‘Evil’ Harrogate carer jailed for defrauding disabled women out of £18,000

A carer from Harrogate has been jailed for three years after defrauding a disabled woman in her care of £18,000 and then going on a shopping spree.

Corina Rose Lyons, 54, tricked the victim, who uses a wheelchair, into handing over her credit card and money from an inheritance, claiming she needed to borrow the money for essential costs.

As part of a “convoluted tissue of lies” Lyons from Pannal Green, convinced the woman to hand over her credit card after telling her she had been offered a job as a code-writer for Sony and needed money for software, York Crown Court heard.

She then went on a £10,000 spending spree, said prosecutor Helen Towers.

Lyons was arrested following the six-year con and denied the allegations – even trying to pin the blame on the victim.

On the day of her trial though, she admitted three counts of fraud.

At the sentence hearing on Thursday, Ms Towers said the victim suffered from a condition which caused her chronic pain.

Lyons, who was working for a Harrogate care group, became one of her carers in 2004. In 2010, Lyons became her sole carer and was trusted by the victim.

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The court heard how Lyons’s deceit had a “devastating” effect on the woman’s life.

She’d been forced to sell her house but was left unable to buy a property in London near her relatives. She ended up having to buy a cheaper property in Scotland where she knew nobody.

Lyons took a total of £18,649 from the victim after spending £9,649 on the victim’s credit card and persuading her to give her two loans.

Lyons – who had previous convictions for 18 offences including fraud, theft from the person and obtaining property by deception.

In 2009 she had been sent to prison for defrauding another woman out of nearly £100,000, had been released from prison in 2010 and immediately set about targeting a new victim.

Mohammed Ayaz Qazi, for Lyons, said she “simply didn’t learn her lesson” from her previous fraud conviction.

Judge Sean Morris described Lyons as an “evil fraudster”. He said:

“You went to prison in 2009 for a near-identical offence, fleecing somebody who trusted you.

“You got your nails into the next victim, who was a woman who suffers from an awful affliction that makes her bed-bound mostly, and certainly wheelchair-bound.

“You knew she had come into an inheritance and you fabricated the most convoluted tissue of lies again and again and again, and that lady was trying to help you, and you were just spending (the money).

“The (victim)…doesn’t trust anybody anymore, especially carers. She should have been enjoying the twilight of her years with loved ones – you ripped that away. You are an evil fraudster.”

Police confirm man and woman died at Harrogate’s Majestic

Police have confirmed that a man and a woman from London died at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel last night.

Officers discovered the bodies at 10.20pm. Detectives believe that both victims, who were in their late 30s or early 40s, knew each other.

North Yorkshire Police also confirmed it is not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

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Detective superintendent Wayne Fox, of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team, said:

“We were called at around 10.20pm on Tuesday May 4 by hotel staff at the Majestic hotel to a report that the bodies of a man and a woman had been located in a hotel room.

“On arrival, a man and a woman, both in their late 30s/early 40s from the London area, were pronounced dead at the scene by colleagues from the ambulance service. Their families have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers.

“A detailed investigation is under way looking into the circumstances of both deaths. We can confirm that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and would like to reassure the local community that we believe that this is an isolated incident.”

A hotel guest has also spoken of his shock. The man, who requested anonymity, told the Stray Ferret:

“There were police and ambulance all over the car park. I would say around four police cars and a couple of ambulances. Plenty of officers and first aiders were milling around the hotel as well.

“I overheard some conversations between the police that led me to think that at least one person had died here but I have no idea of the circumstances and still don’t.

“They were here from 10pm to 1am. It’s not what anyone expects, it was a bit of a shock.”

Police are currently at the hotel on the corner of Springfield Avenue and Ripon Road. No further details are currently available.

A spokesman for the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel and Spa said:

“Following an incident last night, the police were called and we are currently assisting them with their enquiries.”

