Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

Harrogate district reports 150 covid cases as rate drops

The Harrogate district has reported another 150 covid cases as its seven-day rate has dropped, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day covid rate has dropped to 667 per 100,000 people, but remains the highest in the county.

The North Yorkshire average is 535 and the England rate stands at 482.

This week, headteachers have been urged to bring back face masks and postpone after-school activities in an effort to bring down cases.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to latest NHS England figures.

A total of 130,122 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 121,675 have had a second dose.

Harrogate man Daniel Ainsley found guilty of murder

A 24-year-old man has been found guilty of murder on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate.

Daniel Ainsley, of no fixed address, killed 48-year-old Mark Wolsey after stabbing him 15 times in the chest and arm with a kitchen knife on March 5.

Ainsley was living in Mr Wolsey’s bedsit at 38 Mayfield Grove after he became homeless.

He admitted manslaughter, but denied murdering Mr Wolsey on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to an “abnormality of mental functioning”.

However, a jury at Leeds Crown Court delivered a verdict of guilty verdict for the murder charge today.

Police were first called to 38 Mayfield Grove on the night of March 5 after Mr Wolsey made a 999 call asking officers to remove Ainsley from his flat because he was scaring him.

Ainsley had been living with Mr Wolsey since being made homeless.

He complained to the officers who arrived at the property that Mr Wolsey was keeping his medication from him, which led to an argument.

Ainsley was taken to Harrogate District Hospital to pick up medication by police and instructed not to go back to the flat.

At 9.21pm, Ainsley left the hospital and was filmed on CCTV walking to Asda on Bower Road.

After entering the supermarket, he went to the kitchenware aisle where he purchased a box of knives. Ainsley used his own bank card to pay for the knives and went outside to dispose of all but one of them.

Ainsley then returned to Mayfield Grove where he stabbed Mr Wolsey to death, leaving the victim in his chair with the murder weapon still in his chest.

Mark Wolsey

Mr Wolsey was found by neighbours and certified dead at the scene at 10.22pm. His cause of death was stab wounds to the chest.

After leaving the bedsit, Ainsley made a phone call to police admitting to the killing and asking for officers to come and arrest him. He also called his mother and father to tell them he “loved them” and that they would not “see him for a while”.

‘A clear case of revenge’

The prosecution during the trial described the murder as “premeditated”, “goal-directed” and “purposeful”.

Mark McKode QC, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court:

“There can be no doubt that the defendant intended to kill Mark.

“The defendant knew exactly what he was doing and did it in a calm and calculated way.”

Ainsley has a personality disorder, which his defence claimed “impaired his ability to form a rational judgement” and resulted in diminished responsibility.

The court was told that Ainsley had a “traumatic upbringing”, which contributed to his personality disorder.

He was also suffering from alcohol dependancy. There was evidence that Ainsley was intoxicated on the night of the murder.

Both parties in the case agreed that Ainsley was suffering from an “abnormality of mental functioning”, which was his personality disorder.

However, Mark McKone, prosecuting, said Ainsley “knew what he was doing was wrong” and pointed to his 999 phone call after the killing and as evidence.

He said:

“This was a clear case of revenge.”

Ainsley is due to be sentenced on November 24.

Harrogate district reports 147 covid infections

Another 147 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day covid rate now stands at 727 per 100,000 people and continues to be the highest in the county.

The North Yorkshire average is 532 and the England rate stands at 460.

This week, headteachers have been urged to bring back face masks and postpone after-school activities in an effort to bring down cases.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to latest NHS England figures.

A total of 130,034 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 121,598 have had a second dose.

State of Harrogate’s New Zealand gardens ‘dishonours’ airmen

A representative of Harrogate International Partnerships has expressed “disappointment” at the state of the New Zealand gardens in the town and says it “dishonours” the airmen it commemorates.

The section of Valley Gardens commemorates Harrogate’s twinning with Wellington and the country’s airmen being stationed in the town during World War Two.

But, Kate Spencer, who is set to go on an official visit to Wellington to present a gift to the mayor from Harrogate, said she felt nothing had been done to improve the state of the garden.

