A Harrogate police officer has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at a property in North Yorkshire.

Joseph McCabe, 27, had only been married six weeks when the incident occurred in 2021.

The victim, who was not in a relationship with McCabe, “froze in fear” after the officer “stroked” her on the arm arm and then badgered her for sex, York Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Richard Blackburn said when the victim rejected McCabe’s advances, he grabbed or “yanked” her hair and dragged her off a bed, before demanding she had sex with him.

He said that McCabe, a devout Roman Catholic who had drunk about seven pints that night, placed his hand on the woman’s inner thigh and on her back and then lifted her onto a bed, before lying next to her and staring at her. Mr Blackburn said:

“He took hold of her arm and began to stroke it.”

When the woman asked him what he was doing, McCabe made no reply.

Mr Blackburn said the woman was scared and made it clear she didn’t want to have sex.

About 30 minutes later, McCabe started shouting, “Get into…bed now”, added Mr Blackburn.

She again spurned his advances.

McCabe, who had been in his policing job since early 2020, later apologised for his behaviour, telling the woman he had “reverted back to being my teenage self” and had made an “ill-judged, romantic” advance. However, he denied his actions were sexual in nature.

The woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, later reported the incident to police.

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McCabe, of Kingsley Park Road, Harrogate, was brought in for questioning and gave police a prepared statement claiming he was drunk at the time. He admitted lifting the woman and putting her down on a bed but denied his behaviour was sexual.

He said he thought that “matters were developing” between them during the incident in the early hours of the morning, and that he had “stupidly” tried to kiss the woman. Mr Blackburn added:

“He said she made it clear that was not what she wanted and he then apologised.”

McCabe, who was suspended by North Yorkshire Police pending the outcome of the trial, denied pulling the woman’s hair and demanding that she get into bed with him, and said he fell asleep after she made it clear she didn’t want sex.

He was charged with one count of sexual assault but denied the offence. At the trial, which resumed today after the prosecution opening in October last year, McCabe, wearing a smart suit, took to the stand to state his case.

‘Wholeheartedly’ denied allegation

He said he “wholeheartedly” denied the allegation and had done nothing more than try to kiss the woman.

The victim said McCabe picked her up and placed her on a bed and that “nothing was said, which I found quite creepy”. She added:

“He laid on the bed next to me and then he took hold of my hand and (his hand) went up my arm in a stroking motion.”

She said McCabe was moving his hand towards an intimate part of her body, but no contact was made. She said:

“At first I was a bit shocked and couldn’t work out what he was doing.

“I said, ‘What do you think are you doing?’ I perceived that he was trying to have sex with me.”

She said she pointed to the Crucifix that McCabe was wearing and said:

“Aren’t you meant to be religious? What are you doing?”

“I turned away from him at that point because I didn’t want him to think I was interested in him.”

However, she then “felt my (hair) bun get pulled and I was ragged to the floor”.

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She said she was “shouting and swearing” and telling him “don’t touch me”. She added:

“I remember shaking a lot and I didn’t know what to do.

“I just froze in fear. I was in shock.”

She said that during the “horrible” incident, McCabe had “terrified” her and at one stage she feared she might be raped.

Mr Blackburn said the victim “couldn’t get over what happened” and that McCabe had placed her on the bed as a “prelude to something else”.

McCabe’s barrister Kevin Baumber read out character testimonies from friends of McCabe, one of whom was his sports coach.

One of McCabe’s gym friends described him as a “hard-working, kind-natured individual” who took “great pride” in his work.

His sports coach and best friend said McCabe was a “fun guy but has always been serious and sensible, someone I would go to in a crisis”.

He said McCabe had always been “respectful” towards women “for as long as I’ve known (him)”.

Evidence ‘not credible’

But district judge Tan Ikram shot down McCabe’s claims that the victim had been lying or “reimagining” the events.

He said although McCabe was otherwise a “man of good character” and that there was “nothing to suggest you have done anything like this (before)”, there was “always a first time”.

