Harrogate paedophile jailed for 22 years for 86 sex attacks

A Harrogate paedophile has been jailed for 22 years for subjecting four young girls to sexual abuse.

Jessica Brennan, who was listed as Allan Brennan by the court but is a trans woman who identifies as Jessica, groomed and then sexually assaulted the children, one of whom was just four years old, in separate incidents over a 17-year period from the late 1990s.

Brennan, from Harrogate, tried to rape one of the youngsters and one girl was subjected to systematic sexual abuse over 10 years which involved “multiple” incidents, York Crown Court heard.

None of the victims, who had been “haunted” by the abuse, can be named for legal reasons.

Prosecutor Philip Standfast said one of the victims came forward to police with allegations against Brennan, who has two children, as early as 2000 but no charges were brought.

He said there had been no fewer than 86 separate sexual assaults on the girls over a 17-year period.

The allegations re-emerged three or four years ago when the abuse finally stopped and other girls came forward. Brennan was finally charged with a raft of sexual offences which had “ruined” the girls’ lives, the court heard.

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One of the victims said she had suffered anxiety attacks since the abuse, and she had been taking anti-depressants.

She had been unable to form proper relationships and felt an inexplicable guilt.

Another victim had been having counselling sessions due to anxiety after losing her “self-worth and self-esteem”. She said:

“It’s made it hard for me to trust people.

“This has affected my family. Anything that this evil man gets (in terms of punishment) won’t be enough for what he’s done to me and my family.”

Another victim spoke of her “pain and suffering over the last 21 years. I was sexually abused when I was four.” She added:

“I had minimum understanding of what was happening to me. The comprehension of what happened to me as a child makes me sick to my stomach.

“I’m constantly haunted by what happened to me.”

She said she got flashbacks to the abuse and was put on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication for panic attacks.

“At 12, I was taking medication I didn’t even understand.”

“It didn’t stop what happened ruining my life. It has affected every aspect of my life (including) forming a relationship with boys. I felt like my body was not my own.

“There just doesn’t seem to be any aspect of what happened to me that doesn’t live with me to this day.”

It had affected her college education and her work and left her with a “pit of depression”, she added.

She had to take time off work due to anxiety attacks, which meant that she had lost out financially too.

“My life was stolen from me when I was just four years’ old,” she said.

“I was abused and violated by an…adult.”

The fourth victim, a “vulnerable child”, said she “always felt (the abuse) was my fault”.

She too was signed off work last year for anxiety and depression.

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Brennan, of Bowland Close, was charged with 16 separate offences including sexual assault of a child, indecent assault, sexual activity with a child and one count of attempted rape of a girl under 13.

She was found guilty after a trial earlier this year and appeared for sentence via video link on Monday. Three other allegations of sexual abuse were “severed” and not-guilty verdicts recorded.

Gillian Batts, for Brennan, said her client, who had been remanded in jail since the trial, had no previous convictions.

Judge Simon Hickey criticised Brennan for her chronic abuse of the children, who were aged from four to their teens:

“You attacked four separate young girls over (a) 17-year period.

“You are in my mind a dangerous offender (and) there is a risk of you causing (further) serious harm to young females.”

“You chose to hide behind these offences, claiming you had no memory (beyond) a few years ago.”

Brennan was jailed for 22 years, of which she will serve half behind bars before being released on parole.

However, the judge also imposed a four-year extended period on prison licence upon Brennan’s eventual release from jail.

In addition to the jail sentence, Brennan was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order limiting her contact with children for an indefinite period.

Three years for running over police officer in Harrogate

A man has been sent to prison for three years and two months after he ran over a police officer in Harrogate.

Llewellyn Mitcham, 30, was sentenced today at York Crown Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.

On March 16, police spotted a car on Bewerley Road in Harrogate that they believed belonged to a drug dealer.

They followed the car into a car park and then left their police vehicle to speak to the suspects.

Mitcham, of Harold Place in Leeds, drove off as the officers approached and hit PC Lister, throwing him into the air.

As a result of the impact, PC Lister suffered a severe fracture to his knee, which he is still recovering from two months later.

