Newark Police: Rural Villages

05/06/2026

The family of a woman killed by a careless driver have paid tribute to a “dedicated sister, aunt, daughter, partner and friend”.

Nicola Verdon, aged 54, was cycling between the villages of Moorhouse and Ossington on Sunday 29 December 2024 when she was hit from behind by a car.

Nicola was a Professor of British Rural History and President of the British Agricultural History Society.

She most recently worked at Sheffield Hallam University, following lecturing roles in Leicester, Harlaxton College and the University of Sussex.

Her research into agricultural labour is described by her colleagues as “groundbreaking”, and she leaves a legacy of many early-career researchers whom she mentored to go on to successful positions.

Her family added in a statement: “Nicola grew up in the countryside of Nottinghamshire – Norwell, Sutton and Normanton – and she loved returning there to stay with her parents, walk the fields and enjoy the pubs, as she did at Christmas 2024.

“Nicola was unpretentious, friendly and gregarious, always taking time to talk with anyone about pretty much anything.

"She was a dedicated sister, aunt, daughter, partner, friend and dog walker, who has left us many joyful memories but has passed from us far too soon.”

Peter Hopkinson, 88, later pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

He explained that his vision had been impaired by the low winter sun and that he had not seen Nicola before hitting her.

Hopkinson, of Moorhouse, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 7 May and was given an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. He was also banned from driving.

Detective Constable Emma Temple said: “This was a tragic and entirely avoidable death that I hope sends a clear warning to all drivers.

“Low winter sunshine is a known hazard, particularly when combined with dirty or icy windscreens.

“If drivers cannot see clearly in front of them, they have a clear obligation under the Highway Code to slow down or stop until it is safe to proceed.

“The decision of the driver in this case to carry on regardless led directly to the death of a remarkable and much-loved woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her.”

01/06/2026

Officers investigating the tampering of active badger setts near Newark have charged two suspects.

Reports came in that a sett had been disturbed in woodland in Rolleston on 30th November 2025.

On arrival, officers found seven of the eight entrances were blocked.

Steven Reynolds, 37, and 33-year-old Jacob Whalley have now been charged with four counts of interfering with badger setts.

Reynolds, of Snowfield View, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, and Whalley, of Kennel Drive, Retford, appeared in Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 21st May.

They have since been released on bail and are next due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 26th November.

PC Gareth Nicholls, of the Newark neighbourhood policing team, said:

"Tackling wildlife crime helps preserve the countryside for future generations and ensures protected species can thrive.

"Badgers and their setts are protected by the Protection of Badgers Act, making it a criminal offence to damage or obstruct them.

"We work closely with landowners and partners to ensure harm to wildlife is thoroughly investigated and those responsible are brought before the courts."

30/05/2026

Emergency services were called to Lake, off Heron Way, New Balderton at 2.35pm on Thursday 28th May following reports a man had entered the water.

Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, and East Midlands Ambulance Service attended the scene and a 19-year-old man was recovered from the water. He had been at the lake with friends, was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to hospital.

We are sad to inform that he has not survived. His family have been informed and officers are supporting them at this deeply distressing time.

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

Chief Inspector for , Clive Collings, said:

"This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are solely with this young man's family.

"We recognise this will be very upsetting for the local community and we encourage people to access support if they need it.

"During hot weather we know people want to keep cool but open waters are exceptionally dangerous as there is no way of telling what's beneath the surface."

Group Manager Charlotte Weatherall-Smith from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

“On behalf of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of this young man at this incredibly difficult time. This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected.

“Incidents like this are a stark reminder of the dangers that open water can present. Even on warm and sunny days, water temperatures can be much colder than they appear, and entering the water can lead to cold water shock, which can be sudden, severe and potentially fatal.

“If you see someone in difficulty in the water, call 999 immediately and ask for the fire service. Encourage the person to float on their back to help them stay calm and conserve energy. For your own safety, please do not enter the water or attempt a rescue yourself, as this can put additional lives at risk.”

If you spot someone in open waters call 999 and provide the fire service with an accurate location using what3words or landmarks.

28/05/2026

A suspect has been arrested and vehicles recovered after we tracked a stolen car to an industrial unit.

Our officers were alerted to the vehicle’s presence in the Sutton-on-Trent area on Thursday (21st May) and began a detailed search of nearby streets.

The car was found a short time later in a storage compound off Great North Road.

Roads policing officers discovered not only the car they had tracked but also a stolen pick-up truck and a number of vehicle parts.

Investigations at the scene are ongoing.

