John Plummer, Author at The Stray Ferret

Knaresborough man buys famous Pateley Bridge sweet shop

A 24-year-old man who grew up in Knaresborough has taken over one of the Harrogate district’s most famous businesses.

Ben Howie has bought the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World in Pateley Bridge from Keith Tordoff, who owned the business for about 25 years.

It has been trading continuously since 1827 and is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest sweet shop.

Mr Tordoff is standing as an independent candidate in North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections in May.

He described Mr Howie as “the most capable young man I have known” and said he was sure he would preserve the shop’s traditions while developing new opportunities. Mr Tordoff said:

“He loves the history and heritage but, being younger, sees opportunities to develop in areas such as mail order.”

Mr Howie, who was born in Ireland but grew up in Knaresborough, previously worked for a large corporate company but said:

“I was only seeing one aspect of the business and taking on my own business means covering all aspects, which appeals much more.

“The shop is an icon. I want to keep it just as it is because it is a living museum while growing the brand.”

North Yorkshire Police launches campaign to target drivers on mobile phones

Police will be patrolling the Harrogate district’s main roads in a HGV cab as part of a new campaign to catch drivers using mobile phones.

North Yorkshire Police said today it had borrowed the cab to give them a better view to detect mobile phone use and other dangerous behaviour.

The campaign, named Operation Tramline, follows a similar initiative last year that caught a man who took both hands off the wheel to use his phone and a lorry driver who rolled a cigarette.

Highways England, which runs Operation Tramline nationally and owns three unmarked cabs, is loaning the vehicle.

Traffic Constable Mark Patterson, of North Yorkshire Police’s roads policing group, said he had seen people lose their lives because motorists got distracted. He added:

“All drivers on our roads know using a mobile phone while driving is wrong. But nobody thinks they’ll be the driver that causes one of those incidents.

“Catching those offences as they happen, then using enforcement and education is one way we can make our roads safer for everyone.

“Using Highways England’s HGV cab during Op Tramline is an excellent way to do that, as it gives us an unparalleled vantage point.”

Several other roads policing units also take part in the operation.

If officers in the lorry see an offence taking place, it is recorded by the passenger. Marked units then pull the vehicle over and the driver is dealt with immediately.

The HGV cab loaned to police.

Last year North Yorkshire Police also discovered:

A tractor driver, who shouldn’t even have been on the motorway, driving whilst using a mobile phone who still had alcohol in his system from drinking the previous night.
A disqualified driver, driving an overweight van and trailer and using his phone at the same time.
Drivers of various vehicles seen reading/checking paperwork whilst driving on the motorway.
Various drivers seen talking on their phones, some completely oblivious to the fact that they were being recorded.

The drivers received fixed penalty notices, which typically include a fine and points on their licence.

Masked robber jailed for terrifying Harrogate couple

A masked robber who terrorised a woman and her elderly partner in their Harrogate home has been jailed for over four years.

Michael Palmer, 41, broke into the couple’s flat while the victim and her 60-year-old partner were asleep, York Crown Court heard.

The woman was woken by the sound of glass smashing and got out of bed to investigate. She was confronted in the hallway by two masked men who had broken in by smashing a pane of glass in the front door, said prosecutor Andrew Finlay.

The two men were wearing face coverings or balaclavas and one was wearing a camouflage jacket. They pushed the woman into the living room and demanded money.

One of them, thought to be Palmer’s cohort, told her to get down on the floor and demanded she tell them where she kept her money as he stood over her.

“She said she didn’t have any,” added Mr Finlay.

“The (unnamed male) continued to shout (at) her, standing over her.”

The intruders went looking around the flat and one of them went into the bedroom where the woman’s partner, who was ill, was laid in bed.

They came back into the living room where the woman had grabbed a phone to try to call for help.

Palmer, who was on hard drugs at the time, demanded the phone from the woman, but she refused to hand it over, whereupon the duo left the flat empty-handed.

Home-made balaclava

The woman, who had been living temporarily at her partner’s flat, called police and gave them a description of the two men.

After a search of the area, they found Palmer and his cohort as they were emerging from a local property and were about to get into a taxi. They were both arrested.

The property was searched where police found a bag containing a crowbar, gloves, a home-made balaclava and a black jacket, which had been worn by Palmer during the break-in. The balaclava had been made out of a sleeve with eyeholes cut into it, said Mr Finlay.

