Polish prisoner jailed after absconding to UK to work in Harrogate hospital

A Polish prisoner who absconded from his homeland and used his criminal brother’s identity documents to land a job at Harrogate District Hospital has been jailed for nearly two years.

Przemyslaw Poltorak, 39, used his brother Lucas Poltorak’s Polish identity cards and driving licence to find work as a cleaner at the hospital, earning over £40,000 during his employment there, York Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Charlotte Noddings said Poltorak, from Harrogate, had a criminal record in Poland but the UK immigration authorities had not yet managed to ascertain the details.

According to Poltorak, his previous convictions were for fraud, theft, drug offences and robbery. He was sentenced to 11 years in jail in 2004 for a “range of offences” and had served seven years when he fled to the UK under a false identity while on day release in 2011. 

Ms Noddings said if Poltorak were jailed by a UK court, the normal procedure would be deportation to his homeland “to answer whatever matters he has to answer for”.

Ms Noddings said:

“He was serving a prison sentence there, was on day release, and never returned to prison.

“He has no legal basis to be here.”

She added, however, that despite his record, if Poltorak had entered the UK under his own identity at the time in question, when the UK was still part of the European Union, he would have been able to get into the country without a hitch.

In fact, Poltorak, trying to disguise his criminal convictions in his own country, chose instead to use his brother’s identity documents to firstly get into the UK and then land a job at Harrogate District Hospital, where he worked without anyone suspecting a thing.

Poltorak admitted fraud in that between June 2013 and June 2023 he used another person’s ID documents to gain employment and thereby make a gain of £150,000 – his earnings at the hospital and a car-manufacturing company in Knaresborough.

He also admitted using identity documents in March 2023 to obtain a driving licence – which meant he was also driving on the UK’s roads illegally – and using those same documents to obtain employment.

Using brother’s identity

Poltorak, of Malham Drive, Harrogate, appeared for sentence yesterday (Thursday, August 3) after being remanded in custody.

Ms Noddings said Poltorak, who was using his brother’s name and identity, was arrested at Harrogate District Hospital.

Ms Noddings said:

“His brother Lucas Poltorak – the real Lucas Poltorak – is a sex offender in Poland who was arrested at Leeds/Bradford Airport and refused entry to the UK.”

On that same day in November 2022, immigration officials converged on Przemyslaw Poltorak’s home and arrested him. They seized a “driving document related to Lucas Poltorak”.

Ms Noddings said that a driving record in the name of Lucas Poltorak was created on March 9, 2020. Przemyslaw Poltorak had used his brother’s details on his application for a driving licence.

She added:

“Enquiries were made about how he obtained a job at Harrogate hospital.

“He made an application (for a job) in the name of Lucas Poltorak (and) provided a Polish identity card, a provisional driving licence and a utility bill in the name of Lucas Poltorak.”

Poltorak was paid £42,337 during his employment at the hospital. 

However, further enquiries revealed that between 2013 and 2020, he had also been employed by a car-manufacturing firm in Knaresborough which he had secured by using the same false identity cards.

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During his seven-year stint at the car company, he earned £111,631, said Ms Noddings.

Home Office officials reviewed his records and downloaded text messages from his phone which had been seized at the hospital. They showed that Poltorak had been passing himself off as his brother Lucas.

When the real Lucas Poltorak was identified, it transpired that Border Force officials had refused him entry to the UK when he landed at Leeds/Bradford Airport in November 2022. 

Further scrutiny by immigration officials revealed that Lucas Poltorak had been granted the right to settle in the UK in June 2021 but was then refused re-entry a year later when his previous convictions were discovered.

‘Hard working man’

Kevin Blount, Przemyslaw Poltorak’s solicitor advocate, said his client had left prison in Poland on day release and used his brother’s identity cards to travel to the UK with his wife and children, but that in fact he could have done so legally when the country was part of the EU and borderless travel. 

He said that Poltorak had since lived a “law-abiding life” in the UK, “save for the fact that it was in the wrong name”.

Mr Blount added:

“He used his brother’s (name) not to avoid British passport control, but to avoid Polish emigration authorities because he was due to return to serve the end of his sentence.”

He said that a European arrest warrant for Poltorak had still not been issued despite his detention and during the transition period when the UK was in the process of leaving the EU, he still had a right to work in this country “under his own name”.

Mr Blount said that Poltorak was a “hard working man” and even though he had lost his legal status in the UK, his family still had a right to live here.

