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Celebrations as Killisick Junior School pupil Beatrice secures place at prestigious Grammar School

Emily Sanchez
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Celebrations as Killisick Junior School pupil Beatrice secures place at prestigious Grammar School

A school in Arnold is celebrating the remarkable achievement of Year 6 pupil who has secured a highly sought-after place at the renowned Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School (KGGS) – one of the most competitive Grammar Schools in the region.

Beatrice Ho, who attends Killisick Junior School, achieved an outstanding 11+ score of 275 out of a possible 282 placed her among top candidates for a place, gaining her entry into the oversubscribed institution known for its academic excellence and rich history.

Headteacher of Killisick Junior School, Mr Richard Jones, praised Beatrice’s dedication and ambition, saying, “Beatrice has worked so exceptionally hard during her time at Killisick and has achieved great things. I’m so proud of her achievements and her determination in wanting the very best opportunities to learn and grow. She is the first person under my leadership to secure a place at a Grammar School, and we are all very excited about what she goes on to achieve.”

Beatrice, who has impressed teachers and peers alike with her enthusiasm for learning, referenced her Killisick Junior School values when describing her feelings about the news. She said, “I’m so happy I got a place at KGGS. I know that I can believe, achieve and succeed there!”

Beatrice’s family echoed this pride and excitement with Mother Barbara Lam saying, “We are filled with joy and pride as our daughter Beatrice got a place at Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School with the score 275/282 in the 11+ test. A big thank you to Mr Jones, for your support and staying alongside us through the appeal process.”

Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School, located in Lincolnshire, has a reputation for nurturing talented, driven young people, and Beatrice’s admission marks a significant milestone, both for her own education and for Killisick Junior School.

Headteacher Richard Jones said, “Beatrice’s success serves as an inspiration to her peers and is a proud reminder of what hard work, resilience, and the right support can achieve. Everyone at Killisick is cheering her on as she begins this exciting new chapter.”

Work on new £900k 3G football pitch at Calverton Miners Welfare Football Club now complete

Emily Sanchez
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Work on new £900k 3G football pitch at Calverton Miners Welfare Football Club now complete

A brand-new, all-weather £900k 3G football pitch at Calverton Miners Welfare Football Club is now complete and ready for use, thanks to support from Gedling Borough Council and funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The state-of-the-art facility, based at the club’s grounds in Calverton, features a high-quality artificial surface and newly installed floodlights, enabling matches, training sessions and community events to take place all year round, including during the darker evening hours.

The project was part-funded by a £100,000 contribution from Gedling Borough Council, with additional match funding helping to unlock further investment from the Football Foundation, bringing the total value of the project to over £900,000.

The upgraded pitch is already supporting the club’s growing number of youth and adult teams. It is regularly used for training, coaching sessions and community events, with a particular focus on providing quality facilities for junior female football development and encouraging more young people to get active and involved in sport.

The pitch is part of Gedling Borough Council’s wider strategy to improve sports infrastructure across the borough, using UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations to deliver community-focused projects that promote health and wellbeing.

Councillor Henry Wheeler, Portfolio Holder for Lifestyles, Health and Wellbeing at Gedling Borough Council, said: “We’re really pleased to see the new 3G pitch completed and ready to use. This is a fantastic facility that will benefit not just the players and coaches at Calverton Miners Welfare, but the wider community too.

The club has an impressive youth set-up and we hope this new pitch encourages even more people to get involved in the game, from young children just starting out to adults looking to stay active. It’s a great example of what can be achieved through partnership and investment in local sport.”

Viv Corcocan from Calverton Miners Welfare Football Club, added: “We’re absolutely delighted with the new 3G pitch and the new floodlights. It will make a massive difference to what we can offer as a club. It means more training sessions, more matches, and more young people getting involved in sport – even in the evenings.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Gedling Borough Council and the Football Foundation for making this happen. It is also important to recognise the volunteers within our two linked Clubs Calverton FC and Arnold Eagles FC who have worked tirelessly in the background to support the venture and both clubs fundraising initiatives”

This investment is one of several initiatives being delivered across the borough to improve sports participation, support grassroots clubs, and create a healthier, more active community.

