Harrogate man jailed for 10 years for child sex offences

A Harrogate man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to 17 child sex offences.

Dale Tyson’s crimes included sexual communication with a child and distributing indecent images of a child.

Tyson, of Christina Street, used an alter ego online to talk to children and get them to send sexual images of themselves.

York Crown Court heard he would pretend to be a young North American man to build stronger relationships with his victims in order to obtain more graphic images.

The 17 offences related to 10 children in the UK and USA. However, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement it believes there are many more.

Tyson pleaded guilty to seven counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, six counts of making indecent photographs of a child, three counts of intentionally encouraging an offence and sexual communication with a child.

North Yorkshire Police Detective Sergeant Steven Alderson said:

“This case really highlights the fact that it is almost impossible to know if the person you are speaking to online is who they claim to be.

“The young victims who came forward showed incredible bravery in speaking to the police about what happened to them and in speaking out they have helped protect many more young people from Tyson’s deplorable behaviour.

“The investigation spanned the UK and USA, with fantastic work from our investigators at North Yorkshire Police who managed to locate a number of these victims, without whom the case would not have been so strong.”

Tyson, whose trial was heard on Friday, is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order for an indefinite period.

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North Yorkshire Police added that anyone who thinks they or their child may have been a victim of online abuse should report it to the police.

If you are worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online and you would prefer not to speak to the police, you can report confidentially online through the child exploitation and online protection command centre here.

The NSPCC also has a range of resources for parents to help them keep children safe online.

Harrogate council publishes heavily redacted Turkish Baths responses

Harrogate Borough Council has today published heavily redacted responses to its consultation on single-sex sessions at the town’s Turkish Baths, after previously saying the information was restricted.

The council considered banning single-sex sessions at the 124-year-old council-owned baths but changed its mind after the consultation revealed 92% opposed the move.

A summary of the consultation’s 325 responses was published this month. But the council took the unusual step of not revealing individual responses on the grounds that they contained personal information.

After being questioned about this, the council today released a statement saying that because of its commitment to being “open and transparent”, it had decided to disclose the information after all.

But many of the responses are heavily redacted in black type.

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One person said:

“Single sex sessions are invaluable and help women feel that they can fully relax and enjoy the experience. It would be a huge loss for women if those sessions were removed.”

Another said:

“Don’t let down the majority by slavishly following a trend that may be short-lived. Harrogate has had the courage of its convictions for centuries.”

A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“When someone takes part in one of our consultations, they do so on the basis that the information they provide will be kept secure and treated in accordance with data protection laws.

“We also owe them a duty of care to treat their responses as private and confidential.

“In the case of this consultation, responses included highly sensitive information including stories from victims of violent crimes.

“However, in recognition of our commitment to be an open and transparent council, a redacted version of the responses has been published in the Have Your Say section of our website.

“All personal data, identifying or confidential information has been removed to maintain respondents’ anonymity.”

Harrogate transparency campaigner Peter Lilley, a long-time critic of the council, called the number of redactions in the document “ludicrous”.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“Harrogate Borough Council makes itself look more and more ridiculous every day.

“Considering council officers have had seven or eight months to process the information it received from the consultation on proposed changes at Harrogate’s Turkish Baths, it’s hard to imagine how the responses could have been presented more unattractively; with so many comments ‘blacked out’ that, in places, the document is totally unintelligible and unreadable.

“The sheer number of redactions is ludicrous. They must amount to several hundred – and on what grounds? The council has even blacked out answers to the question: how often do you visit the baths? How can that possibly be considered sensitive information?”

Record number of Oxbridge offers at Harrogate Grammar School

Harrogate Grammar School is celebrating a record nine offers from Oxford and Cambridge Universities to its sixth form students.

It is the highest number of Oxbridge offers in the school’s recent history and follows considerable disruption to schools caused by covid.

Headteacher Neil Renton said:

“We are incredibly proud of our students in securing offers at such world leading educational institutions.

“In the context of such difficult circumstances, students have shown resilience, independence and determination.”

“Much of their preparation and support took place remotely and this created different opportunities to support students in their application.”

The students participated in the school’s sixth form scholars’ programme, which helps to develop confidence, curiosity and independent thought to help succeed at top universities.

The programme includes presentations by academics, discussion groups, interview workshops, mock interview sessions and support for aptitude tests.

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Among those receiving offers are year 13 students Ruby Johnson and Lucy Bowman.