Judge Simon Hickey said it appeared that Poltorak had fled Poland not just for a “better life for your family”, but also because he would have served a whole jail term for his previous offences in his homeland, whereas in the UK he would have been released at the halfway point.

He said that the “real seriousness of (Poltorak’s offences in the UK) was “working for that vast amount of time and concealing who you were”.

Poltorak received a 20-month jail sentence but will only serve half of that sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence, although his deportation is still in the offing. 

Plan approved to convert Harrogate listed building into a flat

Plans have been approved to convert the upper floors of a grade-II listed building in Harrogate into a flat.

Mercer House on Swan Road towers above the adjoining Mercer Art Gallery.

Under plans lodged by Colston Trustees Limited, the building would be changed from offices to residential and create a single flat. The ground floor retail unit is not included in the plan.

A previous proposal submitted in November 2022 would have seen two flats created.

However, in documents tabled to North Yorkshire Council, the developer said the revised plan would have “less impact upon the building than previously approved and be acceptable”.

Mercer House is historically and architecturally significant due to its gable-fronted, white and blue appearance.

North Yorkshire Council has approved the proposal.

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It will see the first, second and third floors turned into a single flat with living, dining and kitchen space and a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor.

The second floor would have three bedrooms, two en-suites and a bathroom while the third floor would be storage space.

In documents to the council, the developer said:

“The alterations required to the building are less than the previous approved scheme and retain more of the original openings and minimal alterations to original internal walls.

“The external alterations are limited to those at the rear of the building and are the same as those already approved, there are no changes to the front or sides of the building.”

Business Breakfast: Scheme offers Harrogate entrepreneurs chance to access £2,500 grants

Budding entrepreneurs in the Harrogate district are being invited to sign up for a business support scheme with the chance of accessing £2,500 in grants.

The free scheme is being run by the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub and is called the Strive Live Start-Up Incubator.

The programme includes live online training, personalised one-to-one advice and on-demand online learning for those wishing to start their own business.

The scheme lasts for seven weeks and will start on September 12, 2023.

It will include sessions held online during the evening, featuring access to more than 20 interactive e-learning modules and a supportive network of like-minded peers. 

Daniela Genova, the founder of Cafe Lago di Como in Harrogate who has taken part in programme, said: 

“Strive is an amazing place to learn absolutely everything you need to know about business. 

“But most importantly the team work very hard and they are always available for any questions or concerns. We really enjoyed it and we have learned a lot from the project.”

For more information on how to sign up for the scheme, visit the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub website here.

Harrogate lawyer awarded industry qualification

A partner at a Harrogate law firm has been awarded a coveted industry qualification.

Haroon Quayum, who works in the LCF Law family business unit, has achieved an advanced certificate in family business governance, which is recognised by the professional body the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Haroon Qayum, LCF Law

It means Mr Quayum is able to offer further technical advice, such as helping family businesses plan for succession.

He said:

“Having been through the examination process and passed this qualification, I have been able to expand my technical knowledge, develop my professional competence and build on my experience and skills that I have developed over my many years in practice, helping families plan for succession, as well as identify and define appropriate governance structures.”

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Classic car stolen while being repaired in Beckwithshaw

North Yorkshire Police today appealed for help finding a stolen MG Midget.

Police said in a statement:

“The red 1965 MG Midget, with registration number DUC 434C, is thought to have been stolen from Crag Lane, Beckwithshaw whilst being repaired at a garage in the period between July 2022 and July 2023.

“The last time the car was seen by the owner was July 2022.”

It urged anyone who has seen the vehicle, or knows where it is, to call the police on 101.

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

Quote reference number 12230139521.

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Liquidators appointed at Harrogate conference company

The company behind one of Harrogate’s largest business events is set to be wound up after appointing liquidators this week.

Brand Yorkshire Limited, which runs the annual Brand Yorkshire conference, passed a resolution for winding up yesterday.

It has appointed business recovery specialist firm Leonard Curtis, based in Leeds, to deal with the liquidation.

The company was founded in 2010 and its sole director is Richard Norman.

After being cancelled in 2020 because of the covid pandemic, the Brand Yorkshire conference – held at Pavilions of Harrogate – returned in 2021.

The event was held for the 12th time on October 6 last year.

It featured almost 60 businesses in the exhibition halls, as well as a programme of speakers, and around 1,000 visitors attended.

