Man cautioned for fraud after festival cancelled

Hundreds would dress up in period gear for the event at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire

A man has been cautioned for fraud after a popular wartime-themed event was cancelled.

Organisers of the Woodhall Spa 1940s Festival in Lincolnshire said "missing funds were a significant contribution" to the event being cancelled in 2023.

Lincolnshire police issued Graham Keegan, who was a member of the committee, with a conditional caution for fraud on 27 November after they found he abused his position.

Keegan told the BBC: "I have repaid the money I owed the festival. The festival has repaid the money it owed me. I wish the festival every success in the future."

The free event, which featured shows, military re-enactors and flying displays, was first held in 2012 and attracted thousands of visitors.

Organisers cancelled the event in November 2023 due to "rising operating costs".

In a recent statement on social media, the committee said the cancellation was "in part due to the ongoing increase in costs matched with the uncertainty over the festival's future financial position".

'Missing money'

Festival directors raised concerns to police after they found "substantial sums of money were missing".

Shortly after the cancellation announcement, Lincolnshire Police launched an investigation into an allegation of misuse of company funds relating to the festival.

Over a year later, Keegan was cautioned for fraud by abuse of position, the force said.

He was a former member of the festival's committee for a number of years and managed the event's finances.

The festival committee has recovered all funds but said it is not enough to revive the event and will instead be creating a grant scheme for community projects in the area.

"We feel this is the best possible legacy the festival could leave, after 11 years of fantastic events and many happy memories created for thousands of people," the statement added.

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