Mr Ikram pointed to inconsistencies in McCabe’s own evidence, including his claim that if the victim had consented to a kiss he had no idea “where it could have ended up”. Nr Ikram added:

“That to me just did not seem credible.

“You have a woman in a bed and have no idea where it would end up? Your evidence today has not been credible.

“You can give no credible explanation as to why (the victim) would make up such a serious allegation. She was telling the truth about what happened that night, I’m sure of that.

“On the other hand, (you) were cautious in your answers (having had) plenty of time to think about it. You have elaborated to try to make innocent sense of what you did.

“I’m sure that your intentions throughout were sexual.”

The judge said he believed the victim’s account that there were “several incidents that night beyond the original attempt to kiss her”.

He told McCabe:

“She never consented and you knew she didn’t and you certainly knew in relation to the encounters where you dragged her by the hair and demanded that she get into your bed, and for those reasons I find you guilty of the offence.”

McCabe sobbed uncontrollably as the judge delivered his verdict.

Sentence was adjourned to March 31.

The family of PC David Haigh, the Harrogate police officer murdered by Barry Prudom, has called for a permanent memorial to be erected.

Father-of-three PC Haigh was just 29 years old when he was shot by Prudom at Norwood Edge car park in Stainburn Forest.

PC Haigh’s widow, three sons and other family members hung a wreath at the site yesterday — 40 years to the day after he was slain.

They laid another wreath at Harrogate police station, where there is a plaque commemorating a fallen colleague.

But besides that plaque there is nothing to honour the officer who made the ultimate sacrifice and his family feels it is time that was put right.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret at yesterday’s wreath hanging, relatives said they were in discussions with the Police Memorial Trust, a charity that erects memorials to British police officers killed in the line of duty.

They hope something will be arranged for the site where he died, which is currently a car park owned by the Forestry Commission.

The memorial to PC David Haigh.

Annette Jakes, PC Haigh’s widow, returns to the site most years to pay her respects. She said:

“He was a hero. Yet there is nothing to remember him except the plaque in the police station.”

The fateful day

Ms Jukes was so overcome by grief at the news of her husband’s death that she had to be sedated for many days afterwards.

Recalling the fateful moment, she said she could see police officers through the glass door of the family home at the time on Elmwood Street:

“It was about 10am. There was the chief superintendent and the police doctor behind him.

“The chief superintendent said ‘I think you’d better sit down’. Then he told me my husband had been killed this morning. I don’t remember anything after that. I just hit the ground. I was injected for weeks. I never even saw the children.”

Eldest sons Carl and Michael, who were 11 and eight at the time, were sent home from Grove Road Community Primary School. They were waiting in a neighbour’s house when they overheard the news that their dad had been killed. Two weeks later they were back at school.

PC David Haigh

Youngest son Richard, who was just three at the time, said he was “unbelievably proud” of his dad.

He added it was a cruel twist of fate that the anniversary of PC Haigh’s death always fell around Father’s Day.

About a dozen family members, including grandchildren of PC Haigh, were at Norwood Edge yesterday to pay their respects.

It was a short and dignified occasion at the spot where it is thought PC Haigh died from a single gunshot wound.

Prudom went on the run and killed two more people before turning the gun on himself 17 days later after Britain’s biggest ever manhunt.

Now the family hopes a more lasting tribute will be erected in memory of the young Harrogate father who sacrificed his life serving others.

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A Harrogate police officer pleaded not guilty in court today after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman.

Joseph McCabe, 27, of Starbeck, is currently suspended from duty as a North Yorkshire Police officer based in Harrogate.

The officer appeared before York Magistrates Court this morning charged with sexual assault by touching. The case concerns an alleged incident at a North Yorkshire property last summer.

Prosecutor Charlotte Dangerfield said Mr McCabe, was allegedly “trying to stroke” the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

It was also alleged that he was pulling at her hair, added Ms Dangerfield. She alleged that Mr McCabe was trying to have sex with the woman who was unwilling.

