A former Harrogate headteacher repeatedly denied in court making more than 3,000 indecent images of children.
Matthew Shillito, 42, pleaded not guilty to making 20 Category B images and 3,829 Category C images between December 3, 2012 and December 31, 2015.
Mr Shillito was appointed headteacher of Western Primary School in 2019.
He was previously headteacher across the Goldsborough Sicklinghall Federation of schools.
None of the alleged offences related to his employment.
During the case, “making” was defined as knowingly accessing a site that contained an indecent image.
The court was told that there was no evidence that Mr Shillito downloaded the alleged material onto his laptop.
The prosecution opened proceedings at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday and said the alleged indecent images were found on the cache in Mr Shillito’s computer, which could have only have got there had he accessed sites with those images.
Philip Morris, prosecuting, said there were “indicative” terms found on Mr Shillito’s laptop which showed intent to access the alleged images.
Searches were ‘legitimate’
However, Kevin Blount, defence, told the court that while the terms found on the computers may have been indicative, they were “not conclusive” as they could also bring up legitimate results.
Mr Blount said that a Russian image website named in court, which was accessed on Mr Shillito’s Dell laptop, contained legitimate images, such as travel pictures, as well as illegal ones.
He added that cached images could have been stored on the laptop from parts of a web page which Mr Shillito did not look at.
Addressing the search terms found on the laptop, Mr Blount said that the terms could bring up “legitimate images”.
He pointed to terms such as “Nabokov Lolita”, which he said could have been a legitimate search for the 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov.
He said:
“All of those search terms are capable of bringing back legitimate material.”
Cross examination
During cross examination of Mr Shillito, Mr Blount asked him whether he had visited the named Russian site.
Mr Shillito said:
“I visited it a lot. It was just that it was a website full of photographs.
“It was a moderated site. It was a site that had rules.”
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Mr Shillito told the court that he used the site to look for images he was interested in, such as travel after visiting Croatia in 2011. He said he had also used it for teaching material.
He told the court that while the website was Russian, it was loaded in English and was recommended by technology companies such as Apple as a site to use.
When asked by District Judge Lower if he had seen any indecent images of children, Mr Shillito replied “no”.
He repeatedly denied under cross examination that he had made the alleged indecent images of children.
Summaries of four police interviews with Mr Shillito were also read out in court where he denied the allegations.
iPad disposed
Prosecutor Morris asked Mr Shillito about an iPad mini, which was not recovered by police but a backup was found on a silver MacBook Pro.
Mr Shillito confirmed that he had disposed of the iPad because it was “not updating” and had a crack down the screen. He added that he threw it out during a clear out of his address.
Mr Morris put it to Mr Shillito that he had thrown the iPad out two days before police arrived to arrest him because “he was rumbled”. He denied this and said he was he was not aware that police were coming to his address.
When asked about the number of times he visited pages which were “indicative” of the alleged indecent images, Mr Shillito said he “could not imagine” visiting some of them.
Mr Morris told the court that it was “not just one” occasion that the defendant visited the site.
He said:
“In some cases, you have visited not just once or twice but 30 times.”
The trial was adjourned until August 10.
Motorists set for six weeks of delays on Harrogate’s Grove RoadMotorists face six weeks of delays on Harrogate’s Grove Road from Monday due to gas works.
Work is being carried out by Northern Gas Networks to replace ageing pipework with plastic pipes.
Temporary three-way traffic lights will be in place at the junction of Grove Road and Skipton Road from July 25 for two weeks.
These will then become two-way lights for four weeks as work progresses.
Parking will also be restricted along Grove Road while work is carried out.
Northern Gas Networks said in a statement that although most work will be carried out on the road, engineers will need access to customer properties to complete the project and ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas.
Russ Kaye, business operations lead for Northern Gas Networks, said:
“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these essential works. However, it is vital we complete them in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Harrogate.
“We want to assure residents and road users that we will be working hard to complete this essential scheme as safely and as quickly as possible.”
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Much loved Harrogate headteacher retires after 18 years
Linda Mortimer, the executive headteacher of Saltergate Schools in Harrogate for the past 18 years, retired today.
Ms Mortimer has worked in primary education for 34 years and today the school said it would like to thank her for all her “hard work, positivity, dedication, devotion and resolve over the 33 years at Saltergate”.
As headteacher Ms Mortimer has seen the introduction of a children’s centre, gateways, nursery, and the atelier area at Saltergate.
