A Harrogate man has been sentenced to four years in prison after police officers stopped him during a drug deal on Knaresborough Road.
Ben Michael Hargreaves, of Dragon Avenue, was sentenced at York Crown Court yesterday for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs.
The 42-year-old’s sentencing comes after an 18-month investigation by North Yorkshire Police’s Harrogate Operation Expedite Team.
On September 9, 2020, officers spotted a man leaving a vehicle on Knaresborough Road in Harrogate and suspected he had purchased drugs from the driver.
The man was found to be in possession of cocaine. Officers then stopped the vehicle and detained the driver, Hargreaves.
Officers found a quantity of cocaine in the car and following a roadside drug wipe, Hargreaves tested positive for cannabis. He was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and supplying drugs.
At his home address police found more cocaine and digital microscales. His phone was also examined which revealed a large amount of drugs related content and showed him organising the importation of drugs from the United States, as well as discussions about evading customs and border control.
The drugs seized from Hargreaves were valued at around £1,500 if sold at street level. As well as the four-year sentence he was disqualified from driving for five years.
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- Prolific offender jailed for threatening man with knife in Ripon
Detective Sergeant Peachman, from the North Yorkshire Police Harrogate Operation Expedite Team, said:
Three men arrested after theft of trailer near Boroughbridge“Hargreaves has received a significant custodial sentence at York Crown Court and this sentence reflects the severity of his offending and the extent of it.
“He was found to be supplying a Class A drug on the streets of Harrogate and the impact of this offence should not be underestimated. The knock-on effects of increased criminality to fund drug addictions creates misery for those trapped in the cycle of addiction and those people who live in their communities. Hargreaves was financially profiting from that misery and exploiting the addictions of his customers for his own greed.”
Police have arrested three men after reports of a trailer theft from a compound near Boroughbridge.
Officers from North Yorkshire Police were called at 9.20pm last night after suspects were seen breaking into the compound and making off with the trailer.
The force used number plate recognition to locate the Land Rover Discovery off the A1(M).
The car was stopped by police off junction 45 after it attempted to make a U-turn.
A North Yorkshire Police statement said:
“Security cameras at the premises picked up a partial registration number of the vehicle, a Land Rover Discovery, and within minutes it was located by police on the A1(M) heading south. The Land Rover began to make a u-turn in the carriageway, but officers quickly managed to bring it to a stop just after junction 45.
“Three occupants, all men in their 30s, were arrested at the scene, on suspicion of theft, dangerous driving, and failing to stop for police. They remain in custody at this time. The trailer will be returned to its rightful owner.”
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- Prolific offender jailed for threatening man with knife in Ripon
Prolific offender jailed for threatening man with knife in Ripon
A prolific offender who threatened people with a knife and tried to stab a man in Ripon with an eight-inch blade has been jailed for two years.
Christopher Dalton, 39, brandished the blade at an address in Ripon, where his former partner and others were terrorised by the knife-wielding thug who was waving the blade around while shouting threats, York Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Rob Galley said that on the night before the incident, Dalton had been sending threatening Facebook messages to a named man who he believed was in a relationship with his ex-partner.
Dalton had messaged him asking to meet up for a fight, telling him:
“About time we had it out. I’m going to do you with a knife.”
The following day, he went to the address in Cedar Close armed with the eight-inch blade.
He jumped off his bike outside the property, then pulled out the knife and shouted:
“Come on, let’s have it out!”
Bear hug restraint
He then walked up to his former partner, who was outside the property, and pointed the knife at her, before “waving it around in front of her face”.
He then shouted abuse at the woman and told her “I’ll fxxxxxx kill you”.
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Her male friend or partner, who went to her aid, was said to be in “genuine fear for his life”.
As one of the other named men at the scene tried to put him in a bear hug, Dalton tried to stab him.
He and three of the other people present managed to restrain Dalton, who was “flinging his arms around, with the knife (pointed) towards them”, said Mr Galley.
Police turned up but Dalton, who was drunk and on drugs, continued swearing and shouting threats. As he was cuffed and led away by police, he shouted to two of the named males:
“You’re fxxxxxx dead.”
He then turned to his former partner and shouted:
“I’ll smash your mum’s house.”
51 previous convictions
He was charged with affray, carrying an offensive weapon and sending threatening messages intending to cause stress or anxiety to the male victim.
Dalton, of Westgate, Ripon, admitted all three offences and appeared for sentence via video link today (Monday, May 16) after being remanded in custody.
York Crown Court.
Ismael Uddin, mitigating, said Dalton had been drinking and taking drugs when he sent the threatening Facebook messages the night before the incident on April 18.
He said the “catalyst” for Dalton’s shocking behaviour was that he thought his former partner was in a relationship with this man.