Last year, sculptures in the garden were damaged by vandals. A private donor later offered £2,000 to replace them.

But Ms Spencer, a dual national who is due to visit New Zealand on Sunday for three months, told the Stray Ferret that the current state of the garden “dishonoured” the airmen.

She said:

“They should have done it before now, it is still the same.

“We are supposed to be honouring those airmen.

“It is a true disgrace and I feel embarrassed to see that my fellow countrymen in New Zealand are being ‘dishonoured’ rather than ‘honoured’.”

Ms Spencer added that she was unsure of what her response would be to the Mayor of Wellington if she was asked about the garden.

She said:

“This garden was there for them when links were made in the 50s. What’s happening? How can I tell the Mayor of Wellington, when he will no doubt ask [about it].”

The garden dates back to 1954 and chainsaw sculptor Mick Burns carved the Marlin, Kiwi, and bench in 2010.

In response, a spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“We have an ongoing conversation with Harrogate International Partnership about links to Wellington, New Zealand and are waiting for information from them on arrangements for placing a stone to mark the New Zealand Airmen in Stonefall Cemetery.

“Whilst at this time of year gardens are dying back for the winter it is disappointing to hear the feedback HIP are proposing to take to New Zealand, instead of using the opportunity to confirm the links we have been making over the previous period with the team at the Botanical Gardens in Wellington or the extensive planting of New Zealand daffodil species that took place last year despite the Covid restrictions.

“As has been communicated previously, the sculptures in the New Zealand gardens are soft wood and had already started to rot independent of any vandalism that has taken place. We would welcome any support or fundraising ideas from Harrogate International Partnership for the replacement of these with something more sustainable and robust for the location. Equally if there is anyone who would like to help with maintenance of the space we would be happy to arrange volunteering sessions in conjunctions with our own team or the Friends of Valley Gardens who provide fantastic support in maintaining this space.

“More widely we are in the process of agreeing a Valley Gardens Development Plan to continue to improve these spaces over the coming years.”

Second solar farm plan unveiled in South Stainley

Developers are consulting on proposals for another solar farm in South Stainley

Infraland Ltd and Boultbee Brooks Renewable Energy Ltd have unveiled plans for a farm on 19 hectares of land between South Stainley and Wormald Green.

The proposals would see photovoltaic panels laid out in rows running east to west on the site. The plan has yet to be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.

According to the plans, the site would generate 10 megawatts of power which would be able to power up to 3,000 homes.

The developer said in its proposal:

“The solar panels will be fixed on a pile-driven metal mounting frame securely fixed to the ground with posts. The height of the panels will be at a maximum of 3.087 meters from ground level.

“The panels will be installed at around 25 degrees from the horizontal, around 5.0m apart and would be fixed in that orientation.”

LanPro, planning agent for the developers, is holding a consultation on the proposal online until October 24. Residents can give their views on the plan here.

Meanwhile, South Stainley with Clayton parish is set to host a meeting on November 1 to discuss how to respond to the solar farm.

It follows Harrogate Borough Council approving a similar development in the village in August.

Elgin Energy were given permission to build a 200-acre solar farm, despite concerns from villagers about the loss of green fields and agricultural land.

Another 131 covid cases reported in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported another 131 covid cases, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day covid rate now stands at 727 per 100,000 people and continues to be the highest in the county.

The North Yorkshire average is 532 and the England rate stands at 460.

Yesterday, public health officials said school pupils were driving the rapid increase in infections in the Harrogate district.

Headteachers have been urged to bring back face masks and postpone after-school activities.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to latest NHS England figures.

A total of 129,841 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 121,469 have had a second dose.

Harrogate murder accused had ‘impaired judgement’, court told

A man accused of murder on Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove had “impaired judgement” before killing his victim, a court heard.

Daniel Ainsley, 24, of no fixed address, is on trial charged with murdering 48-year-old Mark Wolsey in his bedsit on March 5.

He denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to an “abnormality of mental functioning”.

