North Yorkshire Police officer sacked for abusing and controlling women

A North Yorkshire Police officer has been sacked for gross misconduct after subjecting three women to abuse and controlling and coercive behaviour.

The officer, who was referred to as “constable Z” at the hearing, appeared before a police disciplinary panel held in Northallerton on August 30 and 31.

The hearing was held in private after chairman Gerald Sydenham found that the public interest in holding the panel in open session was “outweighed to a considerable degree by the need to protect the health of those involved”.

Police misconduct panels are normally held in public with officers named.

The hearing included Constable Z, who was diagnosed with “mixed depressive and anxiety disorder”, as well as other “vulnerable persons”.

Abuse and coercive behaviour

It was alleged that the officer subjected the women, who were not named, to numerous instances of abuse over three separate time periods.

The first victim, who was referred to as “female person A”, was verbally abused, monitored by constable Z as to how she spent her time and subjected to physical abuse such as having a knife placed to her throat and strangled.

The hearing report said it was also alleged that constable Z threatened that her son, aged 8, “would end up in a ‘body bag’ or words to that effect”.

Those offences took place between 1998 and 2001.

Meanwhile, female person B, who was abused between December 2005 and March 2016, was subjected to seven allegations of abuse and controlling or coercive behaviour.

The report said that constable Z “attempted to belittle her and/or reduce her confidence by telling her that she was fat, lazy, ugly and other such insults”.

It was also alleged that he isolated her from her friends and family, controlled and monitored how she spent her time and turned up at her workplace unannounced “in furtherance of your attempts to control and/or coerce”.

Person C was also subjected to five allegations of abuse between July 2016 and February 2017.

These included physical abuse, monitoring how she spent her time and accusing her of cheating or being interested in other men.

She was also subjected to verbal abuse, which included “accusing her of having a mental health problem and/or being an alcoholic, making reference to her weight and telling her she was unable to “keep her legs shut” or words to that effect”.

The hearing, which was chaired by Mr Sydenham, Amanda Harvey and Superintendent Fran Naughton, found the allegations amounted to gross misconduct.

Constable Z was dismissed without notice.

Read more:

The hearing gave “significant reasonable adjustments” for the officer to attend the misconduct panel after it was found he suffered from “mixed depressive and anxiety disorder such as being sufficient to constitute a disability as defined by law”.

However, in its reasons, the panel found that constable Z was “highly culpable and blameworthy for his own repeated gross misconduct even after allowing for a significant recognition of his disability and health issue”.

The report added that his behaviour amount to significant harm to the reputation of the force.

It said:

“The harm caused was very significant both to the reputation of officer Z and the reputation of the police service.

“Officer Z fundamentally harmed his own reputation and the trust placed in him by North Yorkshire Police.

“The effect of his gross misconduct upon the three female victims of his behaviour, the police service, his colleagues, public confidence in and the trust placed in the police service was extremely damaging and it is likely to continue to be corrosive in undermining public confidence in policing for a considerable time.”

Following the hearing, deputy chief constable Mabs Hussain said: 

“There is absolutely no place for this behaviour in the police service. 

“We demand the highest level of integrity from our officers and staff to ensure that the people we serve can have complete trust in us. 

“The misconduct outcome sends a clear message and reassurance to the public that we will not tolerate such appalling behaviour from anyone within our ranks and will ensure action is taken.”

Business Breakfast: Harrogate marketing agency hires new head of social media

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 26 October at Banyan in Harrogate between 8 am – 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate marketing agency has appointed a new head of social media.

The Big Bamboo Agency, which is based at Windsor House, has hired James Pilkington to the position.

Mr Pilkington, who brings with him 10 years’ experience of working in specialist social media roles, will oversee the strategic direction of social media platforms and content for the firm’s clients.

Nicola Stamford, the company’s owner and founding director, said:

“I am delighted that we have attracted James to join the business, especially as he contacted us to see if any opportunities were available.

“His primary focus will be on ensuring we continue to look after, add value to and nurture our client base when it comes to their social media presence and how they are perceived online.”

Harrogate insurance firm launches rebrand

A Harrogate insurance company has rebranded.

A-Plan, which is based on Princes Square, will now be renamed Howden Insurance as part of the rebrand.

The company said the move marks the next chapter for the branch – and over 100 of its counterparts on high streets across the country – after joining the Howden Group two years ago.

Chris Bishop, Manager at Howden Harrogate said: 

“We’re so excited to mark this new chapter with our new name – and new look and feel of our branch.

“That’s why we’re hosting our own launch events during October, open to all in our community to attend.”

Read more:

 

Harrogate fitness instructor qualifies for Miss England

Harrogate personal trainer Chloe McEwen has been crowned Miss Yorkshire and is now set to compete in Miss England.

Chloe, 21, was chosen by the judges at The Earl of Doncaster Hotel last night. 

The level 3 fitness trainer hopes to use the title to inspire others facing mental health issues to embrace fitness and a healthier lifestyle.