A prediction of the future state of online casinos in the UK

Sponsored Content
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A prediction of the future state of online casinos in the UK

Are you wondering how has gambling in the United Kingdom evolved over time?

It began with simple betting on outcomes in the 16th century and evolved into various games. Today, it includes online casinos, sports betting, and lotteries, reflecting its deep-rooted place in British culture. It has taken the form of online casinos where players visit to enjoy and bet on their favourite games. 

These i-gaming sites are legal in this country only if they are licensed. UKGC offers licensing services to operators who wish to provide their services to Brits. Since it is all legal, the number of gaming sites and gamers is increasing rapidly. According to Statistica, the number of users will reach 23.9 million by 2029. If you live in this country, then you must be wondering what the future holds for the casino industry. In this article, we have decoded the answer to this question. 

Regulatory Environment

How a country perceives gambling can tell you a lot about its future. In the UK, real-money gaming online for fun is not seen as a crime. On the contrary, the government uses the tax collected from these activities for the development of the country. In addition, the best online casinos are licensed and legal, which means they indirectly encourage the casino culture in the country and continue to help the pastime grow. 

In exchange for licensing a gaming site, UKGC charges a hefty one-time onboarding fee. Also, these websites need to pay an annual charge. In addition, the winnings for these i-casinos are heavily taxed. Thus, the government has a big revenue stream from all such activities. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that such betting sites will ever be considered evil and will be outlawed. 

Influence of Emerging Technologies

With the emergence of new technologies such as VR, you can now immerse yourself in playing blackjack or roulette. This game changer will help create more real-life scenarios in online casinos, and players will get what they want while sitting at home. 

According to gaming-related news, blockchain technology has entered the UK market. Now, games use this technology to provide provable fair games that are truly transparent and much fairer than traditional casino games. 

The use of Artificial Intelligence in online games is an innovative way to make games more interactive and fair. For example, now, RNG generators use AI to make the decision-making in games more random; thus, you can have a much fairer game that can not be hacked or altered. In addition, adding more graphics, symbols, music, animation, etc, is now much easier, thanks to AI technology. 

Possible Challenges

With the growing gambling industry, there are a few challenges that can cause its downfall. One such reason is gaming addiction. Since you need to bet real money in playing these games and you win money when you are the winner, there is a possibility that some players may see this as not a way of having fun but to earn money. 

This can lead to gambling addiction. Thus, it is possible that if we do not educate people about the adverse effects of such games, a large number of players will become addicted. This can lead to the government forcing casino owners to close down their shops. 

The Future of Casinos in the UK

If we look closely at the solution to the problem we just discussed, then we will find that the United Kingdom is already doing its best to solve the issue. They have directed all casinos to provide responsible gambling services which can help prevent addiction. 

In addition, the government is earning good revenue from this, and there is no sign of them stopping in the near future. They have provided long-term licenses to land-based and online casinos. All these statements point toward a stellar future of casinos in the UK. 

Full list of road closures and roadworks planned across Gedling borough

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Full list of road closures and roadworks planned across Gedling borough

There are a number of road closures in place across Gedling borough this week that drivers should be aware of.

Some roads are closed while others have lane closures. Temporary traffic measures or diversion routes may also be in place on roads in the region. Motorists are urged to make allowances for these closures and alter their travel arrangements if necessary.

If you’re planning to travel through the borough over the next few weeks take a look at the list below to see whether your journey will be affected.

Arnold

Howbeck Road, Arnold
20 May – 22 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Openreach

Coppice Road, Arnold
22 May
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Church Drive, Arnold
23 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Parkyn Road, Arnold
23 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Furlong Avenue, Arnold
23 – 24 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

St Albans Road, Arnold
27 May – 29 May
Road closure
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Bestwood

Bestwood Lodge Drive, Bestwood
27 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Burton Joyce

Mill Field Close, Burton Joyce
20 May – 21 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Cragmoor Road, Burton Joyce
21 May – 22 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Lambley Lane, Burton Joyce
21 May – 23 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Calverton

