Two men have been arrested today after a man was robbed at knifepoint in Ripon yesterday.

North Yorkshire Police said the victim was walking on Bondgate at about 5.30pm yesterday when four men approached and threatened him with a knife.

They stole his belongings and then followed him home and forced him to let them in. Once inside, the four robbers stole a number of other items then escaped down Aismunderby Road.

Police said a 20-year-old man from Ripon and a 19-year-old from Harrogate were arrested by police at about 10am today in connection with the robbery.

Both men are currently in police custody.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could help with the investigation to call 101 and quote reference number 12210027815.

Read more:

• Ripon police received several reports in one day last week after numerous young people broke lockdown to attack residents.
• Man left with broken nose after being assaulted on Ripon street.

Police arrested two suspected drug dealers in Harrogate on Friday.

According to North Yorkshire Police, plain clothes officers became suspicious when they saw two men travelling through the town at 5.30pm and stopped their car.

A search of the vehicle discovered what the police believe to be cocaine and cash. The officers then arrested the two men, aged 22 and 38. It is not known where the men live.

Read more:

• Jail for ‘prolific’ Harrogate drug dealer
• Ripon youths break lockdown rules to attack residents

Police then searched the suspects’ homes and seized a “large amount” of what they believe to be cocaine and a “large amount” of cash.

Officers also seized small bags, scales and a mobile phone.

Both men have been released under investigation on suspicion of possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

The police also arrested the 22-year-old on suspicion of possessing criminal property.

A drug dealer who brought crack cocaine and heroin into Harrogate has been sent to jail for five years and four months.

Lee Bavin, 27, of Manchester Road in Bradford, appeared at York Crown Court for sentencing today.

North Yorkshire Police has had Bavin on its radar since 2018 as part of a county lines investigation.

Officers stopped Bavin on his way to Harrogate at the time and found 40 heroin wraps and 140 wraps of crack cocaine in his underwear.

They also seized 82 methandienone tablets and his phone, which linked him to county lines.

Read more:

• Ripon youths break lockdown rules to attack residents
• Lockdown fear needs to be restored, says senior police officer

Police arrested Bavin again in January 2020 when a plain clothed officer watched a drug deal take place in Harrogate.

The officer followed the suspects to a block of flats where Bavin was hiding with more than £800, 19 wraps of heroin and a phone.

The courts granted the officer’s request to remand Bavin in custody at this point to “protect the wider public.”

Bavin subsequently faced charges of two counts of possesing heroin with intent to supply, one count of possesing crack cocaine with intent to supply and one count of possing methandienone with intent to supply.

He changed his plea to guilty to all offences when he appeared at court in November 2020.

Investigating officer, detective constable Tom Barker of Harrogate’s Operation Expedite Team, said:

“Lee Bavin is a prolific offender who showed no regard whatsoever to police action.

“I am hopeful that while he is in prison he is able to reflect on the crimes he has committed and receives help to rectify his criminal behaviour.

“Drug dealing causes misery in our communities we hope local people are reassured that we are committed to disrupting it and taking those responsible off the streets.

Youths in Ripon are breaking the national lockdown rules to attack residents, with police receiving a string of “distressing” reports in one day.

Police believe the incidents are linked with similar descriptions of small groups of teenagers between 14 and 18 years old.

Some of the reports include the youths throwing eggs and glass, spitting and punching people who challenged them and kicking at the heels of a postman.

Read more:

• Man dies on Ripon building site
• Parts of Harrogate district miss out on vaccine centre pledge

All of the incidents happened on Wednesday afternoon between 2pm and 3.30pm, according to the police reports.

Ripon City Police has released a statement to say that while there has been a “considerable reduction in incidents” as a result of lockdown:

“However, sadly, there appears to be a very small cohort of individuals intent on causing harm in our community and we are asking for your help and support in identifying those involved in several distressing incidents.

“Not only have these individuals caused distress, harm and injury to victims but they are breaking the lockdown rules, putting themselves and others at risk in the midst of a pandemic.

