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.”

Read more:

• New bar and nightclub to open on Harrogate’s Parliament Street
• Five arrests amid ‘sharp rise’ in Harrogate burglaries

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.

Read more:

• Will Ripon’s new pool open this month?
• Harrogate Islamic Association hopes to see off anti-mosque campaign

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:

“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.

Read more:

• Police appeal after criminal damage to bus stops in Bilton
• Five arrests amid ‘sharp rise’ in Harrogate burglaries

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.

Police 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.

Read more:

• Major infrastructure project planned for RAF Menwith Hill
• Pandemic sees increase in number of Harrogate district free school meals

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.

Read more:

• Two people wanted following burglary at Harrogate jewellers
• 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.

Read more:

• Police appeal after serious robbery at Harrogate park
• Overnight break-in at Harrogate jewellery shop

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.

North 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.

Read more:

• Andrew Lupton, sales director of Ripon firm Econ, dies suddenly
• Charity Corner: being a friend to the elderly and lonely in Harrogate and Knaresborough

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for information and witnesses after a serious robbery at a park in Harrogate.

The robbery happened in Panhandle Park close to the Hookstone Chase entrance at around 6.20pm on Thursday, January 6.

A woman in her 50s reported to the police that she was walking through the park when a person approached her and attempted to steal her rucksack.

The suspect reportedly ran off towards the Dalby estate before the woman checked her bag. She noticed that money and medication was missing.

Read more:

• Woman dies in Harrogate house fire
• Overnight break-in at Harrogate jewellery shop

The police have made no arrests and have offered up no description of the suspect.

However, officers investigating are keen to trace a man in his early 30s who was walking a dog in the park at the time and offered assistance to the woman after the incident.

North Yorkshire Police has asked for anyone with information on the break-in to get in touch by calling 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Quote reference number 12220003059 when providing details.

A woman in her 50s was found dead this morning after firefighters were called to a fire at a house in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue sent crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough to reports of a fire on Craven Street, just off King’s Road, at 6.20am.

On arrival firefighters made their way into the property and found the woman. They took her out of the house to paramedics, who tried to save her life with CPR.

However, the ambulance crew pronounced her dead at the scene.

Firefighters then carried another search of the property but found no evidence of other people.

North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue have launched a joint investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

Read more:

• Overnight break-in at Harrogate jewellery shop
• Care volunteers sought amid omicron surge in Harrogate district

A resident on the street, who didn’t want to be named, said:

“There was a lot going on here this morning with lots of police, ambulance and fire engines.

“From what we can tell there was a fire at the back of the house. But we didn’t see any flames or smoke.

“Someone was stretchered away and they were trying to resuscitate them.”

The fire happened on Craven Street.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were deployed to carry out a search of the property. One casualty was located.

“They were brought out of the property and CPR was given. However, they were pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance crews.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police added:

“North Yorkshire Police was called Craven Street in Harrogate at around 6.20am on Friday, January 7 following a report of a house fire at the location.

“On arrival a woman in her 50s, the sole occupant of the property, had sadly been pronounced dead by ambulance crews.”

Police are investigating after thieves smashed their way into a jewellery shop in Harrogate overnight.

Browns Family Jewellers on Beulah Street has been a hive of police activity today with officers carrying out investigations. The jewellers was broken into at 2.30am this morning.

This afternoon passers-by could still see the crime scene investigation team gathering evidence while staff tried to clean up smashed glass.

At this time it is unclear how much jewellery, if anything, the suspects managed to take from the shop.

Read more:

• Yorkshire children’s hospice ‘heartbroken’ after van stolen
• Plans for 256 homes in Boroughbridge approved at second attempt

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:

“I can confirm that the intruder and fire alarms, due to a smashed window and the presence of smoke in the property, activated at 2.28am today.

“It appears that the suspects entered the building but it is not yet clear if anything was taken.

“CCTV and forensic examinations are ongoing along with neighbourhood enquiries.”

North Yorkshire Police has asked for anyone with information on the break-in to get in touch by calling 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Quote reference number 12220003179 when providing details.