Mr Galley said Dalton had 51 previous convictions for 88 offences dating back more than 20 years, including violence, theft and public disorder.
His “appalling” record also included two previous convictions for carrying an offensive weapon in public, ostensibly golf clubs. He was recently given a short prison sentence for a series of shop thefts in Ripon.
Judge Nicholas Lavender QC told Dalton:
“You intended to cause fear of serious violence and you caused serious fear. You were carrying a knife and came close to stabbing someone with it.
“Your offending is so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.”
Jailing Dalton for two years, Mr Lavender QC said he presented “a danger to others”.
Dalton was also handed a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting the male victim and going within 100 metres of an address in Ripon.
Vigilance urged after attempted theft at Harrogate antiques shopAntiques shops and dealers are being urged to be vigilant after an attempted burglary of a shop in Harrogate this week.
The shop at 27 West Park was targeted between 6pm on Tuesday and 6am on Wednesday this week, when a culprit or culprits attempted to enter via a side window but did not gain access.
A shop on Main Street in Hawes was also targeted in the early hours of today. Between 1.10am and 1.20am, a main broke into a shop on Main Street and stole items from inside.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:
“As a precaution, shops and businesses — particularly those dealing in antiques — are urged to be vigilant, and check their security measures. You can contact your local neighbourhood policing team for bespoke crime prevention advice.
“Officers are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the two incidents.
“In particular, we are appealing for residents and businesses to check any CCTV systems or doorbell cameras that may have captured footage of suspects or any vehicles driving away from the areas.”
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The suspect in the Hawes burglary is described as around 5ft 6ins to 5ft 7ins in height, of skinny build and wearing black clothing with a lower face covering. Police have not issued a description of a suspect in the Harrogate attempted burglary.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation at Harrogate can email ian.mason@northyorkshire.police.uk, quoting reference number 12220079988.
For the Hawes investigation, email heather.campbell@northyorkshire.police.uk, quoting reference number 12220080576.
Alternatively, call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and speak to the force control room, giving the relevant reference number. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Ripon teenager assaulted in unprovoked attackNorth Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses following an assault on a 17-year-old in Ripon.
It happened outside Majestic Wine on North Street between 9.45pm and 10pm on Wednesday May 4.
The victim was approached by two unknown young men who punched him several times in an unprovoked attack.
He suffered minor facial injuries but did not require medical treatment.
The suspects are described as being aged around 16 to 18 years old and were wearing dark tracksuits.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Mark Nursey. You can also email mark.nursey@northyorkshire.police.uk.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Read more:
Three men charged following Harrogate drugs bust
Three men were charged last night following a police operation targeting suspected cocaine dealers in Harrogate.
Four men were arrested on Thursday when officers seized suspected cocaine, bulking agent, cannabis, cash, mobile phones and drugs paraphernalia.
It followed an investigation by North Yorkshire Police’s organised crime unit into a gang suspected of bringing cocaine and cannabis into Harrogate and the surrounding area.
The arrested men included one aged 22, from London, one aged 34 from Portsmouth, and two aged 37 and 40 from Harrogate.
The police today said three of the four men have been charged with supplying cocaine and cannabis.
The 22-year-old was also charged with assault of a police officer and the 37-year-old was also charged with two counts of assault of a police officer.
The three men will appear at York Magistrates’ Court today.
The fourth man, aged 40, has been released on conditional bail.
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Yesterday, Detective Inspector Fionna McEwan, of North Yorkshire Police’s organised crime unit, said:
“The latest action follows six months of painstaking information gathering behind the scenes.
“This work is not always visible but I can assure local people that we continue to work hard to disrupt organised crime and relentlessly pursue those believed to be involved.”
Four arrests in Harrogate as police swoop on suspected cocaine gang
Four men have been arrested in an operation targeting suspected cocaine dealers in Harrogate.
The action follows an investigation by North Yorkshire Police’s organised crime unit into a gang suspected of bringing cocaine and cannabis into Harrogate and the surrounding area.
Warrants were carried out across Harrogate yesterday afternoon when the men were arrested and officers seized suspected cocaine, bulking agent, cannabis, cash, mobile phones and drugs paraphernalia.
The arrested men include one aged 22, from London, one aged 34 from Portsmouth, and two aged 37 and 40 from Harrogate. All four were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
The 22-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
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The 34-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class B drugs and the 37-year-old also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to produce class B drugs.
All four remain in police custody for questioning.
Detective Inspector Fionna McEwan, of North Yorkshire Police’s organised crime unit, said:
“The latest action follows six months of painstaking information gathering behind the scenes.
“This work is not always visible but I can assure local people that we continue to work hard to disrupt organised crime and relentlessly pursue those believed to be involved.
