Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
02
Feb
Dacre man admits racially harassing siblings watching Northern Lights
A Dacre man has admitted to racially harassing four siblings as they were watching the Northern Lights.
Keith Moorhouse, 36, pleaded guilty to four counts of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress during a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (January 29).
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court the four named victims are siblings and live in the Bradford area.
On the evening of May 10, 2024, the siblings travelled to Dike Lane near Heyshaw, Nidderdale, to see the Northern Lights – something they had done several times before.
They were near a junction but stopped on a quiet country road.
In a statement, one of the siblings, who the Stray Ferret is referring to as M, said there is a “turning circle” area just off Dike Lane, where cars often park.
Six other people had already parked there by the time the siblings arrived, and they assumed they were also there to spot the lights.
Ms Tyrer said by around 12.30am, one of the siblings, N, was sitting on the ground. She was looking at the Northern Lights when a Land Rover Discovery stopped on the road next to her.
M noticed two white men in the front seats of the car speaking to his sister, so he went over to check N was alright.
“He could hear the defendant, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, asking [N] why she was sitting on the floor”, Ms Tyrer told the court.
She added:
[N] said she was minding her own business, but the defendant said it was their land.
[M] said he was worried about how the defendant was speaking to his sister.
N told Moorhouse she was on a public road, but the defendant started “pointing and shouting, saying it was ‘his land’”.
The siblings tried to calm the situation down, but Moorhouse told them he wanted them “off the land”.
The defendant then got out of the car and racially abused the siblings, using racial slurs.
As M walked towards his sister, Moorhouse approached M and asked: “What are you going to do?”.
“He was picking a fight”, Ms Tyrer said, adding he even pushed M backwards at one stage.
Moorhouse, of Fouldshaw Lane, then called the siblings a “scruffy mess” and continued to racially abuse them.
Other people in the area heard “racist language being used”, the court heard.
The four siblings, as well as two independent witnesses, all gave statements to police.
When Moorhouse was interviewed by police, he told officers he could not recall exactly what he had said at the time due to “time passing”.
However, Ms Tyrer said the defendant “seems to accept it”.
Moorhouse, who is of previous good character, said he had been out drinking in Pateley Bridge that evening.
He told officers he was "four or five out-of-ten drunk" when the incident occurred.
The incident occurred around Dike Lane, near Heyshaw.
‘Things escalated quite quickly’
Brian Nuttney, defending, told the court there was a basis to Moorhouse’s guilty plea.
He said:
Mr Moorhouse accepts he was being driven home that night and saw someone on the road and challenged them. His livestock is kept in the area, and he had previously had problems with people interfering [with livestock].
Things escalated quite quickly. Mr Moorhouse does not recall the full exchange, but he can’t be sure [racial slurs] were not said.
Mr Nuttney said the defendant apologises for his actions and described him as a “hard-worker... an agricultural worker”.
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Moorhouse will return to Harrogate Magistrates Court on April 16 for sentence.
0