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Until recently, the Brand Yorkshire website was advertising its 2023 event for October 5. However, the website has been taken down, with a holding page saying it is “under maintenance”.

The Stray Ferret contacted Mr Norman but he declined to comment.

Compulsory strike-off action against the company began in February, after the company failed to file its 2021-22 accounts by the deadline of December 31 last year.

However, on March 10, a statement was issued by Companies House which said:

“Action under section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006 has been temporarily suspended as an objection to the striking off has been received by the registrar.”

Lucky escape as tree falls outside Harrogate school

A Harrogate resident has spoken of her relief that nobody was hurt today when a tree from her garden fell outside a school.

The 50-foot beech tree crashed across Oatlands Drive at about 1pm, glancing the wall of St Aidan’s Church of England High School opposite.

Fortunately it happened out of term time. However, Oatlands Drive is still a hive of activity at that time of day, with numerous pedestrians and vehicles passing by but fortunately nobody was doing so when the tree came down.

It fell from a garden belonging to Rowena Wright, who said:

“I’m just so grateful nobody was hurt.”

Pedestrians navigate the fallen tree.

Ms Wright said she was working upstairs when she heard a noise and assumed it was caused by a workman next door.

Minutes later a motorist, who ironically turned out to be a tree surgeon on his way to a job, knocked on her door to tell her what had happened.

Oatlands Drive was blocked to traffic and pedestrians had to climb over the tree.

The tree looked healthy and Ms Wright, who has lived in the house for 30 years, thinks a combination of heavy rain weakening its roots and the weight at the top may have contributed to the incident.

The roots of the tree.

She added:

“We have regular tree care. If it had looked like it was dying we would have had it cut. It’s quite bizarre.”

See the Stray Ferret’s Facebook page for a video of the scene shortly after the incident.

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New aesthetics clinic opens its doors in Harrogate

A new aesthetics clinic has opened in Harrogate today – to offer skin tightening, slimming treatments and vaginal rejuvenation.

HIFU Clinics UK specialises in high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), so the treatments are non-surgical.

Michelle Clarke, who has been in the industry for 13 years and is the director of HIFU Clinics UK, says vaginal rejuvenation can be a “life-changing” treatment.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“We are now offering vaginal rejuvenation – changes happen in the female body after childbirth and menopause, so our treatments can help with things like dryness, bladder weakness and more.

“It’s not really talked about, a lot of people don’t even know you can get help for this, but this can be life-changing.”

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HIFU Clinics UK, which is now taking appointments for its new clinic on Westmoreland Street just off Skipton Road, opened its first clinic in Wakefield three years ago.

Ms Clarke said many of her clients were looking for a more natural look:

“Our clients can walk out down the street and to their families, without people knowing they have had any work done.

“They just look fresher and well-rested. So it is a completely different approach to other aesthetic clinics.”

The newly renovated clinic has two rooms for HIFU clients and will be renting out two of its other rooms to other high-end professionals, like beauticians or chiropractors.

While the clinic opened in Harrogate today, there will be an official opening event in September with demonstrations, drinks, canapes and special offers.

Harrogate hospital awards consultants £1.2m to embed culture of ‘continuous improvement’

Harrogate District Hospital is spending nearly £1.2m on hiring management consultants to develop a culture of continuous improvement, the Stray Ferret can reveal. 

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) signed a contract with KPMG and Catalysis in March, which will run for 18 months to September 2024. 

KPMG is one of the world’s largest multinational professional services companies, and Catalysis is a Wisconsin-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping healthcare bodies become more efficient. 

The continuous improvement programme, called HDFT Impact, will ultimately involve all 5,000-plus employees, who will be encouraged to share their knowledge with each other and come up with ways to improve the way the trust delivers its services. 

In a statement sent to the Stray Ferret, a spokesperson said: 

“It is our aim to embed improvement at the centre of our culture and operating model so we can provide the best quality, safest health and care services for our patients, children and the community; and make HDFT the best place to work for our colleagues.” 

They added: 

“There is no doubt that a steady stream of improvements, both big and small, can have transformational results.” 

In recent years, KPMG and Catalysis have together worked with 16 NHS trusts, including Western Sussex, which became the first non-specialist trust to be rated outstanding in all areas by the Care Quality Commission. 

In other cases, one trust saved £800,000 in theatre efficiencies, one increased surgeries per list by 25%, and another reduced falls among patients by 60%. 