Burntstump Hill, Calverton
22 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Main Street, Calverton
25 May
Road closure
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Flatts Lane, Calverton
27 May – 30 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Works location: Flatts Lane Calverton

Roadworks

Carlton

Marhill Road, Carlton
22 May – 23 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Colwick

Candle Meadow, Colwick
20 May – 22 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Openreach

Daybrook

No roadworks scheduled

Gedling

Lambley Lane, Gedling
22 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

Lambley

No roadworks scheduled

Linby

No roadworks scheduled

Mapperley

Hallam Road, Mapperley
21 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Westdale Lane West, Mapperley
22 May – 26 May
Roadworks, Delays likely
Responsibility for works: Cadent

Kenrick Road, Mapperley
22 May – 23 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Openreach

Pilkington Road, Mapperley
23 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Spring Lane, Mapperley
24 May – 25 May
Road closure
Responsibility for works: Cadent

Digby Avenue, Mapperley
27 May – 28 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Openreach

Hickling Road, Mapperley
27 May – 29 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Openreach

Netherfield

Deabill Street, Netherfield
21 May
Road closure
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Papplewick

Main Street, Papplewick
22 May – 23 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Openreach

Ravenshead

Longdale Lane, Ravenshead
22 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Redhill

No roadworks scheduled

Woodborough

Foxwood Lane, Woodborough
20 May – 21 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Woodthorpe

Gretton Road, Woodthorpe
20 May – 22 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Beech Avenue, Woodthorpe
23 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water

Shelt Hill, Woodborough
27 May
Roadworks, Delays possible
Responsibility for works: Nottinghamshire County Council

Gedling Borough Council to consider compulsory DBS checks for councillors

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling Borough Council to consider compulsory DBS checks for councillors

Gedling Borough Council will again consider whether elected politicians should undergo additional checks to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.

The policy will be reviewed at the Labour-run authority’s Standards Committee on Thursday, May 22.

Under the plans, all councillors must undergo a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check within two months of the policy being approved, or two months after being elected.

The councillors would be required to request the checks themselves and provide copies to the Monitoring Officer within 28 days, which will be stored securely for six months.

All costs would be covered by the council.

If they fail the checks, the councillor’s roles may be restricted – though they cannot be disqualified from elected office.

Failure to comply with the policy may be considered a breach of the council’s code of conduct, documents say.

Mike Adams
The motion was put forward by Conservative group leader, Cllr Mike Adams (Con) to make it mandatory for all councillors to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

The move comes after Gedling councillors rejected a motion earlier in January, asking for all its members to go through the same enhanced checks.

The difference between a standard DBS check and an enhanced one is that it reveals unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands and other relevant police notes and information.

It also reveals if the current employee is listed on the Children’s Barred List or Adult First list.

The motion was put forward by Conservative group leader, Cllr Mike Adams (Con) to make it mandatory for all councillors to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

In January’s council meeting, Cllr David Ellis (Lab), Portfolio Holder for Public Protection, moved an amendment to send the decision to the council’s Standards Committee.

He said at the time that enhanced checks “raise issues with procedures and policies” and need “greater consideration”.

The council agreed to refer the matter to the Standards Committee, and if agreed this week, the plan would be forwarded to the council for final approval.

A working group was established in March this year to develop proposals, consider legal implications and draft procedures for enhanced checks.

They recommended that all councillors in Gedling Borough Council undergo basic DBS checks, not enhanced checks.

They say this is because district councillors do not carry out “regulated activities” that would require enhanced DBS checks.

Some county councillors do require enhanced checks due to the nature of their roles – which include delivering services such as education, fostering, social care and supporting looked-after children.

The working group developed a draft policy and procedure to be reviewed and discussed at the Standards Committee meeting on Thursday, May 22.

Reform UK chooses deputy leader and cabinet after winning control of Nottinghamshire County Council

Joe Locker (LDR Reporter)
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Reform UK chooses deputy leader and cabinet after winning control of Nottinghamshire County Council

Reform UK has chosen its deputy leader and cabinet members after taking control of Nottinghamshire County Council.