John Harrison QC, for the defence, called Dr Harry Wood, a clinical psychologist, to give evidence to Leeds Crown Court this morning.

Dr Wood told the court that after interviewing Mr Ainsley he concluded that the defendant had a personality disorder that stemmed from “his traumatic upbringing”.

He also told the court that his opinion was that Mr Ainsley interpretation of the events inside Mr Wolsey’s flat before the alleged murder were “directly influenced by his personality”.

Dr Wood said:

“He considers himself vulnerable and believes that others are likely to behave in an abusive and attacking manner towards him.”

Dr Wood said that if Mr Ainsley’s account were to be accepted then his judgement “would be impaired as a result of a personality disorder”.

When questioned by prosecutor, Mark McKone QC, Dr Wood said he accepted that Mr Ainsley’s actions in the lead up to the alleged murder showed he was “in control”.

But, he told the court that the defendant’s judgement when arriving at those decisions was impaired.

Dr Wood said:

“The judgement Mr Ainsley made was irrational because of the bias in his thinking that comes from his personality disorder.”

He told the court that the defendant’s view of a “proportionate response” was “distorted”.

The prosecution argued that Mr Ainsley “knew what he was doing was wrong” and was capable of making rational decisions.

The trial continues.

Harrogate murder accused ‘acted purposefully’, court told

A man on trial for murder in Harrogate “acted purposefully” in the lead up to killing his victim, a court heard yesterday.

Daniel Ainsley, 24, of no fixed address, is accused of murdering 48-year-old Mark Wolsey in his bedsit on Mayfield Grove on March 5.

He denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to an “abnormality of mental functioning”.

Much of the second day of the trial was taken up with talk about Mr Ainsley’s state of mind.

Dr John Kent, a consultant forensic psychiatrist told Leeds Crown Court that Mr Ainsley had a “complex psychiatric background” and “a lifelong pattern of behavioural problems”.

Dr Kent, who interviewed Mr Ainsley after his arrest, also told the court the accused had a “significant personality disorder” that went back to his childhood. One characteristic of this was paranoia, he added.

But he told the court that Mr Ainsley’s accounts of the incident differed and were “unreliable” and that, in his opinion, the defendant’s behaviour was “purposeful”.

Mark McKone QC, prosecuting, asked Dr Kent what the significance was of the one hour interval between Mr Ainsley leaving 38 Mayfield Grove and returning to carry out the alleged murder.

Mayfield Grove

Dr Kent told the court:

“It provides a great deal of time and opportunity to consider his behaviour.”

Dr Kent told the court that “from start to finish” Mr Ainsley was “aware of what he has done” and was able to “make conscious decisions”.

‘Can’t rely on his accounts’

Mr McKone asked Dr Kent whether Mr Ainsley’s actions amounted to diminished responsibility.

Dr Kent said:

“In my opinion he does not. Personally, his accounts I cannot rely on. It is difficult to know which accounts are important.

“Secondly, he is not psychotic. Thirdly, the behaviour described appears to be very purposeful and thought through in terms of each stage of his actions and consequences.”

Dr Kent said the phone call Mr Ainsley made to police after the alleged murder was an example of the defendant “being aware of his choices”.

Forensic officers at the scene after Mr Wolsey died.

‘Diminished responsibility’

John Harrison QC, for the defence, told the court that Dr Kent’s report to the court met the tests for diminished responsibility.

Mr Harrison asked Dr Kent whether the defendant’s interpretation of Mr Wolsey’s behaviour “may have been influenced by his tendency to paranoid thinking as a result of his personality disorder”.

Dr Kent told the court that he did not think it did.

The defence claimed it reflected “on his ability to form rational judgements”. Mr Harrison told the court that Mr Ainsley was suffering from an “abnormality of mental functioning” on the night of the incident.

The trial continues.

Harrogate murder trial: victim stabbed 15 times

A Harrogate man was found “slumped” in his chair after being stabbed 15 times, the prosecution alleged in a murder trial today.

Daniel Ainsley, 24, of no fixed address, is charged with the murder of Mark Wolsey, 48, at a bedsit on Mayfield Grove, close to Harrogate town centre, on March 5.

