Criminals in North Yorkshire could make written apologies to victims

Criminals could be asked to make written apologies to victims under new plans for policing in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe is consulting on a community remedy document.

Each local policing body must have a community remedy document for its area that is informed by consultation.

The document includes options for dealing with less serious crime and anti-social behaviour.

The options being considered in North Yorkshire include asking criminals to make verbal or written apologies or to sign acceptable behaviour contracts in which they pledge to change their behaviour.

Victims of crime, such as street drinking, littering, noise, animal problems, vehicle nuisance or trespass, will be able to discuss the finalised community remedy options with a police officer and provide their preferred course of action for the officer to consider.

Ms Metcalfe today opened a consultation on plans jointly drawn up with North Yorkshire Police.

The options people are asked to comment on are:

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The community remedy process aims to support victims by giving them reassurance that their offender is remorseful. The aim is to promote public confidence in the out-of-court disposal process.

This is a method for avoiding court proceedings and criminal charges when an offender is known and admits the offence.

Causes ‘misery’

Ms Metcalfe said:

“Anti-social behavioural problems can cause misery in communities, and I want members of the public to feel empowered by the community remedy, in that they have a say in the best way to prevent re-offending and feel reassured by the actions taken by the police.

“Please complete the short survey to inform my decision on the final options.”

Lisa Winward, Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, said:

“The community remedy will provide victims of low level crime and anti-social behaviour with a greater say in how an offender is held to account for their actions.

“We know that crimes and behaviour of this kind can take their toll on individuals and communities and I welcome the commissioner’s survey to better understand the menu of remedial options that communities feel best fit the crime.”

To take part in the seven-week survey, which closes on January 10, click here.

Burglary at Harrogate hairdressers this morning

A man and woman have been arrested on suspicion of burgling a Harrogate hairdressers in the early hours of this morning.

The suspects, both in their 30s and from Harrogate, remain in police custody.

According to North Yorkshire Police, a man and woman were seen to break a window at Contemporary Salons’ studio on Station Parade at 3.56am. It added:

“The two people then entered the property and filled two bags with items before leaving the area in a taxi.”

It is the latest criminal attack this month on a Harrogate shop, with previous incidents reported at salon Dangerfield & Keane and James Barber Tobacconists on Cold Bath Road.

Police said in a statement:

“If you witnessed this incident or have any further information which could help the investigation, please email: pamela.luettke@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101 quoting reference 12220206294

“If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

According to its website, Contemporary Salons is a group of nine hair salons across north Yorkshire and Teesside

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Man denies wounding with intent on Harrogate’s Bower Street

A Harrogate man has denied wounding another man with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on the town’s Bower Street last month.

William Boam, 23, who lives on the street, appeared before York Crown Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It follows an incident on Bower Street on the night of October 14.

Boam, who appeared via video link from HMP Hull, also denied a charge of common assault against another man on the same night.

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He pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a knife on Bower Street.

A trial date was set at York Crown Court for April 11, 2023.

Recorder Tahir Kahn remanded Boam in custody until the date of the trial.

Man suffers serious head injuries on Harrogate’s Bower Street

A 32-year-old Harrogate man has been arrested following a reported assault on Bower Street.

Police were called by the ambulance service at 6.20pm on Saturday after the victim, a man in his fifties, was found with serious head injuries in the street.

The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.

The 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent. He has since been released on conditional police bail to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.

It was revealed last month that railings are to be installed on Bower Street in an attempt to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Bower Street

North Yorkshire Police is urging anyone who witnessed the incident but has not yet spoken to police to get in touch on 101. The incident number is 12220201215

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

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Police crime scene investigators at Ripon

North Yorkshire Police crime scene investigators are attending an incident on the corner of Finkle Street and Allhallowgate in Ripon.

The corner site has been cordoned off with blue and white police tape.

A crime scene investigation vehicle, mobile police office and a further police vehicle and officers have been at the scene.

Police at the scene are not giving any details about the nature of the incident.

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Head chef admits assault and knife offence at Harrogate restaurant

A head chef has been given a suspended sentence for causing criminal damage at a Harrogate restaurant and carrying a knife in public.

Daniel Woodward, 35, of Oakdale Drive, Harrogate, was also charged with assaulting a staff member, racially aggravated harassment and affray.

He appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to all charges.

Woodward had worked at William and Victoria restaurant on Cold Bath Road for three years as a head chef, the court heard.

When he turned up at the restaurant on October 9, another staff member noticed he was “concerned about his girlfriend”.

Woodward was told to calm down and sit upstairs, where he began raising his voice and banging his fists on the table.

Later Woodward was in the kitchen where staff found him swearing and bowls were smashed.

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The prosecution said the female staff member became scared as Woodward began shouting and swearing, some of which was racial.

The court heard how staff found Woodward with a chef’s knife “clutched to him” and had “blood on his hands”.

Magistrates were also told how Woodward had assaulted a male staff member and left him with a cut to his right hand finger.

At 2.30pm, police arrived at the scene and took Woodward to hospital. He continued to swear and use racially insulting words.

The officer said Woodward called him a “pig” and repeatedly told him to “f*** off”.

The prosecution said:

“The officer said the abuse that the defendant subjected him to is by far the worst in his seven-and-a-half years in the force.”

‘Sorry for his actions’

Brian Nuttney, defending Woodward, told the court that Woodward had “no recollection of much of what happened”, but was sorry for his actions.

Mr Nuttney said the defendant’s girlfriend was supposed to come to see him the night before, but did not turn up which led to him becoming concerned.

He told the court that Woodward was also offered bottles of wine at the restaurant and another staff member made a remark which “could have tipped him over the edge”.

Mr Nuttney said the defendant had been in care at a young age and had felt abandoned, but had gone on to start a family and train to be a chef.

He said:

“Mr Woodward did not have the best start in life.”

Woodward was given a 21-month total sentence suspended for two years. He was also sentenced to eight weeks and four weeks in prison for harassment and affray, which were also suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to undertake 25 days of rehabilitation and to wear an alcohol abstinence tag for 90 days.

Woodward was also subjected to court costs of £472.

The magistrates also awarded £100 in compensation to William and Victoria and another £100 to the injured staff member.

Three men arrested after police stop vans on A1(M) near Boroughbridge

Three men have been arrested after police stopped two vans on the A1(M) near Boroughbridge.

North Yorkshire Police identified the vans near junction 48 after acting on intelligence at around 10pm on Sunday (November 6).

Officers stopped one of the vehicles heading southbound and found suspicious items inside.

Two men from the Barnsley area were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle.

Police then spotted the second van, which was towing a horse box, heading further south.

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After officers attempted to stop it, the driver jumped out and ran into the countryside.

A police helicopter was called and guided officers to the suspect in the field.

Officers arrested a man in his 20s from the Durham area on suspicion of vehicle theft and driving without a licence or insurance.

A police statement added:

“Enquiries are ongoing and the three men remain in custody at this time.”

Men arrested after suspected knifepoint robbery near Knaresborough

Two men have been arrested following a suspected knifepoint robbery near Knaresborough.

North Yorkshire Police were called at 1.40pm yesterday to reports that a couple had been robbed when they turned up at a house in Farnham to buy a vehicle that had been advertised for sale.

According to police, the pair were threatened by a group of suspects who stole their car and a large amount of cash inside it.

The suspects then fled in the vehicle and a van.

Police tracked down the stolen car to the A61 near Harewood after using automatic number plate recognition.

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The suspects ran from the vehicle and a police firearms support unit, dog and police drone tracked them down to a wooded area.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of a Class B drug and an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery, possession of a Class B drug, driving with no insurance, driving whilst disqualified and possession of an offensive weapon.

The suspects currently remain in police custody and both vehicles were recovered.

Harogate man made thousands of indecent images of children

Warning: the following article contains details some people may find offensive.

A Harrogate man who had a “totally unacceptable” interest in images of child abuse and extreme pornography has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Philip Grange, 53, of Hillside in Follifoot, appeared before York Crown Court this morning on a string of charges, including possessing an extreme pornographic image of a person performing an act of intercourse with a dog.

Grange was also charged with three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and three counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child.

He pleaded guilty to all charges.

Thousands of indecent images

Police arrested Grange on August 14, 2020, and seized a number of devices including nine mobile phones, a Samsung tablet, a laptop and a USB stick from his home.

Analysis of the technology found five of the mobile phones included indecent material.

A total of 650 category A images, which are the most graphic, and 37 videos were found, along with thousands of category B and C images.

Police also discovered 180 images of extreme pornography and 10 videos.

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Grange was also found to be using the Kik Messenger social media platform to request and distribute images.

The prosecution told the court that he also had “very explicit” conversations on the platform.

Ismael Uddin, defending Grange, said he had no previous convictions and was “socially isolated”.

He added that he was “remorseful” for making and distributing the images and was unlikely to offend again.

Mr Uddin said:

“All of them [the images] are of a disdainful nature.

“He is 53 years of age and is likely to not commit offences again. He has told me that he is no longer on the internet.”

‘Unacceptable’ and ‘perverted’

Sentencing Grange, Recorder Paul Reid told the 53-year-old that he had an “unacceptable” and “perverted” interest in pornography.

He said:

“You are described as a socially isolated individual who has a totally unacceptable and perverted interest in pornography and, in particular, images of child abuse.”

Mr Reid described Grange’s conversations on the “notorious” Kik platform as “utterly disgusting”.

He added that he noted that Grange told probation that he was “glad to be caught” as he “knew what he was doing was wrong”.

Grange was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to undertake 200 hours unpaid work, 40 days rehabilitation and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.

Man arrested after disturbance in Ripon city centre

A man has been arrested after a disturbance in Ripon city centre this afternoon.

North Yorkshire Police officers were called to Market Square just after 1pm following reports of a man acting aggressively.

An eye witness, who did not wish to be named, told the Stray Ferret two police vans appeared quickly after an altercation.

A police statement said:

“A man in his 30s has been arrested in connection with the incident and on suspicion of assaulting an emergency services worker. Investigations are ongoing.”

Anyone with information can contact the police, quoting reference number 12220191661.

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