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The court heard how Mitcham left the car park and was spotted speeding away before police brought his vehicle to a stop and arrested him.

Mitcham pleaded guilty to causing serious injury whilst dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving whilst disqualified.

North Yorkshire Police Detective Constable, Kirsty Smith, said:

“PC Lister has served as a North Yorkshire police officer for a number of years and on the day of the incident was carrying out proactive work to prevent drug dealers from surrounding counties entering the Harrogate area and committing crime.

“During this line of duty he was seriously injured following Llewellyn Mitcham’s actions trying to evade arrest. Mitcham gave no regard for PC Lister’s welfare and made good his escape where he was finally apprehended some 20 miles away following a police pursuit.

“When you suffer an injury like this although we may be able to heal physically, the trauma stays with you. As police officers we know our job comes with risk but Mitcham’s actions and the long-lasting impact of these should not be underestimated, a fact which has been clearly reflected in the sentencing.”

Police appeal for help after Harrogate petrol bomb attack

Police are appealing for witnesses after a petrol bomb attack on a car on a driveway in Harrogate on Saturday night.

Firefighters and police, including crime scene investigators, were called to Heather Way, Killinghall at about 10.40pm.

The bomb failed to detonate but smouldered and destroyed the driver’s seat.

Several police community support officers conducted door-to-door inquiries in Heather Way yesterday.

Now North Yorkshire Police has issued an appeal for help.

It said in a statement the blaze in the Audi Q7 caused house alarms to go off and disrupted many neighbours. It added:

“Officers investigating this incident are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time to get in touch.

“Dial 101, press 1 and pass information on to the Force Control Rom, quoting reference number 12210118757.”

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Hundreds call on Harrogate council to remove plastic grass

Nearly 400 people have signed a petition calling on Harrogate Borough Council to remove plastic grass from planters in the town centre.

Sarah Gibbs, an environmental campaigner, set up the petition yesterday. It had 365 signatures at the time of publication.

The petition demands the council “prioritise biodiversity and remove the plastic grass”.

It also “requests that local businesses, schools and residents be invited for a community scheme to manage the planters”. It adds:

“Artificial grass holds no biodiversity net gains. Burrowing insects, such as solitary bees can’t get past the membrane, and worms beneath the soil are compromised and unreachable by consumers within each habitat community.

“This is likely to have a negative impact on local bird populations.

“We need more habitats, not more plastic.”

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The plastic grass has been widely condemned on aesthetic and environmental grounds.

In a statement today, the council said the planters that have been installed on top of the fame grass were temporary measures while it looked at a permanent solution.

It did not comment on the petition by the time of publication.

Last week it released a statement apologising for the lack of communication with residents.

It said:

“We haven’t explained this well and we are sorry about that. We concentrated too much on getting the trial in place and not enough time explaining the totality of what we were doing.”

Extinction Rebellion Harrogate removed the fake grass from one of the raised beds on Cambridge Street and replaced it with plants, which still remain.

The environmental group later handed the fake grass back to the council, which spent £800 on the scheme.

Controversial Wetherby Road Starbucks would ‘change our lives’, say residents

A controversial plan for a drive-thru Starbucks on Wetherby Road would adversely affect lives, according to residents who live next to the site.

The proposals by Euro Garages would see the coffee shop built on the former 1st Dental surgery site.

Harrogate Borough Council has refused the plan three times and a government planning inspector has also turned down the application.

But the authority has now withdrawn its objection to the latest plans, leaving residents to fight an appeal by the developer themselves.

David Stephenson, who has lived on Coachman’s Court with his wife for six years, is among those fighting the proposal.

Mr Stephenson’s house is next door the proposed site and he would be able to see the serving hatch of the Starbucks from his lounge window.

The view of the proposed Starbucks site from Mr Stephenson's bedroom window.

The view of the proposed Starbucks site from Mr Stephenson’s bedroom window.

He hoped for a quiet retirement when he moved to Coachman’s Court but said the Starbucks would change that if given the go ahead.

Mr Stephenson said:

“I think it is going to change our lives.

