North Yorkshire Police is appealing for help to find wanted Harrogate man Daniel Prague.

The police issued the appeal yesterday to locate Mr Prague, 19, who is wanted on suspicion of burglary.

Last year he was jailed for a £1.3m burglary on a home in Weeton.

According to the police, Mr Prague has links to Harrogate, Knaresborough and Leeds.

If you have any information, you can help the police by calling 101 quoting ref: 12200200467. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Two women who say they have been ripped off by a builder from Harrogate have formed a Whatsapp group called “The Avenging Warriors” to try and get their money back.

They claim the group has six other members who have had similar experiences with James Moss, who they say owes thousands of pounds and has left a trail of ‘shoddy’ workmanship across Harrogate.

“Mr Charming himself”– Gill’s story

Gill Lawrence works for a homeless charity and takes in vulnerable young people into at her home near to Wetherby Road whilst they get back on their feet. Last year, she decided she wanted a kitchen extension at her house to create more space for her guests. 

After advertising for a builder to do the work on the website MyBuilder.co.uk, she was contacted by James Moss, a tradesman based in Harrogate who said he would do the job for £13,000 plus VAT.  She told the Stray Ferret she thought this was a really good deal. 

Ms Lawrence described Moss was “Mr Charming himself”. After agreeing to the quote, work began in June last summer. 

Fast-forward six months to December 2019 and Ms Lawrence claims Moss left the kitchen half-finished whilst pocketing almost the total agreed quote.  

She says the problems with the kitchen were endless with the walls needing replastering, faulty electrics and plumbing, and a “wonky” window.  

How Ms Lawrence’s electrics were left by Mr Moss.

So far this year she has spent around £5,000 repairing the work — and it’s still unfinished. 

She said she feels very naïve for trusting Moss and that it’s had a big impact on her mental wellbeing. 

 “It’s soul-destroying. I don’t trust anyone anymore” 

Ms Lawrence subsequently wrote to Moss several times urging him to finish the job he had started, without reply. In March 2020 she took Moss to a small claims court, who ordered the builder to pay her £8,297 plus court costs.  

MyBuilder.co.uk told the Stray Ferret that Mr Moss’s account was banned in July 2019 after a complaint. 

A chequered business history 

According to Companies House, a government website that publishes information about businesses in the UK, he has been a director of 11 different building companies in the Harrogate district since 2012 with 8 of them now dissolved. 

A search on the website Trust Online also reveals that Moss currently has three county court judgements against his name, worth almost £8,000. 

However, a Companies House spokesperson told the Stray Ferret they have no powers to reject someone forming a new company unless they have been declared bankrupt. 

The name of the company which undertook Ms Lawrence’s kitchen extension was Yorkshire Outdoor Design. The company was dissolved in October 2019 whilst Moss was still working on Ms Lawrence’s kitchen extension.

Normally, Ms Lawrence would not be able to bring a civil case against a dissolved company but she managed to prove to the courts that there was no mention of Yorkshire Outdoor Design being a limited company in any of her correspondence with Moss, so she was able to sue him personally, even after the company folded. 

She has even hired a private investigator to find out where Mr Moss currently lives so she can send him letters about the money he owes her.

However, Ms Lawrence said she does not expect to ever see the money repaid to her. She has reported him to trading standards but said they have so far been “absolute rubbish”. 

North Yorkshire County Council trading standards told the Stray Ferret they would not comment on individual cases.

A 25-year guarantee — Vicky’s story

Vicky Cooke is a French teacher from Ilkley who needed a new roof on an extension at her home. After struggling to find a local builder who was available, she found a website for another one of Moss’s companies, DBL Yorkshire, in November 2019. 

Ms Cooke paid Moss £3,400 for the job, and he even offered a 25-year guarantee that the work would be built to last. 

But after apparently completing the job in December, it took just two months for the roof to start leaking. 

She said:

“There was no insulation, and it was obvious the roof was bad. It wasn’t properly fixed on. It was loose with big gaps in between the coping stones and water was getting in.” 

From being a “really nice bloke” when work began, Ms Cooke said Moss became “evasive and quite unpleasant”. 

After asking Moss to repair the leaking roof without reply, Ms Cooke took him to the small claims court who ruled in her favour, ordering Moss to pay £2,745, which he is now refusing to pay. 

She’s since spent around £1,000 repairing his poor work and says she now feels like an idiot for trusting Moss to do a good job. 

She said:

“Me and my husband feel quite stupid, angry and upset. I work properly for my money. I turn up to work and do what I’m paid for and I get my money. Then there are people like him who take that money from you.”  

Mr Moss’s response

Mr Moss told the Stray Ferret he disputes the allegations made by both women and confirmed that he does not intend to pay the money the courts have ordered him to pay.

