Drug dealer jailed after posing as taxi driver in Harrogate

A drug dealer posing as an Uber taxi driver has been jailed for over two years after dealing drugs in Harrogate in a liveried cab.

Azar Iqbal Rehman, 51, was arrested by police in the Asda car park in Harrogate where he had been loitering in the ‘taxi’, York Crown Court heard.

When police approached the vehicle and tried to confiscate the car keys, the fake cabbie tried to drive off, said prosecutor John Hobley.

Officers searched the vehicle and found 72 cocaine bags and 20 MDMA packets, as well as £710 cash.

Rehman, a married father-of-five who worked as a lorry driver, told officers there were “more drugs at his home”, added Mr Hobley.

Police searched his house and found a further 126 cocaine packets hidden in a lock box inside his bedroom and more cash.

Mr Hobley said the total amount of drugs seized was 85g of cocaine and over 6g of MDMA, an ecstasy-type drug, with an estimated street value of more than £17,000.

Rehman, of Rhodesway, Bradford, was charged with two counts of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and one count of possessing criminal property, namely £1,255 cash.

He admitted the offences and appeared for sentence on Tuesday.

‘Half-hearted’ escape attempt

Mr Hobley said Rehman was caught in December 2019 when two officers in an unmarked car became suspicious when they saw the Uber ‘cab’ parked some distance from the entrance to the supermarket. Their suspicions were heightened when it didn’t move for over 20 minutes.

When they approached the vehicle, which was “liveried as an Uber taxi”, Rehman “appeared nervous”.

He was removed from the vehicle after his “half-hearted” attempt at escape.

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Along with the drugs and cash, officers found a mobile phone inside the vehicle, which had a “stream of text messages containing addresses”.

They also found a “dealer debt list”, said Mr Hobley.

Rehman told police he had been dealing for about four months under direction from others.

He claimed he had been paid £150 a week by his drug bosses, but a financial investigation found that £6,000 had been deposited into his bank account during the four months he had been dealing.

Addicted to cocaine

George Hazel-Owram, mitigating, said Rehman had never been in trouble before and started dealing after becoming addicted to cocaine and running up a debt to his own suppliers.

However, he conceded that although there was a “degree of pressure” from those higher up the chain, it “fell far short of duress”.

Rehman had been “directed to drive to certain addresses to deliver drugs”, added the barrister.

He said Rehman had worked “throughout his adult life”, lately as a HGV driver but “predominantly” as a bus driver.

Judge Simon Hickey said Rehman had clearly made a “substantial amount of cash” from his drug enterprise.

He said the fact that Rehman was making drug deliveries in an Uber ‘taxi’ was an aggravating factor as he was “operating under the guise of a taxi to deal drugs on the street”.

He said the police investigation debunked Rehman’s claim that he was only dealing to pay off a drug debt.

He told Rehman:

“You must understand that anybody who deals in Class A drugs is dealing in a pernicious, revolting drug because it causes death (and) misery.”

He said although it was Rehman’s “first foray” into drug-dealing and he had family commitments, it could only be an immediate jail sentence.

Rehman was jailed for two years and eight months. He will serve half of that sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.

North Yorkshire Police appoints new deputy chief constable

North Yorkshire Police has appointed a new deputy chief constable following the retirement of Phil Cain, who had been with the force for more than 20 years.

Mabs Hussain, who is currently with Greater Manchester Police as assistant chief constable, will take up the role on January 3.

Prior to his time in Manchester, Mr Hussain spent 22 years at West Yorkshire Police where he served at every rank as a detective.

As chief superintendent, he was the commander for Wakefield and also spent time as commander for the Leeds district. He was awarded an MBE in 2018 for his services to charity and policing.

Mabs Hussain

Mr Hussain said:

“Yorkshire is very close to my heart, as I was born here and I also live here. I will be working hard to ensure that North Yorkshire remains one of the safest places to live and visit in the UK.”

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Chief constable Lisa Winward added:

“His extensive policing background and experience will be a credit to the force and I am very much looking forward to working with him as part of our chief officer team.”

Jenni Newberry, acting North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“Our executive management team has been involved in this selection process which was made difficult in the best of ways by the quality of the candidates being considered.”

Mr Cain is paid £123,648. A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said it didn’t have the information yet on Mr Hussain’s salary.

Pictured: (left to right): New North Yorkshire Police deputy chief constable Mabs Hussain, acting police, fire and crime commissioner Jenni Newberry and chief constable Lisa Winward.

Police investigate Wetherby Road building site theft

Police are appealing for information after a theft from a building site on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

Officers said various plant machinery and equipment were stolen from a new build site between 7pm and 7am on Thursday, October 28, into Friday, October 29.

The force said the theft may have involved a large vehicle, which would have entered the site but still been partially parked onto Wetherby Road.