“These unprovoked attacks are distressing. It is likely that they are linked and we are doing all we can to identify those responsible to bring some justice for the victims affected.”

• 2.19pm, January 13 – Member of the public on Wakeman Road encountered 2 males aged between 15 and 18 years old who were throwing eggs. The males were abusive when challenged and then threw glass at the member of the public. Descriptions are; male one: approx. 5ft 9in tall, dark hair, medium build with a burgundy coat and Male 2: approx. 5ft 5in tall, dark jacket and dark trousers.
• 2.40pm, January 13 – Occured on Minster Road on the path near the Cathedral and Sainsburys in which 3 males aged between 14 and 16 years old threw stones at a member of the public. When challenged, one of the youths spat at and assaulted by punching the member of the public. Descriptions are male one: approx. 5ft 10in tall, wearing a red puffa jacket with a pale complexion and whispy moustache. Male 2: approx. 5ft 7in tall, wearing a grey hoodie and blue mask. Male 3 – no description available.
• 3.25pm, January 13 – Occured on Minster Road involving three youths who were kicking the heels of a postman. The descriptions match those of those given in the above incident.

Scammers pretending to be police officers are targeting local residents for money.

North Yorkshire Police said today it had received reports from people who had been called by a man claiming to be a police officer.

The bogus officer told the people they called that one of their relatives was in police custody and that this person was in possession of their bank and credit cards.

The victims were then asked to immediately call their bank or the police on 911 to verify this was genuine, using the same phone and without waiting for a dial tone.

Fake officer names have included Detective Matthews, DI Stevens and DC Winston.

Six cases have been reported to the police and so far none have resulted in a loss of money.

Read more:

• Police appeal for help after fraudsters steal from elderly woman in Summerbridge. 
• Police ask residents to be vigilant following reports of a scam involving delivery fraud.

Police are urging people to hang up if they’re suspicious and to use a different line if they need to call the police or bank.

They added that officers and banks would never contact people to move or transfer money.

Last year North Yorkshire Police financial abuse safeguarding officer, Andy Fox, released the following statement about a similar scam:

“Everyone believes they won’t fall victim to a scammer but these individuals are experienced professionals who know every trick in the book to gain your trust.

“A police officer will never get in touch and advise you to move, transfer or pay money and neither will a bank or building society. If you receive a call out of the blue offering money or security advice, be very suspicious and do not give the caller any personal or account details.

The police have encouraged anyone caught out by this scam to report it to the force on 101.

Just eight people have been fined by police in the last month for covid breaches in the Harrogate district.

Figures published last night by North Yorkshire Police revealed four fines were given to visitors to the district and four to local people for indoor gatherings between December 2 and January 5.

Other areas within the county were dealt with far more severely: a total of 362 and 308 fines were issued in the Scarborough district and York respectively over the same timeframe.

North Yorkshire issued 710 fines in total for covid breaches.

The highest number — 334 — were handed out for indoor gatherings. The second highest category was for local residents, who received 191 fines.

A total of 161 fines were given to visitors and nine were for outdoor gatherings.

Read more:

• Pateley Bridge police station to be sold.
• Today, the Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has passed the 400 mark for the first time.

Yesterday Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for North Yorkshire Police’s response to covid, said people would notice a higher police presence during the third lockdown.

He added police would step up patrols and anyone found in breach of the rules faced fines of up to £200.

Chief Inspector Rachel Wood said:

“I cannot stress enough how serious our current situation is. As a nation we have moved into new national restrictions and we are being told to once again stay home to save lives and protect our health service.

“Our local patrol plans have been revised and we have increased our presence and visibility in our local communities. We will take enforcement action against those who are breaking the rules and putting the wider community at risk from this deadly virus.”

In September, the force said it had issued 1,151 fines for covid regulation breaches up to that point in the pandemic.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information after a man suffered a fractured nose during an assault in Ripon last month.

Between 10pm and 10.30pm on December 23, the man was walking along Priest Lane.

