A sexual predator has been jailed again for sexually assaulting a very young girl at a property in Harrogate.

Steven Anthony Jennings, 52, was already serving a 15-year jail sentence for similar offences against two other girls.

Now he’s been handed a further two years’ prison time for the new offences which pre-dated the old ones, but only came to light relatively recently when the victim went to police more than a decade after they occurred.

Daniel Penman, prosecuting at York Crown Court, said that Jennings, who was in his early 30s at the time, sexually assaulted the girl twice between 2005 and 2007.

The girl said she “froze” but such was her young age she didn’t think anything wrong had occurred at the time. She didn’t report the matters at the time and Jennings “got on with life as normal”.

Mr Penman added:

“It took her until 2019 until she felt able to [tell] her partner about these offences and, through that, felt able to report this to police.”

Jennings, who was living in Harrogate before he was given the 15-year sentence at Teesside Crown Court in 2017, was questioned about the offences at Moorlands Prison in Doncaster in May last year when he was coming to the end of his existing jail term.

He initially denied the allegations but ultimately admitted two counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13 years of age. A third allegation was dropped by the prosecution and allowed to lie on court file.

He appeared for sentence today knowing a consecutive jail sentence was all but inevitable.

‘Lost all innocence’

In a statement read out in court, the victim said Jennings’s “cruel” offences had affected her “mentally, physically and emotionally for years”.

She said her self-esteem and mental health were so badly affected that by her mid-teens she was “ready to die”.

She said she used to “cry myself to sleep every night” following the abuse and that she had “lost all innocence”.

Jennings was jailed in October 2017 for the offences against the two other girls, which occurred between about 2008 and 2011. 

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The sentence was imposed after Jennings admitting rape and sexual activity with a child in relation to one of the victims, and one count of indecent assault against the other girl. 

The victims were two pre-teenage girls, who were abused by Jennings when he was in his mid-to-late 30s.

He sexually assaulted one of the girls outdoors while he was in a relationship with a woman, said Mr Penman.

Jennings plied the other victim with alcopops and played games “like truth or dare” with her. He ultimately raped the girl, who was too young to consent to sex, on “numerous occasions”.

Defence barrister Hussain Rukhshanda said Jennings was remorseful for his actions.

Judge Simon Hickey said the sexual abuse of the new victim had had a “horrendous” effect on her and that her impact statement made for “sobering reading”.

He told Jennings: 

“She said that’s a burden she carried from a young age due to your selfish actions.”

Jennings was jailed for two years and placed on the sex-offenders’ register for a further 10 years. 

He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which will run for an indefinite period, to limit his contact with under-age girls. It also bans him from contacting any of the three victims. 

A new pub is set to open in Starbeck tomorrow with the aim of bringing back a “community feel” to the area.

The Office Ale House, which is based on High Street, will be open from midday to 9pm, seven days a week.

Kevin Jones, owner, told the Stray Ferret that he came up with the idea for the pub after finding he had nowhere to go for a pint after working from home in Starbeck during covid.

He said:

“I wanted somewhere to go for a pint and a chat after work and there was just nowhere that suited me.

“I wanted something with a community feel.”

He added that part of the reason for the name was to create that “after work pint” place that he wanted.

Mr Jones, who now lives in Knaresborough, secured planning permission and licensing for the vacant unit on the High Street in the last year.

Inside the Office Ale House in Starbeck.

With the help of Pete Valentine, owner of Yorkshire Bespoke Renovations, the project was complete within four-and-a-half weeks.

It includes an array of seating and tables, bar stools, USB charging points and speaker system.

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Part of the inspiration was also to create somewhere that both Mr Jones and his partner would feel comfortable going in for a drink.

Mr Jones said:

“It is a comfortable place. It’s somewhere where you feel comfortable walking in. You don’t want to feel intimidated walking in.

“It makes no difference if you are having a pint or a coke.”

The bar area inside the new Starbeck pub.

The pub, which is dog friendly, will offer drinks from a range of local breweries including Roosters, Daleside and Turning Point.

There will also be musicians performing, starting with Christopher Taylor playing an acoustic set this weekend.

The Office Ale House in Starbeck will open tomorrow, Friday, April 7, at midday.

While Easter egg hunts in the garden and eating chocolate eggs are always a nice way to spend the bank holiday weekend, your children may require something more to burn off the sugar rush.

From bunnies and forests, to dragons and the Mad Hatter, we have collated a list of eight Easter-themed activities taking place in the Harrogate district over the holidays that will keep you and your children hopping.

Free craft workshop at Fountains Abbey

If your child is looking to get creative, an Easter craft workshop could be for them.

Swanley Grange, at Fountains Abbey, is hosting a free workshop where you and your children can make your very own sheep badge.

The workshops will be held daily from 11am – 3pm, until Sunday April 16.

All ages are welcome. The event is free, but normal admission prices to Fountains Abbey apply.

Family tickets start at £27.

Find more information on the National Trust website.