He claimed he did not receive any correspondence from the small claims court regarding the civil cases. As a result, he was unable to defend himself at the court which is why they both ruled against him. He said he is now trying to fight both rulings.

He added he has now ceased trading as a builder.

Homebuyers and agents are furious with Harrogate Borough Council over its land search delays.

The council has admitted it is currently struggling with the volume of requests but insisted the wait is around 30 working days.

Since publishing a story about the delays we have been contacted by people who dispute the council’s timescale.

Far away from the estimated 30 working days, some claim they put requests in at the end of summer to be told that it won’t be cleared until December.

A financial adviser in Harrogate, who requested anonymity, wanted to move to a bigger house as his family is growing.

He says he put in a search request on September 25, only to be told this week that will likely be the end of December when it is complete:

“Our main issue is the communications from Harrogate Borough Council, we have had too many mixed messages.

“I think anyone could have predicted that the Stamp Duty holiday would increase demand. Why wasn’t the council prepared?”

In an email to the financial adviser, the council said it has just two staff working on searches after two “experienced members of the team” left.

An increase in demand, a backlog of searches from the first lockdown and struggles with staff numbers have all put strain on the process.

Hours after that email the communications department at the council said it currently has eight staff processing searches.

Read more:

• Harrogate council urges homebuyers to be patient about search delays
• Harrogate homebuyers frustrated by land search delays

The council also disputed the claim that searches submitted in September will not be complete by December:

“The 30-day figure is an average therefore it is the case that some searches are taking longer than 30-working days.

“We anticipate that, depending on submissions, which are currently running at twice the number we would expect, additional resources will allow us to soon reduce processing times.”

James Wort, a director at Strutt and Parker, told the Stray Ferret that his clients have experienced delays up to 90 days:

“I can give about 17 examples where the search delays have been three times what the council have said.

“We have emails from the council saying that requests from September will be complate by December. But they say it’s not true. It’s scandalous. “

Frank’s Fund is a Harrogate-based charity set up by the Ashton family after their son Frank died from a rare form of bone cancer last year.

Frank Ashton was a “brave, funny, kind and positive” young man who loved playing sports and going to Nando’s with friends.

He lived in Harrogate with his family and beloved dog Barney and attended St Aidan’s high school.

But in May 2016 the family’s world changed when Frank was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma. Frank went through relentless rounds of chemotherapy, all the time staying positive.

Frank’s family said he was always smiling.

By May 2017, Frank’s tumour had been removed during an eight hour operation and he had gone through 12 months of chemotherapy – he was in remission.

Only five months later, in September 2017, the cancer came back. This was just before Frank’s 13th birthday. Louise Ashton, Frank’s mum, said:

“With a cancer like this when it comes back there is no treatment, it’s like being given a life sentence. The doctors said he has two years to live, he had another seven months of chemo.”

Over the next year Frank continued to remain positive and see his friends but in January 2019 his health was failing fast and Frank died a month later, aged 14.

Frank’s Fund was set up to keep Frank’s memory alive and remind people of the positive person he was.

Louise added:

“He had a fantastic smile and we miss him massively. We set up the charity to keep Frank’s memory alive, we want him to be remembered as the funny boy he was.”

Frank’s Fund was set up to raise funds to go to dedicated cancer research. Primary bone cancer received just 0.028% of funding from major UK cancer charities in 2018/2019. The treatment and survival rates of this cancer haven’t improved in over 30 years.

To donate to the fund click here.

Louise said:

“It’s really shocking how little this cancer receives. The best way for people to fund bone cancer research is to give to a dedicated charity. I would have been really angry if I knew how little funding went into research when Frank was alive.

But now we are doing something about it with Frank’s Fund.”

Read more:

• Charity Corner: the charity offering “new beginnings” to domestic abuse victims.
• The dogs charity trying to raise funds for a new charity base. 

Frank’s family with Maisie Adam a charity patron (second from the left) and other comedians who performed during the charity’s comedy night last year.

The family are determined to raise as much as they can to follow Frank’s wishes to prevent children suffering as he did.

This year several of their fundraising events have been cancelled but they are continuing to fundraise with a virtual comedy night on December 11 and selling Christmas cards, follow the charity on Facebook to see updates.

Santa Claus will be visiting Harrogate next month as part of a Christmas experience for children held at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

This event is one of few the showground has been able to hold this year due to covid restrictions.

Santa’s grotto will be manned by his elves and has been set up in a covid-secure manner.

On the weekend of the 5 and 6 December families can visit the grotto in groups of up to six people.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society which manages the showground, forecasted a £2 million loss this year due to the number of cancelled events.

Its chief executive, Nigel Pulling, warned of the ongoing impact of covid which has left the society running at “well below 10 per cent” of capacity at the moment.

