Charity worker jailed for attempted robbery at Summerbridge Stores

A charity worker who attempted to rob a Summerbridge convenience store armed with a knife and a hammer has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Munashe Chikomba, 23, was said to be “extremely polite” during the bungled robbery and didn’t appear to know what he was doing, York Crown Court heard.

Chikomba walked into Summerbridge Stores near Harrogate with his hood up, a Snood masking his face and carrying a 12-inch, rubber-handled hammer, a five-inch knife and a plastic bag, said prosecutor Jeremy Barton.

Store owner James Thornton was behind the till as Chikomba, who had driven from Leeds, walked up to the counter. There was a female customer in the shop when the incident occurred in the Dales village store at about 3.30pm on March 27.

Mr Barton said:

“As (Chikomba) got closer, (Mr Thornton) could see the defendant had a white plastic bag in his hand and a hammer

“The defendant was holding the hammer out in front of him…and said, ‘Open up (the till)!’”

Chikomba, who “appeared calm”, was holding a knife in his other hand and “kind of fumbled it a bit”.

Read more:

The female customer feared he was about to lunge at Mr Thornton with the five-inch blade.

Mr Barton said:

“He again asked (Mr Thornton) to open (the till).”

The shopkeeper said he couldn’t open it and grabbed his phone to call police.

Chikomba, the son of an NHS worker, told Mr Thornton “not to do that”, but then lost his nerve and fled the scene.

summerbridge stores

Summerbridge stores

He drove off in a Vauxhall Corsa, which was later stopped by police on York Road. Officers found the hammer and the knife, as well as another blade inside the boot and a grey balaclava or Snood. 

Chikomba pointed at the balaclava and said, “That’s what I used”, then stopped himself when he realised he was incriminating himself. He was arrested and taken in for questioning, but remained silent. 

Shop owner ‘really shaken’

Mr Thornton, whose family had run the business in Summerbridge for over 20 years, said he was “really shaken” by the incident.

He said he had never experienced anything like it in the 16 years since taking over the running of the shop from his parents and didn’t feel safe at work anymore. He was now “scared for my colleagues’ safety”.

Read more:

He said although Chikomba “didn’t seem very confident in what he was doing”, he felt like he was in “direct danger”.

Chikomba, of Cardigan Road, Headingley, admitted attempted robbery, two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and one count of carrying a blade.

‘Wholly out of character’

Khadmin Al’Hassan, for Chikomba, said it was “very bizarre” for his “softly-spoken” client to commit such a terrifying act.

Mr Al’Hassan said:

“This was wholly out of character for this young man.

“He has been suffering from mental health issues for a significant period of time.”

He added, however, that Chikomba was over £1,000 in debt at the time, and it appeared this prompted him to act in a “wholly irrational” way, “although he didn’t even know whether (trying to steal from the shop) was going to resolve his issues”. 

He said Chikomba was in a “low, depressive” mood on the day in question and his problems stemmed from a traumatic childhood in his native Zimbabwe, where he was kidnapped for three weeks after his parents had fled the country.

He eventually joined his family in the UK and “since then he’s had various complications as a result of his distress (and) traumatic experience”.

Mr Al’Hassan said:

“He’s managed to live a fairly law-abiding life and he’s involved in charity work.

“He has helped other young people in his community.”

Chikomba, who has no previous convictions, had been “highly thought of” by his tutors who had provided character references for him.

He had a “very loving family”, a partner and had recently become a father for the first time. He was “extremely remorseful” for his actions.

Mr Al’Hassan said that Chikomba was in fact “extremely polite during this entire incident and then he left without further altercation”.

Jail sentence necessary

Judge Simon Hickey said that, notwithstanding Chikomba’s otherwise “impeccable character”, it had to be jail for a “knife and hammer-point attempted robbery on that Saturday afternoon…in a family-run store in the small North Yorkshire village of Summerbridge”.

He said Chikomba terrified Mr Thornton who “didn’t know what you were going to do”.

Mr Hickey added:

“You have done a great deal (of good) in the community.

“This is completely out of character.”

He said it was clear that Chikomba’s remorse was “genuine” and there was “little planning” before the raid, which was “miles away from your address in Headingley”.

The judge said Chikomba was a “very responsible and loving father”, but it appeared that his “moderate depressive disorder” and debts had led to him becoming “overwhelmed” on the day in question “and you decided to go and do something about it and that was to rob the store and clear your debts”. 