More recently in 2015, she was instrumental in the process of federating Saltergate Infant and Junior schools.
Mark Walker, chair of governors, paid Ms Mortimer this tribute:
“As headteacher she has ensured that personal development at Saltergate Schools is exceptional and that pupils benefit from a happy, safe, and caring environment, in which each individual is respected and valued.
“She has always gone above and beyond to ensure that pupils have access to a wide, rich set of experiences and opportunities to develop their talents and interests.”
Deputy headteacher Judith Hollywood added
“The development of our challenging, stimulating, broad and balanced curriculum led by Mrs Mortimer has ensured it is accessible to all and brings out the very best in our children.
“She has always led by example and worked with everyone within the school community to achieve our shared aims enabling us to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
The school said Ms Mortimer will be missed and wished her all the very best for a “long, happy and healthy retirement”.
Commissioner to be quizzed over planned cuts to Harrogate’s night-time fire crewsNorth Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is set to face further scrutiny over plans to cut the number of night-time fire engines in Harrogate to just one.
Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe will face councillors at a special meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee next Thursday.
The plans, which are currently out to consultation, have already been criticised as “putting money before lives”.
The Fire Brigades Union also described the proposals as “seriously concerning”.
The plans would see Harrogate fire station continue to have two fire engines during the day, but just one between 10pm and 9am when fewer incidents usually occur.
The move would also mean some of the fire station’s 40 crew members are moved to different stations or roles.
Harrogate Fire Station on Skipton Road
A report to Thursday’s meeting said Harrogate is of a “predominantly low combined fire risk” and that this “does not warrant” two 24-hour fire engines.
Commissioner Metcalfe has also insisted the fire service would “continue to provide an immediate emergency response” during the night.
Yet concerns remain that the move would increase response times if multiple emergencies occur during late hours and back-up vehicles have to travel further from outside of Harrogate.
Steve Howley, secretary of the North Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union, previously urged the public to reject the proposals which he said would “put lives at risk.” He said:
“The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner needs to fight for the correct funding from government, not simply mask underfunding by slashing services and providing the public of North Yorkshire with a second-rate emergency response service.”
Save £1.5m a year
Ms Metcalfe said the plans – which also include cuts to services in York and Scarborough – would save over £1.5 million a year, yet she insisted they are not cost-cutting measures.
She also said the savings would allow for investment in fire prevention.
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The proposals are part of the fire service’s Risk and Resource Model which sets out how it will deploy staff and equipment across North Yorkshire over the next three years.
The consultation will run until August 14 and residents are being urged to give their feedback online.
Commissioner Metcalfe said in a statement:
“The role of a fire and rescue service has changed and continues to change, with only 26% of our incidents last year relating to a fire emergency.
“We want to ensure we are addressing our current and future challenges and that we have the capacity to prevent and stop incidents happening in the first place.
“Inevitably, there are some areas where the setup of the service would change but I’m confident the right people, right equipment and the right support would continue to be available to everyone.”
To have your say go to www.TellCommissionerZoe.co.uk
Harrogate chef who shot baker found not guilty of causing fear of violenceA chef who shot his baker in the eye with an air pistol, “effectively” blinding him, has been remanded in custody to await sentence.
Brad Tristan Plummer, 25, fired the gas-powered ball-bearing gun at Aidan Corbyn at their workplace, the Nelson Inn gastro pub in Killinghall.
Mr Corbyn was taken to hospital for a procedure to remove the ball bearing from his eye, York Crown Court heard.
Plummer admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm but denied possessing a firearm with intent to cause Mr Corbyn fear of violence.
Yesterday (Thursday, July 21), a jury found Plummer not guilty of the second count following a four-day trial, but he now awaits sentence for GBH.
Prosecutor Howard Shaw said the horrific incident in September 2020 began innocently enough but turned more sinister.
He added:
“The defendant came into the kitchen and said, ‘I’ve got an air pistol’.
“(Plummer) was bragging to Aidan Corbyn about the gun, telling he.. he wanted to go outside and shoot at some bottles. He asked Aidan Corbyn to join him.”
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Mr Corbyn later said that he agreed to go outside because he was scared of Plummer, his boss.
The two men went outside to the back of the pub where they lined some bottles up as targets.
They returned to the kitchen at about 12 noon and Mr Corbyn went back to work.
The chef started pointing the pistol at Mr Corbyn, “pretending to shoot him”, said Mr Shaw.
