Harrogate man jailed 15 years for child sex offences

Harrogate man Ricky Clench has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for child sex offences, including the rape of a child under 13.

Clench was sentenced following a series of offences starting in August 2017 until September 2018 when one of his victims came forward to the police.

At the time Clench was living in Northallerton.

On Tuesday he appeared at Teesside Crown Court and was found guilty of raping a child under 13, assaulting a child under 13 by penetration and of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Clench denied all offences throughout the police investigation and court hearings.

As well as the 15-year sentence he was issued with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Constable Jason Roper, of Northallerton CID, said:

“The significant sentence handed to Ricky Clench reflects the gravity of the offences he has committed. He is a predatory and manipulative paedophile who has shown no consideration for his victim throughout the investigation and the court proceedings.

“Thankfully he is now behind bars for a very long time and has been made subject to two lifetime protection orders, preventing him from inflicting harm on any other innocent victims.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the victim for their bravery and courage in coming forward to report such a harrowing experience, and also to their family for the support they have shown throughout the investigation.”

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Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning, the Great Yorkshire Show continues today so long delays are likely. We will be running this blog longer than usual to keep you up-to-date on the district’s roads.

The blog, brought to you by the HACS group, will show you where the traffic hotspots and temporary traffic lights are and tell you of any train and bus delays.

Give me a call on 01423 276197 if you get stuck in any traffic.

11am – Full Update 

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10.45am – Full Update 

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10.30am – Full Update 

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10.15am – Full Update 

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10am – Full Update 

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9.45am – Full Update 

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9.30am – Full Update 

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9.15am – Full Update 

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The roads are starting to look busier this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

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Buses

9am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8.15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Traffic is building:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Traffic is building:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

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Buses

 

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking pretty clear so far this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

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6.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking pretty clear so far this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking pretty clear so far this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

Glorious sunshine greets day one of Great Yorkshire Show

The Stray Ferret is running a live blog of the Great Yorkshire Show brought to you by Lister Haigh. We will keep updating this page with stories from the showground throughout the event. 

Day one of the Great Yorkshire Show has opened to fabulous weather and a sell-out crowd.

This year’s show run for an extended period from today until Friday. It will mean that the maximum capacity of 26,000 a day can spread out for social distancing.

Visitors are encouraged to take a lateral flow test before they arrive to prevent the spread of the virus.

Are you a local stall holder? Send an email by clicking or tapping here.

4pm – Harrogate farrier competes on world stage at Great Yorkshire Show

Harrogate’s Toby Pedley has been making horse shoes alongside the best in the world at the Great Yorkshire Show.

The local farrier competed at the forge today near the white gate and will be there for the rest of the week.

2.30pm – ‘World first’ virtual skydive raises funds for Yorkshire Cancer Research

Bethany from the Stray Ferret tried out Yorkshire Cancer Research’s ‘world first’ virtual sky dive at the Great Yorkshire Show today.

The charity has a stall in the Welcome to Yorkshire section of the show. People can donate £10 to try out the virtual experience over Whitby Abbey.

Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive of Harrogate-based Yorkshire Cancer Research, told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s great to be out here fundraising again. We are really proud to be here and it is amazing to be able to see people again.

“Even the sun has come out, we are very pleased. Cancer research is not cheap. Something key for us is that we help people get their cancer diagnosis early.

“We also need to treat cancer better but it is all expensive and that is why fundraising events like this are so important for us.”

Dr Kathryn Scott with Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive James Mason and a Yorkshire Cancer Research volunteer.

1pm – Meet the Great Yorkshire Show coronavirus marshals

If you have been at the Great Yorkshire Show today then you may have seen the coronavirus marshals, who are new this year.

Coronavirus restrictions are in place as the show dates falle just ahead of the expected lifting of all lockdown measures next week.

Marshals Nirmala D’Cunha and Peter Butler told us about their role:

“Well it’s mostly going to areas where people are crowding together, just to remind them. People have been absolutely great.

“We are carrying around masks as well in case people need them. People should be able to enjoy the show but also be safe.

“It is still an infectious disease and we need to be careful. The restrictions may be going next week but we still need to be sensible from then.”

12pm – A photo gallery from the first morning back at the show

We have been taking some pictures around the Great Yorkshire Show this morning. Can you spot yourself in our gallery?

10.35am – Have you seen the dancing sheep Nobby, Dougal and Susie?

Did you catch the dancing sheep? Our reporter is down at the show today speaking to visitors as the first day of the Great Yorkshire Show gets underway.

10.20am – Everything you need to know about the Show’s covid restrictions

For the first time the Show will be held over four days and have a limit of 26,000 visitors each day.