The defendant’s solicitor, Mr Hague, claimed the incident was “not sexual in nature” and added:

“He [Mr McCabe] thought there was going to be sexual interaction (but) she rejected it and he respected that”.

The magistrate questioned Mr Hague about the relationship between the defendant and the woman. Mr Hague responded and said:

“It had been a friendship for sometime with regular friendly communication, just a typical workplace relationship.”

Mr McCabe is set to appear before York Magistrates Court again on October 11 and has been released on unconditional bail.

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A number of Harlow Hill residents have questioned why North Yorkshire Police took 18 hours to offer any reassurance to families after alleged gunshot last weekend.

Residents have also criticised police claims that they responded immediately, saying armed officers took about 45 minutes to arrive and the police helicopter was deployed later still.

Police say they were called to reports of “loud bangs” in the Pinewoods at 5.01pm on Friday.

Armed officers attended and were stood down shortly after 7pm. But another 16 hours passed until police issued a five-paragraph media statement at 11.04am the following day.

An armed officer at the Pinewoods entrance on Friday.

The Stray Ferret has received calls from several residents saying children had been playing in the Pinewoods at the time of the noises and people were frightened. They were therefore disappointed not to be kept informed by police.

One person said:

“There was no reassurance whatsoever. We are a community very close to Harrogate police station and I would have thought some form of panic prevention and reassurance would have been issued.”

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Residents praised the police for sending armed officers and a police helicopter but said the following day’s media statement, which said ‘officers immediately attended and carried out an extensive search in the area’, was misleading.

They said two plain clothes officers turned up after about 10 minutes but the length of time it took armed officers and the helicopter to arrive, although understandable given that those involved had to travel, allowed plenty of time for anyone responsible to leave the Pinewoods.

‘Proportionate response’

Andy Colbourne, Chief Inspector for Harrogate and Craven, told the Stray Ferret the force control room assessed 999 calls to ensure a proportionate response and he was satisfied the right action was taken in this instance. He said:

“We provided a response that was suitable to the information we had at the time.”

Chief Inspector Colbourne added he did not know exactly when the armed officers and police helicopter arrived on the scene.

Police at the scene.

He said a male in the area was searched on the night but released because “nothing was found on him that would link him in any way to the incident”.

Chief Inspector Colbourne added he would look into the delay in issuing any update to the community, adding:

“If we are getting calls from the public about something that could be significant I would expect they will get an update quickly.”

Police are urging people in the Harrogate district to hand in any weapons, including guns, knives and tasers, during a two-week amnesty.

Anyone with weapons can surrender them at Harrogate police station, at Beckwith Head Road, anonymously without the threat of prosecution.

The amnesty, which starts tomorrow and ends on May 29, is part of a national campaign to tackle serious crime.

A North Yorkshire Police press release today said some people may be unaware that firearms kept at home for years are illegal. Others are legally held but no longer required and some are used to cause harm. The press release said:

“The surrender gives people the chance to dispose of firearms or ammunition by simply taking them to a local police station and handing them over.”

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The amnesty includes: illegally-held guns and ammunition, imitation firearms and air guns, tasers, stun guns and CS gas.

Police stations in Harrogate, York, Scarborough, Malton, Skipton, Selby, Northallerton and Richmond are taking part in the surrender.

Knife amnesty

In addition to the firearms surrender, Operation Sceptre will run from May 16 to 22.

As part of this coordinated week of activity, which aims to keep knives off the street, knives can also be disposed at Harrogate police station.

Assistant Chief Constable Elliot Foskett, said:

“I want people to take advantage of this campaign and know they are disposing of a potentially dangerous item in the safest way possible, without getting into any trouble.

“It’s a chance to do the right thing and a chance to potentially save a life”.

Police in Harrogate have arrested a woman who was wanted on recall to prison.

The 21-year-old, of no fixed address, was released from prison on licence this month.

According to police, she was released early from a 16-week sentence after committing multiple offences, including assault and shoplifting.

After failing to comply with her licence conditions, police said on Tuesday she was wanted for recall to prison and appealed to anyone who knew where she was to get on touch.