A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Sansom said: "Thanks to some excellent police work we have been able to recover at least two stolen vehicles and disrupt what appears to be a 'chop shop' where vehicles are dismantled for their parts.

“We work closely with other forces across the country to trace stolen vehicles, and this work certainly paid off in this instance.

“I’m pleased we were able to recover these vehicles and arrest a suspect but our investigation into this incident remains ongoing.

"I'd therefore urge anyone else with relevant knowledge or information to contact us.”

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident 202 of 21st May 2026.

27/05/2026

We’re currently seeing an increase in calls about general noise, such as loud music, garden gatherings, or neighbour disturbances. While we understand these situations can be frustrating, many noise concerns are not police matters and are usually best dealt with by your local council.

Your local council’s environmental health team has the powers to assess and take action where needed.

There are some circumstances where police involvement may be necessary, such as if noise is linked to anti-social behaviour in a public place, or if there is evidence of crime or an immediate risk to safety.

By contacting the right service first, you can help ensure your issue is resolved more quickly and keep the 101 and 999 lines free for those who need them most.

👉 For more information on nuisance noise and what to do, visit: https://orlo.uk/rG43d

🔎 Find your local council page here: https://orlo.uk/leP3c

📞 Always call 999 in an emergency, where there is a threat to life or crime in progress.

Thank you for your understanding.

27/05/2026

27/05/2026

Update.

Balderton Cob Saga Continues 🦢

Unfortunately, today we were alerted that the pen has pushed the cob away and is now raising her cygnets alone.

For everyone’s safety, including the cob’s welfare, we have sadly had to remove him again and will now be seeking a suitable alternative waterway for him. Unfortunately, this won’t be in Balderton, as the other local waterways are already occupied by established pairs.

While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, nature can sometimes take unexpected turns. We can only hope mum does a fantastic job raising the young and that she finds a new mate ready for next season.

Thank you to everyone who has followed the situation and shown concern for these beautiful birds. As always, the welfare of the wildlife comes first. 🦢💚

26/05/2026

We are continuing to investigate following the discovery of human skeletal remains near Mansfield.

Members of the public found the remains in a wooded area next to the A617 Rainworth Bypass around 2.45pm on Saturday (23 May 2026).

An investigation was launched following the report and we believe the remains are that of one person.

A team of detectives have been working hard over the bank holiday weekend to establish the circumstances of how the bones came to be there.

Specialist archaeologists are on the scene today (Tuesday 26 May) to gather crucial evidence.

Our officers are also pursuing a number of lines of enquiry to formally identify the person.

A cordon next to the scene is expected to remain in place for some time while this work continues.

Detective Inspector Stuart Barson said: "This discovery of human remains is being treated with the utmost seriousness, and a thorough investigation is being carried out.

"After the initial discovery on Saturday, officers have been working round the clock to establish the circumstances of who the remains belong to, and how they came to be at this location.

"I can confirm that we are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry, and there is no wider risk to the public.

"Whilst the identity of this person is yet to be formally established, the public can be assured that a dedicated team are working to confirm this as soon as possible.

"I would like to stress, though, that this process may take us some time yet and a scene will remain in place for a number of days while our work continues.

"Whilst the investigation progresses, I'd like to thank the members of the public for their patience and assistance.

"We hope to be in a position to provide further information as the inquiry progresses and in the meantime, I'd ask the public not to speculate.

“We will continue to provide updates when we have them.”

26/05/2026

Back in April the driver of this lovely Range Rover was stopped in Newark by PC Bird from Team 2. It was found that they were driving whilst disqualified and without insurance . The driver was reported to court, their vehicle seized.

Fast forward a month to the court date in May... the driver was a no show, failing to appear. PC Bird soon tracked the driver down later on the same day, stopping them driving their Land Rover.

Guess what? Still disqualified and no insurance.

Second vehicle seized. Driver arrested and remanded for morning court. The result, a further 2 year disqualification period and over £1600 in costs and fines.

26/05/2026

It’s set to be another scorcher today ☀️

As the heat rises, so does demand in our control room. We're receiving a high volume of calls, so please:

📞 Only call 999 in a genuine emergency – where there is a threat to life or crime in progress.

📲 For non-emergencies:
• Call 101.
• Use the Live Chat on our website. Visit https://orlo.uk/TRALu and look for the blue icon in the bottom right corner. Please note that this is available from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.
• Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to anonymously report a crime or suspicious behaviour, or visit https://orlo.uk/4ArdI

If you see someone in distress, especially vulnerable people or animals left in hot vehicles, don’t hesitate to report it.

Let’s work together to keep our communities safe and ensure emergency lines stay open for those who need them most.

Thank you.