Woman in 30s dies after A1(M) collision

A woman has died following a collision on the A1(M) near Leeming.

The incident was reported at around 11.15pm last night and happened on the southbound carriageway.

It resulted in the A1(M) being closed in both directions between junction 50 at Ripon and junction 52 at Catterick. 

The woman, aged in her 30s and from the Leyburn area, was a passenger in a car that had parked on the hard shoulder of the on-slip.

She was hit by another vehicle after walking into the carriageway.

An air ambulance was called and police investigators examined the scene and recovered the vehicles involved. The road reopened around 8am.

A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“Despite the efforts of members of the public who stopped to provide first aid, and the emergency services, she sadly died at the scene.

“Police are appealing to any motorists who witnessed the collision but have not yet contacted or spoken to the police to get in touch.

“Officers are also appealing to anyone who saw a parked vehicle on the southbound on-slip from Leeming Bar to the A1M, or a person in the carriageway prior to the collision, to get in touch, including anyone with dashcam footage.

“Anyone with information who can assist the investigation and has not already spoken to the police is asked to email marie.williams@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101 and pass information for incident 12230236443.”

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Tim Forber set to be North Yorkshire’s new top cop

Tim Forber,  the current deputy chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, has been named as the preferred candidate to become the next chief constable of North Yorkshire Police.

Zoë Metcalfe, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for York and North Yorkshire, today announced she had identified Mr Forber to succeed Lisa Winward, who is retiring from the £154,000-a-year role at the end of March next year.

The appointment has been mired in controversy because Ms Metcalfe’s role will be abolished shortly after the candidate she hired is appointed.

The commissioner’s role will be taken over by whoever is elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire in May 2024.

It means the new mayor will inherit a chief constable they didn’t appoint.

Lisa Winward

Lisa Winward will retire on March 31.

Ms Metcalfe rejected advice to delay the appointment by North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel, which scrutinises her performance.

The Conservative commissioner has also complained about Tory mayoral candidate Keane Duncan, who she claimed used “inappropriate language” to influence her chief constable recruitment. An investigation found no wrongdoing.

Today Ms Metcalfe’s office issued a statement which said Mr Forber had been selected “following a robust recruitment process” that ended yesterday.

The two-day process on December 11 and 12 involved a presentation to local internal and external stakeholders, a media exercise and a panel interview. It also included candidates having to design a presentation based on the results of an online survey conducted by Ms Metcalfe.

‘The right qualities’

Mr Forber joined South Yorkshire Police as assistant chief constable in December 2016 and was promoted to deputy chief constable in June 2021.

Ms Metcalfe will now put Mr Forber to the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel on January 11.

Ms Metcalfe said:

“His depth of experience and commitment to collaboration and local neighbourhood policing across  rural and urban areas was clear from the interview process.

“I have every confidence he has the right qualities to drive forward North Yorkshire Police to be an outstanding service and to keep people safe and feeling safe.”

Mr Forber said:

“I am hugely honoured to be selected as the preferred candidate to be the next chief constable of North Yorkshire Police. I am looking forward to working tirelessly on behalf of the communities of York and North Yorkshire to ensure they have an outstanding police service. “

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Man hospitalised after assault outside Ripon bar

A man was taken to hospital with facial injuries after being attacked outside a Ripon bar.

North Yorkshire Police said today the man was attacked at about 3.40am on Sunday morning (December 10) outside Wonderland on North Street.

Wonderland is a late night bar that stays open until 4am at weekends.

A police statement said:

“A male suspect was arrested and has been released on conditional bail.

“We would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the assault and has any information that can help with the investigation.”

You can email amy.sharrad@northyorkshire.police.uk, or call 101, select option 2 and ask for DC 618 Amy Sharrad.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230233886.

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‘Two in one’ burglars strike in Harrogate

Thieves broke into a house in Harrogate and stole car keys before making off with a Kia Picanto.

North Yorkshire Police said today it was investigating the ‘two-in-one’ burglary on Lindrick Way, in the Jennyfields area,

It happened last weekend between 11.15pm on Saturday and 3am on Sunday (December 9 and 10).

A silver Kia Picanto, registration RE17 KNG, was taken.

“Police are urging the public to get in touch if they saw anything that could help the investigation or have any CCTV doorbell footage.

“If you can help please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC822 Cleary.

“You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Quote reference number 12230233921.

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Green Hammerton man jailed for historic sex offences in Harrogate

A 62-year-old man has been jailed for two years for child-sex offences committed more than 40 years ago.

Sean Harland, from Green Hammerton, appeared for sentence at York Crown Court on Friday after a jury convicted him of two counts of gross indecency with a young girl following a trial in September.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said the sexual abuse occurred in the Harrogate area in the mid-to-late 1970s, when Harland was a teenager.

He said that Harland made the girl perform sexual acts on him on “multiple” occasions.

Harland told her that if she ever told anyone about what he had done, she wouldn’t be believed. Mr Newcombe.said:

“She believed the threats.