The spokesperson said: 

“Continuous improvement is not a new concept at HDFT. It has been integral in helping us to develop our services and bring improvements for patients and colleagues for a long time – we have been using a lean quality improvement approach for over 10 years.

“We know this approach works and we’ve seen the improvements it can bring for patients and colleagues.” 

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The HDFT Impact programme is being funded from the trust’s budget to procure and implement a new electronic patient record system.

The spokesperson said: 

“Our EPR project is not just about providing an electronic system, but is an improvement programme enabled by technology to give our staff the opportunity to improve across the whole organisation.” 

In May, it was reported that management consultants were being paid up to £3,000 a day for work within NHS England. At the time, Onay Kasab, national lead officer of trade union Unite, said the health service was being “plundered by private sector profiteers”. He added:

“The money would be much better spent providing a proper pay rise for NHS staff to end the recruitment and retention crisis that is crippling health services.”

HDFT’s deal with KPMG and Catalysis is costing the trust about £2,200 per day for the duration of the 18-month contract.

Asked if there had been any opposition or resistance from hospital staff to the hiring of external consultants, the spokesperson said: 

“As an organisation, the majority of our colleagues are receptive to continuous improvement.

“Cultural change can be challenging, and a small number of people may be sceptical, but we believe that developing our continuous improvement programme is vital in our pursuit of excellence so that we can raise quality, reduce costs, explore better ways of delivering our services, and provide the best possible healthcare for those who need it.

“We hope that as the programme progresses and staff engage in it, all of our staff will recognise the huge benefits.” 

Harrogate Bus Company announces timetable changes

The number 36 bus between Leeds and Ripon via Harrogate is to run every 10 minutes again from next month, the Harrogate Bus Company has confirmed. 

The service had been running less frequently due to the four-week closure of the Grade II* listed Harewood Bridge for essential maintenance works, which are due to end on Thursday, August 24. 

The timetable change is one of several announced by the bus company, all of which will come into force on Sunday, September 3. 

The schedule for the number 1 bus between Harrogate and Knaresborough will be changed slightly to improve reliability, although the frequency will remain the same. 

On the number 2 service between Harrogate and Bilton, there will be minor changes to departure times from Knox into Harrogate. 

Some afternoon departures on the number 8 bus between Harrogate, Knaresborough and Wetherby will have new times. The 4.21pm from Knaresborough to Wetherby will run at 4.41pm, the 4.55pm from Wetherby will run at 5.15pm and the 6pm from Harrogate will run at 6.15pm. There are no changes to Saturday the service. 

There will also be some changes to the 620H (Dacre to Rosset School), 720H (West Tanfield to Ripon schools), S2 (Bilton to Rosset School), S3 (Penny Pot to Rosset School), S6 (Bilton to Rosset School), S8 (Woodlands to Harrogate) & S36 (Ripon to St John Fisher) buses to ensure the services run reliably and meet the school starting and finishing times. 

New timetables will be available to download soon from the Harrogate Bus Company website. 

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate energy firm lands £10m deal with Norwegian giants

A Harrogate company that helps firms reduce their energy bills has agreed a £10 million deal with a global aluminium manufacturer.

Energy Oasis, which is based on Victoria Avenue, will operate at four UK sites belonging to Norwegian giants Hydro.

The 18-month contract will see it install intelligent LED lighting, replace roofs and install solar photovoltaic on Hydro’s sites at Birtley, Cheltenham, Bedwas and Tibshelf.

Mike Kaye, managing director of Energy Oasis, said:

“We are really happy to be working with Hydro on their journey to net zero.

“The combination of technologies means that we are having a dramatic impact on their carbon footprint and energy security.

“They now have a fixed cost for a proportion of the electricity they need as a business by generating green electricity on their sites.”

Harrogate legal firm makes marketing hire

A Harrogate legal firm has appointed a new marketing and communications manager.

Oliver Denton has taken up the role at Truth Legal, which is based on Victoria Avenue, after working in higher education, the charitable sector and textiles.

The move comes as the legal firm continues its expansion after it recently hired Sarah Doyle as a litigation executive.

Following the appointment of Mr Denton, Georgia Parkin, managing director at Truth Legal, said:

“Oliver’s appointment reflects how we are looking to build our presence in our core areas of work, drive further brand awareness of Truth Legal and to promote our mission to provide justice for all, regardless of their financial circumstances.

“He has already shown us he is excelling in the role and making a significant contribution in helping us drive forward with our business ambitions.”

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