Harrogate man found guilty of sexual abuse of young girl

Warning: this article contains details some readers may find disturbing

A Harrogate paedophile is facing a long prison sentence for the systematic sexual abuse of a young girl.

Neil Michael Stubbs, 26, was convicted of 13 separate offences this week following a four-day trial at York Crown Court.

The jury heard that Stubbs, of Kingsley Park Road, Starbeck, groomed and sexually abused the youngster over a prolonged period.

They found him guilty of all 13 charges, including one count of attempted rape of a child under 13 years of age, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, sexual assault, possessing indecent images and several counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said that some of the offences — including engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, sexual assault and causing a child to engage in sexual activity — were “specimen counts”, meaning they happened on multiple occasions.

Read more:

He said that Stubbs would perform lewd acts on himself in front of the girl and got her to perform sexual acts on him on at least six occasions.

Stubbs also “pestered” her to send him naked photos of herself, added Mr Newcombe.

Following his arrest, police seized Stubbs’s phone on which they found indecent images of children, including some naked photos of the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Some of the other images were rated Category A – the worst kind of such material.

Mr Newcombe said it showed that Stubbs had an “unhealthy obsession” with children.

The jury returned their verdicts yesterday (Thursday, April 28). Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, adjourned sentence to August 15.

Ex-England player appointed director of rugby at Harrogate

Harrogate Rugby Club has appointed Martyn Wood as its new director of rugby.

The former Harrogate Grammar School student will replace David ‘Doc’ Doherty, who announced he will step down at the end of the season.

Wood joins Harrogate following a long playing career with Wasps, Bath and England. He also had coaching roles at Hull Ionians and Yorkshire Carnegie.

The club will end this season bottom of National League 2 North.

Read more: 

The club has also announced that Sam Fox will continue as head coach next season.

Fox was appointed to the role at the start of this season after previously being head coach of the academy.

Aled Jones will take up the role of head of rugby transition.

Jones will be responsible for supporting young players as they move from the academy to senior rugby and will manage and coach the Georgians next season.

Ex-Navy officer from Harrogate scoops £5,000 on veterans’ lottery

An ex-Navy officer from Harrogate has pledged to donate some of his £5,000 lottery prize money to a charity that supports veterans.

Jerry Anderson, 70, scooped the top prize in the latest Veterans’ Lottery draw. The lottery provides the main source of income for the Veterans’ Foundation, a military charity that supports men and women who served their country.

Mr Anderson served for 32 years in the Royal Navy and said he was shocked to learn he’d been awarded the winner’s cheque.

He said he planned to spend his winnings on two electric bikes, but he also wanted to give some of it back to the charity after seeing the work it does supporting fellow veterans.

Read more:

Mr Anderson said:

“Now I’m getting on a bit and I’m 70 with dodgy knees, we’re going to buy two electric bikes.

“But I’m also going to donate some back – I want to help veterans a bit more.”

He added:

“I’ve got some empathy with veterans as I was medically discharged myself.

“You’re not only supporting a very worthy cause (playing the Veterans’ Lottery), you might just win a prize.”

Find out more about the lottery here.

Approval finally granted to convert Harrogate’s Alexa House into home

A plan to convert a Victorian guest house in Harrogate into a family home has been approved.

Alexa House on Ripon Road was sold last year for an undisclosed sum by former owner Sandra Doherty.

Ms Doherty, who owned the property for 15 years, sold the bed and breakfast after she stepped down as chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce to retire to Northumberland.

Previous applications from Ms Doherty to convert the property were turned down.

She had previously had an application to convert the guest house into seven apartments rejected in January 2021 after Harrogate Borough Council said it would not “contribute to local distinctiveness”.

Read more:

Now, a fresh application to change the former guest house has been given the go-ahead by council officials.

The plan submitted by the Architect Design Studio Ltd on behalf of Laura Harvey includes converting the outbuildings at the property into a garage and workshop area and reducing the size of the car park.

Alexa House was built in 1896 by the renowned art collector Baron Conrad Adolphus du Bois de Ferrieres.

It was built as a hunting lodge for its London-based owners to spend time enjoying Harrogate’s spa waters and riding in the nearby countryside.

Knaresborough car finance company shortlisted for four awards

Knaresborough car finance company shortlisted for four awards

Oracle Car Finance, based in Knaresborough, has been shortlisted at the Car Finance Awards.

The prestige, sports and classic car company has been shortlisted in the following categories:

Peter Brook, managing director, says:

“Having been voted best specialist car finance provider in 2020 and 2021 we are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for a third year running.”

Fran Irvine celebrates 25 years at Harrogate Ladies College 

Fran Irvine started at Harrogate Ladies’ College in 1997 as a PE teacher.

Since then she has been promoted to assistant head and has now celebrated 25 years at the independent school.

Talking about her time at the school, Ms Irvine said:

“I’ve stayed at Harrogate Ladies’ College for such a long time because the teaching is so rewarding, and there’s such variety in the job — both coaching many different sports and abilities, and taking care of the Middle School pupils in her care, academically and pastorally.

“I love seeing the pupils progress from Year 7 all the way through to upper sixth when they are ready to leave and embark on the next part of their journey.”

Fran Irvine

Harrogate YMCA shop to close after just two years

The YMCA charity shop on Cambridge Road in Harrogate will close in the next two weeks after just two years in the town centre.

Manager Sam Perry said the unit has to be vacated by May 12 and expects all stock to be sold before then.

The store opened just before the first lockdown, across from McDonald’s, and Ms Perry said it was often overwhelmed by donations from local people.

She said the closure was due to the renovation of the upper floors into flats.