Lucy, who has an offer to study natural sciences at the Cambridge University, said:

“I can’t wait to start the next chapter of my life there. It has made all my hard work worth it and I finally have something special to look forward to at the end of these strange times.”

Ruby, who has received an offer to study philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University, said:

“I am very grateful to the school for the support they provided throughout the application process.”

The nine students that received offers from Oxbridge were for the following courses and colleges: mathematics at Downing College, Cambridge; natural sciences at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge; philosophy, politics and economics at St Peter’s College, Oxford; music at Keble College, Oxford; linguistics at Downing College, Cambridge; engineering at Emmanuel College, Cambridge; engineering at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge; psychology and behavioural sciences at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and geography at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

Harrogate council to review staff payouts after spending more than £600,000

Harrogate Borough Council will review how it agrees staff payout packages which have cost taxpayers around £632,000 over the past two years.

That is according to a report from independent auditors Mazars. The company has recommended a rethink on how payments including redundancy cash and compensation for loss of office are agreed for departing members of staff.

It comes after figures published in the council’s annual statement of accounts showed £354,000 was paid out to 19 former employees in 2019/2020 – an increase from the previous financial year when £278,000 was agreed for 15 staff.

Mazars has warned the current process, which sees payments signed off by a monitoring officer, risks a lack of balance between “inappropriate expenditure” and “allowing ineffective employment relationships to continue”.

The report said any staff payout packages should require a final approval from elected councillors before they are made:

“We encourage members to consider updating their risk management arrangements for employee settlement agreements to ensure that, for each case, members also approve payments after satisfying themselves that there is a clear rationale and payments comply with legislation, costs are minimised and available options have been considered.”

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In response, the council said in the report that it would carry out a review even though the current process already ensured there is a “clear rationale” for the payments which are “properly authorised”:

“Although the number of such cases has been small, and flexibility is sometimes needed to deal with them in a timely manner, the council will review its processes in order to ensure member involvement in future decisions.”

The statement of accounts shows one member of staff received a £62,000 exit package in 2019/2020, although it is not known what job title they had or how much they were earning before they left their role.

The only member of staff who was named in the document was former director of community Paul Campbell who left suddenly last year and was paid £55,065 in compensation for loss of office.

Mr Campbell had an annual salary of £89,727 and oversaw a range of council services including emergency planning, housing, parks, waste and health and safety.

He has not been replaced since leaving 13 months ago and his responsibilities are being shared by other directors, the council previously said.

Nearby in York, the city council has been forced on the defensive after a report from Mazars said a £117,000 redundancy settlement to ex-chief executive Mary Weastell was paid unnecessarily.

The report suggests the authority wanted to avoid defending a tribunal claim which Ms Weastell dropped after the payout was agreed.

Mazars said the council paid out £24,884 in redundancy and a £65,779 ex-gratia payment, effectively a gift, neither of which were required.

The city council has defended the payments saying they were contractual obligations.

In numbers: Harrogate Borough Council

Exit packages agreed for departing staff between April 2019 and March 2020 – 19 (at a cost of £354,000)

Exit packages agreed for departing staff between April 2018 and March 2019 – 15 (at a cost of £278,000)

Number of exit packages totalling less than £20,000 – 20

Average cost of exit package for single employee in 2019/20 – £18,632

Average cost of exit package for single employee in 2018/19 – £18,533

These figures include compulsory and voluntary redundancy costs, associated pension costs and payments in lieu of notice.

In a statement, a council spokesperson said:

“The council’s constitution currently provides for delegated approval by the monitoring officer for settlement agreements.

“Although the number of cases are relatively small, we will review the process in line with the audit recommendation.”

Otley Road cycle lane: work to start in next ‘two to three months’

Work will not begin on the new Otley Road cycle lane in Harrogate for at least another two or three months.

Cyclists who use the busy road have already waited a long time for the scheme. A total of £3.2 million funding was set aside in 2018.

The final remaining barrier, after delays caused by coronavirus and negotiations over Stray land, is the ongoing utility works.

An 11-week programme of works by Northern Powergrid is due to finish on May 17. But there will be some other smaller works taking place then.

Once all utility works are complete North Yorkshire County Council has said it can start the cycle route. The local authority will also make improvements to the junction with Harlow Moor Road.

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Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are planning to start work on the Otley Road cycle route in the next two to three months.

“The main set of works has been those by Northern Powergrid. They should be finished soon and there will be some more minor works after that.

“Once all of those utility works are out of the way then we can start work.”