Make decorations for free

Ripon charity, Jennyruth Workshops, is inviting visitors to Fountains Abbey to join them in creating an Easter decoration.

Jennyruth provides adults with learning disabilities with a variety of valuable skills, including crafts.

The workshop is free and welcomes families to drop in for some seasonal fun.

Join them at Swanley Grange on Wednesday April 12, from 11.30am – 2.30pm.

The event is free, but normal abbey admission charges apply.

Children’s entry starts at £9.

Click here for more information.

Mad Hatter & Friends Tea Party

If your children fancy a taste of wonderland this Easter, Rascal Entertainment’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is a good option.

The event will take place at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate on Good Friday.

Children can expect cookie decorating, on-stage entertainment, face painting and a visit from the Easter bunny – all under the same roof as the Hatter himself.

Family tickets start at £47.

The tea party will run from 12pm – 2pm.

Find more information here.

Mother Shipton’s Easter Bunny Tipi Trail

Mother Shipton’s Easter Bunny Tipi Trail is a place where “every bunny’s welcome”

Children are invited to follow the clues, peep inside the bunny houses and even discover giant eggs.

The trail will also include Easter stories, told by a storyteller, as well as the chance to plant spring seeds.

The trail will run every day until Sunday April 16, from 10am to 5.30pm.

Dogs on leads are welcome everywhere, except for the playground.

Admission prices can be found here.

Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park: The Dragon Egg Quest

For those hoping for a mythical Easter, The Dragon Egg Quest at the Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park in Ripon may be a good option.

Children are invited to help storyteller, Dragonella, find a dragon’s egg hidden somewhere in the Himalayan Garden.

The activity will weave a tour of the gardens with some mystical Easter fun.

The quest is suitable for children ages 4 to 10 – children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets cost £10.

Adventure walks at RHS Harlow Carr

Whether your children need to let off a little more steam, or simply enjoy the beauty of nature, the adventure walks could be a good solution for all the family.

Families can immerse themselves in a guided walk of the grounds of the RHS site, accompanied by the Garden Detectives.

The activity is included in garden admission and is suitable for ages 3+.

The walk will take place on Tuesday April 11 at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Click here for more information.

The Great Knaresborough Bunny Hunt

The Great Knaresborough Bunny Hunt is a family-friendly way to keep your little bunnies hoppy this Easter.

Ceramic bunnies are hidden in local business around the town centre for you to find.

Families purchase a map to find the bunnies for £3 and all profits go to Lauren Doherty Road Safety talks, New Beginnings and The Memory Lane Café, Knaresborough.

Bunny-finders can expect a sweet prize in return, as well as an entry to win a £50 voucher for event organiser, Painting Pots.

The event will run daily until April 16 and maps can be purchased from Painting Pots.

Find more information on social media.

Birchfield: Easter at the Farm

Birchfield Farm’s Easter at the Farm activities could be a good way to entertain your little lambs.

Children can expect lamb feeding, an Easter trail, and a bouncy castle.

The Easter bunny will also be making an appearance over the bank holiday weekend.

Farmer Tom will be offering farm rides to visit the outside animals, including newly hatched chicks and ducklings.

The family-friendly farm will be offering seasonal activities until April 16, from 10am to 4pm.

Prices start from £6.95.

Find more information here.

A key witness in Donald Trump’s court case used to run a media company in Harrogate.

David Pecker was chief executive of American Media Inc in the run-up to the 2016 US presidential elections. Court documents say he agreed to be the “eyes and ears” for the Trump campaign to prevent negative stories.

AMI owned the tabloid National Enquirer and was at the heart of the ‘catch and kill’ policy in which it paid hush money to bury stories to protect the former president. Trump is alleged to have falsified accounts when paying back the money.

Adult entertainer Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who both claim to have had affairs with Mr Trump, received payments.

AMI acquired Weider Publications, an international fitness and bodybuilding media company with offices at Windsor Court in Harrogate, in 2003.

The Harrogate business, which was run by an American, employed about 30 people and published European and Australian editions of the market-leading magazines Muscle&Fitness and Flex. It also ran a mail order business.

Mr Pecker kept a close eye on developments in Harrogate and often summoned staff from the town to America for business meetings.

He authorised the decision to close the Harrogate office in 2015 and sent a message to staff thanking them on their final day. The building, in the shadow of Windsor House, was later converted to flats.

Windsor Court has been converted from offices to flats.

Despite being a major player in US media circles, Mr Pecker keeps a low media profile so his testimony is eagerly anticipated.

Ryan Goodman, a former special counsel at the Department of Defense, tweeted this week that “David Pecker is going to be a star witness”.

Trump is alleged to have falsified records “to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election”.

He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsification of business records and claims Judge Juan Merchan “hates” him.

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A big screen and live music will be on offer when Harrogate BID celebrates the coronation next month.

The BID is putting on the event in the grounds of the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel and Spa, and is inviting families and groups of friends to join in.

People can bring picnic blankets and deckchairs to watch the coronation of King Charles III on the screen on Saturday, May 6, as well as the run-up to the ceremony. There will also be entertainment and the chance to win prizes.