Glass fragments from the balaclava and jacket were found to have come from the point of entry, namely the smashed door pane, and DNA evidence was found on the clothes in the bag.
The two victims, who were named in court, said they had been “extremely scared about what happened and what (the robbers) were going to do”.

The male victim said he had been having nightmares about the break-in. He and his partner were now very nervous when they went to bed and panicked “at every noise”.

‘Horrific offence of random violence’

Palmer, of Butler Road, Harrogate, refused to answer police questions following his arrest, but ultimately admitted attempted robbery, which occurred at about 3.30am on February 22, 2019.

The court heard that Palmer was a career criminal with over 100 offences to his name, including burglaries, violence, intimidating a witness, shoplifting, public disorder and damaging property.

Defence barrister Ian Hudson said Palmer was hooked on crack cocaine at the time and also had an alcohol problem.

Mr Recorder Preston condemned Palmer for a “horrific offence of random violence inflicted on completely innocent people (who) were not young”, adding:

“This was planned, this was violent in its execution and caring not one bit that these two people who had done nothing to you were left traumatised.”

Mr Preston told Palmer:

“The male (victim) was unwell and was confronted in his bedroom with one of you two (intruders). He’s been having nightmares.”

He criticised Palmer for his “appalling recorder of dishonesty and violence”.

Palmer was jailed for four years and seven months, of which he will serve half behind bars before being released on parole.

Sat nav failure sees Leeds man stuck in ‘god-forsaken’ Ripon

A Leeds man suffered an embarrassing sat nav failure when his car got stuck on a tiny footpath on the outskirts of Ripon.

The driver, who told his rescuers he was an ex-army man trying to cross the River Skell to get to work, was marooned for an hour.

He went down Borrage Green Lane, which turns into a narrow footpath that leads to a tiny footbridge.

Although the route is clearly unsuitable for vehicles, and barely wide enough to navigate in his Citroen, he soldiered on until he somehow managed to reach the bridge.

Finally accepting it was impossible to cross, he attempted to turn only for the back end of his vehicle to get wedged in the banking.

Luckily mum Jo Allenby, who was feeding her alpacas at the time of the incident early on Saturday morning, saw the mayhem and called a local farmer to help.

The farmer’s vehicle was too wide to get down the footpath so he drove a farm vehicle across the field and, with the help of another passer-by, was eventually able to release the vehicle.

The sheepish driver then reversed to a slightly wider area, did a three-point turn and drove off without saying a word. Ms Allenby said:

“There was no ‘thank you’ or ‘sorry to bother you’, he was off. He was probably too embarrassed.

“When I first saw him I said, ‘what on earth are you doing?’. He said, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing. My sat nav took me down here. I’m never coming to this god-forsaken place again’.

“But anyone with half a brain cell could see it was a footpath. Nobody has ever gone down there in the 10 years I’ve had my animals in the field. I didn’t realise there were people as stupid as that.”

New Beech Grove sign to stop cars driving on Stray

A ‘no motor vehicles’ sign has gone up on the Stray to stop drivers using the land to avoid the new road closure on Beech Grove in Harrogate.

Harrogate Borough Council granted a request by North Yorkshire County Council, the highways authority, to put up the sign even though it is on Stray land.

Beech Grove closed to through traffic last week but some motorists have been mounting the kerb to avoid the newly-installed planters.

The decision to allow the sign has angered the Stray Defence Association, which was set up in 1933 to prevent building and encroachment on the Stray,

The Harrogate Stray Act 1985 says it is unlawful to erect items on the Stray without the permission of Harrogate Borough Council, which is the protector of the 200 acres of land.

Judy D’Arcy Thompson, chair of the association, said it could pave the way for more signs, which would harm the Stray’s appearance. She said:

“It might seem like a quick fix solution but if they put one sign up they might put up others.

“In any case, people could still drive round it.”

Ms D’Arcy Thompson said North Yorkshire County Council, which has closed Beech Grove to through traffic for six months on an experimental order, had made a mistake by not consulting adequately on the proposal. She said:

“They rushed into this without consulting local people and are now adding to the problem by including Stray land.”

Melisa Burnham, North Yorkshire County Council’s highways area manager, said:

“We consulted on these measures in line with statutory legislation and guidelines.

“Consultation was initially undertaken with emergency services representatives, local members and other statutory bodies in December with no concerns raised.

