A man who tried to claim a £410 discount on a holiday has been ordered to pay more than £500 at court after admitting fraud.

Lincolnshire Police described Richard Crisp’s offending as ‘hardly crime of the century’ – but said his conviction sent out a message to others.

Now Crisp has been fined £270, ordered to pay costs of £200 and a £108 surcharge after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: “We will find you… Today we have an example of justice pursued. It shows the persistence, determination and patience of our officers in their work to tackle crime.

“In August 2024, 40-year-old Richard Crisp of Fen Road, Dowsby, Bourne, made a false representation to get a £410 discount on a holiday. Sure, this is not the crime of the century, but it is fraud.

“Crisp failed to appear on multiple occasions but despite his repeated avoidance and non-attendance at court, he was still held accountable in the end. On Friday 7 August, Crisp entered a guilty plea and was ordered to pay £578 in costs, surcharges and fines.

“It’s not always about the big crimes, as important as they are. Sometimes being a police officer is about dogged determination and a refusal give up. Well done to our officer in this case, PC 1450 Barker - she saw this through, despite it taking two years.”