A man was stabbed in the Mayfield Grove area of Harrogate last night (May 12).
North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today it received reports that a man had suffered stab wounds just before 7.30pm last night.
The statement added:
“Officers attended and found a man had suffered an injury to his hand.
“A short time later two men were arrested in connection with the incident. A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery and a 32-year-old man was arrested for wounding with intent. Both currently remain in police custody.
“Following the incident, the victim received treatment in hospital for minor injuries.
Police reassured residents today by describing it as an “isolated incident”.
Superintendent Teresa Lam, senior commander for the Harrogate district, said:
“Thankfully incidents of this nature are extremely rare in Harrogate, and they will not be tolerated. An investigation is now underway to establish the full circumstances.
“I would like to stress that we are treating this as an isolated incident and do not believe that there is any ongoing wider threat to the general public.”
Mayfield Grove
However, it is not the first serious incident in the Mayfield Grove area in recent years.
Vitalijus Koreiva, 37, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court in 2022 for murdering Gracijus Balciauskas in a flat on the road.
In the previous year Daniel Ainsley was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murdering 48-year-old Mark Wolsey at a bedsit on the road.
Police urged anyone with information about the latest incident or doorbell footage to call them on 101 and quote incident number 12240083406 or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Read more:
Harrogate vegetarian café hosts art exhibitions to create ‘neighbourhood feel’
Harrogate vegetarian café, Delicious, is to host art exhibitions every month highlighting the talents of local artists.
The café, on Mayfield Grove, has only been open since June this year.
It’s owner, Olivier Roch, told the Stray Ferret that he wants it to become a hub for the local community -whether or not they are vegetarian.
“The purpose is to promote local artists. My place is on Mayfield Grove and we are seeking to be a neighbourhood café and be a place of soul. To offer something else other than food.”
Mr Roch grew up in France but has lived in Harrogate for the past 30 years and previously ran the Zinc bistro on John Street where he also used to promote local artists.
Seven artists are booked at Delicious, with a new display and opening on the last Friday of the month. The artist work is then hung on the café walls for the following four weeks. There is also a writing course on Tuesdays.
Mayfield Grove has been the scene of violent crime in recent years. Mr Roch says no area is immune from crime but believes the street is changing:
“Unfortunately crime is everywhere and I do not think Mayfield Grove is particularly different from anywhere else.
“I think the area is getting a little bit like Cold Bath Road.
“When I first came to Harrogate, my first bedsit was on Franklin road – now a lot of those beautiful houses have been transformed into single homes.
“It has turned around and now people want to live in the centre of town. There is a neighbourhood feel in the area and people are looking for that – a sense of community and we are trying to establish that.”
Olivier Roch outside his cafe and an example of the art displayed
Read More:
- Harrogate music event to be ‘three days of non-stop fun’, says organiser
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Murderer fell asleep after ‘brutally’ killing man in Harrogate
Police have revealed they found murderer Vitalijus Koreiva asleep in the same flat as his victim when they went to investigate.
Gracijus Balciauskas, 41, was killed on Mayfield Grove on December 20, 2021.
Vitalijus Koreiva, 37, and Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 39, were jailed for murder and manslaughter respectively at Leeds Crown Court this morning.
After the sentencing, North Yorkshire Police described how the shocking incident unfolded.
Supermarket staff dialled 999 after being approached by a man who told them “someone is dead”.
Rutowicz took officers to the flat on Mayfield Grove where they found the body of a man wrapped in a large rug in a bedroom. A post mortem later showed he had suffered severe injuries to his head and torso.
Koreiva, who was asleep on the sofa, was arrested along with Rutowicz.
The crime scene at the flat on Mayfield Grove in December 2021.
Police analysed Rutowicz’s phone and found “disturbing and graphic videos” showing assaults on the victim on the day of his death.
In one clip, filmed at 5.52am, the victim was kicked in the head and in the ribs, and cried out in pain.
In another clip, filmed at 7.02am, Rutowicz, who was holding the phone, tried to roll the victim over and give him a cigarette. A clip filmed at 7.21am showed the victim lying on the floor with his eyes closed.
In interview, Koreiva told police he had gone to sleep and when he woke up he found Mr Balciauskas dead on the floor, and got a rug to put over him.
Separately, Rutowicz told officers that Koreiva had assaulted him before attacking the victim. But both Koreiva and Rutowicz were charged in connection with his death.
North Yorkshire Police today released CCTV showing Koreiva and Rutowicz buying alcohol hours before the attack happened.
Read more on the case:
- Harrogate murder trial hears that body was found in a rug
- Harrogate murder suspect claims he feared for his own life after ‘brutal’ assault
- Man sentenced to life in prison for Harrogate Mayfield Grove murder
Jailing Koreiva for life this morning, Judge Rodney Jameson KC told him the attack need not have been fatal “had you not tried to drunkenly cover up what you had done”.
Rutowicz was jailed for 12 years for the manslaughter of Mr Balciauskas.
Guilty: Jaroslaw Rutowicz (left) and Vitalijus Koreiva.
