A barman at a well-known pub in Ripon has been jailed for over three years for dealing cocaine and cannabis from his living quarters.

Jay Goodall, 29, a heavily convicted felon, was arrested at the South Lodge pub on Harrogate Road after police searched his bedroom and found about £3,000 of cocaine, cannabis and benzocaine, York Crown Court heard.

Police found all manner of drug paraphernalia inside his room including digital weighing scales – which Goodall claimed were for baking cakes.

He was brought in for questioning and initially claimed the drugs were for personal use.

Prosecutor Kelly Clarke said that would be impossible because it would have meant he had a £1,750-a-week drug habit on a £400 weekly wage.

Goodall was charged with possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply and admitted both offences. He appeared for sentence via video link today after being remanded in custody.

Ms Clarke said police executed the search warrant at South Lodge on February 9 after receiving a tip-off that someone was potentially dealing drugs at the hotel owing to a “strong smell of cannabis” emanating from the staff quarters.

Police at the scene on February 9.

An officer turned up at the newly refurbished pub – one of the largest and most prominent in the area – as Goodall parked his vehicle in the car park. He was detained in the communal bar area.

Ms Clarke said police noted a “strong smell of cannabis (coming) from the living quarters upstairs”.

Officers followed the smell to Goodall’s bedroom where they found a “large quantity” of suspected cocaine in various snap bags and boxes.

They also found two plastic boxes and a black safe full of dealer bags. One of the boxes contained a pestle, used for grinding substances, on which police found “remnants of Class A drugs”.

They also found a large bag containing 330 grammes of benzocaine, a cutting agent used to bulk up drugs which can also be used as a painkiller.

Inside Goodall’s wardrobe was a black balaclava, two zip bags full of cannabis, the digital weighing scales and a box for an air pistol, although no weapon was found inside.

Ms Clarke said:

“He said the drugs were for his own personal use and (that he) had consumed around three-and-a-half grammes per day.

“He said the scales were for when he baked cakes.”

The estimated value of the drugs stash, including the benzocaine, was about £3,000.

Police also seized two mobile phones – one from inside a rucksack in the wardrobe and one from Goodall’s car – but Goodall failed to provide officers with the PIN numbers to enable them to analyse his messages.

Racial offences

The prosecution outlined Goodall’s criminal record which included several convictions for racially aggravated harassment and criminal damage, as well as assaulting an emergency worker and a previous conviction for dealing cannabis.

Other previous convictions included driving while unfit through drink or drugs, battery and sending malicious communications.

He received a nine-month suspended prison sentence for possession with intent to supply cannabis in Leeds in 2021.

In July last year he received another suspended jail sentence for yet more racially aggravated offences. The new offences in Ripon put him in breach of that 16-week suspended prison term.

Goodall’s solicitor advocate Stephen Smithson said the former barman was a drug addict but “there’s no suggestion (that he had conducted) this criminality for the sake of his own addiction”.

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, told Goodall:

“You were caught red-handed in your place of work and residence, and you had the full paraphernalia for drug-dealing in your room. It’s quite clear this was determined drug-dealing.

“You should have learnt your lesson (following the previous conviction for dealing drugs). You haven’t.”

He told Goodall he had a “bad record for unpleasant” offences including ones with a racial undertone.

Goodall was jailed for three years and seven months for possession with intent to supply cocaine and breaching the suspended sentence. There was no separate penalty for dealing cannabis.

Read more:

• Man admits supplying cocaine after police raid at Ripon pub 
• Two arrested following drugs bust at Ripon’s South Lodge 
• Cannabis farm with nearly 500 plants found in Harrogate

A cyclist has been left with “minor injuries” following a collision with a car in Knaresborough.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident, which happened on Harrogate Road near Mother Shipton’s, took place on Monday, December 18 at 4:45pm.

The force is now appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage.

It said in a statement today:

“A car collided with a pedal bike which resulted in minor injuries for the cyclist. The driver of the car did not stop at the scene of the collision.