Chikomba will serve half of the 30-month jail sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence. 

North Yorkshire Police stop 60 motorists without seatbelt

North Yorkshire Police said today it had stopped more than 60 drivers and passengers during a seatbelt action week.

Three children were among those found to be not wearing a seatbelt, something officers described as “deeply concerning”.

It has been a legal requirement in the UK for people to wear seatbelts in cars for decades.

Failure to wear a seatbelt can lead to a £100 fine, which can rise to £500 if convicted in court.

Research shows drivers and passengers aged 17 to 34 are least likely to wear a seatbelt, but most likely to have a crash.

Their chances of dying are two times higher than if they’d worn one.

Sergeant Tim Wilson, who led the campaign, said:

“We enforce the law on seatbelt use every day of the year. But this week-long campaign lets us highlight the issue to people across the county and educate road users alongside the usual enforcement.

“It’s also been an excellent opportunity to work closely with parents and schools across the county.”

Read more:

 

Man fined following Oli McBurnie altercation in Knaresborough

Police said today they have fined one man and cautioned another following an incident in Knaresborough involving Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie.

McBurnie was arrested last month after a viral video showed a confrontation between the 24-year-old professional footballer and a 21-year-old man on High Street in Knaresborough, towards Bond End.

The incident happened on Saturday, May 8, at about 8.20pm.

Read more:

North Yorkshire Police said today it had completed its investigation and was no longer appealing for information.

It said in a statement:

“Following an investigation, a man in his 20s has been cautioned for a public order offence, namely using threatening behaviour.

“A second man, also in his 20s, was issued with a penalty notice for a similar offence.

“Police are no longer appealing for information.”

People invited to join North Yorkshire police commissioner scrutiny panel

People in the Harrogate district are being invited to apply to join a panel which scrutinises the business of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel meets six times a year and includes 10 councillors, as well as two independent members.

It scrutinises the role of Philip Allott, the current commissioner, who was elected to the position in May.

Applications are open to co-opt two independent members to the panel.

Read more:

The members will serve four years on the panel and be entitled to an allowance of £1,741 a year, plus travel expenses.

Co-opted members are also entitled to Dependant Carers Allowance, which covers childcare costs or costs for care for elderly/disabled relatives, where arrangements have to be made to enable attendance at meetings.

Santokh Sidhu is an outgoing co-opted member who joined the panel when it was introduced in 2012 and has served two terms.

He said: 

“I would encourage anyone who is interested in the role and who thinks they may have the skills needed to apply.

“Don’t be put off by jargon, acronyms or fancy titles. It is so important to have independent members on the panel who do not have a political background, to complement and reflect back some of the wider views and experiences of those in our communities.”

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, who chairs the panel, said:

“Following last month’s election, this is an especially exciting time to join the panel as it supports the new commissioner as relationships are developed and contributions made to the future direction of these vital services.

“The role of panel members is important and demanding. The co-opted members are an essential component of the panel. They bring a fresh perspective and add valuable experience to the panel.”

You can apply for the role on the panel at https://nypartnerships.org.uk/pcprecruit.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on 15 July 2021. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted in the week commencing 26 July and interviews will be held on 6 and 8 September.

Stray Views: police pledge to tackle fast and noisy cars is hollow

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. See below for details on how to contribute.

Police speed clampdown is a joke

The police pledge to clamp down on fast and noisy cars in Harrogate is beyond a joke. My wife and I live in Hartwith Drive, a street that has a supposed 20mph speed limit… or so the signage indicates.

Several years ago I attempted to encourage the police and council to take steps towards enforcing the limit. A speed monitor was attached to a street lamp-post and data downloaded. I still hold a copy of the results.

North Yorkshire Police’s deputy chief constable, however, made clear that it did not support 20mph. The irrelevant police commissioner also gave absolutely no support to our case. Years later and cars and motorbikes are still driven, frequently, at well over the 20mph limit. We can regularly hear the unmistakable sound of speeding vehicles within earshot from Ripon Road.

The police should be taking a hardline stance against the problem of speeding vehicles but the sad fact is that they need support from the public and that may well be sadly lacking. There is no point the police making bold statements if they are not prepared to follow them up with action.

Tim Walls, Jennyfields

Boy racers are a daily occurrence

Prior to the recent crash on Mayfield Grove, we have for many years suffered from boy racers tearing up and down our road. Most seem to have removed the baffles from the exhaust.

Every day we have about six cars speeding up and down Mayfield Grove and going up Franklin Road. You can also hear them racing up King’s Road.

I will shortly be setting up a Mayfield Grove and Mayfield Terrace residents association with other neighbours who are concerned about the speeding cars, cars being damaged and drug dealing in the area.

Paul Ivison, Mayfield Grove, Harrogate

If anyone would like to join this association email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will pass on your details to Mr Ivison.

Rewilding is great – but plastic flowers are awful

I was heartened by the positive responses to the rewilding of the Stray, which I certainly welcome.

Those who feel that the horticultural prestige of the town is threatened by borders of wild flowers would be far better focusing their ire on the proliferation of plastic garlands, which appear to be the latest ‘must-have’ outdoor decorations at bars and shops around the town.

Not only are they no match for the real thing in terms of attractiveness, they also produce yet more plastic pollution at a time of increasing environmental awareness.

Yes, hanging baskets and tubs take time and energy to maintain but are well worth the effort and I know which most visitors would prefer to see. For a town that’s been a Britain in Bloom gold medal winner, it’s a disappointing new trend.

Gillian Parkin, Harrogate

Great to see wildflowers on the Stray

I’d like to add my support to Harrogate Borough Council on its rewilding efforts.

We need more wildflowers everywhere. The Stray has previously been kept as an ecological desert.

Encouraging wildflowers can only be good for our local insect life and should be widely supported on purely scientific grounds.

Well done Harrogate Borough Council on being led by the science!

Charlie McCarthy, Harrogate

Don’t let Harrogate become a dead town

I was shocked to find all parking both sides of James Street blocked with boxes full of plants.

Only three places were available for blue badge holders. Thankfully, I have a blue badge and parked. Ironically there were some signs saying SHOP LOCAL. Well, people would if they could park.

I know several who go to Northallerton now: easy parking and free in many places. The shops are having a bad time and have been for 14 months. Some have closed and gone.

Please don’t subject us to being a dead town. It’s so sad to see Harrogate’s style and variety taking a hard knock.

Christine Hill, Burton Leonard

Read more:

 

Drug driver who fled police through Harrogate district at 130mph jailed

A drug driver has been jailed after speeding through villages in the Harrogate district at more than 130 miles per hour while trying to evade police.

William Geoffrey Mann, 22, was found to have used cocaine and was several times over the limit when arrested in September last year.

He reached speeds of up to 137 miles per hour while trying to evade officers on rural roads.

Mann failed to stop in Kirk Deighton near Wetherby before speeding through Hunsingore, Cattal, Whixley, Aldborough, Boroughbridge and Bishop Monkton.

Read more:

North Yorkshire Police pursued Mann through the villages around Wetherby and Boroughbridge, where he reached 90 miles per hour in a Mercedes.

Officers closed in on him in Burton Leonard, where Mann crashed into an unmarked police car and was arrested.


Mann, a delivery worker from Wetherby, was taken into custody and charged with drug driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop.

He pleaded guilty and was jailed for eight months at York Crown Court today. He was also banned from driving for a year and will have to take an extended retest.

Sergeant Julian Pearson, of the force’s Roads Policing Group, captured the pursuit on his police in-car video system and led the investigation against Mann.

He said: 

“Mann made a conscious decision to fail to stop for the police, his judgment clouded by his recent drug usage. This, combined with dangerous high speed driving, is a lethal combination.

“This was a prolonged, determined and dangerous attempt to evade capture for drug driving, putting himself, his passengers, other road users and the police at serious risk.”

Sgt Pearson added:

“When a vehicle is requested to stop and the driver refuses, the police have no idea why. It could be for a multitude of reasons and in Mann’s case it was for drug driving. Had he stopped then he would have been dealt for that offence and most likely not in prison as he is today.

“We make absolutely no apologies for catching drivers like Mann  – we regularly see the carnage and heartbreak they cause innocent people. So I’m glad the courts have taken another dangerous driver off our roads and have protected our communities.”

Police pledge to crack down on fast and noisy cars in Harrogate

Police have pledged to take a zero tolerance approach to fast and noisy drivers in Harrogate town centre this summer.

Harrogate often attracts drivers, sometimes in modified vehicles, racing around the main roads, particularly during summer.

North Yorkshire Police said today it has already handed out three traffic offence reports and one more serious section 59 warning for antisocial driving behaviour, which could lead to the car being seized.

It pledged in a statement to keep up the pressure during the summer months on “the irresponsible behaviour of some drivers which is not only unsafe but also highly disruptive”.

Operation Chrome, which began last summer last year, has restarted and will see increased police patrols in hot spots, more speed cameras across town, vehicle stops and detailed CCTV reviews.

Read more:

Superintendent Steve Thomas said:

“As the weather improves we see a surge in the number of vehicles driving antisocially around the town centre.

“Residents and visitors should not have to fear for their safety or have their days blighted by this excessive noise.

“We are taking a zero tolerance approach to this dangerous behaviour.

“Rest assured if you receive a warning and continue driving irresponsibly, we will be watching and your vehicle will be seized.”

Have you noticed more fast and noisy cars on your street? Tell us your experience contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Two Harrogate district women lose £500,000 to gold scam

Two women from the Harrogate district have lost a combined £500,000 after scammers persuaded them to buy gold bullion.

The scammers, who claimed to be from the police, told the victims they were monitoring fraudulent activity on their accounts.

The women were told they must work with the police to catch the fraudsters and, as part of this, were advised to move money out of their bank accounts and buy gold bullion instead.

The bullion, which is another term for gold bars, was then collected by a fake courier who promised to keep it safe until the police investigation had concluded.

North Yorkshire Police, which was alerted to the scam last week, said these type of scam stories have become “very common” recently.

Andy Fox, the force’s financial abuse safeguarding officer, said:

“You can sit and think ‘why would they hand over all that money?’ but the scammers are very good at what they do. They pretended to be police so the victims trusted them, you could call it brainwashing.

“I have spoken to the victims and they are very upset. We just have to keep giving advice to ensure these scammers can’t continue.”

Mr Fox said the police were alerted to the crimes when the victims got in touch to ask for the officer they had been speaking to. Once the pair ran out of money the perpetrator stopped calling.

Mr Fox said a detective was investigating various leads associated with the case.

Read more:

Fraud victims don’t get their money back unless the bank reimburses it or the police find the culprit and use their assets to pay back victims.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement:

“Please remember, the police or your bank will NEVER contact you and ask you to move or transfer money. We will never ask you to lie to your bank or your family and we will certainly never ask you to purchase gold bullion.

“If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately. If you are ever worried about any calls you receive speak to a family member, friend, your bank or ring the police.”

If you think you have been a victim of fraud call North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Police appeal after car crashes into Kirk Deighton bus shelter

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses after a car crashed into a stone bus shelter in Kirk Deighton.

The 75-year-old driver and the 51-year-old male passenger suffered serious injuries and had to be taken to hospital.

The woman was driving a red Suzuki Swift south on the B6164 from Knaresborough to Wetherby when the collision happened at about 4.45pm on Friday.

The unnamed pair are both from Wetherby.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the car before the collision to get in touch.

Anyone with dashcam footage nearby is also being asked to call 101 and ask for TC161 Steve Wood.

He can also be reached via steven.wood@northyorkshire.police.uk.

Read more:

 

North Yorkshire Police advice to lock churches questioned

North Yorkshire Police has issued advice to church authorities to keep premises locked when unattended to deter theft.

The advice has been sent out in pamphlets to churches across the region and has been questioned by some who believe the premises should stay open throughout the day.

The full advice can be seen on the North Yorkshire Police website and also includes locking away any valuable items and chaining antique furniture to the floor and wall.

Churches have historically been open to the community at most times throughout the day for prayer and services. Most have been closed in the past year due to covid.

C B Newsham is the director of the Parish Church Photographic Survey and saw the police notice whilst taking photographs in a Harrogate church.

He expressed his dismay at the advice on Twitter;

https://twitter.com/cbnewham/status/1400102182716854273

He said;

“If a church is locked then it presents a more tempting target for a thief […] because a locked building says “I’m locked because I have valuables inside”. Most churches have very little worth stealing inside them – something easily seen if the church is open. If it’s locked, then a lot of damage can be done gaining access. Thousands of pounds-worth of damage with nothing stolen.”

Read more

Reverend Robb Wainwright, associate Priest for Burton Leonard and Bishop Monkton, is in agreement;

“I am very much in favour of churches remaining open where it is practicable to do so. In many rural locations just organising a key holder and an opening rota may be a problem, especially in winter.”

North Yorkshire Police has not yet responded with comment on the issue.