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20
Dec
Man, 77, charged with masturbating in Harrogate woods
The Stray Ferret spent the morning at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (December 19).
We sat through a full morning of hearings, which included cases of outraging public decency, theft and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
You can read reports on three cases below.
Outraging public decency
A 77-year-old Harrogate man was charged with one count of an act of outraging public decency.
Eric Vernon, 77, of St Helen’s Road, is alleged to have pulled down his shorts to expose himself and then masturbated in Hookstone Woods.
The offence allegedly took place on August 11, 2023.
The case was transferred to York Crown Court, where Mr Vernon will appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing on January 20.
Man admits £230 perfume theft in Harrogate
Miroslav Horvath, of St Mary Magdalene’s Close in Bradford, was charged with two offences.
Horvath pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a shop and one count of possession of a controlled Class B drug. Both offences took place on November 25.
Mel Ibbotson, defending, told the court police were alerted to a man and woman who had been involved in a theft at Boots in the centre of Harrogate.
Ms Ibbotson said police found the 32-year-old defendant in possession of multiple boxes of perfume and cannabis on nearby Beulah Street.
Horvath stole £231 worth of perfume, which was recovered by police.
Mr Eunice, defending, told the court Horvath was in Harrogate with his partner to get Christmas presents.
He said the defendant, who wore jeans and a black hoodie in court, gave the perfumes back and was “very sorry” for his actions.
Horvath was ordered to pay a total of £225 to the court. This was made up of a £100 fine, a £40 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
The magistrates also imposed a forfeit and destruction order, meaning the drugs seized will be destroyed.
Lengthy ban for driver who refused breathalyser
A Leeds man was handed a lengthy driving ban.
James Heseltine, of Lime Tree Crescent, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis at Harrogate Police Station.
Mel Ibbotson told the court North Yorkshire Council’s CCTV operators alerted police to a group of men taking drugs in a car, parked behind the Wetherspoon pub in Harrogate, on November 23.
The court heard police arrived at the car park at around 5.20am, where the car was stationary but the engine was running.
Heseltine was asked to take a drugs test, which gave a positive result for cocaine.
Ms Ibbotson said the 40-year-old defendant was arrested and taken to the police station.
She added:
[Named police officer] said they tried to do an intoxication procedure but the defendant refused to provide a breath specimen. He said he ‘wanted to speak to a solicitor’. The defendant was given numerous opportunities to give the specimen, but he refused.
Brian Nuttney, defending, told the court Heseltine has been “polite” to police in custody.
Mr Nuttney said the defendant had no intention of driving the car and the men were waiting for a taxi. The engine was running to keep the men warm as it was cold outside, he added.
The court heard Heseltine did not realise waiting for a solicitor was not a good reason to refuse the specimen and Mr Nuttney said the defendant "genuinely misunderstood what his rights were".
He told the court:
Mr Heseltine joined the army after he left school and served our country for five years. After leaving the army, he became a chef and has been doing that for 20 years.
He is a family man. He has anxiety and is on medication for it.
The magistrates disqualified Heseltine from driving for 42 months. This will be reduced by 42 weeks if the defendant completes a drink-driving course by a certain date.
He was also ordered to a pay a total of £1,162. This includes a £769 fine, a £308 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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