“Officers are now appealing to the driver or anyone with information to come forward. In particular, officers are keen to hear from anyone who has any relevant dashcam footage.

“If you have information, please email 001282@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101 and speak to the Force Control Room.”

Quote reference number 12230241416 when passing on information.

Read more:

• Harrogate paedophile jailed for 13 years for historic sex offences
• Harrogate heroin and cocaine dealer jailed for over three years

One of Ripon’s largest and most prominent pubs will reopen under new management tomorrow afternoon (Saturday), following its sudden closure in April.

The South Lodge doors will be open again from 4pm and at 9pm there will be free live music.

Ahead of the pub’s reopening, the Stray Ferret was invited for a sneak peek and the opportunity to meet new licensee Terry Flanagan and his daughter Sinead, to find out about plans for the Harrogate Road hostelry.

The pub’s wonky sign will be fixed shortly

Mr Flanagan, told the Stray Ferret:

“The minute I saw this pub was available, I just knew I had to have it. It’s in a great residential location and has bags of potential.”

With experience built over almost 30 years in the hospitality sector across Yorkshire, beginning in the mid 1990s when he was landlord of the Queen’s Head in Kirkby Malzeard, he added:

“I go on my gut instincts and could see that South Lodge has all of the ingredients needed for success.

“My aim is to put it right back at the heart of the community, welcoming families with children during the daytime and catering for adults in the evenings, with free musical entertainment at weekends, Thursday quiz nights and pool nights on Wednesdays.”

Ms Flanagan, also an experienced publican, is providing administrative support for the South Lodge reopening.

Sinead Flanagan

She said:

“The food offer, including Sunday carvery, will be up and running by the end of the month and we also have plans for the Christmas period.”

Re-decoration is nearing completion and the pub, which stands in its own grounds and has a beer garden, will have its sign fixed shortly.

South Lodge is located by the busy A61 on the route of the 36 bus service between Ripon and Harrogate.

Further information is available via the pub’s Facebook page.

Read more:

• New Bottleshop and Taproom opens in Ripon
• Ripon charity shop to close

A man died in a crash near Harewood Bridge that led to the closure of the A61 for more than 12 hours yesterday.

Police said today the man, who has not been named, was a taxi driver in his 40s.

He died at the scene of the crash, which occurred at about 1.20am yesterday morning on the A61 Harrogate Road at Dunkeswick. The road reopened at 3.20pm.

North Yorkshire Police is now appealing for witnesses to the collision, which involved a grey BMW and a black Peugeot taxi.

It said in a statement today:

“Sadly, the driver of the taxi, a man in his 40s died at the scene. His family have been informed and are receiving support form specially trained officers.

“The driver of the BMW, a man in his 20s remains in hospital.

“The stretch of road was closed until 3.20pm on Sunday afternoon to allow officers to investigate the scene.

Anyone who saw the collision or has dashcam footage is urged to dial 101, select option 2 and ask for Steve Hawkins.

Alternatively, you can email DC 55 Steve Hawkins on Steve.Hawkins@northyorkshire.police.uk

Quote reference number 12230111568 when passing information.

Read more:

• Police close A61 after serious collision south of Harrogate
• Harrogate bar to permanently keep covered outdoor area

Drivers on a main route in and out of Harrogate will face disruption this summer when Harewood Bridge closes in July.

Leeds City Council is planning to carry out resurfacing and maintenance work to the grade-II listed structure.

The bridge carries the A61 Harrogate Road over the River Wharfe and is a busy route between Harrogate and Leeds.

The move is expected to see the structure closed during the school holidays. However, a specific date and timeframe has yet to be confirmed.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said:

“The latest position is that we intend to carry out these important repairs during the school holiday period starting at the end of July, to minimise any disruption.

“We are currently reviewing all options and will be consulting widely including with North Yorkshire County Council, parish councils and other key stakeholders on our proposals and the diversionary routes required.

“Once a timetable is confirmed we will be updating the local communities with as much notice as possible so residents and businesses can plan ahead.”

