A trainee accountant has been jailed for dealing cocaine and an ecstasy-type drug in Harrogate.

Armaan Ahmad, 24, was arrested after his Audi A3 was stopped by police in April last year, York Crown Court heard.

Officers found 26 wraps of cocaine inside the car, along with six bags of MDMA in powder form, said prosecutor Rob Galley. They also seized £340 from his wallet and a mobile phone with incriminating text messages. Mr Galley added:

“(The messages) clearly show that this defendant was being directed to go to various post codes and addresses or directed to deal (drugs) to certain people.”

They showed that Ahmad’s drugs boss had ordered him to “count what was left” of the drugs and relay the amounts back to him using abbreviations and codes such as ‘P’ for ‘premium’ cocaine, “rather than standard cocaine”, said the prosecutor.

Armaan Ahmad has been sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment for dealing drugs in Harrogate

During the phone conversations, they also discussed his “wage” which on the day in question – April 18 – was £100 to deal “party drugs” in Harrogate and Leeds.

Ahmad – whose father runs a highly successful accountancy firm – sold £780 worth of drugs on that day, although he claimed he had only been dealing for two days. Mr Galley said:

“He had to hand matters over to somebody at a mosque in Leeds at the end of the day.”

‘Significant’ role

Ahmad had played a “significant” role as a drug runner or courier, added Mr Galley. The value of the cocaine seized from his car was about £380 but could have been worth a lot more if dealt on the street.

Ahmad, from Leeds, was said to have been very open with police and owned up straight away. He was charged with two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and admitted both charges.

He appeared for sentence on Thursday in an immaculate dark-blue suit and tie, but knowing that jail was all but certain.

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Defence barrister Andrew Dallas described his well-spoken client as a “naïve” young man who had come under the spell of others higher up the supply chain. He said:

“He was misled, not realising what he was getting into.

“He’s from an excellent background and his father… is a successful accountant.”

Ahmad had passed his exams at school and found work straight away, but then lost his job after a contract expired and “couldn’t get other work”, said Mr Dallas.

He said this led Ahmad into debt after he took out a pay-day loan. A friend told him he could make “easy money” by drug-dealing and he fell into “temptation”.

‘Working under direction’

Ahmad, of Church Lane, Adel, began driving around the streets at night in “very risky and serious situations, working absolutely under direction and he had to provide a prices account and face (pay) deductions if anything went wrong”, added Mr Dallas.

“He realised he’d got himself into something bad.”

Since his arrest, Ahmad had had a rapprochement with his father, moved back into the family home and started working full-time for his father’s business as a trainee accountant. Mr Dallas said:

“He’s looking to enrol in exams so that he can follow his father into the profession. He’s quite clearly intelligent in some ways and astonishingly naïve in others.”

Judge Sean Morris told Ahmad:

“People are mugging people in the streets for drugs, robbing their own grannies for drugs, and they have to get them from somebody, and (in this case) they were getting them from you.

“This was proper drug-dealing – fortunately nipped in the bud. You did it calmly and coolly and you took part in this filthy trade.”

Jailing Ahmad for 20 months, the judge said he was “ordinarily a decent young man”. He added:

“It beggars belief that you got into this (sort of crime) and I know that the shame you have brought upon your family you will feel acutely.”

Ahmad will serve half of the sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.

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Authorities in North Yorkshire have issued warnings to people hoping to take advantage of the hot weather and easing of lockdown restrictions this weekend.

With temperatures forecast to rise beyond 30 degrees centigrade, concerns have been raised about safety as residents enjoy the good weather for the first time since coronavirus guidelines changed.

Yorkshire Water is urging people to plan to ensure they are safe when visiting its sites across the Harrogate district. Alastair Harvey, lead countryside and woodland advisor at Yorkshire Water, said:

“The warm weather this weekend is the perfect opportunity for people to get out and enjoy some of Yorkshire’s scenic beauty spots, including reservoirs and woodland.

“It is important those enjoying the summer weather ensure they are doing so safely and that they are not having a negative impact on the environment.

“In the warm weather reservoirs can seem appealing for a quick swim, but they pose a huge risk which could lead to loss of life. They are often colder than rivers and this can result in cold water shock that can lead to hyperventilation, increased blood pressure and breathing difficulties and ultimately death, so it is important people visiting reservoirs are not tempted to swim.

Mr Harvey also warned about the dangers of wildfires during hot weather:

“We have seen in recent months the danger of barbecues on open land with a number of wildfires. These can cause a danger to life, as well as devastating local ecosystems by damaging peat soils and impacting valuable habitat and wildlife such as birds, reptiles and insects.

“We would encourage anyone visiting Yorkshire’s beauty spots to respect their surroundings and take measures to protect themselves and the environment by not lighting fires or barbecues, taking their litter home, respecting residents and local communities, parking considerately and following the Countryside Code at all times.”

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North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service echoed his comments about disposable barbecues, urging people to use them safely at home, away from sheds, trees and hedges. The fire service also asked people not to take barbecues out onto grassland or moors and to dispose of cigarettes and litter safely. A spokesman added:

“Open water may look like a tempting place to cool off, but it can be full of hidden dangers including vegetation and objects you can get tangled up in.”

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For the second week running, there have been no further Covid-related deaths in care homes across the Harrogate district.

Figures released today, which cover the weekly period up to July 17, show the number of deaths in the district’s care homes since the start of the pandemic remains at 104.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District NHS Foundation Trust has also not recorded any deaths in patients with covid for the 13th consecutive day. The total number of deaths at the hospital since the outbreak began is 82.

Data released today by NHS England shows that a further 12 people who had tested positive for the coronavirus have died, including one in the North East and Yorkshire. They were aged between 45 and 99, and all had known underlying health conditions.

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A trade show usually held at Harrogate Convention Centre in September has announced it will stay in Harrogate, with new dates released.

With the future of the NHS Nightingale still unconfirmed, The Flooring Show has struck at deal with Yorkshire Event Centre to use its halls from February 28 to March 2 next year.

It is good news for the town’s economy, keeping visitors in the area to use hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, bars and more during the event. Organisers said they will put on a free shuttle bus for delegates to access the town’s “unique charm and plentiful amenities”.

Heather Parry, Managing Director of Yorkshire Event Centre Ltd said:

“We are delighted to be able to host The Flooring Show at the Yorkshire Event Centre and ensure that the UK’s biggest national flooring event remains here in Harrogate.

“Harrogate continues to be an ideal destination to hold events, in keeping with the latest government advice on social gatherings. We are pleased to play our part in supporting the local economy.”

Event director Alex Butler said:

There have been no further deaths in hospital patients with coronavirus across the whole of the North East and Yorkshire, according to today’s figures.

It means the number of deaths at Harrogate District NHS Foundation Trust remains at 82, with no deaths for the last 12 days.

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NHS England confirmed a further 10 deaths today across the country, bringing the total number since the beginning of the outbreak to 29,291.

Of those reported today, all 10 were aged between 48 and 93 and had known underlying health conditions.

The construction of Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital cost almost £15m, government contract figures reveal.

The Department of Health and Social Care spent £14.89m delivering the field hospital through Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in April.

The contract was given to Dutch construction firm BAM, an existing supplier to the NHS. The Nightingale hospital in Exeter, also constructed by BAM, had a similar set-up cost of £14.7m, while Manchester came in at £10.35m under Integrated Health Projects.

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And with just four days to go until the end of the agreement between the NHS and Harrogate Convention Centre to use the site, no announcement has been made about whether the Nightingale hospital will remain.

Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a further £3bn of funding for the NHS to maintain the additional hospital facilities around the UK if needed over winter. However, since then, the NHS has announced it is decommissioning two of the Nightingales, in London and Birmingham.

The NEC in Birmingham is set to reopen for events on October 1, in line with changing government guidance for the industry. However, the venue’s owners have agreed with the NHS to support a small non-Covid stand-by facility until March 2021, offering additional space for routine work in case existing hospitals have to deal with a second wave of the virus over winter.

Meanwhile, London’s ExCel centre will also reopen for events, with only a small percentage of its space set aside for equipment storage for the NHS Nightingale.

Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital takes up eight of the Harrogate Convention Centre’s halls and has not yet been used to treat any Covid patients. Instead, since early June, it has been offering CT scans to help the NHS catch up with appointments delayed through the coronavirus crisis.

At the time of publication, the NHS’s agreement with Harrogate Borough Council for use of the convention centre is set to expire on Friday, with no new contract in place.

Last month, The Stray Ferret reported on preparations being made to reopen the centre for events as soon as legislation allows. Measures being made ready including deep-cleaning, introducing one-way systems, and allowing events to use more space free of charge in order to enable social distancing.

Live music will return to the grounds of Ripley Castle as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

Sounds in the Grounds will see performances from bands including the Bootleg Beatles, Beyond the Barricade and Abba Mania.

Taking place over four days, it will see the New York Brass Band perform each night as the support act to the main performance.

Tickets include a designated picnic patch for up to six people, enabling social distancing across the site, and there will be food and drink stalls available. Each will be defined by painted lines, with a metre’s distance between each patch and two metres’ distance in aisles between the rows.

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Organiser James Cundall said:

“Sounds in the Grounds offers the opportunity to get together and enjoy a fun night of live music in a stunning setting in a socially distanced way. From ABBA to The Beatles and from the greatest musicals to Country and Western I hope we have something for everyone.

