be "thoroughly ashamed", particularly of the impact on victims. The court heard some victims lost personal mementos of loved ones."You played them like fish and that's not said in admiration, it's said in disgust," the judge was also sentenced to 200 hours' unpaid work, while Ovington was given a curfew for 12 months. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Dad 'surprised' after ITV picks up Suffolk-made animation series
A dad who created an animated children's show after moving to Suffolk said he "was a bit surprised" when it was picked up by a major television Wykes created The Grimes, which follows a slightly "hopeless" family that often ends up covered in dirt after "always getting in a bit of a pickle".Inspiration for the series struck after seeing how his own family had taken to life in Tunstall Forest, near Woodbridge, with his two daughters regularly exploring show has since spawned 15 episodes, all of which are now available to stream on ITVX after Mr Wykes landed a four to five-year deal with the broadcaster. "During the four years we were making The Grimes the pandemic struck and we were building a new home, so we were living in caravans on site," he said."So, it was utter chaos and a pretty crazy period, but a lot of fun and [the contents of the episodes] were what we were going through each day."We were out with the kids in the forest every day and swimming in this big pond with the frogs and the newts, so the episodes started to write themselves."The Grimes, which is "a little bit" autobiographical, is written by Mr Wykes and his partner, Niki, while some of the characters are voiced by their two Wykes' creation properly started to get off the ground after he started his own production company, Part Human, and began sharing clips on YouTube, which caught the attention of an American agency and then ITV."We were a bit surprised as I just started making the series because I wanted to learn animation," said Mr Wykes, who used to work in advertising while living in London."So, I just felt very lucky we had got it on ITV, but I think it has done really, really well." Mr Wykes created the animation using a computer and by drawing the show's characters and scenes by hand on a digital said a five-minute animation could take as long as a couple of months – an "intensive" process which can be sped up if he can source outside ahead, he now wanted to explore other stories, characters and genres, and has expressed an interest in creating a "family horror mini-series".He would also like to combine his newfound skills with his "advertising roots" to help local Suffolk businesses reach larger audiences."We were happy in Muswell Hill, London, but we came up to Suffolk and absolutely fell in love with the place," he added."We saw the location and we had kind of bought it before we went into the house because it was so beautiful."So, I have become very passionate about Suffolk and would like to help local companies try to get their names out there a bit more." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Unique Exeter picture collection to be saved
A "unique and irreplaceable" record of photos of 20th Century Exeter is being saved from destruction with a £178,000 National Lottery grant, according to the South West Heritage Trust. The trust said it would use the money to digitise 24,000 images taken by photographer Henry Wykes, which are suffering from vinegar syndrome - a chemical process that destroys negatives. Mr Wykes, who was born in Australia and opened his first studio in Exeter in 1914, documented key moment's in the city's history, including the devastation caused by the Baedeker raids in April and May 1942. He was the UK's oldest working photographer when he retired at the age of 88 in 1962. The Isca Photographic Collection Project will preserve 24,000 of the 50,000 images the collection holds and the work is likely to take 15 months. Volunteers will help catalogue the photographs and make them available online. Scott Pettitt, the head of archives at Devon Heritage Centre, said: "The Isca Collection is one of the most significant visual records of Exeter of the past century. "It offers an extraordinary account of the city and its inhabitants during a period of unprecedented transformation." He said the collection was "a social document of the city and its inhabitants". He said Mr Wykes, who was also a portrait photographer, "captured the changing faces of the city". Mr Pettitt added: "By the 1960s there was more diversity and he captured things like changes in women's fashion." There will be an exhibition at Custom House in Exeter in 2026 and community events will also take place, including an environmental project. Stuart McLeod, from the National Lottery, said the project would lead to more people getting "involved with, protecting and learning about the exciting heritage right on their doorstep". He said heritage had a "huge role to play" in instilling pride in communities and boosting local economies. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Detectorists split £4.3m Norman coin hoard Lottery grant funding set to boost heritage sites South West Heritage Trust