He added:
“He kept pointing it at his face several times.”
Safety catch
At that stage, it appeared that Plummer had the safety catch on, but Mr Corbyn was so worried he tried to get away from him. However, his boss followed him, “laughing and joking and pointing the gun at Mr Corbyn”.
Things turned uglier when Plummer pointed the pistol at Mr Corbyn’s face “from a distance of about one metre”.
Mr Shaw said:
“He pointed the gun straight at his face (and) the air pistol discharged.
“Aidan Corbyn was shot in his left eye, the ball bearing lodging in his eye, effectively blinding him.”
Plummer, who lives at the gastro pub on Skipton Road, was arrested and taken in for questioning.
He told police he thought the air pistol wasn’t loaded when he shot Mr Corbyn.
Mr Shaw added:
Harrogate’s crime writing festival names its novel of the year“He said he thought the safety catch had been on and (that) he hadn’t aimed at Mr Corbyn.
“He said he and (Mr Corbyn) got on well and that this was an accident.”
Newcastle novelist Mick Herron has won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2022, presented by Harrogate International Festivals, for his crime novel Slough House.
The announcement was made at The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate last night during the opening ceremony of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which runs until Sunday.
The book, which is the seventh installment in the bestselling series of the same name, follows a band of failed spies.
This year marks Herron’s first time winning the award after five appearances on the shortlist in just six years.
The author received a £3,000 prize, as well as a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by T&R Theakston Ltd.
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Mick Herron said:
“This is the most coveted trophy in the crime writing community and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have won it.”
Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said there was “an incredibly strong shortlist”.
The festival will see crime fiction icons including Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritsen, Denise Mina, Lynda La Plante, Mark Billingham, Ann Cleeves and more take to the stage to discuss all things crime fiction at the world’s biggest celebration of the genre.
For more information on the line up and tickets, visit here.
Open art exhibition expands beyond Harrogate districtThe biannual Mercer Open art exhibition is extending its remit after 20 years of being held in Harrogate.
Hosted by the Mercer Gallery on Swan Road, the event is now open to anyone with a Yorkshire connection this year, rather than the previous limit of the Harrogate district.
People who were born in Yorkshire, or who have lived, worked or studied in the region qualify to submit their work.
Karen Southworth, curator at the Mercer Gallery, said:
“The Mercer Open is not only a wonderful celebration of the fantastic artistic talent associated with Yorkshire, but also offers an amazing opportunity for visitors to the Harrogate district and art-lovers to discover the Mercer Art Gallery and to buy something really special.
“We’re delighted to extend entry invitations more widely this year and we look forward to an incredible showcase of artwork in the Mercer Open, bringing new audiences to the Mercer and enabling more people to enjoy the feel good experience of art appreciation.”
The Mercer Gallery
The exhibition has also been extended in other ways this year. Buyers no longer have to wait until the end of the event to collect their purchases but can take them home immediately.
New work will be put on display throughout the four-month exhibition, enabling more artists to be included and seeing the event evolve over time.
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Meanwhile, the cost of submission this year is £15 for up to three pieces of work, and for the first time it can be done online via the CuratorSpace website.
Anyone who would find the submission fee a barrier can contact curator Courtney Spencer via the CuratorSpace website.
Courtney said:
“I’m really excited to build on the incredible work of the gallery team who have been delivering a biannual open exhibition for the past 20 years.
“It’s been brilliant to broaden the callout to include artists connected to Yorkshire, to move the submissions process online and to reduce the submission fee to enable more artists to submit works.”
Artists have just over a week to submit entries before the deadline of midnight on Sunday, July 31.
The exhibition will run from September 17 until January 8, 2023. The Mercer Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
Fashion-inspired Harrogate restaurant reopensA Harrogate restaurant inspired by fashion styles and food trends from around the world has reopened.
Fashion House, which was previously called Fashion House Bistro, has undergone a major refurbishment.
The restaurant on Swan Road is the concept of fashion photographer David Dresser and Leeds-based businessman Joel Feldman.
The kitchen will be run by Peruvian head chef Erika Ramos, who will be serving up dishes from her home country with an Italian twist.
Fashion House hosted a garden party to celebrate reopening this week.
A spokesperson for the restaurant said:
“From London to LA, Italy to Barcelona, this new restaurant has taken inspiration from fashion styles and food trends across the globe and streamlined it together to create Fashion House in Harrogate.”
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Business Breakfast: Harrogate’s Odeon cinema bought by property group
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
Harrogate’s Odeon cinema bought by property group
Bramall Properties Ltd has acquired the freehold of the Odeon cinema in Harrogate from a property investment fund for an undisclosed sum.
The 1930s art deco style Grade II listed building was put up for sale for £7m in April and is let to Odeon Cinemas Limited on a 25 year lease which was originally granted in 2013 when Odeon sold its freehold interest.
The property includes part of the car park operated by Harrogate Borough Council to the rear of the cinema and the premises occupied by Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre on East Parade.
The Odeon is in a prominent position within the town and has been acquired as a long term investment by Yorkshire-based Bramall Properties whose head office is in Harrogate. The building has been an iconic part of the town for many years.
Bramall Properties said it has no immediate plans to redevelop the site and it hopes Odeon Cinemas will continue to operate from the location for many years entertaining Harrogate residents with the latest blockbusters.
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Award for wine created in Harrogate district
James Townsend with Oz Clarke and Susie Barrie at the awards.
A vineyard in the Harrogate district has been awarded the title of best wine in the Midlands and the North region in the WineGB awards.
Dunesforde Vineyard‘s Queen of the North was awarded the accolade by a panel of wine experts including Oz Clarke and Susie Barrie.
Speaking after the award ceremony in London, the company’s head of wine development Peter Townsend said:
“We are delighted to have received this prestigious award from WineGB.
“We are still a young vineyard compared to many in the UK and are immensely proud that our Queen of the North’s first vintage has been honoured in this way.”
The family-run vineyard, based near Upper Dunsforth, was founded in 2016 and grows solaris, bacchus, pinot noir précoce and pinot gris varieties.
Its Queen of the North classic cuvée was named after Queen Cartimandua, leader of the largest and most northerly tribe in England who formed an alliance with Roman invaders in the first century AD.
The wine is made using a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes harvested in the summer of 2018, with only 1,316 individually-numbered bottles produced.
Former Harrogate headteacher ‘repeatedly accessed’ website with indecent images, court hearsA former Harrogate headteacher repeatedly visited a website which was “indicative” of alleged indecent images of children, a court heard today.
Matthew Shillito, 42, denies making 20 Category B images and 3,829 Category C images between December 3, 2012 and December 31, 2015.
Mr Shillito, of Gordon Avenue, Harrogate, was appointed headteacher of Western Primary School in 2019.
He was previously headteacher across the Goldsborough Sicklinghall Federation of schools.
None of the alleged offences related to his employment.
Mr Shillito appeared for trial at Harrogate Magistrates Court today.
Philip Morris, prosecuting, told the court that the indecent images were found on the cache in Mr Shillito’s computer, which could have only have got there had he accessed sites with those images.
He said:
“It is the prosecution’s case that those images found as they were on the computer cache were present as a result of the user of the computer accessing indicative content on the internet.”
Police seize computers
Police arrested Mr Shillito and seized two computers at his address on January 4, 2020.
Officers recovered a Dell laptop and a MacBook Pro, which contained a back up from an iPad mini which was not found.
Giving evidence to the court, Zoe Warboys, a digital forensic investigation officer at North Yorkshire Police, said that while the defendant may not have been aware of the cache, he could have only got them by accessing the material.
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A Russian website named in court was frequently accessed on the Dell laptop, which Ms Warboys told the court was a site which contained indecent images of children.
The site is public and allows users to upload albums of images which others can view.
The court heard how the site was frequently visited on February 26, 2011.
Mr Morris told the court that Shillito visited some of the pages which were “indicative” of possibly including indecent images 30 times.
Meanwhile the defendant’s MacBook contained a backup from an iPad mini, which the court heard was not recovered by police during the raid.
Mr Morris said the backup included search terms which were “indicative” of indecent images of children.
A number of Google search terms were also presented to the court, which the prosecution argued demonstrated an intent from the defendant to access the alleged images.
Denies allegations
There was no evidence that Mr Shillito downloaded the alleged images onto his desktop, the court heard.
Mr Shillito repeatedly denied to the court that he had knowingly accessed indecent images of children.
Kevin Blount, defence, said that while the terms found on the computers may have been indicative, they were “not conclusive” as they could also bring up legitimate results.
The court heard how Mr Shillito had also repeatedly denied accessing the alleged images during police interview.
The trial continues.