Graham Thompson, general manager, said:

“This has been a challenging year for all of us and it gives us great pleasure to provide some fun for the youngsters and welcome Santa on several dates throughout December.”

Other dates will be included, but tickets must be booked prior to the event. They can be bought here.

Read more:

• This year’s cancelled events at the show ground has cost the local economy £70 million. 
• Harrogate spring flower show set to go ahead at the show ground in 2021. 

While the pandemic means the festive season will be different this year, it has not stopped the traditional Christmas lights switch on in the Harrogate district.

Although there was no host or crowds to mark the occasion and the shops are closed, Harrogate and Ripon were still lit up ahead of Christmas.

In Harrogate, custom lights have been strung between buildings, around lampposts and in trees, including those in front of the war memorial at the top of Parliament Street.

Read more:

• Harrogate illustrator designs Leeds United charity Christmas card
• Deliver Woof: Give your furry friends to a personalised Christmas treat

Ripon Christmas lights were switched on last night.

Meanwhile, Ripon has spent £65,000 on its decorations and lights which has been dubbed the city’s largest ever display.

Despite the lack of a traditional switch on with celebrity guests, we have been out filming so you can enjoy them.

If you want to support Harrogate retailers and buy your Xmas gifts locally go to our new Shop Local section

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly pet profile of animals in desperate need of a loving home. This month’s selected pooches are Ginger and Badger with the addition of some very intelligent rats, and Bongo the Bosc Monitor… 

Greyhound, Ginger 

Age: 3
Ginger’s story: Ginger has just retired from his career as a racing greyhound. He is shy with new people at first, but if you give him some space, Ginger soon comes out of his shell.
Temperament: Ginger is sweet-natured, affectionate and adores his food! Ginger absolutely loves being around dogs as they really boost his confidence.
Ideal home: He has never lived in a house before, so he needs patient owners who will help ease him into the next chapter of his life as a family pet and teach him basic training, including housetraining. While he gets used to life with his paws up, Ginger’s new owners will need to be around all the time. Once he’s settled, he should be ok to be built up to being left for a few hours. Ginger can live with children over 16 years old and will happily share his home with another similar dog. Like all ex-racers he has a high prey drive so he cannot live with cats or other small furry pets.

To find out more about Ginger and the adoption process, visit Dogs Trust Leeds.

Bosc Monitor, Bongo

Age: You never ask a lizard its age…  
Bongo’s story: Bongo has been at Knaresborough Exotic Rescue for about 5 months, arriving due to a change in circumstance. 
Temperament: Bongo was nervous at first but over time and with the correct care and handling, he’s coming around to being a lovely calm lizard. 
Ideal home: Bongo will need a home with experience and a large enclosure. He is currently about 2 feet in length, but Bosc Monitors can grow to over 4 feet long so will eventually need an enclosure at least 6-8 feet in length, providing about 32 degrees at the warm end and approximately 20 degrees at the cooler end. Bosc Monitors can make great house lizards providing they have a heat source in the house. They have a diet mainly consisting of defrosted chicks and rodents but can also eat locusts, eggs and some raw meat.

To find out more about Bongo and the adoption process, you can visit K’rescue Knaresborough’s Facebook page or give them a call on 07837 445352.

Lurcher, Badger

Age: 4
Badger’s story: Badger was living as a stray and handed to SYD Rescue by a local dog warden.
Temperament: Badger is lovely and friendly but is very energetic and can be boisterous. He loves going for walks, but needs to be kept on a lead or he will chase other small animals. He is very clever and is currently doing clicker training.
Ideal home: Badger is looking for new family who have had dogs before and who can take him for walks and to secure fields where he can run around and play lots of games. He likes to chase small furry animals, so cannot live with cats or other small pets. Because he is so energetic and bouncy, Badger cannot be homed with children under the age of 12.

To find out more about Badger and the adoption process, you can visit the Saving Yorkshire Dogs website or call them on 07562 986101.

Rats

Age: babies from 8 weeks old, adults between 6 months to 1 year
Temperament: Rats make fantastic pets for people of all ages. They are very intelligent and bond to people well – and love nothing more than snuggling in jumpers and hoods! As rats get older, they are happy to be taken out on harnesses, and the possibilities are endless when it comes to learning tricks.
Ideal home: Rats can be kept on wood based cat litter, and need a larger cage than mice and hamsters. They eat rat nuggets and a mixture of fruit and vegetables, and don’t smell as much as people think!

To find out more about adopting a rat, you can visit K’rescue Knaresborough’s Facebook page or call them on 07837 445352.

The Stray Pets Rescue Club works with animal rescues around the area on its monthly profiles. 

Read More:

• Column: Rescued ex-breeding dogs need special love
• Six-foot boa finds a home in Markington

Cones used for social distancing on James Street in Harrogate will be replaced with planters in an effort to make the street more attractive.

Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council will introduce the planters as part of funding from both the European Regional Development Fund and government.

They will also replace the social distancing cones on parts of Albert Street.

It comes as a trial pedestrianisation of James Street was proposed in September, but county council bosses later postponed after pressure from local business owners.  It’s unlikely the planters will be welcomed by some shop owners on the street who have opposed the cones and want the return of on-street parking.

Cllr Graham Swift, deputy leader of the borough council and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said: 

“We recognise the majority of businesses and stores in Harrogate are currently closed. 

“But we hope in the run-up to Christmas, and the anticipation that the current lockdown will be lifted, people will be able to return to the high street and do so safely with the addition of these new eye-catching social distancing measures.”

As well as the planters, additional signs will be put up to reassure shoppers that it is safe to shop on the streets in the run up to Christmas.

Read more:

• James Street pedestrianisation ‘timely and appropriate’, says council
• Hoopers store warns: ‘Harrogate is not bulletproof anymore’
• Two thirds of James Street businesses against full pedestrianisation, says BID

Parking suspensions will remain in place until the end of January to support social distancing measures, but the county council will continue to monitor and review the situation.

However, suspensions that are currently on Albert Street, between Princes Square and West Park, will be removed and parking will be available

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said: 

“Our local highways team is working with Harrogate Borough Council’s parks team to install these planters alongside signage that will reinforce the message that it is safe to shop local.

“We are confident that the introduction of more attractive social distancing measures will offer reassurance to the public that they can shop safely and at the same time give much needed support to our local businesses.”

The county council will temporarily close both roads on November 18 and 19 to implement the planters.

It comes as the county council had initially planned a temporary pedestrianisation of James Street.

The measures were criticised by local business owners and landlords, including former Leeds United and England footballer Danny Mills.

After a meeting with local businesses in October, county council bosses decided to postpone the trial until after Christmas.

Harrogate BID and the Stray Ferret have joined forces to launch a new online shopping directory to support local businesses in the run-up to Christmas.

The Shop Harrogate Online site will provide customers with a one-stop-shop to buy from local retailers forced to move online by the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

People will be able to find and buy from fashion, homeware, food and drink, and beauty retailers, as well as finding services such as accountants, lawyers and other local professionals.

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID acting chair, said:

“We are delighted that Harrogate BID is partnering with The Stray Ferret to power this special page to encourage people to ‘Shop Harrogate Online’.

There are so many businesses that are continuing to trade during this second lockdown, and the directory will help them promote their services. For those looking to make purchases locally, it is a single point of reference.

Remember, when you Shop Harrogate Online, you are helping support the Harrogate economy and safeguard local livelihoods and jobs.

And don’t forget you can also purchase the Harrogate Gift Card, which is accepted by more than 100 local shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. Every £1 loaded on to a card means £1 kept within the local economy.”

Businesses across the Harrogate district can list their website for free at thestrayferret.co.uk/shoplocal

Read More: 

• New Harrogate lockdown shops say ‘fortune favours the brave’
• Campaign launched to support Harrogate shops online

Some people decided to decorate their house or get into a new hobby but some took it further by starting a new business in lockdown.

This has been a tough time for everyone. For those like Josh and Ellie at Paradise Tap and Taco or Ben at The Travel Journal it has presented unique challenges.

Both have set up new businesses in one of the toughest financial climates the Harrogate district has ever known.

With people told to stay home and “non-essential” shops told to close, it is tough for those starting out and making a name for themselves.

Read more:

• Harrogate Nightingale could be used as vaccination centre
• Nidd farming sisters save bull from drowning

Paradise Tap and Taco, which has just set up shop in the Coldbath Clubhouse, is one of those young businesses.

The couple used to run Major Tom’s Social and even had a couple of weeks of sold-out nights at Rooster’s Taproom with their tacos.

Ellie Stott and Josh Molloy are the couple behind the taco-based business, which wants to be a place for everyone. Josh said:

“We have been really blessed. Most Friday and Saturday nights before the lockdown we have had to turn people away.

“It has been difficult timing but we were able to get a government start-up loan. We sat on it for a little while before we found the perfect place.”

Ben Poole, the man behind The Travel Journal in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter, is facing a particularly tough climate for his business.

He opened his doors in September trading mainly on last-minute travel as quarantine rules make it difficult for people to plan ahead.

It may be a tough time for the travel industry but Ben remains buoyant about his prospects as he is one of the few travel agents with a prescence in town. He said:

“It is set up to work okay from home but I miss that face to face with customers. I think if you can sit it out then it will pay off in the end.

“Some people thought I was crazy when I opened but I saw a good opportunty to establish myself in Harrogate. So many come in to say it’s brave.”