Julia Mulligan’s track record as Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner

Julia Mulligan formally began her role as North Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.

Representing the Conservatives, she was the first person to ever hold the newly-created position after beating the Labour Party candidate by 13,000 votes. She receives a salary of £74,400.

The former Craven district councillor was re-elected in 2016, and in 2018 the fire service was added to her brief when she became the North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner.

She has, at times, been a controversial figure. She’s faced accusations of bullying and has been outspoken on social media.

As Ms Mulligan prepares to leave office after the upcoming election, we explore whether she has delivered on some of her key pledges from 2013, and look at how she has handled issues such as county lines drug dealing and the impact of austerity on the force.

What did she pledge?

Keep North Yorkshire the safest place in England: SUCCESSFUL

According to figures published in April 2020 by the Office for National Statistics, the county is still the lowest crime area in England and Wales, despite a 9% rise in recorded offences.

Ms Mulligan partly put the rise down to a change in the way the force records crimes but said she was “particularly concerned” about a rise in violent crime.

The figures show bicycle theft, vehicle offences and criminal damage are among the crimes that decreased since the previous year.

Continuously improving satisfaction levels and confidence in the police: FAILED

The government’s programme of austerity has meant cuts in funding for police forces across the country and North Yorkshire has been no exception.

Mrs Mulligan championed the rights of victims when she was first elected, but a 2019 study that she commissioned on attitudes towards NYP showed that public confidence was mixed.

It found that 48% of people feel the service is deteriorating, and 44% felt the force was getting worse at responding to crimes quickly.

Ms Mulligan called the results “worrying but not a surprise”.

“It has been clear to me for some time now that the public are concerned about the erosion of local policing services.”

A continued reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads: SUCCESSFUL

Ms Mulligan made reducing deaths and injuries on the roads one of her top priorities when she took office, and there has been a decline over the past decade.

In the year Ms Mulligan took office, 473 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads, which was reduced to 335 in 2019.

The office of the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner sold the historic AJ1 vehicle registration plate and raised £190,000 to support road safety projects across North Yorkshire and York.

Controversies

Former police HQ at Newby Wiske Hall.

Ms Mulligan’s 2015 decision to sell the police headquarters at Newby Wiske and move to Northallerton was mired in controversy.

It resulted in a High Court challenge from residents of the village after the building was sold to a company that wanted to create a holiday centre for children with 550 guest beds. They said it would “ruin the tranquillity” of the area.

In 2018 she pushed to expand her role and take over the running of the fire service in the county replacing local councils. However, this was unpopular with North Yorkshire County Council, City of York Council and six of the seven district councils who all opposed it.

In October 2018 the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel upheld a complaint of bullying against Ms Mulligan. The panel decided that four people had been subjected to bullying behaviour by her during her time in office.

Ms Mulligan responded that she was “shocked and disappointed” and that if there was there a mechanism to appeal, “I would certainly do so”.

In 2019 she faced an inquiry after allegations she instructed a member of her staff to take down links to a convicted kidnapper from her personal Facebook page. She called the allegations “upsetting and untrue”.

Other issues

County lines drug dealing has become a major national issue during Ms Mulligan’s 9 years in office.

In 2019 a National Crime Agency report named Harrogate as an “area of concern” due to county lines drug-dealing in the town. It said Harrogate is the target of seven organised “lines” bringing in drugs.

In response to the report, Ms Mulligan said that government funding had so far failed to tackle the problem and that police couldn’t “arrest their way out of the problem”.

Pateley Bridge police station was sold earlier this year

Another major issue has been the closure of a third of North Yorkshire’s police stations.

Following a freedom of information request, the force revealed 12 staffed stations were closed in the county between February 2010 and February 2020 with Pateley Bridge the latest station to be closed and sold off.

After stations have closed Ms Mulligan has regularly cited cost savings and the ability to reinvest the money into frontline policing.