Mr Ainsley denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

On the second day of the trial today, Leeds Crown Court heard that Mr Wolsey died due to stab wounds to the chest.

Mark McKone QC, prosecuting, called Dr Jennifer Bolton, the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem on Mr Wolsey, to give evidence.

Dr Bolton said nine of the stab wounds were to the chest, fatally damaging Mr Wolsey’s heart, diaphragm, liver and bowels.

Mr Wolsey also had six stab wounds to his left upper arm.

The court heard that the emergency services found Mr Wolsey in his bedsit “slumped” in his chair, with the knife still in his chest.

‘Slumped back in his chair’

A witness statement given by Vincent Rooney, a resident who lived above Mr Wolsey, was read in court.

Mr Rooney said he and his partner went down to Mr Wolsey’s bedsit after “hearing a loud bang” between 9pm and 10pm while watching television and could hear Mr Wolsey’s dog “barking constantly”.

Mr Rooney said after following his partner downstairs and opening the bedsit door, he saw Mr Wolsey “slumped back in his chair”.

Police on Mayfield Grove after Mr Wolsey’s death.

The court also heard a statement from Mr Ainsley’s father, David, which was read out by the prosecution.

He said in his statement that Mr Ainsley called him around 10.05pm. Mr Ainsley told his father that he “loved him” and that he had “killed Mark”, the court heard.

David Ainsley said in his statement:

“I was in a state of shock, I did not know what to do.”

The prosecution also read a statement from John Harrison, clinical supervisor at the ambulance service, who said that Mr Ainsley was outside the flat when he arrived at the scene.

Mr Harrison said:

“He said ‘I have killed him’. I wound my window down and asked him to lie down on the ground.

“He said ‘I have nothing on me’”.

The trial continues.

Harrogate man appears in court charged with murder

A trial opened today into an alleged murder on Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove.

Daniel Ainsley, 24, of no fixed address, appeared before Leeds Crown Court charged with the murder of Mark Wolsey on March 5.

Mr Wolsey, 48, died at the scene after police arrived at 38 Mayfield Grove at around 10pm.

Ainsley was arrested on suspicion of murder the same day. He denies the charge on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to an “abnormality of mental functioning”.

He appeared before the court this afternoon and spoke only to confirm his name.

Daniel Ainsley

In his opening statement this morning, prosecutor Mark McKone QC told the court that Mr Ainsley had murdered Mr Wolsey by “stabbing him many times with a large knife”.

The court heard how the two men had been living in Mr Wolsey’s bedsit and had known each other for three years.

Mr McKone said Mr Ainsley had lived in the bedsit after “losing his accommodation”.

The prosecution said that at around 8.40pm on March 5, neighbours “heard arguing” coming from Flat 4 of 38 Mayfield Grove.

A 13-minute 999 phone call made by Mr Wolsey on the night was played to the court. In it, Mr Wolsey was heard asking for officers to come and remove Mr Ainsley from his bedsit.

After officers arrived, Mr Ainsley told them that he “just wanted his medication” and that Mr Wolsey was keeping it from him. Police later took him to Harrogate District Hospital to get some, Mr McKone said.

CCTV footage played by the prosecution showed Mr Ainsley leaving the hospital at 9.21pm and heading to Asda supermarket on Bower Road.

Footage from the supermarket then showed Mr Ainsley going to the kitchenware aisle and purchasing a box of knives before disposing of all but one.

Leeds Crown Court. Picture: The Stray Ferret.

The court was then shown footage of Mr Ainsley returning to Mayfield Grove. The prosecution then played a phone call made by Mr Ainsley at 10.06pm to the police where he told the call handler he had “killed someone”.

The prosecution alleges that Mr Ainsley was able to make “rational choices” and had murdered Mr Wolsey.

Mr McKone said:

“The defendant could and did make a rational judgement and rational decision.”

The prosecution will give further evidence tomorrow.

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‘A clear case of revenge’

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‘Can’t rely on his accounts’

‘Diminished responsibility’

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‘Slumped back in his chair’

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