In the May 2 election, Reform secured a sweeping victory, taking control of the authority from the Conservatives with a clear majority, securing an initial 40 out of 66 available seats.

This has since fallen to 39 after Desmond Clarke, who unseated the Conservative Party’s Keith Girling in Newark West, resigned a week after the election. A by-election will now take place for his seat.

The Conservatives previously held the authority with 34 seats, but now sit as the main opposition with 17 councillors.

The new Nottinghamshire Reform group announced Cllr Mick Barton, who represents Mansfield East, as its leader on May 12.

Dr John Doddy, who represents Stapleford and Broxtowe Central, will become the deputy leader of the council.
Nottinghamshire Reform group announced Cllr Mick Barton, who represents Mansfield East, as its leader on May 12

Documents have now been published confirming the deputy leader and cabinet members, ahead of the ruling group’s first Full Council meeting at Oak House on Thursday (May 22).

Dr John Doddy, who represents Stapleford and Broxtowe Central, will become the deputy leader of the council.

He was expelled from the Conservatives after he stood independently against the party for the Broxtowe constituency in the 2024 General Election, before becoming the County Council’s first Reform councillor earlier this year.

A majority of decisions about council services are made by the cabinet, as well as the setting of a budget each year and the council’s policies.

Each member has a designated department, such as transport and environment, finance, social care, or education.

The new cabinet, which will be confirmed on Thursday, is as follows:

  • Cllr Martin Wright – Cabinet member for business management.
  • Cllr Barry Answer – Cabinet member for adult social care, alongside his deputy Cllr Kelvin Wright
  • Cllr Rory Green – Cabinet member for children and families.
  • Cllr Dawn Justice – Cabinet member for communities and public health.
  • Cllr James Walker-Gurley – Cabinet member for economic development and asset management
  • Cllr Hana John – Cabinet member for education and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
  • Cllr Stuart Matthews – Cabinet member for finance and resources, and he will be deputised by Cllr James Rawson
  • Cllr Bert Bingham – Cabinet member for transport and environment.

A further two of the 66 seats, in Mansfield North, are yet to be decided following the death of Trade Union and Socialist Coalition candidate, Karen Seymour, before the election.

A by-election is expected to take place there on June 12.

Local charity “buzzing” after donation from Colwick packaging firm 

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Local charity “buzzing” after donation from Colwick packaging firm 

Members of the Nottinghamshire Beekeepers’ Association (NBKA) have swarmed to thank global Colwick packaging giant The Wilkins Group after the firm donated £1,000 to its cause. 

The registered charity, which is part of the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA), has around 300 members with hubs in Hucknall, Newark, Nottingham and, appropriately, Beeston. 

The group supports millions of honeybees in colonies across the county, helping sustain nature’s natural balance as well as offering beekeeping courses to budding enthusiasts and talks to local schools. 

The cash injection from The Wilkins Group forms part of the firm’s ‘year of giving’ campaign, where the Colwick-based company is supporting a different Nottinghamshire charity for every month of 2025. 

Janet Bates, secretary of the NBKA, said: “It was a massive surprise when we got the call from The Wilkins Group. I was buzzing! 

Wilkins_group
The cash injection from The Wilkins Group forms part of the firm’s ‘year of giving’ campaign

“It’s a really generous donation and will go a very long way towards helping our hard-working bee population and educating more people about the importance of honeybees. 

“We have to protect our pollinators, as they are such an important part of nature’s delicate balance. The more people that become interested in bees and beekeeping, the more the word will spread, so this fantastic donation represents more than just money for us.” 

Janet, who has been an NBKA member for the past 16 years, helps to maintain and sustain the association’s hub in Hucknall, one of the Nottinghamshire group’s teaching apiaries. 

The Hucknall site currently boasts around 20 hives, which in the high season contain between half a million and 800,000 honeybees. 

Justin Wilkins, joint managing director of The Wilkins Group, said: “When we launched our year of giving campaign, we were amazed at the breadth of different charity groups operating on our doorstep. 

“We’re a successful firm, yet our success relies on the people living and working in our local community, so we have been committed to giving something back to some of the worthy causes operating in Nottinghamshire. 