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A Harrogate cycling group has said North Yorkshire County Council needs to “deliver” cycling schemes after years of promises.

The council revealed yesterday it planned to bid for £3.19 million to help fund projects in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Both schemes — on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate and Harrogate Road in Knaresborough — were previously announced in 2020.

Now the council needs to await the outcome of its bid to tranche four of the Department for Transport’s active travel fund before knowing if either initiative can go ahead.

It follows the council’s decision to abandon phase two of the Otley Road cycle route in Harrogate and the closure of nearby Beech Grove to through traffic, as well as ongoing uncertainty over whether the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway will go ahead.

The Otley Road cycle route

The initiatives were part of a wider ambition to create a linked off-road cycle route from Cardale Park to Harrogate train station.

Plans to improve cycling on Oatlands Drive were also shelved.

Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate District Cycling Action, said:

“We welcome the fact that the council is continuing to bid. But what we would like to see is some delivery.

“Standalone cycle schemes are not going to work. We need a single, segregated, joined-up cycle route to make sure people are safe.”

Read more:

• Council bids for £3m for cycling projects in Harrogate and Knaresborough
• Cycling group questions commitment to active travel in Harrogate district

Mr Douglas described as “slightly embarrassing” yesterday’s comments by Councillor Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways at the council, that the latest bid was “another significant milestone in our efforts to deliver a more balanced approach to travel in the county”.

Mr Douglas said the only new active travel scheme had been the first phase of the Otley Road cycle route, which he said remained incomplete and unsafe, adding:

“There have been no new schemes here. Now they are seeking additional funds for schemes they have already announced.

“I’m not sure how they can talk about their track record for delivery.”

Victoria Avenue, which is the council’s priority scheme, would see improvements to public spaces, pedestrian crossings and segregated cycleways. Parking spaces would be removed.

A decision on bids submitted for the active travel fund is expected from the government on March 17. 

Construction must begin on successful projects before March 31, 2024.

Roadworks on the A658 Harrogate Road have diverted a large volume of traffic through two Harrogate district villages.

Five days of roadworks began today between Gravelly Hill Lane and Hall Green Lane on the busy Harrogate Road.

It is causing delays for vehicles travelling in both directions. But it has also brought problems to locals because traffic is being diverted along Crag Lane, The Sleights and Gravelly Hill Lane through North Rigton and Huby while work takes place.

Villagers have expressed concerns about the speed and volume of traffic passing through the villages as well as the effectiveness of the diversion signs.

One makeshift cardboard sign (see below) appeared in Huby this morning to help drivers navigate the diversion.

Work is being carried out to resurface the Harrogate Road.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire County Council said it wasn’t aware of any issues. She said:

“Works on the A658 are taking place from October 31 to November 4. The closure runs from 9.30am to 3.30pm daily. A signed diversion is in place.”

A member of staff at a Harrogate district car wash has talked about the moment the roof came crashing down when Storm Malik struck on Saturday.

The Bubblerun Car Wash, on Harrogate Road, near Leathley, was open as usual at 11.30am when the incident occurred.

Fortunately, staff heard the roof begin to fall and managed to hastily get out of the way.

A customer, however, was still in his car as the roof came down. Staff moved fast to get him out and check he was OK as soon as the roof stopped moving.

The Bubblerun Hand Car Wash.

Staff member Alan Clemmit, said everyone was “lucky” to avoid being hurt. He said:

“It just collapsed. Bits of the corrugated plastic had flown off earlier on but we didn’t think the whole roof would come down. We all just bolted as soon as we heard it.

“I didn’t think the wind was that strong, it’s probably about 1.5 tonnes worth of weight that fell.”

Read more:

• 140 homes in Harrogate district without power after storm hits
• Storm Malik: Strong winds cause disruption across Harrogate district

Mr Clemmit added the customer’s car was dented but no serious damage was done.

The car wash reopened today after staff returned on Sunday to help clear up the debris.