He was approached by individuals, who assaulted him and made off in an unknown direction, leaving the victim with a broken nose and in need of hospital treatment.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Officers are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was in the Priest Lane area of Ripon at the time of the incident or who may have dashcam footage or CCTV.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for PC Lucy Mills or email lucy.mills@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote reference number 12200244105.

Read more:

• Police appeal after car drove off after colliding with a city centre building. 
• Police seek man who performed a sex act on himself near the River Nidd in Knaresborough.

A treasure trove of stolen jewellery and medals, including some from the First World War, have been recovered by police.

North Yorkshire Police today appealed for people who may have lost the items to come forward.

It is urging anyone who suffered a burglary between August and October this year to check these photos and get in touch if they believe any belong to them.

The items include some distinctive items including First World War medals, one inscribed with the name DVR.P.WRIGHT.R.A., spirit level cufflinks, engraved signet rings and cufflinks, cluster rings, necklaces and gold chains.

Read more:

• North Yorkshire Police issues alert over delivery fraud

• Police arrest 100 for drink and drug driving

The force believes the items could have been stolen during burglaries in North Yorkshire and other parts of the country, including West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Humberside, Sussex, Dorset, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, the West Midlands and Staffordshire.

Anyone wanting to get in touch with the police should contact David.Pegg@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or call 01904 618691, select option 2 and ask for Dave Pegg.

Harrogate district residents expecting deliveries over the holiday period are being targeted by fraudsters.

North Yorkshire Police has received 24 reports of the scam since November an dis urging people to be vigilant over the festive season.

The scammers have been sending messages saying delivery slots with parcel delivery firm DPD have been missed. The message includes a link to rearrange a delivery time.

The victim is then asked to pay a small sum to rearrange delivery. If they agree, they often then receive another call purporting to be from their bank alerting them to suspicious activity.

The victim is then asked to transfer their money to an account they believe to be secure, but to which the scammers have access.

The conmen are taking advantage of the popularity of delivery services in the run up to Christmas.

Read more:

• Doorstep scams were on the rise over lockdown. 
• Puppy scammers target Harrogate mum and her disabled daughter. 

Andy Fox, financial abuse safeguarding officer at North Yorkshire Police, said:

“If you receive an email purporting to be from DPD, check the sender. DPD has confirmed genuine emails will only come from the following addresses: dpd.co.uk, dpdlocal.co.uk or dpdgroup.co.uk and that they will never ask you to pay for a redelivery.

“Be very careful before clicking on any links in an email and if you are in any doubt, check the company’s website for details of any known scams. If you have received an email which you’re unsure about, you can report it to report@phising.gov.uk. You can report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to 7726.”

The police have also received reports that the fraudsters have gained enough information over the phone to take out a loan in the victim’s name. This is then transferred to a bank account they control.

The police have encouraged anyone that has been caught out by this scam to contact their bank immediately and report it to the force on 101.

A Harrogate man who was “smiling” while he exposed himself to a woman in February 2019 has been placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

James Bryant, from Sunnybank Shaw Mills, parked at a Harrogate filling station and waited until all the cars had left before entering the shop and performed the lewd act to the female cashier.

During his trial in November, heard at York Crown Court, Bryant avoided jail and was given a suspended sentence.

The case returned to virtual court today because the judge didn’t make an order for Bryant to be put on the register during the trial.

Judge, Sean Morris, placed Bryant on the sex offenders register for 10 years. This sentence comes with notification requirements this means any changes such as new addresses must be updated.

Bryant didn’t appear in court today due to a technical glitch with his video link.

Read more:

• Police seek information about Bilton flasher. 
• A Harrogate teen receives two year sentence for drug dealing. 

During his initial sentencing the court was told the incident lasted half a minute with CCTV showing Bryant “briefly smiling” at the victim before walking out and driving away.

He was arrested two weeks later and was found to be keeping a machete, hunting knife and a lock knife in the boot of his car.

Bryant had a previous conviction for flashing in 2016 when he was convicted of indecent exposure at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The court was told Bryant had mental health problems, his defence Aisha Wadoodi said his problems were largely “of his own making” due to his “heavy use” of cannabis.