Detective lured to romantic rendezvous

But far from being embroiled in a sinister criminal plot, her partner of six years was eagerly awaiting her arrival at Kiplin Hall – down on one knee.

Detective Constable Hinds’s shock soon turned to delight as Dave Wilson presented her with a sparkling ring and asked for her hand in marriage.

“I didn’t know Dave was so romantic. I am surprised and delighted, and of course I said yes,” said Catterick-based DC Hinds.

The unsuspecting officer was coaxed to the scene by her colleague DC Jack Briggs, who convinced her to accompany him to the Jacobean hall in Richmond to take a police statement. Little did she know he was the ringleader in the plot.

Marcia Mcluckie, administrator at Kiplin Hall, said: “The rendezvous was all arranged by Jack Briggs, who lives in Scorton, just a couple of miles from Kiplin Hall. Dave, who originates from Liverpool, was looking for somewhere special to pop the question and asked Jack for advice.”

DC Briggs said Kiplin Hall immediately sprang to mind. “Kiplin is such a beautiful and romantic place, what better setting could there be? It was really easy to create a scenario where Sherre thought we were just making a call on routine police business. Dave certainly caught her by surprise.”

After getting up the nerve to ask DC Hinds’s father for permission, Mr Wilson was relieved she accepted the proposal. “It’s great when a plan comes together. I want to say a big thank you to Jack and of course to Kiplin Hall,” he said.

As well as smuggling a diamond ring into the Grade I listed building, Mr Wilson had also secretly packed a case for DC Hinds so he could whisk her away for a romantic night at the nearby Rockcliffe Hall.

Yesterday’s proposal came exactly six years after the Harrogate couple went on their first date in Leeds.