“If you suspect drug dealing in your neighbourhood, or you believe someone is being exploited, please don’t hesitate to make a report to us in confidence, or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers. Every piece of information, no matter how small, helps to inform a bigger picture.”
Reporting information about drugs
Anyone with any information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room.
If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Police say the signs of drug dealing can include:
Increased callers at a property at all times of the day or night
Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time
Anti-social behaviour at a property
Not seeing the resident for long periods of time
Drug-related rubbish – small plastic bags, syringes
Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods
Get help for drug and alcohol addiction
A Harrogate resident is appealing for information after their beloved dog, Biscuit, was stolen during a burglary at their home on Branham Drive.
Biscuit the dog is a white and tan American Bulldog and has a white-tipped tail.
The burglary took place on Wednesday, May 4 between 9.30pm and midnight when the owner was away.
North Yorkshire Police said several other items were taken during the break-in and has asked anyone with information on the burglary or Biscuit’s whereabouts to contact the police.
The police said Biscuit is considered one of the family and is keen to reunite it with its owner.
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If you have information call 101, select option 2, and asking for PC Craig Brogden on extension 30116 or email craig.brogden@northyorkshire.police.uk.
Or, to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The reference number is 12220075872.
Police to spell out plans to tackle crime in RiponNorth Yorkshire Police is holding a public meeting in Ripon this month to talk about its plans to tackle crime in the city.
There are longstanding concerns about persistent crime and anti-social behaviour in Ripon, with problems particularly prevalent during summer.
At the community engagement meeting on May 16, police will spell out how they plan to address the issues.
A police social media post said the meeting will “share with you the current crime statistics and trends for your wards, provide you with an operational overview of how your area is currently policed and also tell you about the proposed plans for the future”.
It added:
“The purpose of this meeting is to ensure your voice is heard with regards to how your community is policed.
“By voicing your concerns direct to us you will enable North Yorkshire Police to target and tailor our resources and plans to better meet your needs and prevent issues or escalation in your community.
“This is an open invite to all local residents, concerned people and partners agencies that are concerned in community support to come along and provide your perspective.”
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The post added that people will “be invited to highlight any community issues, tensions or criminality that are affecting you”.
Inspector Alex Langley, from the Ripon neighbourhoods policing team, will chair the meeting, which will take place from 8pm to 9pm at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre on Dallamires Lane.
Underage drinking crackdown
These partnerships see police work with retailers, schools, neighbourhood groups, Trading Standards, local authorities and other emergency and health services to reduce alcohol problems.
As part of the initiative, retailers are assessed by Trading Standards and police to check they are not selling alcohol to children.
Harrogate online predator caught by vigilantes
A Harrogate man asked a 13-year-old ‘girl’ for nude photos during online chats, a court heard.
Thomas Fryer, 36, contacted the ‘girl’ on a messenger app, not realising he was in fact chatting with an adult decoy who was working undercover to trap online predators.
Prosecutor Ashleigh Metcalfe told York Crown Court that a vigilante group called Keeping Kids Safe was behind the sting, which ended with a “confrontation” at Fryer’s home that was live-streamed on social media.
She said the volunteer decoy – a man who was named in court – set up a fake profile purporting to be a teenage girl.
Fryer made contact under the username ‘Tom Fryer 1’. On the ‘girl’s’ profile it said she was 19 years of age, but when he contacted her, she told him she was 13 years old.
Thus began a series of debauched chats on the Oasis and KIK apps, culminating in the “confrontation” at Fryer’s home where the vigilantes called in police.
Officers arrived on the scene and seized Fryer’s iPhone, which showed messages between him and the ‘girl’, including one in which he asked her if she “goes nude” and encouraged her to take naked photos of herself. Ms Metcalfe said:
‘She’ sent him two photos, whereupon Fryer called her a ‘cute girl’.”
He then asked ‘her’ if she had any photos of her young friend and if this girl was sexually active.
He then asked ‘her’:
“Why don’t you kiss your ‘bestie’ for the experience?”
In subsequent chats, he asked for more pictures from the ‘girl’ and told ‘her’:
“It’s probably better to keep this between you and me. Don’t tell anyone about the (pictures) LOL.”
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Ms Metcalfe said the chats occurred over a five-day period between May 28 and June 1, 2020.
Never been in trouble before
Fryer, of Dragon Parade, was quizzed by police but remained largely silent. However, he ultimately admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
They were charged as ‘attempts’ because the ‘girl’ was in fact an adult decoy.
Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said Fryer had never been in trouble before.
Judge Simon Hickey said it was better for Fryer to get the help he needed in the community rather than any custodial sentence.
Fryer was given an 18-month community order with a 40-day rehabilitation programme. He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work.
He was placed on the sex-offenders’ register for five years and made subject to a five-year sexual-harm prevention order, mainly to curb his internet activities.