Knaresborough barrister attacked in-laws who overstayed their welcome

A Knaresborough barrister “lost the plot” and attacked his in-laws after their short stay at his family home lasted longer than expected.

Jonathan French shouted that he “couldn’t stand” the couple, ordered “get them out of my house” then branded them “scroungers” before he lashed out in March last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard, while in a “complete rage”, French pushed his mother-in-law and they both fell on the floor, which left her with a significant bruise to her bottom.

When she rang 999, French put his hands over her mouth and face then threw her phone across the room and smashed it.

He then turned his aggression on his father-in-law, who he punched in the ribs and bust his lip.

The 49-year-old lawyer, of Coverdale Drive, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, admitted assault, common assault and criminal damage on the day he was due to be tried.

French is currently suspended from work but hopes to return to his profession.

French ‘lost the plot’

The court heard the in-laws had been staying at French’s plush family home as they had sold their property and were in the process of moving to Portugal, where they now live.

French snapped after the stay lasted longer than expected, although they were due to leave within days.

Judge Robert Adams said French “really lost the plot” when he got home from work that day.

The judge said:

“He was heard shouting ‘get them out of my house’, ‘I can’t stand them’, ‘I can’t tolerate them anymore’ and ‘they’re nothing but scroungers’.

“He ran upstairs into their bedroom and began screaming at his father-in-law, telling him to get out immediately.

“The father-in-law had asked to pack his things but was told to leave immediately.”

The court heard French called his mother-in-law a “worthless f***ing b**ch” then again demanded that they leave then threw their suitcases around the room.

Prosecutor Sue Hirst said:

“He pushed her back onto the bed and they both fell onto the floor. In causing her to fall he caused a significant bruise to her bottom.

“She grabbed her phone and dialled 999 and began to speak to the operator.”

Miss Hirst said French put his hands over her mouth then threw and smashed her phone.

She added:

“He proceeded to assault his father-in-law, punching him in the ribs and assaulting him, causing an injury to the lip which was bleeding.”

Susannah Proctor, defending, said French was under an “extreme amount of pressure” at the time, has had counselling and has been in custody on remand.

Miss Proctor said French is currently suspended from his profession pending the outcome of the sentence hearing.

Miss Proctor added:

“He is hoping to rejoin chambers where he was working.”

Judge Adams sentenced French to a conditional discharge for two years.

The judge said he could take the “exceptional course” due to the time French has spent behind bars on remand.

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North Yorkshire Police to get extra £1m to patrol crime hotspots

North Yorkshire Police has been awarded £1 million as part of a government initiative to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The Home Office announced last week it was awarding £66 million to police forces in England and Wales for extra police patrols in a anti-social behaviour hotspots.

The £1 million awarded to North Yorkshire Police was the minimum sum to any constabulary.

The Home Office said the funding will be used to “deploy uniformed patrols for up to 20,000 hours in hotspot areas each year, helping drive down crime and boost public confidence in their local force”.

The Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner said in a statement today the funding would help to develop a successful pilot scheme, which saw rates of anti-social behaviour drop by 40%.

The statement said the public cited anti-social behaviour as one of the most pressing issues facing them in their day to day lives but added the county had “one of the lowest crime rates in any region of the two nations”.

Zoë Metcalfe, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“My office will be working with North Yorkshire Police and our partners in community safety, including local councils, on a strategy to use this funding  for anti-social behaviour hotspot policing to best effect and to keep people safe and feeling safe.

“We will report back on our proposals to the Home Office in March, when I will be able to provide more details of our plans.

“People tell me that they are concerned about anti-social behaviour and I understand their feelings of fear and frustration and that’s why tackling  anti-social behaviour is a priority in my police and crime plan.”

Home Secretary James Cleverly said:

“Our plan will put more officers on patrol in local communities up and down the country – an approach that has been proven to work, to help ensure that people are not only safe, but that they feel safe, in their neighbourhoods.”

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Man arrested for driving while unfit following Harrogate collision

A man has been arrested for driving while unfit following a Harrogate collision.

North Yorkshire Police today said the man, who is in his 50s, collided with two parked cars on Arthurs Avenue, near Harrogate Grammar School, at 6.45pm last night.

Police cordoned off the road after being called to the scene.

The force added:

“The driver of the car was arrested a short time later on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink or drugs.”

Police also said no injuries were reported but the man remains in police custody.

No further information was revealed.

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Harrogate woman faces child neglect charges

A Harrogate woman, who allegedly put a used toilet brush in the bath while a child in her care was bathing, has appeared before magistrates.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the children, pleaded not guilty to two charges of assault, neglect or abandonment of a child/young person to cause unnecessary suffering at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard the children came under the woman’s care in 2015 after their birth mother died and their father was in prison.

