North Yorkshire Police issued a statement today saying its investigation into missing Harrogate woman Marsha Wray remains open, 25 years to the day since her disappearance.
Marsha, 38, went missing after dropping off her two children at Hookstone Chase primary school on Friday, January 24 1997.
A few days after her disappearance, her red Metro Quest car was seen parked at Nidd Gorge. It was later recovered in Headingley, although who moved it there remains a mystery.
There have been no sightings since and no body has ever been found.
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Adam Harland, of North Yorkshire Police’s cold case review team, said:
“The case surrounding the death of Marsha Wray has been reviewed on previous occasions.
“Despite extensive investigations and appeals, the case remains open.
“We are open to any new information leading to evidence in relation to the case.”
Marsha worked as a nurse at Harrogate District Hospital. Her husband of 17 years, Colin, said she had told him she was going away for a few days.
Bilton man cleans graffiti from mural bridge againA community-spirited Bilton man is determined to keep a mural looking its best after another attack by vandals.
Chris Knight was spurred into action today after the iron bridge, which connects Woodfield Drive and Claro Road, was defaced.
It is not the first time Mr Knight has cleaned the mural: he also cleaned the bridge when vandals painted a swastika and anti-Pakistani messages on it last year.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“Plenty of people were quite happy to see me cleaning the bridge today. It gives me quite the sense of achievement to do these things for the area.
“It did not take quite as long as last time, they must have used quite cheap paint. I am not one to wait around for other people to take action.
“The words of my old boss really stuck with me. There are three types of people — those who do things, those who watch people do things and those who wonder what happened.
“I have always wanted to be the type of person who can step-up.”
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Emma Garness, the artist who created the mural, used special paint to protect it from graffiti, which enables Mr Knight to clean it without damaging the artwork.
The mural, which was designed to become a beacon of positivity in the area, was well received by local residents.
Police say wanted man may be in HarrogateNorth Yorkshire Police is appealing for information to find a wanted man with links to Harrogate.
Andon Llalla, 40, is wanted on recall to prison. It is unclear what Llalla was jailed for.
Police initially asked for information on the whereabouts of Llalla in October. Officers today renewed their appeal to the public to come forward if they have seen him or know his whereabouts.
He also has links to Halifax and Brighouse in West Yorkshire.
A police statement added:
“If you see him or have information for the police, call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12210179751.
“To report information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
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Missing teen sighted at Harrogate train station this morning
Police are searching for a missing teenager who may be in the Harrogate area.
Benjamin Robert Leach, 16, has been reported missing after leaving a property in Selby on Wednesday, January 19.
Officers carried out enquiries and believe he is in the Harrogate area after a sighting at Harrogate train station in the early hours of this morning.
A North Yorkshire Police statement added:
“Benjamin is described as 5ft 5in tall, with short dark brown hair and brown eyes.
“Any immediate sightings should be reported to North Yorkshire Police via 999 quoting reference 12220010596. Any information which would assist officers to locate Benjamin should be reported via 101 quoting the same reference number.”
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Police recommend extra security for Harrogate mosque
Police have told the Muslim organisation planning to open the Harrogate district’s first mosque to include extra security measures due to safety fears.
Harrogate Islamic Association has applied for planning permission to convert the former Home Guard club on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Place into a place of worship.
As part of the planning process, the council consults some organisations to see if they lend support, recommend refusal or suggest alterations.
North Yorkshire Police has submitted a designing out crime report, which says the main crime associated with mosques is racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage.
It suggests that the plans include external lighting, iron railings, laminated glass, CCTV and intruder alarms.
Police also suggest an external post box to prevent arson.
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The mosque faces opposition from a leaflet campaign and Bristol planning expert Gavin Boby, who calls himself the Mosquebuster.
But many people posted supportive comments on social media when the Stray Ferret reported the opposition yesterday.
Harrogate Civic Society has also lent its support after rejecting two previous proposed sites for the mosque.