However, in an update today, North Yorkshire Police said:

“This afternoon she was arrested and remains in custody.”

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A prolific offender who bit a Harrogate police officer and spat at another during the covid pandemic has been jailed for over a year.

Police were called to Sainsbury’s supermarket on Wetherby Road after Mark Murtagh, 34, attacked a security guard, York Crown Court heard.

The security man had been following Murtagh around the aisles, sensing he was up to no good, said prosecutor Muneeb Akram.

Murtagh suddenly turned round, asked the guard why he was following him and aimed a volley of vile racial abuse at him.

The security officer brought out his phone and tried to call police, but Murtagh knocked it out of his hand, sending it flying across a shopping aisle.

Coughed on police officer

A staff manager called police who quickly arrived to arrest Murtagh, who had no intention of going quietly.

As he tried to resist arrest, he shouted abuse at the two officers, telling them to “take these cuffs off” and “hand over your jacket”. Mr Akram said:

“(Murtagh) said he had covid and coughed directly at (the named female officer), causing spit to land on her.

“He’s restrained to the floor by officers (but) tries to resist and attempts to get back up with his legs by swinging them around.”

As Murtagh attempted to “push himself away” along the floor using his arms, he tried to bite the male traffic constable’s leg.

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The named officer managed to push Murtagh’s face away but as he did so, he was bitten on the wrist, causing puncture wounds which drew blood.

The officer finally brought Murtagh under control by spraying CS gas in his face and he was taken into custody.

The officer was said to have suffered psychological harm following the incident at about 5pm on September 10 last year.

Murtagh, of Findon Terrace, Bradford, was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, one count of resisting arrest and racially aggravated assault on the security guard.

He admitted the offences on the day his trial was due to be held and appeared for sentence via video link on Wednesday.

26 previous convictions

Mr Akram said Murtagh had 26 previous convictions for 42 offences including violence, resisting police officers, drink-fuelled disorderly behaviour, drugs matters, theft and handling stolen goods.

Vincent Blake-Barnard, for Murtagh, said the father-of-one’s violent behaviour in the supermarket was “born of frustration” due to problems he had at the time.

But judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, branded his behaviour “disgraceful”.

He slammed Murtagh for violently resisting two officers “doing a tough job, serving the public”.

Jailing Murtagh for 14 months, the judge told him:

“This was a lengthy and distressing arrest. Police officers are entitled to perform their duties without being assaulted.”

Murtagh will serve half of that sentence behind bars before being released on parole.

 A police officer was been injured as he investigated a suspicious car in Harrogate

The incident happened at 3.20pm this afternoon as officers approached a suspicious car containing three people in Bewerley Road.

Police said the green Vauxhall Insignia, collided with one police officer who fell over. He has been taken to hospital with a serious leg injury.

The vehicle made off but was found a short time later.

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Three people aged 24, 30 and 35, all from Leeds, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police. Dial 101, press 1 and ask to speak to the Force Control Room. Please quote reference number 12210078916 when passing on any information.

Harrogate police have warned of an increase in fraudulent door to door sellers.

The force said it had received several reports of incidents this week. Some involved offers to clean driveways and gutters for payment in advance by people who did not then carry out the work. Others claimed to be part of an ex-offenders rehabilitation scheme.

The police urged people to check whether doorstep sellers held a pedlar’s certificate, which can be inspected to prove identity and nature of business.

The police are warning residents of a rise in incidents of fraudulent door to door sellers.

Andy Fox, financial abuse safeguarding officer, said:

“Don’t open the door without verifying their identity and don’t be afraid to ask them to leave or shut the door if you don’t want to engage. Call the police if you’re at all concerned. Be wary of anyone using high pressure sales techniques too.

“We often see a rise in these type of doorstep sellers at different times but there has definitely been an increase in reports of them across North Yorkshire recently.”

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The police have also suggested installing a door chair or peephole so residents can safely see outside without having to open their door.

To report suspicious doorstop sellers to the police call 101 or Trading Standards.