“We live in a nice, quiet cul-de-sac and this is not what we wanted in our retirement.”

He added that residents do not object to the site needing redevelopment, but said a drive-thru coffee shop would only increase traffic at the Woodlands junction.

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The junction is the only air quality management area in Harrogate, which obliges the local authority to improve air quality.

Another resident, Joanne Richardson, said she had concerns about the noise, pollution and number of cars coming through the site.

Ms Richardson has lived directly behind the former 1st Dental site for five years and her bedroom window would look out onto the drive-thru.

The view of the site from Ms Richardson's bedroom window.

The view of the site from Ms Richardson’s bedroom window.

She said she was frustrated with the plan and expressed concern over the nitrogen oxide levels from cars to nearby properties.

Ms Richardson added that she “could not believe” that the council would no longer be defending its decision to refuse the plan.

In her consultation response for the appeal, Ms Richardson said:

“I am very frustrated to be in this position again, despite this proposal being rejected by Harrogate Borough Council again.

“This is not a case of Nimbyism. I am genuinely concerned on the impact of this proposal not just on my health and those residents surrounding the site, but also the impact on residents quality of life and wellbeing.”

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents the area on the council, said the development was another example of “big companies pushing for planning applications” to be put through.

The proposed layout of the Starbucks site on Wetherby Road as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council. Picture: Euro Garages.

The proposed layout of the Starbucks site on Wetherby Road as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council. Picture: Euro Garages.

Another appeal

Last week, the council announced it would not be defending its refusal of the proposal by Euro Garages.

The multi-million pound company, which also operates drive-thru facilities for KFC and Greggs, will be taking the council to appeal on June 15.

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John Worthington, the council’s executive officer for development management, said officers could not stand successfully at appeal because their previous recommendation would “undermine” their case and that losing also risked legal costs of over £50,000.

A council spokesman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that not contesting the appeal “hasn’t been an easy decision to make” but was “the best way forward in this instance”.

As a result, residents will appear at the hearing to defend the council’s refusal and have called for expert help ahead of the appeal to support their case.

The Stray Ferret approached Euro Garages for comment on the concerns, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Harrogate strip club in standoff with council over sex entertainment licence

The owners of Harrogate’s only strip club are in a legal standoff with the council over how dancers should be paid and whether they can drink alcohol.

The Kings Club had its sexual entertainment licence renewed at a private meeting of Harrogate council’s sub-licensing committee in September.

The licence covers topless pole dancing, topless stage striptease and full nudity lap dancing, and is separate to the venue’s alcohol licence.

But conditions that dancers are paid by bank transfer and do not drink alcohol were attached after councillors raised concerns over their safety.

This led to an appeal being lodged by the Oxford Street venue owners, who also applied for a new licence, which is set to be decided at another meeting of Harrogate Borough Council‘s licensing sub-committee on Wednesday.

With an appeal hearing at York Magistrates Court on May 28 looming, a report to Wednesday’s meeting said the venue has proposed new conditions “in an attempt to resolve the current appeal without the time and costs associated with the determination by the magistrates court”.

Councillors have been recommended to approve these conditions, which include a ban on dancers bringing alcohol onto the premises only and a “full audit trail/reconciliation account” for how they are paid.

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In September, councillors heard how officers inspected the venue in 2019 when it was found some panic alarms in dancing booths were not working correctly, although they were repaired the same day.

They also heard how the venue had been in “cahoots” with two former dancers over payments, although this was dismissed by legal representatives for the owners.

This is according to a report, which also said dancers are required to pay a ‘house fee’ of £25 per night and receive 70% of payments from customers.

There is also a reduction in fees for dancers if they are intoxicated whilst with a customer or refuse to pole dance, the report added.

Safety concerns for dancers

After reviewing the venue’s safety procedures, including risk assessments and CCTV, the report said councillors still had “concerns about the overall safety of the dancers” despite reassurances by the owners.

The report added councillors felt it was “necessary” to put extra conditions in place, also including no drugs allowed on the premises, a need for each dancer to be escorted to a safe mode of transport when they leave, a written record of all fines imposed on dancers and a code of conduct.