Alex Steadward, prosecuting, said the woman was a friend of their late mother and took legal guardianship of the children following her death.

Mr Steadward said the woman “emotionally and physically abused” both victims — one for nearly six years and the other for nearly three years.

He added she smacked and punched the victims, withheld food from them and even put a used toilet brush in their bathwater, putting “faeces in the water”, the court heard.

Andrew Tinning, defending, claimed it was her partner that faced the latter allegation, but his solicitor denied this.

Partner used ‘martial arts moves’ against victims

The woman’s partner, who also cannot be named to conceal the victims’ identities, pleaded not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm against one of the victims.

The man, of the same address, appeared at the same hearing yesterday.

Mr Steadward alleged the man “strangled” one of the victims and used “martial arts moves” against him, on February 2, 2017.

Brian Nuttney, defending the man, said his client denied these allegations.

The pair were released on unconditional bail and will appear before York Crown Court on March 18, 2024.

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New Starbeck fish and chip shop to open next week

The latest addition to the Starbeck takeaway scene will open its doors next week.

Portside Fish and Chips, which already has two sites in Leeds and one in Pontefract, will open in the former Karen’s Bistro unit on the high street.

The company, which launched in 2020, told the Stray Ferret its food is prepared in vegetable oil and cooked to order to “ensure the highest quality for customers”.

A portion of fish and chips costs £10, but the takeaway offers other traditional chip shop items including battered sausages, scampi and pies, as well as vegetarian options.

Kully Roda, owner of Portside, told the Stray Ferret:

“Regarding our Starbeck store, we are excited to become part of a vibrant high street, alongside esteemed brands, and local businesses.

“Understanding the economic challenges faced by our customers, we have tailored a meal deal menu to provide extra value. We have also introduced a lunchtime loyalty scheme, where customers can collect stamps per meal, redeemable for a lunchtime meal.”

The site, which will employ eight people, will provide competition for two nearby fish and chip shops Drake’s Fish and Chips and Bradleys as well as numerous other takeaways.

Portside will open its doors on Tuesday, February 20. It will be open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 8pm, and 3pm to 8pm on Sunday.

It follows the opening of national food franchise, Pepe’s Piri-Piri, which came to Knaresborough Road earlier this month.

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Traffic lights near Ripley finally set to be removed

Traffic lights on Fountains Road at Ripley, which have been in place since early December, look set to be removed soon.

The lights were installed after storms in December flooded a notorious stretch of road (pictured), which runs between Ripley and Sawley.

The Stray Ferret reported on the issue last month after there appeared to be no end in sight for the traffic lights – despite a brief dry spell and respite period from flooding.

At the time, we asked North Yorkshire Council when the lights would be removed and what long-term flood prevention measures would be put in place. A spokesperson said:

“Before the traffic lights are removed, we must jet the gullies and inspect the carrier drain.

“Officers hope to be on site in the next few weeks.”

The council has now provided an update.

Melisa Burnham, the council’s highways area manager, told the Stray Ferret yesterday:

“The traffic lights were installed following heavy rainfall, resulting in an area of flooding.

“We appreciate the inconvenience the disruption has caused, but the safety of the travelling public is our top priority.

“Our officers finished unblocking the gullies on Tuesday (February 13) and the water has drained away. The road will now be repaired by the end of the week, and it can then reopen.”

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Harrogate hospital aims to ‘minimise impact’ of latest junior doctors’ strike

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has said it has taken steps to “minimise” the impact of the latest junior doctors’ strike on outpatients and appointments.

It comes after the British Medical Association announced a fresh round of junior doctor strike action last Friday in an ongoing pay dispute with the government.

The strike will run from 7am on Saturday, February 24, until 11.59pm on Wednesday, February 29.

A spokesperson for the trust today told the Stray Ferret:

“In response to the announcement that junior doctors, who are members of the British Medical Association are set to undertake industrial action from 7am on Saturday 24 February until 11:59am on Wednesday 28 February, we have established a multi-professional strike planning team to develop plans to ensure essential services can be maintained on the strike days, and to minimise as much as possible any impact on our services, staff and patients.

“Patients should continue to attend appointments as planned unless contacted to reschedule. We will be re-arranging any postponed appointments as a priority. We appreciate this situation is frustrating for patients affected and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“Nobody should put off seeking urgent or emergency care during the strike, and key services will continue to operate.”

This will be the 10th round of junior doctor strikes since March 2023. A six-day strike last month was the longest in NHS history.

We contacted the BMA to ask how many Harrogate junior doctors will be taking part in the strike, but a spokesperson said it could not disclose the information.

The Stray Ferret reported on the impact the December strike had on appointments at Harrogate hospital last month.

