The Stray Ferret spent the day at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (March 27).

We sat through a full morning of hearings, which included cases of theft and making indecent images of children.

You can read reports on three cases below. 

A man has been sentenced after stealing from Sainsbury's in Harrogate.

Andrew Keogh, of Harrogate Road in Ripon, appared before Harrogate Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of theft.

Kaye Barnard, prosecuting, told the court Keogh entered Sainsbury’s on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road at 6.15pm on December 29 last year.

He selected a number of items, including sausages, mince and lager, to the value of £29.09 and left the store without paying. 

Keogh was identified through CCTV footage.

The 36-year-old defendant returned to the shop twice on January 7 this year.

He entered Sainsbury’s at 7.40pm and 10pm and picked up food items and medication to the value of £50.80.

Keogh, who has an extensive criminal record, left the store without paying. 

Peter Minnikin, defending, told the magistrates Keogh is “no stranger” to the courts.

He said Keogh used to be a “prolific offender”, but the rate of his offending has dwindled since 2018.

The court heard Keogh was on a “downward spiral” at the time of the offences following a traumatic incident in his personal life. 

Mr Minnikin said Keogh “turned to drink to drown his sorrows” following the traumatic incident, but he is now in stable position.

“He has not returned to his old ways”, the court heard.

The magistrates handed Keogh an 18-month conditional discharge.

He was also ordered to pay £79.89 in compensation as the stolen goods were not recovered, plus £85 in prosecution costs and a £26 surcharge.

Man sentenced for making indecent images of children

A man has been handed a community order after making indecent images of children.

Edward Wigmore, 72, of The Maltings in Sowerby, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (March 27) where he spoke to confirm his name and address.

Kaye Barnard, prosecuting, said Wigmore was charged with making seven category C indecent photographs of a child after police raided his home after acting on intelligence.

The 72-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing.

Magistrates sentenced Wigmore to a 24-month community order, which included 30 rehabilitation activity days and a £276 fine.

He was also subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years and ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.

Woman given conditional discharge over theft

A woman has been given a conditional discharge after stealing from a shop in Harrogate.

Leanne O’Donnell, 34, of no fixed abode, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (March 27) where she spoke to confirm her name, address and enter a plea.

O’Donnell admitted stealing a green coat from Infinity & Co Boutique to the value of £165 on March 12 this year.

Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court that the 34-year-old was of previous good character until recently when she appeared before the court on a separate charge.

He added that the offence took place with another male, who was subsequently jailed for a string of thefts.

Magistrates handed O’Donnell a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £26.