Henry Pankhurst, on behalf of the civic society, said:
North Yorkshire police officer touched breasts of woman he met on duty“We are very hopeful that the building will be able to take its place, once repaired and refurbished, as a worthy neighbour to all of the notable nearby properties.
“Railings should be erected as above and windows should be of a design which is suitable for this historic building and the conservation area.
“Every care should be taken to preserve historic features internally as well as externally.”
A former North Yorkshire Police officer touched the breasts of a vulnerable woman he met on duty and discussed the possibility of forging a relationship with her.
PC Chris Bolton also exchanged sexual images with the woman, a misconduct hearing heard.
The hearing heard that PC Bolton interacted with the woman, known as Ms A, between August 13, 2020 and November 24, 2020,
He was also found to have dishonestly re-scored a risk assessment relating to Ms A on or around August 23.
The hearing took place at North Yorkshire Police headquarters in Northallerton last week. The panel concluded that the allegations had been proved and amounted to gross misconduct.
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It found PC Bolton breached standards for discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, honesty and integrity and duties and responsibilities.
The panel concluded that, had Mr Bolton still been serving with North Yorkshire Police, he would have been dismissed.
It also ruled he will be placed on the College of Policing barred and advisory list.
Individuals remain on the list indefinitely, unless they win an appeal against their dismissal or make a successful review application, where they would have to provide clear evidence as to why they were now suitable to re-join policing.
North Yorkshire Police declined to reply to a question from the Stray Ferret asking where PC Bolton was based.
Five arrests amid ‘sharp rise’ in Harrogate burglariesPolice have arrested five people, including a 12-year-old boy, in connection with a spate of burglaries in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Police revealed how officers have seen a sharp rise in burglaries in the town. The force said many of the properties targeted were insecure.
Officers believe the incidents are linked and have arrested a 12-year-old boy, two 15-year-old boys, a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman in the last four days.
Since the start of the year there have been burglaries on Butterbur Way, Hartwith Drive, Gentian Glade, Saltergate Drive, Woodfield Road, Pennywort Grove, Tewit Well Road, Kenilworth Avenue, Strawberry Dale Avenue, Carlton Road, West End Avenue, St Anthans Walks and Hutton Gate.
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Police released the above list in the hope that anyone with information or CCTV footage will come forward. Anyone who can help with the investigation should quote reference 12220008323.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:
“Before you go to bed tonight, please take a few minutes to secure doors and windows to your property, including garages, sheds and outbuildings.
“Also remove all valuables from your car or van and lock it. Move keys away from the door and windows where they can be seen and potentially accessed.
“If possible, secure your vehicles in a garage or behind a gate.”
North Yorkshire Police has put out a second appeal for information on the whereabouts of 18-year-old Luke Gibson, who is wanted in connection with a serious assault.
An appeal for the teenager was first posted in late November but the police are still unable to locate him.
They believe he is in Harrogate or Leeds and are asking anyone who has seen him or has information to come forward.
To give information to the police, call North Yorkshire Police on 101 with reference number 12210245826.
To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Police appeal after criminal damage to bus stops in Bilton
North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses after two bus stops were deliberately damaged along a street in Bilton.
The bus stops on Dene Park were damaged overnight on Sunday, January 9.
In summer, the same street was hit with similar incidents of criminal damage in which nine cars were vandalised in minutes. One resident said previously that incidents such as these had been going on for some time.
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The police are asking for anyone with information that could help them with the investigation to come forward.
Anyone with information can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask to speak to PC Brendon Frith or email Brendon.Frith@northyorkshire.police.uk.
To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The reference number is 12220004871.
Cause of fatal house fire in Harrogate still under investigationNorth Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has said the cause of a Harrogate house fire which killed a woman last week is still under investigation.
Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were called to Craven Street, just off King’s Road, at 6.20am on Friday.
When they entered the house they found a woman in her 50s and although paramedics performed CPR she was certified dead at the scene.
The woman has not been named.
The fire service said today investigations into the cause of the blaze were ongoing.
Neighbours told the Stray Ferret they thought the fire began at the back of the house.
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