North Yorkshire Police has issued an appeal after receiving reports of a naked man performing a “lewd act” in Knaresborough.

Officers said the man was seen by a family walking who were through the grounds of Mother Shipton’s Cave at 4pm on Wednesday (August 12).

He was spotted by a member of the family standing on a hill and, seconds later, they realised he was performing a lewd act.

Read more:

• Police warn Knaresborough residents over security after suspicious incidents
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A police statement said:

“On realising he had been seen, the naked man walked off into some bushes.

“The man is described as white, aged in his 60s, around six foot tall, of slim build, and possibly had grey hair.

“Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or has any other information that could assist the investigation, to contact them.”

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for PC Stephen Bromley, or email Stephen.bromley@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

A 16-year-old girl has been missing from Harrogate for five days and is believed to be in the Leeds area moving around hotels.

Casey Ackerley has been described as white, approximately 5ft 6in tall and of slim build.

She has very long, light, brown hair and was last seen wearing a salmon pink tracksuit and white trainers.

Read more:

• Police warn Knaresborough residents over security after suspicious incidents
• Two teens arrested after burglaries in Harrogate and Knaresborough

North Yorkshire Police has passed the case onto West Yorkshire Police and has urged the public to share any information with the neighbouring force.

To share information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – quoting 12200132258 as the police reference number.

The family of a former soldier have released an emotional tribute after he died in a crash near Ripon.

Kieran Rafferty, 60, was born in Fife in Scotland but he was young when his parents moved to Stoke-on-Trent and he attended school there.

He joined the armed forces and travelled the world before he worked for his family business for more than 30 years.

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• Fly tippers target secluded Ripon site
• Police appeal for witnesses after fatal accident near Ripon

Mr Rafferty settled in Ripon and was married for 25 years. He leaves behind his partner Debs and his dogs Nardie and Ozzy. The family said he will be “terribly missed”.

As well as his family, Kieran was well known for his love of music and particular passion for Northern Soul. He also enjoyed cars and motorbikes and was a firm believer in compassion for animals.

Keiran was driving a red Lexus coupe at the time.

Kieran Rafferty died on July 25 at around 9.20pm when the vehicle he was driving left the road.

He was driving his red Lexus coupe along the A61 near the village of Skipton-on-Swale from the Busby Stoop roundabout.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for any witnesses to the crash to contact Nicola Gill by email and quote reference 12200127493.

Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with burglaries in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The offences took place in Westbourne Avenue, Harrogate, on Tuesday, July 28, and in Park Avenue, Knaresborough, on August 3, both in the early hours of the morning.

In both cases, keys were taken from inside the homes and cars stolen from the driveway. A black Toyota Hilux taken from the Harrogate burglary has not yet been recovered.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with both burglaries, along with a third which took place on Danum Road, York, overnight on August 3. The victims discovered the following morning that a handbag, wallet, two purses and bank cards had been stolen.

The boy has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in court in relation to a separate matter.

A 19-year-old man was also arrested in connection with the Knaresborough burglary and has been released on conditional bail.

Read more:

• Two cars stolen as Harrogate street targeted for second time
• Bogus police officer targets Harrogate residents

Police are still appealing for information, including CCTV, dash-cam or doorbell camera footage, to help with the investigation. Email dominic.holroyd@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, to report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote North Yorkshire Police reference numbers 12200128831 for the  Westbourne Avenue, Harrogate burglary, 12200132924 for the Park Avenue, Knaresborough burglary, and 12200133548 for the Danum Road, York burglary.

The cost of rural crime in North Yorkshire is the third highest among counties in the UK.

A report released by NFU Mutual found that in 2019, rural crime cost the county over £2 million. A rise of 22.6% on the previous year.

The report names theft of high value farm machinery as a factor for the cost increase. It also found that over lockdown, rural crime had continued – with some criminals travelling into the county to target farms.

Inspector Matt Hagen, head of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said:

“Our county is a largely rural area, and the borough of Harrogate is no exception – so tackling rural crime is extremely important to us. We know that offenders from areas outside North Yorkshire travel into our communities, intent on stealing quad bikes, farm machinery and other valuable property – and those crimes are reflected in the latest figures from NFU Mutual. The report also shows that criminals continued to target the countryside, despite the Covid-19 lockdown.

“Rural crime did not stop – and neither did rural policing. Our officers, some of whom have farming backgrounds, know just how devastating rural crime can be for its victims.”

Rural areas in the county have continued to be targeted over lockdown.

Read more:

• The same combination of poisons used to kill birds of prey has been found in two pet dogs, resulting in one passing away. 
• Ripon fell victim to fly tipping, leaving council taxpayers to pay the removal costs.

Rural crimes including livestock attacks and machinery theft have been seen within the Harrogate district. North Yorkshire Police has urged farmers to remain vigilant and increase safety measures within their farms.

In an attempt to combat rural crime the police works alongside 142 rural watch volunteers. They act as the eyes and ears within the rural communities.

North Yorkshire Police is growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a 16 year-old girl from Harrogate who has been missing for three days.

Casey Ackerley has been missing since Sunday, August 2.

She is believed to have travelled to the Leeds area over the last few days and stayed in a number of hotels.

Casey has been described as white, approximately 5ft 6in tall and a slim build. She has very long, light, brown hair and was last seen wearing a salmon pink tracksuit and white trainers.