DCI Jonathan Sygrove, from North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team, said:
“The level of violence used against Gracijus Balciauskas was nothing short of brutal. The victim was subjected to a horrific assault, which led to his death. And shockingly, Mr Balciauskas was filmed with a mobile phone while he lay dying.
“When they were interviewed, Koreiva and Rutowicz blamed each other, but ultimately the evidence showed their involvement. It is right that they have now been brought to justice, and must face the consequences of their actions.”
‘A friendly and jovial person’
In a statement issued following today’s sentencing, Mr Balciauskas’ family said:
Man sentenced to life in prison for Harrogate Mayfield Grove murder“As a family we have been deeply affected by Gracijus’ death. We will always remember him as a friendly and jovial person. Even as the months pass, the pain of his loss still remains.
“We want to deeply thank the officers and investigators at North Yorkshire Police with the investigation and doing everything they could to bring justice for him and for all of us too. We also give thanks to Victim Support for supporting us through something that no family should ever go through.
“We also thank everyone at the Harrogate Homeless Unit for supporting Gracijus any way they could when he was still alive.”
A man has been sentenced to life in prison after brutally murdering Gracijus Balciauskas at a flat on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate last year.
Vitalijus Koreiva, 37, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this morning after being found guilty of murder by a jury in July.
Polish national Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 39, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for manslaughter for his part in the crime.
Mr Balciauskas, from Lithuania, was just 41 years old when he was killed.
Wrapped in a rug
The sentencing comes as a trial in July heard that Mr Balciauskas’s body was found wrapped in a rug after a lengthy drinking binge involving the three friends turned violent on December 20, 2021.
CCTV footage was shown of the men leaving the flat to buy more alcohol on several occasions in the hours leading to the murder.
Rutowicz told the court how Koreiva, who is Lithuanian, erupted during a drunken game of chess with Mr Balciauskas at 5am, which led to Koreiva punching and then kicking him.
Read more on the trial:
- Harrogate murder trial hears that body was found in a rug
- Harrogate murder suspect claims he feared for his own life after ‘brutal’ assault
- Doubt cast on Harrogate murder suspect’s claim
- Harrogate man ‘out of his mind’ on alcohol admits attacking friend
Harrowing video footage taken on Rutowicz’s phone of a bloodied and bruised Mr Balciauskas was shown in court. The clips showed him being kicked by Koreiva whilst he was laying defenceless on the floor pleading for help.
In one of the videos, Rutowicz was heard shouting at Mr Balciauskas in Polish:
“Why the f*** did you send us there? Now you look like this.”
During the trial, Rutowicz said he had been threatened by Koreiva with his life if he called 999 after Mr Balciauskas died. He said Koreiva’s nickname in Harrogate was the “crazy Russian” and he had an unpredictable character.
Murder victim Gracijus Balciauskas pictured in Knaresborough.
However, prosecuting barrister Peter Moulson QC poured scorn on his claim and accused Rutowicz of lying.
Mr Balciauskas died of internal bleeding after being kicked in the spleen and suffering multiple injuries to the torso.
‘Drunken cover up’
Judge Rodney Jameson KC told Koreiva this morning that Mr Balciauskas’ injuries would not have been fatal “had you not tried to drunkly cover up what you had done”.
Addressing Rutowicz, Judge Jameson described his actions as “calculating” and that he wanted to “avoid responsibility”.
He said:
“You could have prevented this from happening, but instead you chose to encourage it.
“You spent many hours considering how to avoid responsibility.”
Koreiva will serve a minimum of 13 years in prison before he is considered for parole. Should he be released, he will spend the rest of his life on licence.
‘Crazy Russian’ found guilty of murder at Harrogate’s Mayfield GroveA man nicknamed the ‘crazy Russian’ has been found guilty of brutally murdering Gracijus Balciauskas at a flat on Mayfield Grove, Harrogate in December last year.
After two days of deliberation, the jury at Leeds Crown Court found Vitalijus Koreiva guilty by a majority verdict of 11-1.
Polish national Jaroslaw Rutowicz was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 11-1. Judge Rodney Jameson QC told him he will also receive a “substantial custodial sentence”.
Mr Balciauskas, from Lithuania, was just 41 years old when he was killed.
Body wrapped in a rug
The trial began last month with the court hearing how Mr Balciauskas’s body was found wrapped in a rug after a lengthy drinking binge involving the three friends turned violent.
CCTV footage was shown of the men leaving the flat to buy more alcohol on several occasions in the hours leading to the murder.
Rutowicz told the court how Koreiva, who is Lithuanian, erupted during a drunken game of chess with Mr Balciauskas at 5am, which led to Koreiva punching and then kicking him.
Read more on the trial:
- Harrogate murder trial hears that body was found in a rug
- Harrogate murder suspect claims he feared for his own life after ‘brutal’ assault
- Doubt cast on Harrogate murder suspect’s claim
- Harrogate man ‘out of his mind’ on alcohol admits attacking friend
Harrowing video footage taken on Rutowicz’s phone of a bloodied and bruised Mr Balciauskas was shown in court. The clips showed him being kicked by Koreiva whilst he was laying defenceless on the floor pleading for help.
