In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2025, we look back on some of this year's most shocking crimes.

The Stray Ferret covers local crime and court cases more than any other news organisation.

Stories of theft, assault, arson, drink-driving and more often dominate our headlines, but some cases have been particularly unpleasant this year.

Today, we’re looking back on seven court cases that sent shockwaves through the Harrogate district. 

As a warning, this story contains details some readers may find distressing. 

Prison for Boroughbridge revenge arsonist

Stacey Hinks, 34, was jailed in October after setting fire to her ex-boyfriend’s home in a revenge attack.

The entire property, as well as two neighbouring bungalows, were completely destroyed by the flames.

Hinks admitted causing the blaze after becoming “frustrated” at not being able to get in touch with her former partner.

The damage was estimated at £200,000, but no price can be put on the loss of someone’s home. One of the elderly neighbours whose home was gutted said she had “lost everything”, including mementos of her late husband.

Passing a prison sentence of four years and 10 months, Judge Sean Morris told Hinks: “You should hang your head in shame”. 

Hampsthwaite child sex offender jailed

John Noe, a child sex offender from Hampsthwaite, was jailed in March.

Noe, 53, was found guilty of one count of indecent assault at trial.

The offending happened between March 1999 and March 2003, when the victim was 12, 14 and 15-years-old.

Noe was handed a 30-month jail sentence at York Crown Court, made subject to a restraining order and put on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Knaresborough luxury car dealer admits catalogue of fraud offences

A former Knaresborough luxury car dealer admitted 16 fraud charges on October 31.

Andrew Mearns, 57, owned Gmund Cars Ltd, which operated at Nidd Valley Trading Estate in Knaresborough.

Mearns, whose wife Samantha is a former Conservative councillor who worked in Conservative MP Andrew Jones' office, was charged with 16 counts of fraud and three counts of theft.

All of the charges related to his business between 2015 and 2020.

Mearns’ trial was due to start at Sheffield Crown Court on November 3 following lengthy delays.

However, in a dramatic U-turn, he pleaded guilty to all 16 fraud charges.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service indictment, Mearns failed to pay 16 separate victims after selling their vehicles.

Mearns will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on February 27. You can read more exclusive coverage of the case here and here. 

Former Harrogate DJ jailed for historic child sex abuse

A “cunning and calculating” former Harrogate Hospital Radio Station DJ was jailed in August after being convicted of sexually abuse a teenage boy in the 1990s.

Adrian Phipps, 66, was found guilty of two counts of indecently assaulting an under-age boy following a trial at York Crown Court.

He was acquitted of a further six counts of the same allegation.

Phipps was jailed for four years and four months and placed on the sex-offenders’ register for life.

He was also issued a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and placed on the permanent barred list, prohibiting him from ever working with children.

Following sentencing, the victim spoke exclusively to the Stray Ferret about what he endured. He said Phipps would lure him down to a room at his workplace in Harrogate and would force himself on the victim.

You can read more about victim’s powerful story here. 

Ripon men jailed for running over teen and attacking him with a Taser

Two young Ripon men were jailed on December 1 after they “hunted down” a teenager, ran him over and shot him with a Taser.

Nixon Newton-Hayes, 22, was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and carrying a prohibited weapon following a trial in September. Liam Mayhew, 18, was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The “callous and cowardly” attack in Ripon left the young victim screaming in agony on the pavement with a broken leg as his attackers sped from the scene in a Volkswagen Polo.

Mayhew, who was driving the Polo, and Newton-Hayes, who Tasered the boy while he was lying helpless and seriously injured on the ground, were jailed for a combined five years for their “joint attack”.

Life sentence for man who planned terror attack on RAF Menwith Hill

Mohammed Farooq, from Leeds, was given a life sentence after he planned to carry out a terrorist attack on RAF Menwith Hill.

Farooq was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on March 21 after being found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism on July 2 last year.

He also admitted a number of terrorism and firearms offences before the trial.

Farooq was found with a pressure cooker bomb with wires attached in his bag outside St James’s Hospital in Leeds on January 20, 2023.

It was later established he had also been planning to carry out an attack at the military base on the outskirts of Harrogate. 

He was ordered to spend a minimum of 37 years behind bars. 

Care home manager jailed after stealing £30,000 from residents

Anna Puczkielewicz was sentenced on October 27 after being convicted of theft.

Puczkielewicz - who worked first as a care worker before being promoted to deputy manager at the specialist care home on Claro Road run by Disability Action Yorkshire - had been making unsolicited cash withdrawals from the victims’ accounts without their permission.

She stole £25,000 from one victim, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, and £5,000 from another victim who had since died.

Puczkielewicz was handed a 27-month jail sentence at York Crown Court but was told she would only serve half of that behind bars before being released on prison licence.