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13
Mar 2024
Harrogate man given hospital order for attempted murder of two children
Warning: this story contains references to self-harm, suicide and mental illness.
A Harrogate man has been given a hospital order with restrictions for the attempted murder of two children.
Following a nine-day trial in April 2023, George Edward Yates, 42, was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder following an incident in Beckwithshaw on June 20, 2022.
At the time the Judge adjourned sentencing so that Yates could undergo psychiatric assessments.
He was today sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court.
On sentencing, reports were presented back to the court which stated that at the time of the offence Yates was suffering from delusional thoughts before carrying out the knife attack on two children.
Because of his mental state at the time of the incident, the judge sentenced him to a hospital order with restrictions, meaning that should he ever released back into the community, he will be closely monitored by mental health professionals.
‘Placed knives around his house and in his car’
During the trial the court heard how Yates, commonly known by his middle name Ed, and previously of Beckwithshaw, had placed knives around his house and in his car.
He’d also prepared a homemade incendiary device which was capable of causing a fire.
At around 8am on the day of the incident, he attacked the two children with a large bread knife, severely cutting the throat of one child which resulted in life threatening injuries.
Police sealed off the area.
He then attempted to do the same to a younger child.
Hearing the screams of the younger children, a teenager ran to help them and tackled Yates, managing to wrestle the knife from him as he attempted to harm the youngest child.
Fortunately, all three children were able to run away from Yates.
Two decorators working at a house nearby were approached by the children and they protected them from Yates, who had chased after them following the attack.
Pre-recorded interviews of the children recounting the incident, which were conducted by specialist police officers, were played in the court.
The painters and decorators’ evidence was also read out to the court.
The two men described hearing the children’s screams and seeing them running towards them, one with blood pouring from a large open wound in their neck.
The court heard how the men rushed to provide first aid to the children, using one of their own hoodies to try to stem the flow of blood, while they called the emergency services.
The teenager had also suffered a minor hand injury from grabbing the knife away from Yates.
The decorators stated that as they were helping the children, Yates twice approached them, but they protected the children by shouting at Yates to keep back and go away.
Police were called to the scene and after making an initial check on the welfare of the children, they entered a nearby house and found Yates in the bathroom.
He had attempted to take his own life by cutting his own throat and wrists, and superficially stabbing himself in the chest. He’d also ingested liquid morphine, which he’d taken from his mother’s house days before the attack.
Yates was immediately arrested and taken to hospital for treatment to his self-inflicted wounds.
Following treatment, Yates assaulted a police officer who was on bed-watch duty at the hospital.
The most seriously injured child was taken separately to Leeds General Infirmary and underwent life-saving surgery.
'Utterly horrific and disturbing crime'
Speaking after sentencing, senior investigating officer, detective chief inspector Steve Menzies of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team, said:
He added:
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