Read more:

• The police are warning Harrogate residents of a scammer impersonating a police officer over the phone.
• A Harrogate street has been a target for criminals for the second time as a resident’s two cars were stolen. 

The police are appealing for anyone with information to call 101. Information of previous sightings can also be emailed to john.hobson@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To share information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – quoting 12200132258 as the police reference number.

A scammer pretending to be a police officer has targeted households in the Harrogate area.

Several residents in the town have reported calls from a ‘DC Mason Greenwood’ who claims to work for West Yorkshire Police or the Metropolitan Police.

He goes on to tell the residents that their nephew or grandson is in custody and has their bank cards as well as other stolen bank cards.

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North Yorkshire Police has recorded 12 incidents in the past week and is currently attempting to identify the caller.

Andy Fox, North Yorkshire Police financial abuse safeguarding officer, said:

“This is yet another example of a scam call designed to obtain full bank account details from an unsuspecting victim. You can protect yourself from scam calls by fitting a call blocker or speak to your phone provider as to what call blocking options they offer.”

The police have issued a warning today and said that they will never ask someone for their account details over the phone.

Mr Fox continued: “If you are in any doubt about who you are speaking to, terminate the call immediately and call 101 from a different phone.”

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses after three men were arrested for fighting in Harrogate town centre on Saturday evening.

The incident took place between Skipton Road and Regent Parade between 7.50pm and 8pm on Saturday, August 1.

All three men have been bailed pending further enquiries.

Police are now trying to establish the full details of what happened, and are asking witnesses and anyone with information to come forward.

Read more:

• Two cars were stolen from Westbourne venue, Harrogate – this is the second time in six weeks the street has been targeted.
• A family has expressed their heartbreak after their dogs were poisoned on a walk in Pateley Bridge, one later passed away. 

To give information to the police, call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for Corrina Graham-Merrett. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Two cars were stolen from a driveway in Harrogate when thieves broke into the house and stole the keys.

The Audi Q7, registration YH66 MHR, has since been recovered, but the black Toyota Hilux, registration YF69 EYF, has still not been found.

The two-in-one burglary also saw a handbag containing a deep red Kate Spade purse and distinctive make-up bag taken from the home, on Westbourne Avenue. The handbag was found outside – minus the contents – following the theft, which took place on Tuesday, July 28 between 1am and 6am.

Police are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward. A spokesman said:

“Anyone who has any information about the stolen vehicles, who may have seen the vehicles driving in the area or who has information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police.”

To contact police, call 101, select option two and ask for Liz Estensen, or email elizabeth.estensen@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk. Alternatively, to report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200128831.

It is the second time in six weeks that a two-in-one burglary has been carried out in the same street. On June 20, a first-aid kit, a doctor’s bag and some handmade scrubs were taken from a home in Westbourne Avenue, and thieves took the keys for the BMW 220D on the driveway.

The car and most of the items were later recovered, but a personalised thermometer, child’s car seat, Ray-Ban sunglasses and a make-up bag were taken from the car.

Read more:

• BMW and handmade scrubs stolen in Harrogate burglary
• Police appeal for witnesses after fatal accident near Ripon

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information after two pet dogs were poisoned in Pateley Bridge with the same combination of poisons used to kill local birds of prey.

The two dogs fell seriously ill while being walked in April. One did not survive.

Samples from the dog that died found four poisons, which combined together have been named locally as a Nidderdale cocktail.

The tests concluded that exposure to the poisons was the most likely cause of the dog’s death.

The Stray Ferret has previously reported an increase in bird poisonings in the Nidderdale area after six birds died due to suspected poisonings.

To encourage people to come forward with information, local businessman Keith Tordoff has offered a £5000 reward.

Police are appealing for information about animals being poisoned in the area.

Inspector Matt Hagen, head of North Yorkshire’s rural taskforce, said:

“The fact we have seen this same combination of chemicals, the Nidderdale cocktail as it is sometimes known, also cause the death of birds of prey in this same location would indicate that the poisons have been deliberately left in a place where they could be found by wildlife and unfortunately in this case, domestic pets.

“Pesticide abuse of any kind will not be tolerated and we are doing everything we can to try and find those responsible.”

Read more:

• North Yorkshire Police has asked dog walkers to take more responsibility after an increase of attacks on livestock.
• Nidderdale’s beauty spots are under threat from an invasive plant.

The test results and local intelligence led North Yorkshire Police to search several properties in the area. However, none provided any clear evidence about how the poisons reached the two dogs.

The poisons are chloralose, bendiocarb, isofenphos and carbofuran. Chloralose is licensed for use in England in low concentrations but the other three are all banned.

Police have warned that none of these chemicals should be used in an environment where domestic animals or wildlife could come into contact with them. A person misusing pesticides could be charged with a variety of offences.

Mark Thomas, head of investigations at the RSPB, said:

“Carbofuran is one of the most commonly abused substances in the poisoning of birds of prey. It is a highly toxic, banned substance putting wildlife, pets and people at risk.

“This is not the first time harmful substances have been found left out in the open and sadly it unlikely to be the last. This reckless and irresponsible behaviour, which had led to the death of a beloved family pet, cannot be allowed to continue.”

To help the police call 101, quoting reference: 12200068444 or if to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.