These conditions have all been carried forward by the venue owners in their new application, however, they have challenged the alcohol ban for dancers and need for payments to be done by bank transfer.

Kings Club was contacted for comment but did not respond at the time of publication.

All strip clubs have been closed since March 2020 and are due to reopen on 21 June when all social distancing measures are scheduled to end under the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Spring Flower Show returns as first large event in Harrogate

The Harrogate Spring Flower Show is returning for its 100th anniversary on Thursday. It’s one of the first large events going ahead in Harrogate post-covid.

This perennial event has made its way back into the Harrogate calendar after covid forced organisers to cancel the event last year.

It is also the first major gardening show to take place in 2021 but some changes have had to be made.

Capacity has been capped at 5,000 each day rather than the usual 60,000 guests. The show has also been adapted to suit an outdoor setting with stands and displays spaced out to allow for social distancing.

Classic show favourites like the garden, plant displays, daily demos and cook-alongs will still be going ahead.

Show Director Nick Smith said:

“After what has been an incredibly difficult year for everyone, we are delighted to be able to welcome visitors and exhibitors back to Harrogate to celebrate 100 years of horticultural excellence and help bring a little joy and colour into people’s lives again.

“Despite some fantastic progress over the last few months, we recognise that life is still far from ‘normal’ and so, inevitably, Spring Essentials will be different from the show we all know and love.”

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The event’s venue, the Great Yorkshire Showground, is currently being used as a covid vaccination centre, with many people from across the district visiting each day to receive the vaccine.

The shows are run by the North of England Horticultural Society, which says it has worked closely with the showground team and local authorities to ensure visitors can have a safe and enjoyable day out.

The event begins Thursday May 20 until Sunday May 23. Tickets can be booked here.

Harrogate outdoor diners eager to eat indoors next week

People who have braved the turbulent weather over the last month eating out in the Harrogate district are keen to head indoors next week.

Restaurants and pubs are able to throw open their doors from Monday under the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions.

While those we have spoken to have made the most of the outdoor dining experience, they have had to wrap up warm and dodge heavy rain at times.

Are you looking forward to eating and drinking indoors next week?

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to our updates every 15 minutes and a list of all the temporary traffic lights that could delay you today.

It’s Leah here today. If you see anything, and it is safe to do so, please give me a call on 01423 276197 or get in touch on social media.

These blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group, are keeping you updated as the district’s roads get busier.

That’s it from me today! Suzannah will be back with you tomorrow with updates every 15 minutes from 06:30am.

9am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is starting to increase in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon Town centres and there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.45am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is starting to increase in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon Town centres and there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is starting to increase in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon Town centres and there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8.15am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is starting to increase in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon Town centres and there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is starting to increase in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon Town centres and there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7:45am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is starting to increase in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon Town centres and there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7:30am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is starting to increase in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon Town centres without any traffic hotspots to report. However there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7:15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning without any traffic hotspots to report. However there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning without any traffic hotspots to report. However there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning without any traffic hotspots to report. However there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning without any traffic hotspots to report. However there are plenty of temporary lights to watch out for.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

Late night petrol bomb attack on car in Harrogate

A petrol bomb was thrown through the window of a car on a drive in Harrogate last night.

Firefighters were called to the scene on Heather Way, Killinghall at about 10.40pm last night. Police, including specially trained crime scene investigators also attended.

Fortunately the bomb failed to detonate and smouldered away but still managed to destroy the driver’s seat.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service gave details of the attack in its overnight summary of activity. It said:

“A crew from Harrogate attended an incident where there was an attempt to set a car on fire on a driveway.

“The drivers window had been smashed and a plastic bottle containing petrol and a wick had been thrown in, this had smouldered away on the drivers seat but failed to set the whole car alight and then burnt itself out.

“The fire caused approximately 90% fire damage to the drivers seat. Crews used thermal imaging camera only. The police along with CSI also attended.

The Stray Ferret has approached North Yorkshire Police for further details of the incident.

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