“(Harland) clearly knew from a young age that what he was doing was wrong.”

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, didn’t tell anyone about the abuse until the early 1990s when she told her psychologist following a mental breakdown.

Police launched an investigation after being contacted by one of the victim’s family members about six years ago.

The victim read out a statement in court outlining the impact Harland’s offences had on her.

She had suffered from anxiety, depression and “severe” panic attacks for which she had received professional help from her teenage years to adulthood. She added:

“I’m still having counselling sessions and expect to need them until the day I die.”

Defence barrister Alasdair Campbell said Harland had no previous convictions and had always been a working man.

He added that Harland also had serious mental health issues for which he was receiving therapy.

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, said that Harland’s offences had a “devastating” effect on the victim who had suffered “severe” psychological harm.

He said that despite Harland’s young age at the time, he would have still “known right from wrong” and that what he had done to the victim was a “disgrace”.

The judge said that the offences were so serious that only an immediate prison sentence could be justified.

He told Harland:

“The plea to suspend (the sentence) would have been more powerful if you had admitted (the offences), but you didn’t and you’re still in denial.”

Harland, of Meadow Vale, will serve half of the two-year sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.

He was also made subject to a sexual-harm prevention order, which will run for an indefinite period.

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Harrogate man jailed for role in ‘flooding’ town with heroin

Seven members of a county lines drug gang that “flooded Harrogate with heroin and crack cocaine” have been sentenced today.

Four people from Harrogate were part of the gang that appeared in Leeds Crown Court today.

They were Martin Gilham, 53, of Bewerley Road, Kim Aylott, 37, of Belmont Road, Christopher Patrick Hollowed, 57, of Swinton Court and Nathan Alexis Wilsher, 38, of Fairfax Avenue.

Gilham was jailed while the others received suspended sentences.

Harris Khan, 24, of Grantham Road in Bradford and the two ringleaders, Kyle Darius Sterling (30), of Stubden Rise, Bradford and Lee Bavin (30) of Bradford, were also part of the gang and were sentenced today.

Bradford to Harrogate county line

According to North Yorkshire Police, its organised crime unit began an investigation in 2019 into the supply of Class A drugs being “peddled” through county lines operating between Bradford and Harrogate.

Police said the gang “flooded” Harrogate and crack cocaine, adding in a statement:

“A joint operation involving the regional organised crime unit, West Yorkshire Police, the National Crime Agency and the National County Lines Coordination Centre, was launched in February 2020 and saw the arrest of a number of suspects from both towns. The heads of the operations being in Bradford and those lower down the chain coming from Harrogate.

“At that time, some of the phone lines identified as being key to facilitating the sale of drugs were taken out of action through Drug Dealing Telecommunication Restriction Orders. This was to disrupt the gangs’ ability to advertise the drugs for sale.”

Kyle Sterling (left) and Lee Bavin

Sterling, of Stubden Rise, was jailed for 11 years and four months.

Police said he was at the “head of the operation for the so-called Jerry-line” and dictated the move of large quantities of class A drugs through the county.

This was done through the use of couriers, who travelled from Bradford to Harrogate. The drugs were then sold to local users after being “advertised through mass mobile phone text messages” sent by Sterling.

Bavin, who is currently in prison but was previously of Manchester Road in Bradford, was jailed for five years and six months.

North Yorkshire Police said he was “second in command” and responsible for topping up phone lines to continue the operation, as well as travelling to Harrogate to “oversee the smooth selling drugs”, adding:

“He stayed at the homes of local people while he was in Harrogate in a practice known as cuckooing.”

The force said seven of the couriers involved, who transported drugs and money between Bradford and Harrogate, have been treated as victims of exploitation and human trafficking. It said “safeguarding measures were put in place at the time”.

“Bavin and Stirling both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.

“They were also charged with human trafficking offences under the Modern Slavery Act in relation to the seven children they used to supply drugs.

“The court agreed that these modern slavery offences would be allowed to lie on file.”

Four Harrogate people sentenced

Six local drug users from Harrogate who sold the drugs on behalf of Sterling and Bavin in return for payment in crack and heroin.

They were also charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and were given sentences ranging from 12 months in custody to 24-month suspended sentences:

Gilham was jailed for 12 months for conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He was also sentenced for a separate offence of animal cruelty unconnected to the drug supply investigation. He was given 16 months in prison for this offence, making a total of two years and four months’ imprisonment.

Aylott was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. She was also given a drug rehabilitation order.

Hollowed was given two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Wilsher was given two years’ imprisonment  suspended for two years. He was also given an electronic tag curfew between 7pm and 6am.

Khan (of Bradford) was given an 18-month sentence suspended for 18 months and required to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

A sixth defendant failed to appear and a bench warrant was issued by the court for his arrest. He has not been named due to other outstanding legal matters, officers said.