Photo of Chloe McEwen, who is entering the Miss Yorkshire beauty contest.

Chloe McEwen

At the age of 16, Chloe was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her weight soared by almost four stone during an eight-month spell in hospital.

But by embracing a healthier lifestyle, the former Rossett School pupil regained control of her life and now helps others to use fitness to overcome their problems.

Read more:

 

Campaigners ‘cautious’ over Yorkshire Water £7.8 billion investment plan

Campaigners say they are “cautious but positive” over Yorkshire Water plans to invest £7.8 billion in infrastructure over five years.

The company announced the move today as part of investment plans for 2025 to 2030, which have been submitted to industry regulator Ofwat.

It includes £3.1 billion to improve resilience in the water network, £4.3 billion to protect river and coastal water quality and investment in customer service and financial support for customers.

However, it would mean average bills would rise from £438.12 in 2024/25 (£36.51 per month) to £518.76 in 2025/26 (£43.23 per month) with increases each year thereafter.

The proposals come as water companies have been under increasing public pressure at the amount of sewage being discharged into rivers and seas.

In the Harrogate district, campaigners say they are cautious at the plans but welcomed planned investment into the country’s water network.

Dr David Clayden, chairman of the Nidd Action Group, which is co-ordinating efforts to clean the River Nidd, said:

“Any investment in cleaning up our rivers, particularly the River Nidd and its tributaries is to be welcomed.

“Cynics amongst us may say something like ‘too little, too late’ and ‘we will be paying twice for something that should have been done years ago’, but I’d like to strike a more positive, if cautious, response to this announcement by Yorkshire Water.

“It’s a plan, not yet a reality, for actions possibly starting in 18 months time. Ofwat may yet dial down the ambition — and the cost to us as citizens — along with the much hoped for improvements in water quality. 

“As citizens we need to keep the pressure up on our politicians not to settle for any scaling down of  ‘improvements’.”

Nicola Shaw, chief executive of Yorkshire Water, said the plans were the company’s largest ever investment into the network.

She said:

“This submission marks our largest ever environmental investment and illustrates our commitment to deliver what our customers expect. The programme will protect and improve the quality of water in rivers and at coasts, leading to cleaner, safer water environments that support recreation and biodiversity across the region.”

Read more:

 

Specialist menopause clinic to open in Harrogate

A private hospital in Harrogate is to open a specialist menopause clinic in Harrogate next week.

The Duchy Hospital on Queens Road is providing the service in partnership with menopause website My Menopause Centre.

A free menopause workshop led by specialists Dr Clare Spencer and Dr Anna Greaves will take place at David Lloyd, Harrogate on Tuesday, October 12 — two days before the clinic opens to patients.

The workshop topics will include menopause transition stages and symptoms, preparing for and managing menopause and reframing attitudes.

Patients can book consultations directly with the hospital.

Michelle Eardley, executive director of the Duchy Hospital, said:

“Menopause is a challenging condition that affects thousands of women across North Yorkshire. Working with My Menopause Centre is part of our commitment to ensuring that patients across Harrogate and further afield have fast access to the services they need.”

Dr Clare Spencer, co-founder of My Menopause Centre, said the clinic will give women a holistic service as they transition through the perimenopause and menopause.

The Duchy Hospital, which is part of Circle Health Group, opened in 1959 and offers a range of inpatient and outpatient services. The hospital also supports patients from the NHS.

Circle Health Group, which acquired BMI Healthcare in January 2020, operates Britain’s largest network of independent hospitals.

Read more:

 

Missing Harrogate man found ‘safe and well’

North Yorkshire Police said today a missing man from Harrogate had been found “safe and well”.

Police issued a description and appeal yesterday for help locating the 27-year-old from Starbeck, who had not been since since Friday night.

But the force issued a statement today, which said the man had been found.

It added:

“North Yorkshire Police would like to thank members of the public and the media for sharing the appeals.”

Read more:

 

More than 100 of UK’s best artists to exhibit at Harrogate Art Fair

This story is sponsored by Harrogate Art Fair.

More than 100 artists from all over the UK will be converging on Harrogate next month to exhibit their best work at the Harrogate Art Fair. 

The event, on October 13-15 at the Yorkshire Event Centre on the Great Yorkshire Showground, will bring together painters, printmakers, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists and selected galleries from all over the UK, offering the best in British contemporary art. Prices range from £50 to £5,000. 

The perfect place to immerse yourself in a world of art.

One of the most popular exhibitors is Jos Haigh. Jos is a painter based in Harrogate and Buckinghamshire whose vibrantly colourful pictures of African animals made her one of the best-selling artists at the inaugural Harrogate Art Fair last year. She said: 

“I’ve been showing my art all around the country for years – at Windsor, Surrey, Manchester and Edinburgh – and Harrogate Art Fair really is one of the best. It’s fantastically organised, everything’s made very easy for exhibitors, and it attracts a lot of the UK’s best artists.

“When I came last year, people were so warm, enthusiastic and interested – I didn’t have to think twice about coming again.”