“Importantly it’s an opportunity for musicians to showcase their talent again after weeks of inactivity during lockdown.

“Visitors will need to bring their own chairs, and can bring a picnic, though we advise leaving tables at home for space reasons.”

Sounds in the Grounds will take place at Ripley Castle from Thursday, September 3 to Sunday, September 6. Tickets cost from £59 plus booking fees for a two-person picnic patch.

Live music fans will flock to a field near Topcliffe this weekend – but the Deer Shed Festival will have a very different feel compared to previous years.

Organisers have set up a socially-distanced weekend called Base Camp, with an on-site radio station delivering live music, comedy and more direct to people’s tents.

The 320 family pitches will be a far cry from the 11,000 attendees at last year’s event – and even the 2,000 who came to the first festival 11 years ago. Director Kate Webster told The Stray Ferret:

“It’s nice that we have been able to do something. All the people here have been to Deer Shed before and a lot of them are just happy to be out of their houses.

“It has been harder organising it because we’re having to do it on fewer staff, but there’s a lot less to do then usually when we have five stages.”

Socially distanced camping spaces, each with a portable toilet

Each pitch is 15m x 15m and has its own portable toilet, with water for washing. The Baldersby Park site near Topcliffe will also offer acres of outside space for families to enjoy.

Food and drink will be on sale from stands, but ticket holders are being asked to bring their own food and drink, including alcohol which will not be sold on site. Tickets were only offered to previous festival attendees, and the event is sold out.

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The event was originally planned to take place as usual this weekend, but plans were put on hold after the coronavirus lockdown came into force. Organisers have now created a programme for radio, including everything from live music to Q&A sessions.

They are also encouraging people to explore the surrounding area and local visitor attractions during the weekend.

As the first campers arrived on site today, Kate added:

“People are arriving a lot slower than they normally do for a festival weekend. Normally, they arrive an hour earlier than they’re meant to because they’re so keen to get in.

“This has been a lot more casual – people rolling up and slowly putting tents up. It’s a different atmosphere.

“We have got a few caterers and a bit of space, but we didn’t want people to get confused that it’s a festival. It’s not – it’s a camping event. You’re camping with like-minded people who go to Deer Shed and enjoy live music as a family.”

Although the full festival this year has not been possible, Kate said all the headliners and most of the line-up have been transferred to next year’s dates, July 30 to August 1.

Patients are being urged not to delay making doctor’s appointments, as the number of video consultations being held has soared during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 17,500 virtual appointments have been held between GPs and patients over the last four months in North Yorkshire, following government guidance to reduce the number of face-to-face consultations to only those which are essential.

However, NHS North Yorkshire and York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said some people have been avoiding contacting their GP with health concerns in order to avoid contact. It urged people not to delay appointments and said video consultations are a safe way to have any potential problems addressed.

CCG clinical chair Dr Charles Parker said:

“Over the last four months patients have been somewhat reticent about contacting their GP practice, even when they’ve been really worried about their health.

“People wanted to follow the ‘stay at home’ message and were reluctant to reach out to their practice because they were either worried about being in an environment where they might be exposed to a Covid-19 risk or didn’t want to be contributing to the demand on NHS services at a time when there were very real fears our hospitals would be overwhelmed.

“But as more NHS services start returning to normal, now is not the time to be delaying a conversation if you have a health problem that’s making you anxious.

“If you are concerned about something you can always check out you symptoms and get advice on self-care from NHS111 Online. This service will give you simple advice on treatments and where to get help and support from if home treatment is not applicable.

Dr Parker said patients can use NHS11 Online to get advice on whether home treatment is appropriate, or if a pharmacy or GP practice could help. Anyone in doubt can still contact their GP practice in the usual way and arrange a telephone, video or face-to-face appointment, depending on their symptoms and circumstances.

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Of the 77 GP practices across North Yorkshire, 44 conducted their first video consultations in March and April, as lockdown began. Only a few had offered the service before.

One Harrogate patient, who has not been named, has described her virtual appointment and treatment. She said:

“I had a telephone consultation for an infection on my thumb nail; I shared pictures via text with the doctor and then went to collect a prescription from my local pharmacy. It was very swift and efficient and I’m glad I didn’t take up too much time for someone else who needed it.”

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths for eight days.

It comes as NHS England confirms the total number of deaths in patients with coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital remains at 82, with no further fatalities in figures released today. The last reported death was on July 15.

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The hospital normally reveals how many patients it has discharged on a Thursday but has not published any new figures today.

Nationally, 19 patients with Covid-19 have died, all aged between 35 and 89 and with underlying health conditions. Four of those were in the North East and Yorkshire.