Melisa Burnham, the highways area manager at the county council, added:

“A number of utility works are required to facilitate both the junction works and the cycle route. All necessary parties have been identified and programmes are planned in.

“If there are any further changes, we will provide an update on our web page. Affected residents will also be notified by advanced notification boards on site.”

WATCH: Harrogate blooms with cherry blossoms on the Stray

Harrogate’s cherry blossoms on the Stray have come out in full force in a sign of brighter times to come.

Lots of people were out enjoying the vibrant colours of the trees and the warm spring sun today.

The blossoms started to emerge over the weekend and are now close to full bloom.

Watch our video above to experience the cherry blossoms on the Stray. Have you been to see them yet? Send in your pictures to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Security guard racially assaulted in Harrogate

Police are appealing for witnesses after a security guard was racially assaulted in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police said today two men approached the guard on Oxford Street, who was assaulted but not injured, at 10.30pm on Thursday.

A man in his 20s was arrested but subsequently released from custody under investigation while enquiries are ongoing.

A police statement said:

“Officers are keen to hear from members of the public who intervened to try to protect the victim, and anyone else with information about the incident on Oxford Street.

“In particular, we are appealing for information from the outstanding members of the public whom have been identified through enquiries, who intervened and prevented further attacks.”

Both men are described as white. One had what police describe as ‘distinctive long, black curly/wavy hair’.

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Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Matt Carling. You can also email matt.carling@northyorkshire.police.uk

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

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number NYP-22042021-0527.

Harrogate hospital covid patient finally feels the sun

This is the moment when a coronavirus patient at Harrogate District Hospital was finally able to enjoy the sun after nearly four months in intensive care.

After much planning and collaboration, the intensive care unit team took the patient to the hospital’s friends’ garden.

The patient, who asked to remain anonymous, was admitted with coronavirus early in January.

Although she still needed the aid of oxygen tanks for last week’s first trip outside, the fresh air boosted her recovery.

Dr Sarah Marsh, who is a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care, said:

“Thankfully they are now at a stage where we are able to safely take them out of the intensive care environment.

“The patient very much enjoyed the visit to the garden to feel the sun on their face, hear the birds, smell the flowers and to look at the sky.

“It also really gave the patient a huge boost and new determination to strive for home.

“She still has a long road ahead in terms of recovery and rehabilitation, but acts like this make such a positive difference in terms of outlook.”

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The NHS has well-established rehabilitation methods but coronavirus has forced doctors and nurses to rethink their methods.

Harrogate District Hospital has said starting rehabilitation early and trips out to the garden are both part of its arsenal for treating coronavirus.

Vera Davison, physiotherapy team leader, said:

“Being able to take this lady outside has been wonderful. It is helping to motivate her and her family too; they can see progress being made.

“Rehabilitation is hard work and slow progress, so any positive steps towards normality are welcomed.

“It’s really heartening to see people getting better while in hospital and also after they’ve gone home. This really helps us to appreciate that our efforts are really worth it.”

Knaresborough Road betting shop could become piri-piri chicken restaurant

Plans have been submitted to convert the former Coral bookmakers on Knaresborough Road in Harrogate into a piri-piri chicken restaurant.

Planning documents indicate the restaurant would open as part of the franchise Pepe’s Piri Piri, which has 132 restaurants in the country including in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield.

The chain specialises in flame-grilled fried chicken.

The company Foodie Zone Ltd applied to Harrogate Borough Council last week to open the restaurant. The application said it would create 15 full-time jobs.

Documents say the restaurant would provide family-friendly ‘healthy grilled food’. They add:

“The proposed restaurant will provide a family-friendly dining experience with family seating areas, providing healthy grilled food, as part of the new healthy style of living, something which is limited in the area and would be very successful.”

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Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning everyone, happy Monday, traffic is getting busier on the district’s roads now so make sure to keep and eye on our morning blogs.

It’s Leah here with you bright and early this morning, please get in touch with me via social media or email me at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This blog, brought to you by The HACS Group, brings you updates every 15 minutes on the road and rail links near you.

9am – Full Update

That’s it from me this morning! Connor will be back with you tomorrow with live updates every 15 minutes from 6.30am.

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8:30am – Full Update

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8:15am – Full Update

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8am – Full Update

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7:45am – Full Update

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7:30am – Full Update

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7:15am – Full Update

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7am – Full Update

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The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No Traffic Hotspots to report yet.

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6.45am – Full Update

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The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No Traffic Hotspots to report yet.

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6.30am – Full Update

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The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No Traffic Hotspots to report yet.

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