In one of the videos, Rutowicz was heard shouting at Mr Balciauskas in Polish, “Why the f*** did you send us there? Now you look like this”.
‘The crazy Russian’
During the trial, Rutowicz said he had been threatened by Koreiva with his life if he called 999 after Mr Balciauskas died. He said Koreiva’s nickname in Harrogate was the “crazy Russian” and he had an unpredictable character.
However, prosecuting barrister Peter Moulson QC poured scorn on his claim and accused Rutowicz of lying.
Last week, Koreiva pleaded guilty to manslaughter after telling the court he had been an alcoholic since he was 13. He argued he was not in control of his actions on the night Mr Balciauskas died, which the jury ultimately rejected.
Mr Balciauskas died of internal bleeding after being kicked in the spleen. The prosecution told the jury he could have been saved if either man had called an ambulance sooner.
Instead, the pair carried on their drinking session.
Koreiva and Rutowicz will be sentenced next month.
Harrogate man ‘out of his mind’ on alcohol admits attacking friendVitalijus Koreiva has admitted punching and kicking Gracijus Balciauskas during a drunken argument but that he was “out of his mind” on alcohol during the weekend he died.
Mr Koreiva, 36, and Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 39, are accused of murdering Mr Balciauskas at a flat on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate on December 20 last year.
Yesterday afternoon and today at Leeds Crown Court, Mr Koreiva was cross-examined by defence barrister Simon Kealey QC and prosecuting barrister Peter Moulson QC.
The court heard how Mr Koreiva, who is Lithuanian, had abused alcohol since he was 13 and there were periods during his life when he was drinking a litre of vodka a day or “until I get knocked out”.
He moved to Harrogate in 2017 to move in with his sister in a failed attempt to get sober and had previously been in prison in Germany for drug offences.
Mr Koreiva said he was working at the Morrison’s factory in Flaxby packing onions and carrots and had developed a friendship with both Mr Rutowicz and Mr Balciauskas whilst living in Harrogate.
Read previous articles on the trial below:
- Doubt cast on Harrogate murder suspect’s claim
- Harrogate murder suspect claims he feared for his own life after ‘brutal’ assault
- Harrogate murder trial hears that body was found in a rug
Game of chess
Mr Koreiva disputed Mr Rutowicz previous claim that the argument took place over a game of chess but said he could not remember how it began.
The court heard how on in the early hours of December 20, Mr Koreiva erupted after Mr Balciauskas told him to “go f*** himself”.
Mr Koreiva then said he raised his fists in aggression and punched Mr Balciauskas four times in the face.
A video was again shown in court, taken on Mr Rutowicz’s phone, that showed Mr Koreiva kicking him whilst Mr Balciauskas was laying bloody on the floor and semi-conscious.
When asked why he kicked a defenceless man, Mr Koreiva said:
“I was in such a state I didn’t know what I was thinking or doing.”
He then said he “did not remember” what happened after he kicked Mr Balciauskas.
‘I was in shock’
After several hours passed without either man calling an ambulance, Mr Rutowicz felt his pulse and told Mr Koreiva that he was dead. Mr Koreiva said he attempted CPR to try and save him.
“I had two hands on his chest and I was doing CPR. I saw the blood in his mouth at that moment Rutowicz said, ‘It’s too late, leave it, leave it.
“I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. It was unexpected really.”
Mr Koreiva then said the pair had a drink of alcohol together “to give our last respect for Gracijus, a drink for our friend.”
Speaking about the assault on Mr Balciauskas, he added:
“If I was sober it would never have happened. I was out of control.”
‘Out of our minds’
Mr Koreiva also admitted to putting Mr Balciauskas’s dead body in a rug after he died. He said both himself and Mr Rutowicz were “absolutely out of our minds and in madness”.
He added:
“We didn’t know what we were doing. You can’t imagine me and Rutowicz carrying a dead body through Harrogate town centre? It was a situation when you are drunk, lost and don’t know to do.”
During cross-examination, Mr Rutowicz claimed that Mr Koreiva threatened him with his life he called 999, which he denied.
He said:
“He is trying to get out of prison. I wasn’t holding him or threatening him. He was free to go. He’s lying. He’s a good actor.”
Police interview
In Mr Koreiva’s original statement given in the days after the incident took place, he told police that he saw Mr Rutowicz strike Mr Balciauskas twice.
However, in court, he admitted this was not true and he initially tried to “create another version” of events because he feared Rutowitc would pin the murder on him.
Mr Koreiva confirmed that he did not see Mr Rutowicz be violent towards Mr Balciauskas on the night that he died.
He told the court, “I’m taking my responsibility for the death of Gracijus” who he called a “good man”.
Mr Koreiva added:
“I want to apologise to Gracijus’ family for everything that happened. He did nothing wrong and he didn’t deserve this”.
The trial will continue tomorrow.