In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2024, we take a look at the crimes that shook the district. 

From bomb scares to pie thieves and court cases, 2024 has been an eventful year for crime in the Harrogate district.

Looking back on the year, we have put together a list of some of the biggest crime stories we’ve covered.

Murder in Harrogate

The biggest crime story in the district this past year took place on Strawberry Dale.

The murder of 56-year-old Paul Tillet shocked Harrogate and led to an outpouring of tributes from his family.

Described as a "much-loved son, dad, brother and uncle", Mr Tillet's body was found at a flat on Strawberry Dale at round 11pm on September 29.

North Yorkshire Police subsequently launched an investigation and arrested two men.

The Stray Ferret followed the case and reported that Jason Mark Johnson, 26, and Phillip John Watson, 34, appeared before York Magistrates Court in October. Both men accused of murder will to face trail in March next year.

Meanwhile, in another horrendous incident, George Edward Yates was sentenced this year on two counts of attempted murder following an incident in Beckwithshaw in 2022 where he attacked two children with a knife.

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.

Bomb scare

The year began in a dramatic fashion when Harrogate Magistrates Court was evacuated after a car bomb scare.

Several streets were also cordoned off on the morning of January 9 due to a suspicious vehicle outside the court building. The Stray Ferret was there to capture the moment in pictures, which you can read here.

Meanwhile, in November, a car caught fire on Victoria Avenue. A 41-year-old man was later charged with drink driving. The case has been adjourned until next year.

Elsewhere in November, a Harrogate woman was jailed for five-years following a £150,000 benefits scam after claiming in the name of her stepmother who wasn’t in the UK.

In the same month a man was sentenced for stalking after leaving note and videoing himself at a Harrogate woman's parent's grave.

Drugs

In 2024 there were a number of drug arrests in the area including the jailing of a prolific drug dealer who brought cocaine, ketamine and cannabis to the streets of Harrogate. 

A Ripon man described as a career drug dealer was also jailed for large-scale distribution of cocaine and cannabis.

Cannabis farms were also found in Ripon and Harrogate.

Later in the year four were arrested after a drugs and weapons raid at another address in Harrogate, police found a bladed claw, cash, class A drugs and a machete.

In August, a driver high on cocaine and ketamine sped from police during a high-speed car chase around Knaresborough and Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police caught dramatic footage of the chase on its dashcam, which you can watch in full below.

Prominent figures

Earlier in the year Pat Marsh, the former Harrogate Liberal Democrat leader, was arrested on “suspicion of displaying threatening, abusive, or insulting written material with intent or likely to stir up racial hatred” and later released after sharing antisemitic comments on X.

Another prominent figure who had dealings with the police this year was Harrogate businessman Jason Shaw. In February he was charged with breaching a restraining order and harassment and a month later he was charged with stalking.

Steve Mann Caravans, a local business, is also under investigation for fraud and money laundering with over 50 victims of the alleged fraud.

Unusual crimes

There have also been some strange cases this year including our story about how a Harrogate restaurant owner tracked a wheel of cheese across the town using an AirTag. 

David and Jo Straker of William and Victoria reached the end of their tether after items from their early morning deliveries had been stolen weekly for the last few months of 2024.

In a last-ditch attempt to catch those behind the theft, Mr Straker decided to place an Apple AirTag, a tracking device, inside a wheel of brie.

Meanwhile, Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks also had his goods stolen. 

A van containing 2,500 pies was stolen from a Melmerby business park. The van was later recovered was by Cleveland Police but the pies were a write off. 

In October a car flew over a hedge and crash landed in Valley Gardens. Recently, the man responsible was banned from driving after being charged with drink driving. 

Finally, Stray Ferret readers were mocked for being “miserable gossips” by a woman who stole a gold watch in a care home.