The celebrations continue on Sunday, May 7, when DJ Mark Green will provide the music. Food and drink will be available to buy from the hotel throughout the weekend.

BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

“We are delighted to be hosting this event at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel and Spa. The coronation will be a joyous occasion – it gives people the chance to come together and enjoy some fun, whilst celebrating.

“The hotel is the perfect venue for the event, with plenty of room in the grounds for local residents to watch the official proceedings on a huge screen, with a great atmosphere to boot.”

The event is expected to open at noon on both days, and full details of timings will be announced once details of the coronation have been released by Buckingham Palace. Attendance is free and there is no need to book.

Destination Harrogate has already announced it will hold three days of celebrations for the coronation in the Valley Gardens.

Plans are also being put in place for big screens and other events in Knaresborough and Ripon, as well as community celebrations across the Harrogate district.

The Stray Ferret will be reporting on how our communities are celebrating the coronation in the run-up to and during the bank holiday weekend. Make sure your event is included by sending us an email with the details.

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A new kitchen showroom has opened in Harrogate.

Designer Kitchen Direct, which is based in Sheffield, has opened the outlet on Ripon Road.

The company was founded by Mary Major and Dawn Raynor seven years ago and has since expanded to four showrooms and a manufacturing facility in the north east.

It also has showrooms in Staffordshire, Newton Aycliffe and Sheffield.

Gareth Wiseman, a director at Designer Kitchen Direct, said:

“Harrogate was an obvious choice to the directors for a new showroom as Harrogate is a beautiful popular location for retail.

“We chose the location on Ripon Road. It’s a unique spot and building with character with free parking outside.”

A display in the Harrogate showroom.

The showroom will include six displays over two floors.

The Harrogate site will be open seven days a week from 9am until 5pm.

You can find out more here.

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It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate dementia care provider is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Vida Healthcare was set up in 2013 and now employs 550 staff and cares for 230 residents across its care homes.

The company currently has homes in Starbeck, Pannal and Harlow Carr.

As part of the milestone, Vida held an awards ceremony and tea party for its staff.

James Rycroft, managing director of Vida Healthcare, said:

“My father and I established Vida to transform the care available to people living with dementia. It was clear at the time that many traditional residential care homes simply didn’t have the resources or expertise to fully support their residents who were living with dementia.

“We set about challenging perceptions and practices in dementia care, with an emphasis on reducing the use of medications and instead providing bespoke environments and alternative therapies. I’m extremely proud of how far Vida has come since we opened the doors to our first care home back in 2013.“

Pictured above left to right: Chris Rycroft, chairman, Bernadette Mossman, healthcare director, Jillian Young, operations director and James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare.

Harrogate law firm hosts networking event

A Harrogate solicitors is set to hold a free networking event next month.

Ison Harrison Solicitors will host the session at West Park Hotel on Thursday, May 4.

It will be held from 4.30pm until 6.30pm.

The event will include a quiz, networking session and fundraising for charity Harrogate Neighbours.

For more information and to register for a place, visit the EventBrite page here.

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Panto legend Tim Stedman will return to Harrogate for the 23rd time this Christmas.

Harrogate Theatre announced today Mr Stedman will play Idle Jack in Dick Whittington.

The production will run from November 22 to January 14. Tickets are already on sale.

Mr Stedman’s first appearance at the Victorian theatre on Oxford Street was in Sleeping Beauty in 2000. Since then he has become a huge favourite.

A Harrogate Theatre spokesperson said:

“Stay tuned as we release more information on the cast and creative team throughout the year.”

The spokesperson added this year’s production would be “packed with sparkle, silliness, and side-splitting jokes”.

You can book online here or via the box office on 01423502116.

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The Dales Bus summer service will begin its season this weekend.

The bus company provides access into and around the Yorkshire Dales on a not-for-profit basis.

It operates on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays throughout summer until October.

The 74 service from York Railway Station, which goes through Knaresborough and Harrogate and onto Ilkley, Bolton Abbey, Burnsall and Grassington, starts on Saturday.

Another Saturday route, the 59, will help people travel from Harrogate to Blubberhouses, Bolton Bridge and Skipton.

The 875 will depart from York every Sunday and Bank Holiday, starting this Easter weekend.

This year, an additional Sunday and bank holiday service – the 876 – will run from York to Leeds, Otley, Ilkley and Grassington, with onward connections to Upper Wharfedale and Hawes.

The national £2 single bus fare cap, which has been extended until June 30, will apply to Dales Bus services.

Find more information on services and timetables here.

A man has been seriously injured in a crash in a village on the edge of the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for information about the collision on the B6161 Leathley Lane near Leathley on Sunday (April 2).

It happened at around midday and involved a red motorcycle and green agricultural tractor.

The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

A police statement added:

“Officers are asking anyone who saw the collision, or the vehicles involved prior to the collision – or has relevant dashcam footage – to get in touch.

“Please call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference 12230058477.”

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