In February, the Stray Ferret requested an interview with Ms Mulligan to discuss her time in the role, which her office did not respond to.

Additional reporting by Rhys Talbot.

Harrogate man jailed for 10 years for child sex offences

A Harrogate man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to 17 child sex offences.

Dale Tyson’s crimes included sexual communication with a child and distributing indecent images of a child.

Tyson, of Christina Street, used an alter ego online to talk to children and get them to send sexual images of themselves.

York Crown Court heard he would pretend to be a young North American man to build stronger relationships with his victims in order to obtain more graphic images.

The 17 offences related to 10 children in the UK and USA. However, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement it believes there are many more.

Tyson pleaded guilty to seven counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, six counts of making indecent photographs of a child, three counts of intentionally encouraging an offence and sexual communication with a child.

North Yorkshire Police Detective Sergeant Steven Alderson said:

“This case really highlights the fact that it is almost impossible to know if the person you are speaking to online is who they claim to be.

“The young victims who came forward showed incredible bravery in speaking to the police about what happened to them and in speaking out they have helped protect many more young people from Tyson’s deplorable behaviour.

“The investigation spanned the UK and USA, with fantastic work from our investigators at North Yorkshire Police who managed to locate a number of these victims, without whom the case would not have been so strong.”

Tyson, whose trial was heard on Friday, is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order for an indefinite period.

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North Yorkshire Police added that anyone who thinks they or their child may have been a victim of online abuse should report it to the police.

If you are worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online and you would prefer not to speak to the police, you can report confidentially online through the child exploitation and online protection command centre here.

The NSPCC also has a range of resources for parents to help them keep children safe online.

Man admits holding up Summerbridge Stores with knife and hammer

A man carrying a knife and hammer is facing jail for holding up a convenience store in Summerbridge.

Munashe Chikomba, 22, appeared at York Crown Court via video link today and admitted to attempted robbery, possessing an offensive weapon and carrying a knife.

The raid occurred at Summerbridge Stores, a village shop on Main Street, on March 27.

Khadmin Al’Hassan, for Chikomba, said it was “very bizarre” that his “softly-spoken” client should commit such an act and asked for the case to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, said:

“He’s never been in trouble before – it’s a bizarre thing to do.”

The judge agreed to adjourn sentence for a probation report but warned Chikomba “not to read (anything) into this adjournment” because “this is a serious matter”.

Chikomba, of Cardigan Road, Headingley, Leeds, was remanded in custody until sentence on June 2 after pleading guilty to attempting to rob a male shop worker, two counts of carrying an offensive weapon and one count of having a bladed article in a public place.

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Criminals targeting motorhomes in North Yorkshire

Police are warning motorhome and campervan owners in North Yorkshire to take extra precautions, after numerous reports of suspicious activity.

The force said today there had been a spate of incidents across the county involving cold callers approaching vehicle owners and asking to buy them – even though they are not for sale.

In each case, a man or two men knock on the door and ask the homeowner if they can buy the campervan or motorhome and look inside.

Most incidents have been in the Selby area but police fear it could be happening across North Yorkshire.

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Inspector Clive Turner, of North Yorkshire Police’s rural task force, said:

“Please remember, you aren’t obliged to buy anything from or sell anything to doorstep callers.

“Rogue traders often try to take advantage of householders by using high-pressure sales techniques, or may even be looking for opportunities to steal vehicles or property.

“It’s clear that a group of people are deliberately visiting homes in North Yorkshire with campervans parked outside.

“We have been able to respond to reports of suspicious activity by increasing patrols and visiting homes to gather evidence and provide advice.”

Police also released the following advice to prevent the theft of motorhomes:

‘Don’t tarnish the whole of Bilton with anti-social behaviour’

A Bilton resident has passionately defended the area following reports of anti-social behaviour and crime.

Dani Paizis was hurt to read articles in the Stray Ferret that she believes unfairly tarnished the whole of the Harrogate suburb.