Other covid-safe measures include:

8.40am – Gates open to first visitors

Visitors keen to get into the Great Yorkshire Show arrived early this morning as soon as the gates opened.

We spoke to one of the first people through the doors. Gillian is a dedicated visitor of the show and told the Stray Ferret:

“I am excited to be back. This is my 50th visit to the show. I have been every year since I was 12-years-old apart from the two that didn’t happen.

“Every year I go to about 22 different shows but there is only this one in Harrogate and another in Driffield going ahead this year.

“I am from Hovingham near Malton so I set off at 6.30am, I thought I would be at the front row of the car park but I am on the fifth.

“It seems everyone is excited to be back to do something normal again.”

Vaccine passports for nightclubs ‘impractical’, says Viper Rooms boss

The owner of Harrogate’s only nightclub The Viper Rooms has called the use of vaccine passports in nightclubs “impractical” ahead of reopening next Monday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference yesterday that the government was now urging nightclubs to ask revellers to show the NHS covid pass app on entry, which shows proof of a vaccination or a recent negative test. However, it will be voluntary. 

Mr Kinsey told the Stray Ferret it was a “contradiction and hypocrisy” to add further requirements to nightclubs, especially after the scenes of football fans embracing each other at bars and pubs throughout the Euro 2020 tournament.

He said the Viper Rooms, on Parliament Street, will be following whatever guidance is suggested by the government but that many customers “can’t see the logic” of restrictions at nightclubs, particularly as some will have come from bars where all restrictions will have been lifted.

He said:

“We can’t enforce a law that doesn’t exist. It will be up to people to use their own judgement when visiting the club.

“The majority of 18-year-olds won’t have been double jabbed. Vaccine passports are impractical.”

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“Hospital cases may be rising but it’s overwhelmingly people who haven’t been double vaccinated, are older or who have refused vaccines.

“This virus will be present in society. All we can do is manage the game that’s in front of us.”

The Viper Rooms will reopen on Monday with a ‘Covid-19 leaving drinks’ party from 10pm.

It’s offering free entry and free table reservations to all restaurant, hotel and bar workers in Harrogate.

Great Yorkshire Show organisers ‘tired but excited’ for return

Organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show may be exhausted after they were forced to cram a year of planning into four months but they are excited for its return.

The Great Yorkshire Show, which was cancelled last year, starts at 8am on Tuesday and finish at 6pm on Friday.

Tickets will not be available on the gates this year and all tickets for this year’s show are now sold out.

It will be a very different event this year with visitors urged to test before they travel and follow social distancing measures.

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But the organisers hope that the Great Yorkshire Show 2021 will act as a signal that normality is returning after coronavirus.

Nigel Morgan, head of operations, told the Stray Ferret:

“We didn’t realise when we announced in March that the show would go ahead just how many challenges there would be.

“I have encountered more challenges in the last four months than in the last 15 years. I feel worn out but excited.

“It might feel slightly different but it will be a similar format to previous shows. We are ready to open the gates.

“When we first made the announcement the government was planning to lift the remaining restrictions in June but that was pushed back.

“That meant that we fell under the coronavirus restrictions which are set to lift on July 19. So we were put into a different ball game.

“In the last few days we have worked with public health officials who are happy that we have met their requirements.”

Mr Morgan added that he and his team are now “ready to rock and roll”.

Hive of activity as Harrogate prepares for Great Yorkshire Show’s return

Harrogate has been a hive of activity today as organisers and contributors prepare for the return of the Great Yorkshire Show.

There has been some last minute shearing and pruning ahead of the grand opening at 8am tomorrow morning.

The show will run for an extended period from Tuesday until Friday. It will mean that the maximum capacity of 26,000 a day can spread out for social distancing.

The Stray Ferret will be at the show all week, with our coverage brought to you by Lister Haigh.

Harrogate charity seeking hosts for domestic abuse victims

Do you have a spare room in Harrogate that could host victims of domestic abuse?

The domestic abuse charity IDAS says too often people leaving an abusive relationship are unable to access emergency accommodation to help them plan for their future.

It runs a project called Safe Havens where hosts receive specialist training and provide accommodation for people who are escaping dangerous situations. They are also supported by a dedicated domestic abuse worker.

Pauline (not her real name), a survivor of domestic abuse, said:

“If I had known what help was out there when I was trying to leave, things would have turned out very differently for me. I was young and very scared of my then husband. My family not only did not recognise the abuse but wanted me to stay with my husband. It was only when he went on to remarry his second wife, who left him for the same reasons, that people began to realise what he was.

