Police appeal for ‘key witness’ after Starbeck assault

Police have appealed for a key witness to come forward after a 19-year-old man was assaulted in Starbeck.

The man was attacked by four teenage boys while walking across Belmont Park towards Wentworth Close on August 31 between 4.30pm and 5pm. He had to go to hospital with an eye injury.

A teenage girl intervened in the assault and the teenagers walked away.

As part of an investigation into the assault, officers are appealing for the girl to come forward.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“There is no further description of the suspects, but the victim recalls one of the teenage boys was carrying a blue tooth speaker at the time of the assault.

“As well as appealing for the key witness to get in touch, officers are also asking for any information or private CCTV footage that could help to identify the suspects.

“If you can help the investigation, please email jemma.grant@northyorkshire.police.uk. You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Jemma Grant.

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

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220156586 when providing details.”

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Man arrested after intruder breaks into Harrogate district house

A man has been arrested following two burglaries in a village near Boroughbridge

North Yorkshire Police said they responded to a report of a man breaking into a house in Marton-cum-Grafton in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The suspect broke into the house while the owner was asleep, but later fled after the occupant woke up and startled them.

The man was later arrested after officers found them in a hedgerow nearby.

Later, police received reports of garden tools being stolen from a property nearby.

A man in his 40s from Barnsley was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Enquiries are ongoing for both incidents.

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Railings to be installed on Harrogate’s Bower Street

Railings are to be installed on Harrogate’s Bower Street in an attempt to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Businesses and councillors have expressed concerns about persistent problems caused by people “milling around” on the street, which is the other side of the One Arch tunnel into the town centre.

The issue came to a head last Friday night when a man was stabbed on the street.

Some people have said they are frightened to walk down the street and businesses are concerned about the impact on trade.

Police say the street attracts anti-social behaviour partly because it is located close to many agencies that provide help, and also because of the street design, which encourages people to linger.

Today Harrogate Borough Council revealed it had reached an agreement with private landlords on the street to tackle the problem. It said:

“The council has facilitated negotiations with private owners including landlords and Leeds Federated Housing Association to make the area more secure and have now reached an agreement to install railings to premises on the parade of shops to reduce access.

“These areas have consistently been used as a location where people congregate and where there is evidence of repeat antisocial behaviour.”

The Stray Ferret understands the council has been negotiating for years with the landlords to take action. The council statement said:

“As the land is privately owned, negotiations have taken longer than hoped however this work will look to be progressed as a priority with partners continuing to work alongside the council.”

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Bower Street is located close to Harrogate Conservative Club and the office of Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones.

‘Trouble for a long time’

Richard Cooper

Cllr Richard Cooper

Richard Cooper, the Conservative leader of the council and its elected member for Central Ward, who is also Mr Jones’ office manager, said:

“All of us who live or work near this location know that it has been trouble for a long time.

“While the council has worked with the police on the issues the land is privately owned and installing secure boundaries is the responsibility of the property owner.

“Nonetheless, the council and other partners recognise the impact that antisocial behaviour and criminal activity has on the quality of life of residents, businesses and the wider community.

“That is why we have offered to help the property owners secure their boundaries and I am glad agreement has been reached on how to do this.  I am grateful to the property owners for working with us on this.”

Bower Street

Mr Cooper added it was important to recognise “the people who congregate in these areas often have complex physical and mental health needs”, adding:

“When criminal acts are committed the legal process needs to happen.  But we also need to redouble our efforts to support agencies like Harrogate Homeless Project and Harrogate StreetAid who can provide the wrap-around support enabling people to break out of chaotic lifestyles.

“Securing this area will solve the anti-social and criminal behaviour problem at this location.  It will not, on its own, change the lifestyles of those who congregated on Bower Street.  Long-term dedicated support is the only way to do that.”

Ripon man charged with attempted murder

A Ripon man has been charged with attempted murder, assaulting emergency workers and carrying a weapon in a public place.

Kyle Harpin, 33, of North Street in the city, appeared before York Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was charged with attempting to murder another man, who was named in court, on North Street on Sunday.

Mr Harpin was also charged with assaulting two police constables at Harrogate District Hospital on the same date.

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He also allegedly used threatening, abusive or insulting words with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress towards another police officer at Harrogate Police Station.

Mr Harpin faced a further charge of carrying a knife in a public place on North Street in Ripon.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Leeds Crown Court on November 7.

Police ‘looking into’ Harrogate stabbing claims

Police have said they are ‘looking into’ claims that a stabbing took place in Harrogate on Friday night.

The Stray Ferret received a message on Saturday morning saying a police cordon had been installed on Bower Street on Friday night.

We received subsequent messages, including one from a senior Harrogate businessman saying he was told by police at the scene that a stabbing had taken place.

We emailed North Yorkshire Police about the incident on Saturday morning but did not receive a reply. Following a subsequent email this afternoon, police said they were ‘looking into’ the matter.

The businessman, who asked not to be named, expressed concerns about the impact of persistent anti-social behaviour on residents and shops in the area. He said:

“It gets worse every single day, culminating in a stabbing last Friday.

“I walk past there everyday and know many of the residents around the area. Every day there is street drinking, drug taking, and verbal and physical abuse.

“There was a council residents’ consultation back in the summer, but nothing has been done. When the police are called, they simply say ‘report the incident’ but nothing results from that.

“What more than a stabbing will it take the council/police to do about something that everyone in the town knows is a dangerous anti-social issue?”

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Bower Street was one of the areas mentioned at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting last week, where police officers gave an overview of policing in the area.

A delegate said one business had already been forced to close on the street because of persistent anti-social behaviour and asked whether the police could do anything to prevent people “milling around”.

One Arch

One Arch

Chief Inspector Alex Langley admitted there was little they could do in trouble spots such as Bower Street and outside McDonald’s.

He added Bower Street was close to many agencies offering support to people, and therefore attracted issues.

The nearby One Arch tunnel into the town centre is an area earmarked for improvements under the Harrogate Station Gateway scheme.

 

 

Police issue appeal after Harrogate dog Biscuit stolen

North Yorkshire Police has issued an appeal for help finding an American Bulldog called Biscuit who was taken during a burglary last week.

It took place at a home on Bramham Drive in Jennyfields at some point between 7pm on Friday September 23 and 5pm the following day.

Police said today “a number of items” were taken as well as the pet.

Biscuit is described as medium-sized, stocky, and has light tan and white fur. She also has a white marking at the tip of her tail.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email katie.bell@northyorkshire.police.uk.

You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Katie Bell 220.

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Thieves steal seven bikes from Ripon cycle shop

Police are appealing for information following a burglary at Moonglu cycle shop in Blossomgate, Ripon.

It took place at 3am on Sunday, September 25 when thieves smashed a window and took seven pedal cycles and electric bikes.

A small white van was seen in the area at the time, speeding off with bikes hanging out of the back.

North Yorkshire Police has asked anybody who saw the van, or has information about the burglary, to call 101 and ask to speak to Joshua Harrison. His email is joshua.harrison@northyorkshire.police.uk.

There is a reference number 12220171220.

Moonglu has posted the names of some of the stolen bikes on its Facebook page. They are:

The post added:

“My stomach is still churning, I’m absolutely devastated. Thanks to everyone that has reached out with support, I’m overwhelmed by the kindness. It means the world.”

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Wanted Harrogate man arrested

Police have arrested a wanted Harrogate man.

Officers issued an appeal for the whereabouts of a 30-year-old man, who was believed to be in either the Harrogate or Knaresborough area.

The force has since confirmed that he has been arrested in the Blackpool area on suspicion of offences connected to a serious assault.

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Man sentenced to life in prison for Harrogate Mayfield Grove murder

A man has been sentenced to life in prison after brutally murdering Gracijus Balciauskas at a flat on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate last year.

Vitalijus Koreiva, 37, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this morning after being found guilty of murder by a jury in July.

Polish national Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 39, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for manslaughter for his part in the crime.

Mr Balciauskas, from Lithuania, was just 41 years old when he was killed.

Wrapped in a rug

The sentencing comes as a trial in July heard that Mr Balciauskas’s body was found wrapped in a rug after a lengthy drinking binge involving the three friends turned violent on December 20, 2021.

CCTV footage was shown of the men leaving the flat to buy more alcohol on several occasions in the hours leading to the murder.

Rutowicz told the court how Koreiva, who is Lithuanian, erupted during a drunken game of chess with Mr Balciauskas at 5am, which led to Koreiva punching and then kicking him.

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Harrowing video footage taken on Rutowicz’s phone of a bloodied and bruised Mr Balciauskas was shown in court. The clips showed him being kicked by Koreiva whilst he was laying defenceless on the floor pleading for help.

In one of the videos, Rutowicz was heard shouting at Mr Balciauskas in Polish:

“Why the f*** did you send us there? Now you look like this.”

During the trial, Rutowicz said he had been threatened by Koreiva with his life if he called 999 after Mr Balciauskas died. He said Koreiva’s nickname in Harrogate was the “crazy Russian” and he had an unpredictable character.

Gracijus Balciauskas

Murder victim Gracijus Balciauskas pictured in Knaresborough.

However, prosecuting barrister Peter Moulson QC poured scorn on his claim and accused Rutowicz of lying.

Mr Balciauskas died of internal bleeding after being kicked in the spleen and suffering multiple injuries to the torso.

‘Drunken cover up’

Judge Rodney Jameson KC told Koreiva this morning that Mr Balciauskas’ injuries would not have been fatal “had you not tried to drunkly cover up what you had done”.

Addressing Rutowicz, Judge Jameson described his actions as “calculating” and that he wanted to “avoid responsibility”.

He said:

“You could have prevented this from happening, but instead you chose to encourage it.

“You spent many hours considering how to avoid responsibility.”

Koreiva will serve a minimum of 13 years in prison before he is considered for parole. Should he be released, he will spend the rest of his life on licence.

Decision due on cuts to Harrogate’s night-time fire crews this month

A controversial plan to cut the number of night-time fire engines in Harrogate to just one is set to be decided by the county’s police, fire and crime commissioner this month.

Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe is assessing feedback from a consultation and is expected to meet with her executive board for a decision in September.

She has continually insisted that the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service would “continue to provide an immediate emergency response” under the plan as emergencies are less likely to occur during the night.

Yet union officials and councillors remain concerned about the proposal which has been described as “putting money before lives”.

The plan is part of the fire service’s new risk and resource model, and a three-month public consultation ended in August.

According to the commissioner’s website, a consultation summary report will be presented to the executive board for a decision before the final risk and resource model is published.

If approved, it will pave the way for a new strategy on how the fire service will deploy its staff and equipment over the next three years.

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There are similar proposals for fire stations in Scarborough and Huntington which commissioner Metcalfe said along with the Harrogate plans would save over £1.5 million a year to allow for investment in fire prevention

She also insisted the proposals are not cost-cutting measures and have been based on “extensive risk assessment”.

However, concerns remain over public safety and the amount of government funding that the fire service receives.

The North Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union previously said the fire service’s finances have left it “struggling to buy the basics” and that around £25 million is needed to replace out-of-date buildings, vehicles and equipment.

Union secretary Steve Howley also said the risk and resource model plans would leave the county with a “second-rate emergency response service that will put lives at risk”.

He said:

“A decade of under investment in the fire and rescue service has dovetailed with an increase in response times both locally and nationally,

“The police, fire and crime commissioner needs to fight for the correct funding from government, not simply mask underfunding by slashing services.”