One person said they were planning to move their family from Bilton after witnessing graffiti, arson and drug dealing and others said the problem was getting worse.

Ms Paizis has lived in the old part of Bilton for around seven years and said she has never seen or experienced anti-social behaviour.

She believes any problems are concentrated around a few streets.

“I’m passionately pro-Bilton. That needs to be put across.

“Any anti-social behaviour does need dealing with, but it’s a shame for a small area to tarnish the whole of Bilton.”

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She said she was proud to be part of the local community, which she said had rallied during lockdown.

“You need to hear about the other side of Bilton. We have a fabulous community. People take care of their properties here, all neighbours take care of each other.

“We have thriving primary schools and a church community. Young families move here because it’s safe.”

Ms Paizis said she sympathised with the family who wanted to move away due to perceived problems, but said “it’s not a representative view of Bilton”.

She added that any young people who might be mixed up with anti-social behaviour needed support:

“We all need to focus on his helping and supporting young people to feel purposeful and focused as we come out of the pandemic.”

Harrogate cocaine and ketamine dealer jailed for 18 months

A cocaine and ketamine dealer from Harrogate has been jailed for 18 months today.

Callum McLachlan, 20, sold cocaine and ketamine – a tranquilizer notorious for inducing a trance-like state in users – on the streets of Harrogate.

In June 2019 his enterprise fell apart when police pulled over a Fiat Punto travelling between Harrogate Hill and the A61.

McLachlan was the driver and his 17-year-old girlfriend – a former boarding-school pupil whom we have chosen not to name – was in the front passenger seat. A third named man was in the back seat, said prosecutor Imran Khan.

Officers, noting a strong smell of cannabis inside the vehicle, searched the car and found 7g of ketamine inside McLachlan’s wallet. His girlfriend and the male passenger had small amounts of cannabis.

A roadside test revealed he had been drug-driving for which he subsequently received an 18-month driving ban.

McLachlan was arrested and taken into custody, where police found 18 wraps of cocaine and ketamine.

Officers searched a flat in the Dragon Road area where McLachlan and his girlfriend had been living together and found more drugs and £3,585 cash – the proceeds of his dealing. 

McLachlan, lately of Woodfield Road, Harrogate, was charged with six separate drug charges, including possess cocaine with intent to supply, cannabis possession, possessing ketamine with intent to supply, supplying ketamine, possessing MDMA and possessing criminal cash.

He pleaded guilty to all charges on the basis that he had been dealing within his own social circle.

His girlfriend – was charged with being concerned in the supply of ketamine. She initially denied this but later pleaded guilty on the basis that she acted as a conduit for her boyfriend.

Ismael Uddin, for McLachlan, claimed his young client was no “master criminal” despite having criminal convictions.

Mr Uddin said:

“He was living in a predominantly middle-class area…where he started dabbling in drugs.”

“He didn’t have a hard upbringing; there was nothing wrong with his life. He simply fell into the lifestyle he was in.”

He pointed to McLachlan’s “glowing references” from “everybody” who knew him, and he was in gainful employment.

Susannah Proctor, mitigating for McLachlan’s then girlfriend, said she had been “achieving (educationally) at a very high standard” until she met McLachlan.

The female defendant, now 20, had been at boarding school until the age of 16 and then enrolled at a college where she met and fell in love with McLachlan.

She failed her college course because of her relationship with her co-accused but was now back in full-time education in London.

Ms Proctor said:

“She is now doing extremely well (educationally).

“Her parents were obviously devastated by this offending. She has disappointed them in ways she could never have expected.”

She said the woman had “closed her eyes to the reality” of what her boyfriend had been up to, and the resulting court case had been an “awful” experience for her family.

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Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, said there was no getting away from the fact that McLachlan was a “supplier and street-dealer” and must face justice to serve as a warning to others that “drugs wreck lives”.