Detective Constable Adam Heatlie, of North Yorkshire Police’s organised crime unit, said:

“Today’s outcome is a result of a lengthy and painstaking investigation spanning several years. We are pleased to finally see the results at court and welcome the sentences that take two key drug dealers off our streets.

“They flooded Harrogate with drugs, making money at the expense of local users, the majority of whom were vulnerable due to their socioeconomic background and mental health conditions. They have no conscience and no concern whatsoever for the people they are putting at risk of serious harm. They now have ample time to reflect on their life-choices and the damage it causes.”

‘Used children as a commodity’

Speaking about the exploitation of the children involved, DC Heatlie added:

“Bavin and Sterling showed no regard whatsoever for the children they exploited and recruited to do their dirty work in a bid to hide their own tracks and evade detection.

“They used the children as a commodity to help them make money, and to face the dangers on the streets so that they didn’t have to. They should hang their heads in shame.”

He added:

“Drug dealing and the violence and exploitation that accompanies county lines remains a foremost priority for North Yorkshire Police. We are committed to disrupting the offenders and taking those responsible off the streets.

“We urge anyone with information to continue to report information about drug dealing in their area. It’s vital in helping us piece together the bigger picture.

“No matter how insignificant you think the information is, please call us. And if you don’t want to speak to us, you can pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers.”

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CCTV appeal after £10k worth of damage to Harrogate’s KD Carpets

The windows of KD Carpets, in Harrogate, were smashed in with a hammer last weekend.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident, which happened on Skipton Road, took place at 1am on Sunday, December 2.

The force said it caused damage “in the region on £10,000.”

Police are now appealing for information to help further the investigation.

It said in a statement:

“Officers are requesting anyone with information to contact them. They have also released a CCTV still which, although not high quality, may prompt people’s memories.

“Anyone with any information is asked to email chloe.winter-atkinson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for PC 1820 Winter-Atkinson.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Quote reference number 12230229335 when passing on information.

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Missing Harrogate girls found

North Yorkshire Police has said two missing teenage girls from Harrogate have been found safe.

A police statement today said the girls, who had last been seen on Tuesday, December 5, had been located.

We have updated this article to anonymise the details of the girls.

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Man arrested after altercation at Knaresborough bus station

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for a key witness to come forward following an altercation in Knaresborough this week.

The force said in a statement today the incident involving a young man and woman took place at Knaresborough bus station at about 9am on Monday, December 4.

The statement added a 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and released on conditional bail to allow for further enquires to be carried out.

Officers said they would like to hear from any witnesses but added there was one key witness they were particularly keen to speak to.

The statement said:

“If you were at the bus station and either intervened or witnessed the incident, please get in touch.

“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email helen.james@northyorkshire.police.uk North Yorkshire Police via 101 and pass information for PC Helen James.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Quote reference number 12230229894 when passing on information.

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Man jailed for possessing cocaine in Harrogate

A drug dealer has been jailed for two years and two months after police intercepted his vehicle in Harrogate.

Bakar Ranian, 45, of Conway Grove, Harehills, Leeds, was jailed by York Crown Court today (December 5) after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today officers on proactive patrols in and around Harrogate spotted a vehicle that had been making regular trips between Leeds and Harrogate on November 11.

It said its movements were consistent with an organised crime group involved in the supply of class A drugs.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police’s county lines Operation Expedite team, stopped the vehicle, a BMW 1 series, in Harrogate and asked the driver to explain his movements.

The driver was Bakar Ranian, originally from Hackney in London but who had recently become a resident of Leeds.

The police said his account was implausible and vague and it began to change when challenged by officers.

Ranian was detained for a search under Misuse of Drugs Act, as was his vehicle. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cocaine after officers found drugs on him following the search.

Some of the seized drugs.

A search of his vehicle led to officers finding £100 cash and a large quantity of suspected class A drugs, all concealed in various compartments in the vehicle.

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They recovered three large snap bags that each contained multiple deal snap bags inside them.

They located a further four large snap bags each containing multiple deal bags of white powder, inside in a bag wrapped in a hat, concealed in the boot.

A single bag of white powder was also located within the glovebox. Police then conducted a search of his address where approximately £2,000 cash was found and further evidence of his drug dealing activities.

In total officers recovered 109 packages of cocaine and four bags of MDMA with a combined street value of approximately £5,000.

PC Michael Haydock of Operation Expedite, who lead the investigation said:

“Bakar Ranian was working for a county line with the sole objective of selling highly dangerous and addictive drugs on the streets of Harrogate.

“He has knowingly broken the law and has clearly made a significant financial gain from his criminal activity. This has now been taken away from him. He, like many others before him, have sold these drugs without the slightest bit of thought or consideration for the wider implications of their actions.

“I am pleased to see that he has been imprisoned for his crimes and hopefully, he will now see the error of his ways. Similarly, anyone who believes they can commit drug crime in North Yorkshire should see this as a warning that drug dealers will be pursued and sent to prison”