“During engagement with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the need for designated emergency standby parking to aid ambulance responses in the town was identified and provided as part of the scheme on the nearby Trinity Road.”

Ms Burnham added the six-month experimental order allowed residents and road users to take part in the ongoing live consultation that is being held in conjunction with the road closure measures. She said:

“We will consider all feedback received during the consultation period.”

A Harrogate Borough Council report that recommended approving the sign on the Stray, which was approved on Friday, said:

“The proposal seeks to enhance the experience of people using the Stray for public access and recreation therefore the officer recommendation is that under the Harrogate Stray Act 1985 the proposed schemes for the road safety signs be approved.”

Thief strikes in Marton-le-Moor while owners in garden

A thief stole jewellery from a house in Marton-le-Moor yesterday while the owners were in the garden.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information about the incident, which occurred between 1pm and 1.30pm yesterday.

According to police, a suspect entered through an open garage into a door leading into the house. Marton-le-Moor is located between Ripon and Boroughbridge.

They took a black jewellery box, about four to six inches in size, from the bedroom drawer with jewellery inside. A police statement said:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Elizabeth Estensen or email elizabeth.estensen@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210065212.

Birstwith Show set to return in July

The organisers of Birstwith Show have announced the event is to take place on July 31.

Birstwith has hosted a show most years since 1867 and today’s announcement is an early sign of some semblance of normality returning after yesterday’s government roadmap out of lockdown.

The event, which is traditionally held on the last Saturday of July, attracts up to 2,000 people.

It is one of numerous annual country and agricultural shows that are popular parts of Harrogate district life.

The news will raise hopes that similar events, in places such as Ripley and Pateley Bridge, will also happen this year after covid caused their cancellation last year.

Amy Howard, a show committee member, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are excited about it and we hope it will give people a bit of a buzz. Everyone is desperate for something to look forward to. It’s a little glimmer of hope.

“To sit outside with friends and family listening to live music and seeing kids running around having fun is something people want to see happen again. They’ve missed the simple pleasures.”

Birstwith Show includes about 20 stalls providing food and drink and entertainment, plus displays of arts and crafts, homemade produce, flower arranging and horticulture.

Ms Howard said the committee usually started promoting the show around now to give people time to know what to grow for the horticultural exhibition.

The entry schedule is due to be released shortly on the show website.

Heroin dealer in Harrogate jailed for five years

A man has been jailed for more than five years for dealing drugs on the streets of Harrogate.

Andrew Paul Christian Brown, 46, was arrested in the Montpellier Hill area of the town on 17 September last year by officers from North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Expedite team.

He was charged with supplying heroin on dates in 2019 and 2020, as well as possessing criminal property – namely more than £700 found in his underwear following a search by officers.

Brown, whose address was listed as HMP Hull, pleaded guilty and at York Crown Court on Friday was jailed for five years and seven months.

In addition, the court ordered that £716 be confiscated from him, and he must also pay a victim surcharge.

DC Tom Barker, of North Yorkshire Police, said:

“Brown’s conviction and prison sentence should send a very clear message to anyone who is involved in county lines drug dealing in our area: North Yorkshire Police will target you and make it extremely difficult for you carry out your criminal activity.

“Harrogate is one of the safest places in the country, and officers here are working hard to keep it that way.”

North Yorkshire Police’s Expedite team specialises in county lines drugs offences.

Anyone with information about drug dealing in their area can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101. If you prefer not to speak to the police and remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Welcome to Yorkshire posts losses of £200,000

The troubled tourism organisation Welcome to Yorkshire lost about £200,000 in two years, according to its latest accounts published this week.

The organisation, which is a limited company, was bailed out last year by Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, plus other local authorities.

Its accounts for the six months to March 31 2020 and the 18 months to September 30 2019, which were both released on the same day this week, lay bare the organisation’s financial struggles in the aftermath of the resignation of its former chief executive, Sir Gary Verity in March 2019.

The organisation has undergone significant changes since the accounts were published.

The accounts reveal the organisation spent £151,568 on staff termination costs in 2018/19, which covers the period Sir Gary left. A Welcome to Yorkshire spokeswoman told the Stray Ferret the costs referred to one member of staff.

The organisation spent another £71,133 in termination costs in the 2019/20 period.

It also spent £323,000 on legal and professional fees over the combined two-year period.