The judge told McLachlan he was “going to keep (the jail sentence) as low as I can”.

“You were (supplying drugs) so you could live in your flat with your girlfriend and it’s thanks to you that she is here (in court).”

McLachlan was jailed for 18 months, he will serve half of the term behind bars before being released on licence.

Dealers peddling Class A substances can normally expect sentences of at least four years.

Mr Morris told McLachlan’s female co-defendant: 

“Were it not for the influence of the person you fell in love with, you wouldn’t be here. You need to have a long, hard think about where you are going in life and who you choose to spend time with.”

She was given a 12-month community order with 200 hours’ unpaid work.

The judge postponed financial-confiscation proceedings until September, when McLachlan will be stripped of the cash he made from his dealing enterprise. 

‘I’m moving my family from Bilton due to anti-social behaviour’

A family has told the Stray Ferret that crime in Bilton has got so bad they are planning to move away from the area.

Last week we reported a growing fear of crime in the Harrogate suburb after a girl was assaulted.

Now one family member, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of having their property damaged, has said things have become so bad they want to leave.

The person said they had witnessed graffiti, arson and drug dealing and felt “at the mercy of luck” about being victims of crime themselves.

They added the area now has “too many unsavoury characters and not enough police presence”:

“The church is a hangout for drinkers and older kids day and night. I’ve watched many acts of vandalism such as graffiti, bottles being smashed, things set on fire and gates kicked in. When I’ve been able to reach the police nobody ever comes despite the offenders hanging around here for hours.

“Drug dealing occurs regularly outside the shops, my neighbours car was stolen, my neighbour was also mugged in the alley by the Co-op so I never let my kids walk that way now.

“Every morning I check my car to see if it has fallen victim to having the tyres slashed or paint thrown over it as many residents have had. Now there are reports of potential dog snatching so we have had to stop letting ours go in our yard unattended.”

They also said efforts to create a neighbourhood watch group had failed:

“At times it has been really stressful living here and we feel we are purely at the mercy of luck. A neighbourhood watch was set up two years ago but only a handful of us went to the meeting and I’ve heard nothing since.

“We plan to leave before summer, which is the worst time for us with drunk kids hanging outside in groups all night.”

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In a statement, North Yorkshire Police said:

“Over the past 100 days, antisocial behaviour in the Bilton area has accounted for around five percent of all antisocial behaviour reported across the Harrogate district. The majority of these reports are potential breaches of covid regulations.

“Any amount of antisocial behaviour ruins the quality of life for local people and can escalate. So it is vitally important that members of the public report incidents to us, so that we aware of them and can take action.

“The area has its own beat manager and local police community support officers who carry out regular patrols of the area and also work closely with the local Safer Harrogate community safety partnership.

“We urge members of the public to report incidents to us on 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also report incidents online at Report it – North Yorkshire Police | North Yorkshire Police”

Police launch drink-drive campaign as pubs reopen

North Yorkshire Police has launched a drink-drive campaign today to coincide with pubs reopening.

The force is anticipating a surge in drink-driving now pubs are able to serve outdoors and is urging people thinking of going for a drink to use public transport or select a designated driver.

It is also encouraging people to report suspected drunk drivers.

In 2020, officers arrested 871 people for drink driving – an average of more than two a day.

There were 136 arrests in the first three months of this year, despite pubs being closed.

Police hope today’s new ‘be a hero, stay at zero’ campaign will encourage anyone driving to pubs to stick to soft drinks.

Roads policing sergeant Andrew Morton said:

“After months of being stuck at home, it is only natural that people will want to go out and celebrate the latest step in the roadmap to ease coronavirus restrictions.

“We’ll be out around the clock on the lookout for drink-driving so we urge people to enjoy their time in beer gardens safely. No drink is worth a fine, a ban, yours or even someone else’s life.”

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Anyone with information about drink or drug driving is asked by the police to call 101 or, if it’s happening now, call 999.