7 Year ban for Lofthouse Fraudster
Published in General on 2016-10-25 by Lofthouse Brass Band
More news from Lofthouse Brass Band
In March 2016 Lofthouse Brass Band were the victims of a malicious attempt to have them disqualified from the Yorkshire Regional Brass Band Championships. This include the creation of a false email address in the name of the Musical Director, Andrew Whitaker, cancellation of long standing players registration (incl. the band’s Principal Cornet, Principal Euphonium and Soprano Cornet players) and subsequent follow up emails to all competing bands accusing Lofthouse Brass Band of playing ineligible players.
During the course of the following weeks the story not only became news in the brass banding world but also made the national press, TV and Radio.
In July 2016 a man from the Harrogate area was cautioned by Police in relation to this incident. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, performed at the contest in Bradford with a rival 4th section band and has connections to the music world within the Yorkshire area. It was proved that he acted alone and no one else in the banding world had any indication of his actions.
The Yorkshire Regional Committee and Lofthouse Brass Band are now pleased to hear the man in question has been banned from competing for 7 years.
Speaking on behalf of the Yorkshire Regional Committee, Peggy Tomlinson (secretary) commented:
"The Yorkshire Regional Committee held specially convened meetings in July and September to consider incidents regarding Lofthouse 2000 Band prior to, during and after the Fourth Section contest at the Yorkshire Brass Band Championships on Saturday 4th March.
West Yorkshire Police had investigated these incidents which resulted in the identification of the perpetrator who was subsequently issued with a 5 year police caution.
After full discussion and consideration of these events the committee decided that by his actions the perpetrator had brought both Lofthouse 2000 Band and the Yorkshire Regional Brass Band Championships into disrepute.
Consequently under rule 24 (c) of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain this person has been banned from competing in any regional or finals contest of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain for a period of seven years. The ban to expire on 31st March 2023.
Furthermore the committee has requested all the appropriate accredited registries to reject any application, by any band, to register this person for the same period of seven years.”
Commenting on behalf of the Yorkshire Regional Committee, Peggy Tomlinson, Regional Secretary: "Unfortunately the perpetrator cannot be identified for legal reasons but the actions were a cause of considerable stress and disruption both to Lofthouse 2000 band and the contest management and are totally unacceptable both to everyone involved in the contest and the banding movement as a whole.
We hope these penalties serve as a warning that such actions will not be tolerated. Hopefully we can now put this sorry state of affairs behind us and get back to enjoying our hobby in the true spirit of banding."