Asked why the fees were so high, the spokeswoman said the figure included the cost of two independent reports by accountants BDO and solicitors Clarion, recruiting a new chief executive and other one-off costs.

It lost £127,140 in 2019/20 and £71,857 in 2018/19.

The spokeswoman acknowledged it had been a “difficult time” but added the organisation had undergone “significant operational, staffing, cultural and strategic changes” since the periods covered by the two sets of accounts.

In the last 16 months it has appointed Peter Box as chairman, James Mason as chief executive, introduced an audit committee and governance panel and reduced the workforce by more than half to 24, she added.

The spokeswoman said:

“The accounts were filed after an extended period as a result of issues relating to the coronavirus crisis, including subsequent uncertainty of funding which had previously been assigned from the North and West Yorkshire Business Rates Committee.

“The organisation is focusing on the future, moving forward and supporting the economic recovery of the tourism sector in Yorkshire through the coronavirus crisis and post-pandemic to reopen, recover and rebuild as part of Welcome to Yorkshire’s tourism recovery plan, working closely with the county’s businesses and local authorities.”

Harrogate Borough Council gave Welcome to Yorkshire £31,000 last year to help keep it afloat. North Yorkshire County Council awarded it £290,000.

Marshal at Harrogate UCI World Championships jailed for cocaine dealing

A traffic marshal at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Harrogate has been jailed after she was caught selling cocaine and ketamine on the side.

Ripon woman Monique Shiels, 25, was marshalling at the world championships when police responded to a tip-off and caught her red-handed.

When confronted by officers, Shiels said: “Who was it who dobbed me in?”

Prosecutor Matthew Collins told York Crown Court:

“Information had been received by police…that this defendant was dealing drugs whilst working as a traffic marshal for (the) UCI Cycling World Championships in Harrogate.

“Police (turned up at) the location where she was reported to be and found her standing near her vehicle. Her first response to officers was, ‘Who was it who dobbed me in?’”.

Officers found £333 cash on Shiels, as well as a “quantity of orange tablets and some powdered substance” in a black bag she was carrying.

They searched her car – which she used for traffic marshalling during the event – and found digital weighing scales and a mobile phone with text messages sent between Shiels and her customers discussing deals and amounts.

The drugs stash found inside the vehicle included about 8g of cocaine and 10g of ketamine, but Mr Collins said this was just a snapshot of Shiels’s drug-dealing activities, which text messages proved had been going on “for some length of time”.

Selling drugs as crowds gathered

The court heard that Shiels had been selling drugs as crowds gathered for the 92nd UCI World Championships, whose elite competitors vying for the champion’s jersey included Denmark’s Mads Pedersen, time-trial world champion Rohan Dennis and Holland’s Annemiek van Vleuten.

Shiels was arrested on the fourth day of the week-long event.

Mr Collins said Shiels had only been charged in relation to the drugs found on her at the time, which judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, described as “bad prosecuting by the CPS”.

Shiels, of Water Skellgate, Ripon, was taken in for questioning following her arrest on September 25, 2019, but refused to answer police questions.She was charged with possessing cocaine, a Class A drug, and Class B ketamine, with intent to supply. She admitted both charges and appeared for sentence on Thursday.

The court heard that Shiels had nine previous convictions for offences including violence, breaching court orders and possessing MDMA, an Ecstasy-type drug.
During conversations with the Probation Service following her arrest for the drug-supply offences in Harrogate, Shiels said she didn’t see anything wrong with dealing drugs.

Self-confessed drug user

Andrew Petterson, mitigating, said that Shiels, who worked as a sales adviser for a TV dealership, was a self-confessed drug user.

“Clearly, she is one of the misguided individuals in society that doesn’t see (drug-dealing) as a problem,” he added.

Judge Mr Morris told Shiels: “These courts hear stories of (drug-related) robberies and muggings and fights, burglaries, all to pay people like you…and that’s why you are going to prison.”

He said her offences were so serious and her previous breaches of community orders so many that anything other than an immediate prison sentence was out of the question.

Shiels was jailed for two years – a much-reduced sentence due to the delay in the case reaching the courts and the current covid pandemic that had affected living conditions in prisons.

The judge also ordered the confiscation of Shiels’s vehicle and made her pay a statutory surcharge.

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Home-made balaclava

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‘Horrific offence of random violence’

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Selling drugs as crowds gathered

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Self-confessed drug user