The trust said it was forced to cancel 166 appointments due to the walk-out.

Giving further advice to patients, the trust added:

“For people who require medical assistance and are considering visiting our Emergency Department, unless it’s a life-threatening or a severe illness or injury, we would ask that they contact NHS 111 first either by calling or going online https://111.nhs.uk/. The NHS will help them right away and if they need urgent care, the NHS can book them in to be seen quickly and safely.

“People with life-threatening or severe illnesses or injuries should continue to dial 999 and anyone who arrives at our Emergency Department without calling NHS 111 will still receive medical care, with those needing emergency treatment prioritised.”

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Knaresborough wall repair completed five weeks early

North Yorkshire Council has confirmed work to fix a Knaresborough wall has been completed five weeks earlier than expected.

The £200,000 project began after a section of the wall on Briggate collapsed on to the road last September. Nobody was hurt, but rubble remained on the road for almost three months after.

Initial repair work began at the end of November and paused over Christmas, but resumed last month to fix another section of the wall.

Two-way traffic lights were put in place on January 8 by the council, which said the maintenance work was due to be completed by Friday, March 14.

However, traffic lights were removed last Friday (February 9) – just over a month after the work began.

The Stray Ferret contacted the council to ask if the work had paused or finished. We also asked if it had been carried out with effective long-term maintenance measures in place after a reader in Calcutt got in touch to say he didn’t see any reconstruction of the wall take place and “most of the work was repointing”.

A spokesperson responded:

“I’m pleased to confirm the work has been completed ahead of schedule.”

The wall pictured at Christmas before the latest repairs.

A  Freedom of Information request submitted by the Stray Ferret revealed the wall was assessed as safe three times in the weeks before it collapsed despite complaints that it was crumbling and damaged by weeds.

Cllr Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough East, told the council in June 2022 that the wall “could potentially be a risk to life”.

‘Lessons must be learned’

Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West, today told the Stray Ferret the “sorry saga would never have happened if the wall had been properly maintained”, adding:

“The cost involved does not represent value for money for the taxpayer. As the work has taken less time than anticipated the council should now look to challenge the price. A local builder told me they could have done the work for a third of the price; had they been asked to tender. I will be asking the council to review its process for tendering and awarding of contracts.

“I would expect as a minimum the wall to be safety checked on an annual basis. Although a schedule of inspection hasn’t been confirmed with me. If residents raise any concerns they should be listened to and acted upon.

“The contractor should be congratulated for getting the work done ahead of time and I now hope the council can get the road resurfaced as planned in April.”

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Bishop Monkton man with ‘flagrant disregard for court orders’ jailed for 26 weeks

A Bishop Monkton man who drove an uninsured vehicle while disqualified and resisted arrest has been jailed for 26 weeks.

Paul Moehr was also banned from driving for 89 months when he was sentenced at York Magistrates Court yesterday.

Moehr, 51, of St John’s Road, pleaded guilty to four charges: driving whilst disqualified; obstructing a constable in the execution of duty; use of a vehicle on a road without third party insurance and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

The court heard he drove a Vauxhall Vectra whilst disqualified and uninsured on North Street in Ripon on January 20, 2024.  On the same day, he resisted police at the White Horse Inn, in Ripon.

He also admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis when he was taken into custody at Harrogate Police Station on the same day.

Magistrates said he “had a flagrant disregard for court orders”, which played a part in his sentencing, alongside a previous record of offending and persistent driving offences.

Moehr was also ordered to pay £154 to the court.

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Harrogate sandwich shop to close after 51 years of trading

A Harrogate takeaway sandwich shop it set to close after 51 years of trading.

The Bread Bin, on Skipton Road, opened in 1972.

Jude Gray, the current owner, has worked alongside her mother, who took over the business in the 1990s, for the last 15 years.

However, she today told the Stray Ferret “rising costs” led the family to close the business, adding:

“Obviously, the industry is just not in great shape.

“Overheads are mental, and the price of gas and electric has gone crazy.

“Also, my mum, who still works in the shop, just turned 73. We kind of just knew it was the right time with that combined with the rising costs.”

The café sells a range of hot and cold sandwiches, jacket potatoes, drinks and sweet treats.

However, Ms Gray also attributed the closure to Brexit and the effect it has had on trade with suppliers.

“I know it’s not going to get any better. What was once a £5 product has gone up to something like £16.

“I think we will be one of many in this situation.”

She did, however, say customers are “gutted” about the sandwich shop closing, adding:

“It’s quite an unusual place and we have such a loyal customer base.

“Because it’s been around so long – we’ve got people who came in as children that now bring their children and even grandchildren.”

Ms Gray said The Bread Bin will likely close at the end of February, but a date has not been confirmed yet.

She said the business will not be put up for sale.

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