Man tells court he is ‘here to repent’ for theft at Harrogate supermarketRipon woman admits glass attack at Harrogate WetherspoonsHarrogate man denies string of child sex offencesKnaresborough businessman denies £200,000 business scam

A man has appeared in court charged with an alleged £200,000 business scam involving covid loans and accounting records.

David Allon, 44, from Knaresborough, appeared at York Magistrates Court yesterday when he pleaded not guilty to nine separate allegations regarding two businesses he was allegedly running between June 2020 and August 2023.

They include two allegations of fraud by false representation in June 2020 in relation to applications for a ‘bounce-back’ covid business loan involving the two named companies he was said to be running, and one count of removing property as a company winds up, between June and December 2020.

He is also charged with failing to comply with the provisions of a piece of legislation regarding the keeping of accounting records between October 2020 and August 2023 and failing to deliver up company books to a liquidator between 2020 and 2023.

Deputy district judge Natalie Wortley told Mr Allon that the allegations were too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court and that the case would be sent to the Crown Court.

Mr Allon, of Arkendale Road, Staveley, will next appear for a plea-and-trial preparation hearing at York Crown Court on June 10. He was granted bail until then.

Read more:

Harrogate man pleads guilty to racial harassment at fish and chip shop

A man has admitted racially aggravated harassment at a fish and chip shop in Harrogate.

Darren Beeforth, 37, of Charles Avenue in Harrogate, appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

According to court documents, Beeforth was charged with one count of racially aggravated harassment and one count of threatening to damage property.

The former offence took place at Dougie’s Fish and Chips on King Edward’s Drive, on March 22, while the latter happened on the same road on the same day.

Beeforth reportedly harassed members of staff at the takeaway and then threatened to smash a man’s windows, the document added.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating, which happened on the same day.

Beeforth reportedly assaulted a woman by beating her at an address in Harrogate.

He has been remanded in custody until his sentencing, which will take place on May 7, 2024, in York.

Read more:

Police reissue appeal to find Harrogate wanted man

Police seeking a wanted man from Harrogate today re-issued a plea for help finding him.

North Yorkshire Police is still searching for Bailey George Samuel Townend, 21, who has been recalled to prison and is believed to be evading arrest locally.

He was released from prison on licence on November 1 last year after being handed a 51-week custodial sentence for burglary and theft.

The Probation Service reported that Townend failed to reside at approved accommodation in Leeds, thereby breaching his licence.

Today’s police statement said:

“Police enquiries are ongoing in the Harrogate and Leeds areas in the effort to return Townend to prison.

“Townend is described as white, 5ft 8in tall, slim build, with short brown hair and green eyes.

If you can help us track him down, please report information to North Yorkshire Police on 101, option 4, and speak to the force control room.

“For immediate sightings, dial 999 to ensure a rapid response.”

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online. Quote reference number.

Read more: 

 

 

Lawyers helped me through worst time of my life, says Harrogate mum

This story is sponsored by Harrogate Family Law 

A Harrogate mother-of-three who divorced her husband says she couldn’t have got through the challenging process without the support of Harrogate Family Law (HFL). 

Mrs H had been married for 14 years when her previously happy marriage hit the rocks and she was left feeling there was no other option than separation.

For Mrs H and many people in this situation, this is a time of mixed emotions. Feelings of deep unhappiness, guilt about splitting up a family, and complete failure for breaking wedding vows are a heavy weight to bear.

Mrs H was married to a successful lawyer who regularly threatened that she would be left with nothing if she divorced him.

She said: 

“Mine was a very acrimonious separation. My ex-husband was very controlling, and approached our break-up very aggressively.” 

Contacting a lawyer is a very daunting prospect and Mrs H mulled over whether to make the call and set the wheels in motion.

However, she was surprised at the initial meeting, as its aim was to ensure that all avenues had been explored before making a final decision on separation.

On HFL’s advice, the couple tried counselling in an attempt to work through their problems with the aim of avoiding separation or divorce. Unfortunately, counselling was not successful.

HFL advised Mrs H to try mediation in the hope that a fair and amicable settlement could be agreed.

Cut off at Christmas

In Mrs H’s words, mediation was a “disaster” and a lengthy period of correspondence followed. During this period, Mr H tried every trick possible to get Mrs H to agree to his terms.

His actions included, without notice, a significant reduction in funds to the account which supported Mrs H and their three children.

Mrs H said: 

“My ex-husband cut off all funds to me. I was faced with a really difficult Christmas with the kids – I didn’t even have the money for our Christmas dinner.

“If it weren’t for a good friend lending me some money, his children would have been left living on nothing over the festive period.

“Thankfully, HFL didn’t invoice me until they absolutely had to and they were incredibly understanding about the situation I was facing.” 

In the end, Mrs H’s ex-husband took the case to court in an effort to exhaust her funds, but things didn’t go his way – the judge awarded a fair settlement to Mrs H and her three children, including the payment of her legal costs. 

Mrs H said:  

“My ex-husband tried to leave me with as little as possible, but with HFL’s help the outcome was fair and ended up being just what they’d said it would be – they called it absolutely right.

“They stood up to my ex-husband and his lawyers, and were very robust in their counter-arguments. For them, it was never about the fees – it was all about the desire to get the best possible result for me and my children in a fair way.”

Mrs H was so impressed with her lawyers that she’s already referred several friends to Harrogate Family Law. She said:

“HFL really made a difference. They don’t sugar-coat anything, so you always know exactly where you are.

“If you phone HFL there’s a really understanding person on the other end of the line. You share a lot of personal information with your lawyer, more than you do with your friends, but never once did I feel judged. They were the right people, at the worst time of my life.”

Find out more:

For clear, honest advice from a supportive solicitor at Harrogate Family Law, call 01423 594680 or go to harrogatefamilylaw.co.uk.

 

Police use stinger after 140mph pursuit from Harrogate

Police used a stinger to end a 140mph pursuit that started in Harrogate yesterday.

The incident began when the man attempted to drive home immediately after he was convicted in court for drug driving and lost his licence.

Paul Cording, a roads policing sergeant at North Yorkshire Police, tweeted last night:

“Unbelievably he left the courtroom and got straight behind the wheel of a car to drive home.”

Sgt Cording said the motorist defied police requests to stop and began speeding along the A59 and A1(M). He added:

“Weaving dangerously in and out of traffic and using all the lanes including the hard shoulder, the vehicle reached speeds of over 140mph

“The vehicle then headed towards Leeming where a stinger was deployed by our armed response vehicle colleagues before being safely stopped and the driver arrested.”

Sgt Cording said the man had shown “a complete disregard for road safety and the judicial system”.

He added he was subsequently charged and remanded to appear in court this morning.

Read more:

 

Harrogate woman fined for stealing miniature Dachshund

A woman has been given a conditional discharge for six months and fined £111 for stealing a miniature Dachshund from a home on Swan Road.

Maggie went missing from Laurie and Paul Smith’s home on Swan Road in August.  A neighbour’s CCTV had captured images of a woman the Smiths believed snatched her from the front garden.

The couple began a frantic hunt for their missing pet and posted the CCTV images on social media.

A huge response led the couple to a house on Oakdale Avenue, half a mile from their home, where they believed Maggie was.

The Smiths called the police who recovered their dog which had been taken by 62-year-old Jonkal Messenger. An emotional reunion followed between Maggie and her owners.

Guilty plea

This morning, Messenger, who lives at Oakdale Rise in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to theft at Harrogate Magistrates Court.

She received a conditional discharge of 6 months and was ordered to pay court costs of £85 plus a victim’s surcharge of £26.

Read more:

Mr Smith told the Stray Ferret afterwards that he was pleased Ms Messenger has been held accountable.

He said:

“At first police said they wouldn’t prosecute. She always said she would return the dog but it didn’t hold up. Stealing a family dog is a heinous offence.”

A month on from the ordeal, Mr Smith said he was glad the police took it seriously. He added:

“It was an awful 48 hours after what she put us through.”

Man jailed for stealing MBE medal in Harrogate burglary

A man has been jailed for over three years after he admitted stealing an MBE medal, jewellery and cash during a burglary at a woman’s home in Harrogate.

Shane Bainbridge, 31, broke into Patrycia Scott’s home in Wayside Avenue, Harrogate, and stole a “considerable quantity of personal items” including her MBE medal, prosecutor Brooke Morrison told York Crown Court.

Bainbridge, of King Edward Road, Ripon, was arrested nearby with a “couple of sacks containing (the victim’s) property”, she added.

He was charged with stealing jewellery, cash and the MBE medal during the burglary, which occurred on March 8.

Bainbridge denied the offence right up until the day of trial today (Monday, August 22) when he entered a last-minute guilty plea.

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, jailed Bainbridge for three years and three months.

Read more: