A man from Bradford has been jailed for 30 months after pleading guilty to supplying Class A drugs in Harrogate’s Library Gardens.
Shaoib Shafiq, 20, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, were stopped on September 26, 2020, after reports of drug dealing.
The 16-year-old had 110 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine hidden in his underwear and Shafiq had a Nokia burner-style mobile phone with a pre-pay SIM card that was used as the drugs line.
The pair were sentenced at York Crown Court on Wednesday.
Shafiq was jailed for 30 months and the boy was handed a community order, unpaid work and a rehabilitation requirement.
Shafiq and the teenager travelled to Harrogate from Bradford together and were in regular contact several days before their arrest.
Read more:
- Knaresborough man jailed for ‘punishment beating’ of ex-partner
- Prolific Harrogate criminal jailed after hospital rampage
PC Chris Dyson said:
Reported sighting of missing Harrogate woman in Wetherby“Drug dealing has a hugely damaging effect on communities and destroys lives.
“These two individuals thought they could come into North Yorkshire and deal Class A drugs, but we showed them different.
“We work hard to target those who insist on bringing misery to communities and we will not stop making sure those who commit this type of crime are brought to the courts.”
North Yorkshire Police says a member of the public reported seeing missing Harrogate woman Judith Holliday in Wetherby yesterday, as officers continue to search for the missing 73-year-old.
Judith was last seen on Saturday at 10.43am at Library Gardens in Harrogate after she left her care home.
Police believe she may have walked from here to use public transport.
She is described as white, thin build, approximately 5ft in height, with medium-length grey bobbed hair. She was last seen wearing dark-coloured trousers and a coat.
The police have deployed their operational support unit as well as a drone to search for her in rural areas around Harrogate.
Extensive CCTV enquires are also taking place to try and establish any further positive sightings.
North Yorkshire Police critical incident inspector, Martin Smith said:
Police growing ‘increasingly concerned’ for missing Harrogate woman“We’re currently extremely concerned for the welfare of Judith. I believe that Judith has either walked from this location on foot or has used public transport.
“I would urge members of the public, in particular people in the Harrogate and Wetherby areas to remain vigilant, and report any sightings to police immediately.”
North Yorkshire Police says it is growing ‘increasingly concerned’ for the welfare of missing Harrogate woman Judith Holliday who has been missing since Saturday.
Judith, who is 73, was last seen on Saturday at 10.43am at Library Gardens in Harrogate after she left her care home.
She is described as white, thin build, approximately 5ft in height, with medium-length grey bobbed hair. She was last seen wearing dark-coloured trousers and a coat.
The police have deployed their operational support unit as well as a drone to search for her.
Judith requires daily medication and it’s believed she doesn’t have this with her. She has a limited amount of cash and doesn’t have a mobile phone.
Anyone with information that could help with the search should email matthew.bulmer@northyorkshire.police.uk. You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Matthew Bulmer.
If you have an immediate sighting of Judith call 999.
Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220153505
Read more:
- Police in Harrogate appeal for missing 73 year old woman
-
Harrogate care boss relieved as government ends mandatory covid testing
Harrogate street ranger saves man hanging from tree near library
The swift action of Harrogate Business Improvement District street ranger Chris Ashby may have saved a man’s life this morning.
Mr Ashby (pictured) found a young man hanging from a tree in Library Gardens, shortly after 6.15am.
He was working on the town’s floral displays at the time.
Mr Ashby told the Stray Ferret:
“At first I thought that the man, who I estimate to be in his 20s, was asleep up against the tree, but then I noticed the rope around his neck and I used a large pair of scissors to cut him down.
“He was blue, but still breathing, so I put him in the recovery position and called the emergency services.”
Emergency services in Harrogate’s Library Gardens this morning.
An ambulance and police were quickly on the scene and after attention by paramedics, the young man was taken to hospital.
Mr Ashby said he was on duty an hour earlier than usual, tending to town centre floral displays ahead of Britain in Bloom judging that takes place later today.
Anyone struggling with mental health can receive help from Samaritans by calling the freephone number 116123.
Read more:
- Harrogate firefighters battle extreme heat as five fields go up in flames
- Bystanders smash car window to rescue four dogs in Harrogate
Thousands tune in to first ever online Harrogate Literature Festival
Thousands tuned in to the first ever digital Harrogate Literature Festival this past weekend.
The festival was forced to be streamed online due to the coronavirus pandemic, but organisers say the event was still a success.
Viewers tuned in to the free programme of 17 events, with the digital delivery allowing book lovers from across the UK to engage with prominent writers, politicians and journalists.
Among those who gave talks were author Matt Haig, classicist Natalie Haynes and Labour MPs Jess Phillips and David Lammy.
Although the events moved online, Harrogate International Festivals, the arts charity behind the literature festival wanted to keep the community at the heart of the project.
Hundreds of stories were submitted to the 10 Word Story competition, and over hundred books were gifted in the Raworth’s Blind Date With a Book initiative.
As author talks began, literature came to life in Harrogate with a light installation in the form of a book. The story of Harrogate, 10 word stories and traditional tales were illuminated on its pages.
The story of Harrogate was illuminated on the book’s pages.
Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:
“The light of human stories and the power of books certainly shone through, breaking down barriers of isolation and reaching new audiences, demonstrating the importance of festival in our cultural landscape.
“Ticket sales are normally a huge part of our income, but this year’s events were all free of charge. We thank those audience members who donated to our arts charity in lieu of tickets, helping us work towards bridging the financial gap, the first step to securing the future of Harrogate International Festivals.
“This was an extraordinary festival for an unpreceded year, and whilst we celebrate the success of the event – taking Harrogate to the world – in order for our arts charity to survive we need to be able to welcome the world to Harrogate. Whether that will be possible in 2021 we just don’t know.”
Traditional tales shone on Friday and Saturday night.
Read more:
- Harrogate International Festivals cuts more than half of jobs
- Writing on the wall ahead of Harrogate literature festival
New giant book will light up Harrogate this weekend
A new book unlike any you have seen before will light up the Library Gardens in Harrogate for this weekend only.
The light installation will shine bright as authors take to the digital stage for the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival.
As the sun sets the pages will turn and share well-known tales as well as the story of Harrogate.
The free exhibition will also feature ten-word stories from best-selling authors and Harrogate residents – the same as those that have been popping up around town on posters.
Read more:
- Harrogate International Festivals cuts more than half of jobs
- Writing on the wall ahead of Harrogate literature festival
The organisers Harrogate Festivals International say there will be plenty of room for watching the book and they will also ensure social distancing measures are followed.
Harrogate’s literature festival is now in its 12th year but will, like many events, be online due to social distancing requirements.
The festival will run from today until Sunday. It will be streamed on HIF Player on the Harrogate International Festivals’ website.
It comes at a difficult time for the organisation, which has been forced to cut more than half of its jobs.
Harrogate International Festivals said it made the cuts after missing out on an estimated £850,000 due to coronavirus. The arts charity, which was set up in 1966, now has just four staff remaining.