A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“Officers are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the theft.

“If you travelled on Wetherby Road between the Hookstone traffic lights and the Empress roundabout that evening, and remember seeing anything or have dashcam footage of that route, please make contact.

“If you can help, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Beth Crawford-Evans. You can also email bethany.crawford-evans@northyorkshire.police.uk.

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

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210231021.”

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Harrogate man jailed for ‘despicable’ pictures of extremely young child

A man has been jailed for two years for taking “despicable” photos of an extremely young child and distributing them on the worldwide web.

Joseph Pearce, 39, from Harrogate, committed the acts at a property in the area and one of the images drew particular condemnation from the sentencing judge for how it showed the naked child.

This and two other photos were shared on the internet by Pearce who downloaded and sent the images out on the KIK messaging app, York Crown Court heard.

He had also been sent indecent images of children by others on the same app, said prosecutor Victoria Hajba-Ward.

She said that Pearce’s odious offences were aggravated by the extremely young age of the child and the “potential for a high volume of viewers” of the images he sent out.

The child cannot be named for legal reasons.

Pearce handed himself in to police but had already disposed of his mobile phone on which he had taken the images.

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It took police two days to find the phone and incriminating evidence, but Pearce made a “full confession” when interviewed by officers.

It is understood that police in North Yorkshire may have liaised with authorities in the United States during their investigation.  

Pearce appeared for sentence on Friday after pleading guilty to three counts of taking indecent images of the child, three counts of distributing them and one count of making or downloading the images. The offences occurred in April last year.

Harry Crowson, mitigating, said that Pearce, who is a father, had never been in trouble before and had been taking steps to reform himself through therapy and an offenders’ rehabilitation charity.

He said Pearce’s “world came crashing down” after the offences came to light. He had told a probation officer that “I’m glad I’ve been arrested”.

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, branded Pearce’s offences “despicable”.

He said the photos he shared of the child on the internet “for (the gratification of) paedophiles, will be out there forever”.

Mr Morris added:

“And one day that little (child) will probably know this.”

He said the worst of these images was “there for others to see and it’s going to be flying round the world”.

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The judge described Pearce as “self-obsessed” and said it was clear from the pre-sentence report that his responses to questions by probation officers were “scripted”.

He told Pearce: 

“To take photos of (a child) in this way can only be met with an immediate prison sentence.

“You no doubt got into this by seeing photographs uploaded.”

He said that by uploading his own vile photos, Pearce may have encouraged others “to get into (viewing indecent images), and so other children may be abused because of you”.

Jailing Pearce for two years, he told him: 

“The only mitigation in this case is your guilty plea and the fact that you went to police to tell them about it, but they would have got to it in the end with the help of the United States authorities.”

Pearce was also placed on the sex-offenders’ register for 10 years and made subject to a 10-year sexual-harm prevention order, mainly to curb his internet activities. 

Appeal for man following Knaresborough train station robbery

British Transport Police has put out an appeal to find a man in his 20’s following a report of a robbery at Knaresborough Train Station in September.

The man the police are looking for was described as 20 to 25 years old, of slim build and wearing a grey tracksuit top and bottoms. He was with a woman with blonde hair.

The robbery was reported between 6.25pm and 6.30pm on Saturday, September 25 on the Leeds bound platform.

A British Transport Police statement said:

“A man is reported to have been assaulted and had his bank card stolen. Officers are appealing for information from anyone who was in the area at the time.”

To report information contact the British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. Use the reference number 529 of 25/09/21.

Or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers  on 0800 555 111.

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Two arrests made in Bilton after power tools theft

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of theft after power tools were stolen in Bilton overnight.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers visited the area after a member of the public contacted them to report two men carrying a box full of items at around 1am.

After searching the area, officers found the men who were both aged in their 50s and from West Yorkshire.

A box containing a variety of power tools was recovered nearby. Both men were arrested on suspicion of theft.

They remain in custody while enquiries continue.

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Keith Tordoff launches police commissioner campaign in Harrogate

Pateley Bridge man Keith Tordoff held a media launch in Harrogate this morning for his campaign to become the next North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Mr Tordoff, who is standing as an Independent candidate, said he was the man to regain people’s trust after the resignation of Philip Allott.

His manifesto is based on the slogan “safer streets for all”. He said he would find ways to protect vulnerable people and increase public confidence in the police and fire services.

Mr Tordoff said he wanted officers to spend more time on foot talking to people and look at how police deal with areas of persistent anti-social behaviour.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, he said:

“It is very important that we give people confidence that we have safer streets for all. There’s plenty we need to do to achieve this, to show we’re listening to them and doing something about it.”

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Mr Tordoff served as a police officer in Leeds for 20 years and said this set him apart from the other candidates, and would enable him to find practical ways to bring improvements.