“Nottinghamshire Beekeepers’ Association clearly plays a critically important role in supporting our bee population, which some see as pivotal to our own survival as humans. 

“We are delighted to make the NBKA May’s recipient of our year-long campaign – and we sincerely hope it helps take the sting out of their fundraising efforts this year.”       

Other charities that have been supported by a £1,000 donation so far this year include Papplewick Pumping Station, Green’s Windmill, in Sneinton, Walesby Forest outdoor activity centre and Stonebridge City Farm. 

The Wilkins Group, which, in addition to its Nottingham headquarters, has packaging plants in China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, is dedicated to improving the environmental impact of industry. 

Creating packaging designs and innovations that aim to reduce and ultimately eradicate single-use plastics within the industry, it is already leading the way in alternatives including board trays for food packaging, including the use of compostable materials. 

The Wilkins Group is a family run firm that produces food packaging for the likes of Pukka, Pizza Express, Harrods and Cadbury. It also is credited with producing bespoke and award-winning items such as eco-friendly coat hangers and the iconic M&S light-up glitter gin bottles.   

Carlton Town learn National League Midlands opponents as line-up is announced – with six local derbies on the fixture list

David Bratton
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Carlton Town learn National League Midlands opponents as line-up is announced – with six local derbies on the fixture list

Carlton Town now know who they will come up against in next season’s National League North after the FA issued their league allocations last week.

The Millers have finally moved back to the Midland League after three years in the Northern Premier East League following a successful appeal to the FA.

The club were desperate to be restored to the Midlands league with the move to the East resulting in a number of away matches being more than 100 miles away, costing the club up to £1,000 each time.

But now a new challenge awaits the Millers and with the relegation of Basford United and Mickleover from the Premier Division, it means the Millers will face a mouth-watering six local derbies next season.

As well as Basford and Micklover, Carlton will face Long Eaton United, Belper Town , Shepshed Dynamo and Loughborough Students.

The furthest trip from Stoke Lane will be Wellingborough Town – which is 82 miles away. This is closely followed by St Neots Town in Cambridgeshire, which is 80 miles and AFC Rushden and Diamonds which is also 80.

The club will also have some new grounds to visit including the likes of Racing Club Warwick 67 miles. Litchfield City 44 miles and Boldmere St Michaels 50 miles, to name but three, which will hopefully please supporters.

The full list of sides for next season reads: AFC Rushden and Diamonds, Anstey Nomads, Basford United, Bedworth United, Belper Town, Boldmere St Michael’s, Bourne Town, Coleshill Town, Corby Town, Coventry Sphinx, Hickley LR, Lichfield City, Long Eaton United, Loughborough Students, Mickleover, Racing Club Warwick, Rugby Borough, Shepshed Dynamo, St Neots Town, Sutton Coldfield Town and Wellingborough Town.

Co-op members vote to remove all Israeli products from shelves

Gedling Eye
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Co-op members vote to remove all Israeli products from shelves

The Co-op could soon stop selling Israeli products after board members voted in favour of a boycott.

The non-binding motion was passed at the convenience giant’s AGM on May 17.

Nearly three quarters (73%) of members supported the motion, which urged the board to demonstrate “moral courage and leadership” by removing Israeli goods from the shelves.

Although the motion is advisory, the board confirmed it is actively reviewing its sourcing policies, to “ensure that they reflect both our values and principles and the views of our members, which they have made clear today”.

It is understood that, if implemented, the boycott could take effect as early as this summer.

Co op bags for life
The motion was first submitted last month by Co-op members

The motion was first submitted last month by Co-op members, who pointed to the retailer’s stance in 2022, when it became the first UK supermarket to boycott Russian products following the invasion of Ukraine.

Members have urged the business to adopt a consistent approach in light of the ongoing war in Gaza, which the motion said had “completely destroyed” the region.

Campaign group Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which supported the motion, hailed the vote’s result as a “landmark moment” and called on the retailer to take action.

A spokesperson for PSC, Lewis Backon, said: “The Co-op AGM vote shows ordinary people in this country are committed to the cause of justice and freedom for Palestine in their everyday lives and refuse to support Israel’s apartheid economy.

“The Co-op must now listen to its members and implement the motion by taking all Israeli goods off the shelves.”

However, the motion has sparked sharp criticism from UK Lawyers for Israel, who wrote to the Co-op opposing the motion and claiming it included “false and defamatory statements”. It accused it of promoting “racial hatred of Israelis and Jews”.

The Co-op already maintains a sourcing policy which excludes goods from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories – a position it has held since 2007.

Carlton man jailed for his part in £700,000 drugs plot

Emily Sanchez
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Carlton man jailed for his part in £700,000 drugs plot

A Carlton man has been jailed for just over a year at Nottingham Crown Court for his part in a major drugs operation.

Huy Quoc Tran, aged 37, of Honeywood Drive pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce cannabis and was jailed for 13 months.

He was among five members of a drugs gang that first came to police attention during a routine traffic stop.

A silver Mercedes was seen driving erratically by police officers before it was stopped in West Bridgford on January 26, 2023.

The driver immediately fled on foot, leaving behind a 16-year-old girl who was suspected of being illegally trafficked into the UK.

Detectives had the car recovered and forensically examined in the weeks after the stop, and were later able to link lead conspirator Hai Quoc Tran to the car by fingerprints.

An intelligence-led investigation was commenced by officers at Nottinghamshire Police’s Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Team, which led to another vehicle of interest being stopped in the Redhill area of Nottingham in July 2023.

Carlton man Huy Quoc Tran pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce cannabis and was jailed for 13 months.
Two mobile phones were found to contain evidence of large-scale drug dealing
The five members of the gang involved in a 700,000 drugs plot

That car was also found to contain Hai Quoc Tran and accomplice Thi Hong Trang Nguyen.

Crucially, it was also carrying two mobile phones that were later found to contain evidence of large-scale drug dealing.

Alongside images of cannabis and bundles of cash, officers uncovered a treasure trove of evidence revealing the identities of other conspirators.

That evidence – supported by subsequent investigation work –  helped to secure a series of coordinated search warrants at five addresses across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire on 30 November 2023.

At one of those properties, in Honeywood Drive, Nottingham, eight large vacuum-packed bags of cannabis were found underneath a bed.

Other properties had been converted for the purpose of growing cannabis, and contained drugs worth more than £700,000.

Nearly £14,000 in cash was also seized, along with large quantities of designer handbags, sunglasses and belts. Fake ID documents were also recovered.

Most of these items were seized at an address in Blue Bell Hill Road, Nottingham, where Hai Quoc Tran and Thi Hong Trang Nguyen were arrested and taken into custody.

The other four gang members received the following sentences:

Hai Quoc Tran, aged 39, of no fixed address, was found guilty of conspiring to produce cannabis and conspiring to supply cannabis.

Lien Thi Nguyen, aged 48, of Glen Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, was found guilty of the same offences.

They were jailed for four years and six months and three years respectively.

Thi Hong Trang Nguyen, aged 38, of Blue Bell Hill Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce class B drugs and was jailed for three years and six months.

Thuan Quoc Tran, aged 29, of Frederick Street, South Shields, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce cannabis and was jailed for three years 13 months.

The 16 year-old-girl found in the back of the car in West Bridgford was later identified and remains in the UK.

Detective Constable Nicola Watson, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Modern slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Team, said: “What started out as a human trafficking investigation slowly morphed into a far larger drugs conspiracy.  Cannabis farms are often linked to more serious crime and fund activities such as human trafficking and modern slavery.  These people were each involved in a very significant conspiracy designed to put large amounts of cannabis onto the streets of the East Midlands.  

“Growing cannabis on this scale is not a victimless crime.  The residential properties used by this group, rented out by unsuspecting landlords, were left dangerous and inhabitable due to the significant damage caused in order to facilitate cannabis grows of a commercial-scale. 

“Their actions also posed considerable fire risks to unsuspecting neighbours – courtesy of dangerous modifications to electricity supplies and storing of large quantities of combustible materials.

“I am pleased they have now been jailed.”

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