“I wish I could have taken my daughter and run, even just for a few days to get my head straight, but I had nowhere safe to go and he’d threaten me with awful things if I tried. I know now that IDAS would have helped, and I could have avoided 8 years of pain. Being offered a safe place, for a short time might have made all the difference to me and I’m sure it will make all the difference to people who are trapped with abusers now.”

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Anna Dinsdale, Local Area Manager IDAS, added:

“Escaping an abusive partner or family member is rarely straight forward, it takes tremendous bravery and courage. The IDAS Safe Havens hosted, emergency accomodation project aims to provide people with the option of short-term respite and relief in addition to our refuge accomodation.

“Safe Havens hosts will play a key role in assisting their guests by making them feel safe and welcome in their home, giving them time to consider their next steps.”

The charity is running a series of information sessions for members of the public who are interested in becoming hosts. For more information, please email Mel.Milner@idas.org.uk

County council publishes new plan to cut emissions

North Yorkshire County Council’s three-year plan to help the organisation become net carbon neutral by 2030 includes adding more solar panels to its buildings, cutting down on staff travel and reducing waste.

Senior councillors on the Conservative-led authority are expected to rubber-stamp a draft carbon reduction plan tomorrow that lays out how it plans to reduce emissions across its offices, libraries and care homes.

However, it has been criticised by local environmental group Zero Carbon Harrogate who says the measures don’t go far enough.

The council says it’s aiming for net carbon neutral by 2030, which means it won’t reduce carbon dioxide emissions entirely but will offset the remainder of any emissions through carbon sequestration programmes and tree planting. 

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The report says the authority currently spends £1.8m a year on energy bills but this figure does not include schools.

It also highlights a recent project to replace its 50,400 street lights with more environmentally friendly LED bulbs.

The report suggests that covid has forced the council’s hand in reducing emissions as around 40% of the estimated reduction is due to changes in working practices, such as working from home.

Zero Carbon Harrogate said the report contains many “appropriate and prudent” initiatives but questioned how they will be monitored and delivered.

It also said NYCC could go further than what it proposes in the report to tackle transport emissions:

“The plan, almost exclusively, discusses decarbonising the NYCC’s own estate, with no mention of the significant decarbonisation impact that the NYCC can leverage as a policy maker.

“This is a major omission from the action plan, as NYCC is the policy gatekeeper for many infrastructure changes that can unlock decarbonisation across the county, particularly for transport.”

New planters installed in Harrogate after fake grass saga

New planters are being installed on Cambridge Street in Harrogate town centre.

The move comes two months after Harrogate Borough Council placed fake grass in raised flower beds in the town centre.

Workers were seen installing the new planters today.

One worker told the Stray Ferret that the planters would have “flowers in spring and autumn and shrubs other times of year”.

A council spokesperson said:

“Over the years we’ve planted numerous varieties of plants and flowers in the planters. But sadly, nothing has lasted very long due to the trees’ roots structure soaking-up all the moisture and nutrients in the soil.

“These new bespoke plant beds, which sit above the root base, will have their own soil that is full of nutrients and should allow the plants to grow successfully every year.

“For the summer, they will be filled with bright cheerful geraniums (as shown in the photo). And in the winter we will plant spring bulbs and perennials.

“In the coming weeks they will start to compliment Harrogate’s award-winning floral displays that we take enormous pride in looking after.”

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It follows a fierce backlash to the artificial grass installed on Cambridge Street in May, which residents and campaigners described as “cheap and tacky”.

Council officials initially claimed the move received “lots of positive feedback”, but later removed the grass and apologised.

It was later revealed that the council had spent £800 on the artificial grass.

However, Cllr Andrew Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, defended the saga at a full council meeting last week.

He said that the fake grass was removed “straight away” and that the authority had to “try new ideas”.

Harrogate outdoor cinema positive about restrictions ending

An outdoor cinema company that is due to show films in the district says it isn’t worried about losing its audience once restrictions are lifted.

Blue Sky began screening movies throughout lockdown to give people an opportunity to leave their homes without fear of catching covid.

The company is due to hold eight movie screenings in Harrogate rugby club at the end of the month.

But with government restrictions set to be lifted on July 19, outdoor cinemas could start to see their audiences leaving for mask-free indoor options.

Read More:

Outdoor cinema

However, Ian Taylor, managing director of Blue Sky, says he and his team remain positive:

“People have gotten into the habit of entertaining themselves, which has become a problem with a lot of sectors. But opening up allows for people to invite their friends and show them the stuff they’ve been doing during the lockdown.”

Mr Taylor also predicted people will enjoy drive-in cinemas more than indoor ones during the winter:

“Drive-in cinemas are a good option in the winter months when we get closer to October time. You can stay warm but also talk to your family or friends without disturbing anyone, you can bring your own food and drink.”