Although she was born in Goa, Jos’s art is inspired and informed by her childhood in Kenya. But her trips north have provided her with new sources of inspiration. So her most recent paintings include striking images of cows, owls and other British animals.

Artist Jos Haigh, who will be exhibiting her work at the Harrogate Art Fair, with one of her works.

Jos has found inspiration for some of her latest works here in Yorkshire.

 Jos’s spectacular painting of a red kite even features on this year’s general admission ticket. She said: 

“I’ve been enchanted by animals ever since I saw them roaming right next to the road in Kenya, which is why I’ve always enjoyed painting pictures of elephants, giraffes and zebra. But there are so many wonderful animals right here in the UK that it would be a shame not to paint some of them. 

“I just hope that visitors to the Harrogate Art Fair will love viewing them as much as I’ve loved painting them.” 

Harrogate Art Fair is organised by Contemporary Art Fairs. The company also hold art fairs in Windsor and Surrey. 

The fair will be open from private viewings from 6 to 9pm on Friday, October 13 (tickets: £15), and from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15 (£8, concessions £6). 

Find out more:

You can book tickets for this event online at the Harrogate Art Fair website.  

For information about exhibiting at the Harrogate Art Fair, visit the website or call 01753 591892.  

You can also see more of the artworks on offer at Harrogate Art Fair on its Instagram page. 

 

‘No timeline’ for £1.8m care facility at Cardale Park

Council officials have said no timeline has been set on proposals for land at Cardale Park in Harrogate which was purchased to provide care services.

The three-acre site on Beckwith Head Road in Harrogate was previously owned by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which runs mental health services in the district.

North Yorkshire County Council, which has now been replaced by North Yorkshire Council, completed a £1.8 million purchase of the land last year.

At the time, the authority said it had bought the site in order to progress a “scheme to assist with social care market development in the Harrogate area”.

In February, the council said it was “examining the best options” for the site.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council whether it had any timescales for bringing forward a proposal for the site.

Richard Webb, the council’s director of health and adult services, said:

“We cannot at this stage provide you with a timeline as we are still in the process of examining the best options for meeting the community’s needs and will bring forward a scheme in due course.”

The land was previously given approval for a 36-bed mental health facility on the site, following the closure of Harrogate District Hospital’s Briary Unit, which helped adults with mental illness.

However, those plans were dropped in 2019 and inpatients on the unit were sent to Foss Park Hospital in York instead.

Read more:

 

Harrogate’s Luke Richardson wins England’s Strongest Man

Harrogate strongman Luke Richardson won England’s Strongest Man yesterday to end his two-year injury nightmare.

Luke, 26, took the sport by storm when he won Europe’s Strongest Man at Allerton Castle near Knaresborough in 2020 and then finished ninth in the World’s Strongest Man in his first full season.

But at the 2021 World’s Strongest Man he suffered the first of what was to be a series of serious injuries to his biceps, knee and back that sidelined him and forced him to re-evaluate his approach.

Luke takes the England’s Strongest Man title. Pic: Giants Live

Talking about his career in a video with Giants Live, the company that runs the tour that qualifies strongmen for the World’s Strongest Man, he said:

“The last three years for me have easily been the toughest time I have had to go through in my life

“I went from having no injuries to having four in the last two years.”

Luke Richardson reflecting on the last two years. Pic: Giants Live

Luke went to Starbeck Community Primary School and Harrogate High School, said he had learned to live in the present and enjoy his success rather than constantly strive to be one of the greatest strongmen of all time.

He said he “felt no joy in winning those things which is ultimate failure because I was constantly looking at the next thing”.

His new mindset doesn’t appear to have hampered him as he proved at Doncaster yesterday by defeating Kane Francis and Paddy Haynes for the title of England’s Strongest Man, which qualifies him for Britain’s Strongest Man.

Luke trains at Absolute Fitness in Boroughbridge, which is owned by Giants Live owner and former top strongman Darren Sadler.

Doing the log lift at Absolute Fitness in Boroughbridge. Pic: Giants Live

New charity shop and cafe to open in Harrogate

A new charity shop and café is to open at Hornbeam Park in Harrogate next week.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is opening the shop and café at its new centre on Hornbeam Square West.

Income will fund services such as the charity’s health and wellbeing programme for people with cancer called Active Together, which will be available at the same centre from November.

Tony Graham, director of retail at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said:

“Our beautifully stocked shop will offer a unique experience where people can purchase high quality pre-loved fashion, accessories, home-ware, books and records.

“Thanks to supporters’ kind donations, the shop offers a range of desirable products – from vintage collectables and high-end labels to nearly-new fashion.”

The new Café Hornbeam

 

Staff and volunteers celebrate the opening of the shop and café.

The charity said its Café Hornbeam will serve healthy breakfasts as well as waffles, sandwiches and salads. Harrogate-based bakery Baltzersen’s will provide the pastries and cakes.

The shop will open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

The café will open from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

Read more: