A prominent landowner has been fined for illegally burning peat on a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Pateley Bridge.

Ben Ramsden, 59, pleaded guilty to three charges of burning vegetation on a designated site on a peat that is of a depth of more than 40 centimetres without a licence.

The offences took place at Thrope Farm, Lofthouse, on April 8 this year.

Ramsden owns Lofthouse Moor, which is used for grouse shooting.

He was also a director of the Moorland Association, which manages over a million acres of the moorlands of England and Wales, at the time of the offences. However, he resigned this position on October 1 this year.

Illegally burning peat can impede its restoration.

Skipton Magistrates Court fined Ramsden, of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, £600 at a hearing on Friday.

Skipton Magistrates Court

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £240 and court costs of £85.

Magistrates said they took into consideration Ramsden’s guilty plea when imposing the sentence.

A spokesman for the Moorland Association said:

“We are aware of this case and our understanding is that this was a genuine error.

“The land management team believed they had taken the appropriate and necessary precautions.”

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A man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article in Harrogate town centre.

North Yorkshire Police were called to Cambridge Road outside McDonalds at around 1.40pm this afternoon.

Officers said an 18-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of breaching bail conditions, possession of a bladed article and obstructing police.

A statement from police this afternoon said the man remained in custody at this time.

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Police have issued an appeal after a horsebox trailer was stolen in Green Hammerton.

The white Ifor Williams horsebox was stolen from Boroughbridge Road between 7pm on Friday, October 12, and 8.45am on Saturday, October 14.

It has a registration number W29 ESH.

The white trailer has a loading ramp on the left-hand side, which is unusual as it is on the right-hand side on most trailers.

The inside of the trailer has ‘Swillington Trailers’ stickers showing.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“If you see the stolen vehicle, or know where it is, please email Neel.Seth@northyorkshire.police.uk. You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Neel Seth.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230195137.”

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A man is to go on trial accused of planning terrorist attacks at an RAF base near Harrogate and St James’ Hospital in Leeds.

Mohammed Farooq, 27, of Hetton Road in Roundhay, Leeds, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court yesterday accused of terrorism charges.

According to media reports, a judge told the court the trial related to “an alleged plan to target RAF Menwith Hill, in Harrogate, and St James’s Hospital, in Leeds, in a terrorist attack”.

Mr Farooq denied a charge of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between July 12, 2021, and January 21, 2023.

He also pleaded not guilty to possessing an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.

However, he admitted a separate charge of possessing an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances between January 18 and January 21.

Mr Farooq also pleaded guilty to possessing a document containing information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

He also admitted two charges relating to the possession of an imitation firearm.

His trial is due to start at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday (October 19).

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North Yorkshire Police has launched an investigation after a car crashed into parked vehicles and a fence on a Harrogate street.

The incident happened on Tuesday, October 10, on Birstwith Road.

Officers said a white Vauxhall Insignia collided with parked vehicles and a fence at around 9.20pm. The occupants of the car had left the scene upon police arrival.

The force has appealed for anyone with information on the incident to come forward.

A police statement said:

“Police enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference 12230192818.”

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An “obsessed” Harrogate man has been jailed for yet another breach of a restraining order designed to protect his former partner with whom he was “fixated”.

Carl Ingles, 44, made the victim’s life a “complete misery” for years, York Crown Court heard.

Ingles, who held a “responsible” position at Boots Opticians in Harrogate, had received community orders and two short prison sentences in the past for previous offences against the victim including battery, smashing up her property and harassment.  

He was jailed for two years today after he admitted two breaches of a lifetime restraining order.

Threatening and abusive phone calls

Prosecutor Lily Wildman said that Ingles bombarded the woman with “threatening” and abusive phone calls and text messages between March 31 and April 12. He breached the order again on September 5 following a court appearance the day before.

Ingles, of Kent Road, Harrogate, had appeared at the crown court on September 4 when he was bailed with restrictions including a prohibition not to contact the victim. 

However, the following day she was at a hospital appointment when she noticed a message on her phone from Ingles which read: ‘I’m sorry about yesterday in the Crown court. You looked beautiful yesterday and you look beautiful today.’ 

Ms Wildman added:

“She told him to leave her alone (but) then the defendant approached her inside (a restaurant in York).”

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Ingles and the victim had been in a relationship for about nine years until 2017 when the original restraining order was imposed after Ingles was convicted of assaulting her. Since then, there had been five breaches of the order before the latest transgressions.

Ms Wildman said that Ingles had three previous convictions for battery against the victim. He had 12 offences on his record including harassing the same victim and damaging her property. 

Ms Wildman said that Ingles had attacked her on “several occasions” in 2017 which led to the order being imposed, but he breached it within months. His last breach was in August last year when he was given a two-week jail sentence.

Defence barrister Steven Garth said that Ingles, a father-of-two, was working in a “responsible” position at Boots Opticians at the time of his arrest. 

Mr Garth added:

“He fears that he may have now lost that job.

“Had he not had these feelings and this obsession (with) this (victim), no doubt he would have lived a respectable and law-abiding life.”

He said although the relationship ended in 2017, Ingles believed that he and the victim were still an item by 2021. 

Recorder Dafydd Enoch KC said Ingles appeared to have “zero insight” into his “persistent” harassing of the victim. 

He added:

“It’s been going on for years.

“(The victim) is absolutely at the end of her tether.”

He said Ingles had “made (the victim’s) life a complete misery (and) it has been interspersed with violence”.

Mr Enoch added:

“She is worried sick every time she goes where he might be.

“She lives in fear of the defendant.”

Mr Enoch told Ingles: 

“For a considerable number of years you have been fixated on your ex-partner. The relationship appeared to work for a while but ended in violence on your part on several occasions in 2017. 

“There were multiple incidents of violence resulting in restraining orders which you breached from day one. You had absolutely no regard for court orders whatsoever because (of) your obsession.”

He described Ingles’ behaviour towards the victim as “scary” and “disturbing” and that she had been caused “very serious distress”.

He added: 

“It is crystal clear you have been a presence in the life…of this lady which causes (her) constant fear.

“You are not getting the message from the courts for some reason, Mr Ingles, and so the court is left with very little option.”

Ingles will serve half of the two-year jail sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence. He will remain subject to the restraining order for an indefinite period. 

Police have confirmed that a missing boy from Harrogate has been found safe and well.

The force issued an appeal for a 13-year-boy over the weekend.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the boy has since been found.

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Police enquiries are ongoing into an attempted arson at a petrol station in Pateley Bridge.

The incident happened between 1.45am and 2.45am on Sunday, May 14, at the Dales Market Corner petrol station in the town.

Officers at North Yorkshire Police said two men walked onto the forecourt, placed a backpack in the area and set it alight. The backpack then self-extinguished.

The force has confirmed that enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

It comes as two men were arrested in connection with the attempted arson following the incident.

Dales Market Corner petrol station in Pateley Bridge.

A 36-year-old man was arrested on May 14 on suspicion of arson and criminal damage. He was interviewed and later released on conditional bail.

A second man, 45, was arrested on June 5 in connection with the incident. He was bailed while enquiries continue.

Meanwhile, police have reiterated an appeal to the public to get in touch if they have any information or can identify the man in CCTV images issued by the force.

A police statement added:

“Anyone with any information that could assist the investigation is asked to email Jill.Cowling@northyorkshire.police.uk or you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Jill Cowling.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Please quote reference number 12230086186 when passing on information.”

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A Knaresborough man has fined after admitting charges of hare coursing in East Yorkshire.

Shane Hooton, 31, appeared at Beverley Magistrates Court on Monday (October 9) for sentencing.

He was charged with trespass and going equipped to trespass with intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs.

Hooton, of Thistle Hill in Knaresborough, was caught along with three other men, John Langan, 37, Joseph Foster, 35, and Dean Adams, 27, by Humberside Police coming off private farmland at Leven in East Yorkshire on December 23, 2022.

They were in possession of running dogs without any permissions to be on the land.

In court, Hooton was fined £500, issued with £85 cost and a £200 victim surcharge. 

He was also given a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order which included conditions around the control of dogs, not being on private farmland without permission and a complete ban on entering Humberside.

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Langan, of The Hawthorns, Great Ayton, was sentenced to a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months. He was also given a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order with the same conditions at Hooton.

Foster, of Manton Crescent in Worksop, was sentenced to a £500 fine, £85 costs and £200 victim surcharge.

Adams, of Hebron Drive in Stokesley, failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Speaking after sentencing, sergeant Kevin Jones of the rural task force at Humberside Police, said:

“This Humberside Police’s first suspended prison sentence for hare coursing offences, our longest Criminal Behaviour Order of 10 years and fines and costs totalling over £1800.

“It certainly sends out a message that such offences are taken seriously by the criminal justice system and will not be tolerated by Humberside Police.”

A car has been stolen from the driveway of a property in Ripon.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident happened on Clotherholme Park, which is off Lark Lane, between midnight and 3.30 am this morning (October 10).

The rear door of the house was damaged and the suspect removed a set of keys. 

A white Audi A5 five-door hatchback with the registration FX69 UCG was then stolen from the driveway of the property.

Officers have asked the public to keep an eye out for the stolen vehicle and appealed for any CCTV or doorbell footage that may help the investigation.

A police statement added:

“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email Sam.Clarke2@northyorkshire.police.uk .You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Sam Clarke.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230192125 when passing information.”

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