Besides working for the police, Mr Tordoff, who has won the support of the Yorkshire Party, also has a business background having served as chairman of Nidderdale Chamber of Trade and owned the sweet shop in Pateley Bridge.

He added:

“North Yorkshire needs strong leadership that can work with everyone, that’s why I’m independent.”

Election on November 25

The commissioner’s role is to hold the county’s chief constable and chief fire officer to account.

The by-election will take place on November 25. Applications to vote by post must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 10th, while proxy vote applications must be entered by 5pm on Wednesday 17th.

Mr Tordoff finished third when the role was last contested in May. Turnout then was 25%.

He is standing again following the resignation of Mr Allott in the wake of comments made about the murder of Sarah Everard.

The full list of candidates is:

Hannah Barham-Brown, Women’s Equality Party

James Barker, Liberal Democrats

Zoë Metcalfe, Conservatives

Emma Scott-Spivey, Labour

Keith Tordoff, Independent

Police appeal to find wanted Harrogate man

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information to find a wanted man from Harrogate.

Andon Llalla, 40-years-old, is wanted on recall to prison.

Despite extensive enquiries to find Mr Llalla, officers are now asking the public to come forward if they have seen him or know his whereabouts.

He is believed to be in Harrogate but he also has links to West Yorkshire, specifically Halifax and Brighouse.

It is unclear what Mr Llalla was in prison for.

A police statement added:

“If you see him or have information for the police, call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12210179751.

“To report information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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Police arrest five in Harrogate as part of national county lines action

North Yorkshire Police arrested five people in Harrogate as part of a national week of action to tackle county lines drug dealing.

The week started on Monday last week when officers stopped an 18-year-old man who was riding an illegal motor scooter.

Officers stopped him after smelling cannabis and seized 15 packages of the Class B drug.

They then arrested the man on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply before releasing him while under investigation.

Later that day officers arrested two women in their 30s in the Starbeck area on suspicion of possessing heroin with intent to supply. Again the suspects were released under investigation.

On Friday police arrested a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man on Jennyfield Drive after they earlier ran away from officers.

When the officers caught up with the pair, the officers seized ketamine, cannabis, £300 in cash and equipment police believe was being used for drug supply.

They arrested the two suspects on suspicion of possessing ketamine with intent to supply and possessing cannabis with intent to supply. They were released while under investigation.

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The activity was part of a national “week of intensification” led by the National Crime Agency that saw police forces across the country work to bring down drug dealers and safeguard vulnerable people.

Detective chief inspector Lorraine Crossman-Smith who coordinated the week of activity in North Yorkshire, said:

“This week’s action gives a glimpse of the work that goes on the target county lines drug dealing all year round.

“Thanks to these national weeks of action, we are able to draw on additional resources such as our British Transport Police colleagues, the Regional Organised Crime Unit and local partner agencies to tackle what is a major priority for us.

“In addition to enforcement activity, a major focus for North Yorkshire Police is protecting vulnerable people who are drawn into the world of drug dealing. Whether young people who are forced to sell drugs on behalf gangs. Or those who are forced to let drug dealers use their homes as a base for selling drugs in a form of exploitation known as “cuckooing”.

“It requires support from a number of agencies including local authorities, community safety partnerships, housing providers, charities, health workers and drug rehabilitation services. My thanks go to all the agencies who supported the week and for their ongoing efforts throughout the year.”

Are you concerned about anti-social behaviour in Ripon?

North Yorkshire Police has launched a survey to try and tackle anti-social behaviour in Ripon.

The police have asked for as many people who live in Ripon as possible to respond so officers can decide on the next steps to take.

Ripon’s anti-social behaviour have been in the spotlight for well over a year. Ripon City Council sought to join forces with the police in November 2020 but the problem has persisted.

This survey comes just a day after a 21-year-old man was jailed for his part in a knifepoint robbery, which he carried out during the day outside the Ship Inn on Bondgate.

The robber threatened a teenage boy with a knife and said if he “did not hand everything over, he would be shanked”, York Crown Court heard yesterday.

North Yorkshire Police believe that anti-social behaviour is often caused by underage drinking so is working with Community Alcohol Partnerships on the survey.

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Have your say by clicking or tapping here.

The survey asks residents for their views on alcohol related litter, young people drinking in public places, young people being rowdy and asking for adults to buy alcohol for them.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“We’re keen to hear your thoughts on the issues around young people and alcohol in your community.

“We’re working with the organisation Community Alcohol Partnerships to bring local partners together to discuss, tackle and protect our community from anti-social behaviour often caused by underage drinking.

“The first step in this process is to find out local resident’s views and thoughts on the issue so it’s really important we get as many people to take part in the survey as possible.”