A planning application to convert the first and second floor of the building into eight flats was approved in September 2021. Developers Lake House Investments, which is based near Brighouse, submitted the plan.

Read more:

The shop is already looking bare, with just half of the floor space being used to display the last few donations at discounted prices.

Ms Perry said it was a “real shame” the shop was closing but added the charity was keen to find another suitable unit in the town centre.

Before moving to Harrogate in February 2020, there was a YMCA store in Starbeck but it also had to vacate due to development. Ms Perry said it could take up to 18 months to find new premises in Harrogate so she would have to find another job.

Plan for five flats above Harrogate’s Oxford Street shop approved

Plans for five flats to be created above a Harrogate shop have been approved.

The proposal submitted by investment company Quarters of Leeds is for the space above the former Advantage Sports shop on Oxford Street.

The shop closed in October last year after being a fixture in the town centre for many years.

Under the plan, the first and second floors will be divided into five flats and the ground floor will be retained as a retail unit.

Four one-bedroom and one two-bedroom flats will be created.

Harrogate Borough Council has granted permission for the scheme to go-ahead.

Read more:

The developer said in documents submitted to the authority that the plans would help with housing for the town.

It said:

“The proposal will help support the creation of much-needed housing, giving the high street a new lease of life, while still retaining part of its retail character.”

Harrogate Leon developer puts up another sign without permission

Developers behind a Leon drive-thru in Harrogate have put up another advertising sign before permission to do so has been granted.

Pictures from the Wetherby Road site show a sign for the restaurant, which will serve healthy fast food, being placed on top of the building this morning. The sign is one-metre tall and the lettering lights up red.

Euro Garages has applied for the installation of 15 advertising boards, which include drive-thru directions, menus and a height restrictor bar.

But Harrogate Borough Council has yet to approve the application.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“We are aware of the signage and are considering what action may be required.”

The move comes just three weeks after the developer erected an eight-metre tall sign outside the drive-thru.

Council officials ordered the sign be taken down and warned that any work undertaken on advertising signage before an application was approved would be at the developer’s “own risk”.

Euro Garages declined to comment.

Concern over Leon design

Local residents have raised concern that the building on the site will be different from that which was approved.

Initially, approval was granted for the site to become a Starbucks — but it has since emerged that the drive-thru will instead be a Leon.

Residents raised concern when it became clear that the design of the building was not the same as that lodged to the council.

Joe Shields, who lives next to the site and is a former marketing manager for companies including fast-food chains, told the Stray Ferret:

“I have opened a few drive-thrus, I’m not against them.

“It is opening a drive-thru here which is nuts.”

Read more:

Harrogate Borough Council has acknowledged that the building being constructed is not the same as the designs submitted to the authority.

However, it added that the developer has already submitted another application for the design, which is under consideration.

The drive-thru has long proved contentious since it was granted permission by a government planning inspector last year.

Last month, the Stray Ferret reported that Harrogate Borough Council had agreed to pay £25,000 in costs to Euro Garages following the appeal hearing.

Helen Hockenhull, the planning inspector, awarded costs against the council after she said it “demonstrated unreasonable behaviour”.

Missing Leeds man could be in Harrogate

West Yorkshire Police has said it has serious concerns for the welfare of a missing Leeds man who may have travelled to Harrogate.

Bede Chapman, 32, from Armley in Leeds, is described as being slim and 6 ft tall. He was wearing a chequered jacket, blue jeans and black boots.

It’s possible he may have made or is currently making his way to Harrogate in a black Renault Twingo with a registration plate beginning LG58.

Anyone who can assist is asked to contact police in Leeds on 101 or by using the LiveChat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website.

Read more:

 

Parents set for agonising wait over future of Harrogate school

An education leader has indicated there is unlikely to be a quick decision on the fate of Woodfield Community Primary School amid growing frustration amongst parents and children.

The school has offered new admissions in September. But with a huge question mark over its future, and the total number of pupils falling to 37 amid the uncertainty, parents want a quick decision so they can make definite plans.

However, Amanda Newbold, assistant director for education and skills at North Yorkshire County Council, indicated it could be some time before a decision is made.

She said:

“It is anticipated that some time will be required for reflection, discussion and careful consideration of the school’s position between the governing board, the county council and the Department for Education.

“We cannot yet indicate a date when further news will be available, but parents and carers will be informed as soon as possible.”

The Bilton school faces the possibility of closure after nearby Grove Road Community Primary School withdrew from a planned merger three weeks ago. The merger was proposed after Woodfield school was rated ‘inadequate’ by government inspectors from Ofsted in 2020 and no academy would take it on.

Read more:

Sarah Preston, who has been a parent to children at the school for 12 years, said clarity was needed rather than the current “mixed messages”. She added:

“This process has caused nothing but worry and stress for parents and children. As a family we are hoping there is some kind of miracle and it doesn’t close and my children can stay there.

“The other day I got am email off the council saying my son has a place in September — how can they say this when no one knows what actually is happening?

“It is absolutely shocking how we are all been treated through this.”

Ms Preston said merger appeared to be a “done deal” until recently and she was now left “praying for a miracle” that Woodfield survives — but if it doesn’t she would rather know soon so she could make alternative plans for September. She said:

“Woodfield school is in a great location for families. There’s a brilliant green area for children to play sport and it’s right next to the library, which is great.

“With more houses being built we need schools.”

Asked what parents should do amid the uncertainty, Ms Newbold said:

“The ability to look for an alternative school place is a right for parents and carers in any circumstances and at any time.

“In this case, there is no immediate requirement for parents/carers to do anything in respect of a school transfer. Woodfield school will be open in September 2022 and admissions to the reception year have been dealt with in the normal way.”